Circuit Cellar Newsletter: Microcontroller Watch

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Renesas Introduces RISC-V MCU, MicroMod, a New SparkFun MCU Ecosystem, New NeoChom Accelerator Powered by Version 4.20 of TouchGFX

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Inspiring the Evolution of Embedded Design

September 13, 2022

Microcontroller Watch

Renesas Introduces RISC-V MCU Specifically for Advanced Motor Control

Just a few days ago, Renesas Electronics Corporation introduced the industry’s first RISC-V MCU specifically optimized for advanced motor control systems. This new solution is a turnkey, ready-to-use solution for customers in need of an MCU for motor control applications with no development costs at all. The developer benefits from decreased time-to-market, and cost reductions because the units are delivered pre-programmed ASSP that eliminates the need for RISC-V-related tools and software investment

MicroMod, a New SparkFun MCU Ecosystem Enables Rapid Prototyping

SparkFun has announced MicroMod a new microcontroller ecosystem that enables rapid prototyping and modular development. The series contains seven boards allowing users to explore different microcontroller abilities across many modalities.

The announcement came some time ago, and since that time, the boards are doing well. The release of the MicroMod ecosystem expanded the company’s suite of rapid prototyping tools. The development ecosystem is interchangeable and leverages the M.2 connector to link microcontroller processor boards to the carrier board and peripherals

New NeoChom Accelerator Powered by Version 4.20 of TouchGFX for STM32 Microcontrollers

Just a few days ago, STMicroelectronics released version 4.20 of TouchGFX user-interface development software for the STM32 family of microcontrollers (MCUs). This latest update supports the new NeoChrom graphics accelerator the company has also been developing. The NeoChom accelerator is integrated into advanced MCUs such as the STM32U5 series.

This new accelerator was developed from ST’s Chrom-ART Accelerator, which is able to manipulate pixels and shapes

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Editor's Desk by Stephen Vicinanza

Microcontrollers are Reaching New Heights of Computing

Let’s just say, Circuit cellar fans, that microcontrollers (MCUs) are becoming more like microprocessors (MPUs), and even approaching the MPU compute capabilities. The ecosystems surrounding the latest MCUs bear out that their role in delivering complex functions and operations are growing.

STMicroelectronics is boosting graphics capabilities by wide margins on their STM32 family of MCUs while developing whole new advanced graphics systems to handle the workload with a full-featured interface.

SparkFun is expanding how MCU is attached to carrier boards and what functions those MCUs can perform in a growing list of operations that a single MCU type can take on.

The MicroMod ecosystem has expanded from just handling 7 total processor and carrier boards to over 8 function boards, 9 carrier boards, and 8 processor boards, for a wide variety of operations and functions for a single MCU type.

And in a new move in motor control, Renesas has released an MCU specifically designed for motor control, to take on many roles, including infrastructure and automotive, as well as IoT and billions of devices that run on motors.

The vast number of applications that one MCU can handle is growing so rapidly that they are approaching the processing power of microprocessors. That of course begs the question, why not just use an MPU?

A couple of reasons, the first is cost. MCUs are cheaper than MPUs. The latest iterations are not seeing a big jump in pricing. The next benefit of an MCU is pre-programming, and that is now becoming more and more widespread. Companies are pre-programming MCUs for purposes, specifically designed to meet a buyer’s needs. Not quite custom, not quite one size fits all, but overall, a handy feature.

The role of the MCU is growing in many industries and will continue to expand as long as price and functionality follow the markets.

Join us next week for an update on the IoT sector in our IoT Technology newsletter. Booming is an understatement.

RGBD/ToF 3D cameras compatible with MCUs and support ROS1/ROS2

The MetaSense A075V and the MetaSense A010 are two open-source and low-cost Time of Flight (ToF) cameras designed to interface with microcontrollers and ROS1/ROS 2 based platforms. Both devices have an operating depth range from 0.2 to 2.0m (2.5m on A075V model) with less than 1 cm accuracy.