By IBT Staff Reporter
Published 09/11/26

KEY POINTS

• Renesas launches pin-compatible RZ/G3L and RZ/G3SE 64-bit MPUs for HMI devices, gateways and other IoT edge equipment
• New processors combine up to four 1.2GHz Arm Cortex-A55 cores, 1mW-class deep standby and fast Linux resume
• PCIe, TSN-capable gigabit Ethernet and USB support expansion to 5G, Wi-Fi 6 and external AI accelerators

Renesas Electronics introduces its new RZ/G3L and RZ/G3SE 64-bit microprocessors. Renesas Electronics

Renesas Electronics on Sept. 10 launched the 64-bit RZ/G3L and RZ/G3SE microprocessor units and started mass production, expanding its RZ/G series for human-machine interface, or HMI, and IoT edge equipment.

The two products are pin-compatible, allowing manufacturers to use the same printed circuit board design across a range of products from advanced HMI devices to IoT edge systems. Renesas positions the chips for applications including industrial and home-appliance HMI devices, IoT gateways and home gateways.

The RZ/G3L includes a graphics processing unit capable of 3D graphics display and an H.264 video codec, targeting higher-end HMI equipment such as retail terminals and medical interfaces that require richer user interfaces, graphics and video display. The RZ/G3SE is designed for IoT equipment that does not require advanced graphics processing, but still includes a display interface for simpler status and settings screens in products such as EV chargers and industrial gateway equipment.

Both chips carry up to four Arm Cortex-A55 cores running at up to 1.2 gigahertz as the main CPU, along with a 200 megahertz Cortex-M33 sub-CPU. Dual-core and quad-core configurations are available. Renesas says the third-generation RZ/G series uses a proprietary power-control architecture that enables 1mW-class power consumption in deep standby mode while retaining the Linux system in memory for fast resume. The devices are available in 14-mm-square 400-pin LFBGA and 17-mm-square 368-pin LFBGA packages.

The processors also include high-speed interfaces including PCIe, time-sensitive networking-capable gigabit Ethernet and USB. PCIe support allows connections to 5G communications modules, Wi-Fi 6 modules and external AI accelerators, while TSN Ethernet is intended for low-latency, highly reliable communications required in industrial networks.

The devices include error correction code functionality for embedded memory and external DDR interfaces, as well as security features including Renesas Secure IP, secure boot, Arm TrustZone and tamper detection. Operating temperatures range from minus 40 degrees Celsius to plus 125 degrees Celsius. The chips also support a Verified Linux Package compliant with the Civil Infrastructure Platform, an open-source initiative focused on long-term maintenance for industrial-grade Linux systems.

Renesas is offering 10 supporting solutions spanning GUI development environments, operating system software and system-on-module products. GUI development partners include LVGL, Embedded Wizard, Slint, Candera, Spyrosoft and Qt Group, while OS and module support includes Zephyr RTOS, Atmark Techno, Embedded Artists, a Virtium company, and Advanet.

The company also presented example applications built around the new processors, including an AC EV charging wallbox solution based on the RZ/G3L that supports newer PLC communications standards, and an AI-enabled smart home security hub using the RZ/G3SE. The home security hub links with cameras, microphones and other sensors while connecting to the cloud for monitoring functions.

Renesas has been expanding its portfolio of embedded processors and connectivity components for industrial and edge-computing applications, where interest is rising in devices that combine graphics capability, networking and low-power Linux operation.