An intrinsically safe automation technology field device for use in a potentially explosive atmosphere, comprising: - A first and a second connection terminal (30a, 30b) for connecting a two-wire cable via which current can be supplied; - A sensor and/or actuator element for detecting and/or supplying a process variable; - Field device electronics (31, 32, 33, 34, 36) connected to the first and second connection terminals (30a, 30b) that conduct the current (Is) which can be supplied via the two-wire cable via a current path from the first to the second connection terminals (30a, 30b), wherein the field device electronics (31, 32, 33, 34, 36) have a voltage regulator inserted into the current path, which is configured to provide an energy supply at least to the sensor and/or actuator element using the supplied current (Is), wherein the field device electronics (31, 32, 33, 34, 36) are further configured to transmit the process variable detected by the sensor element by setting the current (Is) to a corresponding value and/or to receive a process variable to be provided by the actuator element by reading out the current (Is), and to set the actuator element accordingly, characterized in that - the field device further has an Ex protection unit (35, 38), which comprises at least a first and a second actively controllable switching element (38a, 38b) inserted into the current path in series, and at least a first and a second threshold value circuit (35a, 35b), which are configured in such a way that the first threshold value circuit actuates the first controllable switching element as a function of a first threshold value for current (Is) and the second threshold value circuit actuates the second controllable switching element as a function of a second threshold value for current (Is) so that the current (Is) is limited to the first and/or second threshold value(s) when the first and/or second threshold value(s) is/are reached, and wherein the threshold value circuits (35a, 35b) are switched in parallel to the voltage regulator inserted into the current path. - A first and a second connection terminal (30a, 30b) for connecting a two-wire cable via which current can be supplied; - A sensor and/or actuator element for detecting and/or supplying a process variable; - Field device electronics (31, 32, 33, 34, 36) connected to the first and second connection terminals (30a, 30b) that conduct the current (Is) which can be supplied via the two-wire cable via a current path from the first to the second connection terminals (30a, 30b), wherein the field device electronics (31, 32, 33, 34, 36) have a voltage regulator inserted into the current path, which is configured to provide an energy supply at least to the sensor and/or actuator element using the supplied current (Is), wherein the field device electronics (31, 32, 33, 34, 36) are further configured to transmit the process variable detected by the sensor element by setting the current (Is) to a corresponding value and/or to receive a process variable to be provided by the actuator element by reading out the current (Is), and to set the actuator element accordingly, characterized in that - the field device further has an Ex protection unit (35, 38), which comprises at least a first and a second actively controllable switching element (38a, 38b) inserted into the current path in series, and at least a first and a second threshold value circuit (35a, 35b), which are configured in such a way that the first threshold value circuit actuates the first controllable switching element as a function of a first threshold value for current (Is) and the second threshold value circuit actuates the second controllable switching element as a function of a second threshold value for current (Is) so that the current (Is) is limited to the first and/or second threshold value(s) when the first and/or second threshold value(s) is/are reached, and wherein the threshold value circuits (35a, 35b) are switched in parallel to the voltage regulator inserted into the current path.