Controller Area Network (CAN) Basics

Controller Area Network (CAN) was initially created by German automotive system supplier Robert Bosch in the mid-1980s for automotive applications as a method for enabling robust serial communication. The goal was to make automobiles more reliable, safe and fuel-efficient while decreasing wiring harness weight and complexity. Since its inception, the CAN protocol has gained widespread popularity in industrial automation and automotive/truck applications. Other markets where networked solutions can bring attractive benefits like medical equipment, test equipment and mobile machines are also starting to utilize the benefits of CAN. The goal of this application note is to explain some of the basics of CAN and show the benefits of choosing CAN for embedded systems networked applications.