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Cortex-M23 MCU Upgraded with 24-bit ΣΔ ADC and OTA Firmware

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March 21, 2024

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Renesas, a leading semiconductor company, has recently unveiled an innovative addition to its microprocessor lineup. The new RA2A2 devices feature a 24-bit ΣΔ (sigma-delta) ADC integrated with a 48 MHz Arm Cortex-M23 microprocessor. In addition, these devices come equipped with dual-bank code flash memory, enabling seamless over-the-air firmware updates.

The company highlights the energy-efficient operation of the RA2A2 devices, boasting multiple power structures and voltage detection hardware that allow for power consumption as low as 100µA/MHz in active mode and a mere 0.40µA in software stand-by mode. Renesas also emphasizes the inclusion of an independent power supply real-time clock, which significantly extends battery life for applications requiring long-term management.

Among the notable features of the RA2A2 devices are AES hardware crypto-acceleration, random number generation, a ±1.0% on-chip oscillator, a temperature sensor, and operational capabilities ranging from 1.6V to 5.5V and temperatures from -40°C to +105°C.

The 24-bit ΣΔ converter within the RA2A2 devices is accompanied by a 10ppm/°C reference and a programmable gain amplifier that offers six input spans ranging from ±500mV to ±15.6mV. Various sampling modes are available, providing flexibility with sampling rates between 3.9 and 8.3kHz. Additionally, the devices feature a phase adjustment circuit, a digital filter, and a high-pass filter to enhance performance.

Complementing the high-resolution ADC is a separate multi-input 12-bit ADC capable of rapid conversions in under 1μs or operating at lower speeds for power efficiency. One of the inputs is directly linked to an on-die temperature sensor. The RA2A2 group consists of four variants, each equipped with 2x 256kbtye program flash, 8kbyte data flash, and 48kbyte RAM, packaged in LQFP form factors with varying pad counts.

All RA2A2 MCUs feature an LCD controller that supports a growing number of segments as the package size increases, catering to diverse application requirements. Renesas has integrated various reliability-enhancing mechanisms, including parity, error-correction, self-diagnosis, and monitoring circuits, to ensure robust and stable operation.

These advanced MCUs are specifically designed for applications in smart energy management, building automation, medical devices, and other sectors that can leverage remote firmware updates. Renesas envisions the RA2A2 devices playing a crucial role in next-generation smart electricity meters, enabling precise energy consumption monitoring through detailed analysis of current and voltage loads.

For more information on the RA2A2 group MCUs and to explore evaluation kits, visit Renesas' official website.

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