The STM32F3 series defines the entry point to ST's ARM® Cortex®-M4 microcontroller portfolio. The proven M4 core with DSP and floating-point unit, running up to 72MHz, executes deterministic routines such as motor-control loops up to 43% faster with the unique ST "Routine Booster" based on core-coupled memory (CCM-SRAM). Positioned in the performance spectrum immediately above ST's STM32F1 Cortex-M3 series, STM32F3 devices are part of the STM32 portfolio that comprises more than 600 devices delivering the advantages of extensive hardware and software commonalities, easy-to-use design tools, and development ecosystem.

Now with up to 512KByte Flash memory in the STM32F303 and STM32F302 devices, the F3 series can support even more sophisticated applications. New features include extra SPI and I2C communication interfaces, and a Flexible Memory Controller (FMC) with 36MHz access on 8/16bit bus for various off-chip storage and LCD modules. There are also up to three 144MHz 16-bit motor-control timers for multi-motor products found in home appliances, power tools, and industrial equipment. In addition, ST's new Motor Ecosystem for STM32, which comprises a software-development kit (STSW-STM32100) and new hardware, provides further support for a faster and easier motor-control development experience.

The enhanced features are added to the already rich peripherals offered for the STM32F3 series. These include 12-bit ADCs each with class-leading 5Msample/s performance, true 16-bit Sigma-Delta ADCs, fast comparators (25ns), agile High-Resolution Timers (217ps) with complex-Waveform Builder, and uncommitted Programmable-Gain Amplifier (PGA). LQFP, BGA or WLCSP options are offered, covering 32 to 144 pins.

These new devices can be evaluated on two different hardware boards: NUCLEO-F303RE  featuring a 64-pin device for fast prototyping and sampling, and STM32303E-EVAL featuring a 100-pin device for evaluation. The full embedded software package is also provided, covering not only peripherals drivers, but also libraries and stacks (CubeF3). The associated STM32CubeMX tool simplifies configuration and initialization to ensure an easy start-up.

The STM32F302 with 512KByte Flash is available now, priced $3.38 for orders of 10,000 pieces in the LQFP64 package.

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