Date: 27/04/2010

ARM Cortex MCUs from NXP with CAN interface for industrial networking apps

NXP Semiconductor has introduced ARM cortex core based microcontrollers LPC11C12 and LPC11C14 with built in Controller Area Network (CAN) 2.0B-compliant controller for industrial and embedded networking applications. CAN is a mature and widely used communication protocol to wire devices in automotive and industrial applications. NXP says these two new devices are priced low compared to other similar CAN chip solutions.

"With the addition of several low cost CAN device options, the LPC1100 family is continuing to expand into even more 8 and 16-bit application areas," said Geoff Lees, vice president and general manager, microcontroller product line, NXP Semiconductors. "Offering CAN and CANopen protocol support directly on-chip greatly simplifies the plug-and-play integration process."

NXP also suggests this device for applications inside the home and offices such as home appliances, motor controllers and elevator systems and energy and power controllers that increasingly need to communicate with each other. One example quoted is a coffee vending machine using microcontrollers interconnected via CANopen.

CANopen drivers are available in the on-chip ROM of these MCU ICs.
The following functions are included in the API:
CAN set-up and initialization
CAN send and receive messages
CAN status
CANopen Object Dictionary
CANopen SDO expedited communication
CANopen SDO segmented communication primitives
CANopen SDO fall-back handler

To know more visit http://ics.nxp.com/products/lpc1000/lpc11xx/lpc11cxx/