Signal Integrity Analysis of Automotive CAN-FD Networks with Series Damping Resistor-Equipped Joint Connectors

In this paper, for the first time, we propose a noise suppression scheme for automotive controller area networks with flexible data rate (CAN-FD) networks that is using series damping resistor-equipped joint connectors (JCs). A CAN-FD is a bus protocol that allows multiple electrical control units (ECUs) to cross-communicate. Signal reflections at the numerous nodes and branches propagate across the entire network and considerably reduce the signal integrity of the communication. The resistors installed in series with signal pins of JCs can attenuate the signal reflection at the expense of DC power loss. We extracted S-parameter models of interconnects of a CAN-FD network, i.e., twisted pair cables, JCs, and configured them with ECU circuit models. We ran time-domain simulations, and evaluated the performance of the JCs by observing the eye diagrams between the ECUs. By equipping optimal size of resistors, the JCs could improve the width of the eye diagrams compared to the JCs without series damping resistors with an expense of DC margin.