National Instruments PCI-8512 CAN Interface Device

The PCI-8512 (Part number: 780683-01) is a CAN Interface Device created by National Instruments which is meant for developing applications with the NI-XNET driver. This CAN Interface Device works especially well for applications that need real-time, high-speed manipulation of hundreds of CAN frames and signals, including: quick control prototyping, automation control, hardware-in-the-loop simulation, bus monitoring, etc. The CAN physical layer on this model is flexible data-rate and high-speed. The transceiver for this CAN Interface Device is the TJA1041. The PCI-8512 has a minimum baud rate of 40 kbits/s, a maximum baud rate of 8 Mbit/s, one port, and does not have an external sync connector. The PCI 8512 NI requires one cable and one connector block for operation.

The NI PCI-8512 includes the following types of software: the NI-XNET driver and API, the NI-XNET Bus Monitor, and the NI-XNET Database Editor. First, the NI-XNET API delivers function calls in C/C++, LabVIEW, and LabWindows/CVI. This allows the user to effortlessly send and accept LIN, CAN, and FlexRay signals and frames to and from their application. There are 12 data transfer modes to enhance the information transport for a specific application. The NI-XNET Bus Monitor can be utilized to send periodic and single test frames, measure bus load and watch bus load history, and map frames to database names for simpler diagnostics. Lastly, the NI-XNET Database Editor is a standalone tool, which can be used to generate and preserve embedded network databases containing frames, signals, and network parameters.