Draft:Renesas RA

• Comment: This reads like a catalog sheet. AngusW🐶🐶F (bark • sniff) 19:09, 4 December 2020 (UTC)

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Renesas Advanced (RA) are 32-bit MCUs with Arm® Cortex®-M33, -M23 and -M4 processor cores. The three Renesas RA Family MCU series are based on 32-bit Arm® Cortex®-M cores. All three Renesas RA Series have been designed on common DNA, making these products feature- and pin-compatible. RA integrates Secure Element functionality with PSA certification for secure Internet-of-Things devices for different applications, including devices from Industry 4.0 .

History

Hardware (Target devices)

• Initial line-up launched in October 2019 (RA2A1, RA4M1, RA6M1, RA6M2, RA6M3)
• Wireless extension May 2020 (RA4W1)

Software (Software Packet)

• v2.2.0 released in December 2020 at the same time as the RA2L1
• v2.0.0 was released on Github at the same time as the RA6M4 in October 2020
• v1.0.0 was released in March 2020.
• v0.8.0 released in October 2019 on Github

MCU Series

The three Renesas RA Series are feature- and pin-compatible - RA2, RA4 und RA6

Series	Performance	Memory ranges	Series indicator
RA6	Up to 120MHz	High memory integration: up to 2MB Flash, 640kB SRAM	Advanced performance, connectivity, Security
RA4	Up to 48MHz	Medium memory integration: up to 256kB Flash,32kB SRAM	Excellent low power high performance mix paired with Security. Wireless option
RA2	Up to 48MHz	Small memory integration: 256kB Flash, 32kB SRAM	Low power

RA2 Series operating voltage [1.6-5.5 V] - Max. Operating frequency [48 MHz] [1.6-5.5 V]

The RA2 microcontroller series is optimized for low power consumption and offers a CPU performance of up to 48 MHz with an Arm Cortex-M23 core with up to 256 KB integrated flash memory and a single power supply in the range from 1.6 V to 5 .5V. With peripherals such as capacitive touch , the RA2 series is ideal for system control or user interface applications such as healthcare equipment, home appliances, office equipment, and meters.

Group	Flash (KB)	SRAM (KB)	Number of Pins	Features
RA2A1	256	32	32-64	Five variants with Arm Cortex-M23 core with 48 MHz, 32-64-pin housing, 256 KB flash memory and 32 KB SRAM, including capacitive touch, USB full-speed, 24-bit A / D converter , 16-bit A / D converter, security and Safety features

RA4 Series

The RA4 series combines the need for low power consumption with the need for connectivity and computing power. These microcontrollers offer a CPU performance of up to 48 MHz using an Arm Cortex-M4 core with up to 256 KB of integrated flash memory. The series offers a wide range of peripherals, including USB, CAN, ADC, capacitive touch, a segment LCD controller and additional IP security integration. This makes it suitable for industrial plants, household appliances, office equipment, health products and measuring devices.

Group	Flash (KB)	SRAM (KB)	Number of Pins	Operating voltage (V)	Maximum operating frequency(MHz)	Features
RA4M1	256	32	40-100	1.6-5.5	48	Seven variants of 48 MHz microcontroller with Arm Cortex-M4 core, 40-100-pin housings, 256 KB flash memory and 32 KB SRAM, including segment LCD controller, capacitive touch, USB full-speed, 14- Bit A / D converter, security and safety features
RA4W1	512	96	56	1.8-3.6	48	Bluetooth Low Energy 5.0 microcontroller with Arm Cortex-M4 core at 48 MHz with 56-pin QFN housing, 512 KB flash memory and 96 KB SRAM, including segment LCD controller, capacitive touch, USB full-speed, 14 -Bit A / D converter, security and safety features

RA6 Series - Operating voltage [2.7-3.6 V] - Max. Operating frequency [200 MHz]

The RA6 series offers the most comprehensive integration of communication interfaces and the highest level of performance. These microcontrollers contain an Arm Cortex-M4 or Cortex-M33 core, a memory area of ​​512 KB to 2 MB Flash and a CPU performance of up to 200 MHz. The series offers the integration of Ethernet, USB full-speed and USB high-speed, QSPI, Octa-SPI, CAN and TFT screen drivers. The RA6 series is suitable for applications such as IoT endpoints, white goods, counters and other industrial and consumer applications.

Group	Flash (KB)	SRAM (KB)	Number of Pins	Features
RA6M1	512	256	64-100	Four variants of 120 MHz microcontrollers with Arm Cortex-M4 core, 64-100-pin housings, 512 KB flash memory and 256 KB SRAM as well as capacitive touch, CAN, USB full-speed, security functions and analog functionality
RA6M2	512-1024	384	100-145	Six variants of 120 MHz microcontroller with Arm Cortex-M4 core, 100-145-pin housings, up to 1 MB flash memory and 384 KB SRAM as well as capacitive touch, Ethernet, CAN, USB full-speed, security , Safety and analog functionality
RA6M3	1024-2048	640	100-176	Ten variants of 120 MHz microcontrollers with Arm Cortex-M4 core with 100-176-pin housing, up to 2 MB flash memory and 640 KB SRAM as well as TFT-LCD controller, 2D graphics engine and capacitive touch, Ethernet , CAN, USB, security, safety and analog functionality
RA6M4	512-1024	256	64-144	Nine variants of 200 MHz microcontrollers with Arm Cortex-M33 core with 64-144-pin housings, up to 1MB flash memory and 256 kB SRAM, as well as capacitive touch, Ethernet, CAN, USB full-speed, OctaSPI, security , Safety and analog functionality

Software

Flexible software package

The RA Flexible Software Package (FSP) includes drivers for all peripheral elements of the RA microcontroller that FreeRTOS RTOS , Middleware Stacks, and defined APIs to the entire ecosystem arm to use.

Download on Github

Features

• HAL driver
• Configurator and code generator
• Static and dynamic analysis with industry standard tools
• Application support in RTOS and non-RTOS environments
• FreeRTOS support
• Tool to configure RTOS resources (threads, mutexes, etc.)
• TCP / IP and other connectivity protocol stacks
• Easy connectivity options to major cloud providers
• USB middleware support for CDC and mass storage classes
• Secure connections via Mbed TLS
• Enable PSA cryptographic APIs and support for built-in hardware acceleration
• Graphic interface tools with Segger emWin and TES Dave2D
• Safe debugging functions
• Renesas tool support and third-party solutions
• Full source code available on GitHub

Components

• CMSIS-package files for the integrated development environment Renesas e2 studio
• Board Support Package (BSP) for RA microcontrollers and evaluation boards
• HAL driver for peripherals
• Middleware-Stacks and protocols
• Module configurators and code-generators
• Source files for integration in development environment exercises and tools from third-party providers

Tool-chain

The RA FSP supports the following development environments with the appropriate Compiler  : e2 studio IDE (GCC Compiler for Arm), Arm Keil MDK (Arm Compiler v6), IAR Embedded Workbench

Debugger

• SEGGER J-Link
• Renesas E2 & E2 Lite

Ecosystem

In addition to the Renesas e2 Studio IDE, the FSP also supports third-party tools and IDEs. This support is provided by the RA Smart Configurators (RASC) application. The Renesas RA Smart Configurator is a desktop application that can be used to configure the software system (BSP, drivers, RTOS and middleware) for an RA microcontroller when using a third party IDE and toolchain. The RA Smart Configurator can currently be used with IAR Embedded Workbench, Keil MDK and the Arm Compiler 6 toolchains.

Evaluation boards

Evaluation boards RA6 Series

EK-RA6M3G [1] (with optional graphic plug-on board) , EK-RA6M3 [2] , EK-RA6M2 [3], EK-RA6M1 [4], EK-RA6M4 [5].

Evaluation boards RA4 Series

EK-RA4M1 [6], EK-RA4W1 [7]

Evaluation boards RA2 series

EK-RA2A1 [8], RA2L1 [9]

Tools

Compiler

• GCC Compiler for Arm
• Arm Keil MDK (Arm Compiler v6)
• IAR Embedded Workbench

Debugger

The ARM CoreSight Debugger-IP supports a wide variety of on-chip debuggers. The Segger J-Link family [10] and the Renesas E2 [11] / E2 Lite debuggers [12] fully support SWD and JTAG connections as well as ETM and ETB trace data.

• Segger J-Link
• Renesas E2 and E2 lite

Partner

The RA Partner Ecosystem offers a range of software and hardware modules that are ready for immediate use with MCUs from the Renesas RA family. The RA-Ready label indicates a kind of certified partnership. The solutions have been tested and are explained in videos and application notes.

Documentation

Part number description

Component designation with digits from left to right:

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
R	7	F	A	6	M	3	A	H	2	C	BG
Renesas	MCU	Flash	Advanced	Series	Application	Group	Feature	Flash	Temp	Quality	Housing type

#5 2: RA2 Series, 4: RA4 Series, 6: RA6 Series

#6: Application: A - Analogue, M - Mainstream, W - Wireless

#9 Flash in KB: 3 (16) 4 (24), 5 (32), 6 (48), 7 (64), 8 (96), 9 (128), A (192), B (256), C (384), D (512),E (768), F (1024), G (1536), H (2048)

#10: 2 [-40°C to 85°C], 3 [-40°C to 105°C]

#11: C :Q2A Industrial, D: Q2B Consumer

#12,13# 15 + 16. Housing

	Housing shape	Number of Pins	Size in mm	Distance of the Pins in mm
BG	BGA	176	13x13	0.8
FC	LQFP	174	24x24	0.5
FB	LQFP	144	20x20	0.5
FP	LQFP	100	14x14	0.5
FF	LQFP	80	14x14	0.65
FN	LQFP	80	12x12	0.5
FK	LQFP	64	14x14	0.8
FM	LQFP	64	10x10	0.5
BU	BGA	64	4x4	0.4
FL	LQFP	48	7x7	0.5
LM	LGA	36	4x4	0.5
FJ	LQFP	32	7x7	0.8
NH	VQFN	32	5x5	0.5

More links

• Better security, and machine learning, for Renesas RA MCU support software [13]
• Renesas Goes Mainstream. New ARM-Based Processors are Not Like the Others [14]
• Renesas adds nine RA6M4 MCUs [15]
• Avnet introduces Renesas RA product lineup [16]
• Motor Control Evaluation System for RA Family - RA6T1 Group, Out-of-the-Box: The New RA6T1 Motor Control Starter Kit [17]
• Digi-Key blog on development using RA [18]
• Future Electronics introduces to Renesas RA [19]
• HEX-Five joins RA ecosystem [20]
• Mouser's line-up of RA products [21]
• IAR Systems supports Renesas RA and Renesas RX microcontroller family [22]
• Software Extends Security, Connectivity, Motor Control and Machine Learning Features [23]
• Updated Flexible Software Package That Supports RA Family of MCUs [24]
• Renesas Extends Bluetooth 5.0 Connectivity to RA Family of 32-Bit MCUs with Arm Cortex-M Core [25]

White Papers

• Securing your IP and Protecting Sensitive Data (https://www.renesas.com/doc/whitepapers/iot-security/whitepaper-security-data-at-rest.pdf)
• How to Solve the 6 Top Security Challenges of Embedded IoT Design (https://www.renesas.com/doc/whitepapers/iot-security/iot-security-whitepaper.pdf)
• Security for the Connected World (https://www.renesas.com/doc/whitepapers/iot-security/security-for-the-connected-world.pdf)
• Secure Internet Communication for IoT Applications (https://www.renesas.com/doc/whitepapers/iot-security/secure-internet-communication-iot-applications.pdf)