Approved CAN bus coupler

In order to ensure reliable operation of motor vehicles on the road, German law requires a motor vehicle type approval (Allgemeine Betriebs-Erlaubnis, ABE) – also referred to as »e1« approval – for all components that are connected to the vehicle's electrical system. This is required even for the most unspectacular components.

Rather unspectacular indeed are bus couplers that provide galvanic separation from the bus and thus prevent ground loops. However, those have to comply, too - and they do. Ipetronik offers the »SAM-CAN-ISO« module »SAM-ISO011-23A0«. This separating module for establishing a coupling with the CAN bus has been awarded e1 certification and meets the requirements for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). With this solution, the coupler and Ipetronik hardware connected downstream can be used directly on the vehicle data bus for vehicles that are approved for road use, without resulting in any restrictions on the vehicle's certification for operation.

The tap for the data bus cables is implemented in compliance with the CAN specification and without capacitive loading. This is accomplished through the use of a long measurement lead in the T-connection. Depending on the version used, the bus couplers are available with level conversion (high/low type with automatic switchover from a 24 V to a 5 V bus supply voltage). Furthermore, there are models available with bidirectional transmission (read and write) or unidirectional transmission (read only). When the latter models are used, the system only reads information from the data bus to be measured. That rules out the possibility of the test and measurement system influencing the bus system that is being tested.
The bus couplers are equipped with a high-speed CAN input according to ISO 11898-2 with baud rates of up to 1 Mbit/s. The bus to be measured can be connected via a Lemo (push-pull circular connector) socket or via a D-subminiature socket. With the high/low version, it must be noted that level detection is only possible when the connection is made via a six-pin Lemo socket. In all cases, the output is a high-speed CAN bus with a 5 V level. It supports data rates of up to 1 MBit/s when the pure high-speed version is used or up to 500 kBit/s with the high/low version. The bus coupler influences neither the CAN messages' content nor its transmission rates.

Comments

[Kurt Löffler]

... good report, great product/solution - even though "unspectacular" (boring photo) ;-)
BUT: What´s about the other important specs of this product like voltage ranges, power consumption, dimensions, protection ratings, weight, temp.range aso. ?

Kind regards, Kurt Löffler

[Marisa Robles Consée]

Dear Kurt, since PR agents are not the most important target audience of this blog and my readers from the engineering world most certainly won't appreciate reading unedited company press releases (well, I don't), I have to disappoint you.
IIRC the 'boring' pic was provided by some 'innovative' PR agency. Unfortunately, I can't always hurry all over Europe in order to take fancy photos myself. I am, on the other hand, able to pick the interesting stuff and write about it. That's what separates journalism from PR.

Cobbler, stick to your last/
Keep your reach within your grasp.

Cheers, Marisa