Low-Power Design

Embedded World, Nuremberg – March 2, 2011 – STMicroelectronics today announced the extension of its 32-bit STM32L series of microcontrollers. The expansion of the family now includes devices with memory densities of 256 and 384 Kbytes, thereby offering a Flash memory range from 32 up to 384 Kbytes for embedded application engineers. The series is now entering into volume manufacturing and the first devices, offering 64 and 128-Kbyte memory densities, are expected to be available in production maturity by the end of March 2011. STM32L series MCUs with 32-Kbyte memories will follow in Q2 2011.

The STM32L microcontrollers are the industry’s first ultra-low-power ARM Cortex-M3 MCUs available from a top-10 silicon supplier and offer 33 DMIPS performance at 32MHz (max). The series is part of ST’s extensive 32-bit STM32 family, which now has more than 180 variants offering complete pin, software and peripheral compatibility for maximum flexibility.

The STM32L combines a dedicated low-leakage 130nm process technology and optimized power-saving architecture that are both unique to ST, to deliver industry-leading energy-saving performance. The series is also part of ST’s EnergyLite platform of ultra-low-power products, which enable designers to optimize performance, functionality and battery life, and to meet efficiency-related criteria such as eco-design targets. Additionally, for touch-sensing applications, the STM32L is supported by the availability of ST’s third-generation STMTouch capacitive-touch-sensing firmware library, which now supports more than 200 devices within ST’s 8-bit STM8 and 32-bit STM32 families.

ST also announced today that the STM32L’s USB drivers are ready for use in Continua Health Alliance[1] certified applications. Full certification is expected by the end of Q1 2011. The success of the USB interface in medical applications has led to standardization and the development of a dedicated class of device called the Personal Healthcare Device Class (PHDC). This new class enables health-related devices, such as exercise watches, blood pressure monitors, thermometers, weighing scales and glucose meters, to connect to a host and ease the communication between individuals and their fitness coach, or patients and their doctor.

“The ultra-low-power STM32L series delivers the optimal balance between power consumption and performance for developers of leading-edge embedded applications,” said Michel Buffa, General Manager of ST’s Microcontroller Division. “The extension of the series to include an even wider range of memory capacities, in addition to the certification from Continua, will bolster STM32L’s credentials to be the first choice microcontroller for ‘energy-lite’ applications across a range of markets from healthcare to consumer to industrial.”

The MCUs are priced from $1.60 for the STM32L151, with 32-Kbyte Flash in the LQFP48 package, to $2.81 for the STM32L152, with 128-Kbyte Flash in LQFP100, for orders of 10,000 units.

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