Renesas RA4E1 - User Manual

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Summary

Kit Overview

Assumptions and Advisory Notes

Outlines prerequisites and recommendations for using the kit and software.

Getting Started with Embedded Software Development

Installing Flexible Software Package and Development Tools

Guide for installing the necessary software and tools for development.

Useful Tips for Setup

Provides helpful advice for a smoother installation and setup process.

Quick Setup Guide for RA MCUs

Offers a quick setup guide with example projects for RA MCUs.

Hardware Details

Kit Architecture Overview

Describes the functional areas of the AIK-RA4E1 board, including MCU and peripherals.

System Block Diagram

Visual representation of the AIK-RA4E1's system components and their interconnections.

General Features Overview

Overview of the various features and capabilities of the AIK-RA4E1 kit.

Jumper Settings

Details the configuration options provided by jumpers on the AIK-RA4E1 board.

Power Requirements and Options

Explains the power supply needs, options, and behavior for operating the AIK-RA4E1.

MCU Boot Mode Configuration

Explains how to select the boot mode for the microcontroller.

Debug Interface Options

Describes the onboard and external debug interfaces available for the kit.

External Debug Connector

Details the 10-pin connector for external JTAG/SWD debugging.

Onboard Debug with J-Link OB

Explains using the onboard J-Link OB for debugging external boards.

USB Full Speed Connector

Details the USB C connector for full-speed USB communication.

PMOD 1 Connector

Describes the 12-pin PMOD connector for peripheral modules.

PMOD 2 Connector

Details the second 12-pin PMOD connector for peripheral modules.

PMOD 3, 4, and 5 Status

Notes that PMOD 3, 4, and 5 are not supported on this kit.

PMOD 6 Connector

Details the PMOD 6 connector for peripheral modules.

LED Indicators

Explains the function and control of the LEDs on the AIK-RA4E1 board.

User Switches and DIP Switch

Describes the reset, user push-button switches, and DIP switch functions.

Special Features Access

Covers access to specialized features like Ethernet, MICS, and CAN.

Ethernet Interface Details

Details the Ethernet connectivity, noting it is not supported.

MICS (Microphones) Interface

Details the interface for the onboard MEMS microphones.

CAN;CAN-FD Interface

Explains the Controller Area Network bus interface.

Camera Module Socket Status

Notes that the Camera Module Socket is not supported.

Certifications

EMC;EMI Standards Compliance

Details compliance with FCC and other electromagnetic compatibility standards.

Material and Disposal Standards

Information on environmental standards and disposal.

Safety Standards Compliance

Outlines safety certifications, like UL 94V-0.

Design and Manufacturing Information

The AIK-RA4E1 is a development kit designed to facilitate initial firmware development for Renesas RA4E1 microcontrollers. It provides direct access to the RA4E1 microcontroller's I/O pins and includes on-board support for several commonly used peripherals and interfaces, adhering to common ecosystem standards.

Function Description

The AIK-RA4E1 serves as a comprehensive platform for developing and executing embedded applications for RA microcontrollers. It is divided into two main functional areas: the MCU section (Daughterboard) and the Peripherals section (Motherboard). The MCU section integrates the RA4E1 microcontroller, clocks, and SDRAM. The Peripherals section handles power delivery, user LEDs, pushbutton switches, a debug interface, USB Full Speed, PMOD connectors, Ethernet, CAN, and a camera module peripheral group.

The kit enables developers to get started with firmware development, offering a pre-programmed quick start example project (CDC Demo) that runs upon power-up. It supports both on-board debugging via the Renesas RA4M2 J-Link On-Board interface and external debugging through a JTAG connector.

Important Technical Specifications

Microcontroller Group:

MCU: Renesas RA4E1 (R7FA6M3AH3CFC)
Package: 176-pin LQFP
Core: 120 MHz Arm® Cortex®-M4 with FPU
Memory:
- 640 KB on-chip SRAM
- 2 MB on-chip code flash memory
- 64 KB on-chip data flash memory

Connectivity:

USB:
- One USB micro AB full-speed connector for the Main MCU.
- One USB Type-C connector for full-speed operation, configurable as either a USB Device or Host interface.
Debug Interface:
- SEGGER J-Link® On-board (OB) interface for debugging and programming.
- 10-pin JTAG/SWD interface for external debuggers/programmers.
PMOD Connectors: Three PMOD connectors (Type-2A, 12-pin) for rapid prototyping with compliant peripheral plug-in modules. PMOD 1 and PMOD 2 support UART/SPI master modes, with connected modules acting as UART/SPI slave devices. They can also be re-configured for IIC. PMOD 6 also supports SPI master mode. PMOD 3, 4, and 5 are not supported.
CAN: One CAN interface.
Ethernet: Not supported.
Camera Module Socket: Not supported.
Microphones: Two Analog MEMS Microphones (MIC_AN1 on P008, MIC_AN2 on P009).

Clock Sources:

Main MCU oscillator crystals: 24.000 MHz and 32.768 Hz reference clocks.
Additional low-precision clocks internal to the Main MCU.

Power Requirements:

Operating Voltage: External 5V input via any USB connection or external header (J14).
On-board Regulator: Low Dropout Regulator (LDO) converts 5V to 3.3V for the main MCU and peripherals.

Switches:

Reset Switch (S1): Push button to restart the Main MCU.
User Switches (S2, S3): Two push buttons, monitored by Main MCU firmware. Can be used for interrupt operation when pressed together.
DIP Switch (S4): Configures PMOD 1 and PMOD 2 between UART/SPI and IIC modes.
Boot Mode Jumper (J15): Two-pin header to select MCU boot mode (normal, Single-Chip, SCI, or USB Boot Mode).

LEDs:

User LEDs (LED1): Blue, Green, Red, controlled by Main MCU firmware (P908, P907, P906 respectively).
Power On Indicators: Blue LED (LED2) for regulated +3.3V, White LED (LED3) for +5V.
Debug Interface Status (LED4): Yellow LED indicating debug interface state (blinking for disconnected, solid for connected).
Ethernet Connector LEDs: Built-in link status and link speed LEDs (not supported as Ethernet is not supported).

Certifications and Standards:

EMC/EMI: FCC Class A, ICES-003 Class A, CE Class A.
Material Selection: EU RoHS compliant, China SJ/T 113642014 (10-year environmental protection use period).
Safety: UL 94V-0.

Usage Features

Software Development Environment:

Requires Flexible Software Package (FSP) and development tools (e.g., e2 studio Integrated Solutions Development Environment (ISDE) with GCC ARM embedded compiler and J-Link USB drivers).
Platform installer bundles FSP, J-Link USB drivers, and development tool chains for easy installation.
Renesas recommends using the "Quick Install" option in the installation wizard for new users.
Example projects are available on GitHub (https://github.com/renesas/aiot-ready) to demonstrate MCU capabilities and serve as starting points for custom applications.

Debugging and Programming:

On-board SEGGER J-Link OB interface for re-programming and debugging the Main MCU via a USB micro-B connection (J10).
External debuggers/programmers can be connected via the 10-pin JTAG/SWD interface (J12).
LED4 provides visual feedback on the debug interface status.

Powering the Board:

Can be powered via the Debug USB connector (J10), the USB Type-C connector (J11), or an external 5V header (J14).
Reverse current protection is provided for USB power sources.
LED2 lights up when the board is powered.

Peripheral Expansion:

Three PMOD connectors allow for the integration of various peripheral modules. PMOD 1, 2, and 6 are active.
DIP switch S4 allows reconfiguration of PMOD 1 and PMOD 2 between UART/SPI and IIC modes.
Breakout pin headers provide direct access to RA4E1 I/O pins.

User Interaction:

User LEDs (LED1) can be controlled by firmware.
User switches (S2, S3) provide input to the Main MCU and can trigger interrupts.
Reset switch (S1) allows for quick MCU restarts.

Maintenance Features

Documentation and Support:

Comprehensive design and manufacturing information, including schematics, mechanical drawings, 3D models, and BOM, is available in the "EK-RA4E1v1 Design Package" on renesas.com/aik-RA4E1.
Renesas provides resources, product information, a support forum, and general support via their website (www.renesas.com/aik-ra4e1, www.renesas.com/ra, www.renesas.com/ra/forum, www.renesas.com/support).

Environmental and Safety Compliance:

The kit adheres to FCC, ICES-003, and CE Class A standards, indicating suitability for laboratory environments and minimizing electromagnetic interference.
It is RoHS compliant and meets China SJ/T 113642014 standards for environmental protection.
The board material is UL 94V-0 rated for flammability safety.

Precautions:

Intended for laboratory use under ambient temperature and humidity conditions.
Maintain safe separation from sensitive equipment.
Potential for radio frequency interference; corrective measures include reorienting antennas, increasing separation, connecting to different circuits, and powering down when not in use.
Shielded interface cables are recommended.
Potentially susceptible to EMC phenomena; users are advised not to use mobile phones within 10m and to take ESD precautions.
The AIK-RA4E1 is not a finished product and may not comply with all finished product requirements (e.g., recycling, restricted substances).
The AIK-RA4E1 is provided "as is" without warranty, and Renesas disclaims liability for damages arising from its use.