Open Channel

Once we have imported canlib.canlib to enumerate the connected Kvaser CAN devices, the next call is likely to be a call to openChannel, which returns a Channel object for the specific CAN circuit. This object is then used for subsequent calls to the library. The openChannel function’s first argument is the number of the desired channel, the second argument is modifier flags canlib.canlib.Open.

openChannel may raise several different exceptions, one of which is CanNotFound. This means that the channel specified in the first parameter was not found, or that the flags passed to openChannel is not applicable to the specified channel.

Open as CAN

No special canlib.canlib.Open modifier flag is needed in the flags argument to openChannel when opening a channel in CAN mode.

>>> from canlib import canlib
>>> canlib.openChannel(channel=0, flags=canlib.Open.EXCLUSIVE)
<canlib.canlib.channel.Channel object at 0x0000015B787EDA90>

Open as CAN FD

To open a channel in CAN FD mode, either CAN_FD or CAN_FD_NONISO needs to be given in the flags argument to openChannel.

This example opens channel 0 in CAN FD mode for exclusive usage by this application:

>>> from canlib import canlib
>>> ch = canlib.openChannel(
...     channel=0,
...     flags=canlib.Open.CAN_FD | canlib.Open.EXCLUSIVE,
... )
>>> ch.close()

Close Channel

Closing a channel is done using close. If no other handles are referencing the same CANlib channel, the channel is taken off bus.

The CAN channel can also be opened and closed using a context manager:

>>> from canlib import canlib
>>> with canlib.openChannel(channel=1) as ch:
...     ...

Set CAN Bitrate

Use setBusParams to set the CAN bus parameters. The bus parameters include the bit rate, the position of the sampling point etc, they are also described in most CAN controller data sheets. CANlib provides a few default set of parameters for the most common bus speeds through the canlib.canlib.canBITRATE_xxx constants.

To set the bus speed to 500 kbit/s:

>>> from canlib import canlib
>>> ch = canlib.openChannel(channel=1)
>>> ch.setBusParams(canlib.canBITRATE_500K)
>>> ch.close()

The predefined bit rates may also be set directly in the call to openChannel:

>>> ch = canlib.openChannel(channel=1, bitrate=canlib.canBITRATE_500K)

To set a bit rate that is not predefined, you have to calculate the appropriate bus parameters yourself.

Set the speed to 125 kbit/s, each bit comprising 8 (= 1 + 4 + 3) quanta, the sampling point occurs at 5/8 of a bit; SJW = 1; one sampling point:

>>> ch.setBusParams(freq=125000, tseg1=4, tseg2=3, sjw=1, noSamp=1)

Set the speed to 111111 kbit/s, the sampling point to 75%, the SJW to 2 and the number of samples to 1:

>>> ch.setBusParams(freq=111111, tseg1=5, tseg2=2, sjw=2, noSamp=1)

If you do not set a bus speed, a default of 500 kbit/s will be used.

Set CAN FD Bitrate

In CAN FD we need to set both the arbitration/nominal bitrate, using setBusParams, and the data phase bitrate, using setBusParams. CANlib provides a few default set of parameters for the most common CAN FD bus speeds through the canlib.canlib.canFD_BITRATE_xxx constants.

Set the nominal bitrate to 500 kbit/s, with sampling point at 80% and the data phase bitrate to 1000 kbit/s, with sampling point at 80%:

>>> with canlib.openChannel(channel=1, flags=canlib.Open.CAN_FD) as ch:
...     ch.setBusParams(canlib.canBITRATE_500K)
...     ch.setBusParamsFd(canlib.canFD_BITRATE_1M_80P)
...     ...

The predefined bit rates may also be set directly in the call to openChannel:

>>> ch = canlib.openChannel(
...     channel=1,
...     flags=canlib.Open.CAN_FD,
...     bitrate=canlib.canBITRATE_500K,
...     data_bitrate=canlib.canFD_BITRATE_1M_80P,
... )

For more copmplex settings of CAN FD bitrates, use the Bit Timing Calculator for CAN FD available on the Kvaser web site.

CAN Driver Modes

Use setBusOutputControl to set the bus driver mode. This is usually set to canlib.canlib.Driver.NORMAL to obtain the standard push-pull type of driver. Some controllers also support canlib.canlib.Driver.SILENT which makes the controller receive only, not transmit anything, not even ACK bits. This might be handy for e.g. when listening to a CAN bus without interfering.

>>> from canlib import canlib
>>> with canlib.openChannel(channel=1) as ch:
...     ch.setBusOutputControl(canlib.Driver.SILENT)
...     ...

canlib.canlib.Driver.NORMAL is set by default.