Difference Between LIN, CAN, MOST, FlexRay, Communication Protocols

Hello guys, welcome back to my blog. In this article, I will discuss the difference between LIN, CAN, MOST, and FlexRay in applications, physical layer, data rate, message transmission, etc.

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Difference Between LIN, CAN, MOST, FlexRay

1. LIN stands for Local Interconnect Network
2. CAN stands for Controller Area Network
3. MOST stands for Media Oriented System Transport
4. FlexRay

01. Application

• The LIN protocol is used in a low-level communication system. It may be used to make a connection between sensors and controllers. For example: In the body of the vehicle.
• CAN is used in soft real-time systems. For example: In engines, power trains, chassis, battery management systems, etc.
• FlexRay is used in a hard real-time system. For example: In power trains, chassis.
• MOST are used in media-related applications and control in automotive. For example: In multimedia, telematics, etc.

02. Architecture

• LIN has a single master and typically 2 to 10 slaves.
• CAN has a multi-master and typically 10 to 40 nodes.
• FlexRay has a multi-master and up to 64 nodes.
• MOST also have multi-master and up to 64 nodes.

03. Bus Access

Bus it is a communication system that is responsible for data transfer.

• LIN has polling bus access
• CAN has CSMA/CA bus access
• FlexRay has TDMA/FTDMA bus access
• MOST have TDM CSMA/CS bus access

04. Topology

Topology means it is an arrangement made to connect devices.

• LIN has a bus topology
• CAN also have bus topology
• FlexRay has BUS/Star topology
• MOST have a ring/star topology

05. Message Transmission

• In LIN, message transmission is synchronous.
• In CAN, message transmission is asynchronous.
• In FlexRay, message transmission is synchronous and asynchronous.
• In MOST also, message transmission is synchronous and asynchronous.

06. Data Rate

• In LIN, the data rate is 20 Kbps.
• In CAN, the data rate is 1 Mbps.
• In FlexRay, the data rate is 10 Mbps.
• In MOST, the data rate is 24 Mbps.

07. Data Bytes Per Second

• In LIN, the data bytes per second is 0 to 8.
• In CAN, the data bytes per second is 0 to 8.
• In FlexRay, the data bytes per second is 0 to 254.
• In MOST, the data bytes per second is 0 to 60.

08. Physical Layer

• An electrical single wire is used in the LIN protocol.
• The electrical dual wire is used in CAN protocol.
• Dual wire – optical or electrical wire is used in FlexRay.
• The optical fiber cable is used in MOST.

These are the difference between LIN, CAN, FlexRay, and MOST. I hope this article may help you all a lot. Thank you for reading.

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