Automotive Buses

[BST bus] [byteflight] [CAN bus] [D2B] [DSI bus] [FlexRay] [GVIF] [IDB-1394] [IEBus]
[Intellibus] [J1708 bus] [J185 bus] [LIN bus] [MEC bus] [MI bus] [MML bus] [MOSTbus]
[OBDII] [Planet] [SMARTwireX]
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Note: There are six classifications of vehicle Buses: Class A, Class B, Class C,
Emissions/Diagnostics, Mobile Media, and X-by-Wire.
Many of the buses listed below have a notation defining what class they reside in.
Class A: A multiplex wiring system which reduces wiring by transmitting and receiving multiple
signals over the same signal bus.
The multi-purpose bus replaces individual wires performing the same function.
Normally Class A defines general purpose UART communication with bit rates below 10kbps
Class B: A multiplex wiring system which transmits data between nodes. The nodes replace
existing stand-alone modules.
Class B is used as a non-critical 10kbps to 125kbps bus
Class C: A multiplex wiring system which reduces wiring by using real-time high-data signals.
Operating between 125kbps and 1Mbps
Emissions/Diagnostics: handle either Emissions or Diagnostics buses.
Mobile Media: buses handle Mobile Media equipment.
X-by-Wire: is the collective term for the addition of electronic systems into the vehicle to enhance
and replace tasks that were previously accomplished via mechanical and hydraulic systems.
Automotive temperature requirements are -40C to +125C.
In addition, a number of the listed buses define the Electrical Physical layer and the Optical
Physical layer, which is normal for a bus which defines both interface types.
The Physical interface bus being either fiber [Optical] or wire [electrical]. The difference here, in
some cases, is that the electrical interface being defined resides just prior to the optical encoder. So
the Physical interface bus from device to device is optical [fiber], but the specification also defines
the Physical [electrical] interface into the optical transmitter/receiver [which is not normally done
outside of Automotive buses].
Also: ... "It is becoming clear that regardless of carmaker, new vehicles will be made using LIN
for the lowest data-rate functions, CAN for medium speed, MOST for the high-speed data rates and
FlexRay, for safety-critical applications such as steer- and brake-by-wire." from Automotive
Industries.

MOST bus Description
MOST bus: [Media Oriented Systems Transport],defines a multimedia fiber-optic (low overhead,
low cost) point-to-point network implemented in a ring, star or daisy-chain topology over Plastic
optical fibers [POF].
The MOST bus specifications define the Physical [Electrical and Optical parameters] Layer as well
as the Application Layer, Network Layer, and Medium Access Control.
The MOST bus provides an optical solution for automotive media [entertainment] networks [Video,
CD..].





J1850 bus Description
The SAE J1850 bus is used for diagnostics and data sharing applications in On and Off road
vehicles. The J1850 interface takes two forms; A 41.6Kbps Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) two
wire differential approach, or a 10.4Kbps Variable Pulse Width (VPW) single wire approach. The
single wire approach may have a bus length up to 35 meters (with 32 nodes). The J1850 interface
was developed in 1994, J1850 may be phased out for new designs. The J1850 is a class B protocol.
The J1850 protocol uses CSMA/CR arbitration. The frame consists of a Start Of Frame [SOF],
which is high for 200uS. The Header byte follows the SOF and is one byte long.
The data follows the header byte. The one byte CRC [Cyclical Redundancy Check] follows the data
field.
After the CRC an End Of Data [EOD] symbol is sent. The EOD is sent as a 200uS low pulse.
{Back to Automotive Bus Index}

MI Bus Description
MI Bus (MI Bus [Motorola Interconnect] is a serial [Single wire] communications protocol with
one Master and many Slaves.
The MI bus may applied to drive Mirrors, Seats, Window lifts or Head light levellers. The Master
sends address and data [the Push Field] to all slaves on the bus.
The slave with the same address responds with the information requested [the Pull Field].
The Push field contains a Start bit [low for 3 bit times], a synchronization bit [bi-phase encoded 0],
a data field [5 bits bi-phase encoded], and an address field [3 bits bi-phase encoded].
The Pull field contains a synchronization bit [bi-phase encoded 1], the data field [3 bits encoded
NRZ], and a End of frame field [~ 3 cycles of a 20KHz square wave].
The single wire line operates between Logic 0 [0.3v maximum], and Logic 1 [+5 volts].)

DSI Bus Description
DSI Bus [Distributed Systems Interface] developed by Motorola as a dedicated safety bus.
DSI is a two-wire serial bus linking safety-related sensors and components in vehicles.

BST Bus Description
BST Bus [Bosch-Siemens-Temic] is another vehicle safety bus, used with air-bags (for example).
The BST bus is a 2-wire bus using Manchester encoding and either Parity or CRC for error
correction and detection. The BST bus runs up to a maximum of 250Kbps.

MML Bus Description
MML Bus [Mobile Multimedia Link] is multimedia bus.
The MML Bus uses plastic optical fiber technology in a star architecture via a Master/Slave
communication approach.
MML Bus has an operation speed of 100Mbit/sec with a maximum cable length of 10 meters [that
can't be right]. Encoding for MML is NRZ.
The MML bus is fault tolerant and handles plug and play.

byteflight (SI-Bus) Description
byteflight is used for safety-critical applications in motor vehicles [air-bags]. Byteflight is a TDMA
[Time Division Multiple Access] protocol that runs at 10Mbps over [2-WIRE or 3-WIRE] Plastic
optical fibers [POF] in a bus, Star or Cluster configuration which provides an information update
rate of 250uS. Byteflight is based on a message-oriented transmission process, with Master/Slave
media access [all messages are made available to all bus subscribers at the same time].
The frame consists of a 6-bit Message Start sequence, an 8-bit message identifier [ID], one length
byte [LEN], up to 12 data bytes can be transmitted in the following data field [D0 to D11].
After the data field a 2-byte [16-bit] CRC-sequence is sent [CRCH/CRCL].
{Automotive Bus Index}

FlexRay Description
FlexRay is a high-speed serial [Synchronous and Asynchronous] communication system for in-
vehicle networks [Control Systems] using Point-to-Point [Star topology] links, at 10Mbps [Fault-
Tolerant] over Un-shielded Twisted Pair [UTP] or Shielded Twisted Pair [STP] cable.
The FlexRay bus defines the Physical layer [Electrical and Optical] and Protocol.
FlexRay is an extended protocol version of byteflight. Applications for FlexRay include; steer-by-
wire and brake-by-wire.
{Automotive Bus Index}

domestic digital data bus (D2B) Description
Domestic Digital Bus [D2B] is an optical data bus system connecting audio, video, computer
peripheral and telephone components in a single ring structure within the vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz uses a combination ring and Star optical [650nm] topology at a speed of 5.6MBps
[20MBps maximum].
The D2B interface has a maximum fiber distance of 10 meters [1 coupler] or 7 meters [2 couplers].
{Automotive Bus Index}

SMARTwireX Description
SMARTwireX defines an electrical physical layer (PHY) supporting D2B networks running up to
25Mbps.
SMARTwireX runs over standard low-cost UTP cabling, with full automotive EMC compatibility.
SMARTwireX is an electrical physical layer solution for automotive networks.
Initially designed for D2B electrical networks, but potentially capable of supporting other networks
as well.
SMARTwireX uses a Master/Slave approach connected via twisted pair, encoded as PWM.
SMARTwireX has a maximum bus length of 150m [meters].
{Automotive Bus Index}

IDB-1394 Bus Description
The IDB-1394 Bus is the Automotive version of the IEEE 1394 {Firewire}.
"IDB-C was the first of a family of in-vehicle serial communication protocol networks. IDB-C is
defined in the SAE J2366 - ITS Data Bus series of specifications.
IDB-C is based on CAN 2.0B (Controller Area Network) silicon and physical layer, specifically on
SAE J2284 - High Speed CAN."
There are four layers of the IDB protocol stack; J2366-1, Physical Layer, J2366-2, Link Layer,
J2366-4, Thin Transport Layer, J2366-7, Application Message Layer.
The IDB is primarily used as a consumer device bus operating over an unshielded Twisted Pair
[UTP] multidrop cable.





IEBus Description
Inter Equipment Bus [IEBus] is used as an In-vehicle bus support using half duplex asynchronous
[Multi-Master] communication with CSMA/CD for access control.
Two differential lines are used; Data+ / Data-. Two modes are defined: Mode 0 uses 16 bytes/frame
and runs at 3.9kbps [6MHz Osc.] or 4.1kbps [6.29MHz Osc.].
Mode 1 uses 32 bytes/frame and runs at 17kbps [6MHz Osc.] or 18kbps [6.29MHz Osc.]. The
IEbus allows 50 units on the bus over a maximum length of 50 meters.
The cable capacitance is rated to have 8000pF max [6MHz] or 7100pF max [6.29MHz]. The bus is
terminated to 120 ohms. Each device on the bus has a 12 bit address.
The IEBus was developed by NEC Electronics. For a detailed description, and circuit Interface
implementation; see the IEbus Interface page
{Automotive Interface Bus Index}

LIN Bus Description
Local Interconnect Network [LIN] is used as an in-vehicle communication and networking serial
bus between intelligent sensors and actuators.
The LIN specification covers the transmission protocol [Physical Layer and the Data Link Layer of
LIN], and the transmission medium.
The LIN Bus is a class A protocol operating at a maximum bus speed of 19200 baud over a
maximum cable length of 40 meters.
The specification may be obtained from LIN Consortium.
For a detailed description, Engineering Data, and circuit Interface implementation; see the LIN
Bus page.
{Automotive Interface Bus Index}

CAN Bus Description

CANbus Transceiver
CAN Bus. A vehicle may
have one or more
CANbus
implementations. An
application for a low
speed CANbus may
include operate window
and seat controls. A high
speed CANbus may be
employed for engine
management or brake
control, in addition to
other applications.
The Controller Area
Network (CAN)
specification defines
the Data Link Layer, ISO
11898 defines the
Physical Layer. The CAN
interface is an
asynchronous
transmission scheme
controlled by start and
stop bits at the beginning
and end of each character.
This interface is used,
employing serial binary
interchange. A class B,
and Class C bus.
Information is passed
from transmitters to
receivers in a data frame.
The data frame is
composed of an
Arbitration field, Control
field, Data field, CRC
field, ACK field. The
frame begins with a 'Start
of frame', and ends with
an 'End of frame' space.
The data field may be
from 0 to 8 bits.
The frame check
sequence is derived from
a Cyclic Redundancy
Code (CRC);
the coefficients are
generated modulo-2: X15
+ X14 + X10 + X8 + X7
+ X4 + X3 + 1
For additional
information refer to:
CAN Specification;
Version 2.0, or ISO
11898/11519


Controller Area Network (CAN); ISO 11898/11519.
For a detailed description, Engineering Data, circuit Interface implementation and specifications;
see the CANbus page.
The CAN bus page also lists additional protocols based on CAN bus.
{Automotive Interface Buses Index}

Intellibus Description
Intellibus is a multi-drop communications bus developed by Boeing initially for military avionics
applications, but also has an application in the automotive field. Similar to CAN in concept with
similar limitations and inefficiencies. Intellibus operates at bus speeds of 12.5Mbps. Intellibus is
used with electronic engine control, transmission, and other vehicle systems as another Drive-by-
Wire protocol.
Intellibus uses a Master/Slave approach with Manchester Bi-Phase bit encoding over a twisted pair
wire. The maximum bus length is 30 meters, at 12.5Mbps to a maximum of 64 nodes.
Intellibus provides both parity and CRC error detection. A class B, and Class C bus.
Intellibus Interface Module [IBIM]
Intellibus Network Interface Controller [INIC]
Intellibus Chassis Interface Module [CIM]
{Automotive Buses Index}

OBDII Bus Description
OBD2 [On-Board Diagnostics II] defines
a communications protocol and a standard
connector to acquire data from passenger
cars. It was required by U.S. EPA on all
gasoline powered cars and light duty
trucks manufactured for the U.S. after
1996 to help monitor/inspect vehicle
emissions.
OBDII will light a lamp called a MIL

(malfunction indicator lamp), also known
as the "check engine" light on the dash.
The OBD-II standard allows for multiple
electrical interfaces, which complicates
the hardware used to interface with the
vehicle. OBDII data as defined by the
SAE J1979 standard
For a detailed description, Engineering
Data, and circuit Interface
implementation; see the OBDII Bus page.
OBDII Cable
{Automotive Buses Index}

SAE J1708 Bus Description
Serial Data Communications Between Microcomputer Systems in Heavy-Duty Vehicle
Applications. J1708 defines the physical layer only. J1708 uses the RS485 bus as the electrical
layer.
The cable is a 2-wire 18 AWG wire with a maximum distance of 40 meters. Class A operating to
9600bps. A message starts with a Message Identification Character [MID], followed by Data
characters and then a checksum.
The total message length is 21 or less characters. Each character is 10 bits, each character begins
with a Start bit [logic low].
{Automotive Buses Index}

Vehicle Area Network
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VAN An automotive bus
developed by Peugeot and Renault
[early 1990's].
The VAN bus is a differential bus
with Enhanced Manchester Data
Encoding.
The Two-wire data bus consists of
'Data' and 'DataB'.
The VAN network may have one
or more Masters and some
number of Slaves.
The VAN Networking
Topology may be interconnected
in a number of different
architectures.

VAN Receiver Schematic
VAN may be either a BUS, Ring,
Tree or Star style using broadcast
or point-to-point
communications.
ISO standard 11519-3 [VAN
Protocol]. Transmission speed
160kHz [estimate].
IC Interface MTC-30521, Alcatel.
VAN Data Link Controller
TSS461F, Atmel.
The resistors [R2] shown in the
graphic are for impedance balance
of the VAN Bus.
Resistors R1 and Capacitors C1
form a low pass filter [Ri / RiB]
which then feeds the comparators.
The normal circuit output is from
Ro. However is either Data or
DataB fail, the output can still be
reconstituted.
The Ro can be used with one of
the two supplementary
comparators [either R1 or R2] to
allow communication, even
though one line has failed.
{Automotive Buses Index}

Planet
Planet [Philips Lite Automotive NETwork] is used as an in-vehicle [Automotive] network designed
for safety-critical network concept for dedicated passenger-restraint systems, air bags.
Planet uses two wires for the transmission of power, data and clocking. Planet has its own Protocol.
The Philips Lite Automotive NETwork was developed by Philips [now nxp] and Special Devices
Inc.
The first device to interface with the Philips Lite Automotive NETwork was released in 2000.
The only identified device: nxp; AU6101 squib driver IC {air-bag electronic initiator}
Editor note, Philips Semiconductors is now called nxp.
{Automotive Buses Index}






Additional notes for Automotive Buses:
ISO 15765 [CAN] - Controller Area Network, a new higher speed interface
ISO 9141-2 is a name of the upper protocol for automotive failure diagnosis using a UART
interface.
This communication speed is 9.6kbps. [used by Chrysler and import vehicles]
ISO 11992 truck/trailer point-to-point interface with a physical layer over twisted pair (CAN_H and
CAN_L) for the transmission of the differential signals. The signal voltage levels are different from
ISO 11898-2. The voltage levels for a dominant bit are specified as 2/3-supply voltage for CAN_H
and 1/3-supply voltage for CAN_L. A recessive bit is represented by 1/3-supply voltage for
CAN_H and 2/3-supply voltage for CAN_L.
ISO 14230, or KWP2000 (Keyword Protocol) shares the electrical portion of ISO9141 standard,
but defines it's own commands.
PWM J1850-41.6 See the J1850 topic listing, (41.6Khz Pulse Width Modulated) [used by Ford
vehicles]
VPW J1850-10.4 See the J1850 topic listing, (10.4Khz Variable Pulse Width) [used by GM
vehicles]
SAE J1587 Joint SAE/TMC Recommended Practices for Electronic Data Interchange Between
Microcomputer Systems in Heavy-Duty Vehicle Applications
E&C Bus [Entertainment & Comfort] bus used in GM vehicles to control the radio and HVAC
controls. E&C Bus is a class A protocol using 1 wire, with PWM bit encoding at a maximum of
1kbps over a 20 meter cable.
Ford uses a proprietary Standard Corporate Protocol (SCP) for Module communication, and an
audio corporate protocol {ACP) for audio communication.
BEAN bus is a Class A protocol running up to 20kbps over a 40 meter single wire cable.
I2C Bus {listed on it's own page} is defined as a class A protocol and was used as a HVAC bus by
Renault.
USB Bus {listed on it's own page}. USB has a Slow-Speed mode of 1.5Mbps is used for devices
such as mice. Full-Speed mode is used by most devices and allows a transfer rate of 12Mbps. High-
Speed mode [defined by USB 2.0] allows rates of 480Mbps. Up to 127 devices may be connected
together in a tiered Star topology over a maximum cable length of 4 meters.
1394 FireWire Bus {listed on it's own page}. The differential cable version operates at 100, 200, or
400Mbits/sec, [800Mbits/sec for 1394b] using half-duplex [full duplex 8B/10B encoding for
1394b]. Firewire supports up to 63 devices at a maximum cable distance between devices of 4.5
meters. With a maximum of 16 devices on the bus allows a total maximum cable distance of 72
meters. Transmitting data over CAT5 cable allows data at 100Mbps to travel 100m [1394b].
SCI Bus {listed on it's own page} is defined as a class A protocol.
ACP is a class A protocol running over twisted pair wire at 9600bps for a maximum distance of 40
meters
Safe-by-Wire [SdW] protocol describes the physical Layer, Data Link Layer, and Application
Layer. Safe-by-Wire uses a two wire differential pair, with three data levels. Normal data level '0' is
transmitted at 6 volts. Normal data level '1' is transmitted at 3 volts. The power distribution level is
at 11 volts, and the safing level is at 0 volts.
SINEBUS protocol, a single wire bus used in audio applications operating up to 200kHz over a
cable of 10 meter maximum. SINEBUS is a class A protocol. SINEBUS uses SAM bit encoding.
GMLAN (General Motors GM) microcontroller network using the CAN protocol. A Class B bus
Diagnostic Trouble Code Acronyms

APS/IVS; Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor and Idle Validation Switch
BAP; Barometric Absolute Pressure
CKP; Crankshaft Position
CMP; Camshaft Position
DTC; Diagnostic Trouble Code
EBT; Exhaust Back Pressure
ECI; Engine Crank Inhibit
ECL; Engine Coolant Level
ECT; Engine Coolant Temperature
EFAN; Engine Fan Control
EGR; Exhaust Gas Recirculation
EOP; Engine Oil Pressure
EOT; Engine Oil Temperature
GPC; Glow Plug Control
IAT; Intake Air Temperature
ICP; Injection Control Pressure
IDM; Injection Driver Module Power
IPR; Injection Pressure Regulator
MAP; Manifold Absolute Pressure
MAT; Manifold Air Temperature
PCM; Powertrain Control Module
VGT; Variable Geometry Turbocharger
VSS; Vehicle Speed Sensor


{Top of Automotive Interface Buses}


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