Renesas RA2E1 Group MCUs

Renesas Electronics has expanded its 32-bit RA2 series microcontrollers (MCUs) with the RA2E1 Group of 48 MCUs. Based on the 48 MHz Arm Cortex-M23 core, the MCUs are entry-line, single-chip devices with up to 128 KB code flash and 16 KB SRAM memory.

The MCUs support a wide operating voltage range of 1.6 to 5.5 V and a large selection of packages such as LQFP, QFN, LGA, BGA and wafer-level chip scale package (WLCSP). They deliver high-performance, ultralow-power consumption, innovative peripherals and small package options. These features make the group useful for cost-sensitive applications and other systems requiring high performance and low energy consumption in space-constrained applications. The MCUs offer an upgrade path with hardware and software scalability, so they are a suitable entry point into the Renesas RA family.

The MCU’s upgraded low-power capability covers all on-chip peripherals, the flash memory and SRAM. This capability allows the smallest possible power consumption over the device’s entire temperature and voltage range. System design flexibility is maximised across diverse applications via multiple low-power modes. When benchmarked for power consumption, the MCU was certified with an EEMBC ULPMark score of 321 at 1.8 V. Users can minimise active power consumption close to standby levels to extend battery life.

The MCUs also offer an IEC60730 self-test library and feature integrated safety functions that provide confirmation of normal operation. These functions can be used to perform MCU self-diagnostics. In addition, the devices include an AES cryptography accelerator, true random number generator (TRNG) and memory protection units that provide the fundamental blocks to develop a secure IoT system.

The group is supported by the easy-to-use Flexible Software Package (FSP), which includes a HAL driver and uses a GUI to accelerate the development process, while also making it easy to transition from an original 8-/16-bit MCU design. Designers using the MCUs have access to the extensive Arm partner ecosystem, offering a wide range of tools that help reduce time to market.