Kontrollinien

Kontrollinien (control lines) is a German-language term used in technical literature to denote lines or channels that carry signals used to control, coordinate, or monitor a system. The exact meaning of the term varies by discipline, but it generally refers to dedicated pathways distinct from primary data or process signals.

In electronics and digital systems, Kontrollinien describe wires or PCB traces that convey control signals such as enable, clock, reset, or select signals. They are typically separated from data lines to improve timing reliability and reduce contention, and they may be organized within buses or interfaces with defined timing relationships.

In automation and process control, Kontrollinien refer to circuits that link sensors, switches, controllers, and actuators. These control lines can carry digital on/off signals or analog values representing process variables, and they are often designed with safety and reliability features such as interlocks, redundancy, or fail-safe states.

In other domains, the term may appear in railway signaling, building automation, or communications networks to distinguish control or signaling channels from primary data channels. In networking and computer systems, related concepts include control planes or signaling channels that carry management or supervisory traffic separate from user data.

The exact usage of Kontrollinien depends on the field and standard practices, but the core idea is a line or channel dedicated to carrying instructions, status information, or supervisory signals that govern the operation of a system.