1. Getting started with MicroPython on the Renesas RA¶
This tutorial will guide you through setting up MicroPython, getting a prompt, using the hardware peripherals, using internal flash file system, reset and boot modes, and Factory reset the internal file system.
1.1. Requirements¶
You need a board. For the information of available boards, please refer to the general information about Renesas RA port: General information about Renesas RA port.
You need a USB-Serial conversion cable to connect the board and your PC. Please get a type with separate signal pins so that you can connect to the UART TX and RX pins on the board.
1.2. Flashing the MicroPython image with J-Link OB¶
The board has a builtin programmer interface called J-Link OB. Using the J-Link Software, you can flash the binary image “firmware.hex” of MicroPython on the board via J-Link OB.
You can download the J-Link Software and Documentation pack from https://www.segger.com/downloads/jlink/.
After installing J-Link Software, start J-Flash-Lite program. Then specify following device in Device select menu in J-Flash-Lite.
Board |
Device |
EK-RA4M1 |
R7FA4M1AB |
EK-RA4W1 |
R7FA4W1AD2CNG |
EK-RA6M1 |
R7FA6M1AD |
EK-RA6M2 |
R7FA6M2AF |
RA4M1 CLICKER |
R7FA4M1AB |
Select a firmware hex file in Data File of J-Link-Lite, and push Program Device button to flash the firmware.
1.3. Getting a prompt of MicroPython¶
Cross connect USB-Serial conversion cable RX/TX/GND pins to TX/RX/GND pins on the board.
Board |
USB Serial RX |
USB Serial TX |
EK-RA4M1 |
P411 |
P410 |
EK-RA4W1 |
P205 |
P206 |
EK-RA6M1 |
P411 |
P410 |
EK-RA6M2 |
P411 |
P410 |
RA4M1 CLICKER |
P401 |
P402 |
Access the MicroPython REPL (the Python prompt) via USB serial or UART with 115200 baud rate, 1 stop bit and no parity bit using your favorite terminal software, picocom on Linux or Tera Term on Windows. You can try on Linux:
$ picocom /dev/ttyACM0
You can see the MicroPython REPL prompt like below:
MicroPython v1.20.0 on 2023-04-27; EK-RA6M2 with RA6M2
Type "help()" for more information.
>>>