23 June 2009

STM MCUs Built With ARM Cortex-M3 processor

STMicroelectronics  (STM) has confirmed full production availability of its latest STM32 Connectivity Line microcontrollers built on the ARM Cortex-M3 processor, allowing developers to take advantage of industry-standard 32-bit processing in designs requiring simultaneous Ethernet, USB, CAN and audio-class I2S capabilities. 

The STM32 Connectivity Line includes two variants  - the STM32F105 series combining a Full-Speed USB 2.0 Host/Device/OTG peripheral and two CAN2.0B controllers with advanced filtering capabilities. The STM32F107 family adds a complete 10/100 Ethernet MAC with hardware support for the IEEE1588 Precise Time Protocol, enabling Ethernet connectivity for real-time applications. Dedicated buffers allow the USB OTG, the two CAN controllers and the Ethernet interfaces to operate simultaneously to satisfy communication-gateway applications, as well as a host of challenges requiring flexible, industry-standard connectivity.

Both families also support audio-class I2S communications which, combined with USB host and SPI capability, allows the micro to read music files from external storage such as a USB mass-storage device, an MP3 player , or SD card, and decode and output audio via the I2S. Such features are required in home-audio products such as docking systems, alarm-clock/music players, and home theaters. The high processing power of the ARM Cortex-M3 allows developers to implement important functions such as the audio codec and human-interface functions such as display-data handling and the Play and Stop buttons in software, thereby saving additional external components.

"Our considerable expertise with ARM Cortex-M3 allows us to quickly introduce new products delivering the advantages of power-efficient operation, solid real-time performance, and innovative shared peripherals to an industry-standard core," said Jim Nicholas, STMicroelectronics Microcontrollers Division Manager. "With four STM32 families in full production, a new ultra-low-power STM32L MCU platform now sampling to lead accounts, and more innovations planned, our reliable roadmap enables customers to target established markets as well as emerging opportunities."

The STM32 Connectivity Line comprises 72MHz microcontrollers to fulfil requirements such as network accessibility, data logging, USB connectivity and peripheral extension, or field upgradeability. These requirements will serve products targeting industrial, medical, appliance, consumer, and building-services markets, such as PLCs, motor controls, patient monitors, motor controls, home audio, security systems, power meters and control panels.