ISO1042DWVR for Isolated CAN Communication

ElecSuppliers Part Number GuideSep 06, 2026

ISO1042DWVR is a Texas Instruments isolated CAN transceiver designed to connect a CAN controller to a physically isolated CAN bus. Unlike a conventional CAN transceiver, the device separates the logic-side controller domain from the bus-side domain through an integrated isolation barrier.

This architecture is useful when CAN communication must cross different ground potentials or when sensitive digital circuitry needs additional protection from electrical disturbances on the field bus.

Galvanic Isolation for CAN Networks

The ISO1042 family integrates a silicon dioxide isolation barrier between the controller-side and CAN bus-side circuitry. The isolation barrier provides a high level of electrical separation while allowing CAN communication to continue between the two domains.

The isolation barrier is rated for 5000Vrms isolation withstand voltage, while the device is designed for an operating voltage of up to 1060Vrms.

For industrial controllers, motor drives, automation equipment and other systems with electrically noisy field connections, this isolation can help prevent unwanted current paths from the CAN bus from entering the local controller ground.

CAN FD Communication up to 5Mbps

ISO1042DWVR supports both classical CAN communication and CAN FD.

Classical CAN operation supports data rates up to 1Mbps, while CAN FD allows the fast data phase to reach up to 5Mbps. The higher CAN FD data rate provides greater throughput for applications that need to transfer larger amounts of diagnostic, configuration or control information.

The device is compliant with the ISO 11898-2 physical-layer standard and is intended to operate as the electrical interface between the CAN controller and differential CAN bus.

±70V Bus Fault Protection

One of the most important features of ISO1042DWVR is its integrated DC bus fault protection.

The CAN bus pins provide protection against DC fault voltages up to ±70V. This can be particularly valuable in industrial equipment where wiring mistakes, transient conditions or faults involving higher-voltage circuits may occur.

The CAN interface also supports a common-mode voltage range of ±30V, providing additional tolerance for differences between the local ground references of connected CAN nodes.

These characteristics make the device suitable for CAN networks operating in electrically demanding environments.

Flexible Logic-Side Voltage

The controller-side supply, VCC1, supports a wide voltage range from 1.71V to 5.5V.

This allows ISO1042DWVR to interface with CAN controllers using common logic levels such as 1.8V, 2.5V, 3.3V and 5V without requiring a separate logic-level translator.

The bus-side supply, VCC2, operates from 4.5V to 5.5V. Separating the controller-side and bus-side supply domains also gives system designers greater flexibility when creating isolated power architectures.

Fast Response for CAN FD

Low propagation delay becomes increasingly important as CAN FD data rates increase. ISO1042 provides a typical loop delay of approximately 152ns.

Keeping transceiver delay controlled helps maintain the timing margin required for higher-speed CAN FD communication and supports more efficient network designs.

The device also provides a high common-mode transient immunity specification of up to 100kV/µs, helping maintain signal integrity when rapid voltage changes occur across the isolation barrier.

Protection and Fault Management

ISO1042DWVR incorporates several functions intended to improve system reliability.

The device includes TXD dominant timeout protection, which prevents a continuously asserted transmit signal from permanently holding the CAN bus in the dominant state. Undervoltage protection is also provided on both supply domains.

When the device is unpowered, the CAN bus terminals present an ideal passive high-impedance state. This allows individual nodes to be powered down without unnecessarily loading the shared CAN network.

These functions are particularly useful in distributed control systems where different nodes may operate under independent power-management conditions.

EMC Performance in Industrial Systems

Isolation alone does not guarantee reliable operation in an electrically noisy environment. The CAN transceiver must also tolerate electromagnetic disturbances and rapid changes in voltage.

ISO1042 is designed with enhanced EMC characteristics, including support for system-level ESD, EFT and surge immunity requirements. Its low-emission design also helps reduce the possibility of the transceiver becoming a significant source of electromagnetic interference.

This makes the device suitable for applications where CAN wiring runs through environments containing motors, power converters, relays and other sources of electrical noise.

Compact 8-Pin SOIC Package

The exact ISO1042DWVR orderable part uses an 8-pin SOIC package and is supplied in large tape-and-reel packaging.

The compact package integrates the isolated CAN interface into a relatively small PCB footprint. This is useful when isolated communication must be added to a controller without dedicating a large board area to the interface.

PCB layout around the isolation boundary remains important. The two sides of the device should maintain the required creepage and clearance distances, while isolated power and signal routing should be arranged to preserve the intended separation between domains.

Applications for ISO1042DWVR

ISO1042DWVR can be used in industrial automation controllers, motor drives, building automation equipment, battery systems, energy infrastructure, CAN gateways and other embedded systems requiring isolated CAN communication.

It is especially useful when the CAN cable extends outside the local controller enclosure or connects equipment operating at different electrical potentials.

The combination of galvanic isolation, CAN FD support and high bus fault tolerance allows the device to address both communication performance and electrical protection requirements in the same interface.

A Practical Isolated CAN Interface

ISO1042DWVR combines a physically isolated CAN interface with CAN FD data rates up to 5Mbps, ±70V DC bus fault protection, ±30V common-mode voltage capability and flexible controller-side logic voltage.

For systems where a conventional CAN transceiver does not provide sufficient electrical separation or bus fault tolerance, the device offers a compact approach to building a more robust isolated CAN communication interface.