Renesas Electronics Shortens Evaluation Time of Industrial Networking Applications with RZ/N1L Solution Kit for Remote IO and Communication Modules

TOKYO, Japan, February 27, 2018 - Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723), a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced its latest solution kit based on the RZ/N1L Group of microprocessors (MPUs). In addition to the RZ/N1D Group for high-end processors for master devices including Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and the RZ/N1S Group for mid-range devices including Human Machine Interface (HMI), the RZ/N Series includes the RZ/N1L Group, which is optimized for slave devices including remote IO and communication modules, and networked drives. Solution kits for RZ/N1D and RZ/N1S are already available. With the release of the RZ/N1L solution kit, evaluation kits for all groups of the RZ/N Series are now available, enabling evaluation of network functions for a wide range of industrial equipment.

Renesas will demonstrate the new RZ/N1L Solution Kit at its booth (Stand 310, Hall 1) during embedded world 2018, which takes place February 27 to March 1, 2018 in Nuremberg, Germany.

Ethernet-based industrial network development requires system manufacturers to select external components, contact various software providers to select the proper protocol stack, and set up the development environment. All these steps make it difficult for system manufacturers to quick start Ethernet-based industry network developments, delaying time-to-market of their application. The RZ/N1L Solution Kit includes a highly integrated RZ/N1L development board and a comprehensive software package which enable engineers to jump start evaluation of industry-leading industrial Ethernet protocols including EtherCAT®, PROFINET®, and EtherNet/IP^TM without any upfront costs or complexity. The RZ/N1L Solution Kit also includes a general software application programmable interface (API) that simplifies application development and mitigates design risk. These features allow system manufacturers to shorten evaluation time of their application up to three months.

Key features of the RZ/N1L Solution Kit

RZ/N1L development board reduces design risk and accelerates time-to-market

The solution kit features a highly integrated RZ/N1L development board, which provides system developers with access to the resources of the RZ/N1L MPU, including a two-channel Ethernet port for use in daisy-chain topologies or as an end-node slave with system monitoring. The board includes 32 MB external flash memory for code and data, a debug port, push buttons and LEDs and is USB powered. The stand-alone RZ/N1L development board acts as a reference design for component selection and layout that applies to hardware design guidelines associated with the different protocol requirements, which reduces design risk and delays.

General API provides common software infrastructure for leading industrial network protocols and accelerates application development

The RZ/N1L Solution Kit leverages the general API that acts as a generic open abstraction layer and provides unified support for different network protocols from leading stack partners in addition to compiler and OS environments. System developers can easily switch between protocols as needed, with minimal impact on the application software.

Sample code and protocol stacks are provided with the solution kit with no additional costs, allowing developers to easily evaluate different protocols with their applications. For example, the remote IO reference, as well as the EtherCAT sample reference provide easy frameworks for building a wide range of networking functionalities.

Availability

The RZ/N1L Solution Kit will be available for customer evaluation starting April 2018. For more information please contact your Renesas sales representative. The kit includes a variety of sample applications, development tools, drivers as well as evaluation versions of the protocol stacks for faster prototyping and integration. (Availability is subject to change without notice.)

Refer to the separate sheet (PDF: 180 KB) for main product specifications of the RZ/N1L solution Kit.

For more product information, please visit https://www.renesas.com/en/products/software-tools/boards-and-kits/eval-demo/connect-it-ethernet-rzn.html

About Renesas Electronics Corporation

Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723) delivers trusted embedded design innovation with complete semiconductor solutions that enable billions of connected, intelligent devices to enhance the way people work and live. A global leader in microcontrollers, analog, power, and SoC products, Renesas provides comprehensive solutions for a broad range of automotive, industrial, infrastructure, and IoT applications that help shape a limitless future. Learn more at renesas.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

(Remarks) EtherCAT is registered trademark and patented technology, licensed by Beckhoff Automation GmbH, Germany. PROFINET is a registered trademark of PROFIBUS and PROFINET International (PI). EtherNet/IP is a trademark of ODVA, Inc. All registered trademarks or trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

The content in the press release, including, but not limited to, product prices and specifications, is based on the information as of the date indicated on the document, but may be subject to change without prior notice.