Abstract: The fixing device includes a film that is heated by a heater having at least two heat generation members, a pressure roller that forms a fixing nip portion together with the film, a heat generation member switching device that switches a power supply path for supplying power to the at least two heat generation members; and a CPU that controls the heat generation member switching device. In continuous printing on small-size sheets, the CPU causes, while a small-size sheet is held in the fixing nip portion N, the heat generation member switching device to start the operation of switching the power supply path so that power is supplied to one of the at least two heat generation members.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a pressure rotator, a gear, and a sleeve. The pressure rotator is configured to contact the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip between the fixing rotator and the pressure rotator. The gear is disposed on an axial end side of the pressure rotator to transmit a driving force. The sleeve extends from the gear in an axial direction of the pressure rotator.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member including a transfer belt or a photosensitive drum, a transfer unit configured to transfer a toner image carried on the image carrying member to a recording medium, a fixing unit disposed above the transfer unit and configured to heat and pressurize the toner image transferred to the recording medium and fix the toner image to the recording medium, a body stay having an opposing wall facing a side surface of the fixing unit, and a positioning part provided on the opposing wall and configured to perform positioning of the fixing unit. A chipped part is provided below the positioning part in the body stay and blocks transmission of heat transmitted from the fixing unit to the body stay via the positioning part.

Abstract: For a dither matrix used when converting multivalued data into image data for an output apparatus, thresholds are set such that a first dot and a second dot alternately become larger until both of the first dot and the second dot reach a first dot size, after both of the first dot and the second dot reach the first dot size, the first dot becomes larger until the first dot reaches a second dot size while the second dot does not become larger, and, thereafter, the second dot becomes larger until the second dot reaches the second dot size while the first dot does not become larger, and after both of the first dot and the second dot reach the second dot size, the first dot and the second dot alternately become larger.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an image heating device, a filter, a display unit, and a controller. When an image forming operation of the image forming unit starts and an ambient temperature outside the image forming apparatus is a first temperature, the controller sets, after the image forming operation starts, a first period that begins after detected ambient temperature inside the image forming apparatus reaches a predetermined temperature and ends when filter replacement information is displayed on the display unit. When the image forming operation starts and the outside ambient temperature is a second temperature higher than the first temperature, the controller sets, after the image forming operation starts, a second period that is shorter than the first period and begins after the detected inside ambient temperature reaches the predetermined temperature and ends when the filter replacement information is displayed on the display unit.

Abstract: A controller controls a charging unit to charge a photosensitive member so that a surface potential of the photosensitive member is controlled to a first potential, controls an exposure unit to expose the photosensitive member so that a potential of an exposure region on the photosensitive member is controlled to a second potential, controls a surface potential of a developing sleeve of a developing unit to a third potential, and forms a test image on a sheet by controlling the photosensitive member, the charging unit, the exposure unit, and the developing unit. An absolute value of the first potential is higher than an absolute value of the second potential. An absolute value of the third potential is higher than the absolute value of the first potential.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, configured to operate in first and second modes of which color gamut is different from each other, includes an exposure unit configured to expose a photosensitive drum; a developing roller configured to form a toner image; a detection unit configured to detect density of the toner image transferred to an intermediate transfer member; and a controller configured to adjust the density based on a value of input image data. A dithering process for the controller's controlling of the exposure unit is different depending on whether the operation is in the first mode or the second mode, and in at least a part of the input image data, the density of the toner image formed by the dithering process in the first mode is higher than the density of the toner image formed by the dithering process in the second mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit to store recording sheets, an image forming unit, an insertion unit, including an interleaving sheet tray on which an interleaving sheet is to be stacked, and to insert the interleaving sheet fed from the interleaving sheet tray between recording sheets conveyed from the image forming unit. The control unit selects between a first mode and a second mode to execute based on a detected remaining amount of recording sheets in the storage unit. The first mode is a mode for feeding the interleaving sheet, which is to be inserted, from the interleaving sheet tray regardless of whether a presence of the recording sheet in the storage unit is detected. The second mode is a mode for feeding the interleaving sheet from the interleaving sheet tray based on that presence of the recording sheet in the storage unit is detected.

Abstract: Certain examples described herein relate to splice detection. In certain cases, a splice is detected in a web being conveyed towards a transfer member of the printing system. In certain cases, a print frame is identified from a sequence of pending print frames using successive repeat lengths of the sequence and a distance of the splice from the transfer member. The identified print frame is to be transferred from the transfer member across the splice. In certain cases, writing of the identified print frame onto a photo-imaging plate of the printing system is deferred. In certain examples, the web is disengaged from the transfer member following transfer of an image of a print frame preceding the identified print frame. The web is re-engaged with the transfer member so as to transfer an image of the identified print frame to the web from the transfer member after the splice is conveyed beyond the transfer member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes (1) a medium holding unit that holds a recording medium; (2) a guide member configured to be movable, that sets a medium path of the recording medium fed from the medium holding unit as a predetermined path by being locked in a predetermined position, and that is unlocked by a tension of the recording medium; (3) a first conveyance member that is arranged downstream of the medium path of the guide member, and conveys the recording medium; and (4) an image forming unit that forms an image to the recording medium conveyed by the first conveyance member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transfer portion, a fixing portion, a recording medium conveying passage, and a static eliminating member. The image carrier carries a toner image. The transfer portion transfers the toner image formed on the image carrier to a recording medium. The fixing portion fixes the toner image transferred by the transfer portion to the recording medium. Through the recording medium conveying passage, the recording medium conveyed from the transfer portion to the fixing portion passes. A plurality of static eliminating members are arranged in the recording medium conveying passage along the conveying direction of the recording medium in a non-contact state with the recording medium. The static eliminating member arranged on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the recording medium has a larger electric charge capacity than that of the static eliminating member arranged on the upstream side.

Abstract: A torsion coil spring supporting structure includes a first supporting portion opposing one end of a torsion coil spring with respect to an axial direction of the torsion coil spring; and a second supporting portion opposing the other end of the torsion coil spring with respect to the axial direction. The first supporting portion includes a spring supporting portion cooperative with the second supporting portion to support the torsion coil spring at a mounting position. The first supporting portion is elastically deformable, by moving the torsion coil spring, to permit the torsion coil to move to the mounting position in a direction crossing the axial direction and elastically restorable to place the spring supporting portion in an inner diameter portion of the torsion coil spring, thus supporting the torsion coil spring at the mounting position.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a housing having first and second sidewalls through which respective end portions of a developing roller shaft are rotatably inserted; a developing gear, which is arranged outside of the first sidewall, and which is fixed to the end portion of the developing roller shaft; a transmission gear, which is arranged outside of the first sidewall, and which transmits driving force to the developing gear; a first cover member, which is attached to the first sidewall, and which covers the transmission gear; and a second cover member, which is attached to the first sidewall, and which covers the developing gear from an outer side in the axis line direction. The second cover member is formed separately from the first cover member and is arranged side by side with the first cover member outside of the first sidewall.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a power source, a developing cartridge including a developing rotating member to carry a developer to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member, and a motor configured to rotationally drive the developing rotating member. A supporting frame, dismountably mounted to the image forming apparatus, dismountably supports the developing cartridge and dismountably supports the motor. In addition, an electrical contact, provided on the supporting frame, electrically contacts to the power source to supply electric power to the motor in a state that the supporting frame is mounted to the image forming apparatus, and a drawer portion dismountably supports the supporting frame and is capable of being pulled out from the image forming apparatus to dismount the supporting frame from the image forming apparatus in a state that the supporting frame is supported.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a body frame and a slide frame. The slide frame is configured to be pulled out from the body frame along a sliding direction. A plurality of image forming cartridges is detachably mounted on the slide frame. A plurality of electrode members is mounted on the slide frame and aligned along the sliding direction so as to correspond to the image forming cartridges. A body-side contact portion of each of the electrode members is electrically connected to the body frame. A cartridge-side contact portion of the electrode member is electrically connected to the image forming cartridge. The image forming cartridge is connected to the body via the corresponding electrode member when the slide frame mounting the image forming cartridges is inserted to the body frame.

Abstract: A method for adapting a printer for operating with more colours, the printer including an inner framework and a dispenser assembly associable with said framework, includes the steps of application of at least one first quick release connector for electric cables at the dispenser assembly; and application of at least one corresponding second quick release connector at the inner framework of the printer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a casing; photosensitive drums juxtaposed with each other in a juxtaposed direction; developing units each including a developing roller; an opening-closing member; and a first contacting-separating member. The opening-closing member is movable between an open position and a closed position. The first contacting-separating member is provided at the opening-closing member and movable relative to the casing in the juxtaposed direction for moving, in a state where the opening-closing member is at the closed position, the developing roller between an adjacent position adjacent to or in contact with the corresponding photosensitive drums and a separated position spaced apart from the corresponding photosensitive drums.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer carrying member configured to carry developer, and a developer supply member configured to supply the developer to the developer carrying member, the developer supply member including a shaft, first and second driving members disposed at a first end and a second end of the shaft, respectively, and a toner supply unit disposed between the first end and the second end of the shaft, wherein the first driving member receives a driving force for rotating the developer supply member, and the second driving member outputs the driving force, and wherein the second driving member is mounted to the shaft without play in a rotational direction of the developer supply member with respect to the shaft.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, a drum cartridge, and a developing cartridge. The apparatus main body is formed with an opening. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and is configured to be installed into the apparatus main body through the opening. The developing cartridge includes a developing roller and is configured to be installed into the drum cartridge. The drum cartridge includes a swing plate configured to support the developing cartridge installed in the drum cartridge. The swing plate is configured to swingably move such that the developing roller moves relative to the photosensitive drum. The swing plate includes a first guide configured to guide installation of the developing cartridge into the drum cartridge.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a photoconductive drum and a boss that protrudes outward from a first longitudinal end of the toner cartridge at a rotational axis of the photoconductive drum. An outermost axial segment of the boss along the rotational axis includes a partial cylinder having a cross-sectional shape of a circular segment. An outer circumferential surface of the partial cylinder is convex to a bottom of the toner cartridge and forms a bottom contact surface of the boss that is unobstructed to contact and sit in a corresponding V-block in an image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. The outermost axial segment of the boss includes clearance above a topmost portion of the partial cylinder and within the radius of the outer circumferential surface of the partial cylinder permitting the clearance to accommodate one or more features in the image forming device.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum; a developing roller; a developer supplying roller, provided in contact with the developing roller; a driving force receiving portion provided at a shaft end of the supplying roller; a first driving force transmitting portion; a second driving force transmitting portion; flexible sheets provided adjacent to an engaging portion between the first portion and the second portion to intermittently contact the second portion with rotation of the second portion, wherein a rotational direction of the roller is opposite to that of the roller, and a peripheral speed of the roller is larger than that of the roller.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a removal unit includes a sheet member that has elasticity and contacts a rotator, and an absorption member that is thicker than the sheet member and arranged opposite to the rotator via the sheet member to absorb a water droplet, and the absorption member absorbs the water droplet removed by the sheet member from the rotator.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a light-emission unit, a reflecting member, a light-receiving unit, a detection unit, a ventilation unit configured to send air to the reflecting member, and a control unit. The control unit adjusts at least one of an operation duration and an airflow rate of the ventilation unit, in accordance with a detection signal outputted by the light-receiving unit when a sheet is not at a position where light crosses a conveyance path.

Abstract: A hologram reproducing apparatus is provided that includes a display configured to display a hologram pattern and emit a write beam corresponding thereto, a relay lens disposed at a front surface of the display and comprising an array of microlenses each focusing the write beam, a spatial light modulator (SLM) disposed at a front surface of the relay lens, configured to write the hologram pattern according to the focused write beam and modulate a reproduction beam into a plurality of diffraction beams if the reproduction beam is incident, a light guide plate disposed between the relay lens and the SLM and configured to guide the reproduction beam toward the SLM, a filter disposed at a front surface of the SLM and configured to filter the plurality of diffraction beams and the write beam, and a lens configured to focus the plurality of diffraction beams filtered through the filter.

Abstract: An optical device including a first rigid substrate, a flexible holographic optical element, a transparent flexible material having a variable shear transmission property across an in-plane direction of the flexible holographic optical element, and a second rigid substrate, where the flexible holographic optical element and the transparent flexible material are located between the first and second rigid substrates, where the variable shear transmission property of the transparent flexible material transmits variable amounts of a shear force applied to the first or second rigid substrates across the in-plane direction of the flexible holographic optical element.

Abstract: A Volume Bragg grating (VBG) is placed in the back of a collimating lens, the incident angle between exposure light beam and the Volume Bragg grating is equal to the Bragg angle of the Volume Bragg grating. A photodetector is placed in the ?1 grade transmission diffraction light path of the Volume Bragg grating which the exposure light beam is emitted to. The pinhole filter is moved back and forth along an optical axis and the reading of the photodetector is observed in real time. When the reading of the photodetector is maximum, fix the pinhole filter and keep the distance between the first pinhole filter and the first collimating lens a constant. The method for adjusting the self-collimation optical path is provided, using the Volume Bragg grating to detect the parallelism of self-collimation light and substituting for a traditional Moire pattern adjustment method.

Abstract: A system for making a holographic medium includes a light source configured to provide light, and a beam splitter configured to separate the light into a first portion of the light and a second portion of the light that is spatially separated from the first portion of the light. The system also includes a first set of optical elements configured to transmit the first portion of the light for providing a first wide-field beam onto an optically recordable medium, a second set of optical elements configured to transmit the second portion of the light for providing a second wide-field beam, and a plurality of prisms optically coupled with the second set of optical elements and configured to receive the second wide-field beam and project a plurality of separate light patterns onto the optically recordable medium for forming the holographic medium.

Abstract: A method that includes: recognizing by an object recognition device a physical object; comparing by the object recognition device the physical object with a fully completed object; identifying by the object recognition device a spatial position, an orientation and physical dimensions of the partially-completed physical object; creating by a three-dimensional (3D) modeling program a 3D model of the partially-completed physical object using the spatial position, the orientation and physical dimensions of the partially-completed physical object; inputting by the 3D modeling program to a holographic creation system a missing shape of the partially-completed physical object, the missing shape being a complementary portion of the partially-completed physical object; creating by the holographic creation system a 3D hologram of the complementary portion; displaying by a holographic projector the 3D hologram of the complementary portion adjacent to the partially-completed physical object.

Abstract: A mechanical oscillator with an inertia element oscillating about a virtual pivot axis of fixed position with respect to a fixed base to which it is suspended by several flexible connections, each including a deformable compass-like member including elastic strips forming a first arm fixed to a base and a second arm fixed to the inertia element, joined at a reversal edge defining a apex of the deformable compass-like member, wherein in an unstressed rest state of the oscillator, the projection of the apex is on a first side of the pivot axis, opposite to a second side where the ends of the first and second arms are projected.

Abstract: A safety valve for a timepiece, particularly for a diving watch, including a discharge channel arranged to be able to be in fluid communication with the inside of a case of the timepiece when the valve is in an open configuration, in order to discharge excess fluid, particularly a gaseous fluid, the valve having a tube and a valve head provided with a cover and an axial skirt placed in various axial positions relative to the tube, and a pressure control module arranged inside a fluid duct provided in the tube and sliding axial guiding elements participating in controlling the movement of the valve head relative to the tube in the various axial positions, the safety valve including blocking elements preventing disconnection between the valve head and the tube and included in an outer or inner wall of the tube and in the valve head.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) driving arrangement for an electronic device, the micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) driving arrangement including a driven wheel; a driving actuation assembly for causing rotation of the driven wheel; an indicator assembly including an indicator; and a force absorbing assembly coupled intermediate the indicator assembly and the driven wheel; whereby a force acting upon the indicator assembly is absorbed by the force absorbing assembly so as to inhibit rotation of the driven wheel relative to the driving actuation assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a watch, comprising a gemstone, a setting, which has a pin-shaped projection and in which the gemstone is accommodated, and a watch glass including a continuous recess which at least the pin-shaped projection of the setting is arranged, the pin-shaped projection being fastened to the watch glass.

Abstract: There is provided a timepiece which includes a movable pointer, an acquisition unit which acquires information on a movable range corresponding to at least a portion of a movable range of the movable pointer and acquires information indicating a target position to which the pointer is to be moved, a control unit which compares the target position with the movable range and determines a movement direction of the pointer based on the comparison result, and a drive unit which drives the pointer in the determined movement direction.

Abstract: An embodiment of the inventive concept provides a physics module of a chip-scale atomic clock. The physics module includes: a housing; a laser source disposed in the housing and generating a laser beam; a vapor cell disposed above the laser source to generate a transmitted beam from the laser beam; and a detector disposed above the vapor cell to detect the transmitted beam. Here, the vapor cell may include a plurality of optical patterns configured to polarize the laser beam.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laser projection clock, comprising a driving device, one or a plurality of pointer light source device, and one or a plurality of grating. The driving device comprises one or a plurality of rotating shafts and power elements for driving the one or plurality of the rotating shafts to rotate at different speeds respectively. The one or plurality of pointer light source devices is configured on one side of the driving device to each output a laser beam. The one or plurality of gratings is configured on the one or a plurality of rotating shafts in a one-on-one manner in order to be rotated by the one or plurality of rotating shafts respectively. The grating has an indication pattern, and the one or plurality of laser beams are projected to a projection plane through the one or a plurality of indication patterns of the one or plurality of gratings to form one or plurality of laser indications respectively.

Abstract: Information is collected from a management target device having a drive unit such as a machine tool, and this collected information is more practically used. An information collection device includes a collection unit that collects, from management target devices having a drive unit, operating state information which is information indicating an operating state of the management target device while operating accompanying movement of the drive unit; and a comparison unit that extracts a plurality of sets of information matching in a predetermined condition from the operating state information thus collected, and outputs a comparison result of the plurality of sets of information thus extracted.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed, the instrument including: a handle assembly; a jaw assembly including a staple cartridge containing a plurality of staples and an anvil to form the plurality of staples upon firing; a lockout mechanism configured to prevent reuse of the jaw assembly; a drive assembly at least partially located within the handle and connected to the jaw assembly; a motor operatively coupled to the drive assembly; and a controller operatively coupled to the motor, the controller configured to control supply of electrical current to the motor and to monitor a current draw of the motor, wherein the controller is further configured to terminate the supply of electrical current to the motor in response to a drop in the current draw.

Abstract: For automatic operation of an ergonomic equipment according to dynamic workplace conditions, an activity being performed in a workplace by a person at a first time is determined based on an input from a data processing system. A group is selected corresponding to the activity. An ergonomic policy is modified to form a modified ergonomic policy. The ergonomic policy applies to the activity, and the modification is based on a condition existing in the workplace at the first time of the person performing the activity. Independent of a participation of the person, and when the person is not in compliance with the modified ergonomic policy, an ergonomic control is activated. The ergonomic control causes a change in an ergonomic feature of the ergonomic equipment, the change causing the person to become compliant with the modified ergonomic policy.

Abstract: For automatic operation of an ergonomic equipment according to dynamic workplace conditions, an activity being performed in a workplace by a person at a first time is determined based on an input from a data processing system. A group is selected corresponding to the activity. An ergonomic policy is modified to form a modified ergonomic policy. The ergonomic policy applies to the activity, and the modification is based on a condition existing in the workplace at the first time of the person performing the activity. Independent of a participation of the person, and when the person is not in compliance with the modified ergonomic policy, an ergonomic control is activated. The ergonomic control causes a change in an ergonomic feature of the ergonomic equipment, the change causing the person to become compliant with the modified ergonomic policy.

Abstract: Inference server and environment controller for inferring one or more commands for controlling an appliance. The environment controller receives at least one environmental characteristic value (for example, at least one of a current temperature, current humidity level, current carbon dioxide level, and current room occupancy) and at least one set point (for example, at least one of a target temperature, target humidity level, and target carbon dioxide level); and forwards them to the inference server. The inference server executes a neural network inference engine using a predictive model (generated by a neural network training engine) for inferring the one or more commands based on the received at least one environmental characteristic value and the received at least one set point; and transmits the one or more commands to the environment controller. The environment controller forwards the one or more commands to the controlled appliance.

Abstract: A method of generating the knowledge base used for a programmable fuzzy controller comprising the steps of determining the relevant input and output variables to be controlled; creating artificial potential fields for each of said variables; sampling each of said potential fields in order to generate fuzzy membership functions; compiling said fuzzy membership functions into fuzzy sets; and mapping inputs fuzzy set to output fuzzy sets through a rule base. The relevant input and output variables are including: minimum, maximum, and equilibrium values; an importance weight; a non-linearity value; a control direction; and information as to whether said variable is an input or output variable. Further provided is a programmable fuzzy controller whose fuzzy knowledge base is obtained by the method described.

Abstract: Described is a system for estimating long-term causal effects of interventions on various entities. A synthetic control is generated from selected donor series such that parameters involved in the generation of the synthetic control can be tuned automatically, or manually by a user. Post-intervention synthetic control values are generated from the synthetic control, and estimates of long-term causal effects of an intervention onto aggregate units similar to the donor series are determined. A device is controlled based on the determined estimates.

Abstract: According to an example embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus configured at least to receive control information embedded in an audio content signal, determine the control information conforms to a criterion defined by the computer program, and modify execution of the computer program at least in part in dependence of the determination.

Abstract: A controller stores an apparatus-room association table in which an apparatus installed in a home is associated with a room in the home, and stores a room-user association table in which the room in the home is associated with the user. The controller determines whether the user is inside the home, and updates a user status. When the user status changes, the controller determines the apparatus corresponding to the user whose user status has changed, and controls the determined apparatus to execute a predetermined process based on the apparatus-room association table and the room-user association table.

Abstract: An amplifier selection device includes: a characteristic data storage configured to store a database including respective characteristic data of a plurality of motors, amplifiers, and common power sources; a motor selector configured to display a list of identification information of the motors and select a motor; an amplifier selector configured to display a list of identification information of the amplifiers and select an amplifier; a common power source selector configured to display a list of identification information of the common power sources and select a common power source; a display configured to display a combination of the motor, the amplifier, and the common power source; and a determiner configured to determine whether a relation of the characteristic data satisfies first and second conditions, and when at least one of the conditions is not satisfied, the display clarifies a combination which fails to satisfy the first or second condition.

Abstract: A setting system 1 includes a device configuration database DB1 that stores setting data in a first format in which a device parameter to be set to a field device 11 and identification information that logically identifies the device parameter are associated, and for which authority prescribed in advance is required in order to change the stored data, and in which, using device configuration information specifying the physical structure of the field device 11 and the setting data in the first format obtained by reference to the database DB1, setting data is generated in a second format in which physical information specifying the physical address at which the device parameter is to be set is associated with the device parameter, and is set to the field device. According to this setting system, it is possible to perform exchange of a field device without any requirement for engineering by a system engineer, thereby avoiding a device in production efficiency.

Abstract: A power supply control device includes: a power generator that converts energy into power; an environmental sensor that detects a state of an ambient environment; and a controller that controls an operation timing of a functional circuit that operates upon receipt of power supplied from the power generator based on the state of the ambient environment detected by the environmental sensor.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing Internet of Things (“IoT”) functionality. In some embodiments, a computing system or IoT management node might receive sensor data from one or more IoT-capable sensors, analyze the sensor data to determine one or more actions to be taken, and identify one or more devices (e.g., household devices associated with a customer premises; vehicular components associated with a vehicle; devices disposed in, on, or along a roadway; devices disposed throughout a population area; etc.) for performing the determined one or more first actions. The computing system or IoT management node then autonomously controls each of the identified one or more devices to perform tasks based on the determined one or more first actions to be taken, thereby implementing smart environment functionality (e.g., smart home, building, or customer premises functionality, smart vehicle functionality, smart roadway functionality, smart city functionality, and so on).

Abstract: A system having a plurality of devices configured in a daisy chain network including a communication bus connecting the devices and adapted to exchange address-setting information. Each device includes an input pin adapted to receive via an input signal line different from the communication bus a signal comprising configuration information for configuring at least the device; a configuration handling unit adapted to detect a configuration mode and to configure the device according to the configuration information; an indicator adapted to indicate whether the configuration handling unit has finished configuring the device; an output pin adapted to forward the configuration information to the daisy chain network when the indicator indicates the configuration of the device is done; and a safety handling unit adapted to be operable in a safety handling mode when the indicator indicates the configuration of the device is done.

Abstract: Method for automatic switching of a communication resistor of a HART device in or out, wherein the method comprises steps as follows: transmitting a test signal on an electrical current loop; reading from the electrical current loop a test voltage signal, which is based on the transmitted test signal; comparing the test voltage signal with a reference signal; connecting the communication resistor into the electrical current loop when the test voltage signal exceeds the reference signal.