National Semiconductor

Application Note 915

Michael Wilson
Todd Nelson
October 1993

Introduction

The SAE Recommended Practice

J1708

Multiplex (MUX) wiring, or networking, has been introduced

in automotive applications to address the increase in complexity and the number of onboard electronic devices in
automobiles. Both standardized and proprietary solutions
exist to address these issues. A standardized approach may
be more desirable as cost and interoperability become important factors to consider for all original equipment manufacturers including automobile manufacturers.
The purpose of this application note is to give a general
understanding of the J1708 recommended practice (SAE
J1708) and the DS36277 transceiver which is optimized for
use with SAE J1708. Additionally, this application note explains the significant differences between the DS36277 and
a standard RS-485 transceiver, the DS75176B.

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has defined this

recommended practice for serial data communications between microcomputer systems in heavy duty vehicle applications. It is also well suited to passenger car applications
(as shown in Figure 1) and many non-automotive uses. The
bus is expected to be used for sharing data. An applications
document, like SAE J1587 or SAE J1922, defines the actual
data and/or functions to be transmitted. SAE J1708 only
defines the hardware and basic software.

Explanation of Terms
Dominant Mode This is a mode of operation in which one
logic state is dominant over any other state on the bus.
Listen Mode This is a mode of operation in which a receiver is always active (assuming the device is powered)
and its output is always in a known state.

Definition of TIA/EIA-485 and SAE

J1708
This section explains the definition of TIA/EIA-485 (RS-485)
and SAE J1708. However, this section does not explain the
electrical characteristic specifications of RS-485 or SAE
J1708. The provisions for SAE J1708 will be discussed in the
next section and for a brief definition of the RS-485 electrical
specifications, refer to National application note AN-216.
First, RS-485 is an interface standard that specifies only
electrical characteristics for balanced multipoint interface
circuits. A complete interface standard will specify electrical,
mechanical, and functional characteristics as does the popular interface standard TIA/EIA-232-E (see Table 1). Second,
SAE J1708 specifies only the functional characteristics for
balanced interface circuits. RS-485 is referenced by SAE
J1708 for its electrical specifications but with a few modifications. Thus, the end designer of a SAE J1708 application
must specify their own mechanical connections.
TABLE 1. Definition of RS-485 and SAE J1708
Mechanical Functional

Electrical

TIA/EIA-485

SAE J1708
TIA/EIA-232-E

REF. RS-485

01193601

Automotive Physical Layer SAE J1708 and the DS36277

Automotive Physical Layer

SAE J1708 and the
DS36277

FIGURE 1. Automobile Controls on a SAE J1708 Bus

The physical media is a two-wire bus using 18-gauge twisted
pair with a minimum of 1 twist per inch. The maximum length
is intended to be 40m. A maximum of 20 nodes is specified.
Deviations from this must be carefully analyzed to determine
impact on bus performance over the entire operating range.
Each node may access the bus randomly once the bus is
idle for a predetermined access time. If two or more nodes
attempt to access the bus at the same time, the contending
nodes must arbitrate for the bus. Arbitration is determined by
priority, which is set between 1 (top priority) and 8. An
applications document shall reference SAE J1708 and define the priority associated with each message. Since there
can be up to 20 nodes, it is possible for two contending
nodes to have the same priority. When contention exists
between two or more nodes, arbitration is determined by the
bus access time. This is the time a node is required to wait
before it can attempt to access the bus.
The protocol is consistent with standard UART operation. A
message consists of a Message Identification character
(MID), a data character(s) and a checksum character. The
total message length should not exceed 21 characters. A

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2002 National Semiconductor Corporation

AN011936

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The SAE Recommended Practice

J1708 (Continued)
character is defined as 10 bits: the first bit is always the start
bit (logic level LOW), followed by eight bits of data and, the
tenth bit is the stop bit (logic level HIGH) (see Figure 2).
The bit timing equates to a baud rate of 9600. The logic LOW
and HIGH levels are encoded as dominant and recessive
which will be described later. The hardware is defined by the
RS-485 standard for its electrical characteristics, with some
exceptions and modifications.

01193602

FIGURE 2. Character Format

01193603

J1708 Bus Loading

FIGURE 3. Node Load Circuit

The recommended implementation for a SAE J1708 load is

shown in Figure 3 . The recommended implementation for a
SAE J1708 system using a standard RS-485 transceiver,
such as the DS75176B (see Figure 4), is shown in Figure 7.
The circuitry between the bus and the transceiver differs
from RS-485 and is intended to provide several features:
R1 and R2 provide the bias for the recessive state.
C1 and C2 combine to form a 6 MHz low pass filter,
effective for reducing FM interference.
R2, C1, R4 and C2 combine to form a 1.6 MHz low pass
filter, effective for reducing AM interference.
Since the bus is unterminated, at high frequencies R3
and R4 perform a pseudo-termination. This makes the
implementation more flexible as no specific termination
nodes are required at the ends of the bus.

01193604

FIGURE 4. The DS75176B in a SAE J1708 Application

The resistor and capacitor values are as follows and are

shown in Figure 3:
Resistor 1 and 2 (R1 and R2) 4.7 k
Resistor 3 and 4 (R3 and R4) 47
Capacitor 1 and 2 (C1 and C2) 2.2 nF

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Dominant Mode
The drivers used by SAE J1708 are used in a dominant
mode application. The drivers input (DI) is tied LOW and the
signal (Tx) to be transmitted is tied to the drivers enable.
The enable (DE) is active HIGH for the DS75176B while the
enable (DE*) for the DS36277 is active LOW. First, this
information is very important because this tells us that the
driver is only capable of driving LOW. Therefore, a logic level
LOW is encoded as dominant. When the driver is disabled,
the bus is pulled high by external bias resistors R1 and R2
(as shown in Figure 3). Thus, a logic level HIGH is encoded
as recessive. Second, if the drivers enable is active LOW,
then you will transmit positive logic. But, if the drivers enable
is active HIGH you will transmit negative logic. SAE J1708 is
only defined for positive logic. Therefore, to implement a
SAE J1708 application using DS75176B, which has an active HIGH driver enable, an inverter is needed for the driver
enable (see Figure 4 and Figure 6 ). However, the active
LOW driver enable pin on the DS36277 saves the user an
externally needed inverter (see Figure 5).

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Dominant Mode

(Continued)

01193606

FIGURE 6. Typical SAE J1708 System Block Diagram

01193605

SAE J1708 requires all receivers to listen to every message

identification character transmitted to determine if contention
exists. Unlike the driver, the receivers enable (RE*) is always tied LOW (see Figure 4 and Figure 5). This means the
receiver is always in listen mode (see Explanation of Terms).

FIGURE 5. The DS36277 in a SAE J1708 Application

In the case of a SAE J1708 application, a logic LOW can
overwrite a logic HIGH. Thus, if contention exists between
two drivers with transmitting signals (Tx) in opposite states,
the driver driving the dominant state wins.

The external components shown in Figure 3 provide the

necessary bias for a logic High recessive state. SAE J1708
requires no additional external components other than the
J1708 load. This means that no parallel termination can be
used at the ends of the SAE J1708 bus. The required loading
also provides failsafe protection.

Features of the DS75176B

The DS75176B offers full compliance with the RS-485 standard and it is compatible with RS-422 and V.11. The device
is available with industrial temperature range. Additionally, a
thermal shutdown circuit protects the device against thermal
overstress due to excessive power dissipation. Furthermore,
the receiver has failsafe protection. However, the receivers
output is only guaranteed to be in a logic HIGH state for an
open input line condition. The receiver also has 200 mV
threshold levels. The driver has an active HIGH enable while
the receiver has an active LOW enable.

01193607

FIGURE 7. SAE J1708 Typical Bus Configuration and Loading

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Automotive Physical Layer SAE J1708 and the DS36277

Features of the DS36277

The DS36277 is optimized for use with SAE J1708 electrical
applications and the device is still compatible with RS-485,
RS-422, and V.11 standards. Like the DS75176B, the device
is available with industrial temperature range. Also the device includes thermal shutdown protection; plus the receiver
has failsafe protection. Additionally, the receiver has full
failsafe defenses that includes shorted and terminated line
fault/conditions as well as open line conditions. The receivers output is guaranteed to be in a logic HIGH state for all
three line faults/conditions. The receivers 0V to 500 mV
threshold provides the protection from shorted line faults.
Unlike the DS75176B, both the driver and the receiver have
an active LOW enable.
The DS36277 also has a very rugged ESD structure that
allows it to withstand electrostatic discharges (ESD) up to
7 kV (HBM). The device is also available in SOIC as well as
DIP packages.

Conclusions
Selecting an established physical layer such as J1708 can
eliminate many of the challenges of designing a serial communications system. The dominant mode operation allows
for a non-destructive arbitration scheme.

The DS36277 transceiver has been optimized for J1708. It

provides failsafe protection against bus faults and eliminates
the need for an external inverter.
This application note provides a brief overview of the recommended practice and the interface standard. It is highly
recommended to carefully review the complete documents.
The documents can be obtained from:
SAE, 400 Commonwealth Dr.
Warrendale, PA 15096-0001
Global Engineering Documents
2805 McGraw Avenue
P.O. Box 19539
Irvine, CA 92174

References
1. EIA RS-485, Standard for Electrical Characteristics of
Generators and Receivers for use in Balanced Digital Multipoint Systems, Electronic Industries Association Engineering
Department. Washington D.C. 1983.
2. SAE J1708, Serial Data Communications Between Microcomputer Systems In Heavy Duty Vehicle Applications. Society of Automotive Engineers. 1990.

J1708 is based on RS-485 electrical specifications and

therefore benefits from the ruggedness, low cost and availability of compliant ICs already on the market.

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