Renesas Debuts Best-in-Class MCUs Optimized for Single-Motor Applications Including Power Tools, Home Appliances and More

　　Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723), a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions,introduced the RA2T1 microcontroller (MCU) group based on the Arm® Cortex®-M23 processor optimized for motor control systems in July9. RA2T1 devices are specifically designed for single-motor applications such as fans, power tools, vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, printers, hair dryers and many more.

　　Feature Set Optimized for Motor Control

　　The new RA2T1 devices include a number of features designed to enhance motor control function, specifically in single-motor systems. One of the notable features is a 3-channel S&H function that simultaneously detects the 3-phase current values of Brushless DC (BLDC) motors. This method provides superior control accuracy as opposed to sequential measurement methods. The RA2T1 MCUs also offer complementary Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) function of the timer, which enables automatic insertion of dead time and generation of an asymmetric PWM. This function is optimized for inverter drive, which facilitates control algorithm implementation.

　　The RA2T1 devices offer safety features that are critical in motor control applications. They provide a Port Output Enable function and a high-speed comparator that work together to quickly shut off the PWM output when an overcurrent is detected. The shutdown state can be selected according to the inverter specifications.

　　Renesas Leadership in Embedded Processing for Motor Control

　　Renesas has shipped motor-control specific MCUs for over 20 years. The company ships over 230 million motor control embedded processors per year to thousands of customers worldwide. In addition to multiple RA MCU groups, Renesas offers motor-control specific devices in its 32-bit RX Family, its 16-bit RL78 MCUs and its 64-bit RZ MPUs.

　　“Customers have trusted Renesas motor control solutions for many years across thousands of systems,” said Daryl Khoo, Vice President of Embedded Processing Marketing Division at Renesas. “The RA2T1 MCUs enhance our leadership in this area with market-leading technology, low-power operation, and legendary Renesas quality and safety standards for single-motor systems.”

　　Key Features of the RA2T1 Group MCUs

　　Core: 64 MHz Arm Cortex-M23

　　Memory: 64KB Flash, 8KB SRAM, 2KB Data Flash

　　Analog Peripherals: 12-bit ADC with 3-channel Sample and Hold, temperature sensor, internal reference voltage, 2-channel high-speed comparators

　　System: High-, mid- and low-speed On-chip Oscillators; clock output; power-on reset; voltage detection; data transfer, event link and interrupt controllers; low-power modes

　　Safety: PWM forced shutdown, SRAM parity error check, ADC self-diagnosis, clock frequency accuracy measurement, illegal memory access detection

　　Operating Temperature Range: Ta = -40°C to 125°C

　　Operating Voltage: 1.6V to 5.5V

　　Packages: 48LQFP, 32-LQFP, 48-QFN, 32-QFN, 24-QFN (4mm x 4mm)

　　The new RA2T1 Group MCUs are supported by Renesas’ Flexible Software Package (FSP). The FSP enables faster application development by providing all the infrastructure software needed, including multiple RTOS, BSP, peripheral drivers, middleware, connectivity, networking, and security stacks as well as reference software to build complex AI, motor control and cloud solutions. It allows customers to integrate their own legacy code and choice of RTOS with FSP, thus providing full flexibility in application development. Using the FSP will ease migration of motor control designs to other RA Series devices.

　　Winning Combinations

　　Renesas has combined the new RA2T1 Group MCUs with numerous compatible devices from its portfolio to offer a wide array of Winning Combinations, including Portable Power Tools, Smart BLDC Ceiling Fan, Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, Cordless Leaf Blower. Winning Combinations are technically vetted system architectures from mutually compatible devices that work together seamlessly to bring an optimized, low-risk design for faster time to market. Renesas offers more than 400 Winning Combinations with a wide range of products from the Renesas portfolio to enable customers to speed up the design process and bring their products to market more quickly. They can be found at renesas.com/win.

　　Availability

　　The RA2T1 Group MCUs are available now, along with the FSP software. The new MCUs are supported in Renesas’ Flexible Motor Control development kit that enables easy evaluation of motor control using permanent magnet synchronous motors (brushless DC motors), and the Renesas Motor Workbench development tool. This development kit offers a common design platform with numerous Renesas motor control MCUs from the RA and RX families, enabling migration of IP across numerous devices. Information on all these offerings is available at renesas.com/RA2T1. Samples and kits can be ordered either on the Renesas website or through distributors.

　　Renesas MCU Leadership

　　A world leader in MCUs, Renesas ships more than 3.5 billion units per year, with approximately 50% of shipments serving the automotive industry, and the remainder supporting industrial and Internet of Things applications as well as data center and communications infrastructure. Renesas has the broadest portfolio of 8-, 16- and 32-bit devices, delivering unmatched quality and efficiency with exceptional performance. As a trusted supplier, Renesas has decades of experience designing smart, secure MCUs, backed by a dual-source production model, the industry’s most advanced MCU process technology and a vast network of more than 250 ecosystem partners. For more information about Renesas MCUs, visit renesas.com/MCUs.