STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a leading supplier of
microcontrollers, has extended its STM32 microcontroller family with
extra features and up to 1-Mbyte of on-chip Flash. The additional Flash
at least doubles the memory available to STM32 developers, thereby
supporting future scalability, increasing system performance, and
providing advanced application features, such as next-generation
graphical user interfaces for consumer and industrial products.
With the introduction of these STM32 XL-density devices, ST now has
99 STM32 variants; the industry’s largest family of microcontrollers
using the advanced ARM Cortex™-M3 32-bit processor core, offering a
range of memory densities, operating speeds, and integrated features to
solve diverse application demands. All STM32 devices are pin and
software compatible, and share from a common pool of peripherals. This
commonality allows developers to upgrade products with minimal
redesign, and to re-use their intellectual property, tools and hardware
in multiple projects to reduce costs and speed-up time to market.
Additional new features of the STM32 XL-density devices include
additional high-speed volatile memory (RAM), up to 96KB, which can
simplify software design and speed-up execution. Six more timers are
also included, increasing flexibility for applications such as motor
control, factory automation or power distribution. Furthermore, a
Memory Protection Unit (MPU) has been added, which is transparent to
existing software but allows new applications to protect specific code
or data during execution. This feature permits efficient use of
existing certified software modules in projects such as medical or
metering equipment, saving the time and cost to re-certify the complete
application.
The 1MB Flash memory is organized in two banks of 512Kbytes.This
dual-bank architecture thereby enables safe upgrading of applications
in the field by uploading new software into the second memory bank. The
update can then be copied across safely into the main bank, and the
process managed to protect against hazards such as power loss while the
upgrade is being applied.
The new devices complement the existing product lines of the
industry’s most extensive Cortex-M3 microcontroller portfolio. The
STM32F101Access Line XL density devices continue to provide the
low-cost and high-functionality established with the original STM32
Access Line. The STM32F103Performance Line XL density devices extend
the existing Performance Line that features faster 72MHz core and extra
connectivity like USB and CAN, to applications that require additional
memory. With these XL density devices, both lines now comprise versions
with 768Kbyte or 1Mbyte Flash memory in a choice of 64-, 100-, or
144-pin packages.
The complete STM32 product portfolio includes the Access Line
devices, the USB Access Line with on-chip USB support, the 72MHz
Performance Line with USB and CAN, and the Connectivity Line supporting
Ethernet, USB OTG and dual CAN. The new STM32 XL density devices are
now sampling to lead customers. High-volume availability will begin
from Q2 2010. Prices for 10Kunit range from $4.78 for the Access Line
STM32F101RFT6 with 768Kbyte Flash and LQFP64 package, to $7.11 for the
Performance Line STM32F103RGZ6 with 1MByte Flash and LQFP144 package.
