Debug probe adds extended power-measurement for ultra-low-power STM32 applications
STMicroelectronics has developed an in-circuit debugging and programming probe that provides accurate power measurement suitable for applications running on any STM32 microcontroller (MCU).
Patented techniques give the STLINK-V3PWR has a wider dynamic range to handle power-conscious projects including IoT and wireless applications, measuring current values from nanoamps to 500mA with accuracy up to ±0.5%. It also supplies up to 2A to the target system through a single USB cable, enabling developers to power the board without a separate supply.
This tool is specifically adapted for power consumption optimization, keeping the output voltage constant during fast current transient from very low current to high current. It also embeds a multi-path bridge interface with an integrated level shifter to adapt to the target application I/Os voltage.
A USB Type-C connector allows data communication with the host PC and sinks up to 5 V/3 A to supply both the probe and the target application, via the SMU and the auxiliary output.
The debugger is supported directly within the STM32CubeMonitor-Power graphical tool, which helps visualize the power demands of the application in real-time and analyze the effects of design changes to improve energy efficiency.
It is also supported within the ARM Keil development tool and IAR integrated development environment (IDE), which enable users to synchronize code execution with energy-consumption measurements to optimize the application energy profile.
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“Ultra-low-power microcontroller applications use energy harvesting or run for years on batteries, however small design errors can create unexpected power issues,” said Reinhard Keil, senior director, embedded technology at ARM.
“The new STLINK-V3PWR probe enables power profiling with Keil MDK. The µVision debugger can correlate program events with power consumption, providing analysis to help developers identify potential design errors and enabling multifold improvements to battery lifetime.”
“Full support for the STLINK-V3PWR probe within IAR Embedded Workbench for Arm allows developers faster and easier access to power analysis that is both accurate and repeatable, and with high resolution. It is sure to help realize greater energy savings and efficiency gains in next-generation ultra-low-power and ultra-efficient smart, connected devices while also drastically accelerating their time to market,” said Anders Holmberg, CTO at IAR.
The STLINK-V3PWR sits alongside the STM32 Power shield (X-NUCLEO-LPM01A), a programmable power supply source that provides dynamic current measurement from 100nA to 50mA to analyze applications running on ultra-low-power STM32 MCUs.
In addition, the energy meter of the STM32L562E-DK Discovery kit intermediate board measures dynamic current from 300nA to 150mA. STM32CubeMonitor-Power acquires power measurements through any of these devices and allows data rendering in real-time as well as updating of acquisition parameters.
As a programming and debug probe, STLINK-V3PWR also features single-wire debug (JTAG/SWD) interfaces to communicate with the STM32 MCU on the application board. There is also a Virtual COM port interface and a multi-path bridge allowing the host PC to communicate with the target microcontroller through a SPI/UART/I2C/CAN/GPIO communication to facilitate firmware update as well as power measurement tests in the field.
The new STLINK-V3PWR is available from ST eSTore, priced at $93.10.
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