DAQ software upgraded to include CAN traffic analyzer

The IPETRONIK business division IPEmotion – Software presents a new version of its high-performance configuration and data acquisition software: IPEmotion 2014 R1. This software version presents new features like CAN traffic analyzer, graphical filling level indication at A2L file import, new table display instrument and audio playback in analysis.

Among all new features, the CAN traffic analyzer is a highlight. The new table display element supports CAN message display as traffic data (hexadecimal and decimal) besides common signal measurements. In traffic measurement, users can online view and analyze CAN messages (data frames), as well as related CAN bus information like status frames, remote frames, error frames, statistic frames and transmit frames. Relevant information is displayed in a clearly arranged table in the columns relative time (beginning at measurement start), CAN ID, name of message, message type, data length code (DLC), data content. CAN traffic data acquisition is supported by the CAN Acquisition PlugIn V1.05 or the Logger PlugIn V03.52.

Felix Ottofuelling, Sales Manager IPEmotion, IPETRONIK, says: "The new CAN traffic analyzer instrument allows online CAN bus analysis. For experts, this feature is an important extension of the IPEmotion software packet since signal-based measurements (channels: Temp 1; Temp 2), bus diagnosis and analysis of hexadecimal messages are now provided by one software tool."

Import of A2L files – graphical filling level indication

This function relates to the import of description files at ECU signal measurements. Electronic control units can contain several 10,000 signals. Depending on device performance and design only a defined number of DAQ lists are available for data acquisition. The graphical filling level indication allows users to clearly recognize how much capacity has been used up. Further, IPEmotion features an optimization algorithm filling DAQ lists in an optimal way so that the most possible amount of signals can be collected from the ECU.

Map – database management

The database management function allows users to efficiently manage custom map data (tiles) of particular regions. Instead of having to store map tiles in one large file, users now can store relevant map sections, reload them and share them with colleagues. In this way, data are more easy to handle. Further, information on covered regions and resolution of map tiles in the database are available.

Table display of several channels

The new table display instrument compactly presents many measurement channels in a table. Compared with alphanumeric instruments, the table instrument allows compact display of many clearly arranged channels. The table view is particularly beneficial for test bench systems or climate applications.

Audio playback

The new audio playback function supports integration of data acquisition from vehicle can bus and measuring modules in combination with acoustic measurements. Acoustic signals, i.e. vehicle sounds, are recorded using a microphone either in combination with a data logger or with IPEmotion and the Sound PlugIn on a PC. Recordings are stored as WAV file. These WAV files can be played back by IPEmotion and users can correlate sounds with other measured signals in order to determine the causes. The major advantage of this solution is that acoustic investigations can now be incorporated into the early phases of vehicle development and manufacturers can analyze noise problems much earlier. Besides the WAV format, data can also be exported in PAK-ATFX format. These file formats can be used for further analysis using specific acoustic evaluation software packets.