Skip to content

Engine Control Unit (ECU)

This page was last updated: September 3, 2024

Info

The ECU is under the Sensor layer as it behaves as an array of sensors with the "black box" mindset.

Description

A CAN node is a device that is participating in the CAN bus network.1

CAN Node

A generic CAN node

To build a CAN bus, you need at least two nodes and exactly two 120 Ohm termination resistors. These resistors serve to prevent the signal from reflecting.2

CAN Termination Resistors

Standardized termination resistors

It is highly recommended to twist the CAN Hi and Lo wires for improving signal integrity.3

CAN Twisted Pair Wiring

Twisted Pair Wiring

Nomenclature

Keep in mind that CAN 2.0A is equivalent to Classic CAN while CAN 2.0B is equivalent to Extended CAN.

Extended CAN is backwards-compatible with Classic CAN, but not vice-versa.

CAN FD is a standard exceeding that of Extended CAN.

Supported Sensors

classDiagram

namespace SensorLayer {
    class IEcu {
        <<interface>> 
    }

    class Pe3 { }
}

namespace Platform Layer {
    class ICan {
        <<interface>>
    }
}

IEcu <-- Pe3
Pe3 ..> ICan

link Pe3 "pe3/"

end

  1. What is a CAN Bus System? by Olga Weis. ↩

  2. Introduction to CAN Bus by Yida. ↩

  3. Overview of the CAN Bus Protocol on DigiKey TechForum. ↩