Renesas introduced two new additions to its 16-bit microcontrollers (MCUs) within the R8C/Lx Series. The new R8C/LAxA product groups, R8C/LA3A and R8C/LA5A, offer strong peripheral functions and minimum display capability along with ultra-low power consumption that is ranked among the best in the industry.
In addition to the combination of different pin counts and an LCD controller, the R8C/LAxA groups offer energy efficient features contributing to reduced overall system power consumption for longer battery life. Renesas Electronics’ first 1.8V E/W Flash memory, including the data flash area and code area, enables users to program the systems in the fields even at the end of the system’s life. The A/D conversion, which is also available from 5.5V down to 1.8V, broadens the operating range, especially for sensor applications. Along with the lower operating voltage range, the R8C/LAxA groups offer special power down modes to minimize power consumption while the system is idle.
The key features of the two groups are listed below.
- E/W flash memory reduced to 1.8V and A/D conversion
Renesas Electronics’ first 1.8V E/W flash memory, including the data flash and code flash area, provides EEPROM-like usability. The guaranteed program and erase time is 10,000 times and data is retained for 10 years. The R8C/LAxA groups broaden the A/D conversion voltage range down to 1.8V, enabling both it and the flash memory to be active even when the battery is almost empty.
- Combination of small pin counts and LCD controller
The combination of small pin counts and minimum display capability provides users with flexible options, even on the systems that, until now, have not included a glass display. Furthermore, the R8C/LAxA products offer a display capability for all electronic applications without an external display controller.
- Energy Efficient Power-Down Modes
Renesas Electronics’ R8C/LAxA MCUs have two power-down modes that provide smart power management with reduced overall system power consumption. The CPU and the Real Time Clock (RTC) run with 32 KHz sub clock in power off mode 2, and in the power off mode 0 only the RAM is retained, reducing the standby current consumption to less than 10nA. The combination of two power-down modes and CPU active modes offer users easy-to-access ways for energy efficient and smart system power management schemes.
- On-chip gain amplifier and temperature sensor
The on-chip gain amplifier offers designers a wider dynamic range of A/D conversion with ×1, ×2, ×4, ×6 and ×8 software selectable gains. An on-chip temperature sensor provides flexibility for the calibration of both internal and external components. These two functions further reduce the number of external components required to implement many designs.
Typical Applications
Products in a wide variety of application areas, including battery-powered devices, healthcare devices, household electrical appliances, industrial equipment, security equipment, imaging devices, and office automation equipment.
