| High-integration SuperH SoC targets multimedia devices |
Feb. 22, 2007
 Japanese semiconductor vendor Renesas is readying a new 32-bit RISC SoC (system-on-chip) with integrated 2D graphics engine and lots of PC peripherals. The SH7764 clocks to 324MHz, runs Linux, and targets audio systems, digital media players, office automation, and car navigation systems, among other applications.
(Click for larger view of Renesas SH-4A)
Additional applications for the SH7764 touted by Renesas include networked consumer electronics platforms and network printers, bar-code scanners, and point-of-sales terminals. An available extended temperature version (-40 to +85 degrees C) adds automotive applications.
Clocked at 324MHz, the SH7764 is claimed to yield 583 MIPS (millions of instructions per second) -- enough to run feature-rich operating systems such as Linux and Windows CE without sacrificing performance, Renesas says. Such operating systems reduce development time and cost, according to the company.
The SH7764 is based on the superscalar Renesas SH-4A core, which debuted in August of 2004. The core was designed to handle multimedia processing on systems without dedicated DSPs (digital signal processors), Renesas said at the time.
The SH-4A core integrates 32KB each of instruction and data cache, 16Kb of on-chip RAM, and a 108MHz 32/64-bit bus for connections to external SDRAM. The core also integrates a powerful single-/double-precision FPU (floating point unit) with hardware sine/cosine and vector math accelerators.
Renesas says the SH7764 includes a comprehensive array of on-board peripheral interfaces, including:- 2D graphics engine
- Ethernet controller
- USB Host/function controller
- ATAPI hard-drive controller
- LCD controller
- Digital RGB output
- NAND flash controller
- Serial interface with FIFO
- I2C bus interface
- Serial sound interface (SSI)
- 32-bit timer
- Watchdog timer
- DMAC (DMA controller)
 Additionally, the SH7764 offers on-chip debugging functions said to allow real-time debugging at the device's 324MHz maximum operating frequency, when used with the company's E10A-USB hardware on-chip debugging emulator (pictured at right), and High-performance Embedded Workshop (HEW) software package.
Brian Davis, director of business development, stated, "Our SH7764 delivers design-enabling features with good power efficiency at economical prices."
Previous Renesas SoCs based on its SH-4A core include the SH7780, SH7785, SH7397, SH7722, and SH-Mobile3. The company's roadmap calls for increased processor speeds, dual-core implementations, and enhanced peripheral integration, including integration of high-speed memory interfaces.
In other news, Renesas recently invested in LAN chipset vendor KSC (Key Stream Corporation).
Availability
The $25 SH7764 (R5S77640N300BG) will sample in April, packaged in a 404-pin BGA measuring 19mm square. The $29 extended temperature version (R5S77640P300BG) will also sample in April.
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