Renesas Electronics Delivers RH850/E1M-S2 32-Bit MCUs for Improved Automobile Fuel Efficiency in Vehicle Powertrain Control Applications

In recent years, regulations covering automobile fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions have become increasingly strict. Some current regulations stipulate that CO2 emissions must be reduced by 10 percent from their current level by 2018. To meet these targets, engine control systems must optimize the ignition and fuel injection timing to match a variety of conditions, such as current combustion and driving status. Transmission control systems, for their part, must instantly select the optimal gear ratio to match the driving conditions, which change moment by moment, in order to minimize power loss in the transmission.

The new RH850/E1M-S2 MCUs bring more precise control to powertrain control systems by boosting processing performance to accommodate the increasing number of calculations required. At the same time, the RH850/E1M-S2 MCUs boost network performance to match the larger volume of control data resulting from the use of more sensors and provides stronger security functionality to prevent unauthorized access to control systems.

Key features of the new RH850/E1M-S2:

• (1) Newly developed high-performance G3MH CPU core to help boost fuel efficiency

  The RH850/E1M-S2 MCUs are built around Renesas’ new and improved G3MH CPU core. The G3MH core has improved access latency towards memory and peripheral functions while retaining an industry-leading operating frequency of 320 MHz at Tj = 150°C. This results in an improved engine control system responsiveness of approximately 30 percent compared with earlier Renesas products.

• (2) High-speed network functionality to accommodate the use of more sensors and communication with other vehicle control units

  The RH850/E1M-S2 MCUs support the Single Edge Nibble Transmission digital communication standard for sensors and CAN FD, which accommodates the increase in the volume of data from the increasing number of sensors and the need for high-speed data transfer to other vehicle control units respectively.

  a) Support for SENT communication standard for sensor data
  The number of sensors used in automobiles to provide information on the vehicle or environment status is growing rapidly, and these sensors are becoming more sophisticated. The new RH850/E1M-S2 MCUs are equipped with six Renesas SENT (RSENT) channels compliant with the SENT communication standard for sensor data. This enables the MCUs to handle communication of digitized data from approximately 50 sensors. Since a single signal line can be used for multiple sensors, it can contribute to overall weight reduction of the wiring harnesses as well.

  b) Support for CAN FD high-speed communication
  Intended as a next-generation automotive CAN communication standard, the CAN FD accelerates the maximum throughput. It also supports a mode allowing connection to CAN buses using the earlier standard.

• (3) Enhanced security functionality for greater robustness

  To protect engine and transmission systems from unauthorized access and ensure safe control, the RH850/E1M-S2 MCUs are equipped with an Intelligent Cryptographic Unit – Slave (ICU-S) hardware security module that complies with the SHE/EVITA-Light standard for automotive security. It provides functions such as data encryption like Cypher Message Authentication (CMAC) and random number generation.

The new RH850/E1M-S2 MCUs are supported with a code generator tool that automatically produces C source code for drivers, based on settings entered via a Graphical User Interface (GUI), making it easier for system manufacturers to develop applications. In addition, model-based design development is supported in collaboration with Renesas partner vendors. This contributes to shorter development cycles, even though the Electronic Control Units (ECUs) used in automobiles become more complex.

Availability

Samples of the RH850/E1M-S2 are available now. Mass production is scheduled to begin in September 2017, and is expected to reach a volume of 100,000 units per month by April 2018. (Availability is subject to change without notice.)