USB-CAN Plus
(Vscom USB-CAN, Vscom USB-CAN ISO)

USB-CAN Plus is an USB to CAN Bus 2.0A/B adapter. Higher layer protocols, such as CANopen, can be assembled using the available development tools for complex automation control applications. Its low power consumption (0.5W typical), its extended temperature range (−20°C - +70°C), and the solid MTBF (23 Years at 45°C) make it an ideal system for industrial automation. A small footprint metal case, available with a DIN-Rail mounting option, makes the device flexible and convenient to use.

Usage Options

USB-CAN Plus provides various software tools to interface each level of user applications:

• The ASCII conversion protocol is handy for developing and testing any CAN-BUS configuration. Users simply connect using the virtual COM port, setting up a straightforward way to talk to the CAN controller. The device can also be used to manually transmit and receive CAN frames.
• Applications programmed by users should use the VScan API library (DLL), which handles the communication and ASCII conversion for the CAN frames in a transparent manner. In their applications, programmers have to handle only the CAN frames and status information, without taking care of the ASCII conversion. The VScan API is supported in C/C++, C#, VB.NET, Delphi and LabVIEW. Under Linux SocketCAN can be used as alternative to the VScan API. All VScom CAN devices support the standard Serial Line CAN (slcan) driver.
• The USB-CAN Plus series also supports CANFestival, an Open Source CANopen Framework. CANopen is a CAN-based higher layer protocol that is used in various application areas to unburden the developer from dealing with CAN-specific details. CANopen provides standardised communication objects for real-time data, configuration data, as well as network management data.

ESD protection and electrical Isolation

For usage in hazardous industrial environments, the CAN-Bus interface and USB port are ±16kV (air) and ±8kV (contact) ESD surge protected. Because noisy CAN-Bus connections with unbalanced ground loops could seriously damage the equipment, an ISO version is available and offers 2.5kV electrical isolation.