Renesas Electronics Corporation, a provider of advanced semiconductor solutions, has released VersaClock 7 clock generators, a family of configurable clock generators with an internal crystal oscillator for PCIe and networking applications in edge computing, wired infrastructure and data center equipment.
VersaClock 7 offers unparalleled flexibility, allowing designers to configure frequencies, input/output (I/O) levels, and general-purpose I/O (GPIO) pin functionality. It sets a new benchmark in the combination of low power consumption, economy and small package size.
“Timing needs can vary greatly between different applications and equipment, and often change during the design cycle of a product,” said Zaher Baidas, vice president of the Timing Products Division at Renesas. “VersaClock 7 offers our customers the flexibility to configure multiple design parameters while delivering the best value available for their specific performance requirements.”
“High levels of integration and programmability flexibility help manufacturers reduce the number of components, saving board space and power,” added Susie Inouye, principal analyst at Data Beans in Reno, Nevada. “Additionally, using fewer components reduces the risk of supply chain issues disrupting production.”
Characteristics
- 8, 12 differential outputs with integrated crystal options
- Typical phase jitter 150fs RMS 12k-20MHz
- Flexible 1.8V/2.5V/3.3V power rails
- Digital remnant and impactless switching
- Support SPI/I2C/SMBUS interface
- PCIe Gen 1-6 support
- Synchronous Ethernet support
- 5 x 5mm, 6 x 6mm Space Saving QFN Package
- One-time programmable (OTP) up to 27 configurations or external EEPROM
To configure VersaClock 7 devices, Renesas offers the new R Enésias CI Tool Box (RICBox) Windows application that allows users to create configurations and program devices on evaluation boards. RICBox is a new platform introduced to provide state-of-the-art software to customers for evaluating Renesas products. Customers can use Python drivers or a Windows GUI to create custom configurations and program VersaClock 7 devices on evaluation boards.
Customers can create device-optimized configurations by specifying high-level parameters that do not require specialized device knowledge. RICBox interfaces seamlessly with Renesas' innovative Lab on The Cloud platform.
Customers can download the created configuration and work with it locally using RICBox. Alternatively, they can start with RICBox and upload their configuration to Lab on the Cloud to analyze performance.