1. Enhance Embedded Systems with Low Cost TFT Solutions

2. Renesas Technology & Solution Portfolio
The wealth of technology you see here is a direct result of the fact that Renesas Electronics Corporation was formed on April 1, 2010 as a joint venture between Renesas Technology and NEC Electronics — Renesas Technology having been launched seven years ago by Hitachi, Ltd. and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. There are four major areas where Renesas offers distinct technology advantage.
--The Microcontrollers and Microprocessors are the back bone of the new company. Renesas is the undisputed leader in this area with 31% of W/W market share.
--We do have a rich portfolio of Analog and power devices. Renesas has the #1 market share in low voltage MOSFET solutions.
--We have a rich portfolio of ASIC solution with an advanced 90nm, 65nm, 40nm and 28nm processes. The key solutions are for the Smart Grid, Integrated Power Management and Networking
--ASSP: Industry leader for USB 2.0 and USB 3.0. Solutions for the cell phone market
-- Memory: #1 in the Networking Memory market

3. Microcontroller and Microprocessor Line-up
2010
2012
1200 DMIPS, Superscalar
1200 DMIPS, Performance
Automotive & Industrial, 65nm
600µA/MHz, 1.5µA standby
Automotive, 40nm
500µA/MHz, 35µA deep standby
500 DMIPS, Low Power
32-bit
165 DMIPS, FPU, DSC
Automotive & Industrial, 90nm
600µA/MHz, 1.5µA standby
Industrial, 40nm
200µA/MHz, 0.3µA deep standby
165 DMIPS, FPU, DSC
Industrial, 90nm
200µA/MHz, 1.6µA deep standby
Embedded Security, ASSP
Industrial, 90nm
1mA/MHz, 100µA standby
25 DMIPS, Low Power
Those of you who have attended the last DevCon in 2010, the left side of this slide should look familiar. In 2010, as a result of the merger between Renesas Technology and NEC Electronics, we started offering MCU solutions based on these five cores. The R8C and 78K were mainly focusing on low end 8/16 bit applications in both automotive and industrial applications,. The RX with 32 bit CISC core was mainly offering solutions for Industrial and consumer applications.  The high-end V850 and SH cores with 32-bit RISC architecture were very successful in high end automotive and industrial applications.
Within 6 months after the merger, we launched a brand new 16-bit product family named RL78, combining the low power flash technology and the CPU core from NEC’s 78K product line and innovative peripherals from Renesas’ R8C product family. The RL78 family is a great example of the synergy effect of this merger. The RL78 is now our main focus product line for cost sensitive low power applications. It consumes only 144uA/MHz power in active mode and only 0.2uA in standby mode. With up to 44DMIPS throughput, it offers much higher performance compared to any other 8/16 microcontrollers in the market place.
The RX family continues to be our flagship 32-bit family for Industrial and consumer applications. With 100 MHz single cycle flash, 1.65DMIPS/MHz throughput and packed with connectivity peripherals it  is ideal for digital signal controller applications. Since its introduction in 2009, we are rapidly expanding the RX product line. Now we have more than 500 different RX MCUs covering from 32KB to 2MB flash memory options.
Similar to the RX, we have recently announced the launch of our next generation high-end 32 bit microcontroller architecture for automotive applications. The new family is called RH850 and provides a next-generation migration path to automotive customers currently using V850 or SH in their application. For Industrial customers currently using V850 or SH, the migration path is the RX product family. Very soon we will launch a 240MHz RX product line which can cover the need of Industrial customers requiring more than 100MHz performance.
So, in summary, from 2013 and beyond, we will mainly be focusing on the three CPU cores, RL78, RX, and RH850, to cover the broad spectrum of the industrial and automotive application space, and we will continue to support legacy architectures like R8C, 78K, SH, and V850 for existing customers.  
 In addition to the above mentioned microcontroller families, we do have an ASSP family called R-Secure which offers a wide range of products for embedded security applications. In this presentation I will mainly focusing on R-Secure product line.
Industrial & Automotive, 150nm
190µA/MHz, 0.3µA standby
44 DMIPS, True Low Power
8/16-bit
Industrial & Automotive, 130nm
144µA/MHz, 0.2µA standby
10 DMIPS, Capacitive Touch
Industrial & Automotive, 130nm
350µA/MHz, 1µA standby
Wide Format LCDs

4. Enabling The Smart Society
<Click>
Here’s a picture of a traditional thermostat with segment LCD display. Notice that the user interface is a number of mechanical buttons placed around the device. Typically this model is programmable where you can set different temperature ranges for different days in the week.
<Click>The unit can control both the air conditioner and heater.
<Click>The latest models that enable the smart society include a touch screen over a TFT LCD color screen. With a touch screen interface, you can layer various menus and provide more help to the customers on the screen so they don’t need to reference a paper manual.
<Click>With added support for Wi-Fi, you can add communication with a tablet computer. In fact, you might have multiple thermostats so you can view status as well as change settings from the tablet to control all thermostats at once.
<Click> Once you are on an IP network and connected to the Internet, you can also access status from a cell phone or tablet via 3G or 4G technology allowing you to control everything from a remote location.

5. Agenda Technology Trends for LCD Touchscreen Challenges
LCD Touchscreen Technology for Embedded Systems
LCD Controllers
Touchscreen Technology
Standards for Embedded Graphics
Software Development Tools
LCD Touchscreen Design Options
Q&A
Each <Click>shows a new agenda item

6. Similar User Experience At a Much Lower Price Point
Your Customers Want
What Consumers Have
Similar User Experience
At a Much Lower Price Point
Any Embedded
System
Benefits
Easier to Use
Saves Space
Real-time Interaction
Let’s Begin. Your customers want
<click> A user experience similar to tablets <click> or existing smart phones <click> exactly like what consumers have.
<click> This kind of functionality needs to be added to an embedded system
<click> They want a similar use experience….but at a significantly lower price point which is the real challenge to adding a touchscreen, hence a real challenge, however, costs are coming down and simple levels of functionality are growing in acceptance
<click> The benefits are numerous but here are some of the key ones
<click> It is easier to use because you rely on user learning from consumer devices
<click> It saves space. Many of you might remember older printers, copiers or appliances with hundreds of buttons, with a touch screen you can save space by consolidating multiple buttons on a single screen
<click> Interaction is realtime where you step through a series of screens and can even offer help menus as you go

7. LCD Touchscreen Applications
What are the key LCD Touchscreen embedded applications?
<click> The smart thermostat is probably one of the higher volume applications
<click> However, touchscreens are showing up on all kinds of new devices like a spa controller
<click>A server machine with a small status display
<click> Golf carts, <click> even putters that teach you how to putt better
<click>Vending Machines
<click>fitness machines
<click>Motor cycle accessories
<click>Look for today’s LCD segment applications which will migrate to tomorrows LCD TFT applications. This is a growing requirement and a perfect way to differentiate your products.
Today’s LCD Segment Applications
Will be Tomorrow’s LCD TFT Touchscreen Applications

8. Challenges to Adding a TFT LCD with Touchscreen
Graphics Development Experience
Responsive Software
Free Software
Intuitive
No TFT Expertise
Backlighting
Solution for LCD
Resistive or
Capacitive Touch?
Visual Feedback
Touch buttons
Direct Manipulation
High Resolution
Quick Prototypes
Adding a Touchscreen is not without some major challenges, here are a few of them
Some key ones include <click> Most embedded designers have little or no experience with TFT technology, this provides a substantial learning curve for developing these solutions
<click> There are a wide range of touchscreens, major categories include resistive or capacitive touch, these can be tricky to use because they vary in performance depending on temperature and humidity
<click>Graphics development is new and requires experience in understand GUI development
<click> TFT Screen hardware interfaces are different for every panel. The lack of standards make this a challenge.
<click>Typically lifecycles for TFT screens are much shorter, maybe 2-3 years, vs 10 years for typically MCU products, so changes need to be made as products go EOL
Lifecycle Management for TFT Screens is Challenging
Smooth Transitions
Low Cost
No Stylus
Required
Flick to Scroll

9. Questions?
Name at Least 3 Top Challenges in Adding a TFT Color Display to an Embedded System
TFT Screen Life Cycle Management is Challenging
Many Touchscreen Choices – Resistive and Capacitive
Graphics Development Experience
No TFT Expertise
Quick Prototypes
Backlighting
Click through each question and answer

10. LCD Touchscreen Technology for Embedded Systems
Now we provide an introduction to LCD TFT technology and common industry terms

11. Typical LCD Panel Technologies for Embedded Designs
STN
Super Twisted Nematic
TFT
Active Thin Film Transistor
OLED
Organic Light Emitting Diode
Response Time
~100ms
~10ms
~0.01ms
Contrast Ratio
~10:1
~100:1
~1000:1
Viewing Angle
+/- 15o
+/- 75o
+/- 85o
Note
Looks cheap
Good for motion
No backlight rqd, but currently has lifetime limitations
Cost $
$$$
$$$$$
Let’s begin by taking a look at 3 main LCD technologies that are popular within embedded applications.
First is STN. It’s a mature technology that’s very cheap, but unfortunately also looks very cheap. Passive STN is very slow with an animation rate limited to about 10 frames per second. STN has poor contrast ratio, and it has a very narrow viewing angle. STN is available in both color an monochrome, and quite often an STN module is driven by a serial connection to an MCU.
<click> Next is TFT. Here, the response time is very good and it supports motion well. The contrast ratio and viewing angle is also very good. There are hundreds of sources of TFT panels, and cost is dropping rapidly.
<click> Finally there is OLED. This is a relatively new technology with some very compelling characteristics like ultra-fast response time, excellent contrast, a near perfect viewing angle range, and ultra low power consumption compared to TFT. On top of this, OLED panels need no backlight, and they have the potential to be manufactured very inexpensively and in unusual shapes (like flexible display panels). However, OLED technology in today’s form has a limited life-span compared to TFT (some say 1/3 the life of TFT), and is very expensive (at least 2x that of TFT, more for large panels). As OLED technology matures, it’s cost is expected to drop, and it’s short lifetime issues solved.
<Click> So today, the best all around technology for embedded solutions in terms of price, visual impact, performance, and availability is TFT. You can see that last year TFT accounted for 80% of the total addressable market for LCD panels.
Best choice

12. Common Embedded Screen Resolution
Pixel WxH
Diagonal Size
QVGA – Quarter Video Graphics Array
320x240
3.5”
WQVGA – Wide Quarter VGA
480x272
4.3”
VGA - Video Graphics Array
640x480
5.7”
WVGA – Wide VGA
800x480
7.0”
SVGA – Super VGA
800x600
10.4”
XGA – eXtended Graphics Array
1024x768
12.1”, 15”
WXGA – Wide Extended Graphics Array
1280x800
12.1”
Here are some of the most common resolutions used with Embedded TFT Screens. The resolutions primarily come from the PC industry with some modifications through the addition of new letters. They are express first by the number of pixels in width as well by the number of pixels in height.
For example VGA is 640 pixels by 480 pixels. The diagonal size show is also what is typically found in the industry meaning that there will be multiple suppliers that offer these products.
<click> Here are some of the most popular configurations
<click> QVGA quarter VGA 320x ” diagonal
<click> WQVGA – wide quarter VGA 480x ” diagonal
<click>WVGA – wide VGA 800x480 in a 7” diagonal
Most Common for Embedded Systems up to 7”

13. RGB Color Patterns – (Red,Green,Blue)
RGB bpp 256 Colors
RGB565 16bpp 64K Colors
<click> Storage for colors for each pixel is in RGB or red green blue format and expressed in bits per pixel (bpp)
For example RGB 332 is 8bbp meaning 3 red, 3 green and 2 blue
This forms 256 distinct color<click> taking 1 byte of storage, since each bpp takes 1 bit of storage
<click> RGB565 is 16 bpp color with 5 red, 6 green and 5 blue
This gives 64K colors and is know has high color in the PC industry
2bytes are required to store the 16 bits
<click> RGB888 is 24 bit color
16.7M colors can be displayed and are known as true color because this is as many colors that the human eye can distinguish
Although it would only take 3 Bytes to store this, typically 4 Bytes are used and the top byte is discarded. Notice the difference between 16 and 24 bit is subtle
Traditional digital signaling TTL/CMOS is 1 signal per color between the LCD and LCD controller
Newer signaling called LVDS (differential signaling) reduces the number of signal levels reduces cross talk so lengths can be longer. This is growing in certain industries especially smart phones and tablets, it hasn’t really hit the embedded space yet.
RGB888 24bpp 16.7M Colors

14. Frame Buffer Calculation
A Frame Buffer is a Portion of Memory Reserved to Hold a Complete Bit Mapped Image Sent to LCD Screen
Calculation: (Width # Pixels)*(Height # Pixels)*(Bytes for Color Depth)
Example: QVGA screen – 8bpp color
(320*240*1byte) = 76.8 K Bytes
Typical Screen Refresh 60Hz or 76.8KB*60=2.8MB/s
Example: WVGA Screen 24bpp Color
(800*480*4) = M bytes
Typical Screen Refresh 60Hz or 1.536MB*60=92MB/s
Now that you understand the basics of resolution and color depths, we can calculate the frame buffer size.
<click>A frame buffer is a portion of memory that can hold one complete bit mapped image that is sent to the LCD.
<click>To calculate this you multiply the width x height x bytes for color depth
<click>Here’s an example using QVGA with 8 bit color,<click> a single frame buffer is 76.8K Bytes.
<click>If you consider a typical refresh rate of 60Hz, and you need to change the entire screen for each refresh, the amount of data you need to move is 2.7MB/s
<click>Here’s an example for WVGA with 24 bpp color
<click>A single frame buffer is 1.536MB in size
<click>Typical refresh rate of 60Hz gives you a max of 92MB/s of data.
The key here is to look at the difference in the amount of data that you need to move with the two resolutions. It might seem like an easy task to go from QVGA to WVGA, but the performance requirements are dramatically different due to the amount of data you need to move/process from one location to another. Of course there are tricks that you can play to optimize the number of changes like just editing portions of the screen that change, but when you refresh the entire screen, you need to change the entire frame buffer. Keep this in mind as you select a particular video controller product.

15. Chroma Key Alpha Blending
More Graphics Terms
Chroma Key
Alpha Blending
Here are just a few more graphics terms. For many solutions today, you can overlay a number of different graphics layers on top of each other. The advantage is that you can get some nice effects as well as performance improvements.
<click> The first term is alpha blending. In this image you can see a checkerboard background on one layer and on the other a red sphere and purple cube. In the first graphic, the images are layered on top of the background. IN the second, the sphere is make a bit translucent for a different effect.
<click> Next Chroma Key – The most typical use is the ability to change a backgroud image and layer it with a foreground image. Some commom usage includes a weather forecast or video games. Ether two graphcis can be overlayed or video and graphics at the same time for some more nice effects.
These can both be implemented either in software or hardware with different performance results.

16. TFT LCD Controller Implementation
MCU
Chip on Glass (COG)
QVGA
SPI Flash
RAM
MCU
Direct Drive LCD
To VGA
SPI Flash
RAM
MCU
LCDC
There are three major architectures used for LCD Controllers
<click>Chip on Glass – In this configuration, the controller is actually a part of the LCD TFT screen hardware as well as the frame buffer memory. The MCU needs to update the controller and frame buffer with the appropriate graphics info typically via a parallel bus. This is typical of LCD panels support QVGA or lower resolutions.
<click>In the second configuration called Direct Drive LCD, the MCU handles a number of the signals required to support the LCD panel and updates the frame buffer to display the appropriate information on the screen. This is the architecture used for by our RX products where a special external bus exists that requires little CPU intervention. You can support up to VGA resolution with this architecture
<click> With the final configuration, the MCU/MPU includes it’s own dedicated LCD Controller. This is typically required for resolutions higher than VGA as well as more advanced graphics like 2D or 3D.
LCD Controller
VGA and Higher

17. LCD Controllers for Embedded Systems
High
XGA Resolution and Up
3D Acceleration
Video Encoding/Decoding H.264 Dual Core
Solution Price
Mid Level
Resolution to WVGA
2D Acceleration
Med Animation
Entry Level
Resolution to WQVGA
Little Animation
No HW Acceleration
Here is a graph of various solutions with performance and features in the x axis and solution price on the y.
<click>At the top we have solutions that cover high resolution like XGA and above. Other features can include 3D Acceleration as well as Video Encoding/Decoding via H.264, many products are dual core. These solutions are used in the latest tablet and smart phones.
<click>Next we have a mid level of performance supporting resolutions up to WVGA, some 2D acceleration and medium animation.
<click> Finally we have our entry level solution with resolutions up to WQVGA, with just little animation. This is the highest volume segment and most popular with embedded system designs
<click> Renesas offers the RX family of products at the entry level
<click> And the SH-2A solution at the mid performance level.
Graphics Performance and Features

18. RX Direct Drive LCD (DDLCD)
Cost Efficient TFT LCD Solution for Resolutions Up to WQVGA
Low CPU Cycles due to External DMA Controller Directly Drives the TFT LCD
Small Footprint - Only 3 Chips – MCU + Frame Buffer + SPI Flash
Free Graphics tools from Renesas and RX DDLCD Solution Kits
Extensive Hardware and Software Partners to Speed up the Development Process for Any Customer
Here’s a brief summary of the RX Direct Drive LCD offering
It provides cost efficient solutions for resolutions up to WQVGA
<click> Low CPU cycles are required due to a External DMA Controller that directly drives the LCD
<click> The foot print is small, can be 2 chips or 3 chips depending on if you use just the MCU and frame buffer or if you add a SPI flash for additional graphics
<click> Free graphics tools are included
<click> A wealth of hardware and software partners are available to speed up your development process

19. RX DDLCD Common Applications
Security Panels/Home Automation
Pools and Solar Panels
Here are just a few of the applications for RX DDLCD. In reality, there are many more applications that are suitable for a simple LCD TFT and the market continues to grow.
<click> Controller for Pool and Spa temps as well as other monitors
<click> Security panels used in home automation and other markets
<click> Portable devices in particular medical equipment
<click> Small appliances
<Click> The sweet spot is applications with static pictures and light animation if you want the RX to handle the LCD plus a other functions. Look for products using segment LCDs today and migrate them to TFT LCDs
Portable Medical Equipment
Small Appliances
Static Pictures with Light Animation

20. SH7269
Great Price/Performance TFT LCD Controller Supporting up to WVGA (800x480) Resolution
No need for External RAM with Large High Performance 2.5MB On-chip RAM
Improved speed and smaller size with 2D Acceleration Based on OpenVG 1.1 Standards
Less RAM required with Support for Supports QSPI and Execute in Place for Program Memory and Graphics images
Hardware and Software partners to Speed up the Development Process
For the SH-2A family we offer the SH7269
This offers great price/performance for resolutions up to WVGA
<click> There are no requirements for external RAM due to support for a large 2.5MB onchip RAM. This can be used for your frame buffer requirements
<click> Speed is improved with 2D acceleration based on the OpenVG 1.1 standard
<click>No external RAM is required for program execution since the QSPI supports Execute in Place
<click>Hardware and software partners are fully available to speed up your development.

21. SH7269 Typical Applications
Navigation
Appliances
The SH7269 provides an increase in performance and is suitable for 2D applications
<click> Today you see these first on appliances like refrigerators
<click> Navigation devices that have multiple layers of graphics, also backup camera applications where graphics are layered over a video
<click> POS terminals and new POS devices that interact directly with customers
<click> Medical instruments that need to show motion in graphics and charts
<click> Essentially anything with 2D where a bit map needs to move across a screen – motion graphics. Look to existing TFT designs that use QVGA touchscreen that need to upgrade to WVGA with more functionality.
POS Terminals, Kiosks
Medical Instruments
2D Applications That Require Motion Graphics

22. What Renesas Product Line Supports a Max Screen Resolution of WQVGA?
Questions?
What are the Common Screen Resolutions for Entry to Midrange Embedded Systems?
QVGA, WQVGA, WVGA
How Large is a Single Frame Buffer for a QVGA (320x240) Screen with 8 bit color? WVGA (800x640) with 24 bit color?
QVGA – 78.6KB, WVGA 1.54MB
What Renesas Product Line Supports a Max Screen Resolution of WQVGA?
(click to reveal answers as well as 2nd and 3rd questions/answers)

23. Touchscreens
Let’s cover a basic overview of touchscreen technology

24. Resistive Touchscreen
How it Works
Two Electrically Conductive Layers that Come in Electrical Contact When Touched
Advantages
Lowest Cost Touchscreen
Activated by any Stylus
Low Power Requirements
Disadvantages
Less Clarity on the Screen
Prone to Damage
Lower Endurance
Resistive Touchscreens are the most common in the embedded space
<click> How it works
<click> As you press the screen, two electrical conductive layers come in contact when touched
<click> Advantages
<click> Lowest Cost – A significant difference
<click>Can be activated by any stylus
<click> Low power requirements
<click>Disadvantages include
<click> The screen is more opaque causing less clarity
<click> Prone to damage because of the usage requirements resulting in <click> lower endurance

25. Capacitive Touchscreen
How it Works
Sensing the Conductive Properties of an Object, Your Finger
Pros
More Responsive to Finger Touch Enabling Gestures
Supports Multi-touch
Glossy Look and Feel
Cons
Require Fingertip for Operation
More Expensive
The next broad category is capacitive touchscreen technology
<click> How it works
<click>Sensing the conductive properties of an object, primarily your finger
<click>Pros
<click>More responsive to finger – enables gestures like on the iPAD to delete by swiping or changing pages by swiping
<click> supports multitouch or the ability to sense multiple fingers touching the screen at the same time
<click>glossy look and feel is more appealing to the eye
<click> Cons
<click> Requires fingertip for operation
<click>Significantly more expensive, common on tablets and smart phone but less on embedded products

26. LCD Screen and Touch-screen Supplier References
LCD TFT Screens for Embedded Systems
LCD TFT Screens with Touchscreens
Here is a list that references some suppliers
<click> First here are LCD TFT screen vendors that offer TFT screens with touch embedded. <click> These manufactures also tend to offer longer product lifecycles than companies that cater to the consumer markets. The are many others but these are ones that we have worked with for various embedded designs
<click>Also there are companies that integrate various LCD panels with touch panels. They are helpful they can smooth over the supplier transition issues by providing a platform that is consistent as products go EOL or evolve, yet can provide the same interface layout interface to you as a customer.

27. Standards for Embedded Graphics
Let’s quickly touch on standards

28. Open Standards for Embedded Systems
Benefits of Open Standards
Portability Across Multiple Platforms using the same API
Royalty Free Industry Standard
OpenVG 1.1 for 2D Graphics
Open GL ES for 2D and 3D Graphics
The primary standards body for embedded graphics is Khronos. They are also responsible for a number of the standards used by the PC industry
<click> First let’s discuss OpenVG
<click>It is an API for 2D Accelerated graphics
<click>It uses vectors to describe motion rather than redrawing the same image on the screen multiple times. This saves a considerable amount of graphics memory and provides higher levels of <click>motion graphics
<click>Open GL ES
<click>API for 3D and 2D graphics
<click>A subset of OpenGL
<click>Optimized for embedded devices, ES stands for Embedded Systems that have lower memory footprints as well as lower performance
<click>Benefits
<click>You can reuse your graph designs across multiple hardware platforms as long as they support the same standard APIs

29. Software for TFT LCD Touchscreen Development

30. Graphics Software Development Tools
Graphics Libraries
Model Based-Tools
There are many different software graphics development tools
<click>First let’s discuss graphics libraries
These solutions support some standard shapes like <click> buttons, sliders <click> dropdown menus and othersto help you develop your GUI
You can also use these to place text on various buttons
The learning curve is fairly quick relative to other solutions
<click> Solutions are offered by Renesas (free) and Segger
<click>Model based tools are next
<click>
The primary advantage is the creation of a unique GUI using models instead of a library of shapes
Typically the prototypes can be developed on a PC and then translated to a target device
the learning curve is moderate and depends on the software package
<click> solutions are offered by Altia and Crank Software
This area can cause some big struggles for embedded designs since there is typically limited expertise in this area. Even to create a prototype can take up to 6 months and with modifications, products get stuck in this cycle and may never get completed

31. Graphics Software Tools
Rapid GUI Development
Your Company
Images and Storyboard
GUI Development on PC
Downloaded to LCD TFT Platform
One of the biggest challenges in adding a TFT LCD is the ability to quickly prototype a solution to get project approval.
<click> There are some new tools that are just coming on to the market that allow for rapid GUI development
<click> The process starts by taking some of your company product logos and a storyboard
<click> Then developing a GUI on your PCD
<click> Finally downloading this to the target LCD TFT platform
<click> Traditionally this took months but new tools shorten this to Days
<click> Serious Integrated is one company that offers this solution
From Months to Days!!!

32. OS Choices
RTOS
Smaller Memory Footprint Optimized for Lower Cost Embedded Systems with real-time response
Vendors: CMX Software, Express Logic, FreeRTOS, Micrium, Rowebots, Segger OS
Larger Memory Footprint but with More Features and Higher Complexity
Products: Android, Linux, QNX, Windows CE
In most cases an OS is required for a touchscreen design especially if you plan to manage multiple tasks on the screen and other functions such as communications, ADC etc within the MCU
<click>RTOS stands for real-time operating system
<click>These offer a small memory foot print and are optimized for lower cost embedded systems
<click>Vendors include CMX Software, Express Logic, Micrium
<click>OS
<click>These require larger memory but include many more features
<click>Examples include Android, Linux, QNX and Windows CE
There is a great tendency these days to move near Linux because of a large amount of software available on the platform. This might not be justified based on the fact that you need a larger engineering team to implement the solution. Everything that is “free” is not always “free.” A RTOS can offer a solution with good support at a royalty free per project cost.

33. Activation Software Message to Cloud AC is ON Turn On AC Lower Temp
Activation Software helps you do something while a press is detected. <click>This is best explained by using an example – a smart thermostat <click> Press a button to lower the room temp in your homethe software will use a temp sensor to compare the room temp to the target temp on the thermostat.
<click>If the room temp goes up, then the thermostat can turn on the AC
<click>You can also send a message via Ethernet to a cloud server that your AC is now ON. This status can be monitored via your smart phone or tablet device.
<click> Solutions for this are available Serious Integrated.
Lower Temp

34. LCD Touchscreen Design Options

35. LCD TFT Development Process
Evaluation
Review Demos
Refine Requirements
Prototype
Review Dev Platform
Quick Graphics Proto
Hardware Choices
TFT Screens
Touchscreens
Semiconductors
CHALLENGING
Here’s a summary of the LCD TFT development process
<click> First start by evaluating some demo platforms that existing on the market today, you can contact your local Renesas sales rep for information on the latest kits available. After reviewing these demo kits you can start to refine your price/performance requirements for these solutions.
<click>Next you enter the prototype stage, this might even be before the project is actually approved. However, you need to get approval for this project based on some simple designs. <click> The challenge here is that the current learning curve can be 6m-1yr just to evaluate a good prototype so
<click>Next review your various hardware choices like TFT screens, touchscreens and LCD controllers
<click>Finally, review your various software choices; OS, Graphic Design and Activation software are the main areas you need to understand before starting a new design.
Let’s go into more detail on each of these categories
Software Choices OS
Graphic Design
Activation Software

36. Evaluation – Off-the-shelf Demos
Contact Your Key Suppliers for a Demo or Purchase an Off-the Shelf Demo
For $ You Can Quickly Evaluate QVGA and WQVGA Resolutions Demos
For Around $500 You Can View a Demo of WVGA
View a Demo of Various Graphics Packages Loaded on the Embedded Solution to Evaluate Performance
<click> Start your process by evaluating some of the latest off the shelf demos. You can contact Renesas for more information on these kits, in fact look out for new promotions in this area.
<click>For $200-$300 you can get something to demonstrate QVGA and WQVGA, some are even lower in price
<click>For around $500 you can look at a demo for up to WVGA
<click>Look at the wide range of demos to see what can be done on an embedded system, the more demos, the better
<click>Then close out this phase by refining your requirements and setting the expectations of performance to your team
Refine Your Requirements After Viewing Demos

37. Quick Cycle Time Between Marketing and Engineering is Critical
Prototype Phase
Purchase a Development Platform
Begin Prototyping Basic Graphic Package
This Stage is Critical for Project Approval
It Can Take Months to Get Up to Speed
Ideal Environment is PC development with download to target
Next, the prototype phase
<click> Hopefully your demo kit is also a development platform, if not purchase one to get familiar with your hardware capability
<click> Begin prototyping your own graphics using a basic, maybe even free package, or if you are short on time, work with a third party to develop this
<click>This is one of the critical stages for project approval – be careful here
<click> sometimes it can take months to get up to speed here, so look for solutions to cut your time down from months to days
<click>Ideally you want to develop prototypes on your PC and download them easily to your platform
<click>This is also the stage were marketing and engineering review solutions – since graphics are subjective, be sure to have a quick cycle so you can make changes that your marketing team can review.
Quick Cycle Time Between Marketing and Engineering is Critical

38. Hardware Development – Make or Buy Decisions
Buy A Complete
HW Module
Under 1K EAU, LCD Module is Best
No LCD Experience
Work with a
Consulting Firm
On HW
1K-10K EAU, LCDs in Multiple Projects
Building LCD Expertise
Hardware development – Make or Buy Decisions
It is common for the typical design engineer to want to develop their own hardware. Resist this temptation and at a minimum evaluation what exists on the market today and then consider your own hardware development. Here are some guidelines
<click>Buy a complete hw module - <click> if your estimated annual usage is under 1K, then just purchase a complete solution module and embed it into your device – straight forward – even if you go and try to purchase LCD touch panels, the MOQ could be over 1K.
<click> Work with a consulting firm on HW - <click> Your quantities are 1-10K and you plan to develop some LCD expertise since this is the first of many programs. By working with a HW consulting firm, you can get your prototypes developed quickly with minimal support issues. You can move to your own designs when you get to production.
<click>Develop a complete HW solution<click>For volumes over 10K, you will be able to lower the HW cost if you develop something on our own. You can still consider hiring a consultant to get you started quickly saving valuable development time
Develop
Complete
HW Solution
Over 10K EAU, Lower HW Cost
If You Design Your Own Solution

39. Software Development – Make or Buy Decisions
Buy A Complete
Module
With SW
Under 1K EAU, LCD Module is Best
No OS, Activation or GUI Experience
Work with a
Consulting Firm
On Graphics
1K-10K EAU, LCDs in Multiple Projects
Building LCD Expertise
Outsource OS and Activation
Develop Own GUI Software
For software, it is a similar list of issues
<click>Buy a complete module and pay for software development - <click> Under 1K eau this is your best option. Compete solutions offer the OS and activation software as well as GUI development software as a part of their complete solution platform.
<click> Work with a consulting firm on graphics - <click> 1K-10K EAU – In this volume, you have the widest range of options – if you want to build more LCD expertise, then you might want to outsource the OS and activation software and develop your own GUI
<click>Develop your own graphics, using tools <click>You should look at one of the modeling graphics solutions to insure that you have a unique GUI design that can stand out compared to the competition. At a minimum download a demo version and try it out from various suppliers.
Develop
Complete
Graphics
Over 10K EAU, Leverage 3rd Party
Software, Develop Entire Solution
Consider Licensing To Shorten Dev Time

40. Wide Array of Design Support Options for RX
Renesas
FDI
Serious Integrated
Demo Kits Y
Turnkey Hardware -
Quick Prototype SW
Y - Shiptide
Development Kits
Graphics SW
Renesas GAPI
RTOS Ports
FreeRTOS, Micrium, Segger
FreeRTOS
Design Consulting
We’ve talked about a lot of different development options for both hardware and software. Here is a listing a resources available from Renesas and two of our third party suppliers that offer solutions for TFT embedded system development. The news here is that our ecosystem is one of the most highly developed compared to anything offered in this space. We and our partners will stand by you in our development.

41. Summary The LCD Touchscreen Market is Growing for Embedded Systems
There Are Many Choices in Technology including LCD Screens, Touch Technology, MCU/MPUs and Software
Renesas and Our Partners Offer the Right Solutions to Help Navigate the Design Process Successfully
Renesas Offers Two Product Families for LCD TFT Touchscreens:
From this Presentation, you have seen how easy it is to add a LCD Touchscreen to your embedded solution
<click> Get a LCD Touchscreen Solution Kit Today
<click> Rapid prototyping is the name of the game to get your project approved and completed on time
<click> Renesas offers two complete solutions:
<click> RX for entry level designs with WQVGA resolutions
<click> SH for Up to WVGA with 2D acceleration and med animation
Entry Level
Resolution to WQVGA
Little Animation
No HW Acceleration
Mid Level
Resolution to WVGA
2D Acceleration
Med Animation

42. Questions?

43. Enabling The Smart Society
<Click>
Here’s a picture of a traditional thermostat with segment LCD display. Notice that the user interface is a number of mechanical buttons placed around the device. Typically this model is programmable where you can set different temperature ranges for different days in the week.
<Click>The unit can control both the air conditioner and heater.
<Click>The latest models that enable the smart society include a touch screen over a TFT LCD color screen. With a touch screen interface, you can layer various menus and provide more help to the customers on the screen so they don’t need to reference a paper manual.
<Click>With added support for Wi-Fi, you can add communication with a tablet computer. In fact, you might have multiple thermostats so you can view status as well as change settings from the tablet to control all thermostats at once.
<Click> Once you are on an IP network and connected to the Internet, you can also access status from a cell phone or tablet via 3G or 4G technology allowing you to control everything from a remote location.

45. RX – Wealth of Demos Ready to Go
Serious Integrated SIM205 with RX621
Preloaded Thermostat, Presentation, Sound Demos
Available from Marketing for Demos
or Digikey $187.00
FDI
uEZGUI 3.5” (uEZGUI-RX62N-35QT)
uEZ Rapid Development Platform
Available at Digikey $299
RX DDLCD Solution Kit
Thermostat with Weather
Patient Monitor
Appliance
Available from Renesas YLCDRSKRX62NS
Open doors With a Quick Demo

46. FDI uEZGUI-RX62-35QVT Features with RX62N TOUCH SCREEN LCD GUI
Quick Demo Loaded on Every Unit
Hardware can be integrated into embedded system
Cost effective for low to mid volumes
Features
3.5” QVGA TFT LCD from Tianma
4-Wire Resistive Touch Screen
512KB of PSRAM
microSD Memory Card
USB Device Port
Speaker
Expansion via 50- pin I/O connector
UARTs, I2C, SPI, USB Host/Device
$299

47. FDI Modular Touch Screen LCD Kits DK-43WQT-RX62N
CPU SODIMM Module
Renesas RX62N Microcontroller
8MB External SDRAM
10/100 Ethernet PHY
Micro SD, Mini JTAG & ISP
CARRIER Board
USB Host & Device Ports
10/100 Ethernet Port, Wi-Fi
CAN, RS-232, I2S Audio
I2C & I2S Exp Connectors
RTC with SuperCap backup
3-axis Acc & Temp Sensor
LCD CARRIER
4.3” WQVGA TFT LCD
4-Wire Resistive Touch Screen
5.7” Kit
4.3” Kit
4.7” Kit
Part Number
DK-57TS-RX62N
DK-43WQT-RX62N
DK-47WQT-RX62N
LCD
QVGA
WQVGA
MSRP
$450
$475

48. Serious Integrated SIM205 WQVGA Module
Handles more sophisticated GUIs with richer graphics
Basic animation and rich alpha-blended backdrops
4.3” Wide QVGA 480x272 TFT LCD Resistive Touch Screen
100MHz Renesas RX621 MCU engine
Connect with your system via USB, I2C, SPI, UART, and/or GPIO
Complete no-cost software for fast out-of-box GUI development
Micrium µC/OS-III: full single-unit kernel production license included!
Segger embOS+embFS including production license
FreeRTOS port
Renesas Graphics API (GAPI) on Micrium and FreeRTOS
Uses full-featured and free KPIT GNU + Renesas HEW toolchain
Other valuable Serious software
MSRP $178.75/ea; less at some distributors, production pricing available
Available at the Serious e-store and Digi-Key
SIM205
Available Today in Full Production