LIN Network is a robust serial communication protocol and physical interface used mainly in automobile devices. It can be used as well to implement a reliable communication connection between two or more devices over a long wire connection. You can choose to implement the LIN protocol to build a full LIN compliant network. A LIN API Library for Arduino is available for free1. This will allow your gizDuino LIN to communicate and control automotive devices2.

Or, you can use just the LIN physical interface, and use your UART the way you had been using it. You get the benefit of being able to connect your devices over long wire run, you just can’t talk with a LIN compliant device3.

e-Gizmo will soon develop a series of kits that can be interconnected via the LIN physical interface4.

Note: Once the LIN physical interface is connected, it claims exclusive use of the UART. You cannot install another shield that requires connection to the UART port.

The LIN Interface can be enabled by shorting a few solder jumper pads with a small blob of solder.

Simplest Installation

Activating the LIN interface, as a minimum, only requires the connection of UART’s RX-TX I/O with the LIN’s LIN_TXD and LIN_RXD. To do this, apply a blob of solder across J11 and and across J12 solder pads to connect.

Advanced Configuration

The LIN interface has a number of controls5 that you may use if your application so requires.

LIN PIN

PADS

I/O in USE

Remarks

LIN_RXD

J11

IO0-PD0-RXD

LIN RXD Output to ATMEGA328P RX input

LIN_TXD

J12

IO1-PD1-TXD

LIN TXD Input to ATMEGA328P TX output

LIN Enable (LIN_EN)

J5

IO4-PD4

Pull LOW to disable LIN Interface

LIN Trigger (LIN_NTRIG)

J6

IO3-PD3

Watchdog Timer trigger input

LIN RESET

J14

RESET

Connect if you want LIN to reset system when a fault is detected or Watchdog Timeout occurred.

LIN_INH

J2

Uncommited

Inhibit Output

LIN_MODE

J3

Uncommited

Watchdog, OFF when High, ON when LOW

Notes:

1. https://github.com/gandrewstone/LIN

2. It may not be easy to obtain a datasheet for an automotive device. Your hacking skill may be required.

3.And less robusts communication. You may have to implement your own error handling services if your application requires a very reliable communications between devices.

4. e-Gizmo Serial Dot Matrix display kit already has a LIN physical interface ready as an option.

5. See the ATA6614Q datasheet for more functional details about these pins.