USB-LIN-bus converter with 32 Bit ARM-7 CPU - Baby-LIN

The Baby-LIN allows to control LIN-bus equipped devices by use of an off the shelf standard personal computer. The only requirement is an USB-port on the PC. The Baby-LIN unit includes an own 32-bit microcontroller, which takes care of all time critical tasks like message scheduling and LIN-bus protocol decoding. After installation of a DLL on the pc the user can access the LIN-bus by the application programs includes in the LINWorks software suite, or he can access the LIN-bus directly by the DLL-API. This API is easy to use and allows to fetch or put frames resp. signals to the LIN-bus. Since Baby-LIN's power supply can be given from either the USB-side or the LIN-bus voltage, the unit can control a LIN-bus stand-alone without the presence of a PC. A macro feature allows for storage of command sequences within the Baby-LIN. This can be used for example to make a LIN-equipped ECU run in an endless test loop. The LIN-bus voltage can be in the range between 9 and 36 Volts. The LIN-bus is electrically isolated from the USB-side, eliminating interferences between the pc and the board electronics of the vehicle. Due to the flash based firmware storage in the Baby-LIN, updates to new changes of the LIN-bus specification is easily possible. The Baby-LIN is bundled with the software suite LINWorks. This package includes several application programs.

The LINWorks LDF-Editor allows inspection, edit and creation of a LDF (LIN Description File). The LINWorks Session Configurator is used to define additional session parameters, e.g. which nodes on the bus are available and which nodes should be simulated by the Baby-LIN. So the Baby-LIN can not only play the role of a LIN-bus master, but also simulate slave nodes. It is even possible to run a LIN-bus without any connected slaves at all, the Baby-LIN will then simulate all nodes (masters and slaves) at the same time. A monitor mode allows for logging of the LIN-bus data and the operation as a slave without LDF-file. The LINWorks software runs on WIN98SE, WIN2000 and WINXP. A Linux version is also available upon request.

For more details : http://www.isit.fr/images/document/bus-de-terrain/DS_Baby-LIN%20und%20-RC_E.pdf