CANbus and Industrial Communication

CANbusCANbus Industrial communication computer boards are serial data network devices. CANbus boards are highly reliable and offer greater data transfer rates. These devices are used to connect industrial computers and PLCs (programmable logic controllers) to CANbus (controller area network bus). CANbus offers extensive error checking for real time control applications, is suitable in harsh electrical environments, and provides predictable communication.

CANbus Boards and Embedded Computing

CANbus boars are also favorable for embedded computing. Intelligent devices such as sensors, valves, actuators, or motor and lighting controls contain computing capacity. As CANbus offers more predictable communication deleting or adding such intelligent devices through CANbus boards is relatively easier than other networks. Also the master control does not need to know the network address of each device. Moreover CANbus industrial communication boards offer input and output function as well.

CANbus Computer Board Applications

Besides industrial networks and embedded computing CANbus industrial communication boards can be used in variety of applications. These include medical equipment, railway signaling, automotive networks, and building automation systems.

CANbus Computer Board and Computer Buses

CANbus Industrial Communication computer boards are compatible with industry standard computer buses. CANbus computer boards are designed to work with bus standards. These include industry standard architecture (ISA), peripheral component interconnect (PCI), PC / 104, and PC / 104 – plus. CANbus computer boards can be connected to RS232 serial port through an adapter. Moreover CANbus boards can also be used with PCMCIA devices. Form factor or size of a CANbus Computer board varies depending upon the targeted computer bus standard.

Standards of CANbus Computer Board

CANbus industrial communication computer boards are available in various standards. Standard selection depends upon the required application.

CANbus ISO standards

International Standard Organization (ISO) defines many standards for CANbus. ISO 11519 (CAN 2.0A) and ISO 11898 (CAN 2.0B) are the standards for road vehicle communication. ISO 11992 is standard for interchanging information between towing and towed vehicles. ISO 15745 standard targets industrial automation and integration systems. ISO 16845 is for CANbus diagnostics.

CANbus SAE Standards

SAE is the society of automotive engineers. SAE also defines CANbus standards. These include J1939 and J2411 CANbus standards. J1939 defines specifications equipment used in construction, agriculture, forestry, and fire and rescue services). J2411 is for single wire CAN or SWC. One problem with CANbus standards was that they did not contain application layer tasks. To cater this higher layer protocols were created. DeviceNet and CANopen® are such protocols.