This set of features and performance metrics is ideal for battery-powered applications that require strict security, such as industrial gas, water, and flow meters, as well as smart locks, thermostats, building controls, and industrial user interfaces.
The RA4C1 MCUs employ a proprietary low-power technology that delivers 168 µA/MHz in active mode at 80 MHz and a standby current of less than 1.79 µA with all SRAM retained; the RA4C1 also supports a real-time clock (RTC) with its own dedicated power domain, making it easy to back up the battery for time.
This performance, along with compatibility with input voltages as low as 1.6 V, helps customers design battery-powered applications that utilize smaller batteries or deliver increased performance with existing battery sizes.
Robust security is a critical requirement for metering systems. The RA4C1 MCUs offer an RSIP-300 security engine, providing an isolated subsystem managed and protected by dedicated control logic. The new devices also include support for a 256-bit hardware unique key and a true random number generator (TRNG), key management functionality with the ability to generate wrapped keys, SHA algorithms, hardware acceleration of AES and ECC compliant with NIST curves, and Brainpool with a key length of up to 384 bits. The RA4C1 has also achieved PSA Certified Level 1 certification with the extension for compliance with the European Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), in line with Renesas' ongoing commitment to cybersecurity and compliance with upcoming European regulations.
A dual-bank, 512 KB integrated flash memory enables easy and secure software updates, with 96 KB of SRAM and 8 KB of flash memory for on-chip data storage. Peripherals include a low-power ADC, an integrated temperature sensor with 1% accuracy, and an integrated LCD controller for low-power displays.
The RA4C1 MCUs are compatible with Renesas' Flexible Software Package (FSP). The FSP enables faster application development by providing all the necessary infrastructure software, including multiple RTOSs, BSPs, peripheral drivers, middleware, connectivity, networking, and TrustZone support, as well as reference software for building complex AI, motor control, and cloud solutions. It allows customers to integrate their own legacy code and their chosen RTOS with the FSP, providing complete flexibility in application development. The FSP also facilitates migration of existing IP to and from RA6 or RA2 series devices.
Main features of the RA4C1 MCU
Core: Arm Cortex-M33 at 80 MHz with TrustZone
Memory: 256-512 Kbytes of dual-bank flash memory, 96 Kbytes of SRAM and 8 Kbytes of flash memory for data
Peripherals: CAN FD, LPUART (low power), SCI, SPI, QSPI, I2C, ADC, real-time clock with battery backup, temperature sensor, low-power timer, segmented LCD
Package: 10 mm x 10 mm LQFP64; 14 mm x 14 mm LQFP100
Security: Unique identification, TRNG-compatible RSIP security engine, AES, ECC, Hash, and lifecycle management
