RL78
RL78 Family is a 16- and 8-bit CPU core for embedded microcontrollers of Renesas Electronics introduced in 2010.[1] The basis of RL78 Family is an accumulator-based register-bank CISC architecture[2] with 3-stage instruction pipelining. It has 20-bit 1M Byte address space.[3]
General Info | |
---|---|
Launched | 2010 |
Discontinued | current |
Common manufacturer(s) | |
Performance | |
Max. CPU clock rate | 32 kHz to 40 MHz |
Data width | 16 |
Address width | 20 |
Architecture and classification | |
Application | Embedded, home appliances, automotive |
Microarchitecture | RL78-S1 (8-bit), RL78-S2 (16-bit), RL78-S3 (16-bit) |
Instruction set | RL78 Family |
Instructions | 74 (RL78-S1), 75 (RL78-S2), 81 (RL78-S3) |
Physical specifications | |
Cores |
|
History | |
Predecessor | 78K0R |
Microarchitectures
RL78 Family is an accumulator-based register-bank CISC architecture[2] with 3-stage instruction pipelining. It has 20-bit 1M Byte address space.[3] Its basic instruction set architecture is succeeded from 78K0R, which has 75 same instructions out of 80.
RL78 has three microarchitecture variants as follows.
μ-Arch | ALU | Registers | Instructions | Pipeline | Remark | Documents |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RL78-S3 | 16-bit | 8× 8-bit ×4 banks | 81 (75+6) | 3-stage | μ-arch variants | [4]:8 |
RL78-S2 | 16-bit | 8× 8-bit ×4 banks | 75 | 3-stage | ||
RL78-S1 | 8-bit | 8× 8-bit (no bank) | 74 (75-1) | 3-stage | ||
78K0R | 16-bit | 8× 8-bit ×4 banks | 80 (75+5) | 3-stage | Direct predecessor Extended 78K/0 | [5]:18 |
78K0S | 8-bit | 8× 8-bit (no bank) | 47 | none | Simplified 78K/0 | [6] |
78K0 | 8-bit | 8× 8-bit ×4 banks | 48 | none | Basic 78K/0 core | [7] |
Applications
RL78 covers wide range of application area for mechanical system controls and for user interfaces.[8]
Grouping
RL78 Family is divided into some groups, those have unique naming rules.
Application examples
RL78 is suitable for consumer electronics, such as major appliances (including; washing machines, clothes dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, and air conditioners), small appliances (including; power tools, vacuum cleaners, and coffeemakers), and medical devices (including; electronic toothbrushes, blood glucose meters, holter monitors). It is also used for factory automation infrastructure (including; sensors, gauges, and actuators),[10] and energy conservation (including; smart meters, inverter compressors, and lighting control systems).
For automotive industry, low-power and size constrained applications are ideally suited to RL78's automotive dedicated communication interfaces, such as CAN, LIN, and IEBus,[11]:4 and brushless DC electric motor solutions.[12] Three special grade of maximum ambient temperature, 105 °C (221 °F), 125 °C (257 °F), and 150 °C (302 °F), are available for some products.[13]:2
History
RL78 (130nm MF3 flash process) was the first new MCU to emerge from the new Renesas Electronics company from the merger of NEC Electronics and Renesas Technology[1] and incorporated the features of the NEC 78K0R (150nm MF2 flash process) and Renesas Technology R8C microcontrollers. The RL78 core variants include the S1, S2, and S3 type cores which evolved from the NEC 78K0R core. The basic S1 core support 74 instructions, the S2 core adds register banking and supports 75 instructions, while the S3 core adds an on-chip multiplier / divider / multiple-accumulate and supports 81 instructions.
The RL78 was developed to address extremely low power but highly integrated microcontroller applications, to this end the core offered a novel low power mode of operation called “snooze mode” where the ADC or serial interface can be programmed to meet specific conditions to wake the device from the extreme low power STOP mode of 0.52uA.
Software and development tools
RL78 Family is supported with a various range of hardware and software development tools.
Compilers and IDEs
The GNU Compiler Collection,[14] Renesas CS+ (formerly CubeSuite+),[9][15] Renesas e2studio (based on Eclipse),[16] and IAR Systems' compiler and development environment[17][18] are available. The Renesas CS+ IDE is free for debug-only use and supports standard ELF executable files. The RL78 ABI defined by Renesas is compatible with IAR's V2 and higher compilers.
Real-time operating systems
Regarding real-time operating systems, CMX Systems, Inc.'s CMX-RTX,[18] Micrium, Inc.'s μC/OS-II and MicroC/OS-III,[18] ITRON OS Segger Microcontroller Systems' embOS, FreeRTOS, and ChibiOS/RT are supported.
Code generating tools
Renesas provides a free code generating tool named APPLIcation LEading Tool (Applilet).[19]
Flash ROM programming libraries
Renesas provides free self-programming libraries; Code Flash Libraries (CFL)[20] and Data Flash Libraries (DFL).[21] A EEPROM Emulation Library (EEL) is also available for the data-flash to add wear leveling and robustness. Different classes of DFL and EEL are available to match application needs including the standard T01 type, "Tiny" T02 type, and "Pico" T04 type (DFL-only).
In-circuit emulators
Several companies provide on-chip debuggers and full-spec in-circuit emulators. Renesas makes on-chip debuggers[22] as well as third-parties, such as Lauterbach and iSystems.[23] Renesas[24] and iSystems[25] supply full-spec in-circuit emulators.
On-chip device programming tools
Device programming can be achieved by using the on-chip debug port or by using the special serial programming mode of the devices. Renesas supports the serial programming mode with debug tools via the Renesas Flash Programmer (RFP)[26] and the stand-alone programmers; PG-FP5[1][27] and PG-FP6,[28] while several third-parties support RL78 with their own device programmers.
Variants
RL78 Family has a range of devices from 20pin with 16K Byte flash memory to 128pin with 512K Byte flash memory.[29]
RL78/G13
RL78/G13 integrates a +/- 1% accuracy on-chip oscillator, watch dog timer, RTC, power-on reset, low voltage detection, 26 channels of 10bit ADC, 16x16 Multiplier, 32/32 Divider, I2C, CSI/SPI, UART, LIN, multi-function timer array and also built-in IEC 60730 safety support in hardware. This combination of elements enables the system designer to achieve high performance (41DMIPS) systems operating at very low power levels and at low cost due to the high level of integration in the microcontroller.[30][31]
RL78/G12
G12 is a smaller version of G13 introduced in 2012. RL78/G12. Introduced with 20, 24, and 30-pin packages with 2 KB to 16 KB small size flash memory although providing the G13 functionality with integrated +/- 1% 24 MHz oscillator, reset circuit, a low voltage detection circuit, watchdog timer, data flash with background operation, and including functional safety, on-chip with A/D converter testing function.
This small device is designated for use as a sub-microcontroller suitable for use as in small home appliances and general consumer electronic devices.
RL78/G14
In 2012 an addition to the RL78 family was introduced called the G14.[32] This device offers higher levels of integration with the inclusion of additional multiply and divide and multiply-accumulate instructions capable of faster processing than the RL78/G13, 2 Channel 8-bit D/A, 2 Channel comparator, and timer array making it suitable for motor control applications.
- Multi-function Timer Array Unit (TAU):
- Timer array with encoder function
- Timer array unit (16-bit, 8 ch)
- Interval timer (12 bit, 1 ch)
- Watchdog timer (17-bit, 1 ch)
- Full real time calendar function
- Motor control timer (16-bit, 8 ch)
- Phase timer (16-bit, 2 ch)
- I/O timer (16-bit, 1 ch)
RL78/I1A
An application specific version (ASSP) of the RL78 core was introduced in 2012 for controlling lighting systems, this device was named the RL78/I1A. Specific features of the device such as special PWM timers enable fine dimming, lighting sequence and colour temperature control with power factor correction of the power supply. In addition integrated communication functions for DALI, DMX512 and multiple sensor & user interface controls are provided. Applications for the RL78/I1A include: building automation, LED drivers, lighting controls, fluorescent ballasts, emergency lighting, HID ballasts, digital power supplies, low-cost inverter controls.
RL78/L12
Microcontroller series with LCD Drive
Entering mass production at the beginning of 2013, the RL78/L12 includes integrated LCD drive capability for 35 segments x 8 or 39 segments x 4. Three alternative LCD drive methods mat be enabled: split capacitor, capacitive charge pump or external split resistor. With the split capacitor method a low power LCD drive of 0.6uA at 3V can be achieved. Selectable functions (Seg or I/O) for every segment pin, and drive for both glass and panel.
RL78/F1x
Automotive Microcontrollers
The RL78 F12, F13, F14, & F15 devices replaced the original NEC 78K0R/Fx3 devices with many updates including die shrink, faster core speed (32MHz), improved on-chip debug capability, new peripherals, safety features, and expanded package and memory options. The application note r01an2639ej can be used as a guide when migrating from 78K0R/Fx3 to RL78/F1x.
References
- "Renesas Electronics Introduces the New RL78 Microcontroller Family to Deliver Solutions for Next-Generation 8-/16-bit Embedded Applications". Business Wire. 2010-11-17.
- Matsui, Mitsuru; Murakami, Yumiko (11 March 2013). "Minimalism of Software Implementation" (PDF). Fast Software Encryption. Lecture Notes in Computer Science. 8424: 393–409. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-43933-3_20. ISBN 9783662439333.
- Dean, Alexander G.; Conrad, James M. (2012). Creating Fast, Responsive and Energy-Efficient Embedded Systems using the Renesas RL78 Microcontroller (PDF). 1290 Weston Road, Suite 306 Weston, FL 33326 USA: Micrium Press. ISBN 9781935772989.CS1 maint: location (link)
- Renesas official: RL78 family User's Manual: Software. Renesas Electronics.
- Renesas official: 78K0R Microcontrollers User's Manual: Instructions. Renesas Electronics.
- Renesas official: 78K/0S Series for Instructions. Renesas Electronics.
- Renesas official: 78K/0 Series for Instructions. Renesas Electronics.
- Renesas official: Renesas Microcontrollers RL78 Family. Renesas Electronics.
- SHASHI KIRAN K (16 April 2017). "Renesas RL78 Series Microcontroller Programming Steps". YouTube.
- Hemachandra, S.; Kiran, T.K.S. Ravi; Prasad, B. Gowri; Mazhar, S. M. (April 2014). "Accelerometer based Robot control using Renesas Microcontroller" (PDF). International Journal of Modern Engineering Research: 40–48.
- Renesas official: RL78/F15 User's Manual: Hardware. Renesas Electronics.
- Renesas official: Renesas Automotive: RL78 Brushless DC Motor Solution. Renesas Electronics.
- Renesas official: RL78/F13, F14 User's Manual: Hardware. Renesas Electronics.
- "Using the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC): RL78 Options". gcc.gnu.org.
- "CS+ (formerly CubeSuite+)". Renesas Electronics.
- "e² studio". Renesas Electronics.
- Emilio, Maurizio Di Paolo (2014). Embedded Systems Design for High-Speed Data Acquisition and Control. Springer. ISBN 9783319068657.
- "Renesas Electronics America Expands the Ecosystem For Its RL78 Microcontroller Family". Business Wire. 2011-05-02.
- "AP4, Applilet". Renesas Electronics.
- "Code Flash Libraries (Flash Self Programming Libraries)". Renesas Electronics.
- "Data Flash Libraries". Renesas Electronics.
- "On-chip Debuggers". Renesas Electronics.
- "On-Chip Analyzers (Debug & Trace) - iSYSTEM - Enabling Safer Embedded Systems". www.isystem.com.
- "IECUBE for RL78 family". Renesas Electronics.
- "Target Adaptation - iSYSTEM - Enabling Safer Embedded Systems". www.isystem.com.
- "Renesas Flash Programmer (Programming GUI)". Renesas Electronics.
- "PG-FP5". Renesas Electronics.
- "PG-FP6". Renesas Electronics.
- Renesas official: RL78 Microcontroller Brochure. Renesas Electronics.
- "The Renesas RL78 for Low-Power Applications | Circuit Cellar". Circuit Cellar. 2012-04-09.
- Donovan, John (2013-01-16). "Hands-on Review of the Renesas RL78G13 Kit | DigiKey". www.digikey.jp. Digi-Key Electronics.
- "Renesas Electronics Announces New RL78 Microcontrollers with Enhanced Real-Time Control Capabilities". Business Wire. 2011-06-23.
External links
- Technical Information
- Renesas Official Site:
- Press Release