The overall environment has not been good in the past two years, with major manufacturers laying off employees and cutting costs, but Renesas seems different, continuously introducing new MCU/MPU products this year.
Recently, Renesas launched the RA4C1 series of low-power MCUs, based on the Arm Cortex-M33 core, offering low-power/low-voltage operation, LCD segment display, and advanced security features, meeting the DLMS-SUITE2 security specifications, specifically developed for smart metering applications.
DLMS (Device Language Message Specification) is the core communication standard in the field of smart metering. The protocol supports multi-energy metering scenarios for electricity, water, gas, etc., enabling data exchange between meters, concentrators, and other devices from different manufacturers through a unified international standard (IEC 62056 series) and object model (COSEM). DLMS certification has become a core condition for market access in the international smart meter market, and its compliance directly affects product export capabilities and technological competitiveness.
DLMS SUITE1 mainly meets basic communication interoperability, while SUITE2 certification requires devices to meet higher security standards. Therefore, DLMS-SUITE2 is increasingly becoming a competitive direction for meter manufacturers. The RA4C1 meets the DLMS-SUITE2 security specifications, helping meter manufacturers expand into more markets.
Main Features of RA4C1
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Low operating voltage and low power consumption: The RA4C1 operates at a voltage as low as 1.6V, with a standby current as low as 1.7µA, and features multiple low-power modes, allowing users to dynamically optimize power consumption/performance based on application requirements;
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Rich peripherals, integrating communication interfaces such as CAN FD, I2C, and low-power UART;
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Supports segment LCD;
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Advanced security features: Complies with DLMS-SUITE2 specifications;
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Package options: Available in LQFP 64/100pin.
RA Product Line and Positioning of RA4C1
New Member of RA Low-Power Products
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Expanding Renesas MCU Product Line for Meters
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RA4C1 Product Block Diagram
and Main Function Introduction
Product Block Diagram
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Main Functions
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80MHz Arm® Cortex®-M33, supports TrustZone;
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512KB dual-block flash memory and 96KB SRAM, 8KB data flash;
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168µA/MHz operating current, 1.73µA standby current, fast wake-up within 3.5µS;
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CAN FD;
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Multi-functional SCI serial port (UART, simple SPI, simple I2C), low-power UART;
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Supports XIP four-wire SPI;
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12-bit ADC;
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8×44 segment LCD driver.
For more performance details, please copy the link to your browser.
RA4C1 – Low-Power MCU Based on 80MHz Arm Cortex-M33 with TrustZone Support, Segment LCD Controller, and Advanced Security Features | Renesas Electronics
https://www.renesas.cn/zh/products/ra4c1?queryID=0c7a9de61286f0e59444ab05d8358113
Main Applications of RA4C1
The RA4C1 combines low power consumption and segment LCD functionality, meeting DLMS-SUITE2 security specifications, specifically developed for metering applications. It is also suitable for a wide range of other applications.
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RA4C1 Development Ecosystem
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Unified development platform for the RA series, easy to port;
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Flexible software package (FSP), including HAL drivers;
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Collaboration with Arm® ecosystem partners;
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Supports Renesas original development tools (e2studio, E2/E2 Lite);
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The RA4C1 development evaluation board is now available.
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Introduction to the RA4C1 Development Evaluation Board (EK-RA4C1)
The RA4C1 evaluation board is equipped with the RA4C1 microcontroller, and through Renesas’ Flexible Software Package (FSP) and e2studio IDE, it helps users easily evaluate the features of the RA4C1 and develop embedded system applications. Users can turn their ideas into reality using the rich onboard features and their choice of popular ecosystem plugins.
Copy the link to your browser for related information.
Flexible Software Package (FSP)
https://www.renesas.cn/zh/software-tool/flexible-software-package-fsp
e2studio
https://www.renesas.cn/zh/software-tool/e-studio
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For more information on using the RA4C1 development board, please refer to the RA4C1 development board quick start guide, copy the link to your browser.
EK-RA4C1 MCU Group Evaluation Kit | Renesas Electronics
https://www.renesas.cn/zh/design-resources/boards-kits/ek-ra4c1#overview
RA4C1 Package and Product Information
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For more information, you can copy the link to your browser.
RA4C1 – Low-Power MCU Based on 80MHz Arm Cortex-M33 with TrustZone Support, Segment LCD Controller, and Advanced Security Features | Renesas Electronics
https://www.renesas.cn/zh/products/ra4c1?queryID=0c7a9de61286f0e59444ab05d8358113#design_development\
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