Bluetooth Smart wireless solution accelerates embedded devices IoT applications

A new wireless solution that supports the Bluetooth Smart near field wireless communication standard, the RL78/G1D Group of microcontrollers (MCUs) has been developed by Renesas. The devices were developed by combining the low-power RF Transceiver Technology for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), which the company presented at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) held in February, 2015, with its expertise on consumer and industrial MCUs, and on-chip peripheral devices necessary for wireless communication. By employing an evaluation kit and Bluetooth-SIG qualified protocol stack, the new MCUs enable system designers to conduct evaluation of wireless characteristics and initial evaluation of communication behaviours. The new MCUs are also provided with PC GUI tool for easy manipulation of these components. These will enable customers to easily develop Bluetooth Smart applications and reduce the time required for development while making effective use of development environment and software resources. BLE is a near field wireless communication technology that holds great potential for connecting smartphones and a variety of other devices. In addition to smartphones, it is also suitable for use in devices linked by serial communication technologies such as UARTs and for implementing communication between units within a single piece of equipment. Eliminating the need for wired connections between such units provides greater design freedom and simplifies maintenance. This technology therefore has the potential to bring about major changes in embedded devices. The Bluetooth Smart compliant RL78/G1D MCUs have been developed by combining the ultra-low-power RL78 MCU, which has achieved widespread adoption in the consumer and industrial fields, with the highly-regarded low-current-consumption Bluetooth low energy transceiver technology announced at the ISSCC in February 2015. The current consumption of the RL78/G1D is among the lowest in the industry (3.5mA during reception and 4.3mA during transmission), delivering substantially reduced power consumption that is a key consideration for wireless devices. A newly added adaptable RF technology adjusts the power consumption during wireless operation to the optimal level to match the communication distance. This dramatically lowers the power consumption of near field wireless communication, and it is complemented by the on-chip integration of most elements required for the antenna connection, contributing to reduced external component costs. Renesas positions the new RL78/G1D as a product that contributes to the near-field wireless communication market, which is expected to grow with the coming of a more energy-efficient 'smart society' and IoT. Renesas intends to continue to respond to the needs of the market with a broad line-up of products designed for ease of use, says the company. Bluetooth Europe 2015, Hilton Tower Bridge London, UK, September 15 to 16, 2015.