STMicroelectronics, Inc. has extended its STM32F3 microcontroller series for applications that require high performance and innovative features at affordable cost. The new devices add larger memory densities up to 512Kbyte Flash and 80KB SRAM, as well as richer peripherals for high-speed control and off-chip storage. Now with up to 512KByte Flash memory in the STM32F303 and STM32F302 devices, the F3 series can support even more sophisticated applications. New features include extra SPI and I2C communication interfaces, and a Flexible Memory Controller (FMC) with 36MHz access on 8/16bit bus for various off-chip storage and LCD modules. There are also up to three 144MHz 16-bit motor-control timers for multi-motor products found in home appliances, power tools, and industrial equipment.
In addition, ST’s new Motor Ecosystem for STM32, which comprises a software-development kit (STSW-STM32100) and new hardware, provides further support for a faster and easier motor-control development experience. The enhanced features are added to the already rich peripherals offered for the STM32F3 series. These include 12-bit ADCs each with class-leading 5M sample/s performance, true 16-bit Sigma-Delta ADCs, fast comparators (25ns), agile High-Resolution Timers (217ps) with complex-Waveform Builder, and uncommitted Programmable-Gain Amplifier (PGA). LQFP, BGA or WLCSP options are offered, covering 32 to 144 pins.
These new devices can be evaluated on two different hardware boards: NUCLEO-F303RE featuring a 64-pin device for fast prototyping and sampling, and STM32303E-EVAL featuring a 100-pin device for evaluation. The full embedded software package is also provided, covering not only peripherals drivers, but also libraries and stacks (CubeF3). The associated STM32CubeMX tool simplifies configuration and initialization to ensure an easy start-up.
The STM32F302 with 512KByte Flash is available now, priced $3.38 for orders of 10,000 pieces in the LQFP64 package.
