Renesas samples its first integrated 22nm microcontroller
The first microcontroller based on Renesas Electronics’ 22nm process technology is sampling now. This deployment of process technology allows Renesas to provide customers with superior performance at lower power consumption driven by reduced core voltages. The process technology also offers the ability to integrate a rich feature set including functions such as radio frequency (RF).
Additionally, the advanced process node uses a smaller die area for the same functionality, resulting in smaller chips with higher integration of peripherals and memory.
The first chip produced on the new 22nm process is an extension to Renesas’ RA family of 32bit Arm Cortex-M microcontrollers. This wireless microcontroller delivers Bluetooth 5.3 low energy (LE) with the integration of a software defined radio (SDR). During development or after deployment, the devices can be upgraded either with new application software or new Bluetooth capabilities to assure compliance to the latest specification versions, said Renesas.
According to Renesas, the 22nm process enables product manufacturers to leverage the full feature set of previous Bluetooth LE specification releases. Developers now only need one devices to support features when designing devices for direction-finding applications using the Bluetooth 5.1 angle of arrival (AoA) / angle of departure (AoD) features, or adding low power stereo audio transmission to products by employing Bluetooth 5.2 isochronous channels.
Renesas will combine the new 22nm microcontrollers with compatible devices from its portfolio which are technically vetted system architectures from mutually compatible devices that work together seamlessly.
Renesas is sampling the new device to selected customers now, with full market launch expected in 4Q 2023. Customers who wish to sample the new device can contact their local Renesas sales office.
