Renesas introduces 32-bit RX MCUS with high-speed, high-precision analog front ends for high-end industrial sensor systems

     Renesas Electronics announced the introduction of a new RX product, the RX23E-B, for high-end industrial sensor systems, expanding its 32-bit microcontroller (MCU) product line. A member of the popular RX product family, the new product features a high-precision analog front end (AFE) designed for systems that require fast, accurate analog signal measurement.

     The new MCU integrates A 24-bit Delta-Sigma A/D converter with conversion speeds of up to 125 kSPS (125,000 samples per second), which is eight times faster than existing RX23E-A products. Compared to the RX23E-A, it can handle accurate A/D conversions while reducing root-mean-square (RMS) noise to 1/3 (0.18 µVrms@1kSPS). The RX23E-B provides faster and more accurate measurements of key parameters such as strain, temperature, pressure, flow rate, current and voltage, making it ideal for high-end sensor equipment, measuring instruments and test equipment. In particular, the RX23E-B has sufficient performance to drive force-sensitive sensors used in industrial robots, which typically require measurements at speeds of 10 µsec (100,000 samples per second). This product also integrates the AFE and MCU in a single chip, thereby reducing the overall size of the system and reducing the number of components.

     Sakae Ito, Vice President of the IoT Platform Business Division at Renesas said: "With the introduction of the RX23E-B with AFE sensor interface, we can now serve a wide range of sensing applications from mid-range to high-end systems. We will also continue to expand Renesas' offerings to meet the growing demand for low power consumption in battery-powered and wireless sensors."

     Takatsugu Nemoto, President at Meiko Electronics, said, "At Meiko Electronics, we have been developing evaluation boards and providing design support to our customers since the launch of the RX23E-A. Now, with the introduction of the RX23E-B with A high-speed Delta-σ A/D converter, more customers will be able to experience the benefits of its enhanced conversion performance, compact board design, and reduced component count."

     Similar to the RX23E-A, the RX23E-B also integrates a 32MHz RXv2 core CPU with digital signal processing (DSP) instructions and floating-point arithmetic unit (FPU), and uses the same manufacturing process to integrate AFE into a single chip. It offers new peripheral functions such as 16-bit D/A converters for measurement adjustment, self-diagnosis and analog signal output. The product's +/-10V analog input enables +/-10V measurements using a 5V power supply without the need for external components or additional power supplies. In addition, an LCD controller with up to 40 SEG x 4 COM support and real-time clock (RTC) capabilities are included.

     Large instruments that need to control and measure multiple targets, such as robotic arms, gas and liquid analyzers, have a huge demand for distributed processing architectures. In a distributed processing design, each function can be run as a separate module, responsible for tasks such as motor control, sensor measurement, and temperature control, rather than relying on a dedicated MCU to manage all functions. This modular approach allows for independent development, which allows for greater design flexibility and simplifies maintenance. Because each module requires an MCU to compute, engineers can more easily develop sensor modules with an MCU with built-in AFE, rather than combining a discrete AFE chip with a separate MCU.

 
     The RX23E-B is available in versions that support data conversion rates up to 125 kSPS A/D and 31.25 kSPS. Both products bring flexible data rate Settings, from 3.8 SPS to the maximum supported value, allowing users to choose the best balance between data rate and noise based on their specific system requirements. Both products support a 5.5mm square 100-pin BGA package and a 6mm square 40-pin QFN package for compact applications, and are also available in a 48-pin to 100-pin wide package.