Abstract: Automation station and method for restoring license keys in a modular automation station which includes a main unit having a backplane bus connection and a plurality of modules having another backplane bus connection, wherein the plurality of modules or the main unit having a respective backplane bus connection communicate with one another via a backplane bus, where the plurality of modules are operated via a license key to provide software-based functionality tied to a respective license key after a module is replaced with a replacement module, and the license key is restored via automated reading of three data blocks, even when only two of the three data blocks are readable and the license key for the software-based functionality of the replaced module is assigned to the replacement module and thus the software-based functionality is enabled in the replacement module.

Abstract: An automation system includes a first controller and a second controller connected to an input device via a field bus, wherein the input device includes a module having at least one first sub-module and one second sub-module, the first controller includes first interconnection information that defines an assignment between the first controller and the first sub-module, and the second controller includes second interconnection information that defines an assignment between the second controller and the second sub-module, wherein the module is additionally configured to be connected to a plurality of inputs for process signals, wherein a process signal image is stored in a first memory area assigned to the first sub-module, and wherein the module additionally includes a copying device which is configured to copy the process signal image from the first memory area to a second memory area assigned to the second sub-module.

Abstract: An automation system includes a first and second controllers, and an output device connected to the first and second controllers, wherein the output device comprises a module having at least a first submodule and a second submodule, wherein the first controller includes first interconnection information defining an assignment between the first controller and the first submodule, the second controller includes second interconnection information defining an assignment between the second controller and the second submodule, the first submodule accepts first output data from the first controller, the second submodule accepts second output data from the second controller, wherein the module is further configured so that it is connected to a plurality of outputs for control of actuators and includes a logical linkage device for logically linking the first output data to the second output data such that logically linked output data is provided for the outputs for controlling actuators.

Abstract: An automation system includes a first and second controllers, and an output device connected to the first and second controllers, wherein the output device comprises a module having at least a first submodule and a second submodule, wherein the first controller includes first interconnection information defining an assignment between the first controller and the first submodule, the second controller includes second interconnection information defining an assignment between the second controller and the second submodule, the first submodule accepts first output data from the first controller, the second submodule accepts second output data from the second controller, wherein the module is further configured so that it is connected to a plurality of outputs for control of actuators and includes a logical linkage device for logically linking the first output data to the second output data such that logically linked output data is provided for the outputs for controlling actuators.

Abstract: An automation system includes a first controller and a second controller connected to an input device via a field bus, wherein the input device includes a module having at least one first sub-module and one second sub-module, the first controller includes first interconnection information that defines an assignment between the first controller and the first sub-module, and the second controller includes second interconnection information that defines an assignment between the second controller and the second sub-module, wherein the module is additionally configured to be connected to a plurality of inputs for process signals, wherein a process signal image is stored in a first memory area assigned to the first sub-module, and wherein the module additionally includes a copying device which is configured to copy the process signal image from the first memory area to a second memory area assigned to the second sub-module.

Abstract: A method for an output of maintenance information of an automation component in an automation arrangement is provided. The automation arrangement includes the automation component, an automation controller and a local control unit which is functionally associated with the automation component. In a first step status information relating to the automation component is formed in the automation controller, in a second step the status information is used by the automation controller to generate or change the maintenance information, and in a third step the maintenance information is transmitted from the automation controller to the control unit and is output there.

Abstract: An automation appliance includes a terminal module, in which a function module that is plugged into the terminal module, the automation device being suitable for modular extension by arranging in a row further terminal modules. The terminal module comprises a first holding device for holding the function module, a second holding device including a first contact device for holding a connecting module which has a second contact device, where a supply voltage for the function module is passable through the connecting module, and where a voltage monitoring device for monitoring the supply voltage is integrated in the function module.

Abstract: There is described a peripheral module which in addition to the connection terminals for the process data supply has connection terminals for the supply of voltage. Furthermore, the peripheral module has a changeover switching device to disconnect the peripheral module from an upstream load group. The peripheral module can assume the function of a supply group or a power module when a supply voltage is applied to the terminals. In a peripheral system made of several peripheral modules the voltage within a load group is supplied via an internal self-constructing voltage bus.

Abstract: An automation appliance includes a terminal module, in which a function module that is plugged into the terminal module, the automation device being suitable for modular extension by arranging in a row further terminal modules. The terminal module comprises a first holding device for holding the function module, a second holding device including a first contact device for holding a connecting module which has a second contact device, where a supply voltage for the function module is passable through the connecting module, and where a voltage monitoring device for monitoring the supply voltage is integrated in the function module.

Abstract: A field bus coupler, a system with a field bus coupler, a transmission method for acyclic data via a field bus coupler and a computer program product are provided. The field bus coupler is configured to transmit acyclic data. The field bus coupler possesses a first and a second network side, each network side possessing an interface for connecting a field bus. On the first network side an output module is provided for receiving an output data record of a first field bus. The data record is mirrored from the first to the second network side and buffered in a memory. The mirrored data record is thus provided via an input module on the second network side to a second field bus as an input data record.

Abstract: A method for an output of maintenance information of an automation component in an automation arrangement is provided. The automation arrangement includes the automation component, an automation controller and a local control unit which is functionally associated with the automation component. In a first step status information relating to the automation component is formed in the automation controller, in a second step the status information is used by the automation controller to generate or change the maintenance information, and in a third step the maintenance information is transmitted from the automation controller to the control unit and is output there.

Abstract: A method for the project engineering of an automation system is provided. An existing project is opened or a new project is created in a project engineering software tool. In this project, a station having a plurality of slots is opened or generated. A hardware catalog is opened, the hardware catalog including a plurality of hardware modules. At least one hardware module is inserted from the hardware catalog into the station. The station is saved together with the inserted modules. In the process one or more hardware modules can be combined to form a hardware packet. In order to insert the hardware modules which are combined in a hardware packet, the hardware packet is selected and, as soon as the hardware packet is integrated into the station, all the hardware modules contained therein are automatically allocated to free slots of the station.

Abstract: There is described a peripheral module which in addition to the connection terminals for the process data supply has connection terminals for the supply of voltage. Furthermore, the peripheral module has a changeover switching device to disconnect the peripheral module from an upstream load group. The peripheral module can assume the function of a supply group or a power module when a supply voltage is applied to the terminals. In a peripheral system made of several peripheral modules the voltage within a load group is supplied via an internal self-constructing voltage bus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the project engineering of an automation system and in particular for configuring hardware modules in an automation system, comprising the steps: