TJA1051T/3,118 for High-Speed CAN FD Communication

ElecSuppliers Part Number GuideSep 06, 2026

TJA1051T/3,118 is an NXP high-speed CAN transceiver developed for communication between a CAN controller and the physical CAN bus. It supports conventional high-speed CAN communication as well as the faster data phase used by CAN FD networks.

The device is designed for automotive electronic systems where low electromagnetic emission, high electromagnetic immunity and predictable behavior under abnormal supply conditions are important.

Built for Faster CAN FD Data Transfer

One of the main advantages of the TJA1051 family is its support for CAN FD fast-phase operation. The transceiver is designed for data rates up to 5 Mbit/s during the CAN FD fast phase, allowing larger amounts of control and diagnostic information to be transferred more efficiently than with conventional 1 Mbit/s CAN communication.

The device remains compatible with standard CAN physical-layer communication, making it suitable for systems where conventional CAN and CAN FD nodes need to operate within the same network architecture.

Interface Between the MCU and CAN Bus

TJA1051T/3,118 provides the physical connection between a microcontroller's CAN controller and the differential CANH/CANL bus.

The TXD input receives transmit information from the controller, while the RXD output returns the detected bus state to the controller. This division allows the host processor to handle CAN protocol functions while the transceiver manages the electrical characteristics of the physical network.

The TJA1051T/3 variant also supports direct interfacing with microcontrollers operating across a broad logic-voltage range, making it practical for automotive controllers using different MCU generations.

Designed for Automotive EMC Requirements

Automotive CAN networks can be exposed to substantial electrical interference from motors, switching circuits, ignition systems and other electronic modules.

TJA1051 is designed with low electromagnetic emission and high electromagnetic immunity characteristics. These properties help the transceiver maintain reliable communication while reducing the possibility that CAN activity itself becomes a significant source of interference.

The bus interface also incorporates protection features intended for automotive electrical environments, supporting more robust communication in distributed vehicle networks.

Protection Against Fault Conditions

A CAN transceiver must continue to behave predictably when the surrounding system encounters abnormal conditions. TJA1051T/3,118 incorporates several protection mechanisms for this purpose.

The device includes thermal protection, undervoltage detection and a TXD dominant timeout function. The dominant timeout is particularly useful because a controller fault that keeps TXD active could otherwise hold the CAN bus in a dominant state and prevent other nodes from communicating.

When the timeout condition is reached, the transceiver prevents the faulty transmit condition from continuously occupying the bus.

Low-Power Behavior

TJA1051 is designed so that its behavior remains predictable across different supply conditions. When the transceiver is not properly powered, the bus interface is designed to disengage from the network rather than unnecessarily loading the CAN bus.

This characteristic is useful in automotive systems where individual electronic control units may be switched off, restarted or placed into different power states while other nodes remain active.

The architecture therefore supports distributed vehicle networks in which independent modules must coexist without a powered-down node interfering with normal bus communication.

SO8 Package for Embedded Controllers

TJA1051T/3,118 uses an 8-pin SO package, providing a compact implementation for CAN physical-layer connectivity.

The package includes the main CAN bus and logic-side connections required for a single transceiver channel. Its compact footprint makes it suitable for automotive control boards where PCB area is limited and multiple communication interfaces may be installed on the same board.

For PCB implementation, CANH and CANL routing should be kept symmetrical and separated from noisy switching nodes. Proper supply bypassing near the transceiver is also important for stable high-speed operation.

Automotive CAN Applications

The TJA1051 family is intended for applications including automotive control units, body electronics, gateways, diagnostic systems and distributed vehicle networks.

Its CAN FD capability makes it particularly relevant to systems where communication requirements have increased beyond traditional CAN frame throughput. Faster data transfer can benefit diagnostic communication, software-related data exchange and control systems that need to move more information without fundamentally changing the CAN physical network architecture.

The transceiver can also be used in industrial equipment that adopts CAN or CAN FD as its embedded communication bus, provided the electrical and environmental requirements of the specific design are satisfied.

A Note on TJA1051T/3,118 Lifecycle

The exact TJA1051T/3,118 ordering code is an older variant in the TJA1051 family. NXP currently lists this specific orderable part as End of Life, while recommending newer TJA1057 variants as the next-generation direction.

For existing equipment, maintenance programs and replacement requirements, the exact TJA1051T/3,118 specification remains important. For a completely new hardware design, engineers should evaluate the current recommended successor rather than automatically selecting the older orderable code.

TJA1051T/3,118 in CAN FD Designs

TJA1051T/3,118 remains a technically relevant CAN physical-layer device for understanding and maintaining existing high-speed CAN and CAN FD systems.

Its support for up to 5 Mbit/s CAN FD fast-phase communication, automotive EMC characteristics, TXD dominant timeout, thermal protection and compact SO8 packaging make it well suited to the requirements for which the TJA1051 family was developed.

When selecting this exact part for replacement or legacy production, designers should also consider its current lifecycle status and verify that the electrical characteristics match the existing CAN controller, bus topology and operating environment.