STMicroelectronics introduced its latest STM32F030 Value Line microcontroller and announced that it will supply it at an exceptional price of 32 cents ($0.32, approximately 300 won) for large orders.

This new product is not only ideal for low-budget projects but is also suitable for performance enhancement and product expansion, as it allows for the utilization of the entire portfolio of hardware and software-compatible 32-bit microcontrollers.

The new STM32F030 Value Line is based on an ARM® Cortex™-M0 core running at 48MHz. Unlike competing products, the Value Line does not suffer from performance or feature degradation, such as reduced core speed or fewer peripherals, at an 8-bit price point.

“With this new product line, even entry-level applications can easily take advantage of the benefits of 32-bit development,” said Michel Buffa, General Manager of ST Microcontrollers. “Engineers can leverage enhanced hardware capabilities to develop more powerful software more simply. Another advantage of transitioning from 8-bit to the STM32 Value line is the ability to gain more benefits from the ARM developer community and ecosystem.”

The core of the new Value Line lies in simplifying component selection with robust standard specifications and effectively achieving product differentiation. The STM32F030 line consists of a total of five segments, ranging from 16K byte flash and 4K byte RAM in a 20-pin package to up to 64K byte flash, 8K byte RAM, and 32, 48, or 64-pin packages. All products provide a 12-bit 1Msample/s ADC, a 1.2V internal reference, communication peripherals, and a temperature sensor, along with features such as timers that support ADC synchronization, stop time management, and PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) timing for motor control. With a core frequency of 48MHz and such a rich array of peripherals, the STM32F030 Value Line is distinguished from other entry-level 32-bit product families. The internal RTC and 5-channel DMA[1] (Direct Memory Access) are features typically not found in other microcontrollers in this price range, helping to facilitate application development and improve performance.

In addition, developers have access to ST’s entire portfolio of ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers, comprising over 360 products, which are compatible with Cortex-M0, M3, and M4 products in terms of expansion pins, software, and peripherals.

ST is currently accepting sample orders for the STM32F030 family. Mass production is scheduled for the third quarter of 2013.