LIN

Introduction to the LIN bus Background

The protocol for the Local Interconnect Network (LIN) is based on the Volcano-Lite technology developed by the Volvo spin-out company Volcano Communications Technology (VCT). Since other car corporations also were interested in a more cost effective alternative to CAN, the LIN syndicate was created. In the middle of 1999 the first LIN protocol (1.0) was released by this syndicate. The protocol was updated twice in 2000. In November 2002 LIN 1.3 was released with changes mainly made in the physical layer. The latest version LIN 2.0 was released in 2003. With LIN 2.0 came some major changes and also some new features like diagnostics. The changes were mainly aimed at simplifying use of off-the-shelves slave nodes. Areas of use

The LIN protocol is a compliment to the CAN and the SAE J1850 protocols for applications that are not time critical or does not need extreme fault tolerance, since LIN is not quite as reliable as CAN. The aim of LIN is to be easy to use and a more cost effective alternative to CAN. Examples of areas where LIN is and can be used in a car: window lift, mirrors, wiper and rain sensors. Quick facts

LIN is an all-embracing concept according to the OSI-model, where the physical-, data link- , network- and application layers are covered by the specification.

   The LIN physical layer is based on ISO 9141 (the K-line).
   Master/slave organization
   Single wire plus ground
   Time triggered scheduling
   1-20 kbit/s
   Dominant/recessive bits
   Serial, byte oriented communication
   Max 40 m wire length
   Standard defined by the LIN organization: http://www.lin-subbus.org