Date: 06/12/2010

ELMOS unveils high-speed partial CAN transceiver

ELMOS has introduced a new CAN transceiver chip, what it says as the first IC that realizes safe CAN partial network operation. The partial network mode makes it possible to individually activate control devices whose permanent operation is not required, so that fuel consumption can be reduced adding to the improvement in mileage. ELMOS says this new E520.13 is currently tested in a vehicle by a major German OEM key customer already.

The component represents an HS-CAN transceiver according to ISO 11898-5, featuring remote wake-up by means of an individually configurable wake-up message (wake-up frame or WUF) for the realization of partial network operation, in addition to the usual wake-up sources. If the transceiver is directly battery-supplied in partial network operation, as is common practice in sleep mode operation today, all other components of the control device can be deactivated. The partial network transceiver monitors the bus traffic, analyzes it down to the bit level, and responds to the control device's individual wake-up message. In this partial network mode, the power input of the control device is below 500 µA.

One application example is the seat control device. If the function of the control device is selected, the device is activated selectively for the period of time required for operation. Other applications are trailer control device, "intelligent" valve block, door control device, air-conditioning control panel, rearview camera,
auxiliary heating, and power sunroof.

The tasks of filing and reading out the individual wake-up message, configuring parameters and controlling state transitions are facilitated by an SPI-compatible interface (Serial Peripheral Interface) to the microcontroller.

The E520.13 guarantees that both partial network transceivers and conventional high-speed CAN transceivers according to ISO 11898-5 can be operated together in one network (interoperability).

Samples of ELMOS component E520.13 are available.

Editorial product rating: ** (Average Plus)