STMicroelectronics Drives Innovation at ‘Electronics For You’ 2011

ST’s STM32 32-bit family benefits from the architectural enhancements of the ARM Cortex-M3 microprocessor core, in addition to being packed with advanced features such as low power consumption and better code density that delivers higher performance at lower cost. It integrates many interfaces and peripherals such as RF, USB, OTG, Ethernet, I2S, SDIO and Advance Timers. Enhancements such as software-driven touch and proximity sensing add advanced features at low cost, while new technologies such as a resistive multi-touch controller adds unique capabilities.



For even higher-performance applications, ST’s has recently introduced its leading-edge STM32 F-2 MCU series, which combines advanced 90nm process technology with the company’s innovative Adaptive Real-Time memory accelerator (ART Accelerator™) to unleash the Cortex-M3 core’s maximum processing performance. ST also offers a low-power, but high-performance, 8-bit series of MCUs, the STM8 family, which also includes automotive-grade MCUs.



Motion Sensors - Accelerometers and Gyroscopes

As the leader in MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) devices and solutions for consumer electronics and mobile devices, ST continues to develop outstanding MEMS technology, combining different MEMS devices such as accelerometers with gyroscopes or magnetometers, or even with MCUs to create ‘smart sensors.’ Over the past five years, ST has reduced the size of MEMS accelerometers and gyroscopes from more than 500mm3 to less than 10mm3 while also increasing resolution, accuracy, temperature stability and reducing power consumption by a factor of 10.



Touch Sensing

ST’s touch-sensing controller solutions include resistive touch-screen and capacitive touch-key ICs. The devices are available in various channel options, up to 24 channels and can be independently configured. The STMPE24xx S-Touch family of devices can be used to implement a complete notebook multimedia control bar with eight capacitive touch keys.



RFID and Memories

One of ST’s latest innovations has married the strengths of non-volatile memory with industry-standard RFID, bringing about an unprecedented level of flexibility in data exchange with its dual-interface EEPROM. Apart from its traditional I2C interface, the new dual-interface EEPROM also allows data transfer with an RFID reader, without the need for any physical connection or power supply. This new product has the potential to greatly impact production processes, logistics, manufacturing costs and just about any function or product that uses memory; for example, updating the firmware of an electronics product without having to remove it from its factory packaging.



Analog

ST has wide variety of analog products within its analog portfolio. As the industry leader in ESD and EOS protection and EMI filtering devices, ST has introduced many innovative protection products that can support high bandwidth interfaces, such as HDMI, DisplayPort and DiiVA, which handles bandwidth up to 13.5-Gbit/s. In the area of LED drivers, ST offers monolithic high-efficiency drivers that allow superior dimming capabilities, flexible fault management and longer life-span with the LED77xx family. ST also has a large portfolio of DC-DC converters that can used to deliver highly efficient LED solutions. In addition, ST’s new innovative family of E-fuses is an integrated electronic fuse that is optimized to monitor output current and input voltage to protect electronic components.



Power Semiconductors

ST is the world leader in power semiconductors and offers an extensive portfolio of power devices for a myriad of power applications, including solar power, power supplies, lighting, induction heating, energy meters, home appliances, motor control and many in the automotive sector.



- Power MOSFETs

ST is maintaining its leadership in high-voltage MOSFET technology with its MDMesh V product portfolio, which delivers the best on-resistance per area for the highest efficiency and power density in the 650V rating. ST also offers high voltage products based on its SuperMESH and SuperMESH 3 technology to provide the flexibility to customers to choose the most suitable products for application requirements.



- Power Rectifiers

ST offers power and signal Schottky diodes, ultrafast rectifiers, silicon carbide (SiC) diode and the innovative BC2 (Back-Current Circuit) design. BC2 allows competitively priced silicon diodes to be used as an alternative to SiC devices in boost or buck converters inside solar inverters or SMPS applications where the low recovery current of an SiC boost diode helps to minimize MOSFET switching-on losses.



- Power Line Networking

ST’s STarGRID™ family’s ST7590 power-line communication (PLC) System-on-Chip (SoC) is being used in advanced Automatic Meter Management (AMM) equipment. It offers a flexible, scalable and future-proof power-line communication platform that can be easily adapted to different smart-grid application needs and protocol standards.



- Solar Power

In solar power applications, ST’s new SPV1020 chip allows Maximum Power-Point Tracking (MPPT) to be applied individually for each panel. The SPV1020 enables Distributed MPPT (DMPPT), which compensates each panel individually; in contrast to a centralized MPPT scheme that applies a ‘best-fit’ compensation to all the panels in the array.



ST’s new SPV1001, which implements ST’s BCD6 fabrication process to deliver a high level of integration, contains a low-loss power switch and a precision controller. Directly replacing bypass diodes, which are used to prevent hotspot effects, the SPV1001 protects the energy normally lost in each diode.