MCUs First To Integrate AFE

Renesas Electronics’ RX23E-A Group 32-bit RX microcontrollers (MCUs) combine a high-precision analog front end (AFE) and an MCU on a single chip. Designed for manufacturing and test and measurement equipment applications, the RX23E-A MCUs are the first Renesas devices to enable such signals to be measured with better than 0.1% precision without calibration. The MCUs achieve an offset drift of 10 nV/°C, gain drift of 1 ppm/°C, and a RMS noise of 30 nVrms.  

The RX23E-A MCUs are based on the RXv2 core, which features operating speeds of 32 MHz, a digital signal processor (DSP), and floating-point unit (FPU) calculations. This allows the implementation of adaptive control using temperature data and inverse matrix calculations using 6-axis distortion data. For example, robot arm force sensors require the measurement and calculation of the 6-axis distortion in a small space. The RX23E-A MCUs make it possible to measure the 6-axis distortion data and perform the inverse matrix calculations with a single chip.

RX23E-A MCU features include:

  • AFE block
  • 24-bit delta-sigma A/D converter: Up to 23 bits of effective resolution. Data output rate flexible at 7.6 PS to 15.6 kPS.
  • Two 24-bit delta-sigma A/D converters that can start synchronously, allowing sensor temperature correction to be performed without switching channels.
  • PGA (programmable gain amplifier): Rail-to-rail input PGA allows amplification up to 128×. Offset drift: 10 nV/°C, gain drift: 1 ppm/°C, and RMS noise: 30 nV rms.
  • Voltage reference: Low temperature drift characteristics of 4 ppm/°C with superlative temperature stabilization.
  • Excitation current source: Programmable current source with required matching required for 3-wire resistance temperature detector.
  • Analog inputs: differential inputs: up to 6 channels, pseudo-differential inputs: up to 11 channels, single-ended inputs: up to 11 channels. All can be used as inputs to the two A/D converters.
  • MCU block
  • CPU: 32-bit RXv2 core operating at 32 MHz
  • Digital signal processing can be implemented with DPS instructions and FPU.
  • ROM/RAM: ROM: 128 to 256 KB, RAM: 16 to 32 KB.
  • Communication interfaces: SPI (1 channel), UART (4 channels), I2C (1 channel), CAN (1 channel).
  • Functional safety: software load reduced by Self-diagnostic and disconnection-detection assistance functions for the A/D converter, clock frequency accuracy measurement circuit, independent watchdog timer, RAM test assistance functions using the DOC and other circuits.
  • Supply voltage: 5V. Independent power supplies can be used for the AFE block and microcontroller. Voltages of 1.8 to 5.5 V can be supported.
  • Operating temperature: -40°C to +85°C, -40°C to +105°C
  • Package: 48-pin QFP with 7 mm square. 40-pin QFP with 6 mm square. 

Samples of the RX23E-A Group of MCUs are available now with mass production planned for December 2019. For more insights and illuminations, take a look at the datasheet.