32-bit MCU'er til bygningsautomation

Renesas Electronics has announced the expansion of its RX631 Group in the RX600 Series of 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs) with the introduction of 15 new devices for commercial and building automation applications.

The 15 new MCUs feature a built-in PDC (parallel data capture unit) that also allows the direct connection of a CMOS camera module, making it easy and cost effective to build application with image capture.

Additionally, the new MCUs can access internal Flash with no wait states even at 100 megahertz (MHz) operation and thus achieve the high performance of 165 DMIPS (Dhrystone MIPS).

The new MCUs also include a rich set of built-in peripheral functions, including USB 2.0 full-speed (host, function, and on-the-go), CAN, I²C bus, and multifunction 8/16-bit timer modules, allowing system manufacturers to easily implement, at low cost, CMOS camera functionality in home appliances, vending machines, and simplified security cameras for home use. This rich set of peripheral functions also enables these devices to be used in a wide range of applications in addition to those that require camera functionality.

Due to the lower cost of CMOS image sensors, camera functionality is now being included more frequently in industrial and consumer applications, such as bar code and 2D scanners, access control and alarm systems, that previously did not include a camera.

However, the traditional solution to implement a camera interface in a system is to use a microprocessor with large external RAM. This comes with a cost premium and increases the complexity of the design.

These microprocessor devices are high-end, high-functionality microprocessors that include, among other functions, an image processing engine for JPEG encoding and hardware support for Open GL for graphics, and need external memory and components that add cost to the system.

As it is common for those microprocessors to not include system functions, such as ultra-low-power operation, power-on reset (POR), low-voltage detection (LVD), and on-chip oscillator (OCO), required for industrial and consumer systems, it is difficult for users to implement both the user's existing system control and camera functionality with a single controller.

Since the system costs that are allowable for products such as home appliances are limited, it is difficult to newly add a high-functionality high-priced microprocessor and the associated peripheral components to an existing system.

Furthermore, since it is common for microprocessors to not include functions, such as ultralow power operation, power-on reset (POR), low-voltage detection (LVD), and on-chip OCO functions, required for home appliance system control, it is difficult for users to implement both the user's existing system control and camera functionality with a single microcontroller.

To resolve this issue, Renesas has developed new MCUs that achieve both these functions – existing system control and camera functionality – in a single chip, providing a cost effective and simple way to add camera support in industrial and consumer applications.