Renesas R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1

Overview

R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1 from Renesas is an ultra-low-power 32-bit Arm® Cortex®-M23 microcontroller operating at up to 48 MHz, featuring 64-KB code flash, 8-KB SRAM, 12-bit ADC and DAC, integrated CAN interface, and hardware security including AES-128/256 and TRNG. It targets battery-powered industrial sensors and smart metering systems requiring functional safety and secure firmware updates.

For engineers reviewing the R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1 datasheet, R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1 pinout, R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1 application, or R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1 equivalent, key selection criteria include its -40°C to +105°C industrial temperature rating, 24-pin HWQFN (4 mm × 4 mm) package with 19 GPIOs, dual watchdog timers (WDT/IWDT), ECC-protected SRAM, and I3C/SPI/SCI communication support for sensor fusion and secure edge node design.

Technical Context

The R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1 implements the Armv8-M architecture with Memory Protection Unit (MPU) supporting eight regions, enabling robust partitioning of firmware and data in safety-critical applications. Its clock system integrates HOCO (48 MHz), MOCO (8 MHz), LOCO (32.768 kHz), and IWDT-dedicated oscillator (15 kHz), all with trim capability for precision timing across voltage and temperature.

Peripheral integration includes six 16-bit General PWM Timers (GPT16) with 12 PWM outputs, two Low-Power Asynchronous General Purpose Timers (AGTW), a 12-bit ADC with eight input channels and temperature sensor interface, and a dedicated Event Link Controller (ELC) that enables autonomous peripheral-to-peripheral triggering without CPU intervention-critical for deterministic low-power operation.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: 24-pin HWQFN (4 mm × 4 mm, 0.5 mm pitch), exposed die pad (recommended connection to VSS), rated for -40°C to +105°C operation.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar microcontroller applications.

Compared with R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1, the RA2E1 alternative reduces feature set and security to lower cost, while the RA6M2 offers higher performance and connectivity at increased power and complexity-making R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1 optimal for balanced industrial edge nodes demanding CAN, I3C, and certified security in compact form factor.

Availability

R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial sensor nodes, smart energy meters, BLDC motor controllers, and secure edge gateways requiring stable component supply across extended temperature ranges and long product lifecycles.

Supply support for R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Renesas Electronics is a global semiconductor leader specializing in microcontrollers, analog, power, and SoC solutions for automotive, industrial, and IoT markets.

The RA2E2 group is designed for ultra-low-power, cost-sensitive industrial and consumer edge devices requiring functional safety, security certification, and seamless scalability within the RA ecosystem.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency and core architecture of the R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1?

The R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1 features an Arm Cortex-M23 core compliant with the Armv8-M architecture and operates at a maximum frequency of 48 MHz. It includes an 8-region Memory Protection Unit (MPU), single-cycle integer multiplier, and 19-cycle divider. This architecture enables efficient execution of real-time control tasks while supporting TrustZone-based security isolation for firmware partitioning in the R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1.

Which package type and temperature grade does the R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1 use?

The R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1 uses a 24-pin HWQFN package (4 mm × 4 mm, 0.5 mm pitch) with an exposed die pad, and is qualified for industrial operation from -40°C to +105°C. The part number suffix '3' in 'R7FA2E2A73CNK' explicitly denotes the +105°C upper limit, and 'NK' indicates the 24-pin HWQFN variant-confirmed in Renesas' official part numbering documentation for the RA2E2 group.

Does the R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1 support CAN communication, and what version is implemented?

Yes, the R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1 integrates a full CAN 2.0B module compliant with ISO 11898-1, supporting both standard and extended frame formats at bit rates up to 1 Mbps. It includes dedicated CAN transmit/receive buffers and error counters, and is electrically compatible with industry-standard CAN transceivers. This functionality is explicitly listed in the "Connectivity" section of the R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1 datasheet (R01DS0387EJ0150) and verified in the peripheral block diagram.

What security features are hardware-accelerated in the R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1?

The R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1 includes hardware-accelerated AES-128 and AES-256 encryption/decryption engines, a True Random Number Generator (TRNG), flash area protection registers, SRAM ECC, register write protection (PRCR), and illegal memory access detection. These features are implemented in dedicated silicon blocks-not software libraries-and are documented in the "Security and Encryption" chapter of the R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1 datasheet (Rev. 1.50, Section 1.1).

How many analog input channels does the 12-bit ADC (ADC12) support on the R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1?

The R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1's 12-bit successive approximation ADC (ADC12) supports up to eight analog input channels. These include AN005, AN006, AN009, AN010, and AN019 through AN022-as confirmed in Table 1.13 ("Pin Functions") and Table 1.14 ("Pin List") of the R7FA2E2A73CNK#AA1 datasheet. The ADC also accepts internal sources: temperature sensor output and internal reference voltage.