Renesas Extends Its M16C Platform Roadmap

Renesas Technology M16C/64 M16C/65

Renesas Technology announced 12 different M16C/64 group models and 20 different M16C/65 group models for car audio, home audio, and similar consumer products as well as industrial applications, as additions to the M16C Platform microcontroller lineup. Sample shipments will begin in July 2007 for the M16C/64 group and at the end of 2007 for the M16C/65 group.

These models are upgraded functions and performance extensions of the current M16C/62P group and are compatible with current M16C Platform products, offering flexibility in implementing system functional enhancements and version upgrades. In addition, low-pin-count, USB-equipped, and 1.8 V models are scheduled to follow the first product releases. These lineup additions will provide a range of models ideally suited to most PC, office automation, industrial, and consumer applications.

M16C/64 M16C/65

Features of the new models are summarized below

  1. Comprehensive product lineup, with on-chip flash memory, to help bring systems to market more quickly.
    All products in both groups include on-chip flash memory. Microcontrollers with on-chip flash memory help bring systems to market more quickly since they can be reprogrammed even after product manufacture. The M16C/64 group comprises 100-pin package products offering three on-chip flash memory capacities of 128, 256, or 512 Kbytes, while the M16C/65 group comprises 100-pin and 128-pin package products offering four on-chip flash memory capacities of 128, 256, 512, or 768 Kbytes. A 384Kbytes on-chip flash memory, a 640Kbytes on-chip flash memory, and an 80-pin package product are also scheduled to be added to the M16C/65 group.
  2. High-precision and comprehensive on-chip peripheral functions, including high-speed on-chip oscillator and power-on reset function and, contributing to reduced system costs.
    Both new product groups feature enhanced peripheral functions including additional serial I/O and DMA controller channels. The M16C/65 group includes a power-on reset function and a high-speed, high-precision on-chip oscillator, and offers operating capability in the 2.7 V to 5.5 V range. These features eliminate the need for such external parts as a reset IC or resonator, enabling system size and cost to be reduced. A hardware multi-master I2C-bus has been added to the current simplified I2C-bus. Additionally a real-time clock capable of handling count periods from one second to one week has been added.
  3. A 30% increase of performance over the current Renesas M16C products, combined with an extended operating voltage range.
    The M16C/65 group features an approximately 30% increase in maximum operating frequency compared with current Renesas products, together with an extension of the operating voltage range from 3.0 V to 5.5 V to 2.7 V to 5.5 V at 32 MHz, enabling users to develop systems required low voltage and high-speed operation. Equivalent figures for the M16C/64 group are 25 MHz and 2.7 V to 5.5 V.

Product Background

The M16C platform microcontrollers were developed at a high-reliability design and offer superior EMI and EMS performance. They have established a reputation for low power consumption and high code efficiency in the microcontroller market.

Renesas Technology has developed and released numerous products responding to the need for higher product performance and functionality. But, there continues to be a market need in consumer fields such as car audio and home audio to constantly improve functions and performance while maintaining continuity of existing hardware and software. Against this backdrop, Renesas Technology has now strengthened the M16C Platform lineup with the development of the M16C/64 group and M16C/65 group that offer improved functions and performance while enabling continued use of existing assets.

Product Details

The M16C/64 group and M16C/65 group incorporate a high-performance M16C/60 16-bit CPU core, enabling existing system programs to be used. Both groups offer high-speed operation, with maximum operating frequencies of 25 MHz for the M16C/64 group and 32 MHz for the M16C/65 group, and an operating frequency range of 2.7 V to 5.5 V. In addition, these new groups inherit the M16C family reputation for high-reliability design, and also offer high stability through the implementation of numerous design features for preventing erroneous operation, together with low EMI and high EMS.

Both groups feature a comprehensive set of on-chip peripheral functions, including timer and serial I/O channels, an A/D converter, and a DMA controller. In addition to these functions, the M16C/65 group also includes a power-on reset function and high-speed (32 MHz), high-precision (±1.0% or less) and a low-speed (125 KHz) on-chip oscillator that enable the number of external parts to be reduced by eliminating the need for an external reset IC and resonator.

The high-speed, high-precision on-chip oscillator provides operating capability within a range from 2.7 V to 5.5 V.

Both groups include on-chip flash memory in response to users’ demand, shortening system development time.

On-chip flash memory is available in three capacities of 128, 256, and 512 Kbytes for the M16C/64 group, and four capacities of 128, 256, 512, and 768 Kbytes for the M16C/65 group.
Both groups include two data flash*2 areas with 4 Kbytes each.

M16C/64 group and M16C/65 group products are available in small 100-pin QFP (14 mm x 20 mm) and 100-pin LQFP (14 mm x 14 mm) packages, and a 128-pin QFP (14 mm x 20 mm) is also available for the M16C/65 group.

The comprehensive lineup includes general-purpose models with a -20 to +85 degrees C operating temperature range and models for wide temperature range (-40 to +85 degrees C) applications, enabling the user to select the most suitable product for a particular application. Typical applications are consumer products, industrial equipment, communication devices, etc.

A new E8a on-chip debugging emulator is available as a development environment.The E8a can also be used as a flash programmer. In addition, a new full-spec emulator with a price reduction design target is also under development.

Renesas Technology will continue to respond to evolving market needs by developing products offering optimized packages, functions, and performance that fully meet users’ requirements.

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