STM32, ARM Cortex-M3-based 32-bit Flash Microcontrollers - STMicroelectronics

STMicroelectronics (ST) has announced its STM32, ARM Cortex-M3-based 32-bit Flash Microcontrollers. The new STM32 family is well-suited for portable applications such as cholesterol and glucose monitors where low power consumption is important. Other applications include: home/office appliances, industrial PLCs, security, HVAC systems, card readers and biometrics. The ARM Cortex-M3 core specifically designed for high performance, low power and low cost embedded applications. The core new architectural enhancements including the Thumb-2 instruction set to deliver improved performance with better code density, and a tightly-coupled Nested Vectored Interrupt Controller.

STMicroelectronics STM32, the ARM Cortex-M3-based 32-bit Flash Microcontroller

The STM32 Microcontroller family comes in two lines:

• STM32F103 Performance line, with 72MHz clock frequency, provides best-in-class 32-bit MCU performance,
• STM32F101 Access line, with 36MHz clock frequency, offers users of 16-bit devices a significant increase in performance at the same 16-bit price levels.

Both lines offer 32K to 128K of Flash memory but differ in maximum SRAM size and combinations of on-chip peripherals .

The Cortex-M3 core was specifically developed to target the low-cost requirements of a broad range of markets and applications where memory and processor size significantly impact device costs. The Cortex-M3 core's enhanced integrated features include a nested vector-interrupt controller with down to 6 CPU cycles inter-interrupt latency, branch speculation, atomic bit manipulation (individual bits can be modified in a single write operation), single-cycle multiply, hardware divide, and the highly efficient Thumb 2 instruction set.

The STM32 operates from a 2.0 to 3.6V power supply and has a power consumption down to 2 micro amperes in standby mode. Te MCU also include an integrated RTC with a dedicated 32kHz oscillator and dedicated pin for battery operation, and four low power modes. At 72MHz, executing from Flash, the STM32 microcontroller consumes only 36mA.

The STM32 family offers up to 30% faster processing than an equivalent ARM7TDMI-based product, or, for the same processing power, STM32 devices require 75% less power. Similarly, the Thumb 2 instruction set of the new core allows designers to reduce code size by up to 45%, almost halving the amount of memory they need to hold their applications.

The STM32 microcontrollers offer rich on-chip peripheral set,  including:

• Up to 128KB embedded Flash
• Up to 20KB of RAM
• Seven DMA channels.
• Up to two 12-bit ADCs, 1 microsecond conversion time
• Up to two master/slave SPI
• Up to two I2C
• Up to three USARTs
• Up to three 16-bit timers (4 input capture/4 output compare/4 PWM each)
• A dedicated 6-PWM timer
• USB
• CAN
• Voltage supervisor
• Accurate 8MHz RC oscillator
• 4-16MHz oscillator for external crystal
• Dual watchdogs
• Power-On reset,
• Power-Down reset

ST offers an evaluation board, USB developer's kit and a free software library. Starter kits based on proven tool solutions for ARM core-based devices will soon be available from Hitex, IAR, Keil and Raisonance.

STM32 lines are packed in LQFP48, LQFP64, LQFP100 and BGA100 packages, with 32, 64, and 128K embedded flash options. Price for LQFP devices at 10K unit:

• STM32F103 Performance line, 128K Flash, 100 pins: US$3.60
• STM32F101 Access line, 32K Flash, 48-pin :  US$1.80

STM32 microcontrollers is in sampling now.

More info: ST’s STM32 - ARM Cortex-M3-based 32-bit Flash Microcontrollers