CAN-Engine Chapter 1: Introduction
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Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Functional Description
Measuring 3.6 x 2.3 inches, the CAN-Engine™ (CANE) is a high performance, low cost, C/C++ programmable
controller. It is intended for networking application including industrial process control, high-speed data acquisition,
and especially ideal for OEM applications.
The CANE can use any one of these 3 16-bit CPU chips: 40 MHz AM186ES(5V), or 40 MHz RDC R8820(5V) or
80MHz RDC R1120(3.3V).
An Fast Ethernet Module can be installed to provide 100M Base-T network connectivity. This Ethernet module has
a hardware LSI TCP/IP stack. It implements TCP/IP, UDP, ICMP and ARP in hardware, supporting internet
protocol DLC and MAC. It has 16KB internal transmit and receiving buffer which is mapped into host processor’s
direct memory. The host can access the buffer via high speed DMA transfers. The hardware Ethernet module
releases internet connectivity and protocol processing from the host processor, which represents a huge improvement
over software-based TCP/IP stacks. No processor cycles are used to track packet transmission/retransmission,
timeouts, etc. The resulting system can easily handle transmissions in the 100K bytes per second+ range in real
world applications. It supports 4 independent stack connections simultaneously at a 4Mbps protocol processing
speed. An RJ45 8-pin connector is on-board for connecting to 10/100 Base-T Ethernet network. Software libraries
and demo project are available for Ethernet connectivity.
A Controller Area Network (CAN) controller (SJA1000, 20 MHz clock) and CAN bus tranceiver is available. It
supports network baud rates up to 1M-bit per second. Software drivers allow access to all CAN controller registers,
as well as a buffering software layer.
The CANE features fast execution times through 16-bit ACTF Flash (256 KW) and battery-backed SRAM (256
KW). It also includes 3 timers, PWMs, 20+ PIOs, 512-byte serial EEPROM, two UARTs, 3 timer/counters, and a
watchdog timer. The three 16-bit timers can be used to count or time external events, up to 10 MHz, or to generate
non-repetitive or variable-duty-cycle waveforms as PWM outputs. The PIO pins are multifunctional and user
programmable.
A serial real timer clock (DS1337, Dallas) is a low power clock/calendar with two time-of-day alarms and a
programmable square-wave output.
Two RS232 channels of full-duplex asynchronous receivers and transmitters are on-board. The UARTs incorporate
9-bit mode for multi-processor communications.
A 16-bit parallel ADC (AD7655, 0-5V) supports ultra high-speed (1 MHz conversion rate) analog signal acquisition.
The AD7655 contains two low noise, high bandwidth track-and-hold amplifiers that allow simultaneous sampling on
two channels. Each track-and hold amplifier has a multiplexer in front to provide a total of 4 channels analog inputs.
The parallel ADC achieves high throughput by requiring only two CPU I/O operations (one start, one read) to
complete a 16-bit ADC reading. With a precision external 2.5V reference, the ADC accepts 0-5V analog inputs at
16-bit resolution of 0-65,535.
The CANE supports low cost, removable, up to 2 GB mass storage CompactFlash cards with onboard CompactFlash
interface. User can store and transfer large amounts of data with a PC, via a CF card with TERN’s FAT filesystem
software support.
The CANE can be powered by USB, or regulated 5V, or unregulated 9V DC power with on-board 5V regulator
installed.
The CANE provides a true 16-bit data bus for SRAM, Flash, ADC, Ethernet, and a J1 20x2 expansion header. The
CANE is an ideal upgrade for the A-Engine, V25-Engine, 386-Engine, or R-Engine providing increased reliability,
networking functionality, and performance. They have the similar mechanical dimensions, pin outs, software drivers,
and both are programmed using Paradigm C++ TERN Edition Evaluation Kit (EV-P) or Development Kit (DV-P).
