Improving CAN Bit Error Rates

If you are using the CAN protocol (Controller Area Network) in an embedded system, you should take some care to ensure you have acceptable bit error rates. (Sometimes we talk about embedded hardware even though this is a mostly software blog.)

The first step is to find out if you have a problem. Most CAN interface chips have an error counter that keeps track of how many message errors have occurred, and generates an exception if some number of errors has been detected. Turn that feature on, set the threshold as low as possible, and run the system in as noisy an environment as you reasonably expect. Let it run a good long while (a weekend at least).  See if any errors are reported.  If possible, send varying data patterns on some messages and check the values as you receive them to make sure there are no undetected errors. (CAN has some vulnerabilities that let some specific types of single and double bit errors slip through. So if you have detected CAN errors there are good odds you also have undetected CAN errors slipping through. More on that topic another time.)

If you find you are getting errors, here are some things to check and consider:

• Make sure the cabling is appropriately terminated, grounded, shielded, and so on (see your CAN interface documentation for more).

•  Use differential signals instead of a single signal (differential signals are the usual practice, but it never hurts to make sure that is what you are using).

•  Make sure you aren't exceeding the maximum bus length for your chosen bit rate (your CAN chip reference materials should have a description of this issue).

•  Make sure you haven't hooked up too many nodes for your bus drivers to handle.

Those are all great things to check. And you probably thought of most or all of them. But here are the ones people tend to miss:

•  If you still have noise, switch to optocouplers (otherwise known as optical isolation). In high noise environments (such as those with large electric motors) that is often what it takes.

•  Don't use transformer coupling. While that is a great approach to isolation in high noise environments, it won't work with CAN because it doesn't give you bit dominance.

If you know of a trick I've missed, please send it to me!