GENEVA, SWITZERLAND: STMicroelectronics has extended its STM32 F0 microcontrollers based on the ARM Cortex-M0 core with new models that support crystal-less USB design, accurate sensing and smart power management for next-generation smart devices and connectivity products.
The new STM32F0x2 line provides a combination of features not found in other ARM Cortex-M0 devices, such as support for CAN and a full-speed USB 2.0 controller with a self-calibrated clock system that simplifies design and saves external circuitry.
Other USB functions includes support for battery-charger detection, which allows battery-powered devices to optimize recharging times with better flexibility, and link-power management, which enables energy saving through enhanced system control. Separate power domains for analog and digital I/Os support low-voltage operation while allowing a higher voltage dynamic range for accurate sensing on analog peripherals.
"This latest expansion of our highly efficient STM32 F0 series brings significant extra functionality and cost improvement ideally bridging the 8- and 16-bit world with the widely deployed STM32 F1 Cortex-M3 series," said Michel Buffa, GM, Microcontroller Division, STMicroelectronics. "Communication gateways, smart-energy devices, Internet-of-Things applications and consumer electronics such as smartphones and game terminals can now leverage the unique features of the new STM32 F0 devices to deliver greater energy efficiency, lower cost, improved accessibility and enhanced functionality."
The STM32F0x2 line provides 16 to 128 Kbytes of Flash memory in 20- to 100-pin packages in TSSOP, LQFP, UFQFPN, UFBGA, WLCSP or die form.
To help accelerate design starts with these new microcontrollers, ST is releasing dedicated development hardware including an evaluation board and a low-cost discovery kit. A full-speed USB device library is also available as a valuable aid to development. The new product line is supported by CooCox CoIDE Free and Open ARM Cortex MCU development tools.
The STM32F0x2 is in production now, priced from $1.32 for the STM32F072C8U6 (64-Kbyte variant in UFQFPN48) in quantities of 10,000 units.
The recommended prices for the STM32F072B-DISCO discovery kit and STM32072B-EVAL evaluation board are $10.40 and $199, respectively.