What is CAN?

Technical Note
TN_156
What is CAN?
Version 1.0
Issue Date: 2015-03-23
The purpose of this technical note is to explain the basics of CAN (Controller
Area Network) which are a feature of FTDI’s MCUs.
Use of FTDI devices in life support and/or safety applications is entirely at the user’s risk, and the
user agrees to defend, indemnify and hold FTDI harmless from any and all damages, claims, suits
or expense resulting from such use.
Future Technology Devices International Limited (FTDI)
Unit 1, 2 Seaward Place, Glasgow G41 1HH, United Kingdom
Tel.: +44 (0) 141 429 2777 Fax: + 44 (0) 141 429 2758
Web Site: http://ftdichip.com
Copyright © 2015 Future Technology Devices International Limited
Technical Note
TN_156 What is CAN?
Version 1.0
Document Reference No.: FT_001079
Clearance No.: FTDI# 441
Table of Contents
1
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 2
2
CAN Bus ........................................................................................................................................... 3
2.1
Signals ..................................................................................................................................... 4
2.1.1
MCU Signals .................................................................................................................... 4
2.1.2
PHY Signals ...................................................................................................................... 4
2.2
Typical interconnect................................................................................................................ 5
2.3
Topology.................................................................................................................................. 6
2.4
Message Format...................................................................................................................... 7
2.4.1
Data Frame ...................................................................................................................... 7
2.4.2
Remote Frame................................................................................................................. 8
2.4.3
Error Frame ..................................................................................................................... 8
2.4.4
Overload Frame .............................................................................................................. 8
2.4.5
Bus Arbitration ................................................................................................................ 8
2.5
Error Checking ......................................................................................................................... 9
2.5.1
Message level .................................................................................................................. 9
2.5.2
Bit level............................................................................................................................ 9
3
Comparison ................................................................................................................................... 10
4
What FTDI offer............................................................................................................................. 12
5
Contact Information...................................................................................................................... 13
Appendix A – References ...................................................................................................................... 14
Document References....................................................................................................................... 14
Bosch CAN Literature ........................................................................................................................ 14
Acronyms and Abbreviations ............................................................................................................ 14
Appendix B – List of Tables & Figures ................................................................................................... 15
List of Tables ..................................................................................................................................... 15
List of Figures .................................................................................................................................... 15
Appendix C – Revision History .............................................................................................................. 16
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Technical Note
TN_156 What is CAN?
Version 1.0
Document Reference No.: FT_001079
Clearance No.: FTDI# 441
1 Introduction
CAN (Controller Area Network), sometimes referred to as CAN bus, is a communications protocol
which has been around for years as a vehicle bus standard designed to allow MCUs to
communicate with each other without the need for a host. Its use has since expanded and more
industries and applications use it for MCU communication. See Typical Applications.
CAN communication is very robust with a significant amount of error checking in place. See Error
Checking for more information.
The purpose of this technical note is to explain the basics of a CAN bus network and the key
features.
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Technical Note
TN_156 What is CAN?
Version 1.0
Document Reference No.: FT_001079
Clearance No.: FTDI# 441
2 CAN Bus
CAN is a multi-master broadcast serial bus standard for connecting MCUs together.
Each node, or connection to the bus, is able to send and receive messages, but not
simultaneously. A message consists primarily of an ID (identifier), which represents the priority of
the message, and up to eight data bytes. It is transmitted serially onto the bus in a non-return-tozero (NRZ) signal pattern which is received by all nodes.
FTDI MCUs offer the CAN Specification 2.0 (parts A & B) variant, as defined by BOSCH Gmbh,
which is backward compatible with v1.1b
Bit rates of up to 1 Mbit/second are possible at network lengths below 40m, with a maximum of 30
nodes in this configuration Note that speed and bus lengths are contributing factors to the
maximum number of nodes.
An external physical layer device, also known as a PHY, is required to perform the physical
signalling such as bit encoding and decoding (NRZ) as well as bit-timing and synchronization.
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Technical Note
TN_156 What is CAN?
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Document Reference No.: FT_001079
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2.1 Signals
The following signals are used to create a CAN interface.
The MCU signals are connected to the PHY which performs the CAN encoding and decoding.
Typical Interconnect shows the basic hardware concept.
2.1.1
MCU Signals
2.1.1.1 Rx
The Receive (Rx) signal of CAN is the signal receiving the data. This will be an input to the MCU
and is connected to an external physical layer device.
2.1.1.2 Tx
The Transmit (Tx) signal of CAN is the signal transmitting the data. This will be an output of the
MCU and is connected to an external physical layer device.
2.1.2
PHY Signals
The CAN network is based on a half-duplex differential signal. There are two logical states:
dominant and recessive. The figure below shows the general concept.
Dominant
V
CANH
Recessive
Recessive
CANL
t
Figure 2.1 Differential Signal
2.1.2.1 CANH
This is the HIGH-level CAN bus line which is a differential signal.
2.1.2.2 CANL
This is the LOW-level CAN bus line which is a differential signal.
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Technical Note
TN_156 What is CAN?
Version 1.0
Document Reference No.: FT_001079
Clearance No.: FTDI# 441
2.2 Typical interconnect
The figure below shows a typical MCU to PHY connection.
Note that the transmit and receive signals are not switched like some other communications
protocol connections.
+5V
RL
VCC
TX
TXD
CANH
FTDI MCU
CAN
Transceiver
CAN BUS
CANL
RX
RXD
GND
RL
Figure 2.2 Typical Interconnect
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2.3 Topology
Each node connected to the CAN bus is able to send and receive messages.
In order for the node to read the bus level correctly, the CAN bus must be terminated with
termination resistors at both ends to avoid electrical signal reflections. Typically RL is 120R.
Twisted pair wires in a shielded cable should be used to minimise emissions and reduce
interference.
Node 1
Node 2
Node 3
Node X
FTDI MCU
FTDI MCU
FTDI MCU
FTDI MCU
CAN
Controller
CAN
Controller
CAN
Controller
CAN
Controller
PHY
PHY
PHY
PHY
CANH
RL
RL
CAN BUS
CANL
Figure 2.3 Topology
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Technical Note
TN_156 What is CAN?
Version 1.0
Document Reference No.: FT_001079
Clearance No.: FTDI# 441
2.4 Message Format
There are two types of message (also known as ‘frame’) formats: standard and extended. The only
difference between the two is the length of the identifier. Standard is 11 bits and extended is 29
bits in length. An IDE bit in the frame controls this selection, dominant for standard and recessive
for extended.
CAN has four frame types which are discussed in this section.
2.4.1
Data Frame
This is a frame containing data for transmission.
2.4.1.1 Standard Frame
A standard frame structure looks like the following, with field descriptions in the table below.
S
O
F
Identifier
R
T
R
I r0
D
E
DLC
Data
(0-8 Bytes)
CRC
A
C
K
EOF
IFS
Field name
Start of Frame (SOF)
Identifier
Length (bits)
1
11
Remote Transmission
Request (RTR)
Identifier Extension
(IDE)
Reserved bit (r0)
Data Length Code
(DLC)
Data
1
Description
Denotes the start of frame transmission.
An identifier for the data which also represents the
message priority.
Dominant. See Remote Frame subsection.
1
Sets standard (0) or extended format (1).
1
4
Reserved bit.
Number of bytes of data (0–8 bytes).
CRC + delimiter
ACK slot + delimiter
End Of Frame (EOF)
Interframe Space (IFS)
0–64 (0-8
bytes)
16
2
7
7
Data to be transmitted.
Cyclic Redundancy Check.
Transmitter sends recessive and receiver asserts
dominant on successful reception.
Marks the end of a CAN frame.
Contains the time required by the controller to move a
correctly received frame to its proper position in a
message buffer area.
Table 2.1 Standard Frame
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Document Reference No.: FT_001079
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2.4.1.2 Extended Frame
An extended frame structure looks like the following, with additional field descriptions in the table
below.
S
O
F
Identifier
S
R
R
I Identifier 2
D
E
Field name
Identifier 2
Substitute Remote
Request (SRR)
Reserved bit (r1)
R
T
R
Length (bits)
18
1
1
r1
r0
DLC
Data
(0-8 Bytes)
CRC
A
C
K
EOF
IFS
Description
Additional 18 bits
Replaces RTR in the standard message frame.
Reserved bit.
Table 2.2 Extended Frame
2.4.2
Remote Frame
A destination node can request data from the source by sending a Remote Frame request.
RTR is set to 1 and there is no data field.
2.4.3
Error Frame
The error frame consists of error flags (6–12 bits) followed by the error delimiter (8 recessive
bits).
2.4.4
Overload Frame
An overload frame is similar to the error frame with regard to the format, and it is transmitted by
a node that becomes too busy.
2.4.5
Bus Arbitration
The CAN protocol uses a modified version of the Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance
(CSMA/CA) technique used on Ethernet. Should two messages determine that they are both trying
to send at the same time then instead of both backing off and re-trying later as is done with
Ethernet, in the CAN scheme, the nodes detect which message has the highest priority and only
the lower priority message gets delayed. This means that a high priority message is sure of getting
through. The node transmitting the lower priority message automatically attempts to re-transmit 6
bit clocks after the end of the dominant message.
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Technical Note
TN_156 What is CAN?
Version 1.0
Document Reference No.: FT_001079
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2.5 Error Checking
A key feature of CAN is error checking which incorporates five methods of error checking: three at
the message level and two at the bit level. If a message fails any one of these error detection
methods, it is not accepted and an error frame is generated from the receiving node. This forces
the transmitting node to resend the message until it is received correctly. However, if a faulty
node hangs up a bus by continuously repeating an error, its transmit capability is removed by its
controller after an error limit is reached.
2.5.1
Message level
Error checking at the message level is enforced by the CRC and the ACK slots in the data frame
shown previously.
The 16-bit CRC contains a checksum of the preceding data for error detection.
The ACK bit is used by the transmitter to send a recessive bit and receiver asserts dominant on
successful reception.
Fields in the message which must always be recessive bits are checked. If a dominant bit is
detected, an error is generated.
2.5.2
Bit level
At bit level each bit transmitted is monitored by the transmitter of the message. If a data bit is
written onto the bus and its opposite is read, an error is generated.
CAN also inserts a bit of opposite polarity after five consecutive bits of the same polarity due to
NRZ coding. If the next bit is not a complement, an error is generated.
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Technical Note
TN_156 What is CAN?
Version 1.0
Document Reference No.: FT_001079
Clearance No.: FTDI# 441
3 Comparison
The table below gives a quick guide to the differences between some key MCU to MCU
communication modules.
CAN
UART
I 2C
SPI
Typical Speed
1Mbps
3-12Mbps
3.4Mbps
2-15Mbps
Minimum Number of
MCU Signals
2
2
2
4
External PHY
Required?
Yes
No
No, but pull-ups
required
No
Communication
Style
Half-duplex
Full-duplex
Half-duplex
Full-duplex
FTDI MCU
Availability
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Table 3.1 Communication Comparison
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Technical Note
TN_156 What is CAN?
Version 1.0
Document Reference No.: FT_001079
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4 Typical Applications
The main application, and reason for the CAN bus design, is automotive. CAN bus allows various
subsystems such as the main Engine Control Unit (ECU), airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS),
power steering, etc to be connected together.
However, now there are multiple applications and manufacturers who use CAN as an embedded
network due to its reliability and feasibility. Some examples include:











Industrial and automation (eg Packaging and printing)
Avionics (eg flight state sensors and navigation systems)
Aerospace (eg in-flight data analysis to aircraft engine control systems such as fuel
systems and pumps)
Railway (eg trams, undergrounds, light railways, and long-distance trains)
Medical (eg lights, tables, cameras, X-ray machines and even beds)
Lifts and escalators
Laboratory Equipment
Sports cameras
Automatic doors
Telescopes
Coffee machines
The limits are endless for CAN bus applications due to the low cost of CAN controllers and
processors!
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Technical Note
TN_156 What is CAN?
Version 1.0
Document Reference No.: FT_001079
Clearance No.: FTDI# 441
5 What FTDI offer
At the time of writing, FTDI offer an FT900 - 32 Bit RISC MCU. With a parallel camera input,
10/100 base Ethernet interface, CAN bus, and USB2.0 Hi-Speed peripheral and host ports, the
FT900 offers excellent interconnect capabilities and computational power.
There are 2 x CAN 2.0 controllers on chip.
The FT900, FT901, FT905, FT907 devices all have CAN bus controllers on chip. Other variants of
FT900 do not have CAN bus controllers.
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Technical Note
TN_156 What is CAN?
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Document Reference No.: FT_001079
Clearance No.: FTDI# 441
6 Contact Information
Head Office – Glasgow, UK
Branch Office – Tigard, Oregon, USA
Future Technology Devices International Limited
Unit 1, 2 Seaward Place, Centurion Business Park
Glasgow G41 1HH
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 141 429 2777
Fax: +44 (0) 141 429 2758
Future Technology Devices International Limited
(USA)
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USA
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Fax: +1 (503) 547 0987
E-mail (Sales)
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Branch Office – Taipei, Taiwan
Branch Office – Shanghai, China
Future Technology Devices International Limited
(Taiwan)
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Taiwan , R.O.C.
Tel: +886 (0) 2 8791 3570
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Web Site
http://ftdichip.com
System and equipment manufacturers and designers are responsible to ensure that their systems, and any Future Technology
Devices International Ltd (FTDI) devices incorporated in their systems, meet all applicable safety, regulatory and system-level
performance requirements. All application-related information in this document (including application descriptions, suggested
FTDI devices and other materials) is provided for reference only. While FTDI has taken care to assure it is accurate, this
information is subject to customer confirmation, and FTDI disclaims all liability for system designs and for any applications
assistance provided by FTDI. Use of FTDI devices in life support and/or safety applications is entirely at the user’s risk, and the
user agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless FTDI from any and all damages, claims, suits or expense resulting from
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Technical Note
TN_156 What is CAN?
Version 1.0
Document Reference No.: FT_001079
Clearance No.: FTDI# 441
Appendix A – References
Document References
FTDI MCUs
Bosch CAN Literature
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Terms
Description
CAN
Controller Area Network
MCU
Microcontroller Unit
RISC
Reduced Instruction Set Computer
USB
Universal Serial Bus
PHY
Physical Layer Device
NRZ
Non Return to Zero
Rx
Receive
Tx
Transmit
CRC
Cyclic Redundancy Check
ACK
Acknowledgement
Mbps
Mega bits per second
UART
Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter
I2C
Inter-Integrated Circuit
SPI
Serial Peripheral Interface
CSMA/CA
Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance
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Appendix B – List of Tables & Figures
List of Tables
Table 2.1 Standard Frame .................................................................................................... 7
Table 2.2 Extended Frame ................................................................................................... 8
Table 3.1 Communication Comparison ................................................................................. 10
List of Figures
Figure 2.1 Differential Signal ................................................................................................ 4
Figure 2.2 Typical Interconnect ............................................................................................. 5
Figure 2.3 Topology ............................................................................................................ 6
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Technical Note
TN_156 What is CAN?
Version 1.0
Document Reference No.: FT_001079
Clearance No.: FTDI# 441
Appendix C – Revision History
Document Title:
TN_156 What is CAN?
Document Reference No.:
FT_001079
Clearance No.:
FTDI# 441
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Revision
Changes
Date
0.0
Initial draft.
2014-06-27
1.0
Release using new template.
2015-03-23
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