Renesas Electronics Corporation announced the development of the PD720115 USB 2.0 hub controller chip, which supports simultaneous USB communication and charging of portable devices such as smartphones and tablet PCs via a single USB connector. The most important feature of the PD720115 is its implementation of USB ports with battery charging functionality which supports the USB Battery Charging Specification, Revision 1.2 (USB BC 1.2). The PD720115 will make it easier to develop products that support simultaneous data communication complying with the USB 2.0 standard and charging portable devices via a single USB connector, such as PCs, digital TVs, and charging adapters. It can help shorten system architecture development cycles and reduce development costs. In recent years, the USB communication market has become divided into two segments as a result of faster data transfer speeds. The first segment centers around storage devices, such as hard disk drives, which require high-speed data transfer. It utilizes the USB 3.0 standard, which supports data transfer speeds up to 5 gigabits per second (5 Gbps). The second segment includes applications such as digital TVs, printers, audio components, and industrial equipment. This segment employs the earlier USB 2.0 standard, which supports data transfer speeds up to 480 megabits per second (480 Mbps). USB 2.0 remains a widely used interface for connecting devices of all sorts. The European Commission (the executive of the EU) has adopted Micro USB as the standard charger interface for mobile phones, smartphones, and tablet PCs sold in Europe. As a result, applications in which the communication USB ports of PCs and docking stations are used for charging such portable devices are increasing. The market for products complying with the USB 2.0 standard in these application fields is growing rapidly, and it is expected to continue to expand moving forward. In response to this demand, Renesas decided to develop and introduce to the market the PD720115, utilizing technology accumulated over many years of developing products with USB support. Renesas has long devoted considerable attention to the USB interface, offering a broad lineup of microcontroller (MCU) products equipped with USB functions. The PD720115 is a USB hub controller suitable for a wide variety of systems requiring USB functionality, and is also ideal for extending the number of ports of a USB MCU. Key Features of the New PD720115: Supporting the USB BC 1.2 standard, for easy development of USB charging system architectures. The PD720115 implements a total of four USB ports with battery charging functionality. It supports the USB BC 1.2 standard, which supports charging currents of up to 1.5 amperes (A). Since the PD720115 supports both USB communication and rapid battery charging in this way, developing a USB charging system architecture is easy; built-in dual voltage regulators and clock output function, making it possible to build more compact systems at a lower cost comparable earlier products required external voltage regulators, but the PD720115 integrates a 5 volt (V) and a 3.3 volt (V) regulator on-chip. This allows the user to employ the 5 V from the USB cable as a power supply without modification. There is no need to include an external regulator in the system design. The PD720115 also has a clock output function (24 MHz) to enable cascade connection of the USB ports to other PD720115 chips or connection to other chips used by USB peripheral devices. This eliminates the need to add an external crystal oscillator for the lower-level chip, as was previously the case. The PD720115 makes it possible to create a USB charging system architecture that is both lower in cost and more compact; operating temperature range extending down to --40deg, enabling use in a wide range of application fields comparable earlier products had an operating temperature range with a lower limit of 0deg or above, but the PD720115 extends this down to --40deg. This provides support for the operating temperature range requirements of typical industrial equipment. Samples of the PD720115 USB 2.0 hub controller chip will start in June 2013. Mass production of the PD720115 is scheduled to begin in September 2013 and is expected to reach a scale of 1,000,000 units per month in 2014. Battery charging via the USB port utilizes the VBUS pin the USB connector. To control the current used to charge the connected portable device, USB BC 1.2 defines a mechanism for detecting whether or not the port of the connected device supports charging. A charging current of up to 1.5 A can be used. To extend the number of ports, a port is connected to the port of a USB hub.

Renesas Electronics Corporation reported consolidated and non consolidated financial results for the year ended March 31, 2013. For the period, the company reported consolidated net sales of ¥785,764 million compared to ¥883,112 million a year ago. Operating loss was ¥23,217 million against ¥56,750 million a year ago. Net loss was ¥167,581 million against ¥62,600 million a year ago. Net loss per basic share was ¥401.76 against ¥150.08 per share a year ago. Ordinary loss was ¥26,862 million against ¥61,228 million a year ago. Cash flows from operating activities were ¥54,101 million against ¥9,696 million a year ago. Capital expenditures were ¥137.1 billion. Net assets as of March 31, 2013 was ¥77.9 per share. For the quarter, the company reported non-consolidated net sales of ¥676,275 million compared to ¥733,890 million a year ago. Operating loss was ¥61,050 million against ¥79,678 million a year ago. Net loss was ¥189,002 million against ¥46,337 billion a year ago. Net loss per basic share was ¥453.11 against ¥111.09 per share a year ago. Ordinary loss was ¥30,781 million against ¥56,186 million a year ago.

Renesas Electronics Corporation, Board Meeting, May 09, 2013. Agenda: To consider the nomination of part of a candidate for the Member of the Board to be submitted for approval at the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders held in June 2013; and to consider the changes in its Representative Directors as well as the titles to be officially appointed at a meeting of the Board of Directors scheduled after the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders.