STMicroelectronics Accelerates Wireless Product Development with Market-Leading STM32 Microcontrollers

Rhea-AI Summary

STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) announces advancements in its STM32WB ecosystem, enabling smoother development of wireless applications. Key updates include the extension of the STM32Cube ecosystem to support STM32WB wireless MCUs, enhanced firmware, and improved programming tools. The STM32WB integrates a 2.4GHz radio and Arm Cortex-M cores, designed for smart building and industry applications. Starting at just $0.85 per unit in high volume, these updates aim to streamline wireless device development, ensuring quick and cost-effective certification for various protocols.

Positive

• Launch of STM32Cube ecosystem support for STM32WB wireless MCUs, enhancing wireless product development.
• Integration of advanced Arm Cortex-M cores and a 2.4GHz radio in STM32WB MCUs, reducing hardware complexity.
• STM32WB MCUs priced competitively starting at $0.85 in high volume, attracting a wider customer base.

Negative

• None.

STMicroelectronics Accelerates Wireless Product Development
with Market-Leading STM32 Microcontrollers

• STM32Cube ecosystem extended to support STM32WB wireless MCUs
• New STM32CubeWB firmware, upgrades to programmer and RF test tool
• Enhanced wireless power estimator for calculating battery runtime
  
  

Geneva, September 16, 2021 – STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, , is easing the design of competitively priced and power-efficient wireless equipment for applications like smart buildings, smart industry, and smart infrastructure by introducing new development tools and software for STM32WB wireless microcontrollers (MCUs).

ST’s highly integrated STM32WB contains a 2.4GHz radio and Arm^® Cortex^®-M4 and Cortex-M0+ MCU on the same chip, which eliminates numerous RF-circuit design challenges that can add time and uncertainty to a project. Just a small number of external components are needed, such as an antenna chosen for the application, to complete the hardware design. The MCU includes numerous peripherals, including a 12-bit analog-digital converter (ADC), digital interfaces, and a crystal-less USB 2.0 Full Speed interface in selected models. Protocols supported are Bluetooth^® LE 5.2, Zigbee^®, OpenThread and proprietary protocols, including combinations of such protocols with concurrent modes.

As a member of the STM32 family, the market-leading Arm Cortex-M MCUs, the STM32WB benefits from the extensive and market-proven STM32Cube ecosystem that provides a rich selection of development tools and software.

“The STM32Cube ecosystem is already widely used and is also broadly supported by third-party developer resources that help accelerate project completion,” said Hakim Jaafar, STM32 Wireless Marketing Director, STMicroelectronics. “Our latest wireless enhancements extend the STM32 family’s capabilities to handle new demands and use cases, further enhancing the most complete and robust solution on the market.”

Further technical information: new ecosystem features for wireless design

Strengthening support for wireless design, the STM32WB ecosystem provides all the necessary embedded software bricks and tools to get users started easily with their applications. The STM32CubeWB MCU package is loaded with many examples and brings a full set of peripheral drivers (HAL and LL), all the necessary radio stacks including Bluetooth 5.2, Zigbee 3.0, OpenThread v1.1 and 802.15.4 MAC for proprietary protocols, as well as example implementations of several concurrency models (static and/or dynamic) for these stacks. Software tools like STM32CubeMX and STM32CubeIDE offer direct support of the radio stacks in their GUI for easy access and configuration. Users can easily select and configure profiles and clusters for popular standards and benefit from ready-to-use examples.

In addition, extra controls for the power estimation tool contained in the STM32CubeMX configurator help calculate the RF-subsystem contribution to overall power consumption budget. Users can setup various scenarios for an accurate assessment of battery runtime.
Even more new features include enhancement of the STM32Cube programmer for optimized programming of the STM32WB’s dual-core architecture, which ensures real-time application performance by utilizing a Cortex-M0+ processor to control the radio alongside the main Cortex-M4 core.

With the STM32CubeMonitor-RF evaluation tool, the ecosystem supports the development process through to setting up the radio efficiently in the customer’s environment and testing its performance. Supporting Bluetooth^® LE and generic 802.15.4 radio technologies, STM32CubeMonitor-RF performs transmission/reception tests and RF measurements and assists writing test scripts and testing protocol and command sequences. The latest version introduces a sniffer capability for 802.15.4 protocols to ease development of products for mesh networks.

All tools and radio protocol stacks within the STM32CubeWB wireless ecosystem are appropriately certified and provided free of charge, along with documentation detailing the accompanying Bluetooth 5.2 and 802.15.4 certification items, enabling customers to secure applicable radio-product approvals quickly and cost-effectively.

The STM32WB wireless microcontrollers ecosystem also contains a set of evaluation boards for STM32WB wireless microcontrollers to help jump-start wireless product development.

The P- NUCLEO-WB55 pack with Nucleo-64 board and USB dongle,
NUCLEO-WB55RG and NUCLEO-WB15CC Nucleo-64 boards, and STM32WB5MM-DK Discovery kit offer various options to get started immediately targeting a wide range of wireless applications.

With the same series, various applications can share the same underlying implementation, leveraging the investment of product development and certification.

STM32WB products can address a broad spectrum of possibilities with the flexibility to target markets from high-end device types to cost-sensitive products. Prices for STM32WB MCUs start at $0.85 in high volume. For further information please visit www.st.com/stm32wb.

* STM32 is a registered and/or unregistered trademark of STMicroelectronics International NV or its affiliates in the EU and/or elsewhere. In particular, STM32 is registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office.

About STMicroelectronics
At ST, we are 46,000 creators and makers of semiconductor technologies mastering the semiconductor supply chain with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. An independent device manufacturer, we work with more than 100,000 customers and thousands of partners to design and build products, solutions, and ecosystems that address their challenges and opportunities, and the need to support a more sustainable world. Our technologies enable smarter mobility, more efficient power and energy management, and the wide-scale deployment of the Internet of Things and 5G technology. Further information can be found at www.st.com.

For Press Information Contact:
Michael Markowitz
Director Technical Media Relations
STMicroelectronics
Tel: +1 781 591 0354
Email: michael.markowitz@st.com

Attachments

• P4387S -- Sep 16 2021 -- STM32WB ecosystem_FINAL FOR PUBLICATION
• P4387S -- Sep 16 2021 -- STM32WB ecosystem_IMAGE

FAQ

What new features have been added to the STM32WB wireless MCUs by STMicroelectronics?

The STM32WB wireless MCUs now include extensive support through the STM32Cube ecosystem, enhanced firmware, and improved programming tools tailored for wireless applications.

What applications are targeted by the new STM32WB ecosystem updates?

The updates focus on enabling efficient development for smart buildings, smart industries, and smart infrastructure applications.

What is the price point for STM32WB MCUs?

STM32WB MCUs are offered at a starting price of $0.85 per unit in high volume.

Which wireless protocols does the STM32WB support?

The STM32WB supports Bluetooth LE 5.2, Zigbee, OpenThread, and proprietary protocols, ensuring broad application compatibility.