An apparatus for auto addressing includes a communication bus interface configured to receive an address assignment request to assign an address to the apparatus. A functional connection is configured to activate a device connected to the apparatus. A detector is configured to measure a characteristic of the device and to compare the characteristic with a validation parameter. The characteristic depends on the functional connection. An address assignment circuit is configured to store the address in a memory of the apparatus in response to receiving the address assignment request at the apparatus, and the characteristic being validated with the validation parameter.