CANopen Updates Specifications

July 3rd, 2007

CAN in Automation (CiA) nonprofit organization has released several new and updated CANopen specifications. Most important is the CiA 311 XML electronic data sheet (EDS) specification. It defines the XML scheme to be used for the electronic description of CANopen devices. The specification is based on the ISO 15745 standard. In the future, XML electronic data sheets will substitute the well-known ASCII-based EDS as specified in CiA 306. EDS are used by configuration, diagnostic, or testing tools to get information about the CANopen device to be configured, diagnosed, or tested.

Another auto-related standard recently updated is CIA 303-1, which specifies pin assignments for more than 20 connectors to be used for CANopen devices. This update contains the first Chinese connector. This 3-pin connector (em069A-3) is dedicated to low-cost devices.

Entry Filed under: Network Test, Standards