Renesas Announce Next-Generation Low-Power RX100 Series Microcontrollers

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The RX family from Renesas now includes devices from 8KB to 8 MB of embedded flash memory with compatible instruction set, peripherals and hardware and software tools set. The Renesas RX family has been designed to support a wide range of applications, from small MCU application equipment for which cost is the most important factor, to applications that require high data processing performance.

The high end of the RX family, the RX600 series based on 90nm technology, incorporates the industry’s fastest embedded flash memory based on Renesas’ MONOS technology, enabling single cycle access as high as 100MHz. The highest performance lineup will increase further as this family extends onto the 40nm technology node.

The low end of the RX family, the RX200 series, is the compatible solution that extends the family with devices at a lower cost and with lower power consumption. This means that designers can cover all their MCU applications with a single family using a single tool chain and re-use all their software IP across different developments.

New Low-Power RX100 Offerings

The RX100 Series MCUs, which are based on the proven 130nm, low-power process technology, can run at 32MHz, delivering 1.56DMIPS/MHz throughput, consuming only 110uA/MHz power in full active mode and targeting only 350nA in the standby mode. This achieves an even lower cost and power consumption than the RX200 series already in the market. With this new series, the RX family provides a platform with a common core, using common tools and common peripherals.

The RX100 series is clearly targeting low power applications such as wearable / battery powered applications including medical and sensor products. Due to the low system cost of the RX100 series, Renesas will also be able to compete very effectively in the ultra-low end market space where cost is the most important decision factor.

The very impressive figure of only 350nA current consumption and 70uA/DMIPS is the kind of power consumption typically only found in the 8-bit market. With this new series, customers have the option of using a 32-bit microcontroller where they previously had no choice but to use an 8-bit MCU.