System overview   
1.1 Introduction 
  SIRIUS Innovations 
20  System Manual, 01/2011, A8E56203870002-03 
1.1.2  SIRIUS Innovations 
SIRIUS stands for innovation 
Siemens is constantly developing its product portfolio to enable it to meet the demands of 
industry, not only today, but in the future too. As part of this process, Siemens gathers 
customer feedback on an ongoing basis and considers it in conjunction with the global trends 
of tomorrow. 
This manual underlines Siemens' claim to be a trendsetting company which offers you the 
very best products for switching, starting, protecting, and monitoring your motors and 
systems. 
 
Figure 1-1  Innovations in the SIRIUS modular system 
When coming up with these innovations for the SIRIUS modular system, particular 
importance was placed on reducing the amount of wiring needed, saving space, reducing the 
number of versions available, and providing operational reliability. 
Simple and straightforward connection 
The options for connecting to the higher-level control have now also been further improved: 
The SIRIUS modular system now not only features the AS-Interface, but also the IO-Link, 
which has been standardized as well. This ensures that switching devices can benefit from 
optimum interaction with our SIMATIC automation system and also with third-party controls. 
The connection to the automation level is implemented via function modules, which are 
plugged onto contactors. However, these function modules are also available in a version for 
traditional parallel wiring, as well as in versions featuring AS-i or IO-Link interfaces. This 
simple version just contains the logic for performing the star-delta (wye-delta) functions of a 
feeder, for example. There is no longer any need to carry out laborious control circuit wiring 
work. The star-delta (wye-delta) times are set directly on the function module; all necessary 
interlocks are already integrated therein. The smaller width is not only due to the higher 
performance capability of the new devices, but also to the fact that the timing relay, for 
example, which used to be connected separately, has been done away with completely.