CAN Interface Basics: Controller Area Network

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This page describes CAN interface basics and provides links to other useful interfaces such as RS232, RS485, RS422, SPI and DigRF.

CAN interface

CAN is the short form of Controller Area Network. Its design allows devices to communicate with each other without needing a single host PC. It’s primarily targeted for microcontroller-based applications and is widely used in automotive, medical, and networking applications.

The CAN interface is used with a CAN bus, a differential 2-wire interface. Data communication over CAN uses NRZ encoding for bit encoding. It typically employs a 9-pin D-type male connector for all nodes to communicate on the CAN bus. The following figure and table outline the key aspects:

CAN Bus Pin Details

Signal NameDescriptionPin
ReservedFuture use1
CAN_LCAN dominant low signal2
CAN_GNDGround3
ReservedFuture use4
CAN_SHLDShield (Optional)5
GNDGround (Optional)6
CAN_HCAN dominant high signal7
ReservedFuture use8
CAN_V+Power (Optional)9

CAN vs TTCAN: Key Differences Explained

Explore the distinctions between CAN and TTCAN, focusing on messaging, synchronization, applications, and more. Understand which is suitable for your needs.

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CAN vs TTP: Key Differences Explained

Compare Controller Area Network (CAN) and Time Triggered Protocol (TTP). Explore bandwidth, messaging, error detection, and more in this detailed comparison.

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