STMicroelectronics' new STM32L4 microcontroller helps users expand their choices

     STMicroelectronics' new STM32L4 series takes microcontroller energy efficiency and performance to new heights. In order to simplify design and improve application flexibility, the new series of microcontrollers introduces a new peripheral package combination. According to the EEMBC ULPBench low-power microcontroller test, without the help of a step-down converter, without the addition of coils, capacitance and other components, the STM32L4 achieved a high score of 176.70 ULpmark tM-CP, which is much higher than the test scores of other well-known brands. The 80MHz EEMBC CoreMark score of 273.55 indicates that the STM32L4 series offers the highest performance and energy efficiency on the market.

     Superior performance and energy efficiency source benefits come from intelligent architecture features such as independent peripheral power supply voltage regulation, configurable multi-speed internal clock, and Data Batch Processing Mode (BAM), ART AcceleratorTM. In addition, multi-mode power management, including ultra-low power 8nA shutdown, helps maximize energy efficiency.

     Six new product lines of the STM32L4 offer these benefits, providing designers with affordability, multiple targeted application features and more packaging options. The STM32L471 integrates flash memory up to 1MB with analog peripherals and audio capabilities for development projects that do not require an LCD controller or USB interface. The STM32L475 has a USB OTG Full Speed controller. Both product lines have multiple timers, clock sources and communication interfaces, including CAN, SDMMC, USART, SPI and I2C. Analog peripherals include a 12-bit ADC with a 5 MSPS sampling rate and power-saving mode, as well as a 12-bit DAC, two opamps with built-in programmable gain amplifiers (PGA), and two ultra-low power voltage comparators.

     The STM32L432 and STM32L433 enable ARM® Cortex®-M4 processor core performance of 100 DMIPS for lightweight microcontroller applications with flash memory requirements of up to 256KB. The STM32L432 integrates analog peripherals, audio capabilities, and a crystal-free USB controller. STM32L433 adds an LCD controller. From the 7mm x 7mm UFBGA100 package to the 3.14mm x 3.13mm WLCSP49 package, including the smallest UFQPN32 package, both product lines support more package options to meet the needs of customers without WLCSP packaging capabilities.

     In addition, the STM32L442 and STM32L443 product lines offer designers the same functionality and design flexibility as the STM32L432/433, with the addition of a crypto accelerator for each product.

     Whether it's securing data for Internet of Things (IoT) products such as wearables or home automation controllers, or adding multifunctional peripherals and communication interfaces to industrial or medical devices, the additional capabilities of the STM32L4 expand the range of options for designers, thereby increasing design flexibility. In addition, the product life cycle guarantee of more than 10 years makes the STM32L4 series the ideal choice for smart meters, while benefiting from a wide operating temperature range and high capacity on-chip memory for robust single-chip solutions.