Controller Area Network (Fieldbus)

CAN Bus

A rugged, multi-master differential broadcast bus. Microcontrollers, ECUs and smart modules communicate without a host computer, using non-destructive bitwise arbitration to resolve collisions.

Type

Controller Area Network (Fieldbus)

Typical Latency

< 1ms — highly deterministic real-time communication.

Hardware Requirements

High-speed CAN transceivers, twisted differential wiring (CAN-High/Low), 120Ω terminating resistors, a dedicated CAN controller.

Security

No native security — relies on controller-level isolation or a secure-CAN firmware layer.

Typical Use Case

Lithium-ion BMS cell-balancing strings, EV powertrain logs, robotic links, diesel-generator controllers.

Connection Parameters

Interface
Hardware CAN controller
Bus speed
125 kbps – 1 Mbps
Topology
Linear bus, differential signalling
Arbitration
CSMA/CR (collision resolution)

Need CAN Bus integration for your plant?

Our engineers configure drivers, gateways and security for this protocol as part of every Factomation deployment.