Renesas Electronics launches a new modular iot development platform with Pmod interface

     As part of the Quick-Connect IoT system, Renesas has partnered with Digilent to develop a new Type 6A extended I2C Pmod interface for greater coverage and flexibility. Renesas has standardized Digilent's new 6A Pmod connector for new Pmod sensor boards and MCU development kits. Standardization also gives designers great flexibility to optimize their product portfolio for any iot prototyping choice. The MCU board will have two Pmod connectors, one for the sensor Pmod and one for the communication module; Pmod can also be cascaded for greater flexibility.

     Renesas has also redefined common software application programming Interface (API) and Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) code for various sensors and embedded them in the Renesas e2 studio integrated development environment. Instead of writing and testing hundreds of lines of driver code, designers can now simply graphically select their sensor and write a few lines of code. All integration and setup work takes place in the background, reducing development time.

     D.k. Singh, Director, Systems and Solutions Marketing, Renesas Electronics, said: "We are focused on building solutions that enable our customers to bring superior end products to market more quickly. Renesas' portfolio of hundreds of successful products, for example, provides customers with a higher-level design platform that reduces design risk and reduces development time. Quick-Connect IoT is the latest example of our focus on this technology area, and we will expand its coverage to support more boards and products in the future. In addition, having a standardized hardware connectivity platform allows customers to adopt compatible PMoDs developed by third parties and other vendors."

     Talesa Bleything, Director of Marketing at Digilent, said: "The new 6A Pmod interface is part of our vision to make system prototyping easier and more convenient. It is I2C compliant with optional interrupt and reset pins, as well as optional control signals, giving users greater flexibility in various types of system development."

     Currently, Quick-Connect IoT includes more than 10 new Renesas Pmod sensors and other modular boards, such as air quality sensors, flow sensors, biosensors, time of flight, temperature and other sensing elements. At the same time, more Renesas sensor Pmod, including various sensors and peripherals, is also under development. More than 25 MCU development boards and kits from the RA, RX and RL78 product families are compatible with the new Pmod Type 6A standard, either directly or through Renesas developed small adapter boards. Both RE and RZ boards will be supported in the near future. Customers can order development kits, sensors and transfer boards through Renesas' sales and sample distribution channels.

     Chris Allexandre, senior vice president of Renesas Electronics, said: "Our iot customers need more than great MCUS, sensors and software; Quick-Connect IoT is a game-changing product that reinforces our strengths in the iot market."