Patent ID: 7869886

Claim:
An input/output channel control block that comprises a plurality of successive input/output modules, wherein the first module is an input/output control master module ( 100 ) and the subsequent modules constitute a plurality of input/output expansion slave modules ( 200 ), wherein each expansion slave module comprises a processing logic unit ( 215 ) as well as a respective first signal port ( 211 ) and a respective equal number of second signal ports ( 212 ) and an equal number of third signal ports ( 213 ), wherein the first signal port is connected to the processing logic unit, and at least one fourth signal port ( 214 ), for connecting an actuator and/or a sensor, is also connected to the processing logic unit, and a respective second signal port is connected to a third signal port, and wherein the control master module likewise possesses a plurality of third signal ports ( 113 ) and a control logic unit ( 105 ) for data exchange with the data bus and for targeted driving of these third signal ports ( 113 ) and is connected to the plurality of expansion slave modules in such a manner that the same port among the plurality of third signal ports of a prior module is connected to the first signal port of a subsequent module, and each additional signal port of the plurality of third signal ports is connected to a respective signal port of the plurality of second signal ports of the subsequent module.