.gif)
.gif)
New Products
June 26, 2012
ST Delivers New 32-bit ARM Cortex Microcontrollers for Projects Needing Digital Signal Control
STMicroelectronics (ST) is now delivering the first samples of its new STM32 F3 series of microcontrollers to major OEM customers, enabling early evaluation of this important new line in ST’s product family featuring the ARM® Cortex™-M core embedded.
STM32 F3 microcontrollers are system-on-chip devices based on the Cortex-M4 core with FPU, and are optimized for efficient handling and processing of mixed signals in circuits such as three-phase motor controls, biometrics and industrial sensor outputs or audio filters. They will help simplify design, cut power consumption and reduce pc-board size in consumer, medical, portable fitness, system monitoring and metering applications. The new F3 series extends the scope of ST’s STM32 family by allowing designers to tackle mixed-signal control applications.
Featuring versatile analog circuitry and the ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU, the STM32 F3 series provides low to medium memory sizes at competitive cost. The Cortex-M4 with FPU core augments the proven Cortex-M3 CPU with additional Digital Signal Processing (DSP) capability, optimized single-cycle and saturating arithmetic instructions, and Floating-Point Unit (FPU), to boost performance over ST’s STM32 F1 Cortex-M3 devices. It positions the new series between the successful STM32 F1 and the best-in-performance-class STM32 F4, which features the Cortex-M4 with FPU core and large memory capacity combined with high-speed 168MHz maximum CPU frequency for complex applications.
With the new F3 microcontrollers, ST’s STM32 family now offers more than 350 variants addressing applications from entry-level, price-sensitive designs through to those demanding high performance and rich on-chip features. The new F3 series enables ST to deliver the advantages of its STM32 devices and ecosystem to applications that have formerly required both high-performance analog and an entry-level digital signal controller, such as high-performance motor control or embedded digital audio.
"The new F3 series boosts our ARM Cortex-M4 portfolio to more than 70 devices, and will help our customers design even more powerful products leveraging the advantages of the STM32 family," said Michel Buffa, microcontroller division general manager, STMicroelectronics. "Its advanced processor, high-quality advanced analog peripherals and mid-density memory present a strong combination unmatched by competing Cortex-based or proprietary devices."
Opinion: Maximising Synergies between Power Electronics and ICT for improving Energy Efficiency
STM32 F3 series devices also incorporate ST’s latest improvements to digital peripherals for its STM32 family, which Michel Buffa explains is a further advantage of the extensive compatibility between all ST’s ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers.
The STM32 F3 family featuring the ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU comprises four product lines, differentiated according to on-chip memory density and integrated peripherals. The peripherals deliver extreme analog integration, offering best-in-class performance through functions such a 12-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) offering 5Msamples per second performance. Extreme analog integration maximizes flexibility for designers to implement advanced system features and functions without adding extra components on the pc-board.
STM32 F30x devices have seven fast comparators with 50ns response time, four programmable gain amplifiers supporting four different gain settings with 1% accuracy, two 12-bit digital-to-analog converters (DACs), and four 12-bit 5Msps analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). This is the fastest ADC performance in any ARM Cortex-M microcontroller, achieving up to 18Msps in interleaved mode. The devices also have two advanced motor-control timers running at up to 144MHz. These allow one microcontroller to manage two motors plus power factor correction (PFC) via its on-chip analog peripherals, in equipment such as home appliances. Among other capabilities of the advanced timers, timing resolution better than 7ns allows new applications such as digital power supplies in telecom infrastructure or data servers, micro-inverters in solar installation and LED lighting to benefit from the scalability, low power consumption and cost-effective performance of the STM32 family.
To help developers optimize code execution time, the STM32 F30x devices have 8Kbytes of SRAM mapped to the instruction bus as Core Coupled Memory (CCM-SRAM). Critical routines loaded in the 8KB CCM at startup can be completed at full speed with zero wait states, achieving 94 Dhrystone MIPS at 72MHz. This compares with 62 DMIPS when executing from Flash or SRAM; equivalent to a 52% performance increase for critical routines. The STM32 F30x series also has up to 40Kbytes of SRAM mapped on the data bus. The 8K CCM-SRAM can also be used for data storage with no performance trade-off. Devices are pin compatible with the STM32 F1 series, and also share the same API, which simplifies migration to higher performing devices.
The STM32 F37x devices deliver a different blend of peripheral functions. They are the first microcontrollers from ST to integrate a 16-bit Sigma-Delta ADC on-chip, allowing the STM32 family to solve a wider range of precision-sensing applications and providing a single-chip solution capable of replacing a discrete general-purpose processor and separate ADC. Up to three 16-bit Sigma-Delta ADCs are integrated on-chip, with separate analog supply from 2.2V to 3.6V, up to 21 single or 11 differential channels, and seven programmable gains per channel.
Other STM32 F37x analog peripherals include two fast comparators, three 12-bit DACs, and one 12-bit 1Msps ADC. There is also an enhanced CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) unit, making these devices ideal for consumer multimedia products. Compared to the STM32 F1 series, STM32 F37x devices provide a system-on-chip solution enabling developers to reduce bill-of-materials cost and simplify board designs.
Prices for the STM32 F30x series start from $2.54 for the STM32F302 with 128Kbyte Flash in LQFP48 package up to $3.86 for the 256Kbyte STM32F303 in LQFP100, for orders over 1000 pieces. The STM32 F37x starts from $2.24 for the STM32F372 in LQFP48 with 64Kbyte, up to $3.69 for the STM32F373 LQFP100 with 256Kbyte.
More news and information regarding the latest developments in Smart Grid electronics can be found at Darnell’s SmartGridElectronics.Net.
Share this story
Send via E-mail
Post to Twitter
On the Web:
White Papers
March 11, 2013
Power Modules for Charger Applications
Sponsored by Vincotech
February 27, 2013
The Adaptive Cell Converter Topology Enables Constant Efficiency Over Universal Input AC Line in Front-End, High-Density Power Factor Correction Applications
Sponsored by Vicor Corp.
February 27, 2013
From 48 V direct to Intel VR12.0: Saving "Big Data" $500,000 per datacenter, per year
Sponsored by Vicor Corp.
More White Papers
- DOE Selects Consortium to Develop Next-Generation Batteries for Automobiles
- Bosch Claims First Sub-$450 240V EV Charging Station
- Dana Receives Grant from NRCan to Improve Thermal Management for EV Battery Packs
- Altera Acquires Enpirion for $140 Million, Forms Power Business Unit
- Ericsson Saves Board Space with Surface-Mount Digital Bus Converter
- SiC Modules, IGBTs and Super-Junction MOSFETs Introduced on Day One of PCIM
- SiC and GaN Again a Major Focus at PCIM Europe
- PowerbyProxi Joins Wireless Power Consortium
- Vincotech and Infineon Introduce New Packaging Options at PCIM Europe
- Eaton and CA Technologies Join to Deliver Infrastructure Management for Data Centers
- Renesas Adds IGBT Drivers with Micro-Isolator for Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Inverters
- European Project Reports Achievements in Drive to Shape the Future of Power Microelectronics
- Bosch Claims First Sub-$450 240V EV Charging Station
- Alpha and Omega Expands Family of EZBuck Regulators Featuring Constant On-Time Control
- Vicor Reports Reduced Q1 Results – Anticipates a Brighter Future
- Eltek's New Rectifier Delivers 97.2% Efficiency for Data Center and Server Powering
- ROHM Claims New Hybrid MOS Combines the Best Characteristics of MOSFETs and IGBTs
- U.S. Launches Competition for "Next-Generation Power Electronics Manufacturing" Institute
- LG Chem Announces Plans for Start of Production of Automotive Li-Ion Batteries
- Europeans Establish Dueling Projects to Advance Power Electronics Technologies
- Green Building Power Forum 2010: Fujitsu Components America
- Darnell's Digital Power Forum 2009: CUI Incorporated
- Green Building Power Forum 2010: EMerge Alliance
- Green Building Power Forum 2010: Anderson Power Products
- Green Building Power Forum 2009: Independence Station
- Darnell's Digital Power Forum 2009: Coilcraft
- Darnell's Digital Power Forum 2009: Champs Technologies
- Darnell's Digital Power Forum 2009: EXAR Corporation
- Darnell's Digital Power Forum 2009: PMBus
- Darnell's Digital Power Forum 2009: Power Plaza
Design Features
October 22, 2012
Energy Efficiency with Class D Amplifier Modules
Class-D switching amplifiers are helping audio designers create personal multimedia devices and home audio/visual systems that demonstrate how compact and stylish equipment can also deliver high sound quality and high audio output power. The key to this breakthrough, providing freedom from the large and bulky boxes housing traditional audio products, lies in the class-D amplifier’s high energy efficiency, which is typically around 90%. This allows designers to reduce or eliminate heatsinks as well as using smaller-sized PCBs and smaller components such as transformers, connectors and power supplies.
Design Features
October 8, 2012
The Role of Hall Effect Sensors in Power Distribution Infrastructure
Power distribution units (PDUs) form an essential part of modern computing and data communications hardware. They provide multiple outputs for transferring electrical power with maximum efficiency, controlling the power capacity and safeguarding against the possible causes of supply interruption. With an ever increasing need from tech savvy consumers for higher data throughput and greater quantities of data storage capacity, as well as tough international legislation now governing CO&sub2; emissions, the demands being placed on these units are proving challenging for engineering teams to satisfy.
Product Focus
August 13, 2012
The Year in AC-DC Power Supply Technology
The past year witnessed significant new product releases, technological developments, and industry news related to the field of AC-DC Power Supply technology.