Renesas Electronics has launched a new modular iot development platform that uses Pmod interfaces to significantly reduce time-to-market and design complexity

     Renesas Electronics Group, a global supplier of semiconductor solutions, has announced the launch of Quick-Connect, an innovative Internet of Things system design platform that significantly simplifies the prototyping of Internet of Things systems. Renesas Quick-Connect IoT systems consist of standardized board cards and interfaces that enable designers to quickly and easily connect various sensors to MCU development boards. The system also provides core software components that can be ported between boards, which greatly reduces the coding requirements.

     As part of the Quick-Connect IoT system, Renesas Electronics has partnered with Digilent to develop the new Type 6A extended I2C Pmod interface for greater coverage and flexibility. Renesas has standardized Digilent's new 6A Pmod connector for the new Pmod sensor board and MCU development suite. Standardization also gives designers great flexibility to optimize product portfolios for any iot prototype design choice. The MCU board will have dual Pmod connectors for sensor Pmod and communication module respectively; Pmod can also be cascaded for greater flexibility.

     Renesas has also redefined common software Application Program Interface (API) and Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) code for various sensors, embedded in Renesas e2 studio integrated development environment. Instead of writing and testing hundreds of lines of driver code, designers can now graphically select their sensors and write a few lines of code. All integration and setup work takes place in the background, reducing development time.

     "We are focused on building solutions that enable our customers to bring superior end products to market more quickly," said D.K. Singh, Director of Marketing, Systems and Solutions, Renesas Electronics. For example, Renesas's hundreds of 'successful product portfolios' provide customers with a higher-order design platform that reduces design risk and reduces development time. Quick-Connect IoT is the latest example of our focus on this technology area, and we will expand its coverage to support more boards and products in the future. In addition, having a standardized hardware connectivity platform allows customers to adopt compatible PMODs developed by third parties and other vendors."

     Talesa Bleything, Director of Marketing at Digilent, said: "The new 6A Pmod interface embodies our commitment to making system prototyping easier and more convenient. It is I2C compliant, with optional interrupt and reset pins, and optional control signals to bring users greater flexibility in all types of system development."

     Currently, Quick-Connect IoT includes more than 10 new Renesas Pmod sensors and other modular boards, such as air quality sensors, flow sensors, biosensors, time of flight, temperature and other sensing elements. Meanwhile, more Renesas sensor PMODs including various sensors and peripherals are also in development. The RA, RX and RL78 product family of more than 25 MCU development boards and kits are compatible with the new Pmod model 6A standard, either directly or through Renesas's development of small conversion boards; Both RE and RZ development boards will be supported in the near future. Customers can order development kits, sensors and adapters through Renesas's sales and sample distribution channels.

     "Our iot customers are looking for more than great MCUS, sensors and software," said Chris Allexandre, Senior vice president of Renesas Electronics. Quick-Connect IoT as a game-changing product reinforces our strengths in the iot market."