October 10, 2012, Seoul – STMicroelectronics (hereinafter ST), a global semiconductor company in the field of various electronic device applications, has launched the ‘STM32 F3 Discovery Kit,’ an innovative and accessible development platform for projects based on the high-performance STM32 F3 microcontroller that recently entered mass production.

The latest development platform, the STM32 F3 Discovery Kit, is equipped with a 9-degree-of-freedom gyroscope and digital compass MEMS sensor. Leveraging the cutting-edge signal processing and computational capabilities of the STM32 F3 family, sensor-fusion applications such as attitude and orientation reference devices (AHRS)[1] can be implemented at a competitive price. Based on this sensor fusion and powerful computational capabilities, advanced 3D motion sensing systems can be built for a wide range of applications, including mobile games, augmented reality, image stabilization, portable navigation, robotics, and industrial automation systems.

Michel Buffa, General Manager of STMicrocontroller Business at STMicroelectronics, said, “ST’s STM32 F3 microcontroller family and MEMS sensors are very powerful products, and combining the two will enable customers to launch new products with outstanding performance and functionality at competitive prices. With our cutting-edge technology, developers can now integrate advanced sensing and embedded processing into devices as small as a wristwatch.”

The STM32 F3 Discovery Kit provides everything needed for projects utilizing the STM32 F3 microcontroller. A prototype board equipped with the STM32F303 MCU and related chips is provided ready for use and includes an LED indicator, push button controls, I/O pin headers, and a USB port for connection to a host PC. All pins of the MCU are exposed for access during testing and debugging. The MEMS devices on the board are the L3GD20 3-axis digital gyroscope and the LSM303DLHC 6-axis geomagnetic module from ST’s portfolio of MEMS sensors and iNEMO™ inertial modules [2]. It is compatible with STM32 software development environments supplied by major third-party vendors such as Altium, Atollic, IAR, and Keil™.

All STM32 F3 devices announced in June 2012, including the STM32F37x as well as the STM32F30x series, entered full-scale production in the third quarter.

The STM32F30x microcontroller integrates the high-level computational resources of the ARM Cortex™-M4 processor, featuring a DSP and FPU[3], with state-of-the-art peripherals. It is an ideal processor for use with MEMS sensors for high-performance sensor fusion applications, providing floating-point operation capabilities that can improve the efficiency of 3D directional software execution, such as AHRS algorithms. This efficiency can be leveraged to improve power efficiency or help optimize application runtime.

Peripherals for the STM32F30x device include four 12-bit 5Msps ADCs, which boast the fastest performance among ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers. In addition, they include seven 50ns high-speed comparators, four 1% accuracy programmable gain amplifiers (PGAs), two 12-bit DACs, and two advanced timers that can be used for simultaneous control of two motors or for applications such as digital power supplies, data servers, or solar microinverters.

The STM32F37x series offers a unique combination of peripherals, including the first 16-bit sigma-delta ADC integrated into an ST MCU. Up to three of these ADCs can be installed, providing a foundation for replacing the use of separate ADCs for existing discrete general-purpose processors and high-precision sensing applications with a single-chip solution.

In addition to the STM3 F3 Discovery Kit, two additional evaluation boards have been released. These products provide all the features of the STM32F303 and STM32F373 while also fully completing the STM32 F3 series ecosystem. ST and distributors plan to offer seminars worldwide demonstrating the convenience of the STM32 F3.

The STM32F3 Discovery Kit is currently available for purchase at $10.90 (Order code: STM32F3DISCOVERY). The STM32F30x series is priced between $2.54 and $3.86, and the STM32F37x between $2.24 and $3.69. All prices are based on orders of 1,000 units. Other pricing options are available for higher order quantities.