Abstract: A communications module including an electrical interface for operatively connecting the communications module to an electric device is disclosed. The electric interface enables data communication between the communications module and the electric device in either a serial mode or parallel mode. The communications module includes: one or more electrical connectors arranged in the electric interface, a Dual Port RAM is connected to the electrical interface for providing parallel transfer of data through the electrical interface, and a control unit connected to at least one of the one or more electrical connectors, wherein the control unit is adapted to determine the value of one or more signals applied on the at least one of the one or more electrical connectors and enable either serial or parallel data communication through the electrical interface depending on the value of the one or more signals.

Abstract: A communications module including an electrical interface for operatively connecting the communications module to an electric device is disclosed. The electric interface enables data communication between the communications module and the electric device in either a serial mode or parallel mode. The communications module includes: one or more electrical connectors arranged in the electric interface, a Dual Port RAM is connected to the electrical interface for providing parallel transfer of data through the electrical interface, and a control unit connected to at least one of the one or more electrical connectors, wherein the control unit is adapted to determine the value of one or more signals applied on the at least one of the one or more electrical connectors and enable either serial or parallel data communication through the electrical interface depending on the value of the one or more signals.

Abstract: A device for use when exchanging data between two processor units comprises a first processor unit, which is arranged to selectively operate in one of a synchronous mode and an asynchronous mode when exchanging data with a second processor unit through a data memory area in a common memory. Preferably, the access to the data memory area is controlled by a state machine in the first processor unit. The state machine has a first state in which the data memory area is free, a second and a third state in which the data memory area is reserved for the first processor unit and the second processor unit, respectively, and a fourth and a fifth state, in which the data memory area is accessed by the first processor unit and the second processor unit, respectively. The device is advantageously used in a fieldbus system.

Abstract: In a method for assessing the thickness of a measuring object (A), light is emitted towards the object, and the intensity of the light transmitted through the object is measured, resulting in a measurement curve (Y). The measurement curve is compared with a calibration curve (P), which has been determined in similar fashion for a calibration object, in order to identify at least one interval of the measurement curve within which the intensity varies in the same manner as within one interval of the calibration curve. The average value of the intensity in the respective intervals is determined, and the thickness of the object is assessed on the basis of a comparison between the average values. Alternatively, one identifies at least one interval of the measurement curve including points of either the highest or the lowest intensity in the curve.