CAN: From physical layer to application layer and beyond
The Controller Area Network (CAN) knowledge webpages provide technical information on all three CAN data link layer generations:
The CAN knowledge webpages also provide technical information on a subset of CAN FD data link layer for price-sensitive sensor and actuator networks as CAN FD light.
The CAN knowledge webpages describe several CAN physical layer options. Additionally, these webpages also contain technical descriptions about CANopen CC and CANopen FD as well as other standardized CAN-based higher-layers.
According to the Open System Interconnection (OSI) seven-layer and the CAN lower-layer model, the CAN lower layers cover some functions of the transport layer (e.g. automatic retransmission of faulty frames), the data link layer (DLL), and the physical coding sub-layer (PCS) as well as the physical medium attachment (PMA) sub-layer. The medium-dependent interface sub-layer is generally application-specific.
The other layers are usually referenced as higher-layer protocols (HLP). Often, the CAN-based application layer approaches include functional elements of other higher layers (e.g. session, presentation, transport, or network layers), too. Some of them are accompanied by parameter (data) specifications, which are not in the scope of the ISO OSI model.
Higher-layer protocols described in the CAN knowledge pages include, in particular, the CANopen CC application layer (CiA 301) and the CANopen FD application layer (CiA 1301) as well as the related device, interface, and application profiles. Additionally, some basic information on other CAN-based higher-layer protocols such as Devicenet, Isobus (ISO 11783), ISO 11992 series, and SAE J1939 series) is provided.