Flexible approach to the Controller Area Networks test and evaluation

An increasing number of Electronic Control Units in passenger cars and high communication traffic have led the car manufacturers to splitting a single CAN network into several dedicated sub-networks running concurrently. Test and evaluation tools for CAN based networks are available for years, but they are mostly focused on test scenarios with up to two CAN networks, often based on the standard CAN hardware with a limited test functionality. They usually rely on the extensive support provided by PC running a Windows based application software, which in many cases limits accurate test timing, especially when realtime response on the bus events is required. This paper presents a set of unique instruments (CAN generator, CAN trigger unit, time-triggered CAN controller) designed in form of IP functions. Arbitrary number of the IP functions can be used in FPGA based test tools supporting real-time test scenarios over “unlimited” number of CAN subnetworks simultaneously.