A beginner’s guide to the J1939 CAN Protocol

December 11, 2024 03:06 PM - By Rachael

So, what is J1939 and what does it mean? J1939 is a higher-level CAN communication protocol used in heavy-duty vehicles and industrial equipment, created for the exchange of information between electronic control units (ECUs) within a vehicle's network. It is part of the broader SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) standard and is based on the CAN (Controller Area Network) bus.

J1939 was specifically designed for the needs of the commercial vehicle industry, ensuring reliable and real-time data transmission in harsh environments like trucks, buses, and construction machinery.

The J1939 protocol defines a set of rules for data communication and standardized messages, covering various vehicle subsystems such as engine control, transmission, braking systems, and diagnostics. It allows different manufacturers' ECUs to communicate effectively, enabling efficient vehicle diagnostics, fleet management, and monitoring of key parameters like fuel consumption, engine performance, and fault codes.

ATI’s VISION Data Acquisition and Calibration software suite supports the J1939 protocol, which when used in conjunction with ATI’s CANary FD with a J1939 connector lead (3^rd party CAN interfaces are also available) allows users to interface with ECUs and read or write data from any J1939 CANbus vehicle network.

ATI’s J1939 ready software and hardware empowers engineers, service technicians and fleet managers globally by enabling them to easily troubleshoot, monitor real-time vehicle data, perform maintenance tasks, and optimize both powertrain and whole-vehicle performance.

For more information about J1939, visit the CAN in Automation or ATI website:
https://www.can-cia.org/can-knowledge/j1939-profile-family

https://www.accuratetechnologies.com/Products/CANary

https://www.accuratetechnologies.com/Products/VISIONSoftware