Microcontroller suits automotive powertrain control.
Press Release Summary:
Built around 32-bit SH-2A CPU core on 90 nm process, SH72531 is supplied in 24 x 24 x 0.5 mm, 176-pin LQFP package. It integrates 1.25 MB on-chip Flash memory and supports 120 MHz operation at temperatures up to 125°C. Flash memory operation speed reaches 100 MHz, and processing performance of 240 MIPS at 120 MHz enables fine-grained and real-time control of engine/transmission systems. Multifunction timer unit, 12-bit ADC, and various interfaces are included.
Original Press Release:
Renesas Technology to Release SH72531, Second MCU for Automotive Powertrain Control with On-Chip 90 nm High-Speed Flash Memory
Real-time control, maximum operating temperature of 125°C, high-speed operation at 120 MHz, while achieving low power consumption of less than 350mW
Tokyo, December 18, 2008 - Renesas Technology Corp. today announced the SH72531, a 32-bit MCU designed for powertrain control in automobile engines and transmissions that features high-speed operation up to 120 MHz and 1.25 megabytes of on-chip high-speed flash memory. Sample shipments will begin on December 19, 2008, in Japan.
MCUs with on-chip flash memory (Flash MCUs) are the core product category in Renesas Technology's MCUs business, a key focus of the company, which has the top share*1 in the worldwide market for Flash MCUs. Flash MCUs from Renesas Technology are widely used in automotive powertrain control applications. Recently the company has been developing Flash MCU products at the cutting-edge 90-nanometer (nm) process node and built around the SH-2A high-performance CPU core in response to industry demand for faster operating speeds and large-capacity on-chip flash memory, which are required to meet stricter emissions standards and improve fuel efficiency. The SH72544R was the first product to appear, announced in July 2008 and featuring a high operating speed of 200 MHz and 2.5 megabytes of high-speed flash memory. To increase Renesas Technology's product lineup, Renesas has developed the new SH72531, which has a slower operating speed and smaller onchip memory capacity while achieving reduced power consumption. This selection of Flash MCUs provides a suitable match for many different powertrain systems.
The features of the SH72531 are summarized below.
(1) Sophisticated real-time control and reduced power consumption
The SH72531 is built around the same SH-2A high-performance 32-bit CPU core as the preceding SH72544R. It achieves processing performance of 240 million instructions per second (MIPS) when operating at 120 MHz. This enables fine-grained and sophisticated real-time control of engine or transmission systems. It supports 120 MHz operation at temperatures up to 125°C, something that is difficult to achieve in a Flash MCU while power consumption is 350 mW or less. This is an improvement on the power efficiency of the earlier SH72544R.
(2) 1.25 megabytes of high-speed flash memory on-chip
The SH72531 has 1.25 megabytes of on-chip flash memory, roughly the maximum capacity of Renesas Technology Flash MCUs based on earlier process nodes, and can accommodate largescale programs.
Due to its operating principle, flash memories have a lower maximum operating speed than the logic block. Nevertheless, the SH72531 incorporates flash memory design technology exclusive to Renesas Technology to achieve a flash memory operation speed of 100 MHz. In addition, a lowpower cache circuit optimized for the flash memory reduces power consumption when data from the on-chip flash memory is used for processing and delivers performance roughly equivalent to single-cycle access at an operating speed of 120 MHz. Furthermore, 32 kilobytes of on-chip flash memory is allocated for data storage and can be overwritten while the MCU is operating. It provides roughly the same functionality as electrically erasable and programmable read only memory (EEPROM). This eliminates the need for external memory to store data and contributes to reduced system cost overall.
(3) Specifically suited peripheral functions for a reduced package pin count
By specifically selecting the on-chip peripheral functions based on actual requirements, it was possible to fit the SH72531 into a compact 176-pin LQFP package, in contrast to the 272-pin PBGA of its predecessor, the SH72544R. In spite of its low pin count, the SH72531 integrates key functions and interfaces needed for engine and transmission control applications, including the Advanced Timer Unit III (ATU-III) multifunction timer unit, a high-speed 12-bit A/D converter, a CAN*2 interface, and a high-speed serial interface. This enables highly precise real-time control.
(4) Compatibility with existing software resources
The SH72531 is built around the same SH-2A CPU core as the earlier SH72544R. It provides a subset of the peripheral functions of the SH72544R. This means that software developed for the SH72544R can be reused when developing systems incorporating the SH72531, reducing the development time required.
Product Background
In recent years the automotive field has seen the introduction, for the purpose of environmental preservation, of increasingly strict limits on vehicle emissions. At the same time, there is strong demand for improved fuel efficiency. Rising gasoline prices and the expansion of the BRICs markets have increased demand for smaller, cheaper automobiles.
These trends have created a need for more highly precise control in powertrain systems for engines or transmissions, and development of a comprehensive lineup of MCU products optimized for functionality and cost has emerged as an important theme.
Renesas Technology currently mass produces the SH7050 Series and M32R Series of 32-bit Flash MCUs for powertrain control applications, and these products have achieved widespread adoption.
Building on the technology and experience accumulated through the development of earlier products and in response to the demand for better performance, as described above, Renesas Technology began development work on MCUs combining high-speed operation and large on-chip flash memory capacity, employing the SH-2A CPU core for superior real-time control performance and flash memory at the cutting-edge 90 nm process node. The first product to result from these efforts was the SH72544R, announced in July 2008, which delivers fast operation at 200 MHz and a full 2.5 megabytes of highspeed flash memory. It has now been joined by the new SH72531, a MCU that provides a subset of the features of the SH72544R.
Product Details
The SH72531 is built around the SH-2A high-performance CPU core, which delivers excellent realtime performance in a variety of SuperH*3 family 32-bit RISC MCUs/MPUs from Renesas Technology. The SH-2A has a superscalar Harvard architecture that enables it to execute two instructions simultaneously. This enables it to achieve processing performance of 240 MIPS when operating at 120 MHz.
The ATU-III multifunction timer unit, an on-chip peripheral function, is useful in engine or transmission control. It supports 32-bit input capture/output compare, one-shot pulse output, and pulse width modulation (PWM) output, among other functions, and can generate up to 64 pulse outputs. The 12-bit A/D converter supports 32 input channels, enabling high-speed conversion of analog data from multiple sensors. Many interfaces are provided, including a CAN interface for vehicle networks and a high-speed serial interface for connecting external devices. These on-chip peripheral functions and interfaces help to reduce the total number of components in the system.
The E10A-USB on-chip debugging emulator is available as a development tool. Compact in size, it runs off USB bus power and requires no external power supply.
Renesas Technology plans to continue to extend its lineup of high-performance Flash MCUs employing the 90 nm process node and built around the SH-2A CPU core in response to evolving market demand.
Notes: 1. Source: MARKETING EYE CO; LTD., "Survey on Flash MCUs, 2008 Edition," issued April, 2008 (value basis) Renesas Technology's MCUs are widely used not only in automobile, but also in home appliances or in industrial instruments, etc.
2. CAN (Controller Area Network) is a network specification for use in vehicles, proposed by Robert Bosch GmbH of Germany.
3. SuperH(TM) is a trademark of Renesas Technology Corp.
* Other product names, company names, or brands mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
Typical Applications
o Automotive systems: Powertrain control in engines and transmissions
Prices in Japan *For Reference
Product Name (Product No.)
Max. Operating
Frequency
Package
Sample Price [Tax Included] (Yen)
SH72531(R5F72531KFPV) 120 MHz 176-pin LQFP 7,800
Specifications
Item SH72531 Specifications
Product No. R5F72531KFPV
Power supply voltage 3.3 V/5 V (dual power supplies)
Max. operating frequency 120 MHz
Max. processing performance 240 MIPS (operating at 120 MHz)
CPU core SH-2A (double-precision FPU support)
Operating temperature range -40 to 125°C
On-chip flash memory 1.25 megabytes + 32 kilobytes (EEPROM function)
On-chip RAM 64 kilobytes
Advanced Timer Unit III (ATU-III)
A/D converter (12-bit resolution) x 32 channels
Serial communication interface (SCI) x 3 channels
High-speed serial interface (high-speed SCI) x 2 channels
Controller area network (RCAN) x 2 channels
Compare match timer (CMT) x 2 channels
User break controller (UBC)
On-chip debug function
o JTAG interface
o Direct memory access controller (DMAC) x 8 channels
o Automotive direct memory access controller (A-DMAC) x 58 channels
Interrupt controller (INTC)
Watchdog timer (WDT)
Multi-input signature generator (MSIG)
On-chip peripheral functions
Clock oscillator (CPG): Integrated multiplier PLL
Sleep mode
Hardware standby mode
Low-power modes
Module standby mode
Package 176-pin LQFP (24 mm x 24 mm, 0.5 mm pitch)
