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March 4, 2026March 4, 2026 by Debashis Das - 2 Comments

Renesas RA0E3 Arm Cortex-M23 MCU is a stripped-down RA0E1 for cost-sensitive applications

Back in 2024, Renesas first released the RA0E1, an ultra-low-power Cortex-M23 MCU designed for cost-sensitive applications, followed by the RA0E2, with extended temperature range support (-40°C to +125°C). The company has expanded its lineup with the RA0E3, a stripped-down version of the RA0E1 with less memory, fewer peripherals, and fewer GPIOs, designed for small and budget-focused applications for sensing, motor assist, safety, and basic system control. The MCU retains the same 32 MHz Arm Cortex-M23 (Armv8-M) core but now comes with 16KB flash and 2KB SRAM. It features an 8-channel 16-bit TAU timer, a 32-bit interval timer, a 10-bit ADC with a temperature sensor, a Data Transfer Controller, and serial interfaces including SPI, I²C, and UART (with LIN support). Additionally, it comes with up to 17 GPIOs, pull-ups, open-drain support, and built-in clock sources. It has an operating voltage range of 1.6V to 5.5V and supports −40°C to +125°C operation […]

February 10, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Black Sesame Technologies Wudang C1200 “cross-domain” automotive SoCs feature up to 10x Cortex-A78AE cores

I found two interesting automotive SoCs in the Linux 6.19 changelog: Renesas R-Car X5H 16-/32-core Cortex-A720AE SoC and Black Sesame Technologies’ “Wudang” C1200 8-/10-core Cortex-A78AE processor family. While announced in 2024, there’s still no product page for the Renesas chip. So today, I’ll focus on the Wudang C1200 family. They are designed to be automotive-grade “cross-domain computing platforms” capable of handling multiple functions such as in-cabin sensing systems (e.g., driver attention monitoring), infotainment, auto-parking systems, safety information, autonomous driving, and more. Wudang C1296 10-core SoC Wudang C1296 specifications: CPU 10x Arm Cortex-A78AE automotive-grade cores Dual-Core Lockstep (DCLS) supported, ASIL-D compliance Up to 32K DMIPS (or 16K DMIPS in DCLS) GPU – Automotive-grade Arm Mali-G78AE GPU; DCLS supported, ASIL-D compliance NPU – DynamAl NN Engine Hybrid precision 4-bit/8-bit MAC array Overall 80% utilization of convolution layers MAC Array Sparse support for storage and acceleration INT8/INT16, FP16 GEMM and nonlinear functions acceleration […]

January 30, 2026January 31, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 10 Comments

Microchip PIC32CM PL10 Cortex-M0+ microcontrollers are pin-to-pin compatible with AVR MCUs, support 5V operation

Microchip has added the PIC32CM PL10 MCUs to its PIC32C Arm Cortex-M0+ microcontroller family. Pin-to-pin compatible with AVR MCUs, the new PL10 MCUs feature a range of Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs), 5V operation, and functional safety (FuSa) compliance. The microcontrollers notably integrate a 12-bit ADC with strong noise immunity, a Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) for responsive touch applications, and two serial communication interfaces with USART, I2C, and/or SPI support. Target applications include industrial control, building automation, consumer appliances, power tools, and sensor-based systems. Microchip PIC32CM PL10 specifications: MCU core – Arm Cortex-M0+ core up to 24 MHz Memory – Up to 16 KB SRAM (8 KB in current datasheet) Storage – Up to 128 KB Flash (64 KB in current datasheet) I/Os and peripherals Up to 55x programmable I/O pins Up to 16x external interrupts Multi-Voltage I/Os (MVIO), removing the need for external level shifters Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) with […]

December 17, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Maxell PSB2032 35 mAh all-solid-state coin cell battery targets industrial IoT devices

Maxell PSB2032 35 mAh all-solid-state coin cell battery for IoT devices

Maxell PSB2032 is a rechargeable “all-solid-state” coin cell battery for industrial IoT devices, which more than quadruples the capacity of the earlier PSB401010H ceramic-packaged solid-state battery, increasing it from 8mAh to 35mAh. As its name implies, it measures 20 mm in diameter and 3.2 mm in height, and delivers key benefits of solid-state batteries such as a wide discharge temperature range, high reliability, and high safety. It’s also easier to install than ceramic-packaged batteries requiring reflow soldering, since it comes pre-equipped with two connection terminals suitable for mounting into small-sized devices. The company shared a comparison table between its two solid-state batteries. For reference, the capacity of a typical CR2032 battery is 220–240 mAh, so the PSB2032 has a much lower capacity. However, it can be recharged and works in demanding environments with a wide temperature range and high safety requirements. The last time we wrote about solid-state batteries was […]

October 28, 2025October 30, 2025 by Debashis Das - 3 Comments

NXP i.MX 952 processor supports local dimming for AI-enhanced automotive and industrial HMIs

NXP i.MX 952 automotive industrial AI processor

NXP has recently introduced the i.MX 952 applications processor, a new member of the i.MX 95 series, designed for AI-powered automotive and industrial applications, including driver monitoring, child presence detection, and in-cabin HMIs. The i.MX 952 features up to four Arm Cortex-A55 cores with Cortex-M7 and M33 microcontroller cores, and is compliant with ISO 26262 ASIL B and SIL2/SIL3 standards. It integrates an eIQ Neutron NPU for AI-based sensor fusion, a 500 Mpixel/s ISP with RGB-IR support, and is the first processor with built-in local dimming for better display efficiency. Security features include EdgeLock Secure Enclave with post-quantum cryptography, meeting ISO 21434 and IEC 62443 standards. It can be interfaced with NXP’s PF09 PMIC, PF53 regulator, Trimension UWB, and IW693/AW693 Wi-Fi 6/6E SoCs, and is pin-to-pin compatible with other members of the i.MX 95 family. NXP i.MX 952 specifications: CPU Up to 4 Arm Cortex-A55 cores with 32KB + 32KB L1-cache, 64KB L2 […]

September 24, 2025September 23, 2025 by Debashis Das - No Comments

Renesas RA0L1 low-cost Cortex-M23 MCUs adds capacitive, EMI-resistant touch

Renesas RA0 Capacitive Touch Ultra Low Power MCUs

Renesas has expanded its low-cost RA0 series of low-cost, low-power Cortex-M23 MCUs with the new RA0L1, the first in the lineup to feature integrated capacitive touch. Designed for low-cost battery-powered applications with responsive touch control, ultra-low current consumption, and fast wake-up. The RA0L1 combines up to 64KB flash, 16KB SRAM, and a 1.6V–5.5V operating range with peripherals such as a 12-bit ADC, temperature sensor, multiple UART/I2C/SPI interfaces, timers, RTC, and a random number generator. It supports up to 24 capacitive touch channels using Renesas’ self-capacitance technology, a high-accuracy ±1% on-chip oscillator, safety functions, and security features including TRNG and unique ID. Renesas RA0L1 MCU specifications: MCU Core – Arm Cortex-M23 Armv8-M Core up to 32MHz Memory and Storage 16KB SRAM with parity Code Flash – Up to 64KB Data Flash – 1KB(1M program/erase cycles) Flash read protection (FRP) 128-bit unique ID Human-Machine Interface Capacitive Touch Sensing Unit – up to […]

May 15, 2025May 14, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments

Backy is a nRF52840-powered wearable for real-time posture monitoring and injury prevention

TACNIQ Backy is an AI-enabled wearable monitoring device designed to reduce workplace injuries caused by improper lifting and posture, based on a Nordic nRF52840 wireless microcontroller and a 6-point piezo-resistive sensor array measuring direct force sensing. While most ergonomic tools rely on motion tracking or vision-based systems, Backy relies on direct force sensing and embedded AI inference, and the company claims it provides real-time, direct strain detection at a lower cost than competing solutions while keeping costs low and precision high. Backy specifications: SoC – Nordic Semi nRF52840 ARM Cortex-M4 microcontroller with Bluetooth LE 5.0 Data Storage – Onboard, with local/cloud sync options Sensors – 6-point piezo-resistive pressure array + tilt sensing Feedback – 5G-force vibration motor for posture alerts Calibration – Auto-calibrates in ~3 seconds Connectivity – BLE 5.0, USB for charging and updates Features Optional SMS/Telegram supervisor notifications Open API (REST/Tag-based protocols) Security – End-to-end encryption; note: disabled […]

April 22, 2025April 22, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Renesas RA0E2 low-cost, low-power Arm Cortex-M23 MCU operates in extended temperature range (-40°C to +125°C)

Renesas RA0E2 is a low-power, low-cost Arm Cortex-M23 microcontroller (MCU) Group part of the RA0 family introduced in 2024 that can operate in an extended temperature range (-40°C to +125°C) and offers a wide variety of peripheral functions and safety features. It follows the RA0E1 devices – the first member of the RA0 family – designed for consumer electronics, household appliances, power tools, industrial monitoring, and other applications, including battery-powered devices. The new RA0E2 MCUs offer both software and pin-to-pin compatibility (for 32-pin SKUs) with RA0E1 devices, but the new family adds more memory and storage with up to 16KB SRAM, 128KB code flash, and 2KB data flash. The RA0E2 also features more I/Os with 32-pin to 64-bit packages, instead of 16-pin to 32-pin packages. Renesas RA0E2 specifications: MCU Core – Arm Cortex-M23 Armv8-M Core up to 32MHz Memory and Storage 16KB SRAM Code Flash – Up to 128KB Data […]