Microcontrollers: The Brains Behind Smart Electronics
As electronic devices become smarter and more efficient, the demand for intelligent control systems grows rapidly. From your TV remote to industrial automation equipment, many of these systems rely on a compact but powerful component known as the microcontroller. These small chips play a big role in modern electronics by managing tasks, processing data, and enabling devices to interact with the physical world—all automatically and in real-time.
A microcontroller is a small integrated circuit designed to perform specific control functions in embedded systems. It combines a central processing unit (CPU), memory, and input/output peripherals on a single chip, allowing it to operate independently in a dedicated task.
Unlike general-purpose computers, microcontrollers are built to run simple programs that monitor and control external devices. They can take inputs from sensors, process data, and send commands to motors, displays, or other components.
Common features of microcontrollers include:
Microcontrollers are used across industries—automotive (engine control units), healthcare (heart rate monitors), consumer electronics (remote controls), and smart homes (thermostats, alarms).
Infineon and RT-Labs integrate six key industrial communication protocols into XMC7000 microcontroller family
To enable seamless data exchange and control in automation systems, Infineon Technologies AG (FSE: IFX / OTCQX: IFNNY), together with its partner RT-Labs, a provider of industrial communication solutions, has integrated six Fieldbus and Ethernet-based protocols in the firmware of the Infineon XMC7000 industrial microcontroller. The firmware is available through Infineon's ModusToolbox™ development platform, providing access to all major industrial communication protocols in a single software solution. This enables users to quickly and easily implement the required protocols on the XMC7000 microcontroller, fully utilizing its high-performance capabilities in various applications, including servo drives, I/O modules, robotic arms, industrial gateways, PLCs, and more.
“Infineon’s XMC microcontrollers have a long history of enabling the factory floor. As Industry 4.0 continues to build momentum, existing Fieldbus and Ethernet-based protocols are critical for industrial automation,” said Panagiotis Venardos, Senior Product Manager Microcontroller at Infineon. “We continue to invest in higher performance microcontrollers and connected MCUs to help drive further enhancements to how the factory floor seamlessly communicates. Our partner RT-Labs helps bring scale to this effort with their field-proven and highly optimized Ethernet and Fieldbus protocol stacks.”
“At RT-Labs, we believe industrial communication should be effortless. As a Premium Partner with Infineon, we’re bringing plug-and-play connectivity to ModusToolbox,” said Marcus Ekerhult, CMO RT-Labs. “With support for leading protocols and U-Phy technology, developers can now accelerate development and launch products faster while ensuring reliability and compliance. We’re excited for this partnership and the innovations it will unlock.
”Industrial communication protocols are standardized sets of rules and procedures that govern the exchange of data between devices and systems in an industrial automation environment. As a result of the collaboration between Infineon and RT-Labs, customers now have access to the following communication protocols: PROFINET RT, EtherNet/IP, CANopen, CC-Link, Modbus/TCP, EtherCAT Master. A GitHub repository hosts the middleware, ensuring up-to-date, easily accessible libraries. In addition, Infineon supports implementation by providing user-friendly code examples and comprehensive documentation, eliminating the need for in-depth expertise or extensive resources on the customer’s side.
Rutronik develops AI control demo using Infineon’s PSOCTM Edge E84
This is how the experts at Rutronik System Solutions are working on the further development of existing base and adapter boards, as well as their integration into application-oriented demonstrations. The latest example of this is an AI control system with gesture recognition using RAB3 radar and keyword recognition based on Infineon's PSOCTM Edge E84. This microcontroller enables decentralized calculation of neural networks “on the edge”, thus increasing the speed, stability and security of the developed system.
Accordingly, the PSOCTM Edge E84 and the associated evaluation kit form the core – the “brain” – of the demo designed by Rutronik System Solutions. Due to the enormous volume of data that inevitably needs to be processed in AI applications, these usually use cloud servers for the calculations. The integration of the PSOCTM Edge E84 now brings this processing power from the cloud to the edge, creating a closed system. This capability, combined with state-of-the-art security features such as the lockstep-secured enclave in a low-power, always-on domain, the Infineon Edge Protect Category 4 and the standard Trusted Firmware-M activation and Mbed-TLS for crypto operations, ensures maximum security.
The Arm® Cortex®-M microcontrollers of the PSOC™ Edge E84 series offer high-performance, secure MCUs with low power consumption and hardware-supported ML acceleration. The PSOCTM Edge devices are based on the powerful Cortex-M55, including Helium DSP support in combination with Arm Ethos-U55, as well as a Cortex-M33 with Infineon's ultra-low-power NNLite hardware accelerator, which powers neural networks in machine learning and AI applications.
With the “eyes” of Rutronik System Solutions
The demo learns to see through the Rutronik Adapter Board RAB3 - Radar, which is plugged into the Evaluation Kit via the Arduino interface. It features the Infineon XENSIV™ 60GHz radar sensor, a discrete radar IC, and thus the latest radar technology. The advantages of radar sensors include the fact that they can be installed behind certain materials. This makes them invisible and makes it easier to clean the surfaces. This is particularly advantageous for environments with high hygiene requirements. Furthermore, radar is ideal for outdoor applications because the technology works stably and reliably even in sunlight. The XENSIV™ also impresses with its small form factor and low power consumption. It has one transmitting and three receiving antennas. The L-shaped antenna enables array, horizontal and vertical angle measurements, thus allowing comprehensive radar scanning.
Time savings for developing your own designs
The training process for gesture and voice-controlled applications is extremely time-consuming, but it is essential for the optimal functionality of the system. Rutronik System Solutions has already taught the MCU which meanings are to be assigned to a wide range of hand movements and which reaction should follow predefined keywords (Down, Go, Left, No, Right, Stop, Up and Yes). In order to also receive a reaction to movements that are less precisely executed, the developers have dispensed with the use of a neural network at this point. This means that the demo is ready for the specific customer application. Of course, individual gesture control commands can still be taught. If an application requires a higher level of robustness in terms of gesture control, it is possible to achieve this by integrating a neural network. They are also indispensable if a specific true/false classification of actions is desired.
In addition, the PSOC™ Edge E84 features always-on acoustic activity detection, which enables HMI operation with low active and standby power consumption, thus extending the battery life of battery-powered products. For the keyword demo, these are connected to digital microphones from Infineon, effectively acting as the “ears” for near real-time voice control of the motor.
The demo's motor control is implemented via an eight-pole BLDC motor with integrated HALL sensors, also from Infineon. This runs in parallel to the processes for speech recognition and gesture control on the same microcontroller.
Rutronik System Solutions complements the demo with a 1024 x 600 IPS TFT LCD touch display from Raystar, which is optimally supported by Infineon's PSOC™ Edge E84 thanks to its 2.5D graphics processing unit with low power consumption and the display controller with MIPI-DSI/DBI interface (up to 1024 x 768).
Systematically optimized for the edge
With the shift of AI away from the cloud, Rutronik System Solutions offers the opportunity to significantly optimize smart (outdoor) applications. “The systems that can be implemented with our demo are significantly less susceptible to interference from sunlight thanks to radar, more secure against data tapping thanks to the 'on the edge' approach, and, above all, we are able to reduce the latency times that pose a significant problem for efficient processes in conventional cloud solutions,” explains Stephan Menze, Head of Global Innovation Management at Rutronik. “With this demo, which - like all developments from Rutronik System Solutions - relies on the integration of the most innovative components from our partners, we enable interested customers to implement their own smart applications in a fraction of the actual development time.”
Renesas Launches RA0 Series with Ultra-Low Power and High Durability
Renesas Electronics Corporation has introduced the RA0E2 microcontroller (MCU) Group based on the Arm® Cortex®-M23 processor. The new, cost-competitive devices offer extremely low power consumption, extended temperature range, and a wide variety of peripheral functions and safety features.
Renesas introduced the RA0 MCU series in 2024 and it has quickly become very popular with a wide range of customers due to its affordability and low power consumption. RA0E1 devices have already been adopted in consumer electronics, appliance and white goods, power tools, industrial monitoring and other applications.
RA0E2 MCUs are fully compatible with RA0E1 devices, offering pin-expansion while maintaining the same peripherals and ultra-low power. This compatibility lets customers re-use existing software assets. The new devices deliver industry-leading power consumption of only 2.8mA current in active mode, and 0.89 mA in sleep mode. In addition, an integrated High-speed On-Chip Oscillator (HOCO) enables the fastest wake-up time for this class of microcontroller. The fast wake-up enables the RA0 MCUs to stay in Software Standby mode more of the time, where power consumption drops to a minuscule 0.25 µA.
Renesas’ RA0E1 and RA0E2 ultra-low power MCUs deliver an ideal solution for battery-operated consumer electronics devices, small appliances, industrial system control and building automation application.
Feature Set Optimized for Low Cost
The RA0E2 devices have a feature set optimized for cost-sensitive applications. They offer a wide operating voltage range of 1.6V to 5.5V so customers don’t need a level shifter/regulator in 5V systems. The RA0 MCUs also integrate timers, serial communications, analog functions, safety functions and security functionality to reduce customer BOM cost. A wide range of packaging options is also available, including a tiny 5mm x 5mm 32-lead QFN.
In addition, the new MCU’s high-precision (±1.0%) HOCO improves baud rate accuracy and enables designers to forego a standalone oscillator. Unlike other HOCOs in the industry, it maintains this precision in environments from -40°C to 125°C. This wide temperature range enables customers to avoid costly and time-consuming “trimming,” even after the reflow process.
“The market reception for our RA0 Series has exceeded even our own high expectations,” said Daryl Khoo, Vice President of the Embedded Processing Marketing Division at Renesas. “The RA0E2 Group MCUs deliver the same ultra-low power and price point that have been so popular with our customers. The addition of extended temperature range and more memory opens up even more applications and use cases. We plan to further expand the RA0 product lineup, delivering optimal solutions for 8-16 bit MCU users transitioning to 32-bit MCUs.”
Key Features of the RA0E2 Group MCUs
The new RA0E2 Group MCUs are supported by Renesas’ Flexible Software Package (FSP). The FSP enables faster application development by providing all the infrastructure software needed, including multiple RTOS, BSP, peripheral drivers, middleware, connectivity, networking, and security stacks as well as reference software to build complex AI, motor control and cloud solutions. It allows customers to integrate their own legacy code and choice of RTOS with FSP, thus providing full flexibility in application development. Using the FSP will ease migration of RA0E1 designs to larger RA0E2 devices if customers wish to do so.
STMicroelectronics Unveils Advanced MEMS Sensors for Smarter Devices
STMicroelectronics has announced Stellar with xMemory, a new generation of extensible memory embedded into its Stellar series of automotive microcontrollers, that transforms the challenging process of developing software-defined vehicles (SDV) and evolving platforms for electrification.
Instead of managing multiple devices with varying memory options and the associated development and qualification costs, Stellar with xMemory introduces a single, innovative device with extensible memory, providing customers with an efficient and cost-effective solution. This simpler approach from the start enables carmakers to future-proof their designs, with room for additional innovation later in their development cycle, reducing development costs and accelerating time to market with a simpler supply chain. Stellar with xMemory will be first available on the Stellar P6 MCUs, which target the new drivetrain trends and architectures for electric vehicles (EVs), with production to start later in 2025.
“ST has developed the ultimate memory technology for the automobile market with the smallest bit cell to meet the endless need for more memory. Stellar with xMemory will streamline the car architectures of tomorrow, making them more cost-effective and significantly reduce development time for carmakers,” said Luca Rodeschini, Group Vice President and General Purpose and Automotive Microcontrollers Division General Manager, STMicroelectronics. “This innovative solution enables the same hardware to ensure carmakers have the infrastructure and capabilities with the headroom to continuously innovate their products over time. It provides peace of mind to introduce new innovations in digitalization and electrification, allowing them to stay ahead in the market and extend the lifetime of their vehicles.”
How it works
Carmakers need seamless integration of software and hardware to maximize reuse across platforms, extend vehicle longevity and enhance digital capabilities. Memory becomes a bottleneck as software complexity grows, driven by new features and regulations, memory-hungry AI and Machine Learning applications, and over-the-air (OTA) updates. ST’s xMemory addresses this challenge by extending the memory either during the development phase or when vehicle is in the field, giving them unlimited application upgrades.
Selecting the right MCU at the start of the SDV lifecycle ensures sufficient on-chip memory for future software development. Today’s choice of over-specifying memory increases costs, while under-specifying may necessitate finding and re-qualifying a different MCU with extra memory later, adding complexity, cost, and delays. Stellar MCUs with xMemory are competitively priced to bring additional savings, simplify the OEM supply chain, and accelerate time to market by lengthening the product lifetime and maximizing reuse across projects to reduce time for qualification.
Toshiba, MIKROE launch inverter shield for efficient BLDC motor control with advanced driver, safety, & software features
Toshiba Electronics Europe has collaborated with MIKROE to develop Clicker 4 Inverter Shield 2, the latest addition to the Clicker 4 series of extension boards. The enhanced inverter shield has been designed to allow convenient evaluation of Toshiba’s recently released TB67Z833SFTG gate driver for three-phase brushless DC (BLDC) motors in consumer and industrial applications.
Toshiba’s TB67Z833SFTG includes a built-in circuit with the ability to drive three phases of high-side and low-side N-channel MOSFETs. It also supports adjustable source (10mA to 1A peak) and sink current (20mA to 2A peak), depending on ambient temperature and power supply voltage. This gate driver has the ability to operate from supply voltages (VM) ranging from 8V to 75V. The combination of wide operating voltages and currents makes the TB67Z833SFTG suitable for a diverse range of use-cases.
The devices of this IC family feature either SPI or hardware control interface for quick and easy configuration, while its low standby current (1µA max) helps to extend the time duration between recharges for battery-driven applications. For safety, it includes integrated undervoltage lockout and thermal shutdown protection features, while gate drive abnormality detection and overcurrent protection functions improve overall system reliability by protecting the external MOSFETs.
DS(ON) power MOSFETs, which address the growing demand for highly efficient MOSFETs in smaller package sizes.
A combination of the MIKROE Clicker 4 Inverter Shield 2 and the MIKROE Clicker 4 development board for Toshiba’s M4K microcontroller (MCU) presents a convenient and cost-effective solution for experimenting with various consumer and industrial 3-phase brushless DC (BLDC) motor control applications.
The Clicker 4 Inverter Shield 2 is supported by the recently updated MCU Motor Studio software 4.0, now featuring a free-run digital storage oscilloscope for extensive real-time parameter logging and caters to all bare-metal configurations. Additionally, it introduces Shift-2 PWM support, enhancing precision in vector engine-based hardware control.
Conclusion
Microcontrollers are at the core of modern electronic innovation. Their ability to control, automate, and interact with the environment makes them essential for both simple gadgets and complex systems. Whether you're building a smart home project or designing industrial equipment, understanding microcontrollers opens the door to a world of electronic possibilities.