High-performance microprocessor enables real-time control for EtherCAT communication

Mouser now stocks the RZ/T2L high-performance microprocessor with EtherCAT from Renesas Electronics. Optimised for high-speed processing and high-precision real-time control for applications adopting EtherCAT communication protocols, the device inherits the same advanced hardware architecture from the RZ/T2M MPU. Decreasing its overall footprint by up to 50% over the RZ/T2M, the new device is the perfect cost-effective and scalable alternative for designers and first-time developers looking to enter the rapidly growing EtherCAT market with a single-chip motor control solution. The device is also ideal for AC servos, inverters, industrial robots, medical equipment, wind turbines and elevators.

The microprocessor features an Arm Cortex-R52 CPU with a maximum operating frequency of 800MHz, an Ethernet MAC and a proven three-port EtherCAT slave controller developed by Beckhoff Automation for Ethernet communication. The MPU's tightly coupled 576KB of memory is directly connected to the CPU. This design element decreases execution time unpredictability caused by cache memory, enabling reliable, deterministic processing. All RAM on the MPU is also equipped with an ECC function needed for industrial applications.

The robust peripheral capabilities of the device comprise multi-protocol encoder interfaces for angle sensors, Sigma-delta interfaces, three-phase PWM and 12-bit ADCs. These peripherals are arranged on a dedicated LLPP bus directly connected to the CPU to supply fast and accurate real-time control functionality. Other significant features of the device include support for different security functions such as secure boot, secure firmware update, JTAG authentication, unique ID and cryptographic accelerator to decrease the risk of data breach and tampering of user programs. The MPU can also be employed as a functional safety microprocessor to satisfy the growing processing demands for industrial equipment.

To support the development of the microprocessor, Renesas provides a companion RZ/T2L Starter Kit+. The MPU and Starter Kit+ employ the company's FSP and software development environment, which is compatible with other RZ Family MPUs and RA Family MCUs to assist designers in preserving software assets and decrease development efforts and overall costs.