Date: 21/11/2012

STM32 MCUs extended with larger memory, enhanced security, and more comm ports

STMicroelectronics has extended its popular STM32 family with new F427 and F437 ARM Cortex-M4 microcontrollers with the industry’s large Flash memory of 2MB storage and 256KB SRAM for running larger applications.

“Sophisticated features and connectivity of our newest STM32 microcontrollers bring exceptional user experiences to everyday electronic products,” said Michel Buffa, General Manager, Microcontroller Division, STMicroelectronics. “We are already working with lead customers to design the extended STM32 F4 variants, which provide up to 2 Mbytes of Flash memory, into applications such as smart meters, solar panel controllers, wireless modules, and personal medical monitors.”

STM32 F4 MCUs can be programmed using high-level languages such as Java, Microsoft .Net or uClinux. Using high-level languages also allows embedded-system developers to take advantage of software advances for desktop applications.

The STM32 F437 series provides enhanced security to protect the product developer’s intellectual property (IP) and end-user data against unauthorized access or tampering. With additional industry-standard security algorithms now included in the cryptographic and hash co-processor, these devices support MD5, SHA-1 and SHA-2 secure hash algorithms, AES GCM (Advanced Encryption Standard Galois/Counter Mode), and CCM (Combined Cipher Machine).

For applications requiring enhanced connectivity the STM32 F427 and F437 provide four USARTs and four UARTs, compared with four USARTs and two UARTs in existing STM32 F2 and F4 devices. Also integrated on-chip are six SPI ports, increased from three SPI ports on the F2 and F4 series, and optional digital filtering for the three I2C interfaces to promote robust communications.

A total of 16 new STM32 F427 and F437 variants join the existing STM32 F407 and F417 series announced in September 2011. Overall, ST’s STM32 family now comprises more than 360 separate part numbers spanning ARM Cortex-M0, M3 and M4 cores, with on-chip Flash from 16 KB to 2 MB, up to 256 KB SRAM, and package options from 36 pins to 176 pins.

The new STM32 F427 and F437 variants present a straightforward pin-to-pin and software-compatible upgrade path offering extra resources to enhance applications based on existing STM32 F2 and STM32 F4 devices.

STM32 F427 and F437 microcontrollers are sampling now to lead customers, and will enter full production during Q1 2013 in LQFP100, LQFP144, LQFP176 and UFBGA176 packages. ST has released the following prices for 1 MByte and 2 MByte variants:

STM32F427VGT6 with 1MB Flash, 256KB SRAM in LQFP100 package at $7.45 for 1000 units/year resale price.
STM32F437IIH6 2MB Flash, 256KB RAM, Crypto/Hash processor in UFBGA176 package at $9.50 for 1000 units/year resale price.