Free Motorola Tool Speeds CAN/Ethernet Designs

By Bernard Cole
iApplianceWeb
(08/21/02, 12:06:21 AM EDT)

Austin, Texas - Designers of networked industrial designs can now reduce development times with the use of a new Controller area networking reference design and tool from Motorola Inc.

Based on a 32-bit ColdFire Version 2 integrated microprocessor - the MCF5272 - the new tool enables systems designers to quickly employ the Ethernet local area network technology alongside CAN technology for distributed control applications used in industrial environments.

By connecting CAN and Ethernet, systems designers will be able to monitor the factory equipment from a local PC or anywhere in the world via a remote connection.

The CAN reference design includes design schematics, an applications note and driver software available free for download to registered users from the Motorola web site.

CAN allows one device in a distributed network to talk to another with minimal reliance on a central computer. It offers high transmission rates, security and reliability and real-time control. For these reasons, CAN has become the primary networking protocol of choice for many applications including industrial packaging machinery, agricultural equipment and medical devices. Ethernet is the most widely used local area network (LAN) access method, defined by the IEEE as the 802.3 standard.

The ColdFire microprocessor CAN/Ethernet reference design documentation and software is available now at no cost to registered users of Motorola's Web site by visiting www.motorola.com/ColdFire. The M5272C3 evaluation platform is available for purchase from Motorola for $650 and shipped with a full suite of evaluation software from leading tools vendors.