Repeaters reduce wiring costs and increase system reliability

A range of CAN repeaters under the IXXAT brand has been launched by HMS Industrial Networks. These well-proven products enable coupling of two or more CAN network segments, provide them with galvanic isolation, and eliminate the effects of EMI (Electromagnetic Interference).

The CAN repeaters are offered under HMS’s recently acquired IXXAT brand and enable machine builders and system integrators to use extended CAN topologies including tree or star topologies. Furthermore, the integrated galvanic isolation provides a built-in protection against over voltage and the anti-noise circuit of the units eliminates the effects of EMI. IXXAT repeaters are especially designed for use in industrial environments, meeting high demands for robustness, temperature ranges and safety.

How it works
With the use of a repeater, it is possible to build independent electric segments that can be optimally terminated in terms of signals. The repeater substantially increases system reliability, partly because it increases the signal quality, and partly because it makes it possible to isolate malfunctions – keeping the remaining CAN-system fully operational. Furthermore, the implemented monitoring function detects CAN lines which are disturbed or malfunctioning. These lines are disconnected automatically, thus allowing the remaining network to continue functioning normally. After the fault has been eliminated, the disconnected segment is automatically reconnected to the network.

Depending on the type of repeater, the CAN lines are protected among each other and against the power supply up to 4 kV. In addition, the built-in CAN bus choke provides protection against signal peaks and the additional anti-noise circuit helps eliminating effects of EMI like heavy noise on the CAN-bus.

Wide range of use cases
“The IXXAT CAN repeaters are based on proven technology and we feel that it is now time to offer these to a wider international market,” comments Thomas Waggershauser, Product Marketing Director for IXXAT solutions at HMS. “IXXAT CAN repeaters has helped users to extend topology and improve robustness of CAN-networks since 1992 when IXXAT presented the world’s first CAN repeater. Use cases vary from customers wanting to reduce the lengths of their CAN wiring, to users who need to galvanically isolate CAN lines and rebuild CAN-signals. One common example is wind turbines with fiber-optic wiring in the blades. The CAN repeaters are used for isolation in case of a lightning strike and to refresh signals to use low-service slip-rings. CAN repeaters are a great tool for any system integrator or machine builder working with CAN since it allows them to substantially reduce wiring complexity and improve system reliability.”

The IXXAT CAN repeaters come in several different variants, both for copper and fiber-optic wiring.