Renesas Technology releases 200 MHz SuperH microcontroller

In August 2007, Renesas Technology announced the SH72546RFCC software development microcontroller as the industry's first on-chip flash memory microcontroller fabricated using a 90 nm process. It was designed for power train control, operated at 200 MHz, and featured a high-speed, large-capacity 3.75 Mbytes on-chip flash memory. The SH72544R is the first mass-production microcontroller based on that device and is fully compatible with the SH72546RFCC's functions, package, and pin assignment. This means that system hardware, programs, and other design assets developed using the SH72546RFCC can be used on the SH72544R.

The SH72544R incorporates the same SH-2A high-performance CPU core as the SH72546RFCC. This core, having a superscalar design and Harvard architecture, achieves 400 MIPS at 200MHz operation. This performance allows the SH72544R to implement precise high-level real-time control of engine and transmission systems. It can operate at ambient temperatures up to 125°C, this being essential for automotive applications. Despite providing a high-capacity on-chip flash memory, the device achieves a low power consumption of less than 900mW even when operating at 200 MHz in a temperature of 125°C.

The IC also includes 128 Kbytes of flash memory with functions essentially the same as EEPROM for data storage. Using this on-chip flash memory can obviate the need for external memory and thus contribute to reduced system costs. Generally, a flash memory has a slower maximum operating speed than a logic circuit due to its operating principle. Using Renesas’ unique technologies to increase the speed of the flash memory in this product, the SH72544R also features a low-power cache system to optimize the use of flash memory. In addition to minimizing increases in power consumption, these technologies achieve performance essentially equal to single-cycle access at 200 MHz.

The SH72544R includes a wide range of peripheral functions. In addition to a multifunction timer (ATU-III: Advanced Timer Unit III), which is useful for both engine and transmission control, the device also features a high-speed 12-bit A/D converter, CAN interface, and high-speed serial interface functions.

The SH72544R is fully compatible, in both functions and package, with the SH72546RFCC, which is designed for software development. The SH72546RFCC includes a high-capacity emulation RAM*4 for efficient debugging and can adjust the control parameters in the application program in real time during microcontroller operation.