Renesas Electronics Corporation, a provider of advanced semiconductor solutions, has launched a new general-purpose microcontroller (MCU) in the low-power RL78 family with small package sizes targeting 8-bit MCU applications.
The versatile RL78/G15 contains many peripheral functions and 4-8 KB of code flash memory in package sizes ranging from 8 to 20 pins, with the smallest 8-pin device measuring just 3x3mm.
These features are designed to keep the system size small and reduce the cost of end systems such as industrial, consumer, sensor control, lighting, and inverter applications.
Additionally, the maximum operating ambient temperature of 125°C facilitates optimal thermal design, covering a wide temperature range and allowing the MCU to be used close to heat-generating components such as inverter motors.
“The RL78 family is known for its excellent energy efficiency and optimized peripheral functions,” said Toshihiko Seki, vice president of Renesas’ MCU device solutions business division. “To date, we have shipped more than 7.1 billion units in the 11 years since launch and currently ship 100 million units per month. Renesas will continue to expand cost-effective and easy-to-use 8-bit and 16-bit MCUs that meet customer requirements.”
RL78/G15 Features
- 16-bit RL78 CPU core operating at 16 MHz
- Wide operating ambient temperature range from -40°C to 125°C
- Available in 8-pin to 20-pin packages, with the smallest WDFN package measuring 3mm x 3mm
- All pins can be used for general purpose I/O except the VDD and VSS power supply pins
- Up to 8 KB of code flash memory, 1 KB of data flash, and 1 KB of SRAM
- Supports operating voltages from 2.4V to 5.5V
- Multiple serial interfaces supported: CSI, UART, Simple I2C and multi-master I2C
- High precision oscillator (±1.0%)
- Integrated comparator
“We welcome the expansion of Renesas’ RL78 family offerings into the expansive low-cost MCU market,” said Lotta Frimanson, director of product management at IAR Systems. “As the only partner supporting the entire family of RL78 MCUs, IAR is committed to providing high-class development solutions that enable engineers around the world to take full advantage of the capabilities of the RL78 MCU and generate fast, compact code for efficient development.”
Similar to other RL78 devices, engineers designing the new RL78/G15 can use the GUI-based Smart Configurator to easily generate driver code for peripheral functions.
Renesas also offers the Fast Prototyping Board (FPB) for evaluation, which comes with Arduino Uno and Pmod Type 6A interfaces with access to all pins. Additionally, debugging and programming are possible using just a USB cable. Using an Arduino library that can run on the FPB, developers can gain access to the development capabilities of the RL78, as well as the vast resources offered by the Arduino ecosystem, so they can quickly turn their ideas into a working solution.