Portable Embedded Data Display and Control Unit using CAN Bus

Abstract

The development trend and research focus of control system is networked control. The Field Bus Control System (FCS) which is important segment in networked system is widely applied in control system. The CAN (Controller Area Network) bus which has strong fault tolerance, high reliability and low cost plays an important role in FCS. The CAN is a serial communication protocol which efficiently supports distributed real-time control with a very high level of security. Its domain of application ranges from high speed networks to low cost multiplex wiring. In automotive electronics, engine control units, sensors, anti-skid-systems, etc. are connected using CAN with bit rates up to 1M bit/s. This project is to develop an automatic monitor and control of any non-industrial process using a Portable Embedded data display and control unit based on CAN Bus. It is implemented by applying 16 bit RISC key microprocessor technique, embedded software technology, embedded GUI (Graphics User Interface) technology, CAN bus communication technology, information storage and management technology[6]. The Proposed system involves the CAN Protocol to communicate the data. The system consists of many nodes each comprising a PIC microcontroller and a sensor. The data is retrieved from the sensor and forwarded to a PIC microcontroller through a CAN transceiver. The PIC Microcontroller establishes connection with a CAN Protocol and process the sensor data and the data through the CAN Bus which is twisted pair of wires. Another PIC microcontroller at remote end is interfaced with LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) to view the sensor data and send back control signal to the sensor through CAN protocol. The research and development of this project was driven by robustness of CAN communication and its practicality of application.