NEC Corp has developed a communications chip for Controller Area Network applications. Controller Area Network is an inside-vehicle serial communications protocol owned by Robert Bosch GmbH of Germany, with features that enable good communication – serial data transmission at up to 1Mbps – in severe operating environments. NEC developed the new product the uPD72005 – based on a licence agreement it concluded with Bosch in 1991. Reliable communication is achieved through in-built security functions such as transfer buffers, and enhanced error control, and use of the new chip will reduce the communications burden on wires within the vehicle. Sample price is $40.
