EP3620661B1 - Connecting device, system and method for operating a connecting device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a connection device having a first connection for a vacuum device and a plurality of second connections each for an operating device for the vacuum device.

The invention also relates to a system comprising a connection device with a first connection and a plurality of second connections, a vacuum device being connected to the first connection and a respective operating device for the vacuum device being connected to the plurality of second connections.

The invention also relates to a method for operating a connection device with a first connection and a plurality of second connections.

Various vacuum components (in particular pumps and pressure measuring devices) can only contain one communication connection (which can also simply be referred to as a connection for short), for example in the form of an RS-485 interface with a specified protocol, which is used for connection to operating devices, for example a DCU (" Display Control Unit "; German: display control unit) or HPU (" Handheld programming unit "; German: portable programming unit) is set up. A PC (personal computer) or an industrial controller with a corresponding interface can also be connected to the communication port using suitable components (for example a USB / RS-485 converter). One or more devices (e.g. several TMPs (Turbo molecular pumps), Digilines, or MVPS (diaphragm priming pumps)) can normally be connected to exactly one control unit. In practice, this can be found in pumping stations (where, for example, an MVP and a TMP are connected to a DCU) or in customer applications (where, for example, several pumps are connected to a PC).

One problem here is that when using a master (in other words: an operating device or an operating device) which initiates the communication, it is not possible to connect a second master or a second operating device. However, this can be desirable if, for example, a pumping station is to be connected to a PC. In this case, the RS-485 connection to the DCU must be interrupted and the pumping station must be connected to the PC instead. The display of the DCU cannot then be used. There are also applications that connect several pumps to a PC for control and / or monitoring in an extensive space (for example in the coating area). Due to the spatial expansion, additional local display devices for status queries or diagnostics are often required, since access to the PC from the location of the pump is difficult or impossible.

In exemplary vacuum devices of the prior art, only exactly one connection is provided for exactly one operating device. This means that vacuum devices can only be connected to a maximum of one operating device.

From the EP 0 809 164 A1 there is known a vacuum pump control system for controlling a plurality of vacuum pumps. The vacuum pump control system for controlling a plurality of vacuum pumps includes a host computer, a plurality of vacuum pump controllers each connected to the vacuum pumps, and a network control unit for transferring information between the host computer and the vacuum pump controllers. the Vacuum pump controls are connected in parallel to the network control unit via appropriate communication lines.

From the EP 1 903 530 A2 an arrangement with a vacuum device, a first bus system and a control unit is known. In order to simplify service and replacement of the vacuum devices, it is proposed that an administrative unit is connected to the bus system and the bus system has communication means which are adapted for a first data exchange between the vacuum device and the control unit on the one hand and a second data exchange between the vacuum device and the administrative unit, the first and second data exchange are independent of one another.

It is an object of the invention to make the connection options of operating devices to vacuum devices more flexible.

This object is achieved by a connection device with the features of claim 1, and in particular in that the connection device has: a first connection for a vacuum device, in particular one Vacuum pump or an accessory unit for a vacuum pump or a system comprising one or more vacuum pumps and / or one or more accessory units, for example a pumping station; a plurality of second connections for in each case an operating device for the vacuum device; and a communication control unit configured to: receive a first operating message from a first operating device; Forwarding the first operating message to the vacuum device; Receiving a second operating message from a second operating device after the first operating message has been received; Receiving a response to the first service message from the vacuum device; and forwarding the second service message to the vacuum device after the response has been received.

In other words, a vacuum device and a plurality of operating devices can be connected to a connection device, and the connection device can forward messages (which can be referred to as operating messages) from each of the operating devices to the vacuum device. After a message has been forwarded to the vacuum device, another message to be forwarded is only forwarded to the vacuum device when a response from the vacuum device to the previously transmitted message has been received.

With such a connection device, more than one operating device for the vacuum device can be connected to the vacuum device. It will be understood that even if only two operating devices are described in various exemplary embodiments for the sake of simpler description, more than two operating devices can also be connected to the connection device; to this end, the connection device can correspondingly contain more than two second connections. Each of the connected multiple operating devices can then access the vacuum device (ie the control of the vacuum device) as usual, that is For example, send control commands, receive responses to control commands, query parameters or query operating states.

An operating device can be any device suitable for communication with the vacuum device. For example, the operating device can be used to control the vacuum device, to set parameters for operating the vacuum device, to read out parameters of the vacuum device, to query the operating status of the vacuum device or any other type of read or write access to the vacuum device (in particular to a control device of the vacuum device ) must be set up. The operating device can also contain or be a display device.

The operating message can contain any type of data that is sent from an operating device to the vacuum device. For example, an operating message can contain control commands or commands for querying or setting parameters or operating states of the vacuum device. The operating message does not have to contain any addressing information from the vacuum device, since each operating device is provided as standard for operating precisely one vacuum device.

The response to the operating message can contain a confirmation of receipt of the operating message, a confirmation of the execution of commands contained in the operating message, or more complex response information (such as the value of queried parameters or operating states).

A connection can, for example, be male or female and / or comprise a plug or a socket, other types of connection also being conceivable.

The operation of the connection device is not noticeable or transparent to the vacuum device, i. That is, the vacuum device does not have to be specially set up for operation with the connection device, but the connection device is simply connected between the vacuum device and the plurality of operating devices. The operation is also not noticeable or transparent for the connected operating devices, i. H. the operating devices do not have to be set up specifically for operation with the connecting device, but can output operating messages as usual and receive responses to the operating messages.

In order to ensure controlled operation of the vacuum device even when several operating devices are connected, according to the invention the query of one operating device can be completed before the next query (for example from another operating device) is processed. To this end, before a second operating message is forwarded to the vacuum device, a response to a first operating message is received. This rules out the possibility that an undefined state arises in the vacuum device due to the simultaneous (or almost simultaneous) arrival of operating messages, which could lead to errors in the operation of the vacuum device.

In one embodiment, the communication control unit is also set up to forward the response to the first operating device. The response can be forwarded to the first operating device independently of the forwarding of the second operating message to the vacuum device. For example, the response to the first operating device can be forwarded before, after, or during the forwarding of the second operating message to the vacuum device.

In a further development, the communication control unit is also set up to recognize collisions when receiving operating messages of more than an operating device. If, for example, the first operating message and the second operating message arrive at the connection device at the same time (or are received almost simultaneously at the connection device, for example if the second operating message is received by the connection device before the first operating message has been forwarded to the vacuum device), the

The connection device recognizes that there is a collision and can then correspondingly forward the two or more operating messages to the vacuum device one after the other.

In one embodiment, the communication control unit is also set up to prioritize the operating messages into a priority operating message and a subordinate operating message when receiving operating messages from more than one operating device.

For example, the prioritization can take place using predefined rules. For example, the prioritization can be based on which of the second connections the operating messages are received (or have been received) via. It is thus possible, for example, to define one of the operating devices as having priority (this operating device is then connected to a predetermined second connection of the connecting device). In another example, the prioritization can take place based on the content of the operating messages. This makes it possible, for example, to forward more urgent operating messages to the vacuum device with preference (in other words: priority). In another example, the prioritization can be based on the history of operating messages that have already been forwarded. It is thus possible, for example, to ensure that no operator control device has to wait too long for an operator control message output by it to be forwarded. In another example, the prioritization can be based on the size of the service message to be forwarded. This makes it possible, for example, to keep the effort of temporarily storing subordinate operating messages as low as possible, for example by large operating messages are forwarded with priority. In another example, the prioritization can be based on the duration of the expected execution of the operating message by the vacuum device. This makes it possible, for example, to forward operating messages that can presumably be processed quickly on the vacuum device with priority and thus to keep the overall waiting time for operating messages that have not yet been forwarded as short as possible.

In one embodiment, the communication control unit can also be set up to: forward the priority operating message to the vacuum device; and storing the subordinate service message. For this purpose, the communication control unit or another component of the connection device can have a memory in which the subordinate operating message can be stored.

If, while waiting for a response to the first operating message to be received from the vacuum device, another (for example, third) operating message is received, it can be determined (for example on the predefined rules for prioritization described above) whether after receiving the response to the first operating message, the (stored) second operating message, which was previously classified as subordinate, or the third operating message is to be forwarded to the vacuum device.

In one embodiment, the communication control unit can also be set up to preprocess a received operator control message prior to further processing, in particular prior to forwarding. Preprocessing can include changing or completely deleting a received operating message, so that either a modified operating message is forwarded to the vacuum device or the operating message is discarded without being forwarded to the vacuum device.

In one embodiment, the communication control unit can also be set up to forward operating messages with read-only access to the vacuum device and to discard operating messages with non-read-only access to the vacuum device if the control message is received by an operating device via a predetermined second connection. It can thus be ensured, for example, that a specified operating device (that is to say the operating device which is connected to the connection device via the specified second connection) only receives read access to the vacuum device. For example, the specified operating device can only be allowed to query the status of the vacuum device or to query parameters of the vacuum device, whereas the specified operating device cannot be allowed to send control commands or commands to change parameters to the vacuum device. If the control message is discarded, the connection device can output a corresponding notification of the discard to the specified control device.

In one embodiment, the communication control unit can also be set up to forward operating messages with only access to specified parameters of the vacuum device and to discard operating messages with access beyond the specified parameters of the vacuum device if the operating message is received by an operating device via a specified second connection. In this way it can be prevented, for example, that an unauthorized operating device (that is to say connected to the predefined second connection) changes critical parameters or queries confidential parameters. If the operating message is discarded, the connection device can send a corresponding Output notification of the discard to the unauthorized operating device.

In one development, the communication control unit can also be set up to discard an operating message received from an operating device via a predefined second connection without forwarding the operating message. This means that the operating device can be completely excluded from operating the vacuum device. Nevertheless, the operating device can, for example, receive status messages from the vacuum device.

In one development, the communication control unit can also be set up to generate a response to an operator control message without forwarding the operator control message. If, for example, the connection device can already determine (for example through previously received responses or information stored internally in the connection device) which response the vacuum device would give to the operating message, and if the operating message has no influence on the operation of the vacuum device (if for example no control information or parameters to be set are contained in the operating message), the connection device can relieve the vacuum device in that it generates the response instead of the vacuum device and transmits it to the operating device.

In one embodiment, the first port and the plurality of second ports can have serial ports. The serial connections can be set up according to RS-232 (or ANSI EIA /) TIA-232-F or EIA-232), RS-422 (or EIA-422 or ITU-T V.11), RS-423 ( or EIA-423) or RS-485 (or EIA-485), LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signaling) or TTY. The connection device can be a device separate from the vacuum device and the operating devices (for example, arranged in a separate housing and via connections to the vacuum device and the operating devices) or be integrated in the vacuum device or in one of the operating devices.

The object is also achieved by a system with the features of the claim directed thereto, in particular in that the system has a connection device as described above with a vacuum device connected to the first connection and a plurality of operating devices for the vacuum device connected to a respective second connection .

The object is also achieved by a method containing the features of the independent method claim for operating a connection device having a first connection for a vacuum device, in particular a vacuum pump or an accessory unit for a vacuum pump, and a plurality of second connections for a respective operating device for the vacuum device, in particular in that the method has at least the following steps: receiving a first operating message from a first operating device; Forwarding the first operating message to the vacuum device; Receiving a second operating message from a second operating device after the first operating message has been received; Receiving a response to the first service message from the vacuum device; and forwarding the second service message to the vacuum device after the response has been received.

The aspects of the invention described herein, that is to say the connection device, the system and the method for operating a connection device, can of course and advantageously be developed further in the sense of all the embodiments described in relation to the respective other aspects.

As described herein, according to the invention, a connection device (for example a multiplexer for serial communication in vacuum devices) to be provided. According to the invention, for example, the sole serial connection (for example an RS-485 interface with a predetermined protocol, in particular PV (Pfeiffer Vaccuum) protocol) can be made usable for more than one operating device. This is z. B. provided by the connection device, for example with an RS-485 connection to the device (slave) and two or more RS-485 connections to the controller (master). In this case, data, for example messages or telegrams, which are intended for the (vacuum) device, can be received independently on both connections for the control. In the event of a collision, i.e. if telegrams are received at the same time or the question-answer cycle (or message-answer cycle) from a controller to the device and back is not yet fully completed (for example, if the connection device has not yet responded to an the operating message forwarded to the vacuum device has been received), a request is temporarily stored and only forwarded when the communication channel is free again. In this case, the connection device organizes the assignment of the response to the connection or to the operating device connected to the connection from which the request originally came. Optionally (for example based on the type of response), the response can also be forwarded to further operating devices (that is to say to operating devices different from the operating device that sent the original operating message). In this case, the corresponding controller (for example the operating device whose operating message is temporarily stored) can only notice a short delay in the response. As long as this short delay remains within the timeout (i.e. below the limit for the maximum response time) for such a process, there are no practical effects.

The connection device can be designed as an independent device (for example in the form of a Y-distributor) or be part of another device that supports the the functionality described. Furthermore, due to the fact that all communication runs via the connection device (for example via a microcontroller of the connection device), the data streams can be filtered and / or preprocessed. For example, certain connections to the control can be prioritized in order to optimize the access pages there. Or only read access can be permitted on certain connections, and write access can be rejected immediately by the microcontroller and answered accordingly on behalf of the device and not forwarded to the device itself. Or access to only a certain group of parameters is enabled or additional parameters can be supported that are not available in the vacuum device itself (for example metadata about the place of use, operating hours counter and / or ambient temperature). In addition, the connection device can be equipped with any number of connections for the devices and / or the controls. Cascading, ie connecting several connection devices according to the invention one behind the other, is also conceivable.

According to the invention, the connection device receives operating messages (in other words: call telegrams) from two or more connections (in other words: ports), the messages only being forwarded to a fixed port (the vacuum device). The answer is then forwarded back in the same way (and optionally also forwarded to other control elements). Routing therefore takes place at most in the return direction (with the operating message being forwarded to the calling port; in other words: to the operating device that sent the operating message) and independently of the sender / recipient address.

According to one embodiment, the connection can be designed as a physical bus system, for example as RS-485, as CAN, RS-232, I20, or SPI. According to a further development, more than one first connection can be provided, so that more than one slave device (in other words: more than one vacuum device) can be connected to the slave connection (in other words to more than one first connection), as is common, for example, in pumping stations. The vacuum devices can then be distinguishable at the first connection, for example by the protocol content explicitly directed to them, such as a device address. In the case of more than one vacuum device on the first connection, after a first operating message has been forwarded to a first vacuum device, it can be checked upon receipt of a second operating message whether the second operating message is also intended for the first vacuum device (to which the first operating message has already been forwarded) is. If the second operating message is also intended for the first vacuum device, it is possible to wait before forwarding the second operating message to the first vacuum device until a response to the first operating message has been received. If the second operating message is directed to a vacuum device other than the first vacuum device, the second operating message can be forwarded directly or immediately (regardless of whether a response from the first vacuum device to the first operating message has already been received or not).

In one embodiment, filtering and / or preprocessing at one of the first or second connections (ports) can take place in the connection device, for example a restriction to read accesses, filtering and / or representative rejection or processing of write accesses, which then do not even occur forwarded to the slave (i.e. the vacuum device). In a further development, several or all connections (the one or more first connection and the plurality of side connections) can be galvanically decoupled from one another. In a further development, a voltage supply provided on an RS-485 system can be used and monitored and used, for example, to feed the connection device. In a further development, an integrated gateway can be provided for the implementation of protocols between vacuum devices and Operating devices with different protocols, so that, for example, a vacuum device that is set up according to a first communication protocol can be addressed via an operating device that is set up according to a second communication protocol. In the slave direction (i.e. from the operating device to the vacuum device), the information (e.g. operating messages) can be converted to another protocol supported by the connected vacuum device and also translated back again in the reverse direction (i.e. in the master direction, i.e. from the vacuum device to the operating device) .

With the connection device, the system and the method according to the various embodiments, the operating options for users can be optimized, and the integration of vacuum solutions (e.g. pumping stations) into higher-level controls while maintaining local control options as well as functional expansions or retrofits (i.e. the integration of older devices ) can be made possible by adapters that use these technologies.

The various embodiments can be used for all vacuum components for which two connections for serial PV interfaces are required (for example for pumping stations or control via RS-485 from the central computer and additional local control via DCU, for example in the coating area). All adapters for vacuum components that obtain their information via the serial interface (e.g. RS-485), but also have to pass it on for reasons of compatibility, can be used according to the invention.

Fig. 1

zeigt ein erfindungsgemäßes Vakuumgerät in perspektivischer Ansicht.

Fig. 2

zeigt eine Schnittdarstellung des Vakuumgeräts der Fig. 1.

Fig. 3

zeigt ein System mit einem Vakuumgerät, einer Anschlussvorrichtung und zwei Bedienvorrichtungen.

Fig. 4

zeigt ein Kommunikationsdiagramm, dass die Kommunikation zwischen der Anschlussvorrichtung, dem Vakuumgerät, der ersten Bedienvorrichtung und der zweiten Bedienvorrichtung zeigt.

The invention is explained below by way of example only with reference to the schematic drawing.

Fig. 1

shows a vacuum device according to the invention in a perspective view.

Fig. 2

FIG. 11 shows a sectional view of the vacuum device of FIG Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3

shows a system with a vacuum device, a connection device and two operating devices.

Fig. 4

FIG. 13 is a communication diagram showing the communication between the connecting device, the vacuum device, the first operating device and the second operating device.

In Fig. 1 a vacuum device 10 designed as a turbo molecular pump with a control unit 12 and two connections 14 for accessory units (not shown) is shown. Various accessory units, such as, for example, retaining elements, fans, flood valves, sealing gas valves, control relays, pressure measuring devices and / or integrated measuring tubes, can be connected to the connections 14. One or, as shown here, two or more connections 14 can be provided. In this example, the connections 14 are arranged on a lower part 16 of a housing of the vacuum device. However, one or more connections 14 can also be arranged elsewhere, for example on an upper part 18 of the housing and / or on and / or in the control unit 12 or its housing. An operating device (not shown in FIG Fig. 1 ) can be connected.

At the in Fig. 2 Sectional view of the vacuum device 10 shown in FIG Fig. 1 the cutting plane runs essentially through the lower part 16, the vacuum device 10 being rotated essentially by 180 °, i.e. the vacuum device from is considered below. An electronic unit 20 is visible which, as an alternative or in addition to the control unit 12, can itself form a control unit for accessory units connected to the connections 14. The control unit 12 can include, for example, an engine controller.

Fig. 3 shows a system in which a connection device 30, which contains a communication control unit 35, is connected to a vacuum device 10 via a vacuum device-side connection 11 and a connection-device-side connection 31 (in other words first connection). The connection device contains further (in other words, second) connections 32, 33. Operating devices 40, 45 are connected to the second connections 32, 33 via the respective operating device-side connections 41, 46. More precisely, via a first second connection 32 and via a control-device-side connection 41 of a first operating device 40, the first operating device 40 is connected to the connection device 30, and the second operating device 45 is connected to the connection device 30 via a second second connection 33 via a connection 46 on the operating device side of a second operating device 45.

Fig. 4 FIG. 12 shows a communication diagram showing the communication between the connection device 30, the vacuum device 10, the first operating device 40 and the second operating device 45. The first operating device 40 sends a first operating message 50. The first operating device 40 can send the first operating message 50 as if it were being sent to the vacuum device 10. However, after the first operating device 40 is connected to the connecting device 30, the first operating message is received by the connecting device 30. The connection device 30 forwards the first operating message 50 to the vacuum device 10 as an operating message 52 (which can, for example, be preprocessed or filtered or identical to the first operating message 50). After receiving the operating message 52 the vacuum device 10 processes the operating message 52 in step 54. Even before the operating device 30 has received a response to the operating message 52 from the vacuum device 10, the connecting device 30 receives a second operating message 56 from the second operating device 45 Cached in the connection device 30. After processing 54 of the operating message 52 in the vacuum device 10, the vacuum device 10 sends a response 60 to the operating message 52 to the connection device 30. After receiving the response 60, the connection device 30 sets the stored second operating message 56 in step 62 for transmission to the vacuum device 10 ready, and sends the second operating message 56 (possibly after preprocessing or filtering) as an operating message 64 to the vacuum device 10. The vacuum device 10 processes the operating message 64 in step 66. The connection device 30 forwards the response 60 to the first operating device 40, for which the Response is actually intended as the response of the vacuum device 10 to the first operating message 50, further as response 68 (possibly after preprocessing or filtering). Furthermore, the connection device 30 can also forward the message 60 to the second operating device 45 as a response 70 (possibly after preprocessing or filtering). Although in Figure 4 It is shown that the response 68, 70 to the first operating message 50 is only forwarded to the operating devices 40, 45 after the second operating message 56 has been forwarded to the vacuum device 10, the forwarding can also take place in a different order or, for example, at the same time.

After processing 66 of the second operating message 64 in the vacuum device 10, the vacuum device 10 sends a response 72 to the second operating message 64 to the connecting device 30. The connecting device 30 forwards the response 72 to the second operating device 45, for which the response is the response from the vacuum device 10 is actually intended for the second operating message 64, as a response 74 (possibly after preprocessing or filtering). Further The connection device 30 can also forward the message 72 to the first operating device 40 as a response 76 (possibly after preprocessing or filtering).

List of reference symbols

10

Vacuum device

11

connection

12th

Control unit

14th

connection

16

Lower part

18th

Top

20th

electronics

30th

Connection device

31

first connection

32

second connection

33

second connection

35

Communication control unit

40

first control device

41

connection

45

second control device

46

connection

50

first operating message

52

first operating message

54

processing

56

second operating message

58

Save on computer

60

answer

62

Provide

64

second operating message

66

processing

68

answer

70

answer

72

answer

74

answer

76

answer

Claims (15)

1. A connecting apparatus (30) comprising:

   a first connection (31) for a vacuum device (10), in particular a vacuum pump or an accessory unit for a vacuum pump;

   a plurality of second connections (32, 33) for a respective operating apparatus (40, 45) for the vacuum device (10);

   a communication control unit (35) configured to:

   - receive a first operating message (50) from a first operating apparatus (40);

   - forward the first operating message (50, 52) to the vacuum device;

   - receive a second operating message (56) from a second operating apparatus (45) after the first operating message (50) was received;

   characterised in that

   the communication control unit is further configured to

   - receive an answer (60) to the first communication operation message (50, 52) from the vacuum device (10); and

   - forward the second operation message (64) to the vacuum device (10) after the answer (60) has been received.
2. A connecting apparatus (30) in accordance with claim 1,
   wherein the communication control unit (35) is further configured to forward the answer (60, 68) to the first operating apparatus (40).
3. A connecting apparatus (30) in accordance with at least one of the claims 1 or 2, wherein the communication control unit (35) is further configured to recognise collisions on receiving operating messages from more than one operating apparatus (40, 45).
4. A connecting apparatus (30) in accordance with at least one of the claims 1 to 3,
   wherein the communication control unit (35) is further configured to prioritise the operating messages into a higher ranking operating message and a lower ranking operating message on receiving operating messages from more than one operating apparatus (40, 45).
5. A connecting apparatus (30) in accordance with claim 4,
   wherein the communication control unit (35) is further configured to prioritise the operating message based thereon via which of the second connections (32, 33) the operating messages are received.
6. A connecting apparatus (30) in accordance with any one of claims 4 or 5,
   wherein the communication control unit (35) is further configured to

   - forward the higher ranking operating message to the vacuum device (10); and

   - store (58) the lower ranking operating message.
7. A connecting apparatus (30) in accordance with any one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the communication control unit (35) is further configured to preprocess one of the received operating message before a further processing, in particular prior to the forwarding.
8. A connecting apparatus (30) in accordance with at least one of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the communication control unit (35) is further configured to forward operating messages only with reading rights to the vacuum device (10) and to discard operating messages with more than reading rights to the vacuum device (10) if the operating message is received from an operating apparatus (40, 45) via a pre-defined second connection (32, 33).
9. A connecting apparatus (30) in accordance with at least one of the claims 1 to 8,
   wherein the communication control unit (35) is further configured to forward operating messages only with access to pre-defined parameters to the vacuum device (10) and to discard operating messages having access to more parameters than the pre-defined parameters of the vacuum device (10) if the operating message is received from an operating apparatus via a pre-defined second connection (32, 33).
10. A connecting apparatus (30) in accordance with any one of the claims 1 to 9,
    wherein the communication control unit (35) is further configured to discard an operating message received via a pre-defined second connection (32, 33) from an operating apparatus without forwarding the operating message.
11. A connecting apparatus (30) in accordance with at least one of the claims 1 to 10,
    wherein the communication control unit (35) is further configured to generate an answer to the operating message without forwarding the operating message.
12. A connecting apparatus (30) in accordance with any one of the claims 1 to 11,
    wherein the first connection (31) and the plurality of second connections (32, 33) comprise serial connectors.
13. A connecting apparatus (30) in accordance with at least of the claims 1 to 12,
    wherein the connecting apparatus (30) is integrated into the vacuum device (10) or into one of the operating apparatus (40, 45).
14. A system comprising a connecting apparatus (30) in accordance with anyone of the preceding claims having a vacuum device (10) connected to the first connection (31) and a plurality of operating apparatus (40, 45) for the vacuum device (10) connected to a respective one of the second connections (32, 33).
15. A method of operating a connecting apparatus (30) comprising a first connection (31) for a vacuum device (10), in particular a vacuum pump or an accessory unit for a vacuum pump, and a plurality of second connections (32, 33) for a respective operating apparatus (40, 45) for a vacuum device (10),
    wherein the method comprises at least the following steps:

    - receiving an operating message (50) from a first operating apparatus (40);

    - forwarding a first operating message (50, 52) to the vacuum device (10);

    - receiving a second operating message (56) from a second operating apparatus (45) after the first operating message (50) has been received;

    - receiving an answer to the first operating message (50, 52) from the vacuum device (10); and

    - forwarding the second operating message (64) to the vacuum device (10) after the answer (60) has been received.

Images