News Releases

Tokyo, August 27, 2007 −− Renesas Technology Corp. today announced commercialization of 30 new products in seven groups as part of the R8C/Tiny Series of compact, high-performance 16-bit MCUs with on-chip flash memory. Designed for applications such as power supply control and motor control, the R8C/2E, R8C/2F, R8C/2G, R8C/2K, and R8C/2L Groups have 32-pin packages, while the R8C/2H and R8C/2J have 20-pin packages. Sample shipments will begin on August 28, 2007 in Japan.

R8C/Tiny Series MCUs all feature on-chip flash memory and combine high performance with ease of use. The addition of the 30 new products will bring the total number of products in the R8C/Tiny Series to 268. By adding products designed for specialized fields such as power supply control and motor control to the extensive existing lineup of general-purpose products, Renesas Technology provides solutions that perfectly meet specific customer requirements.

The seven new groups of products offer the following features.

< Product Background >

In recent years MCUs with low pin counts and compact packages have come to be used in a wide range of fields, and demand for such devices is growing. They are the norm as main MCUs in small-scale systems, such as home electronics and industrial equipment, and are also prominent as sub-MCUs in large-scale systems, such as office equipment offering sophisticated functionality. In response to market demand, Renesas Technology developed the R8C/Tiny Series of 16-bit MCUs with on-chip flash memory, low pin counts, and compact dimensions. A total of 238 products divided into 26 groups are already available. R8C/Tiny Series 16-bit MCUs are widely used in many fields for a variety of applications and are highly regarded for their ease of use. Nevertheless, the trend toward systems with enhanced performance and multifunctionality is continuing, and there remains strong demand for low-pin-count and compact MCU products equipped with functions for specific applications.

In response to this demand, Renesas Technology is adding 30 new products in seven groups to the R8C/Tiny Series. Compared with earlier R8C/Tiny Series products, the new offerings provide specific functional enhancements while reducing functions and come in 32-pin and 20-pin packages. This increases the total number of products in the R8C/Tiny Series to 268. With this more extensive lineup of available products, customers developing new equipment be able to select the MCU that best matches the system configuration and functions.

< Additional Product Details >

The main differences among the seven groups of new products, all built around the R8C CPU 16-bit CPU core, are as follows.

The R8C/2E and R8C/2F Groups support power supply voltages from 3.0 V to 5.5 V and have a maximum operating frequency of 20 MHz. These are the first 32-pin products in the R8C/Tiny Series to include a D/A converter, allowing for fine-grained analog signal output. Analog output is smoother than PWM output, and this makes it possible to generate melodies and alarms with better sound quality. In addition to the D/A converter, the R8C/2E and R8C/2F Groups have a comparator function suitable for application fields such as zero current-crossing detection and noise elimination (rectification). When used in combination with an A/D converter, these MCUs enable high-precision control with feedback of A/D and D/A conversion results.

The R8C/2G, R8C/2H, and R8C/2J Groups support power supply voltages from 2.7 V to 5.5 V and have a maximum operating frequency of 8 MHz. They are versions of earlier Renesas Technology products with reducing functions. However, they include a voltage detection circuit with a comparator mode, making it possible to accept external voltage input and output comparison results for a wide range of control processing applications.

The R8C/2K and R8C/2L Groups support power supply voltages from 3.0 V to 5.5 V and have a maximum operating frequency of 20 MHz. They have an advanced-function 16-bit timer that supports 3-phase PWM output that can be used with the 40 MHz high-precision, high-speed on-chip oscillator to deliver high-speed, high-resolution operation. The timer provides an enhanced level of control precision, making highly exact motor control possible.

Available development environments include the E8a emulator, which supports on-chip debugging via a 1-pin interface, and the existing E8 emulator. Both emulators connect via a single pin, so all I/O pins remain available for use during debugging. This enables more efficient program development. In addition, both the above emulators can be used as a flash memory writer.

These MCUs can be shipped with the flash memory blank or pre-programmed.

Renesas Technology will continue to extend the R8C/Tiny Series product lineup with package options, functions, and performance optimized to meet market demand.

* Product names, company names, or brands mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

< Typical Applications >

• Products in a wide range of fields, including power supply control equipment, motor control equipment, home electronics, industrial equipment, battery drive devices, security devices, image equipment, and office automation equipment.

< Prices in Japan > *For Reference

Additional Information

< Specifications >

(1)R8C/2E Group and R8C/2F Group Specifications

(2) R8C/2G Group Specifications

(3) R8C/2H Group and R8C/2J Group Specifications

(4) R8C/2K Group and R8C/2L Group Specifications

Information contained in this news release is current as of the date of the press announcement, but may be subject to change without prior notice.