Renesas Electronics Introduces SuperH Microcontrollers that Combine Connectivity Functions Such as USB and System Control Capabilities on a Single Chip

Realizes More Compact Systems at Lower Cost for Car/Home Audio Systems and Industrial Equipment with USB/Bluetooth Support

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Renesas Electronics, a premier provider of advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced the availability of the company’s six new 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs), the SH726A and SH726B, designed to lower the system cost of products, such as car and home audio systems and industrial equipment, while achieving a smaller mounting area. The SH726A and SH726B devices are new members in the SH7260 Series of MCUs with large-capacity on-chip SRAM.

The SH726A and SH726B offer all the benefits of previous generations such as large, internal SRAM, support for serial flash memory – including code fetching from quad serial memory devices and a proven Media SDK that improves dramatically time-to-market when implementing audio codecs (MP3, AAC, WMA) – including a production ready media player, FAT file system and Bluetooth profiles.

Renesas is committed to helping customers and partners deliver high-quality functionality with the fastest development cycle in the industry with reduced system cost, and the SH2A and its Media SDK is a true example of how Renesas delivers to this promise.

Key features of the SH726A and SH726B MCUs

(1) Smaller package with lower pin count for reduced system cost

The SH726A and SH726B MCUs are equipped with a new bus controller that enables connection of quad-SPI flash ROM (serial type), which uses fewer connection pins, as external flash memory supporting direct data access. This reduces substantially the number of pins required for connection while maintaining access speeds equivalent to conventional parallel NOR flash (see Note 1). In addition, on-chip functions optimized for system control and data processing enable the lowest pin count (SH726A: 120-pins) in the Renesas SH7260 Series. The SH726A is also available in a version with a package size of 14 × 14 millimeter (mm) and 0.4 mm pin pitch, thereby helping to reduce the board mounting area and overall cost of the system.

(2) Improved system expandability through high-speed operation

The maximum CPU operating frequency of the SH726A and SH726B MCUs is 216 megahertz (MHz, 1.5 times that of the existing SH7266 MCUs), the industry's highest level for audio products, in order to realize operations such as digital audio signal processing at high speed. This makes the chips suitable for use in products subject to a heavy processing load for sound stage processing, noise cancellation (echo canceling/noise suppression), hands-free calls over Bluetooth, in addition to audio playback (decoding of compressed audio). The SH726B MCUs also implement two USB (full-speed) channels on-chip, providing support for connection of multiple USB devices of various types, including portable audio players and USB storage.

(3) Reduction in development man-hours

The SH7260 Series supports the following middleware for digital audio, which has a proven track record in mass production applications, thereby helping to reduce the time required to develop new products.

– Data decoder middleware for MP3, WMA, AAC, etc.

– Device middleware for USB, SD, etc.

– ISO 9660 file system middleware for CD-ROM applications, FAT file system middleware for USB/SD memory, etc.

Software development kits (SDKs) incorporating drivers and middleware for digital audio applications are also available to further reduce the time and resources required for system development. Renesas plans to continue adding new products to the SH7260 Series of MCUs with large-capacity on-chip RAM in response to the evolving market. More information about the SH726A and SH726B MCUs can be found at http://am.renesas.com/press/news/2011/news20110908_s.jsp

Pricing and Availability

Renesas’ SH726A and SH726B MCUs will be available in a total of six product versions, depending on the presence or absence of an on-chip CAN interface, four versions for the SH726A and two for the SH726B. Each of these is additionally available either for industrial or automobile accessory applications, for a total of 12 product numbers. Customers can choose the version with the specifications that best meets their needs. The operating temperature range of all versions is –40 to +85°C. The SH726A is available in a 120-pin QFP (0.5 mm or 0.4 mm pin pitch) and the SH726B in a 144-pin QFP (0.5 mm pin pitch) lead-free package.

Samples of the SH726A and SH726B MCUs are scheduled to start in September 2011. Pricing varies depending on package, application and support for CAN. For example, the SH726A MCU for use in industrial equipment with a 0.5mm pitch package, which does not incorporate an on-chip CAN interface, is priced at US$13 per unit in sample quantities. The SH726B MCU for use in industrial equipment with a 0.5mm pitch package, which also does not incorporate an on-chip CAN interface, is priced at US$15 per unit in sample quantities. Mass production is scheduled to begin in May 2012 and is expected to reach a combined volume of 1,000,000 units per month. (Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.)

(Note 1) A new bus controller has been added that allows programs stored in external quad-SPI flash ROM (six connection signal lines) to be executed directly, without the need to first transfer them to on-chip SRAM. Access speeds equivalent to conventional parallel NOR flash ROM (32 MB, 16-bit bus and 43 connection lines) are achieved through the use of a read cache, enabling the number of pins used to be reduced substantially.

Ranked #1 Supplier Worldwide for Microcontrollers

Renesas Electronics Corporation again has been ranked by Gartner as the number one MCU supplier worldwide based on revenues from shipments in 2010 for 8-, 16- and 32-bit microcontrollers in the March 2011 market share report.* More information about Renesas’ MCU offerings can be found at http://am.renesas.com/prod/mcumpu/.

About Renesas Electronics America Inc.

Renesas Electronics America Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, California, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723), the world's number one supplier of microcontrollers and a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions including microcontrollers, SoC solutions, and a broad range of analog and power devices. Renesas Electronics America also offers the global manufacturing capabilities of its parent company. In the Americas, Renesas Electronics America markets and sells industrial-type active-matrix LCD modules from NLT Technologies Ltd., a global leader in innovative display technologies. More information about the products offered by Renesas Electronics America can be found at http://am.renesas.com.

*Source: Gartner "Market Share: Semiconductor Devices, Worldwide, 2010" March 2011. SuperH is a trademark of Renesas Electronics Corporation. Bluetooth and the Bluetooth logo are trademarks of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. All other names of products or services mentioned in this press release are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

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