ST launches its most affordable 32bit microcontroller
STMicroelectronics has started volume production of its lowest cost 32bit microcontroller, the STM32C0.
ST targets the new STM32C0 series to equipment like home appliances, industrial pumps, fans, smoke detectors, typically served by simpler 8bit and 16bit MCUs.
The 32bit ARM Cortex M0+ core brings faster response, extra functions and network connection at similar overall cost and power consumption to 8bit devices. The controllers run at up to 48MHz and deliver 44 DMIPS instruction throughput with CoreMark performance/efficiency of 114, drawing just 80µA/MHz in run mode.
The STM32C0 series, now in high-volume production on a 90nm process, is covered by ST’s ten year longevity program for industrial products, renewed every year. Nine package choices are available, from 8 to 48 pins, including packages offering the smallest area and thickness, such as the WLCSP12, the UFQFPN and the 3 x 3 mm UFQFPN20 package, down to 1.70 x 1.42mm.
Low cost 32bit microcontroller
The small packages with only one pair of external power connections are a key way to reduce the bill of material (BOM) costs, making more I/O pins available for the application while lowering bill-of-materials costs. Also, an on-board, high-accuracy (1%) clock saves external timing components.
The range has up to 32 Kbytes of flash memory, and 6 to 12 Kbytes of RAM with DMA direct memory access channels that boost application performance and efficiency.
The STM32C0 series integrates up to date peripherals, including a 1.7 MSPS analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with hardware for 16bit over-sampling multiple timers including an advanced control timer for applications like motor control.
The smallest part, the 8pin STM32C011J4 with 16Kbytes of flash and 6Kbytes of RAM, is currently priced at £0.55 (E0.62) in volumes of 5,000 via an online distributor.
“The next generations of smart appliances and industrial controllers must be easy to use, ultra-competitively priced, and with assured supply,” said Daniel Colonna, STM32 Marketing Director at STMicroelectronics. “By delivering on these requirements, our new STM32C0 general-purpose entry-level MCUs introduce exciting options to the 8-/16-bit applications space, with the added benefits that come with the broad and powerful STM32 ecosystem.”
32bit development tools
The STM32C0 devices allow easy migration into the STM32G0 Series with a consistent pinout for higher performance.
The STM32C0 series also makes use of the STM32 development ecosystem. An STM32C0 Nucleo (NUCLEO-C031C6) low-cost development board and two STM32C0 Discovery Kits (STM32C0116-DK and STM32C0316-DK) are available.
Software resources include STM32C0 support in the STM32CubeMX configuration tool, Microsoft Azure RTOS, and the STM32CubeC0 MCU package with Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) and low-layer libraries.
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