This product family not only helps manufacturers in the automotive and industrial sectors meet their current CAN communication needs, but also paves the way for the new CAN FD networks whose demand is increasing.
The growth of in-vehicle networks continues to be driven by the need for electronic monitoring and control. As the number of applications in the powertrain, body, comfort, diagnostics, and safety systems increases, more Electronic Control Units (ECUs) are being added to existing CAN buses, thus limiting the bandwidth available to automotive OEMs. Furthermore, end-of-line programming time for ECUs is increasing due to more complex application programs and calibration, which raises production costs. The emerging CAN FD protocol addresses these issues by increasing the maximum data rate and expanding the data field from 8 to 64 bytes.
Thanks to their robust construction and industry-leading features, including data transmission speeds of up to 8 Mb/s, Microchip's MCP2561/2FD transceivers enable customers to implement and take advantage of CAN FD. These new transceivers have one of the lowest standby current draws (<5 µA typical) and help meet ECU low-power requirements. Furthermore, these devices can operate in a temperature range of -40 to 150 degrees Celsius, allowing for use in harsh environments.
The new MCP2561/2FD CAN FD transceiver family is available in 8-pin PDIP, SOIC, and 3x3 mm DFN (leadless) packages, adding design flexibility for space-constrained applications. The family also offers two options: the MCP2561FD in an 8-pin package with an integrated SPLIT pin. This SPLIT pin helps stabilize common-mode operation in split-terminal biasing techniques. The MCP2562FD is also available in an 8-pin package with an integrated Vio pin. This Vio pin can be connected to a secondary source to internally vary the digital I/O level, simplifying connection to a microcontroller. This is advantageous when the system uses a microcontroller with a Vdd below 5V (e.g., 1.8V or 3.3V) and eliminates the need for an external level converter, thus reducing system cost and complexity.
These new Microchip MCP2561/2FD transceivers will be used to test CAN FD network designs at Plug Fest, hosted by the CAN in Automation (CiA®) Interest Group, on Tuesday, March 25, in Detroit, Michigan. Both Kvaser, a supplier of advanced CAN solutions to engineers who design and install systems in a wide variety of industries, and Intrepid Control Systems will be using the Microchip transceivers on their respective CAN FD boards during the event. Intrepid Control Systems supplies neoVI, ValueCAN, and WaveBPS CAN testing products to leading OEMs in the automotive industry.
