Renesas H8S/Tiny Series Microcontrollers for Low-cost Embedded System Applications

Renesas introduced the H8S/Tiny series microcontrollers (MCUs), a new group in the Renesas’s H8S series high-performance 16-bit microcontrollers, targeted to low-cost embedded system applications. The H8S/Tiny series microcontrollers are successors to the devices in the H8/Tiny series, offering enhanced  processing performance, more on-chip peripheral functions, and also advanced tool support. The new microcontrollers maintain compatibility with the H8/Tiny devices. This feature allows manufacturer to make rapid transitions.

Ritesh Tyagi, Renesas, said:

The new H8S/Tiny series microcontrollers deliver significantly more performance and functionality than our previous H8/Tiny chips…

…Importantly, they incorporate the 16-bit H8S/2000 CPU core, a single-cycle execution CISC architecture that runs complex instructions efficiently. They also have up to 128Kbytes of on-chip flash memory, plus 8Kbytes (two 4Kbyte blocks) of extended endurance data flash memory for replacing external EEPROM. Beyond that, they also include innovative peripheral functions that improve real-time system operation and enhance system design flexibility…

This new product line gives customers optimal computational capabilities at attractive price points. And it eliminates the need to make disruptive, time-consuming transitions to more expensive 32-bit microcontrollers. Moreover, the software compatibility of these H8S/Tiny microcontrollers and the support tools we offer for them combine to help shorten system design cycles.

Renesas H8S/Tiny Series Microcontrollers

There are a total of 24 devices in the H8S/Tiny series in three product groups: the 64-pin devices in the H8S/20103 group and the 80-pin devices in the H8S/20203 and H8S/20223 groups.

H8S/Tiny Microcontrollers:

Event link controller, I/O mapping controller and data transfer controller
H8S/Tiny Series microcontrollers provide an innovative event link controller, which can significantly boost real-time processing performance. For example, in a typical microcontroller device, real-time events or interrupts are handled by the CPU directly. In contrast, the event link controller allows H8S/Tiny devices to efficiently process interrupt requests and trigger multiple peripheral blocks in sequence without using the CPU, so more CPU cycles become available for application processing. The devices also have a data transfer controller (DTC) that can carry out data transfer operations with no CPU intervention. By using both of these functions, for example, plus a timer and a serial port, A/D conversion values can be periodically transferred to an external device via a serial interface without slowing down program execution. This approach maximizes overall performance or makes it possible to operate the microcontroller at a lower frequency to reduce current consumption.

H8S/Tiny MCUs employ a peripheral I/O mapping controller that allows engineers to customize the arrangement of pin functions. Engineers can use this capability to simplify system development and increase design flexibility. One of seven different functions can be selected by software and assigned to each pin. Because the microcontroller's pins can be re-assigned without making any changes at a board level, a single development board can be used for multiple products, reducing design time and cost.

H8S/Tiny Series microcontrollers have a high-speed, highly precise on-chip oscillator that eliminates the need for an external resonator. The internal oscillator runs at 40MHz or 32MHz. Its oscillation precision of ±1% is maintained over a temperature range of -20 to 85°C and a power supply voltage range of 2.7 to 5.5V. This high-speed internal clock can be fed directly to 16-bit timer units, enabling the implementation of high-speed pulse width modulation (PWM) control for motors and other applications. Additional peripheral functions provided by H8S/Tiny MCUs include up to sixteen channels of 10-bit A/D converter, a two-channels D/A converter, timers, a hardware LIN, multiple serial interfaces and power-on reset circuits.

H8S/Tiny Development tools
Renesas offers E8a on-chip debugging emulator, which can also be used as an in-system flash memory programmer, is available to aid system development. Renesas also provides the High-performance Embedded Workshop (HEW) integrated development and debugging environment that includes a complete C/C++ compiler toolchain. A version of HEW that can generate up to 64KB of application code is also available at no charge. Additionally, the new E100 emulator, a powerful in-circuit emulator with extensive debugging capabilities that will provide a unified emulation platform for Renesas MCUs is also planned.

More info: Renesas - H8S/Tiny Series Microcontrollers