The process of selecting a microcomputer model during initial component evaluation phase of the system design process is particularly important. This is because the features of the microcomputer that is chosen will have a large influence on the functions and processing performance of the system in which it is used. The appraisal process can be a particular challenge when the microcomputer being considered is one that hasn't been used in the past. Renesas Starter Kits make it easy for even first-time users to perform the evaluation work. During 2006 the number of different kits will rise to 25 to accommodate a wider range of embedded system applications.

Renesas Starter Kits are popular microcomputer development tools designed to make the job of evaluating our microcomputers as simple and easy as possible, especially for first-time users. They can also be used for training and system development. The low-cost kits contain all the hardware and software required for assessing, learning about, and applying a microcomputer's features and performance (see table). The only additional tool a user requires is a PC.

Inside the Starter Kit boxes are a CPU board, LCD display module, CR-ROM, emulator, and a printed Quick Start Guide (see Photograph 1). We recently added the emulator and guide to upgrade the kits. The emulator is our E8 on-chip debugging emulator that supports the on-chip debugging function that the microcomputers provide. The Quick Start Guide is a full-color pamphlet that explains step-by-step what the user has to do to get started using the hardware and software. An engineer with a PC can quickly set up an evaluation system simply by following the instructions in the pamphlet.

Feedback from customers tells us that this level of forethought is very helpful, especially for individuals unfamiliar with microcomputers. For example, the kits eliminate the task of choosing an emulator, which can be difficult, and make it unnecessary to confront a thickly bound user's manual, which can be daunting. In fact, the type of information in the kits and the hardware and software they contain are proving valuable to more audiences than just working engineers. Students at universities and polytechnic institutes are using them to get started with microcomputers, as are hobbyists.

Table: Contents of Renesas Starter Kits

Offering a proven CPU-board design that connects to an expansion board for flexibility

The CPU board in the Starter Kits is a system design we developed that has been thoroughly tested in our labs (see Photograph 2). It contains a microcomputer with internal flash memory (flash microcomputer), a connector for attaching the emulator cable, an LED display module connector, user switch, potentiometer, and indicator LED. Other features include a microcomputer pin header and a header for attaching an external expansion board. In the expansion board header, the pins are assigned to specific functions. For example, there are analog-to-digital conversion (A/D) input pins, timer output pins, and port output pins, etc. This allows the same expansion board to be used with CPU boards that have different microcomputers.

The CD-ROM in the kits provides all the software, documentation, and other resources needed for microcomputer evaluation. The software includes the High-performance Embedded Workshop (HEW) integrated development environment with project management tools, a C/C++ compiler (free evaluation copy), Flash Development Toolkit (FDT) flash memory programmer (free evaluation copy), and sample code. Documentation in the CD includes user manuals, microcomputer hardware manuals, tutorials, and a soft copy of the Quick Start Guide. The installer that the CD provides can install all of the software and manuals together, which is a simpler and more convenient method than installing the items one at a time.

The ease of use that characterizes the Renesas Starter Kits is perhaps best explained by a brief summary of how to use one, derived by condensing the information in the Quick Start Guide. First, the user needs a PC that runs the Windows 98SE, Windows Me, Windows 2000, or Windows XP operating system and has a USB port available. The PC should have a 600MHz Pentium III or better processor and at least 128MB of RAM memory.

When the CD-ROM from the kit is inserted into the CD-ROM drive on the PC, the software installer starts automatically. To install the software required for evaluation, it's only necessary to follow the instructions that appear on the screen. (The E8 emulator should not be connected to the PC until the installation has been completed.)

Having finished the installation, the next step is to connect the display module to the CPU board, then connect the CPU board to the E8 emulator using the cable provided for that purpose. With that done, and the E8 emulator should be connected to the PC using the USB cable, whereupon the PC will detect the new hardware; i.e., the emulator. Because the E8 emulator and CPU board obtain their power supply from the USB port on the PC, no external power supply is required for the entire setup.

At that point, after just a few minutes of easy work, microcomputer experimentation and evaluation can be begin. The sample programs included on the CD can be used to test aspects of the microcomputer's performance such as the available code size. Of course, user programs such as benchmarks or actual application code can also be used.

The process of determining the specifications of the Renesas Starter Kits was a worldwide effort, involving microcomputer engineers from the USA, Asia, and Europe, as well as Japan. The goal of development team was to produce a series of affordable support tools that would encourage microcomputer users from all parts of the globe to try Renesas microcomputers, discover the features and benefits of the devices, and incorporate our chips into new system designs. This goal has been achieved. Shipments began in December 2005 and the kits have been so well received that total shipments exceeded 4,000 in Oct and are accelerating. By the end of 2006, kits for 25 different microcomputers will become available to customers (see Figure).

Development of kit content is ongoing. For instance, more sample programs are being considered, such as code for displaying a clock or calendar on the LCD display. Support for the Renesas Starter Kits is expanding, too. Kit-related information is now available on the web in both Japanese and English. The latest versions of the Quick Start Guide, user manuals, and other documentation can be downloaded, as can sample programs. To access the English language Web site, click here.