Bluetooth® Low Energy for RL78 Family

RL78 16-bit Bluetooth LE MCU: R5F11Axxxxx

Renesas' RL78/G1D low power 16-bit microcontrollers (MCUs) support Bluetooth Low Energy and enable reliable connections with current consumption levels among the lowest in the industry. The chip incorporates a balun element and a filter. It is only required to connect the chip to an antenna. Reduction in the number of external components leads to reduction in labor required for design and quality control. It also supports the long-term product supply program.

RL78/G1D Module: RY7011A0000DZ00

The RL78/G1D module contains the RL78/G1D 16-bit MCU, a 32MHz crystal resonator for the RF chip and an antenna, all in a compact 8.95mm x 13.35mm x 1.7mm module. The module inherits the functional pins of the RL78/G1D, so not only can it be used for modem configuration, but the strengths of the microcontroller can also be leverage for embedded configuration. This Bluetooth Low Energy module offers a good balance between size and the number of functional pins.

RL78/G1D and RL78/G1D Module Product Page

RL78/G1D Evaluation Board: RTK0EN0001D01001BZ

The RL78/G1D evaluation board can be used to evaluate and develop applications for Renesas' RL78/G1D Bluetooth Low Energy solution. The board consists of an RL78/G1D module which can be plugged on to the development board and connected to an IDE for development and debugging. The development board can also work with a PC GUI tool for application level evaluation.

This evaluation board is best suited for the following purposes.

• For evaluation of the Renesas' RL78/G1D microcontroller device
• For operation evaluation of Bluetooth Low Energy
• For use as a principle prototype

The Renesas RY7011 module can be evaluated with the following configuration.

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RL78/G1D Evaluation Board Product Page

RL78/G1D BLE Module Expansion Board: RTKYRLG1D0B00000BJ

The RL78/G1D BLE Module Expansion Board (RTKYRLG1D0B00000BJ) is an evaluation board with a Pmod™ interface that incorporates the RL78/G1D module (RY7011A0000DZ00).

Build IoT Devices Such as Sensors with the RL78/G1D Module and a Host MCU

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It can connect to the RL78/G14 Fast Prototyping Board (RTK5RLG140C00000BJ) and can be used to evaluate Bluetooth LE functions. Additionally, customers can use the RL78/G1D evaluation board to develop new Bluetooth LE applications with a Bluetooth LE system employing the RL78/G1D 16-bit microcontroller (MCU). Use the expansion board together with sensor devices to easily evaluate and develop IoT applications.

*Each board can be purchased from distributors.

RL78/G1D BLE Module Expansion Board Product Page

Bluetooth Low Energy Protocol Stack for RL78 Family

The Bluetooth Low Energy protocol stack is software required to operate the RL78/G1D IC. It supports modem configuration and embedded configuration. It can also adapt to custom profiles created by customers.

Renesas has prepared a dedicated "Beacon Stack" that reduces current consumption by 40% in beacon operation that constantly transmits radio waves. Renesas also provides sample programs as a reference for customers' program development.

Bluetooth Low Energy Protocol Stack Sample Program:

• Virtual UART (custom Profile) application
  This is a sample program that realizes serial communication and wireless communication between embedded devices. It has a simple AT command execution function to control and set Bluetooth LE communication, thereby realizing virtual UART communication where characters are transmitted/received via Bluetooth LE communication. 

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• Embedded Configuration sample program
• Host sample for (RL78/G14, RX113) sample program
• Sensor application

Beacon Stack Sample Program:

A transmitter that transmits a small amount of data once every few milliseconds to several seconds within a radius of several tens of meters is called a beacon. This signal is used for watching terminals, indoor navigation, position detection, movement management of moving objects, coupon issuance, etc. Most beacon transmitters run on coin-type or small batteries. Since radio waves are always transmitted at regular intervals, it is required to consume as little power as possible.

The Bluetooth LE MCU RL78/G1D realizes low power consumption operation that is optimal for beacon terminals.

• Basic operation sample program
• Connecting and updating beacon data sample program

Multi-Hop Sample Program:

Multi-Hop uses a beacon stack for the advertising and scanning. Relay equipment executes both transmission and reception for Multi-Hop frame relay via the flooding method. It's possible to communicate data via more than one appliance. You can execute broadcasting a command (e.g. lighting control) and gathering data (e.g. sensor data) by using Multi-Hop. And, you can either select or not select security for prevention of eavesdropping and falsifying.

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Renesas offers Bluetooth LE software solutions corresponding to a wide variety of application development. See the protocol stack product page for more information.

Bluetooth Low Energy Protocol Stack for RL78 Family Page

GUI Tool － Windows Application

Even if you are not familiar with Bluetooth Low Energy, you can easily conduct Bluetooth Low Energy communication using the GUI tool without writing a program. You can confirm the API execution procedure and the setting values for various parameters while actually conducting communication activities. Additionally, you can also develop a program smoothly while referring to the results (logs) of the operation check.

Download GUI Tool: Bluetooth® Low Energy Protocol Stack GUI Tool Rev.1.13 - Sample Code (ZIP | English, 日本語) (PDF + Windows application)

GATTBrowser － Generic Data Communication Application

The GATTBrowser is a generic data communication application for checking the operation of Bluetooth LE. You can experience data communication with Bluetooth LE by scanning Bluetooth LE devices operating in the vicinity and connecting to those devices. It can be used not only for checking the operation of sample applications provided by Renesas Electronics, but also for debugging development products that implement the RL78/G1D device and module.

The GATTBrowser supports various operating systems (iOS, Android, Windows).
The GATTBrowser  for iOS and Android can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play respectively.

Download GATTBrowser for iOS and Android :

• GATTBrowser for iOS Smartphone Application Instruction manual Rev.1.16 (PDF | English, 日本語)
• GATTBrowser for Android Smartphone Application Instruction manual Rev.1.02 (PDF | English, 日本語)
• GATTBrowser (for iOS) (App Store)
• GATTBrowser (for Android) (Google Play)

Download GATTBrowser for Windows :

• GATTBrowser for Windows Windows Application Instruction manual - Sample Code (ZIP) 

Windows 10 Bluetooth LE Application － Windows Application Example

The Windows 10 Bluetooth LE application can communicate with "Virtual UART application" running on the RL78/G1D evaluation board. This is an application example for Windows 10 that sends and receives character data to and from the terminal software on a PC connected to the evaluation board via USB.

In addition, a set of projects that can be launched and used in Visual Studio 2017 are provided, so you can use this application example as a base for developing Bluetooth LE communication apps that run on Windows in a Proof of Concept (PoC) phase.

Download Windows 10 Bluetooth LE Application: Bluetooth LE microcomputer / module Windows 10 Bluetooth LE Application Rev.1.00 - Sample Code (ZIP) (PDF + set of projects for Visual Studio 2017)

QE for BLE － Development Assistance Tool

The QE for BLE (for RL78 Family) is a dedicated tool for developing embedded software in systems which support the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol stack. This solution toolkit runs in the e² studio integrated development environment (IDE). The combination of the e² studio and QE for BLE makes it easy to test the communications features of Renesas' RL78/G1D Bluetooth LE MCU, thus reducing development periods for products being placed on the market. It can also design and generate the custom profile.

Please refer to the QE for BLE: Development Assistance Tool for Bluetooth Low Energy page for more information.

QE for BLE: Development Assistance Tool for Bluetooth Low Energy Page