Overview

This page is for quick tips to help you with RA MCUs, its software, tools, and boards.  If you have any tips, please let us know and we will include them here.  

RA Tips and Tricks

Here are a few tips and tricks for you to help with your development.  We also have the frequently asked RA questions and answers to them.  Each topic is provided in their own page for easy navigation and maintenance.  Below is a list of available items.  

Multiple Pin Configurations

FSP allows a user to create multiple pin configurations in the same project.  This tip shows you how to do it. 

Multiple Pin Configurations

Debugger Connectivity with ID Code Protection

ID code protection allows or prohibits programming and on-chip debugging. The device checks the ID code provided by the debugger against an ID code stored in a special flash memory.  This article describes where this special flash memory is, how to set it using FSP configurator, big or little endian considerations, and may other aspects of ID code protection for non-TrustZone RA devices. 

Debugger Connectivity with ID Code Protection

Debugger Connectivity with TrustZone Devices

TrustZone RA devices require specific hardware connections for debugging.  Further, these devices must be in a correct Device Lifecycle Management (DLM) state to access Secure (S) Non-Secure (NS) and Non-Secure Callable (NSC) memory regions at different stages of a development process.  Read more about it at below link.  

Debugger Connectivity with TrustZone Devices

An Easy Way to Download EP and AP Projects

There are several RA Example Projects (EPs) and Application Projects (APs)  distributed from GitHub.  They are distributed based on the officially supported RA boards.  However, if you are only interested in EP for RA8D1 ADC module, you do not need to download all EPs for that board.  Here is how.  

An Easy Way to Download EP and AP Projects

How to Install GUIX Studio Without Microsoft Store

Corporate work laptops have IT restrictions, often rendering the Microsoft Store inaccessible. Microsoft requires the Microsoft Store for the conventional installation of GUIX Studio, a GUI design application that is essential for UX designers whose product uses GUIX.

How to Install GUIX Studio Without Microsoft Store

How to achieve 2 virtual COM ports over USB CDC

This tip demonstrates dual-channel communication over a single USB port by configuring the device as a USB composite with two CDC interfaces—one for sensor data and one for debugging. This simplifies hardware design and offers a flexible interface for both data and diagnostics.

How to achieve 2 virtual COM ports over USB CDC

Which driver variables match the QE CapTouch chart

Some users have expressed interest in developing their own custom debug monitoring system similar to the QE tool's CapTouch Status Chart View. This tip explains which variables in the driver source code correspond to each item displayed in the QE tool's CapTouch Status Chart View.

Which driver variables match the QE CapTouch chart

Note on xSPI memory programming using FSP OSPI Write API

When programming external xSPI memory using the FSP R_OSPI_Write API or R_OSPI_B_Write API, there are several notes to ensure correct operation. This tip outlines the key usage notes and explaines the rationale behind them.

Note on xSPI memory programming using FSP OSPI Write API

QSPI Operation in 4-Byte Address Mode

The EK-RA6M3 board includes a QSPI memory that supports 4-byte address mode. This tip explains how to enable and use the 4-byte address mode in the qspi_ek_ra6m3_ep example project.

QSPI Operation in 4-Byte Address Mode

How to Define Variables in On-Chip Standby RAM

Introduce how to defines variables in on-chip Standby RAM using the three mainstream development environments – e2studio (Renesas), KEIL MDK (ARM), and IAR EW (IAR Embedded Workbench) – as examples.

How to Define Variables in On-Chip Standby RAM

Which memory regions can AI model data be allocated for RA8P1 Ethos-U55 application?

In RA8P1 applications utilizing the Arm® Ethos-U55 NPU, memory allocation for AI model data is a key consideration for performance, flexibility, and resource optimization. This article outlines the supported memory regions and key considerations for allocating AI model data.

Which memory regions can AI model data be allocated for RA8P1 Ethos-U55 application?

USB Bulk Endpoint Throughput in a USB HS Device

Although USB 2.0 High-Speed signals at 480 Mbps, the actual data throughput depends on the endpoint type and is reduced by USB protocol overhead. While certain USB endpoint types are allocated guaranteed bandwidth or fixed throughput, bulk endpoints are not. This article explains the factors that affect the achievable throughput of bulk endpoint when an RA MCU is used as a USB High-Speed device, and presents the resulting measurements.

USB Bulk Endpoint Throughput in a USB HS Device - Renesas-wiki - Confluence

Multi-Threshold Touch Detection

Capacitive touch sensors are typically used to detect whether a finger is in contact with the surface or not. To support more advanced user interfaces, it can be beneficial in some applications to detect the contact state of a finger in multiple stages, such as distinguishing between a light touch and a firm touch. This article explains how to implement this multi-stage threshold evaluation using RM_TOUCH middleware, the CTSU driver, and the QE for Capacitive Touch.

Multi-Threshold Touch Detection - Renesas-wiki - Confluence

Using GPT and POEG for Waveform Generation (IrDA)

Renesas RA MCUs come with the General PWM Timer (GPT) peripheral for output waveform generation.  By configuring the timer settings of the GPT, it is possible to create periodic waveforms.  RA devices also have the Port Output Enable for GPT (POEG) peripheral that further enhances this ability by allowing additional triggers to control when the GPT output is enabled or disabled.

https://renesas-wiki.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/REN/pages/354942977