Multifunctional I/O apparatus, featuring a connection terminal with two connections and a circuit electronics system which detects, with the help of several adjustable operating states, an active input signal or a passive input signal present at the two connections of the connection terminal or a load driven externally, which is connected to the two connections of the connection terminal, wherein the circuit electronics system features the following: at least one switching element, which can be controlled by a logic unit via a first control signal in such a way that it short-circuits the two connections of the connecting terminal or separates them from one another, a signal generator, which can be controlled by the logic unit via a second control signal in such a way that it generates a status signal when an active input signal is present which is able to supply the signal generator with sufficient energy so that the signal generator can be operated appropriately, or when the passive input signal is present which is not able to supply the signal generator with sufficient energy so that the signal generator can be operated appropriately, and supplies said status signal to the logic unit an energy source which can be controlled by the logic unit via a third control signal in such a way that it provides the necessary energy to operate the signal generator when the passive input signal is present at the two connections of the connection terminal, a protective device which is switched between the signal generator and the energy source, the logic unit, which differentiates between a first operational state, a second operational state and a third operational state depending on the operational state of the circuit electronics system that is configured, and which uses the first control signal, the second control signal and the third control signal to control the switching element, the signal generator and the energy source according to the set operational state. at least one switching element, which can be controlled by a logic unit via a first control signal in such a way that it short-circuits the two connections of the connecting terminal or separates them from one another, a signal generator, which can be controlled by the logic unit via a second control signal in such a way that it generates a status signal when an active input signal is present which is able to supply the signal generator with sufficient energy so that the signal generator can be operated appropriately, or when the passive input signal is present which is not able to supply the signal generator with sufficient energy so that the signal generator can be operated appropriately, and supplies said status signal to the logic unit an energy source which can be controlled by the logic unit via a third control signal in such a way that it provides the necessary energy to operate the signal generator when the passive input signal is present at the two connections of the connection terminal, a protective device which is switched between the signal generator and the energy source, the logic unit, which differentiates between a first operational state, a second operational state and a third operational state depending on the operational state of the circuit electronics system that is configured, and which uses the first control signal, the second control signal and the third control signal to control the switching element, the signal generator and the energy source according to the set operational state.