ST launches new series of STM32 ultra-low-power microcontrollers

STMicroelectronics (STMicroelectronics, NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers in multiple electronic applications, has released a new series of 32-bit general-purpose microcontrollers. The new series will significantly extend the battery life of consumer electronics, healthcare and industrial control equipment. The STM32L0 ultra-low-power series of microcontrollers is based on a 32MHz ARM® Cortex™ M0+ processor core with a built-in 12-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and USB FS 2.0 crystal-free solution.

The internal analog-to-digital converter of the new product sets a new low-power standard. At a conversion rate of 100ksps, the analog-to-digital converter consumes only 40µA, and at 1.14Msps, the power consumption rises to only 200µA. Combined with the excellent energy efficiency of the processor core and the ultra-low power consumption of the peripherals, the new series of microcontrollers will reduce the battery replacement rate of non-rechargeable battery-powered devices such as fitness trackers and household smoke detectors, saving end users' expenses and the impact of waste batteries on the environment. For example, a fitness tracker using a non-rechargeable coin battery can have a service life of up to 2 years after switching to the STM32L0.

Another major advantage of the new series of microcontrollers is that it allows equipment manufacturers to design terminal products with smaller batteries, thereby reducing product size and price. For example, blood glucose meters and an increasing variety of portable medical instruments and fitness equipment. In addition, the new series of products uses STMicroelectronics' unique CMOS manufacturing process, which not only provides embedded EEPROM memory, but also achieves the industry's smallest power consumption variation within the operating temperature range of 25°C - 125°C, setting a new low in power consumption in high temperature environments. These advantages make the STM32L0 microcontrollers particularly suitable for (distributed) industrial sensor systems that rely on batteries or energy harvesting technology.

“The STM32L0 is the latest in a long-standing quest to minimize power consumption in electrical devices,” said Michel Buffa, General Manager of STMicroelectronics’ Microcontroller Division. “This market-leading new product enables consumer electronics manufacturers to develop more competitive products that will bring immediate improvements in price and convenience to end users, reducing the global consumption of disposable batteries.”

The STM32L0 series has three product lines: basic type, USB type and USB/LCD type. The common features of all products are that they provide multiple operating modes and excellent power consumption: at 32MHz, the power consumption is 139 µA/MHz; in optimized mode, 87 µA/MHz; in stop mode, all RAM contents are retained, the power consumption is 400nA, and the wake-up time is 3.5µs. The new series of products also have built-in flash memory up to 64KB, SRAM up to 8KB and embedded 2KB true EEPROM. The built-in hardware sampling function can achieve 16-bit ADC resolution. The STM32L0 product with integrated USB FS 2.0 interface supports USB charger detection and link power management. The crystal-free working principle of USB is that the new product has a built-in 48 MHz internal oscillator. All products in the series have an internal hardware encryption engine (AES) as an option for users to choose.

The STM32 product family is the world's most popular ARM microcontroller. As a member of STMicroelectronics' large number of STM32 family products, the STM32L0 product also benefits from the huge STM32 development ecosystem. In addition, the new series of products are pin-to-pin compatible with the STM32L1 and other STM32 products, allowing designers to quickly upgrade existing designs by taking advantage of the energy-saving advantages of new products.

The new products are available in UQFN32 (5x5mm), LQFP32 (7x7mm), LQFP48 (7x7mm), LQFP64 (10x10mm), and BGA64 (5x5mm) packages. Mass production is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2014.