Renesas Samples Its First 22-nm Microcontroller

Rhea-AI Summary

Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723) has launched its first microcontroller (MCU) utilizing advanced 22-nm process technology, providing enhanced performance and lower power consumption. This wireless MCU features Bluetooth® 5.3 Low Energy and integrates a software-defined radio (SDR), ensuring future-proofing for customers. The new chip is an extension of Renesas' RA family of 32-bit Arm® Cortex®-M microcontrollers, allowing for compatibility with previous Bluetooth LE specifications. Renesas, a leader in the MCU market with over 3.5 billion units shipped annually, is set to sample this product to select customers, with a full market launch anticipated in Q4 2023. The company aims to accelerate time-to-market for its clients by offering over 300 'Winning Combinations', which are optimized system architectures.

Positive

• Introduction of first microcontroller based on advanced 22-nm process technology.
• Enhanced performance and lower power consumption due to reduced core voltages.
• Integration of Bluetooth® 5.3 Low Energy, ensuring compliance with latest specifications.
• Expected full market launch in Q4 2023, indicating strong future prospects.
• Established leadership in the MCU market with over 3.5 billion units shipped annually.

Negative

• None.

Wireless Microcontroller Integrating Bluetooth® 5.3 Low Energy Employs Most Advanced Process Node Available for MCUs

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723), a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced that it has produced its first microcontroller (MCU) based on advanced 22-nm process technology. By employing state-of-the-art process technology, Renesas can provide customers with superior performance at lower power consumption driven by reduced core voltages. The advanced process technology also offers the ability to integrate a rich feature set including functions such as RF. Additionally, the advanced process node uses a smaller die area for the same functionality, resulting in smaller chips with higher integration of peripherals and memory.

(Graphic: Business Wire)

The first chip produced on the new 22-nm process is an extension to Renesas’ popular RA family of 32-bit Arm® Cortex®-M microcontrollers. This new wireless MCU delivers Bluetooth® 5.3 Low Energy (LE) with the integration of a software-defined radio (SDR). It offers a future-proof solution for customers building products targeting a long lifetime. Whether during development or after deployment, the devices can be upgraded either with new application software or new Bluetooth capabilities to assure compliance to the latest specification versions.

End product manufacturers can leverage the full feature set of previous Bluetooth LE specification releases. Whether designing devices for direction-finding applications utilizing the Bluetooth 5.1 Angle of Arrival (AoA) / Angle of Departure (AoD) features, or adding low power stereo audio transmission to products by employing Bluetooth 5.2 isochronous channels, developers now only need one device to support all of these features.

“Renesas’ MCU leadership is based on a wide array of products and manufacturing process technologies,” said Roger Wendelken, Senior Vice President in Renesas’ IoT and Infrastructure Business Unit. “We are pleased to announce the first 22-nm product development in the RA MCU family which will pave the way for next generation devices that will help customers to future proof their design while ensuring long term availability. We are committed to providing the best performance, ease-of-use, and the latest features on the market. This advancement is only the beginning.”

Winning Combinations

Renesas will combine the new 22-nm MCUs with numerous compatible devices from its portfolio to offer a wide array of Winning Combinations. These 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 300 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

Renesas is sampling the new device to select customers now, with full market launch expected in 4Q 2023. Customers who wish to sample the new device can contact their local Renesas sales office. More information about the Bluetooth 5.3 LE Specification is available in a Renesas blog post found here https://www.renesas.com//blogs/what-s-new-bluetooth-53-low-energy.

Renesas MCU Leadership

Renesas is the industry’s #1 supplier of MCUs, shipping 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 200 ecosystem partners. For more information about Renesas MCUs, visit renesas.com/MCUs.

About Renesas Electronics Corporation

Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723) empowers a safer, smarter and more sustainable future where technology helps make our lives easier. A leading global provider of microcontrollers, Renesas combines our expertise in embedded processing, analog, power and connectivity to deliver complete semiconductor solutions. These Winning Combinations accelerate time to market for automotive, industrial, infrastructure and IoT applications, enabling billions of connected, intelligent devices that enhance the way people work and live. Learn more at renesas.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

(Remarks). Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. Arm, Arm Cortex, and Arm TrustZone are trademarks or registered trademarks of Arm Limited in the EU and other countries. All names of products or services mentioned in this press release are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230411005393/en/

Media Contacts:

Americas

Don Parkman

Renesas Electronics Corporation

+ 1-408-887-4308

don.parkman.xh@renesas.com

Source: Renesas Electronics Corporation

FAQ

What is the significance of Renesas's new 22-nm microcontroller?

The new 22-nm microcontroller offers enhanced performance and lower power consumption, significantly benefiting product developers.

When will Renesas's new microcontroller be fully available in the market?

The full market launch of the new microcontroller is expected in Q4 2023.

What features does the new Renesas MCU offer?

The new MCU includes Bluetooth® 5.3 Low Energy and a software-defined radio, providing a future-proof solution for product designs.

How many units does Renesas ship annually in the MCU market?

Renesas ships over 3.5 billion MCUs annually, making it a leading supplier in the industry.

What are 'Winning Combinations' offered by Renesas?

'Winning Combinations' are optimized system architectures that use multiple compatible devices to accelerate product design and market entry.