Expanded Synergy platform adds Wi-Fi software, MCUs
Article By : Renesas
Synergy is an embedded platform starting with an API to leverage a software framework built around the Express Logic X-Ware, according to Renesas.
Renesas Electronics has expanded its Synergy platform to include the latest version of the Synergy Software Package (SSP) version 1.2.0, a new Wi-Fi software and the new Synergy S5D9 Group MCUs.
Synergy is a complete embedded platform starting with an Application Programming Interface (API) to leverage a full software framework that is built around the Express Logic X-Ware. The SSP software framework is qualified, maintained, supported and warrantied by Renesas to relieve developers from creating and maintaining low-level software over and over again on each of their embedded projects.
The Synergy platform also integrates a wide range of scalable ARM Cortex-M based MCUs fully accessible through the software APIs, a development toolchain IAR Embedded Workbench with intuitive configuration assistance, plus hardware kits for development and solutions, according to Renesas.
To ensure that the SSP is of production-ready quality, Renesas developed the SSP according to a documented and audited SQA process following established ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207 international standards that cover the entire SSP software development life cycle (SDLC).
The SQA process includes daily static and dynamic testing of the SSP using more than 8,000 test cases to ensure 100% test coverage of all code statements, branches and jumps as well as compliance to Renesas and MISRA C:2012 mandatory coding guidelines, low code complexity for good readability, testability, maintenance, code behaviour matches requirements, and clean builds with no warnings and no errors.
Starting with SSP version 1.2.0, the SQA process, tests and test results are published by Renesas for every minor SSP release. Publicly available are the Synergy Software Quality Handbook outlining the entire SDLC process, and a Synergy Software Quality Summary report with qualification test results. Additional detailed SQA documentation and test artifacts are available to customers under a Non-Disclosure Agreement.
Meanwhile, the Synergy Wi-Fi Framework provides hardware abstraction through a set of uniform APIs for common Wi-Fi functions, independent of the Wi-Fi hardware used. This enables developers to quickly evaluate and add Wi-Fi technology from various vendors without having to adapt their applications to different APIs.
Customers can access the Synergy Wi-Fi Framework and supported device drivers on the Synergy Gallery. Currently, the framework supports the Longsys GT202 Wi-Fi module using the QCA4002 chipset. Support for additional Wi-Fi chipsets and modules will continue to be added to the Synergy Gallery over the coming months.
Then there's the Synergy S5D9 Group MCUs, which are the first devices in the Synergy S5 Series targeting embedded and IoT applications.
Enabled by the SSP and solution from Renesas’ partners, developers will be able to establish a unique root-of-trust on each MCU to begin a chain-of-trust that spans from manufacturing through connection to deployed products. Specific features on these MCUs include a 120 MHz ARM Cortex-M4 MCU core, up to 2MB of on-chip flash memory and 640 KB of SRAM, a TFT-LCD controller, precision analog acquisition, Ethernet interface and high-speed USB. Specialised on-chip security features include the ability to generate and safely store private keys using symmetric and asymmetric cryptography, a true random number generator (TRNG) and special memory protection functions.
