CANbus Communications Products

CANbus communications products are highly reliable, high-speed serial data network devices that connect computers and programmable logic controllers (PLCs) to controller area network buses (CANbus). CANbus networks provide highly predictable communications with extensive error checking for real-time control applications in harsh electrical environments. CANbus networks and are also suitable for embedded computing. Field devices such as sensors, actuators, valves, and controls for lighting or motors have enough intelligence (computing capacity) to determine which messages apply. With intelligent devices, reconfiguring a CANbus network (adding or deleting devices) requires less effort than a client/server network (such as Ethernet) in which the master control unit must know each device’s network address. CANbus industrial communications computer boards provide both input and output functions.

CANbus communications products are manufactured for many standard computer buses, including industry standard architecture (ISA), peripheral component interconnect (PCI), PC/104, and PC/104-Plus. They are also suitable for use with PCMCIA devices or PC cards, credit card-sized peripherals used mainly in laptop and notebook computers. To connect to an RS232 bus, an adapter or dongle is needed. The specific size and form factor of a CANbus industrial communications computer board depends on the type of computer bus to which it connects.

CANbus communications products are used in automotive networks, industrial networks, medical equipment, railway signaling, and building automation systems. CANbus industrial communications computer boards meet one or more standards. The International Standards Organization (ISO) maintains CANbus standards ISO 11519 (CAN 2.0A, for road vehicle communications), ISO 11898 (CAN 2.0B, for road vehicle communications), ISO 11992 (interchange of information between towing and towed vehicles), ISO 15745 (industrial automation systems and integration), and ISO 16845 (CANbus diagnostics). The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) maintains CANbus standards J1939 (for equipment used in agriculture, construction, fire and rescue services, and forestry) and J2411 (single-wire CAN or SWC). Because the CANbus standard does not include application layer tasks, higher layer protocols were created, such as DeviceNet and CANopen®. CANopen is a registered trademark of CAN in Automation (CiA).

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