Patent ID: 8787209

Claim:
An interface module for connecting a device to a controller within a controller network, the controller being adapted to supply and/or receive data according to a network protocol, and the device being adapted to supply and/or receive data according to a device protocol, the interface module comprising: a network connector supporting a plurality of network channels for connecting the interface module to the controller via the controller network; a device connector supporting a plurality of device channels for connecting the interface module to the device; a conversion unit arranged to receive the plurality of network channels from the network connector, and adapted to convert data between the network protocol and at least two device protocols, including that of the device, the conversion unit having two or more signal terminals for supplying and/or receiving signals to or from the device; and a configuration unit between the conversion unit and the device connector, adapted to configure the interface module to the device by routing selected device channels to selected signal terminals of the conversion unit; wherein the configuration unit is separable from and removably coupled to the conversion unit such that the interface module may be configured for use with a different device by replacement of the configuration unit; and wherein the configuration unit comprises a first physical connector matched to the device channels and a second physical connector matched to the signal terminals of the conversion unit, and conductive tracks therebetween arran Ted to connect the selected device channels to the selected signal terminals across the configuration unit.