TJA1042T/3/1J High-Speed CAN Transceiver

ElecSuppliers Part Number GuideSep 06, 2026

TJA1042T/3/1J is an NXP high-speed CAN transceiver designed to provide an interface between a CAN protocol controller and the physical two-wire CAN bus. The device supports high-speed CAN communication and can also be used in CAN FD networks with data rates up to 5Mbps.

With an 8-pin SO package, low-power standby mode and automotive qualification, TJA1042T/3/1J is suited to electronic control units and other distributed automotive communication systems where reliable CAN physical-layer performance is required.

High-Speed CAN Communication

TJA1042T/3/1J integrates one CAN transmitter and one CAN receiver in a single device. The transceiver translates the logic-level TXD and RXD signals from the CAN controller into differential CAN bus signals and performs the reverse conversion on the receive path.

The device supports CAN communication at data rates up to 5Mbps. This makes it suitable for systems using CAN FD where the arbitration phase can operate at conventional CAN speeds while the data phase uses a higher bit rate.

Its differential bus interface is designed for robust communication over the two-wire CAN network and provides the electrical interface required between the controller and physical bus.

Low-Power Standby Operation

Power management is an important feature of TJA1042T/3/1J. The device provides a low-power standby mode in which the transceiver consumes only a small amount of supply current while monitoring the CAN bus for wake-up activity.

This operating mode can help reduce the overall standby consumption of an electronic control unit. When valid bus activity is detected, the device can signal the host controller so that the system can return to normal communication operation.

The wake-up capability is particularly useful for automotive systems that need to remain responsive to network activity without keeping the complete CAN interface fully active.

TXD Dominant Timeout Protection

TJA1042T/3/1J incorporates TXD dominant-timeout protection. If the transmit input remains in the dominant state for longer than the permitted period, the transceiver prevents the CAN bus from being held continuously dominant.

This protection can help limit the impact of a malfunctioning controller or software fault. It is especially valuable in distributed CAN networks where a single node remaining permanently dominant could interfere with communication between other nodes.

The device also includes undervoltage protection and thermal shutdown functionality to improve robustness under abnormal operating conditions.

Automotive CAN Interface

TJA1042T/3/1J is an automotive-grade CAN transceiver and is qualified according to AEC-Q100 requirements. The device is specified for a wide operating temperature range of -40°C to +150°C.

The transceiver is designed for automotive electronic systems where CAN is used for communication between control units, sensors, actuators and other network nodes.

Its CAN bus interface is also designed to withstand the electrical conditions commonly encountered in vehicle environments, while integrated ESD protection helps improve resilience during handling and system operation.

Bus Fault Protection

The CANH and CANL connections form the physical interface to the external network and must operate reliably under different bus conditions. TJA1042T/3/1J incorporates protection features intended to prevent abnormal electrical conditions from immediately damaging the transceiver.

Receiver hysteresis helps provide reliable interpretation of differential CAN bus signals, while the protection architecture supports stable communication in electrically demanding environments.

The combination of bus protection, thermal shutdown and undervoltage protection makes the device suitable for distributed control systems where the CAN transceiver is exposed to external wiring and varying operating conditions.

SO8 Package and Board Integration

TJA1042T/3/1J is supplied in an 8-pin SO package. The compact package integrates the complete CAN physical-layer transceiver while requiring only a small amount of PCB area.

The standard pin arrangement provides connections for the supply, logic transmit and receive signals, standby control and CANH/CANL bus lines. This straightforward interface makes the device relatively easy to integrate with microcontrollers and dedicated CAN controllers.

For PCB implementation, CANH and CANL routing should be kept appropriately matched and separated from high-noise switching nodes. Proper termination and grounding are also important for maintaining CAN signal integrity.

Applications for TJA1042T/3/1J

TJA1042T/3/1J can be used in automotive electronic control units, body electronics, powertrain systems, industrial CAN networks, automotive gateways and other distributed control applications.

Its 5Mbps capability also makes it relevant to CAN FD systems that require higher data throughput while retaining the established CAN physical-layer architecture.

Because NXP currently identifies this specific TJA1042T/3/1J ordering variant as not recommended for new designs, engineers evaluating an existing design should distinguish the exact package and ordering code from newer TJA1042 family variants. This is particularly important when selecting a replacement or planning long-term component availability.