|
STMicroelectronics has announced that the roadmap for its STM32 family of 32-bit MCUs based on ARM’s Cortex-M processor cores is to include new devices that will be centred on the Cortex-M4 and the Cortex-M0 cores from ARM. In addition, ST also announced the availability of its new STM32 F-2 series MCUs.
The Cortex-M4 from ARM is an upwardly compatible version of the Cortex-M3, offering DSP instructions and a Floating Point Unit (FPU). The core will be used in new high-performance variants of STM32 products that are due to be sampled in 2011. The STM32 portfolio will also be enhanced for highly cost-sensitive applications with a new series, also sampling in 2011, currently being developed around the Cortex-M0. “It is our intention to remain the undisputed leader in ARM Cortex-M MCUs and offer the broadest portfolio of ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers in the industry,” said Michel Buffa, General Manager of ST’s Microcontroller Division. “The Cortex-M4 and Cortex-M0, in combination with our leading-edge embedded Flash and ultra-low-power technologies, will join the Cortex-M3 core MCUs to allow ST to expand its STM32 offering to meet every application need in performance, features and pricing.” All future STM32 Cortex-M4 and -M0 based MCUs will remain fully pin- and software compatible with each other and the STM32 Cortex-M3 devices. In addition, they will benefit from the same tool and software ecosystem, allowing seamless moves within the full STM32 product range. ST’s new STM32 F-2 microcontroller series combines its 90nm process technology with the company’s Adaptive Real-Time memory accelerator (ART Accelerator). The STM32 F-2 MCUs achieves a performance of 150 Dhrystone MIPS when executing code from Flash at 120MHz, which is the maximum performance possible from the Cortex-M3 processor at this frequency. The series also offers CoreMark-confirmed 188uA/MHz dynamic power consumption, when executing from Flash, equivalent to drawing 22.5mA at 120MHz. In addition to offering on-chip memory densities that are among the highest of any Cortex-M3 based MCUs available, the new series provides enhanced support for imaging, connectivity, security, audio and control applications. The STM32 F-2 MCUs have been developed to offer performance but combined with dynamic power consumption and cost, and more than 20 ST customers are currently ramping up manufacturing of new products enabled by this new STM32 family. The addition of more than 30 new devices in the F-2 series brings the total number of STM32 microcontrollers to 180 pin- and software-compatible devices sharing a common pool of peripherals, and delivering the advanced performance, high efficiency and convenience of the industry-standard Cortex-M3 processor.
