STMicroelectronics has put an ARM Cortex M4 core on its 32-bit microcontroller range. Adding M4 brings signal–processing to the ST32 controller range. The controller is in production now.
The single-cycle DSP instructions of the STM32 F4 accesses the digital signal controller (DSC) market that requires computational capability and DSP instructions for applications such as high-end motor control medical equipment and security.
The chip has a 7-layer multi-AHB bus matrix and multi-DMA controllers, which allow concurrent execution and data transfers.
An integrated single-precision FPU boosts the execution of control algorithms, adds more features to applications, improves code efficiency, reduces time-to-market, eliminates scaling and saturation, and allows the use of meta-language tools.
It has up to 1 MB of on-chip flash, 192 KB of SRAM, reset circuit, internal RCs, PLLs, sub 1microAmp real-time clock with sub-second accuracy.
It has the flexibility to reduce power consumption in applications requiring both high processing power and low-power performance when running at low voltage or on rechargeable batteries. These include 4 KB of backup SRAM to save data in standby or battery backup modes, a typical RTC consumption of <1uA in Vbat mode, and an internal voltage regulator with power scaling capability, allowing the selection of performance or lower consumption.
Tools and software include Integrated Development Environments, Meta-language tools, a DSP library, starter kits, software libraries and stacks.
Connectivity includes camera interface, crypto/hash HW processor, Ethernet MAC10/100 with IEEE 1588 v2 support, two USB OTG (one with HS support),
It has a dedicated audio PLL and two full duplex I2S.
It has up to 15 communication interfaces (including six USARTs running up to 10.5 Mbits/s, three SPI running up to 42 Mbits/s, three I2C, two CAN, SDIO).
Analogue functions include two 12-bit DACs, three 12-bit ADCs reaching 2.4 MSPS or 7.2 MSPS in interleaved mode.
It has up to 17 timers: 16-bit and 32-bit running up to 168 MHz.
