It is provided to implement a different number of logical slaves in a field device for use in an AS interface network as a function of the assigned address, which slaves may be addressed using the assigned address in the standard or in the expanded addressing mode. Thus, in a field device, it is possible to provide slaves having different profiles, via which different data types may be exchanged. Furthermore, a method is provided, with which a field device having different slaves is able to be addressed in a simple manner while avoiding double addressing.

An input/output system including: an input/output base unit which has a plurality of slots into which input/output modules are pluggable; an evaluation device; and at least one cover element which is arrangeable on one of the plurality of slots of the input/output base unit. The evaluation device detects a presence of the at least one cover element at a slot of the plurality of slots.

An input/output system including: an input/output base unit which has a plurality of slots into which input/output modules are pluggable; an evaluation device; and at least one cover element which is arrangeable on one of the plurality of slots of the input/output base unit. The evaluation device detects a presence of the at least one cover element at a slot of the plurality of slots.

It is provided to implement a different number of logical slaves in a field device for use in an AS interface network as a function of the assigned address, which slaves may be addressed using the assigned address in the standard or in the expanded addressing mode. Thus, in a field device, it is possible to provide slaves having different profiles, via which different data types may be exchanged. Furthermore, a method is provided, with which a field device having different slaves is able to be addressed in a simple manner while avoiding double addressing.

It is provided to implement a different number of logical slaves in a field device for use in an AS interface network as a function of the assigned address, which slaves may be addressed using the assigned address in the standard or in the expanded addressing mode. Thus, in a field device, it is possible to provide slaves having different profiles, via which different data types may be exchanged. Furthermore, a method is provided, with which a field device having different slaves is able to be addressed in a simple manner while avoiding double addressing.