Deeply involved in 8-bit MCUs, Renesas Electronics uses RL78 to help the industrial and IoT markets

From the cars we drive to the appliances in our homes to the smoke alarms that keep our homes safe, microcontrollers (MCUs) are everywhere. Renesas Electronics is the world's largest supplier of MCUs. Although MCUs receive less attention than microprocessors, Renesas is helping to drive the continued digitization of automobiles and the Internet of Things through innovation.

Renesas has been engaged in the MCU business for more than ten years, initially stemming from the merger of NEC Electronics and Renesas Technology in 2010. Renesas Technology itself was formed in 2003 from the merger of Hitachi and Mitsubishi. Headquartered in Japan, with manufacturing facilities located in Japan, China, Southeast Asia, and the United States, Renesas Electronics is the world's number one automotive MCU supplier.

I've written before about Renesas' financial growth and company culture, as well as its Internet of Things and Infrastructure Business Unit (IIBU). Now, I want to turn my attention to Renesas Electronics' main MCUs, specifically its R78 series and the recently released RL78/G15 MCUs.

Chase industry trends

I would like to start by analyzing some digital trends in the consumer and industrial IoT space and how these trends are impacting the MCU market.

Whether we are talking about the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), smart homes or future smart cities, the Internet of Things is growing rapidly. There are now a large number of devices connected to the Internet, and more devices are online all the time, with data being regularly collected and shared between multiple devices. Many of these IoT products are portable battery-powered systems with low power consumption requirements and therefore require MCUs to continue to improve efficiency.

The IIoT devices that make up smart factories require components that can withstand higher operating temperatures and withstand harsh environments. For example, sensor controls for air quality and humidity or heat-generating components such as overhead lights or inverters. At the same time, MCUs must also maintain a small footprint to minimize the size of IoT devices.

As IoT devices become more complex, the ability to configure and optimize an MCU within a module is critical to developing IoT devices. The more configurable an MCU is, the more efficient and cost-effective it is. One of the disadvantages of MCUs is that although they are smaller, simpler, and more cost-effective than microprocessors (MPUs), the barriers to configuration and system-level code development are high.

RL78/G15

Renesas is best known for its low-power MCUs (RL78 series), which focus on small package sizes, reducing end system costs and enabling devices to cover a wide range of consumer and industrial applications. Let’s take a closer look at the recently released RL78/G15.

This new model is the latest addition to Renesas Electronics' low-power MCU lineup for 8-bit MCU applications. Renesas says it includes many peripheral functions and 4KB to 8KB of flash memory, with package sizes ranging from 8 to 20 pins. It also has a wide operating temperature range, from minus 40 degrees Celsius to 125 degrees Celsius, making it ideal for various harsh environments. The combination of small package and thermal capabilities provides real differentiation.

One of the reasons the Renesas RL78 is so popular is how easy it is to configure in the developer environment. The RL78/G15 can be configured using Renesas' GUI-based smart configurator, which easily generates driver code for peripheral functions. Renesas says it also offers a rapid prototyping board (FPB) for evaluation; the FPB is also designed to shorten development cycles. I believe its seamless developer environment enables Renesas to offer the RL78/G15 for a wide range of applications while also reducing end system costs.

One application demonstrated by Renesas for the RL78/G15 is a 100-watt USB PD adapter with multiple outputs. Renesas Electronics says it provides users with an all-in-one mobile charger that can easily charge multiple devices without having to worry about standards incompatibility. With the RL78/G15's low power consumption during operation and in standby mode, I believe it can provide next-generation PD in systems that require high power efficiency, such as in electric vehicles.

Summarize

The IoT landscape is changing rapidly, and Renesas Electronics is creating new opportunities for innovation with its low-power, versatile RL78 MCU. Its latest product, the RL78/G15, builds on these differentiated products by supporting FPB and a wider operating ambient temperature. As we continue to see more IoT devices connected to the industrial and consumer sectors, creating smart factories, homes, and public spaces, I'm interested to see how MCU products will evolve.