COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS DESCRIPTION (F-CAN) - OVERVIEW
F-CAN (High-speed CAN)
The network between the powertrain and control units for chassis system is called F-CAN and it employs high speed CAN with communication rate at 500 kbps.
Typical CAN Bus Communication Operation
The F-CAN detects the differential voltage generated between two communication wires (CAN_H and CAN_L) and uses it as a signal level. This is a digital signal that indicates "1" when equal voltage is found and "0" when unequal voltage is found.
NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
CAN (Controller Area Network) and the LIN (Local Interconnect Network)
The vehicle uses the CAN (Controller Area Network) and the LIN (Local Interconnect Network) as an invehicle LAN (Local Area Network). These networks enable the control units to exchange information over the CAN bus. The CAN consists of the F-CAN network that enables the control units to exchange the signals regarding the powertrain/chassis and the B-CAN network for the signals regarding the body. These networks are inter-connected at the gauge control module (gateway).
The LIN is a network for connecting the PCM, the alternator, and the 12 volt battery sensor, ensuring a reliable communication suitable for the control system.
As multi-system communications occur between several control units, the system also provides the K-LINE and L-LINE for transmitting the diagnostic results from the HDS (Honda Diagnostic System) and the S-NET for transmitting the immobilizer signals.
CAN
The CAN (control area network) is a multi communication system that ISO has developed and standardized for the automobile. The CAN employs a multi-master system in which multiple control units are connected to a bus to communicate with each other.
Communicating Method
In the CAN, each node normally sends the digital signals in the data frame format to the bus line. There are two communication methods between each control unit within the CAN. The first method sends the digital signal at a predetermined frequency and the second method sends the digital signal when a change in data occurs.The CAN adopts the CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance) method in which nodes attempt to avoid collisions by transmitting only when the bus is sensed to at idle.The digital signals are expressed as "0" (dominant) and "1" (recessive). The data frame consists of the data field (center), arbitration field for showing data ID, control field for showing data length, CRC field for detecting sending error, and the ACK field for confirming end of sending. When multiple nodes start data sending simultaneously, the CAN arbitrates them by the priority indicated in the ID in the arbitration field.For example, when the node 1 (ID=156h) and node 2 (ID=164h) send the data at the same time, only the ID of the node 1 is sent to the bus line because the node 1 takes priority with its smaller ID. On the other hand, the node 2 cancels sending the ID and changes to a receiving state. After the node 1 completes sending, the node 2 start sending data again. That enables a simultaneous data sending from multiple nodes in a single path (multi task method).After the data sent from a node is received by all nodes, each control unit classifies the required data by the ID and starts controlling.
F-CAN
The network between a powertrain and control unit for the chassis system is called F-CAN and it employs a high speed CAN with communication rate at 500 kbps.The F-CAN was composed of a single F-CAN Bus. To respond to the increase in the number of ECUs connected to the F-CAN and the increase in the amount of communication, the composition of the F-CAN network is divided into multiple bus lines, and an F-CAN gateway with a data-forwarding function is established, enabling the communication among the CAN Bus lines. Connection of each control unit has control units with a terminating resistor installed for preventing signals from being reflected back at eath end of a pair of twisted signal cable which is comprised of F-CAN H and F-CAN L, with other control units in parallel connection between them.By rapidly switching between equal and unequal voltages, digital data can be transmitted in bits.
B-CAN
The network between control units for the body electrical system is called B-CAN and it employs low speed CAN with communication rate at 125 kbps. Connection of each control unit has control units with a terminating resistor installed for preventing signals from being reflected back at each end of a pair of twisted wire which is comprised of B-CAN H and B-CAN L, with other control units in parallel connection between them.
Power Saving Mode Control
Since some control units for the body system are functional even if the vehicle is in the OFF (LOCK) mode, the power-saving mode is set for these units for the purpose of reducing dark current. Transition to the power-saving mode (sleep mode) and returning from it (wakeup mode) are controlled by the active, sleep and wakeup signals. The control units that are not in "wait for sleep" state send the active signals to the bus line periodically and stop sending them when it is in "wait for sleep" state. When all control units do not send the active signal anymore, one or more control units send the sleep signals. The control units that received the sleep signals go into the power-saving mode. In the event of inputs from switch or sensor during the power-saving mode, they send the wakeup signals to the bus line. In this case, they return from the power-saving mode.
LIN
Overview
The LIN is a bus based on the UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter). Communication rate of LIN is slower than that of CAN, and it is used for systems for which a high speed communication is not required. This reduces the wire harness bulk as well as to reduce cost due to its connection with each control unit with just single bus. The LIN employs a single-master system, in which only single master control unit serves as a master control unit to control all the signals on the LIN bus. Other units become slave units to serve in accordance with request from the master control unit. This vehicle employs a LIN with a communication speed of 19, 200 bps for connecting the PCM, the alternator, and the 12 volt battery sensor.
Communication System
The LIN uses a single-master system where one ECU controls all bus communication. The other controllers act as slave units communicating only when requested by the PCM. The message frame is comprised of the header frame that sends the master's request and the response frame that sends the slave's response. The header frame consists of the SYNCH BREAK field for showing the frame start, SYNCH field for correcting the baud rate, and the IDENT field for showing the control unit that requests the response. The response frame consists of the data fields and the CHECK SUM field for detecting transmitting errors.
Power Saving Mode
The body electrical system has control units which does not stop operating when the vehicle to the OFF (LOCK) mode in order to perform door lock control and light control. These control units have a power saving mode to reduce the standby power requirement.
Network Communication Troubleshooting
The HDS (Honda Diagnostic System) uses the K-LINE for displaying the control unit and self-diagnostic results both in the F-CAN and B-CAN bus. The K-LINE bus is the communication circuit that uses the UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) whose baud rate is 10.4 kbps. The gauge control module provides the display function for body-system DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Code). The DTC is displayed when the gauge control module receives the SCS terminal short signal via the F-CAN bus or the MICU service check ON signal via the B-CAN bus. The gauge control module then reads the self-diagnostic results sent by each control unit via B-CAN bus and displays the DTC.Vehicles equipped with keyless access, also have an L-LINE data bus that connects the DLC to the keyless access control unit.This line allows the HDS to communicate with the keyless access control unit if the remote is lost or malfunctioning preventing the ignition from being switched on. The S-NET serves as a path to transmit a signal from a transponder integrated into the remote to control units related to the immobilizer system, such as the PCM and MICU.