RX23E-A with integrated sigma-delta ADC — instrumentation-grade measurement on a 32-bit MCU
The Renesas R5F523E6SDFL#10 is a 32-bit MCU from the RX23E-A series, built around the RXv2 core running at 32 MHz. It packs 256 KB of Flash program memory, 32K x 8 of RAM, and 8K x 8 of EEPROM — enough for moderate sensor-fusion algorithms and calibration tables. The standout feature is the dual ADC block: six 12-bit successive-approximation channels for general-purpose analog inputs, plus twelve 24-bit sigma-delta channels for high-resolution measurements like strain gauge, thermocouple, or load-cell readouts. This combination makes the part a natural fit for precision instrumentation, weigh scales, pressure transmitters, and industrial sensor nodes where you need both a control MCU and a precision analog front-end in one package. The 48-LQFP package (7x7 mm body) keeps the board footprint compact, with 16 I/O lines accessible for digital control and communication.
CAN bus and serial connectivity for networked control
The R5F523E6SDFL#10 includes a CANbus interface alongside I²C, SCI (UART), and SPI peripherals. This makes it straightforward to integrate into a CAN-based industrial network — think actuator control, sensor hubs, or distributed I/O nodes — while keeping a serial debug or configuration channel open. The DMA controller and PWM timer support efficient data movement and waveform generation without loading the core.
Renesas lists the R5F523E6SDFL#10 as Active with ROHS3 compliance. The RX23E-A series is a current product line, and Renesas continues to support it with documentation and tools.
What the 24-bit sigma-delta ADC means for the BOM
The twelve 24-bit sigma-delta ADC channels eliminate the need for an external precision ADC or instrumentation amplifier in many sensor applications. For a weigh-scale or pressure-transmitter design, the MCU directly reads the bridge output at 24-bit resolution, handles the digital filtering, and communicates the result over CAN or I²C. This integration saves board space, reduces component count, and simplifies the supply chain — one MCU instead of an MCU plus a separate ADC plus a reference. The 12-bit SAR ADC handles faster, lower-resolution tasks like monitoring supply rails or temperature diodes.