Renesas introduces the 32-bit RX23E-B with a high-speed, high-precision analog front end for high-end industrial sensor systems

     Renesas Electronics, a leading supplier of L4981AD semiconductor solutions, recently introduced a 32-bit RX23E-B microcontroller (MCU) for high-end industrial sensor systems with a high-speed and high-precision analog front end. The introduction of this new product will further broaden Renesas' product line in the industrial sector and meet the demand for high performance and high reliability of industrial sensor systems.

     The 32-bit RX23E-B microcontroller uses Renesas' self-developed RXv3 core, which combines high-speed computing capabilities with low power consumption. With a clock rate of up to 32 MHz, it supports high-speed data processing and real-time control applications. In addition, the microcontroller also has a wealth of interfaces and peripherals, including analog input, digital input/output, communication interfaces, etc., which is ideal for industrial sensor systems.

     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.

     The analog front end of the microcontroller is one of its unique highlights, which uses high-precision analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and digital logarithm operation unit (DLA) technology, which can realize high-precision analog signal acquisition and processing. This is very important for some industrial sensor systems that require high accuracy, such as temperature, pressure, flow and other sensor systems.

     The RX23E-B integrates a CPU based on a 32MHz RXv2 core 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.