Connecting CAN networks

CAN network systems have become widely distributed in automation technology and are also being used more and more frequently in complex applications.

The CAN Bridge enables the coupling of two CAN networks of the same or different types.

Thereby, the CAN Bridge can operate both as message repeater for increasing the network expansion as well as connecting different CAN networks with each other. It is not significant thereby whether the CAN networks have different bit-rates or operate with different protocols, e.g., CANopen and a proprietary protocol.

A flexible, configurable filtering logic can adopt freely selectable identifiers and implement on the other network. The CAN messages are forwarded to the respective other network according to the store-forward principle and sent out again.

Using the CAN Bridge, the CAN networks are both physically decoupled (electrical isolation) as well as the bus load reduced on both CAN networks. The CAN Bridge enables a flexible design of the network topology; star and tree structures can also be implemented as expanded line structures.

The CAN Bridge can be configured for simple applications using the two rotary encoding switches. In the case of more complex applications, the filtering and forwarding of the CAN telegrams can be flexibly adjusted using the supplied CAN Bridge configuration software. Up to 256 range filters and up to 4 bit filters for address filtering are available. The configuration is read in using a USB port and can also be read out again.

The CAN Bridge operates both in 11-bit as well as 29-bit mode and can communicate with bit-rates of 10 kbit up to 1 Mbit. It has a powerful micro-controller which can also operate at the highest data rates and bus loads without loss of the messages. Five LEDs signal the status of the device and the connected CAN networks.

Features

• 11-bit/29-bit CAN-IDs
• Bit filter/range filter
• Autobaud detection
• 10 kbit to 1 Mbit
• Easy configuration mode
• Electrical isolation of the CAN networks
• Can be used with standard (11-bit CAN-ID) and extended CAN interfaces (29-bit CAN-ID), CANopen, DeviceNet, SAE J1939
• CAN according to ISO 11898-2
• DIN-rail mounting