TOKYO, Japan, Aug 26, 2025 – Security for battery-powered devices is getting a boost. Renesas Electronics has introduced the RA4C1 microcontroller (MCU) group built on an 80MHz Arm Cortex-M33 processor, combining low power use, security features, communication interfaces, and segment LCD support. The MCUs are designed for applications where energy efficiency and data protection are critical – including gas, water, and industrial flow meters, as well as smart locks, thermostats, building controls, and industrial user interfaces – meeting global standards for system control in utility meters.
The RA4C1 MCUs employ low-power technology delivering 168µA/MHz active mode at 80MHz and a standby current of less than 1.79µA with all the SRAM retained; the RA4C1 also supports a real-time clock (RTC), supporting battery backup. This performance, with 1.6V input voltage, enables battery-powered designs using smaller batteries.
The RA4C1 MCUs offer an RSIP-300 security engine that provides an isolated subsystem managed by control logic. The new device also include support for a 256-bit hardware key and True Random Number Generator (TRNG), a key management functionality which generates wrapped keys, SHA algorithms, hardware acceleration of AES, and ECC supporting NIST and Brainpool curves with a key length of up to 384 bits.
Renesas’ new MCUs include features for metering system design, with 512 Kbytes of dual-bank on-chip flash for software updates, 96 Kbytes of SRAM, and 8 Kbytes of data flash for data storage. Peripherals include an ADC, a 1%-accurate temperature sensor, and a LCD controller for low-power displays.
Image: Renesas Electronics
The RA4C1 MCUs are supported by Renesas’ Flexible Software Package (FSP). The FSP supports application development, including multiple RTOS options, BSP, peripheral drivers, middleware, connectivity, networking, and TrustZone support. It also provides reference software for AI, motor control, and cloud solutions, allowing integration of legacy code and preferred RTOS.
“Renesas’ RA4C1 Group MCUs offer an unmatched solution for metering applications, a very larger market that is growing rapidly,” said Daryl Khoo, vice president of embedded processing marketing division at Renesas. “It’s an example of our sales, marketing, and engineering teams working together with our customers to develop the right product for the right market at the right time.”
Key Features of the RA4C1 MCUs
- Core: 80MHz Arm Cortex-M33 with TrustZone
- Memory: 256 – 512Kbytes dual bank flash, 96Kbytes SRAM, and 8Kbytes data flash
- Peripherals: CAN FD, LPUART, SCI, SPI, QSPI, I2C, ADC, real-time clock with battery backup, temperature sensor, low-power timer, segment LCD
- Packages: 10mm x 10mm LQFP64; 14mm x 14mm LQFP100
- Security: Unique ID, RSIP security engine supporting TRNG, AES, ECC, Hash, and lifecycle management
Winning Combination
Renesas has combined RA4C1 Group MCUs with compatible devices to offer the Smart 1-Ph E-Meter Winning Combination. Renesas offers more than 400 Winning Combinations with a range of products from the portfolio to enable customers to speed up the design process and bring their products to market in quick time..
Availability
The RA4C1 MCUs are available along with the FSP software. Renesas is also shipping an RA4C1 evaluation board. Samples and kits are also available online.
Source: Renesas Electronics
About Renesas Electronics
Renesas Electronics Corp., based in Tokyo, supplies power management integrated circuits (PMICs) and ships more than 1.5 billion power devices annually for computing, industrial, IoT, data center, and communications markets. Its portfolio includes PMICs, discrete devices, GaN power products, and design tools such as PowerCompass and PowerNavigator. These work with microcontrollers, SoCs, and connectivity solutions to support system design. The company was formed in 2010 through the merger of Renesas Technology and NEC Electronics, with origins in semiconductor units of Hitachi, Mitsubishi, and NEC. For the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2024, Renesas reported revenue between $9B and $10B.