GENEVA, June 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a world leader in microcontrollers, has confirmed full production availability of its latest STM32 Connectivity Line microcontrollers built on the ARM Cortex(TM)-M3 processor, as forecast when the company announced its new devices in March at Embedded World 2009.
The STM32 Connectivity Line allows developers to take advantage of industry-standard 32-bit processing in designs requiring simultaneous Ethernet, USB, CAN and audio-class I2S capabilities. Two variants are available, including the STM32F105 series combining a Full-Speed USB 2.0 Host/Device/OTG peripheral and two CAN2.0B controllers with advanced filtering capabilities. The STM32F107 family adds a complete 10/100 Ethernet MAC with hardware support for the IEEE1588 Precise Time Protocol, enabling Ethernet connectivity for real-time applications. Dedicated buffers allow the USB OTG, the two CAN controllers and the Ethernet interfaces to operate simultaneously to satisfy communication-gateway applications, as well as a host of challenges requiring flexible, industry-standard connectivity.
Both families also support audio-class I2S communications which, combined with USB host and SPI capability, allows the micro to read music files from external storage such as a USB mass-storage device, an MP3 player , or SD card, and decode and output audio via the I2S. Such features are required in home-audio products such as docking systems, alarm-clock/music players, and home theaters. The high processing power of the ARM Cortex-M3 allows developers to implement important functions such as the audio codec and human-interface functions such as display-data handling and the Play and Stop buttons in software, thereby saving additional external components.
"Our considerable expertise with ARM Cortex-M3 allows us to quickly introduce new products delivering the advantages of power-efficient operation, solid real-time performance, and innovative shared peripherals to an industry-standard core," said Jim Nicholas, STMicroelectronics Microcontrollers Division Manager. "With four STM32 families in full production, a new ultra-low-power STM32L MCU platform now sampling to lead accounts, and more innovations planned, our reliable roadmap enables customers to target established markets as well as emerging opportunities."
The STM32 Connectivity Line comprises 72MHz microcontrollers to fulfill requirements such as network accessibility, data logging, USB connectivity and peripheral extension, or field upgradeability. These requirements will serve products targeting industrial, medical, appliance, consumer, and building-services markets, such as PLCs, motor controls, patient monitors, motor controls, home audio, security systems, power meters and control panels.
A total of 70 STM32 variants are now in production, delivering pin-and-software compatible devices from 36MHz to 72MHz, with a broad selection of common peripherals to serve diverse applications, eight package options and on-chip Flash density from 16Kbyte to 512Kbyte.
The STM32F105 with 64Kbyte, 128Kbyte or 256Kbyte of embedded Flash, and the STM32F107 with 128Kbyte or 256Kbyte, are available immediately in LQFP64 or LQFP100 packages. Prices are from $2.90 in the 64Kbyte LQFP64 package up to $4.92 for 256Kbyte devices in the LQFP100, for quantities of 10,000 units.
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Further Technical Information
The STM32F105 and STM32F107 deliver additional benefits such as simplifying hardware design by allowing a clock generated from the same 25MHz crystal used to clock the entire device. A 25MHz or 50MHz clock output is also available, which can be used to clock the external Ethernet PHY thereby saving an additional crystal to clock the external device. The STM32F107 Ethernet MAC supports MII and RMII, which enhances flexibility for designers to select the optimum PHY chip.
The USB OTG peripheral featured on all STM32 Connectivity Line devices is able to generate a pulse at an external pin each time a Start Of Frame is detected on the USB bus. This signal can be used to adjust the clock of an external audio DAC, which eases synchronization of incoming and outgoing data in streaming audio applications using isochronous USB transfer.
The STM32 Connectivity Line embeds a bootloader allowing programming of a blank or programmed device using USART, CAN, or USB DFU (Device Firmware Upgrade). The communication interface selection is automated as the bootloader detects which peripheral is active.
In addition to the new peripherals supporting enhanced connectivity, the STM32 Connectivity Line also shares standard peripheral functions with other STM32 devices. This commonality enhances flexibility and allows developers to re-use software in multiple designs. Implemented using these blocks are 10 timers, two 12-bit ADCs achieving 1 microsecond conversion time, two 12-bit DACs, two I2C interfaces, five USARTs, and three SPI ports. The peripherals are supported with a total of 12 DMA channels, and there is also a CRC calculation unit supporting 96-bit unique identification, common to other STM32 variants.
The new devices also benefit from the low operating voltage and power-saving features of the STM32 family. The operating voltage range of 2.0V to 3.6V is compatible with popular battery technologies such as Li-ion and NiMH, and there is a dedicated Vbat pin supporting battery operation. Current draw is only 27mA at 72MHz when executing from Flash, and there are four low-power modes that reduce current draw to as little as 2µA. Fast start-up from low-power modes also saves power; starting-up using the STM32's internally generated 8MHz signal wakes the device from HALT mode in less than 6µs.
A total of 10 STM32 Connectivity Line parts are available. These devices are supported by a comprehensive development ecosystem including a free standard software library from ST, an ST evaluation board, and starter kits from third parties. USB Device/Host/OTG solutions from ST or third parties are also available, as well as TCP/IP stacks from third parties including the Interniche NicheLite stack provided free-of-charge from ST. In addition, a number of software-development toolchains are now supporting the STM32 Connectivity Line.
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