# US 9,436,573 B2 · Multifunctional I/O apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,436,573 B2 - Document ID: US9436573B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/380,006 - Filed: 2013-01-31 - Published: 2015-01-15 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-02-28 - Assignees: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG - Applicants: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG - Inventors: Tobias Paul; Ralph Stib; Armend Zenuni - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9436573B2 ## CPC - G06F 11/3051: {Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the configuration of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring the presence of processing resources, peripherals, I/O links, software programs (verification or detection of system hardware configuration G06F11/2247)} - G05B 19/0423: {Input/output} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) ## Abstract Multifunctional I/O apparatus having one connection terminal with two connections and an electronic circuit, which with the assistance of a plurality of settable operating states detects an active input signal or passive input signal applied on the two connections of the connection terminal or controls/switches an externally driven load. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multifunctional I/O apparatus, comprising: one connection terminal with two connections; and an electronic circuit, which with the assistance of a plurality of settable operating states detects an active input signal or passive input signal applied on said two connections of said connection terminal or controls/switches an externally driven load, wherein: said electronic circuit comprises: at least one switch element, which is so operable by a first control signal of a logic unit that it short circuits or isolates said two connections of said connection terminal; a signal generator, which is so operable by a second control signal of said logic unit that in the presence of the active input signal or passive input signal on said two connections of said connection terminal it generates a status signal and forwards such to said logic unit; an energy source, which is so operable by a third control signal of said logic unit that in the presence of the passive input signal on said two connections of said connection terminal, it provides energy required for operation of the signal generator, a protective apparatus, which is connected between the signal generator and the energy source; and said logic unit, which dependent on the respectively set operating state of said electronic circuit distinguishes between a first operating state, a second operating state and a third operating state and, with the assistance of the first control signal, the second control signal and the third control signal, activates said switch element, the signal generator and the energy source in accordance with the set operating state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a rectifier apparatus, which in the presence of an alternating voltage as passive input signal or active input signal, rectifies the applied passive input signal or active input signal and supplies the rectified passive input signal or active input signal to said signal generator connected downstream therefrom. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: in the first operating state, said signal generator and said energy source are inactive and said logic unit switches said switch element as needed, in order to control the externally driven load connected between said two connections of said connection terminal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: in the second operating state, said switch element and said energy source are inactive and said signal generator is active, in order to detect the active input signal between said two connections of said connection terminal and with the assistance of said signal generator to generate a status signal and to supply such to the logic unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: in the third operating state, said switch element is inactive and said signal generator and said energy source are active, in order to detect the passive input signal between said two connections of said connection terminal and with the assistance of said signal generator to generate a status signal and to supply such to said logic unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: in a circuit branch, which has said rectifier apparatus, said signal generator and said protective apparatus, there is further provided in said circuit branch an electrical current limiting element for limiting and/or controlling electrical current. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said switch element and the associated first control signal are embodied redundantly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the first control signal, the second control signal, the third control signal and the status signal are isolated by means of a galvanic isolation.