Low-Cost High-Performance Cortex-M4 MCU with Integrated High-Performance Analog Devices

For ST's previously announced STM32F4 series, a Cortex-M4 microcontroller family, the focus was placed on performance, memory capacity, and connectivity to meet the requirements of certain microcontroller applications demanding high performance and large-scale processing. In contrast, the STM32F3 series utilizes the same advanced features of Cortex-M4 but with lower performance and memory capacity compared to the STM32F4 series, enabling users to benefit from Cortex-M4 performance at a lower price point. Additionally, some of the existing advanced connectivity functions have been replaced with devices for analog interfaces such as PGA (Programmable Gain Amplifier), 5MSPS (5 million sampling per second) ADC, Sigma-Delta ADC, DAC, and high-speed Comparator, providing the advantage of using advanced analog devices built into each series variant at no additional cost. This offers not only a simple cost-reduction effect but also enables the exclusion of certain required external analog devices from the design, making miniaturization possible for products requiring analog interfaces, while additionally helping to reduce analog noise interference from both internal and external sources. Cost savings in advanced high-performance product development, product miniaturization, as well as application in measurement and control system design—a traditional domain of embedded systems—are expected to demonstrate their true value going forward. This seminar will cover the following topics: - Introduction to Cortex-M based STM32 roadmap - Introduction to Cortex-M4 and background of STM32F3 series development - Performance and key features of STM32F3 series - Application demonstration (EVB board)