Railway

Multi-function Vehicle Bus (MVB) is the vehicle bus standardized in IEC 61375 for interconnecting rail vehicles. IEC 61375 defines hardware and software protocols, automatic reconfiguration, and network services like topology and sub system interfaces. In locomotives, this provides the standard communication interface for the various on-board equipment like radio, diagnostic systems, brakes, power electronics modules, power line, motor control and the cockpit. In coaches, it interfaces door controls, HVAC, passenger information systems, lighting units, etc.

The Train Control and Management System (TCMS) consists of processing units, networks, subsystems and their interfaces and provides services such as control and monitoring, diagnostics, plus upgrade and reconfiguration for the various train components (HVAC, speed control, vibration control, brakes, lights, water supply, CCTV, batteries, doors, emergency communications and event recorders). The Train Communication Network (TCN), originally based on industrial fieldbuses like CAN, is used for data transmission in TCMS. TCN consists of the MVB and the Wire Train Bus (WTB) to connect the different vehicles (coaches and wagons) of the train. TCN components have been standardized in IEC 61375 to make them suitable for Railway applications. The Ethernet Train Backbone (ETB) is a TCN based on Ethernet that has been standardized with IEC 61375-2-5 and is more cost effective and flexible than the original IEC 61375-standardized TCN.

The Train Control and Management System (TCMS) consists of processing units, networks, subsystems and their interfaces and provides services such as control and monitoring, diagnostics, plus upgrade and reconfiguration for the various train components (HVAC, speed control, vibration control, brakes, lights, water supply, CCTV, batteries, doors, emergency communications and event recorders).

The Train Communication Network (TCN), originally based on industrial fieldbuses like CAN, is used for data transmission in TCMS. TCN consists of the MVB and the Wire Train Bus (WTB) to connect the different vehicles (coaches and wagons) of the train. TCN components have been standardized in IEC 61375 to make them suitable for Railway applications. The Ethernet Train Backbone (ETB) is a TCN based on Ethernet that has been standardized with IEC 61375-2-5 and is more cost effective and flexible than the original IEC 61375-standardized TCN.

CANopen is a CAN-based communication protocol developed by CAN in Automation (CiA) and is standardized in EN 50325-4. It is a higher-layer communication protocol and device profile specification meant for distributed, industrial, embedded and automation solutions. In railways, CAN-based systems are used to connect control devices, sensors and drives within the sub systems like propulsion, HVAC, brake, door, lavatory, light, etc. and also for their inter-connection. Today, CAN and CANopen solutions run on a wide variety of trains such as locomotives, coaches, urban/regional/international trains, high-speed trains, trams, monorails and metros, etc.

Kvaser has a number of products that are compatible with CANopen and can be used in the Ethernet Train Backbone (ETB). The Kvaser Ethercan Light HS is a CAN to Ethernet interface that enables data from a CAN system to be sent over a network using the standard Kvaser API. It is fully compatible with CANopen. The Kvaser CANopen stack is a complete and user-friendly API developed for high performance CANopen networks like that being used in railway applications as well as in other areas. The KvaserCANopen stack can be used in any bare-metal systems with no OS or with RTOS and Desktop OS.

Other relevant Kvaser products to train/locomotive applications include our Rugged range of CAN with PCI-X, PCIe, Mini PCIe and PCI 104 connectivity.

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