A master device manages a plurality of slave devices constituting a network including a ring topology. The plurality of slave devices includes: a first slave device serving as a starting point and a terminal point of the ring topology; and a plurality of second slave devices connected between a first output port of the first slave device and a second output port thereof and constituting the ring topology. On the basis of a network configuration detected when the second output port and the output port of a second slave device paired with the second output port are available and of a network configuration detected when the second output port and the output port paired therewith have been made unavailable, the master device determines an incorrect wiring path between the first output port and the second output port and outputs information indicating the incorrect wiring path to an information processing device.

A safety module for a programmable logic control system, wherein the safety module is designed as an assembly consisting of a plurality of modules with a plurality of function blocks connected through at least one internal bus and comprising at least one CPU and which can be connected through at least one interface to external sensors (and switches/buttons) and actuators (and optical/acoustic indicators and displays/monitors) for detecting at least one measurement signal, wherein the safety module operates in two channels and a self-test is implemented.

A safety module for a programmable logic control system, wherein the safety module is designed as an assembly consisting of a plurality of modules with a plurality of function blocks connected through at least one internal bus and comprising at least one CPU and which can be connected through at least one interface to external sensors (and switches/buttons) and actuators (and optical/acoustic indicators and displays/monitors) for detecting at least one measurement signal, wherein the safety module operates in two channels and a self-test is implemented.

A field device includes a controller and a process communication module. The controller is configured to perform at least one operation related to process control and is also configured to perform at least one self-recovery operation relative to the field device. The process communication module is coupled to the controller and is configured to couple to a process communication segment and communicate in accordance with a process communication protocol. The controller is configured to detect an erroneous condition and selectively apply the at least one self-recovery operation in response to the detected erroneous condition.

A safety module for a programmable logic control system, wherein the safety module is designed as an assembly consisting of a plurality of modules with a plurality of function blocks connected through at least one internal bus and comprising at least one CPU and which can be connected through at least one interface to external sensors (and switches/buttons) and actuators (and optical/acoustic indicators and displays/monitors) for detecting at least one measurement signal, wherein the safety module operates in two channels and a self-test is implemented.

A master device manages a plurality of slave devices constituting a network including a ring topology. The plurality of slave devices includes: a first slave device serving as a starting point and a terminal point of the ring topology; and a plurality of second slave devices connected between a first output port of the first slave device and a second output port thereof and constituting the ring topology. On the basis of a network configuration detected when the second output port and the output port of a second slave device paired with the second output port are available and of a network configuration detected when the second output port and the output port paired therewith have been made unavailable, the master device determines an incorrect wiring path between the first output port and the second output port and outputs information indicating the incorrect wiring path to an information processing device.

A fail-safe safety switching device comprises first and second input channels for receiving first and second input signals, and a first testing arrangement for testing the first and second input channels. The first input channel comprises a first entry circuit and a first threshold element connected via a first coupling element to a second testing arrangement and a first transition circuit in a galvanically isolated manner. The second input channel comprises a second entry circuit and a second threshold element connected via a second coupling element to a third testing arrangement and a second transition circuit in a galvanically isolated manner. The first testing arrangement comprises a third coupling element, a ground terminal and a group testing terminal. The first and second threshold elements are connected to the ground terminal and via the third coupling element to the group testing terminal in a galvanically isolated manner.

A field device includes a controller and a process communication module. The controller is configured to perform at least one operation related to process control and is also configured to perform at least one self-recovery operation relative to the field device. The process communication module is coupled to the controller and is configured to couple to a process communication segment and communicate in accordance with a process communication protocol. The controller is configured to detect an erroneous condition and selectively apply the at least one self-recovery operation in response to the detected erroneous condition.