Renesas offers qualified software modules with Synergy MCUs
Synergy is, Renesas says, an integrated platform specifically designed to accelerate development of application software. The hardware part of the Synergy offering is a range of ARM-based microntrollers; supplemented by a tool platform, and a range of pre-qualified software functions. Using Synergy, you will be able to design from API level, and much of the routine effort of writing, for example, drivers, will be reduced to selecting from a library of software routines. With the participation of Express Logic (www.rtos.com), the software will extend to communications stacks, middleware, and RTOS.
The hardware aspects of the platform are Cortex-M series MCUs, that are unique to the synergy programme. In this release, two variants are introduced; the S7G2 and S3A7 microcontroller (MCU) groups, which target connected human machine interface (HMI) and power-efficient control applications used in industrial, healthcare, home appliance and metering products. Development kits featuring these two MCU groups, software development tools, and the Renesas Synergy Software Package (SSP) are available now from the Renesas Synergy Gallery. Renesas is using two silicon technology options for Synergy; a low-power process, and a 40-nm embedded-flash process. There are two cores; an M0+ and an M4. S7 series parts will be non-performance variants, twith core frequencies in the 200/300 MHz range. S3 partas are flagged as high-efficiency, with 32-100 Mhz clocks. Both will use the cortex-M4 core, as will the forthcoming S5 high-integration version: planned introductions include the M0+ core, S1 series, which will be structured for ultra-low power.
The MCUs are described as scalable; there will be peripheral and pin compatibility across and between product series, and software will be transferable (but not from other Renesas MCU series).
The major differentiator of the Synergy offering will be the software, some of the elements including; a ThreadX RTOS, the commercial multitasking real time kernel with pre-emptive scheduling and small memory footprint; and Stacks & Middleware comprising X-Ware and Renesas-originated specialised software for TCP/IP, USB, colour graphics, file systems, DSP, touch, security, safety and more. The software will be free, initially accessed by a development licence that comes with purchase of a Development Kit, and will be qualified and warranted by Renesas as long as it is operated on a ‘nominal’ platform. Users will be able to view the source code, but not copy or edit it. Designs taken to production will require a separate licence, that carries with it warranty implications. Other elements of the software include Board Support Packages customised for every Synergy hardware kit and MCU, that can be tailored for end-product use; Hardware Abstraction Layer with low-level drivers for all peripherals and system services; and API elements of standardised ‘C’ language APIs for X-Ware, Application Framework, Middleware, Libraries, DSP, HAL, BSP, and MCU regs. These, Renesas says, abstract dependencies, ensure portability and accelerate product development. An Application Framework contains system level services linking RTOS to HAL for inter-process messaging, security services, audio playback, serial comm, power management, JPEG conversion, cap touch, console, more.
The HAL features, in particular, Renesas claims, remove the need to gain a deep understanding of how each peripheral works.
By supporting an API that gives designers direct access to a completely integrated real-time operating system (RTOS) with communication stacks, middleware, libraries, an application framework and the MCUs’ drivers and peripherals, the Renesas Synergy Platform eliminates the design work needed to enable the essential system functions so designers can quickly begin development of their own application software.
“With the launch of this beta program, we are now providing our customers, partners and distributors the tools, hardware and software they’ll need to experience the speed and ease with which they can develop new IoT products using the Renesas Synergy Platform,” said Peter Carbone, Vice President of the IoT Business Unit, Renesas Electronics America, “… mass production parts [are] scheduled for availability in December 2015.”
MCUs from the Renesas Synergy S7G2 group feature a 240 MHz ARM Cortex-M4 CPU core and high capacity 4 Megabyte flash to accommodate the software needs of HMI applications today and in the future. MCUs from the Renesas Synergy S3A7 group incorporate a 48 MHz ARM Cortex-M4 CPU to deliver a hardware solution well suited for HMI applications requiring power-efficient operation. The S7G2 and S3A7 MCUs are pin and peripheral compatible so software developed for one MCU group can be used with the other. Future Renesas Synergy MCUs will also support this compatibility feature.
To facilitate the design of HMI applications, the S7G2 and S3A7 MCUs integrate support in silicon to use touchscreen LCD displays, including a capacitive touch sensing unit and a highly configurable LCD colour graphics controller (S7G2) and segment LCD controller (S3A7). Design kits for both MCUs are now available. The DK-S7G2 kit has a detachable 4.3-inch WQVGA colour LCD touch display plus a VGA camera, and the DK-S3A7 kit has a detachable custom segment LCD display and extensions for deep evaluation of Renesas’ third-generation capacitive touch technology. The kits have a variety of connectivity options including USB-HS and USB-FS, Dual Ethernet, CAN, and a Bluetooth low energy 4.0 radio. A very low-cost starter kit, the SK-S7G2, is also available for S7G2 MCUs that opens complete access to the entire Synergy Platform and all of its software capabilities for well under $100, enabling development of colour graphics, high-speed connectivity, and multi-media functions.
Beyond standard development kits, the first product example (PE) is available for S7G2 MCUs that provide engineers and developers a complete example of an actual HMI end-product implementation. The PE-HMI1 includes a detailed document that captures how it was developed, giving engineers a step-by-step guide through the design choices made to build the solution so they can reproduce or alter the design themselves for their own end-products. This, the company promises, is the first of many Synergy product examples to come.
The Renesas Synergy Software Package (SSP) includes the ThreadX® RTOS, X-Ware middleware (NetX™, USBX™, GUIX™, FileX®), a rich set of peripheral drivers, and a comprehensive applications framework API. This eliminates the need to source this software from multiple vendors and for compatibility testing between different software elements. The API provides access to underlying silicon features and low-level software drivers, so engineers don’t have to spend valuable development time configuring basic software driver functionality. Security features build on the Standard ARM root-of-trust frameworks, Smart Documentation and Verified Software Add-ons (VSAs) are available online through the Renesas Synergy Gallery to give developers tools to get to market faster.
Between now and December 2015, developers interested in early access to the latest Synergy hardware and software are encouraged to visit https://www.renesassynergy.eu
and sign up to participate in the Renesas Synergy Platform Beta Program. The Platform has been in a pre-release version since June 2015, and will move to its first full release in December.
Renesas Electronics Europe; www.renesas.eu
If you enjoyed this article, you will like the following ones: don't miss them by subscribing to :
