Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing having at least two plug-in receptacles, each intended for one additional module that comprises a module housing. The electronic device is characterised in that the plug-in slots are each arranged in a corner region of the housing so that the relevant module housing of the additional module expands the housing on three outer sides which form a corner. The plug-in slots and the module housings are designed in such a way that each of the module housings fits into each of the plug-in slots.

Abstract: A controller for an industrial automation system includes a main module having a housing, which can be fitted onto a DIN rail via a base, at least two printed circuit boards arranged in the housing, and a heat sink also arranged in the housing and connected with the base. One of the circuit boards is a backplane bus printed circuit board, which provides a backplane bus, and the other is a main printed circuit board. The heat sink is attached to at least one of the printed circuit board to cool its components.

Abstract: Controller for an industrial automation system, having a main module (1) with a housing, which can be fitted onto a DIN rail by means of a base (10), and with at least two printed circuit boards (20) which can be arranged in the housing, one of these printed circuit boards (20) being a backplane bus printed circuit board (21) and one being a main printed circuit board (23), wherein the main printed circuit board (23) is assigned a heat sink (50) for the cooling of components and wherein the backplane bus printed circuit board (21) provides a backplane bus, wherein the heat sink (50) is arranged in the housing, is attached to the base (10) and supports at least one of the printed circuit boards (20).

Abstract: A process for loading a secure memory image for a startup procedure of a microcontroller from an external non-volatile memory has the microcontroller configured to assume a locked state in which execution of any program is prevented pending a restart of the microcontroller when a data section of a secure memory image is faulty. The process includes the following steps: detection of the locked state of the microcontroller by a controller located outside of the microcontroller, institution of precautionary measures that lead to modified read data values of the memory image in a subsequent attempt by the microcontroller to read the memory image; and initiation of a restart of the microcontroller to cancel the locked state, and thus initiation of a renewed attempt to load the memory image. An assembly including a microcontroller, an external non-volatile memory and a controller implements such a process.

Abstract: An automation device has a main module and an interchangeable connection module in which a fieldbus port of the automation device is located. The automation device is characterized in that the interchangeable connection module contains a non-volatile memory which can be read out by the main module of the automation device. A method for operating the automation device includes the steps of connecting a main module of the automation device with a connection module, reading the non-volatile memory of the connection module, detecting any incompatibilities between the main module and the connection module, and placing the automation device in operation if no incompatibilities are detected.

Abstract: An automation device has a main module and an interchangeable connection module in which a fieldbus port of the automation device is located. The automation device is characterized in that the interchangeable connection module contains a non-volatile memory which can be read out by the main module of the automation device. A method for operating the automation device includes the steps of connecting a main module of the automation device with a connection module, reading the non-volatile memory of the connection module, detecting any incompatibilities between the main module and the connection module, and placing the automation device in operation if no incompatibilities are detected.

Abstract: A process for loading a secure memory image for a startup procedure of a microcontroller from an external non-volatile memory has the microcontroller configured to assume a locked state in which execution of any program is prevented pending a restart of the microcontroller when a data section of a secure memory image is faulty. The process includes the following steps: detection of the locked state of the microcontroller by a controller located outside of the microcontroller, institution of precautionary measures that lead to modified read data values of the memory image in a subsequent attempt by the microcontroller to read the memory image; and initiation of a restart of the microcontroller to cancel the locked state, and thus initiation of a renewed attempt to load the memory image. An assembly including a microcontroller, an external non-volatile memory and a controller implements such a process.

Abstract: An automation device has a main module and an interchangeable connection module in which a fieldbus port of the automation device is located. The automation device is characterized in that the interchangeable connection module contains a non-volatile memory which can be read out by the main module of the automation device. A method for operating the automation device includes the steps of connecting a main module of the automation device with a connection module, reading the non-volatile memory of the connection module, detecting any incompatibilities between the main module and the connection module, and placing the automation device in operation if no incompatibilities are detected.

Abstract: An automation device has a main module and an interchangeable connection module in which a fieldbus port of the automation device is located. The automation device is characterized in that the interchangeable connection module contains a non-volatile memory which can be read out by the main module of the automation device. A method for operating the automation device includes the steps of connecting a main module of the automation device with a connection module, reading the non-volatile memory of the connection module, detecting any incompatibilities between the main module and the connection module, and placing the automation device in operation if no incompatibilities are detected.