Renesas RSSK: Rapid Analog Sensor Evaluation & Calibration with RX23E‑A 24‑Bit MCU

Renesas Electronics Corp. has unveiled the Renesas Solution Starter Kit (RSSK) to streamline development for the 32‑bit RX23E‑A microcontroller (MCU). The RX23E‑A features an exceptionally accurate analog front‑end (AFE), delivering less than 0.1 % precision out of the box and a 23.6‑bit effective resolution on its integrated delta‑sigma (ΔΣ) A/D converter.

Unmatched Analog Performance in a Single Chip

With its 24‑bit ΔΣ ADC, the RX23E‑A consolidates the capabilities that previously required a dedicated A/D converter or high‑precision op‑amp IC. This makes the MCU ideal for industrial meter applications such as temperature controllers, load cells, and strain‑gauge sensor modules.

Designed for Easy, High‑Precision Evaluation

Evaluating analog characteristics with nanovolt (nV) accuracy traditionally demands deep expertise and extensive troubleshooting. The RSSK eliminates these hurdles by providing pre‑configured hardware, software, and tools that enable developers to assess the MCU’s analog performance without needing AFE design experience.

The evaluation board includes a plug‑in terminal block for solderless sensor connections, a thermocouple connector, and a reference‑junction compensation circuit—critical for accurate thermocouple measurements. Users can immediately deploy reference applications for thermocouple and weight measurement, all available for download on the Renesas website.

Real‑Time Diagnostics & GUI‑Driven Insight

With its intuitive graphical user interface, the RSSK allows developers to modify AFE and ADC settings on the fly, visualize conversion results in real time, and generate detailed graphs and histograms. This is akin to using an oscilloscope for analog verification, significantly speeding up the calibration cycle.

Seamless Integration & Industrial Connectivity

The board can be powered and debugged via a single USB connection, enabling both evaluation and software development from a PC. It also features built‑in driver ICs for RS485 and CAN, supporting the networking standards that dominate industrial environments.

Available now, the RX23E‑A RSSK is priced at $464 per unit (pricing and availability are subject to change without notice).

Figure. Renesas Solution Starter Kit (RSSK) board for RX23E‑A MCU. (Source: Renesas)