STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) – a leader in 8-bit microcontrollers and fast growing in 32-bit MCUs –has announced new devices in its powerful and highly integrated 32-bit ARM-based STR710F microcontroller series, which will extend this successful family to high-performance, cost-sensitive applications needing fewer on-chip facilities and to embedded systems that will benefit from increased on-chip RAM. The new MCUs will reduce costs, allow greater design flexibility, and enable manufacturers to produce a range of STR7-based products at different performance levels.

For applications that require the performance and flexibility of an STR7 microcontroller but have a limited amount of program code, ST is introducing lower-cost 64-kbyte Flash versions of both the USB (STR711) and the CAN interface (STR712) devices – alongside the established versions which have either 128 or 256 kbytes of Flash program memory. Both of the new devices retain the 16-kbyte data-Flash memory of other family members and include 16 kbytes of RAM. They are available in a 64-pin TQFP64 package.

Other cost-sensitive applications that don’t need either USB or CAN interfaces can now utilize the new STR715, a lower-cost ‘naked’ MCU with 64 kbytes of code Flash memory, 16 kbytes of data Flash and 16 kbytes of RAM, but with no USB or CAN module. This cost-optimized 32-bit MCU is available in a TQFP64 package and specifically addresses small-footprint, low-cost applications such as industrial systems and consumer appliances that need a versatile and high-performance processor, but not USB or CAN.

ST has now doubled the on-chip RAM of all of the mid-range, 128-kbyte Flash versions in the STR710F family from 16 to 32 kbytes, optimizing the RAM/Flash balance of these devices, minimizing any memory constraints during code development, and opening up new possibilities for more complex applications. The memory choices in the family are now 256 kbytes of code Flash with 64 kbytes of RAM, 128 kbytes of Flash with 32 kbytes of RAM, and 64 kbytes of Flash with 16 kbytes of RAM; all devices include 16 kbytes of data Flash memory.

The STR710F family – based on the industry-standard ARM7TDMI 32-bit RISC CPU – is ideal for embedded systems requiring a compact but powerful MCU, and for scalable solutions such as user interfaces, factory-automation systems and point-of-sale (POS) applications. It offers best-in-class random access time to Flash memory – up to 33MHz direct from Flash and up to 50MHz, with zero-wait states for sequential code, using burst acceleration – and is therefore optimized for real-time applications. The family offers up to ten communications interfaces, including CAN, USB, HDLC (High-Level Data Link Control), MMC (Multimedia Card), and a smart-card interface.

Flexible package options include the compact, low-pin-count TQFP64, and a 144-pin TQFP144 with external memory bus. A choice of cost-effective, state-of-the-art hardware and software development tools includes an ARM RealView Developer Kit targeted specifically at ST’s STR7 family.

All of the new MCUs are available now in sample quantities, and will enter volume production by the end of Q2 2005.