STMicroelectronics Smartens Up Semiconductor Embedded Electronics
Designers of smart, connected embedded electronics for applications such as utility metering, renewable energy, and healthcare, have begun adopting new class-leading microcontrollers from STMicroelectronics.
The STM32 F427 and F437 microcontrollers use the ARM Cortex-M4 core by combining the highest-performing version of this core with one of the industry's largest Flash memory storages and extra SRAM for running richer applications, extra communication ports, enhanced security, and power consumption.
ST says these features help speed up software design, enhance application performance, and maximise battery life.
"Sophisticated features and connectivity of our newest STM32 microcontrollers bring exceptional user experiences to everyday electronic products," says Michel Buffa, General Manager, Microcontroller Division, STMicroelectronics. "We are already working with lead customers to design the extended STM32 F4 variants, which provide up to 2 Mbytes of Flash memory, into applications such as smart meters, solar panel controllers, wireless modules, and personal medical monitors."
With large on-chip Flash memory of 1 MByte or 2 Mbytes the extended STM32 F4 devices enable developers to create more feature-rich applications and accelerate project completion by programming with high-level languages such as Java, Microsoft .Net or uClinux.
Using high-level languages also allows embedded-system developers to take advantage of software advances for desktop applications. All of the extended 1 MByte and 2 MByte variants have 256 KB SRAM, allowing designs using current devices with 1 MB Flash and up to 192 KByte SRAM to move easily onto a microcontroller with higher SRAM if required.
The STM32 F437 series provides enhanced security to protect the product developer's intellectual property (IP) and end-user data against unauthorized access or tampering. With additional industry-standard security algorithms now included in the cryptographic and hash co-processor, these devices support MD5, SHA-1 and SHA-2 secure hash algorithms, AES GCM (Advanced Encryption Standard Galois/Counter Mode), and CCM (Combined Cipher Machine).
The STM32 F427 and F437 microcontrollers are sampling now to lead customers, and will enter full production during Q1 2013 in LQFP100, LQFP144, LQFP176 and UFBGA176 packages.
ST has released the following prices for 1 MByte and 2 MByte variants:
The STM32F427VGT6 with 1MB Flash, 256KB SRAM in LQFP100 package is $7.45 for 1,000 units/year resale price.
The STM32F437IIH6 2MB Flash, 256KB RAM, Crypto/Hash processor in UFBGA176 package is priced at $9.50 for 1,000 units/year resale price.
