Abstract: A method for synchronizing a slave system and a master system, the method including the steps of providing a slave clock signal based on a communicated master clock signal, providing a time frame in the slave system, wherein the time frame is defined by a minimum time and a maximum time, and a phase of the slave clock signal corresponds to an actual time, determining if the slave clock signal is in the time frame, and regulating the slave clock signal, if it is not in the time frame, so that the slave clock signal occurs within the time frame.

Abstract: A device and method for connecting an industrial control unit (1) to an industrial control panel (2). The control panel has several functional units (4, 5, 7, 8), each of which is equipped with a USB controller (4a, 5a, 7a, 8a) and the USB controllers are connected to a USB hub (9) which can be integrated into the control panel. The USB hub is connected to the industrial control unit via a single communication link (1b) such that control signals can be sent to and from the control unit from or to the control panel in a simple, economical manner.