A microcontroller (MCU) has been released that offers ultra-low power consumption and powerful performance, making it versatile for industrial, medical, smart metering, and consumer applications. It is expected to resolve the concerns of developers who need to select an entry-level MCU.

STMicroelectronics (hereinafter ST), a global semiconductor company supporting various electronic applications and customers, announced at a press conference on the 19th that it has launched the next-generation microcontroller (MCU) STM32U0, an energy-saving and cost-effective solution capable of reducing energy consumption by up to 50% compared to previous generation products.

This product is the lowest power-consuming MCU in the STM32 series and is an entry-level ultra-low-power MCU with the most ideal combination of performance and price, offering greater freedom in the design of battery-powered devices.

In particular, it reduces the frequency of battery replacements and minimizes the impact of battery disposal, and supports battery-free operation using only energy harvesting systems, such as small photovoltaics, in more designs.

STMThe 32U0 significantly improved energy efficiency by combining state-of-the-art design techniques and advanced manufacturing processes. Featuring extremely low static power consumption in standby mode and excellent wake-up performance, it minimizes average energy consumption by maintaining the power-saving sleep mode for a longer period.

It also provides an LCD segment display controller to improve cost efficiency.

It provides value-added functions by including various analog peripherals such as ADCs (Analog-to-Digital Converters), DACs (Digital-to-Analog Converters), operational amplifiers, and comparators.

In addition, it is equipped with an on-chip system oscillator to reduce Bill of Materials (BoM) costs and decrease costs and PCB space.

The STM32U0 device is the first MCU running on Arm® Cortex®-M0+ with a focus on firmware code protection and targeting SESIP Level 3 and PSA Level 1.

This MCU is provided with certification that independently guarantees the STM32U0 security features, enabling product manufacturers to utilize it to comply with the European Radio Equipment Directive (RED), which will be mandatory in the future, and the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark, a voluntary certification scheme.

In addition, developers can take advantage of features such as a 56MHz core speed, up to 256KB of flash, and up to 81-pin package options, which offer superior specifications among devices of this class.

Looking at use cases from major clients, a major client in the security system sector adopted the STM32U0 for security cameras, waking up the device only when motion is detected to save energy while enhancing surveillance capabilities.

Another client developed a smoke detector that operates for very long periods, and in the case of Ascoel, an application using the STM32U0 to manage the functions of power-sensitive water meters.Developed.

The STM32U0 series is currently in production, and ST offers the new devices at an economical price of $0.68 per 1,000 units. For sample requests and additional pricing options, please contact ST Korea.