China, October 9, 2020 – STMicroelectronics (ST; NYSE: STM), the world’s leading supplier of semiconductors across multiple Electronic applications, introduces the record-breaking STM32* with embedded flash memory Microcontrollers (MCUs), enabling new cost-conscious products with high-end features of graphical user interface, AI and advanced network protection.
The new STM32H7 MCU is based on the Arm Cortex-M7 core, clocked at 550 MHz, and is the fastest core MCU with on-chip flash memory in the deeply embedded application market. These single-core microcontrollers feature up to 1 MB of flash memory, bringing higher performance and economy to cost-conscious applications.
The new products can run code stored in external memory without sacrificing processing performance and security features. Aided by features such as a variable memory controller (FMC) and an eight-wire SPI memory interface, whether running code from on-chip or external memory, benchmarks achieve 2778CoreMark and 1177 DMIPS, enabling designers to address Applications that require more storage capacity, such as high-resolution full-color graphics and video that require large frame buffers, create new products with more advanced and immersive user experiences.
The TouchGFX GUI development framework STM32Cube extension package (X-CUBE-TOUCHGFX) and the TouchGFX Designer programming tool further aid the development of full-color GUIs, both of which are free to use.
Using the STM32Cube ecosystem and STM32Cube.AI (X-CUBE-AI), it is possible to import neural networks into microcontrollers, exploit parallel camera interfaces and computer vision technologies, and develop advanced capabilities enabled by AI technology. By connecting the STM32H7 to one or more sensors, additional value such as condition monitoring and other machine learning techniques can be brought to STM32-based products.
As a component of the STM32Trust security framework, the Network Protection feature adds support for On-The-Fly Decryption (OTFDEC) and Secure Firmware Installation (SFI). The OTFDEC function allows the chip to execute encrypted code in external memory, while the SFI security function allows OEMs to order standard products anywhere in the world and write encrypted code in the field, both solutions effectively protect OEM intellectual property in flash memory. Out-of-the-box security features include support for secure boot, symmetric encryption (via hardware or software libraries), and encryption key configuration, and asymmetric encryption (via software libraries) is also available. Cryptographic algorithm processing uses hardware random number generators, AES-128, AES-192 and AES-256 encryption algorithm hardware accelerators, and supports GCM and CCM, Triple DES and hashing (MD5, SHA-1 and SHA-2) algorithm.
Ricardo de Sa Earp, Vice President of STMicroelectronics Division and General Manager of Microcontroller Products Group, said: “Our latest STM32H7 MCU brings excellent features and performance to small, low-power products, taking full advantage of the excellent economics and performance of the STM32 family. Energy efficiency benefits. Appliances, small medical devices, and industrial sensors and actuators, which previously may not be able to integrate compute-intensive functions such as AI, graphical interfaces and human-machine voice interaction, now have suitable solutions.”
Several key features of the new product make it a huge advantage in industrial applications, for example, the on-chip integrated switch mode power supply (SMPS) overcomes the dissipated power limit and increases the operating temperature to 125°C. In addition, the new product is fault-resilient by providing error-checking (ECC) functionality for all memories.
STMicroelectronics has updated the STM32 development ecosystem to allow users to quickly get started with new products. Flexible prototyping and functional demonstrations can provide a cost-effective option for rapid development of prototypes and proof-of-concept models with the STM32H735G-DK Discovery Kit. The latest STM32H7 MCUs also support the STM32Cube ecosystem, which consists of tools, embedded software and middleware, including graphics libraries, communication stacks and application code examples, such as motor control, AI and advanced security functions.
Users can also develop the full functionality of the new microcontroller using software tools for applications and safety functions released by ArmKeil and IAR Systems.
Haydn Povey, General Manager, Embedded Security Solutions at IAR Systems, said: “ST’s latest STM32H7 MCU is a game-changer with improved economics, performance and security. Security features include enhanced cryptographic accelerators, advanced external memory protection and Security key configuration, all key functions required to achieve regulatory requirements, including the latest EN303645 standard. We hope that IAR Embedded Workbench and the C-Trust security framework will become engineers’ preferred IDEs for next-generation designs. their full potential.”
The new STM32H7 products are STM32H723/733, STM32H725/735 and STM32H730 Value-Line MCUs, which are available in a variety of different package options.
*STM32 is a registered and/or unregistered trademark of STMicroelectronics International NV (STMicroelectronics International Ltd.) or its affiliates in the EU and/or elsewhere. In particular, STM32 is registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office.
Technical details
Each new product is based on a record-breaking 550 MHz Arm Cortex-M7 core with a single-core system architecture for cost-effectiveness and advanced performance. The following features allow designers to maximize performance, energy efficiency, and flexibility in a variety of applications:
32 KB instruction cache and 32 KB data cache
Tightly Coupled Instruction RAM (ITCRAM), which can remap addresses in time-critical routines to achieve zero wait cycles for reading memory data
ST’s proven FMAC (filtering) and Cordic (triangle) modules speed up math operations
·Support encryption algorithm
Advanced analog peripherals including two low-power 16-bit ADCs and one 12-bit ADC
Interfaces supporting mainstream industrial connectivity standards, including three FD-CAN ports, Ethernet and Parallel Synchronous Slave Interface (PSSI)
ST’s Chrom-ART Accelerator delivers superior graphics performance
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