STMicroelectronics Announces STM8S Microcontrollers for industrial and consumer applications

The STM8S platform enables new generations of 8-bit MCUs, offering up to 20 MIPS CPU capability and 2.95-5.5V operation to help legacy 8-bit systems transition to lower supply voltages. Its 130nm embedded non-volatile memory is among the most advanced technologies currently in use with 8-bit MCUs, and provides true EEPROM data-write with 300,000-cycle durability.

he rich set of peripherals available supports accurate control and monitoring, in a broad range of products such as home appliances, HVAC systems, industrial automation, power tools, personal-care equipment, and systems for power control and management. Functions include a 10-bit ADC with up to 16 channels capable of converting in less than 3 microseconds. There is also advanced 16-bit control timers for operations such as motor control, capture/compare, and PWM. Other peripherals include a CAN2.0B interface, two U(S)ARTs, an I2C and SPI ports.

The STM8S platform shares its peripherals’ definition with the 32-bit STM32 families. This promotes compatibility across devices and enables design flexibility. Applications can be migrated into the STM32 domain for higher performance. Complementing this flexibility, STM8S components and packages are fully pin compatible to provide more freedom for developers to optimize pin count and peripherals. Pin compatibility also allows platform-design decisions, which save time to market and allow products to be quickly and easily upgraded.

There are also powerful integrated features to reduce overall parts count and system costs. Two on-chip RC oscillators, operating at 16MHz and 128kHz, are accurate to within 1% and 5%, respectively, and save the need for an external clock source. The MCU can switch between these two oscillators in less than 2 microseconds. On-chip Power-On-Reset and BOR (Brown-out Reset) functions eliminate external reset circuitry. Further advantages include IEC61967-compliant EMI emission, IEC-1000 high immunity to susceptibility and high current-injection immunity, which saves external protection components normally required to meet EMC regulations.

In addition, compatibility with ST’s embedded touch-sensing software allows STM8S MCUs to support flexible and inexpensive user interfaces comprising capacitive buttons, sliders and rotary switches with minimal external components. Software libraries are available for capacitive sensing functions.

Other convenient features include a single-wire debug-and-programming interface, as well as single-voltage Flash memory enabling in-application programming and in-system programming. Combined with the free software environment, the STM8 tool suite offers an inexpensive way to create applications.

Developers targeting the STM8S platform also benefit from powerful tools including a starter kit, emulator, evaluation board, and debugger. Additional development support includes a dedicated firmware library compliant to Class B, according to the IEC60335 functional safety standard.

Among the devices introduced, developers can choose the STM8S105 Access Line with 16MHz CPU frequency and up to 32 Kbyte Flash, or the STM8S207 Performance Line operating at 24MHz and up to 128 Kbyte Flash. Package options span 32-pin LQFP32 to 80-pin LQFP80. The price for the 32 Kbyte STM8S105K6T6C in a LQFP32 package is $0.89 for quantities of 10,000 units.