Introduction: The Miniaturization Dilemma in Drone Circuit Design
In modern drone development, PCB space allocation has become one of the greatest engineering challenges. As market demands continue to push for longer flight endurance, higher computing performance, and greater sensing precision, flight controllers and electronic speed controllers (ESCs) must integrate more components into extremely limited board space. At the same time, strict airframe size and payload constraints leave almost no margin. Every square millimeter saved on the PCB directly translates into either expanded battery capacity or reduced structural weight. On the communication side, next-generation drones are integrating more modules and handling increasing data traffic. High-performance drones have largely transitioned to the CAN FD protocol, supporting real-time control data rates up to 5 Mbps. However, in tightly packed PCB layouts, traditional CAN transceivers—with their bulky packages and required level-shifting circuits for low-voltage MCUs—often become a heavy design burden.
The AZKN6129N CAN transceiver from Amazing Microelectronic is designed precisely to solve these pain points. With advanced packaging technology and integrated VIO functionality, it provides an ideal solution for compact drone designs.
Extreme Packaging Efficiency: Maximizing PCB Utilization
Take small racing drones as an example—the PCB area is often restricted to extremely tight dimensions. In such constrained environments, component size can determine the success or failure of the entire design.
From SOIC-8 to DFN-8: Significant Package Size Reduction
Traditional CAN transceivers commonly use SOIC-8 packaging, occupying approximately 30 mm² of board space. When routing clearance and surrounding decoupling capacitors are considered, a single communication node can consume substantial PCB resources.
The AZKN6129N adopts an ultra-compact DFN-8 package measuring only 3 mm × 3 mm × 0.9 mm, saving approximately 70% of the footprint compared to SOIC-8. This dramatic size reduction provides designers with critical layout flexibility and supports true miniaturization of drone systems.
Eliminating Level-Shifting Complexity with Integrated VIO
Voltage mismatch has long been a challenge in drone electronic systems. To achieve high performance and low power consumption, modern MCUs typically operate at 1.8V, 2.5V, or 3.3V. Meanwhile, high-performance CAN transceivers often require 5V supply voltage to maintain robust signal drive capability under noisy conditions.
The Burden of Discrete Level-Shifting Circuits
Previously, designers had to add external level-shifting circuits between the MCU and CAN transceiver. A common discrete solution involves:
•Two N-channel MOSFETs
•Four pull-up resistors
•A bidirectional translation topology
This approach introduces clear disadvantages in drone designs:
- •Additional PCB area consumption
•Increased component cost and procurement complexity
AZKN6129N’s Integrated VIO Solution
The AZKN6129N resolves this issue with a dedicated VIO pin, which connects directly to the MCU’s I/O supply rail (supporting 1.7V to 5.25V). Internally, the chip automatically adjusts digital interface logic thresholds to match the processor seamlessly. This integrated architecture delivers major advantages:
•Eliminates discrete circuitry — No external level-shifting components required. True point-to-point signal connection simplifies routing.
•Ensures communication integrity — Maintains symmetrical signal rise and fall times, fully compliant with ISO 11898-2:2016, ensuring stable and reliable operation at 5 Mbps CAN FD speeds.
Built for Extreme Power System Challenges
Beyond space efficiency, the AZKN6129N demonstrates exceptional survivability in harsh drone electrical environments. Fault Protection Against High Voltage Events Modern industrial drones widely adopt 14s battery systems, delivering up to 58.8V when fully charged—and sometimes even higher in advanced configurations. During rapid deceleration or motor stall conditions, motors generate significant back electromotive force (Back-EMF), producing severe overvoltage spikes on the battery bus. Typical CAN transceivers offer fault tolerance of only 40V to 48V, making them highly vulnerable when exposed to a 58.8V battery system.
The AZKN6129N provides up to 70V fault protection. Even if the communication line is accidentally shorted to a fully charged high-voltage rail, the transceiver can survive without damage—ensuring overall system safety.
Conclusion
Faced with the dual demands of extreme space efficiency and uncompromising communication stability in drone systems, the AZKN6129N demonstrates outstanding adaptability. Its ultra-compact DFN-8 package dramatically reduces PCB footprint. The integrated VIO functionality eliminates the need for cumbersome discrete level-shifting circuits. The robust 70V fault protection ensures survivability in high-voltage drone power systems. This highly integrated design not only simplifies hardware architecture and reduces BOM complexity but also fundamentally enhances high-speed control signal integrity. For next-generation drone platforms demanding compact design, high-speed CAN FD performance, and rugged electrical protection, the AZKN6129N provides a powerful and reliable solution.