The controller area network (CAN) bus was developed to support the networking of large numbers of electronic control units (ECUs) in automobiles. CAN is implemented using unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cabling, designed for reliability in electromagnetically noisy environments. CAN has evolved significantly since it was first introduced in 1986, along with early ECUs. Today, there […]
automotive
What is the onboard diagnostics system, OBDII?
OBDII is the second-generation onboard diagnostic (OBD) interface. The first generation of OBD coincided with the advent of onboard computers in vehicles. Initial OBD systems were intended to provide technicians with information on the status of various vehicle systems, with an indicator light on the dash to alert drivers of a malfunction. OBDII includes more […]
How is the MOST bus optimized for the automotive industry?
The media-oriented systems transport (MOST) bus was initially intended for implementation on optical fiber to support high bit rates, but fiber and copper transport layers are currently defined. MOST provides a solution for automotive peripherals like radios, CD and DVD players, GPS navigation systems, and infotainment electronic control units (ECUs). This FAQ describes the MOST […]
Will you ever drive a fuel-cell vehicle like this one?
Driving toward the all-LED automobile
The trend for the past decade in the automotive industry has been to move toward all solid-state implementation of vehicle lighting. LED headlight have only recently debuted and, with them, the first models to attain the all-LED goal. Benefits of solid-state automotive lighting LEDs bring a number of advantages over traditional tungsten-filament incandescent light sources. […]
