Renesas UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A

Overview

UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A from Renesas Electronics is a 4-bit single-chip microcontroller optimized for infrared remote control transmission, featuring on-chip oscillator, 2026 × 10-bit one-time PROM, 32 × 4-bit RAM, 8 KI/O pins, and S0–S3 sense inputs (including S3 exclusive to µPD6P8B). It operates from 1.9–3.6 V at –40 to +85°C ambient, with programmable carrier timing down to 250 ns for NEC-format IR protocols in consumer AV and home appliance remotes.

For engineers reviewing the UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A datasheet, UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A pinout, UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A application, or UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A equivalent, this page delivers verified technical context, exact pin functions, real-world IR transmitter design values, and two validated alternative microcontrollers for remote control system development.

Technical Context

The UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A integrates an on-chip oscillator (4 MHz typical), eliminating external crystal requirements, and supports serial PROM programming via SO/SCLK/SI pins. Its carrier generator allows independent high/low pulse width configuration from 250 ns to 64 µs at fX = 4 MHz using modulo registers - enabling precise NEC, RC-5, or custom IR modulation.

It implements a 9-bit programmable timer (clocked at fX/64) for frame timing, a 1-level stack shared with RAM register RF, and POC circuit with RAM retention detection. The S0–S3 sense ports support up to 64-key matrix expansion, while REM output drives IR LEDs directly with active-high carrier signal synchronized to S1/LED display output.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A uses a 20-pin plastic SSOP package (7.62 mm width, 300 mil), lead-free per RoHS compliance. Pin functions are validated per Renesas Data Sheet U17848EJ5V0DS, Section 1.1 (Normal Operation Mode) and Figure 4 (µPD6P8B PIN CONFIGURATION).

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar infrared remote control microcontroller applications.

Compared with UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A, UPD6P8AMC-5A4-A adds external timing dependency but retains serial programming, while UPD6P8MC-5A4-A sacrifices integration and upgradeability for minimal gate count - making UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A optimal for new designs demanding compactness, battery life, and field-programmable IR protocols.

Availability

UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for infrared remote control transmitters, consumer AV equipment interfaces, and battery-powered home appliance remotes requiring stable component supply across long-lifecycle production runs.

Supply support for UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Renesas Electronics Corporation is a global semiconductor leader specializing in microcontrollers, analog, and power solutions for automotive, industrial, and consumer markets.

The µPD6P8 family was designed specifically for cost-sensitive, ultra-low-power infrared remote control transmitters - integrating carrier generation, key scanning, and protocol encoding into a single 20-pin SSOP device.

FAQ

What is the oscillator configuration of UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A?

The UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A features an on-chip internal oscillator operating at 4 MHz (typical), eliminating the need for external crystals or ceramic resonators. This oscillator is factory-trimmed and fully integrated - confirmed in Renesas Data Sheet U17848EJ5V0DS, Section 5 (BLOCK DIAGRAM) and Table on page 5. The UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A does not use XIN/XOUT pins for clock generation; those pins are repurposed in this variant.

How many sense input pins does UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A support, and what are their functions?

UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A supports four sense input pins: S0, S1/LED, S2, and S3. S0–S2 function identically to earlier variants, while S3 is exclusive to µPD6P8B and enables expanded key matrix decoding up to 64 keys. All four pins support software-configurable internal pull-down and STOP mode wake-up - detailed in Pin Function Table (page 9) and LIST OF FUNCTIONS (page 5) of the UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A datasheet.

Can UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A drive an IR LED directly, and what is the REM pin's electrical specification?

Yes, the REM pin of UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A is a CMOS push-pull output capable of directly driving an IR LED anode through an external current-limiting resistor. It delivers active-high output with rail-to-rail swing (VDD referenced), rated for 4 mA sink/source per Renesas Electrical Specifications (Section 16, page 82). The REM signal is synchronized with S1/LED for precise visual feedback during transmission.

What programming interface does UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A use for firmware loading?

UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A uses a 3-wire serial programming interface: SO (serial output), SCLK (serial clock), and SI (serial input). This eliminates the need for parallel programming hardware and enables in-circuit firmware loading. Programming procedure, timing, and command format are defined in Section 13 of the UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A datasheet (pages 66–68), confirming full compatibility with Renesas' standard serial PROM writer tools.

Is UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A RoHS compliant, and what does the "-A" suffix indicate?

Yes, UPD6P8BMC-5A4-A is RoHS compliant. The "-A" suffix explicitly denotes lead-free packaging, as stated in the Ordering Information section (page 2) of the Renesas datasheet: "Products that have the part numbers suffixed by '-A' are lead-free products." The device meets EU RoHS Directive requirements and uses matte tin plating on its 20-pin SSOP leads.