Renesas Technology Releases H8S/2189F Microcontroller Incorporating Industry's First Software IP Protection Function

Tokyo, January 6, 2005 −− Renesas Technology Corp. today announced the H8S/2189F 16-bit on-chip flash memory microcontroller offering the industry’s first software IP (Intellectual Property) protection. Sample shipments will begin on January 7, 2005 in Japan.

The H8S/2189F includes a comprehensive set of standard on-chip peripheral functions, and can be used in a wide range of fields by installing network, image processing, or other field-specific software IPs.

Features of the H8S/2189F are summarized below.

(1)	Software IP protection function preventing illegal reading
	A 64-Kbyte area for software IP installation is provided in the on-chip flash memory. Implementing protection for this area prevents it from being accessed from outside, offering secure protection against illegal reading of a software IP written in this area.
(2)	Large-capacity on-chip flash memory
	The H8S/2189F includes one megabyte of on-chip flash memory, making it possible to store large-size application programs and handle increases in program size associated with functional upgrading of an application system.
(3)	Comprehensive set of standard on-chip peripheral functions
	The H8S/2189F is provided with virtually standard on-chip peripheral functions for various fields, including timers, PWM (Pulse Width Modulation), a serial interface, and an A/D converter, offering support for a wide range of application areas through user installation of a software IP for a specific field such as networking or industrial use.

Product Background

There are a growing number of cases in which software IP products are introduced via CAN^*1 and similar protocol stacks and operating system and other middleware modes in order to improve product development efficiency. However, IP use generally entails high introduction costs, and from the software IP vendor standpoint it is difficult to implement shipped quantity management for products incorporating a licensed IP. As a result, use of such products has so far been limited to a restricted range.

Also, these software items are used written into the on-chip flash memory of a microcontroller. However, ordinary flash memory does not provide complete protection against unauthorized reading of a program written to it, and an illegally read program may be used illegally. This is a further factor preventing increased use of software IPs, and highlights the urgent need for microcontrollers capable of protecting software IPs against unauthorized reading.

In response to this need, Renesas Technology has developed the H8S/2189F microcontroller incorporating flash memory capable of providing software IP protection.

Product Details

The H8S/2189F has one megabyte of on-chip flash memory, one 64-Kbyte area of which can be protected. Before protection is implemented, this area can be read and written to as ordinary flash memory, but once protection has been applied, program reads and writes cannot be executed in this area. Program execution is made possible by the use of a memory access control circuit that allows reading only when a program in this area is executed. Thus, storing a software IP in this area enables software IP protection to be implemented and makes it possible to prevent unauthorized copying or illegal modification.

Shipment mode plans for the H8S/2189F include not only shipment as a blank flash memory product, but also shipment with a software IP installed through cooperation with software IP vendors. This will offer the user software IP use simply through purchase of a microcontroller, enabling the high cost of software IP introduction to be reduced. As the initial installed software IP, a Linux^*2-like OS kernel is planned that includes POSIX compliant expandability and network functions (TCP/IP) as standard. A dedicated compiler, monitoring program, and development tools are supported from COMPUTER HI-TECH Inc.

The H8S/2189F incorporates a 16-bit H8S/2000 CPU core, and operates at a maximum frequency of 20 MHz at a 3.3 V power supply voltage. The large one-megabyte on-chip flash memory provides for increases in program size associated with upgrading of application system functions. A total of 8 Kbytes of RAM are also provided, including 2 Kbytes for software IP use.

The H8S/2189F is provided with a comprehensive set of standard on-chip peripheral functions used in a variety of fields. As well as 4-channel 16-bit and 8-bit timers, two 14-bit PWM channels, and eight 8-bit PWM channels, on-chip peripheral functions also include eight 10-bit A/D converter channels and two serial interface channels, enabling the H8S/2189F to be used in a wide variety of application areas.

The package used is a 144-pin TQFP.

Future plans include improved performance through the provision of larger RAM capacity, and extension of this protection function to other models including the M32C/8x Group.

Notes:	1.	CAN (Controller Area Network): A network specification for use in vehicles, proposed by Robert Bosch GmbH of Germany
	2.	Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the United States and/or other countries.

* Other product names, company names, or brands mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

Typical Applications
− Network products: Remote control systems, etc.
− Industrial and consumer products

Price in Japan  * For Reference

Product Name	Package	Sample Price [ Tax Included ] (Yen)
H8S/2189F (R4F2189VTE20)	144-pin TQFP	1,750 [1,838]

Specifications

Item		H8S/2189F (R4F2189VTE20) Specifications
CPU core		16-bit H8S/2000 CPU core
Maximum operating frequency		20 MHz
Power supply voltage		3.3 V ± 0.3 V
On-chip memory	Flash memory	1 megabyte (Including 64-Kbyte protectable area)
	RAM	6 Kbytes (+ 2 KB for IP vendor use)
On-chip peripheral functions		− 10-bit A/D converter × 8 channels − 16-bit timer × 4 channels − 8-bit timer × 4 channels − 14-bit PWM × 2 channels − 8-bit PWM × 8 channels − Watchdog timer (WDT) × 2 channels − Serial interface (SCI) × 2 channels − I2C-bus *1 interface × 2 channels
Power-down modes		− Medium-speed mode − Module stop function − Standby mode
Package		144-pin TQFP (16 mm × 16 mm, 0.4 mm pitch)

Notes:

1.

I2C-bus (Inter IC Bus) is an interface specification proposed by Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands.