STMicroelectronics has unveiled a new series of ultra-low-power STM32 microcontrollers designed to significantly reduce energy consumption across various applications including industrial, medical, smart metering, and consumer devices.
This latest addition to the ultra-low-power range uses less energy and offers more at a cost-effective price, with up to a 50% reduction in energy usage compared to prior generations. Such efficiency not only means batteries last longer, reducing the frequency of replacements and the environmental burden of waste batteries, but it also opens the door to designs that operate solely on energy harvested from sources like small photovoltaic cells.
As smart buildings and IoT applications play a crucial role in managing energy and resources effectively, the microcontrollers (MCUs) at their core are essential. ST’s MCUs are pivotal in processing data for smart sensors and actuators, a demand set to rise as the proliferation of smart living and working spaces increases.
Patrick Aidoune, General Manager of the General Purpose MCU Division at STMicroelectronics, stated, “The introduction of the new STM32U0 series represents a significant step forward in our ultra-low-power technology. With these MCUs, small devices in specific applications such as industrial sensor management can operate for twice as long on the same battery size, allowing for the incorporation of more advanced features and cost-effective solutions for a broad range of devices.”
The STM32U0 series achieves its exceptional energy efficiency through innovative design techniques and advanced manufacturing processes, including extremely low standby power consumption and quick wake-up times. This allows the MCU to remain in energy-saving sleep modes longer, reducing overall power requirements.
Applications of the STM32U0 series are already emerging across various sectors. In the security industry, it’s being used in cameras that only activate upon detecting motion, enhancing surveillance while conserving energy. Other examples include ultra-long-lasting smoke detectors and, in a project by Ascoel, a highly energy-efficient water meter.
Francesco Cerretani of Ascoel highlighted the STM32U0’s role in their ultrasonic water meter project, aimed at creating a low-cost, maintenance-free, and highly precise meter with over a decade-long battery life, featuring real-time data display and essential security measures.
Further enhancing its value, the STM32U0 series includes an LCD segment display controller, reducing PCB costs for devices with LCDs such as water meters, thermostats, and access control panels. The MCUs also boast a variety of analog peripherals and an on-chip system oscillator to help reduce costs and save on PCB space.
The STM32U0 series is the first MCU based on the Arm Cortex-M0+ to target high levels of security certification, offering firmware code protection to meet forthcoming regulatory requirements in the US and EU.
With up to 256KB of Flash, options for up to 81 pins, and a 56MHz core speed, the STM32U0 series offers generous specifications for its device class. Now in production, STMicroelectronics is offering these MCUs at a competitive starting price of $0.68 for orders of 1,000 units, with sample requests and further pricing available through local ST sales offices.
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