Low power ARM M33 microcontroller family for consumer designs

Renesas Electronics has introduced a new series of low-power microcontrollers designed for consumer equipment, featuring the ARM Cortex-M33 core. The RA4L1 microcontroller family consists of 14 devices that operate at an 80MHz clock speed to optimize power efficiency. These devices come equipped with power-saving modes and advanced security features to meet the demands of modern applications.

One of the key highlights of the RA4L1 series is its support for segment LCD displays and capacitive touch sensors, making it suitable for a wide range of applications such as water meters, smart locks, and IoT sensors. The microcontrollers are equipped with a unique ID and a security engine that supports TRNG, AES, hash encryption, and ECC error correction, ensuring robust data protection.

Utilizing proprietary low-power technology, the RA4L1 series boasts impressive power consumption figures, with only 168 µA/MHz in active mode and a standby current as low as 1.70 µA. The devices feature 256 to 512 KB of Dual-Bank Flash memory for over-the-air updates, 64 KB of SRAM, and 8 KB of dataflash, enabling seamless operation and quick recovery from sleep mode.

In addition to their performance and power efficiency, the RA4L1 microcontrollers come in compact packages to cater to various form factors. These include a 3.64 x 4.28 mm Wafer-Level Chip-Scale Package (WLCSP), ideal for applications like portable printers, digital cameras, and smart labels, where space is a premium.

Supporting the RA4L1 MCUs is Renesas' Flexible Software Package (FSP), which provides a comprehensive suite of software tools for application development. The FSP includes infrastructure software such as real-time operating systems (RTOS), board support packages (BSP), peripheral drivers, middleware, connectivity solutions, networking protocols, and TrustZone support, enabling developers to build complex AI, motor control, and cloud-based applications.

According to Daryl Khoo, Vice President of Embedded Processing Marketing Division at Renesas, "The RA4L1 Group addresses the growing demand for ultra-low power consumption, enhanced CPU performance, segment LCD support, and advanced security features in microcontrollers. This series offers a unique combination of capabilities to meet the evolving needs of our customers."

With package options ranging from the compact WLCSP72 to larger LQFP and BGA packages, the RA4L1 MCUs provide flexibility for different application requirements. The devices are designed to operate within a wide ambient temperature range, ensuring reliability and performance across various operating conditions.

The RA4L1 microcontrollers are now available, along with the FSP software package, enabling developers to kickstart their projects efficiently. Renesas is also offering an RA4L1 Evaluation Board and an RA4L1 Capacitive Touch Renesas Solution Starter Kit (RSSK) to facilitate rapid prototyping and development.

For more information about the RA4L1 microcontroller series and related solutions, visit renesas.com/RA4L1.