STMicroelectronics Introduces 32-Bit Microcontrollers for Only 32 Cents

Single chip microcomputer STM32L151CCU6

1206RGB (single)

NSF1VTK-32-12.5-30

Crystal oscillator

0201 package SLP0603 ESD electrostatic diode 5V one-way ESD

"Since 2007, STMicroelectronics officially launched the ARM core microcontroller, our MCU department has grown from a small department to the core department of STMicroelectronics, and our global ranking in the field of microcontrollers has been continuously improved." Patrice Hamard, Product Marketing Manager, Semiconductors Microcontroller Products Division, introduced.

At present, ST has launched seven product lines with 351 pin-compatible products. "We provide our customers with the best service, including broad product line coverage and a 10-year lead time commitment. "Hamard said.

Speaking of the current microcontroller market, Hamard said that shipments are growing rapidly, especially in the 32-bit microcontroller market. At the same time, however, as market entrants increase and customer requirements become more stringent, the price of products is getting lower and lower, which means that the pressure on the competition is increasing.

But in Hamard's view, this is not necessarily bad news. For a broader range of extended 32-bit microcontroller markets, STMicroelectronics recently introduced the 32-cent STM32F030 ValueLine with Cortex-M0. "The 8-bit market is large enough, and we hope that customers can use 32-bit microcontrollers at 8-digit prices, which gives us the confidence to expand the market for 32-bit low-end products," Hamard said. At the same time, however, it also stressed that STMicroelectronics is not actively taking the price war, but "providing more flexible space for existing customers, allowing customers to upgrade their systems to 32-bit at a relatively low price."

James Wiart, director of market and applications for microcontrollers in Greater China and Asia Pacific, said: " STMicroelectronics is well aware of the sensitivity of the 8-bit market to resources and costs, so we created the F0 series." Wiart further explained "Because we continue to invest in ARM microcontrollers, we are able to further reduce production costs."

STMicroelectronics PATRICE HAMARD, JAMES WIART and China Microcontroller Marketing Manager Cao Jindong

According to Wiart, the STM32F030 does not have a significant reduction in peripherals, architecture, and hardware. It only cuts some peripherals, retaining internal clocks, hardware RAM, CRC, and watchdogs, such as the built-in oscillator of the STM32F050. The accuracy is 1%, and 030 becomes 5%, which shortens the test time and compresses the cost. At the same time, the ValueLine series is only for some of the more popular F050 product lines.

Wiart also stressed that "Italian's seven major microcontroller product lines all have the same DNA, although the kernel is different, but can guarantee the compatibility and difference of the entire product line."

It is worth noting that with the release of the product, Italy and France also announced a new development tool partner Coocox, a free development tool supplier affiliated with e-Links, further reducing the design and development costs of the product. "We are building our own good ecosystem. Unlike ARM's broader ecosystem, we will choose different partners to communicate in depth based on the characteristics of the MCU market," Hamard said.

In fact, the STM32F030 ValueLine product is not the first value line of the company. As the definition of the STM8 ValueLine product, Hamard, ValueLine, the concept of STMicroelectronics, "is like adding turbo to the engine. Pressure, accelerate the rapid development of the MCU market," Hamard concluded.