CAN Decoder Program

HOW IT WORKS - This program converts a binary file of RAW CAN data to a CSV text file that can be loaded into a spreadsheet program such as Excel. It searches for recognizable CAN data packets and decodes particular data bytes within those packets. Decoding it based on information provided by Attila's spreadsheet and Norm's web page. Graphs can then be created in Excel to examine certain parameters from the captured CAN data. The program converts data into more useful units when those are known (ie: it converts SOC from a 1/2% count into a decimal percentage)

USAGE - The program has no user interface (hey - you get what you pay for). It simply looks for a file called test_raw.bin in the folder where the program is running, reads the binary data from that file and creates a file called test_raw.csv in the same folder. Each time you want to run it with a different data file you must put the data file into the folder with the executable, rename it test_raw.bin and then run the program. (Not very convenient, but not that hard either)

The following options may be specified on the command line if the program is started from a .bat file or from DOS command prompt. If you want to see all the CAN packets in hex, for example, use the -d switch and redirect the stderr output to a file (ie: "CAN_decoder -d 2> decode.log") Here are the command line options:

• -US specifies US units (converts temps to F, speeds to MPH) (default is metric)
• -v specifies verbose output (annotates which bytes are decoded/skipped in the binary data)
• -d gives you a dump of all CAN packet contents in hex (to stderr)
• -D gives you the raw decimal values of all CAN packet fields as they are decoded (to stderr)
• input_file - optional, if not provided it will use "test_raw.bin"
• output_file - optional, if not provided it will use the inputfile name with .csv suffix

COLLECTING DATA - Click here to learn how to collect the CAN data from CAN-View into a binary data file suitable for using as input to this program.

DOWNLOAD (updated May 17, 2006)

• Download the program: Download - v1.8 (454kb, Windows) (source code (v1.8))

CSV FILE - The columns in the CSV file contain the following items (this may change as new versions are released) You can download a sample file produced by the program taken from actually driving the Prius.

Time

Elapsed time (seconds)

Voltage

HV Battery Voltage (volts)

SOC %

State Of Charge of the HV Battery Note: resolution 0.5%

Amps

Current to/from the HV Battery (amps)
Note: +values=charging, -values=discharging, resolution 0.1 amps

Max Charge Current

Charge limit for HV Battery (amps)

Max Discharge Current

Discharge limit for HV Battery (amps)

Min Battery Temp C

Temp of the coolest battery module (°C or °F)

Max Battery Temp C

Temp of the warmest battery module (°C or °F)

Speed (km/h)

Vehicle speed (km/h or mph) (high resolution, unsigned)

Speedometer

Speedometer reading (km/h or mph)

Speed Related

Speed related value (from 0x244 bytes 4-5) (units unknown)

FL Wheel

Front Left Wheel Speed (km/h or mph, resolution 0.01)

FR Wheel

Front Right Wheel Speed (km/h or mph, resolution 0.01)

RL Wheel

Rear Left Wheel Speed (km/h or mph, resolution 0.01)

RR Wheel

Rear Right Wheel Speed (km/h or mph, resolution 0.01)

ICE RPM

RPM of ICE

ICE Temp C

Temperature (°C or °F)

Coolant Temp C

Temperature °(C or °F)

Side Accel

Sideways accelerometer (Yaw rate sensor?) (range -512..+512)
Note: 0=neutral, +values=right pointing force(left turn), -values=left pointing force(right turn)

Side Accel2

Sideways accelerometer data unknown (range -512..+512) (from 0x22 bytes 2-3)

Fwd Accel?

Forward? accelerometer (range -512..+512)
Note: 0=neutral, +values=acceleration, -values=deceleration

Fwd Accel2

Forward? accelerometer data unknown (range -512..+512) (from 0x23 bytes 2-3)

Steering

Steering wheel position (range -500..+500 approx)
Note: 0=neutral, +values=left turn, -values=right turn

Gas Pedal

Gas pedal position (range 0..200)

Brake Pedal

Brake pedal position (range 0..127)

Brake Pressed

Brake pedal pressed (range 0..1)
Note: 0=not pressed, 1=pressed

Shifter

P=-2, R=-1, N=0, D=1, B=2

EV Mode

Values are: "N" (normal), "EV", "Cancel", "Denied"

Fuel Inj

Fuel Injection (units unknown)

Fuel Flow

Fuel Flow (units unknown)

VVTi

Valve or Ignition? Timing (units unknown)

Gas Gauge

Gas Gauge (range 0..40)

Cruise Control

Off=0, On=1

Lights

Off=0, Parking=1, Headlights=2, High Beams=3

CAN

Controller Area Network

CSV

Comma Separated Values

EV

Electric Vehicle

HV

High Voltage

ICE

Internal Combustion Engine

km/h

kilometers per hour

RPM

Revolutions per Minute

SOC

State of Charge

VVTi

Variable Valve Timing intelligent