System basis chip with integrated CAN FD controller and transceiver

Texas Instruments has introduced an automotive system basis chip that is claimed to be the industry’s first to combine a controller and transceiver for CAN FD. Created to satisfy the high-bandwidth and data-rate flexibility demands of in-vehicle networks, the TCAN4550-Q1 uses the SPI bus of virtually any microcontroller to implement, with minimal hardware changes, a CAN FD interface or raise the amount of CAN FD bus ports in a system.

Beforehand, designers had to include multiple discrete components into their designs or change microcontrollers completely when upgrading to or expanding CAN FD functionality – a frequently time-consuming and costly process. With the SBC, designers are able to maintain their current microcontroller-based architecture and streamline CAN FD upgrade or expansion in body electronics and lighting, ADAS and automotive gateway designs.