8-Bit MCUs Give First Glimpse Of Ultra-Low-Power Technology

Now available are the first microcontrollers to combine the company’s high-performance 8-bit architecture with an ultra-low-power architecture to save power in active modes as well as when idle. The STM8L product family comprises 26 devices in three lines spanning a broad spectrum of performance and function; in all cases, they boost end-product performance while achieving longer battery life in portable devices and other equipment. The three STM8L lines are built on a dedicated, proprietary 130-nm process optimized for ultra-low leakage. They offer full CPU performance up to the maximum operating frequency throughout the entire supply voltage (Vdd) range, from 1.65 V to 3.6 V. Moreover, using an on-chip regulator, power consumption is independent of Vdd, thereby providing extra flexibility and simplifying design. Other features include low-power embedded non-volatile memory and multiple power-management modes. Overall, this platform enables dynamic current consumption as low as 150 µA/MHz. Family pricing starts with the STM8L101 4-kbyte Flash version in a QFN20 3 x 3-mm low-profile package. Pricing is $0.68 each in lots of 10,000. STMICROELECTRONICS, Geneva, Switzerland. +41 22 929 29 29.