Automotive Communication Extender

Description of the Automotive Communication Extender card for HIL Connect hardware

The Automotive Communication Extender card provides support for multiple communication interfaces typically used in the automotive industry: CAN, LIN, FlexRay, SPI, and SENT. It connects to the HIL device using an Ethernet connection. Communication interfaces are configured independently for each protocol using the regular communication components from Schematic Editor.

Note: Automotive Communication Extender card requires Ethernet connection with the HIL device.

Automotive Communication Extender card revisions

Table 1. Card revisions
Code Revision Part number
MG 1.0 24970
NA 1.1 25689

Automotive Communication Extender card hardware specification

Table 2. Hardware Specification
Parameter Value
Type Communication interfaces
Number of channels 8x CAN / CAN FD, 8x LIN, 1x FlexRay, 4x SPI, 8x SENT
Input signal range ETH message
Output range Interface specific
Isolation No
Table 3. Interfaces specification
Protocol Number of channels Details
CAN / CAN FD 8 Software configurable 120 Ω termination.
LIN 8 Software configurable 1kΩ termination for Master.
FlexRay 1 A and B channels supported. Software configurable 120 Ω termination.
SPI 4 5V, Slave/Master configurable with 3 CS# per channel.
SENT 8 5V, Open-Drain output with 4.7 kΩ pull-up resistor.

Automotive Communication Extender card hardware settings

Table 4. Hardware Options
Option Method Possible options
ETH ID selection Via rotary switch ETH ID set from 0 to 15
Note: In cases when multiple cards are connected to the same device (or multiple HIL devices but still connected to the same network) they need to have differently configured ETH IDs.

Automotive Communication Extender card connector data

X1: RJ45, used for Ethernet communication with HIL device.

X2, X3: DSUB-50, used for the listed communication protocols.

Table 5. X2 and X3 connector data
Parameter Value
Connector outline
PCB connector part number 09665526615
Mating connector part number 09670505615

Automotive Communication Extender card pinouts

Table 6. Pinout - X2
Pin Signal Pin Signal Pin Signal
50 N.C. 33 GND 17 N.C.
49 SPI1-CS2# 32 GND 16 SPI1-CS1#
48 SPI1-CS0# 31 GND 15 SPI1-CLK
47 SPI1-MOSI 30 GND 14 SPI1-MISO
46 SPI2-CS1# 29 GND 13 SPI2-CS1#
45 SPI2-CS0# 28 GND 12 SPI2-CLK
44 SPI2-MOSI 27 GND 11 SPI2-MISO
43 SPI3-CS1# 26 GND 10 SPI3-CS1#
42 SPI3-CS0# 25 GND 9 SPI3-CLK
41 SPI3-MOSI 24 GND 8 SPI3-MISO
40 SPI4-CS1# 23 GND 7 SPI4-CS1#
39 SPI4-CS0# 22 GND 6 SPI4-CLK
38 SPI4-MOSI 21 GND 5 SPI4-MISO
37 SENT1 20 GND 4 SENT2
36 SENT3 19 GND 3 SENT4
35 SENT5 18 GND 2 SENT6
34 SENT7 1 SENT8
Table 7. Pinout - X3
Pin Signal Pin Signal Pin Signal
50 N.C. 33 GND 17 N.C.
49 CAN1-N 32 GND 16 N.C.
48 CAN1-P 31 GND 15 CAN2-N
47 CAN3-N 30 GND 14 CAN2-P
46 CAN3-P 29 GND 13 CAN4-N
45 CAN5-N 28 GND 12 CAN4-P
44 CAN5-P 27 GND 11 CAN6-N
43 CAN7-N 26 GND 10 CAN6-P
42 CAN7-P 25 GND 9 CAN8-N
41 LIN1 24 GND 8 CAN8-P
40 LIN3 23 GND 7 LIN2
39 LIN5 22 GND 6 LIN4
38 LIN7 21 GND 5 LIN6
37 FLEX1B-N 20 GND 4 LIN8
36 FLEX1B-P 19 GND 3 FLEX1A-N
35 N.C. 18 GND 2 FLEX1A-P
34 N.C. 1 N.C.

Automotive Communication Extender card firmware update

Firmware update of the ACE card is performed over ethernet through a dedicated tool which can be accessed through the THCC Device Manager. Prior to starting the firmware update procedure, the ACE card needs to be properly connected to the PC. In order to do this, follow the steps below:

  • Power up the card and connect it to the PC using an ethernet cable
  • Configure the PC IP address in a way that it belongs to the same subnet as the ACE card IP address. The ACE card has the following IP address: 192.168.20.1xx, where the xx part is inherited from the ETH ID rotary switch
  • Make sure that the PC network connection is either configured as private, or has inbound firewall rules that allow reception of UDP packages from remote port 56100 by local port 55100
Note: It is advised that no other devices are connected to the same network as the ACE card while performing the firmware update.

After connecting the ACE card to the PC, consult the Syncing ACE Firmware in Device Manager section for information on how to use the ACE Firmware Update Tool.