STMicroelectronics has enabled the latest STM32 microprocessors (MPUs). The new microprocessors also support the latest security features for protecting connected assets.
The STM32MP13 single-core MPUs deliver a perfect balance of power consumption, price, and increased capability for applications that demand performance above that of typical high-end embedded microcontrollers. With their security features, these devices accelerate end-product certification according to the leading standards including SESIP Level 3 and Payment Card Industry (PCI) PTS/POI 6.0 specifications, informs Ricardo De Sa Earp, Executive Vice-President, General-Purpose Microcontrollers Sub-Group, STMicroelectronics.
As a lead customer for ST’s STM32 MPUs, HID is incorporating the STM32MP13 into a new critical design for one of its key access control products. Damon Dageenakis, PACS Director, Access Control Devices, HID, highlights some of the key advantages in this offering, which includes its performance, power and efficiency, its ability to enable all possible powerful cybersecurity attributes and functions such as its crypto engine and secure boot, and its ability to meet some of the demanding peripheral requirements.
The new MPUs have a 1GHz Arm® Cortex®-A7 application-processing core, combined with integrated peripherals and power-saving innovations proven in STM32 MCUs. The STM32MP13 ensures a high level of security for connected assets using cryptographic acceleration with SCA robustness/protection, tamper resistance, secure storage, and Arm TrustZone® technology with Trusted Firmware (TF-A and OP-TEE) secure processing environments. Peripheral features include a pair of Gigabit Ethernet ports that ease integration in industrial equipment like programmable logic controllers (PLCs).
Development tools and software are common between the STM32MP13 and STM32MP15. They include the fully maintained OpenSTLinux Distribution with Linux board support package (BSP), drivers, secure bootchain supported by secure manufacturing, and popular application frameworks. Helping accelerate time to market and save development costs, OpenSTLinux Distribution ensures seamless software migration and scalability. It can even be extended with Linux real time capabilities.
In addition to bridging the embedded MCU and application-processor worlds, the STM32MP13 MPUs are built around a comprehensive set of tools, leveraging the strong MCU ecosystem. It is well suited to use with the Qt graphics framework for fast and responsive development of sophisticated user interfaces.
The new SMT32MP13 strengthens Qt’s support for cost-efficient MPUs, especially in industrial and security-related use cases. By using Qt’s cross-platform development and testing tools and deploying the applications on ST’s MCUs and MPUs, development teams can significantly improve their productivity. The approach is exceptionally scalable, as Qt allows teams to create consistent user experiences across devices, from MCUs to MPUs, with the same codebase, describes Marko Kaasila, Senior Vice President, Product Management, Qt Group.
While gaining the extra processing performance of an MPU, combined with the flexible power management, real-time OS (RTOS) support, and integrated security features and peripherals typically provided by embedded MCUs, STM32MP13 users also benefit from advantages such as a large selection of package options that help optimise cost and flexibility, and allow low-cost PCB designs down to four layers without costly laser vias. ST further eases designers’ workload by providing PCB layout examples.
The STM32MP13 MPUs include the STM32MP131, STM32MP133, and STM32MP135. They are in full production, priced from $3.16 for orders of 10,000 pieces.