SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723), a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced the 32-bit RH850/E1M-S2 microcontrollers (MCUs) for automotive powertrain control applications, such as engine or transmission control, that provide high performance and advanced functionality to enable improved fuel efficiency. The RH850/E1M-S2 MCUs include four product versions, including the most high-end R7F701216EABA (BGA304, 320MHz).
In recent years, regulations covering automobile fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions have become increasingly strict. Some current regulations1 stipulate that CO2 emissions must be reduced by 10 percent from their current level by 2018. To meet these targets, engine control systems must optimize the ignition and fuel injection timing to match a variety of conditions, such as current combustion and driving status. Transmission control systems, for their part, must instantly select the optimal gear ratio to match the driving conditions, which change moment by moment, in order to minimize power loss in the transmission.
The new RH850/E1M-S2 MCUs bring more precise control to powertrain control systems by boosting processing performance to accommodate the increasing number of calculations required. At the same time, the RH850/E1M-S2 MCUs boost network performance to match the larger volume of control data resulting from the use of more sensors and provides stronger security functionality to prevent unauthorized access to control systems.
Key features of the new RH850/E1M-S2:
(1) Newly developed high-performance G3MH CPU core to help boost fuel efficiency
The RH850/E1M-S2 MCUs are built around Renesas’ new and improved G3MH CPU core. The G3MH core has improved access latency towards memory and peripheral functions while retaining an industry-leading operating frequency of 320 MHz at Tj2 = 150°C. This results in an improved engine control system responsiveness of approximately 30 percent3 compared with earlier Renesas products.
(2) High-speed network functionality to accommodate the use of more sensors and communication with other vehicle control units
The RH850/E1M-S2 MCUs support the Single Edge Nibble Transmission (SENT4) digital communication standard for sensors and CAN FD5, which accommodates the increase in the volume of data from the increasing number of sensors and the need for high-speed data transfer to other vehicle control units respectively.
a) Support for SENT communication standard for sensor data
The number of sensors used in automobiles to provide information on the vehicle or environment status is growing rapidly, and these sensors are becoming more sophisticated. The new RH850/E1M-S2 MCUs are equipped with six Renesas SENT (RSENT) channels compliant with the SENT communication standard for sensor data. This enables the MCUs to handle communication of digitized data from approximately 50 sensors. Since a single signal line can be used for multiple sensors, it can contribute to overall weight reduction of the wiring harnesses as well.
b) Support for CAN FD high-speed communication
Intended as a next-generation automotive CAN communication standard, the CAN FD accelerates the maximum throughput. It also supports a mode allowing connection to CAN buses using the earlier standard.
(3) Enhanced security functionality for greater robustness
To protect engine and transmission systems from unauthorized access and ensure safe control, the RH850/E1M-S2 MCUs are equipped with an Intelligent Cryptographic Unit – Slave (ICU-S) hardware security module that complies with the SHE/EVITA-Light6 standard for automotive security. It provides functions such as data encryption like Cypher Message Authentication (CMAC) and random number generation.
The new RH850/E1M-S2 MCUs are supported with a code generator tool that automatically produces C source code for drivers, based on settings entered via a Graphical User Interface (GUI), making it easier for system manufacturers to develop applications. In addition, model-based design development is supported in collaboration with Renesas partner vendors. This contributes to shorter development cycles, even though the Electronic Control Units (ECUs) used in automobiles become more complex.
Availability
Samples of the RH850/E1M-S2 are available now. Mass production is scheduled to begin in September 2017, and is expected to reach a volume of 100,000 units per month by April 2018. (Availability is subject to change without notice.)
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About Renesas Electronics Corporation
Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723), the world’s number one supplier of microcontrollers, is a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions including microcontrollers, SoC solutions and a broad-range of analog and power devices. Business operations began as Renesas Electronics in April 2010 through the integration of NEC Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723) and Renesas Technology Corp., with operations spanning research, development, design and manufacturing for a wide range of applications. Headquartered in Japan, Renesas Electronics has subsidiaries in 20 countries worldwide. More information can be found at www.renesas.com.
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1 Example of tightening of regulations under the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard in the United States.
2 Tj: junction temperature
3 Based on a comparison of execution times on an engine control processing simulator in applications such as ignition timing and fuel injection control.
4 SENT (Single Edge Nibble Transmission) conforms to SAE J2716, version JAN2010.
5 CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-rate) conforms to ISO 11898-1.
6 SHE (Secure Hardware Extension) conforms to EVITA-Light (E-safety Vehicle Intrusion proTected Application).
