Janvier 2012 Using low power on RL78/G13 Cyprien MORISSE

Using low power on

RL78/G13
Application note
Cyprien Morisse
2011- 2012

0
Janvier 2012 Using low power on RL78/G13 Cyprien MORISSE

Sommaire
Introduction _______________________________________________________________ 2
1. Architecture overview of RL78/G13 _________________________________________ 2
2. Three modes of power management ________________________________________ 3
2.1 HALT Mode ______________________________________________________________ 4
2.1.1 Detailed description ______________________________________________________________ 4
2.1.2 Operation During Halt Mode _______________________________________________________ 4

2.2 Stop Mode _______________________________________________________________ 4

2.2.1 Detailed description ______________________________________________________________ 4
2.2.2 Operation during stop mode _______________________________________________________ 5

2.3 Snooze Mode ____________________________________________________________ 5

2.3.1 Detailed description ______________________________________________________________ 5
2.3.2 Operation during snooze mode _____________________________________________________ 5

Annexe____________________________________________________________________ 7

1
Janvier 2012 Using low power on RL78/G13 Cyprien MORISSE

Introduction

The Renesas RL78/G13 microcontroller is a microcontroller processing performance low poer. When
high performance is required, the RL78 CPUcan run. When high performance is not required, current
draw drops to a very low 0.57μA by using the internal 32.768 kHz oscillator.

This application note present the RL78/G13 and his mode power management.

1. Architecture overview of RL78/G13

With the RL78/G13 microcontroller you can program low-power operations.

The next figure shows a simplified diagram of an RL78/G13 MCU (128 pin). The RL78 CPU operates on
32 registers, organized as 4 banks.

Figure 1 : Diagram of RL78/G13(128 pin)

2
Janvier 2012 Using low power on RL78/G13 Cyprien MORISSE

2. Three modes of power management

On the RL78/G13 there are specials operating Modes which stop chip functions. If your program
needs only one part of the microcontroller you can disable some part of the microcontroller and
reduce power.

The three main power management modes are Halt, Stop and Snooze.

 In the Halt mode only the CPU clock is disabled. All peripheral functions are functional.
 The STOP mode is the most low power operating mode. This mode disables the CPU clock,
data transfers memory, the clock oscillator and all peripheral device thereby considerably
reducing power.
 The Snooze Mode work almost in the same manner as Halt mode but some peripheral
function can ‘wake-up’ and execute simple operations even though the rest of the device is
stopped. This mode is fewer consumers than Run or Halt mode. The CPU can be off and only
the peripherals useful can be enable

The next figure shows an operational flow diagram for these three modes.

Figure 2 : Operational Flow of Low Power Modes

3
Janvier 2012 Using low power on RL78/G13 Cyprien MORISSE

2.1 HALT Mode

2.1.1 Detailed description

Before the Halt mode enable, every oscillator device which used, continue during the Halt mode. The
CPU is deactivated but other functions can continue and consume power.

For set the Halt mode you must execute the Halt instruction. The advantage of the Halt mode is this
mode is effective for restarting operation immediately upon interrupt request generation and
carrying out intermittent operations frequently.

To resume Halt Mode is the best mode if you want restart CPU operation quilky.

2.1.2 Operation During Halt Mode

As previously mentioned, in Halt Mode, the CPU is stopped to save power. If one of the high-speed
clocks was selected prior to entering the Halt Mode, that clock continues to operate and the others
are disabled. Additionally, subsystem clock settings are retained during the Halt Mode. All peripheral
functions can continue operation.

Peripherals that you can use during the Halt mode are:
 DMA function
 A/D converter
 UART
 RTC
 Interval Timer, Watchdog Timer
 External Interrupt, Key Interrupt
 General-purpose CRC

These functions can be disabled if you want more reduce power.

But it’s important to be careful about if the low-power consumption RTC Mode is enabled, additional
functions are disabled – specifically, the Timer Array Unit, Clock Output, Serial Array Unit,
Multiplier/Divider and DMA are not operating.

2.2 Stop Mode

2.2.1 Detailed description

For set the Stop mode you must execute the Stop instruction. In the Stop mode the main system
clocks are all stopped. The current consumer is lower than others mode. Because this mode can be
cleared by an interrupt request, it enables intermittent operations to be carried out.

Stop Mode offers very low power consumption. However, because the high-speed clocks must
‘wake-up’ and stabilize prior to operation, Stop Mode is best used when the response time required
is longer than the ‘wake-up’ time, which could be as long as 20μsec.

4
Janvier 2012 Using low power on RL78/G13 Cyprien MORISSE

The problem is there is a wait time to be sure that the oscillation of the clock is good when you
restart on the Run Mode. You can see this time on the next figure :

Figure 3 : wait time

2.2.2 Operation during stop mode

There are not a lot of device enable during the Stop mode. You can continue to use:
 RTC interval timer
 Watchdog timer
 Power-on Reset
 External interrupt and Key interrupt

In the same manner of the Halt mode you can be selectively disabled to save more power if
necessary.

The Serial Interface (IICA) can generate a ‘wake-up’ signal on an address match and return operation
to the Run Mode. The Clock output is operable only if the subsystem clock is selected as the count
clock.

2.3 Snooze Mode

2.3.1 Detailed description

For set the Snooze mode you must execute the Snooze instruction The Snooze mode is an alternate
mode between the Stop and Run mode. You can’t directly pass on the Snooze mode if your system is
on Halt mode.

The best advantage of this mode is that you can make simple operations using peripheral not enable
in the Stop mode. And you avoid the wake-up time associated with the normal transition from Stop
to Run. Your system can pass to Snooze to Stop Mode without pass by Run mode and you can save a
lot of power.

2.3.2 Operation during snooze mode

In the Snooze Mode, the CPU is stopped to save power and the subsystem clock settings are
retained. Most peripheral functions are disabled, but you can use these peripherals:
 RTC
 Interval timer, Watchdog Timer
 Power-on Reset
 External interrupt and Key interrupt.

5
Janvier 2012 Using low power on RL78/G13 Cyprien MORISSE

In the same manner of the Halt mode and Stop mode, you can be selectively disabled to save more
power if necessary.

The Clock output is operable only if the subsystem clock is selected as the count clock. The Timer
Array Unit, Multiplier/Divider, DMA Controller, high-speed CRC, CRC operation and illegal memory
access functions are disabled.

6
Janvier 2012 Using low power on RL78/G13 Cyprien MORISSE

Annexe

7
Janvier 2012 Using low power on RL78/G13 Cyprien MORISSE

8
Janvier 2012 Using low power on RL78/G13 Cyprien MORISSE

9
Janvier 2012 Using low power on RL78/G13 Cyprien MORISSE

10