A 16-bit microcontroller offers low power, fast wake-up, and display control, changing how home and IoT devices respond. See more!
Renesas Electronics has introduced the 16-bit RL78/L23 microcontroller (MCU) group, expanding its low-power RL78 series. Running at 32MHz, these MCUs are designed for smart home devices, consumer electronics, IoT, and metering systems, combining low power consumption with features for display-based human-machine interfaces (HMI).
The RL78/L23 offers ultra-low power operation, consuming 109μA/MHz during active use and just 0.365μA in standby, with a 1μs wake-up time. Its dual-bank flash memory supports firmware updates via FOTA, letting one bank run the program while the other receives updates, ensuring uninterrupted operation in critical applications.
The MCUs feature a built-in segment LCD controller with a new VL4 reference mode that cuts LCD current by about 30% versus the RL78/L1X group. SMS (SNOOZE Mode Sequencer) enables dynamic LCD segment display without CPU intervention, reducing wake-ups and saving power. The IH timer (Timer KB40) allows precise multi-channel heat control, suitable for appliances like rice cookers and induction cooktops.
These MCUs operate across 1.6V–5.5V, allowing direct use with 5V power supplies, and integrate capacitive touch, a temperature sensor, and an internal oscillator, reducing PCB size and component costs. The combination of compact design, low power, and HMI features makes RL78/L23 ideal for responsive, energy-efficient interfaces in modern devices.
“The Renesas RL78 Family of 16-bit microcontrollers has been one of the most successful products since its launch more than 10 years ago, particularly in home appliances,” said Daryl Khoo, Vice President of Embedded Processing at Renesas. “I’m pleased to announce the RL78/L23, a new generation of RL78 microcontrollers with rich features, ideally suited for smart home appliances and cost-sensitive IoT solutions. With these devices, we aim to provide a better user experience with our intuitive development environment so that customers can get to production faster with confidence, based on market-proven Renesas technologies.”
