Network Termination And Gateway Function

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2013 Ford F-150. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The Controller Area Network (CAN) uses network termination to improve communication reliability. Termination modules are located at both ends of the network. As network messages are broadcast in the form of voltage signals, the network voltage signals are stabilized by the termination resistors.

Each termination module has an internal 120 ohm resistor that bridges across the positive and negative bus connection. With two 120 ohm resistors located in a parallel circuit configuration, the total network impedance, or total resistance, is 60 ohms.

Network termination improves bus message reliability by stabilizing bus voltage and eliminating electrical interference.

The BCM is the gateway module, translating messages on the HS-CAN to the MS-CAN and vice versa, allowing a message to be distributed throughout both networks.

Vehicles equipped with the 4.2-inch screen or 8-inch touchscreen audio units use an I-CAN network for these modules. The IPC is the gateway module, translating messages on the HS-CAN to the modules on the I-CAN, and vice versa. This allows messages to be distributed throughout both networks, if required.

The BCM and IPC are the only modules on this vehicle that have this ability.