VN3600

The Vector VN3600 is a USB network interface from Vector's FlexRay interface family, giving a PC access to one FlexRay cluster (channels A and B). It is used to develop, simulate, test, measure and calibrate FlexRay networks and ECUs. Unlike the VN7600 from the same family, it has no CAN channels.

It uses an FPGA-based Bosch E-Ray communication controller for analysis and a Fujitsu MB88121B controller for cluster startup and startup monitoring. A 2 MB transmit memory supports simulation of large networks, along with cycle multiplexing, in-cycle response, payloads up to 254 bytes and detection of invalid frames. Functions can be extended in the field by FPGA updates.

The FlexRay transceiver is a plug-in FRpiggy. The unit is powered externally (5 to 50 V) through Binder connectors that also carry hardware time synchronisation with other Vector FlexRay and XL-family devices. It is set up with Vector's hardware configuration tool and used with Vector software such as CANoe; a FlexRay driver library is available for custom applications. Vector no longer lists the VN3600 in its current product range; its current FlexRay interfaces include the VN7610, VN7640 and the VN8900 family.