Programmable channel circuit for coupling signals between field devices and control systems

摘要

A programmable channel circuit can include a control circuit having at least one bidirectional I/O terminal, at least one programming terminal, and one or more processing elements, and an interface circuit having first and second field terminals. The interface circuit is coupled to the control circuit via the processing elements. The control circuit can be operable to respond to a programming signal on the programming terminal for automatically selecting one of a plurality of communications modes. The selection couples the bidirectional I/O terminal to the first terminal via one of the processing elements associated with the selected communications mode.