Abstract: Valve unit with a plurality of valves linked together for switching a pressurized air flow, where electronic means of valve detection consisting of individual valve-side transponders and a reading device are provided, where the reading device consists of individual RFID read heads, each allocated to a transponder, as well as an RFID reading unit common to all RFID read heads, and where the RFID read heads are connected with the RFID reading unit via a multiplexer unit.

Abstract: A flexible pressure tube includes a pressure tube cladding defining an axis and having an interior space for flow of a pressurized medium. The pressure tube cladding is constructed in the form of a homogeneous layer which is suitable to transmit data encoded in light waves in a direction of the axis, wherein the homogeneous layer is made of a flexible optical waveguide material. The pressure tube may be part of an apparatus for conducting pressurized medium and transmission of data, which apparatus includes a coupling assembly having a coupling unit for connecting one axial end of the flexible pressure tube to a pressurized-medium-operated structure, and another coupling unit for connecting the other axial end of the flexible pressure tube to a pressurized-medium-operated structure. Each of the coupling units is constructed to include a connection for the pressurized medium and an integrated communication device.