Low-power MCUs simplify designs and reduce BOM for IIoT sensor applications

Renesas Electronics has expanded its Renesas Synergy S1 MCU series with the introduction of the S1JA MCU Group. The ultra-low power S1JA MCUs feature the 48MHz Arm Cortex-M23 core and integrate best-in-class programmable analog and security functions for high-accuracy sensor signal acquisition and conditioning. The MCUs aim at cost sensitive and low power IIoT sensor applications such as multisensor systems, low control meters, headless medical monitors and instrumentation systems, and single-phase electricity meters. The S1JA Group include five MCUs with up to 256KB flash memory, up to 32KB SRAM memory, and a broad operating voltage range of 1.6V to 5.5V. Each MCU combines a sensor-biasing unit that provides accurate power to the external sensor and a highly configurable analog fabric that processes complex algorithms to maximise signal conditioning and precise analog measurements. On-chip analog components comprise a high accuracy 16-bit ADC, 24-bit sigma-delta ADC, fast response 12-bit DAC, rail-to-rail low-offset operational amplifiers, and high-speed/low-power comparators. The MCUs allow advanced analog configurations from basic functions to more complex analog blocks. As a result, embedded designers can reduce BOM cost and PCB size by excluding several external analog components. Access to capacitive touch enable pins permits designers to create touch button HMI interfaces, and the device’s memory mirror function allows over the air updates with little software overhead. “The S1JA is the first MCU in the Renesas Synergy Series to offer rich analog features,” said Daryl Khoo, vice president product marketing, IoT Platform Business Division, Renesas Electronics Corporation. “Offering superior programmable analog capabilities gives customers the upmost MCU flexibility to explore algorithms that maximise performance and achieve design goals without adding significant overhead to BOM cost and board space.”