CAN FD (CAN with flexible datarate) is a more powerful version of the classic CAN bus that significantly extends the usable data rate and user data length. Introduced by Bosch in 2012, CAN FD is now part of the ISO 11898-1:2015 standard. While the classic CAN bus achieves a maximum user data length of 8 bytes and a data rate of 1 Mbit/s, CAN FD achieves a user data length of 64 bytes and - in productive use - a data rate of 8 Mbit/s. The CAN FD standard even allows up to 15 MBit/s - a data rate which, according to Ixxat, the HMS brand for CAN and safety, has been successfully demonstrated in various test systems.

Switching from CAN to CAN FD is relatively simple: "Because CAN FD controllers can also be used as classic CAN nodes, all network nodes can be gradually replaced by CAN FD-capable devices," said Ixxat. "As soon as the entire network is CAN FD-capable, the advantages of CAN FD can be fully utilized."

Ixxat: PC interfaces for CAN FD and CAN

Ixxat and Peak-System-Technik will be presenting various new components for CAN FD at embedded world. Ixxat's CAN FD product range now extends from PC interfaces, bridges/routers and gateways to analysis tools. The PC interfaces for CAN FD and CAN are available with various form factors and interfaces and can therefore be easily adapted to many applications, be it control, monitoring, analysis or configuration.

Depending on the type, the interfaces have up to two CAN FD and up to four CAN interfaces, optionally also with galvanic decoupling and additional interfaces, for example for LIN networks. Supported PC interface standards include PCIe, PCIe Mini, PCIe 104, XMC and PMC, as well as USB and Ethernet for mobile applications and remote access.

The interfaces can be connected to the customer application via driver packages supplied free of charge - VCI for Windows and ECI for Linux and real-time operating systems (VxWorks and RTX for CAN FD and CAN, Intime and QNX for CAN). The packages support all Ixxat PC interfaces with a uniform programming interface, so that the card type can be easily changed if necessary without having to adapt the customer application. Ixxat offers CAN FD repeaters and bridges/routers for networking CAN FD devices. In addition to the galvanic protection of segments, the repeaters and bridges also enable star and tree structures. According to Ixxat, the 'CANbridge NT 420' is the world's first bridge with CAN FD support for industrial applications. Ixxat's 'CANbridges' increase the maximum system extension - also using filter and translation rules for message transmission - as well as the coupling of CAN and CAN FD systems.

In addition, Ixxat offers the Ethernet-to-CAN-FD gateway solution 'CAN@net NT 420', which enables the coupling of several remote networks via Ethernet (bridge operation) as well as access from PCs or embedded controllers to CAN-FD systems via Ethernet. The 'CANbridge-NT' and 'CAN@net-NT' devices can be configured and managed for a wide range of applications using a Windows application.

Free basic version available for download

The Windows-based CAN FD and CAN analysis tool 'Ixxat canAnalyser' is suitable for developers and service technicians who want to develop or commission CAN FD devices. The software is available in a standard and a lite version. In addition to the online display and analysis of CAN FD raw data or the graphical display of interpreted signals, the 'canAnalyser' can also send messages once, cyclically or in the form of command-controlled sequences. Furthermore, the recording of messages on hard disk enables the offline analysis of message traffic, for example in the event of sporadic errors. The 'canAnalyser' can be easily extended with customer-specific functions via a .NET interface. A free basic version of 'canAnalyser Mini' is available as a download and is included in the scope of delivery of the CAN interfaces to provide users with an easy introduction to CAN and CAN FD technology.

Peak: CAN FD interface for the M.2 slot

According to the manufacturer Peak-System-Technik, 'PCAN-M.2' is the first CAN FD interface for the M.2 slot. The plug-in card will be available as a one, two and four-channel version. The company is also presenting the plug-in cards 'PCAN-miniPCIe FD', 'PCAN-PCI Express FD' (with four channels) and 'PCAN-USB X6' (opto-decoupled, with M12 circular connectors and IP64 protection) for the first time. With increased protection and six CAN and CAN FD channels, the M12 USB adapter is particularly suitable for vehicle test benches and HIL (Hardware in the Loop) simulations in harsh environments. The battery-operated handheld diagnostic device 'PCAN-Diag FD' for CAN 2.0 and CAN FD bus systems enables testing at physical and protocol level. An oscilloscope function and other measurement functions for voltage and resistance enable in-depth analyses. CAN communication can be examined by displaying CAN and CAN FD messages, bus load measurement or the recording and playback function for CAN traffic.

Göpel: Stress and trigger module for CAN FD

According to the manufacturer Göpel electronic, 'basicCAN6153.STM' is the first stress and trigger module for CAN FD. It can specifically manipulate the CAN/CAN FD communication and thus enables precise protocol tests. The additional function is available as an extended option of the communication controller series 61. The 'basicCAN6153.STM' can interfere with CAN/CAN FD messages and thus generate error frames. In addition, external resources can be controlled via the trigger output on specific frames or triggered via a trigger input. Based on the 61 series, the CAN-IP has been expanded to include corresponding interference functions. Parameterization is carried out via the Göpel-electronic API so that the module can be integrated into user-specific solutions. The 'basicCAN6153.STM' supports the jamming function for CAN FD and the standard CAN protocol on one of the four configurable ports. Ethernet is available to the user as a host interface; alternatively, PXI, PCI and USB are offered.