Enable CAN Flexible Data Rate (CAN FD) in new and existing designs using Microchip’s unique external CAN FD controller

Microchip announces the availability of the industry’s first external CAN Flexible Data Rate (CAN FD) controller. The MCP2517FD provides designers with a simplified path to upgrade from CAN 2.0 to CAN FD and benefit from CAN FD protocol enhancements.

CAN FD offers many benefits over traditional CAN 2.0 including faster data rates and data byte message expansion. The cutting-edge MCP2517FD CAN FD controller can be used with any microcontroller (MCU), enabling developers to easily implement this technology without a complete system redesign. Since the adoption and transition to CAN FD is in the beginning stages, there are a limited number of CAN FD MCUs available today. In addition, changing a system MCU can come with a significant cost, increased development time and risk. MCP2517FD allows system designers to enable CAN FD functionality by adding only one external component while continuing to utilise the majority of their design.

The MCP2517FD also allows designers to easily integrate additional CAN FD channels, on top of those that may be available on an MCU.

The MCP251XFD CAN FD Motherboard (Part #ADM00576), together with the MCP2517FD Click Board (Part #MIKROE-2379), provides a simple, low-cost evaluation board for implementing a CAN FD design. In addition, a firmware API written in C is available for rapid application development.

The MCP2517FD-H/SL is available today in a 14-lead SOIC package for sampling and in volume production. The MCP2517FD-H/JHA is available today in a 14-lead VQFN package with wettable flanks for sampling and in volume production.