The Features and Application of STM32U5

With the full implementation of 5G, IoT, and AI, new applications continue to break the circle and demand more and more from MCU products: higher performance, higher integration, higher security, and lower power consumption. In this article, we  will talk about application of STM32U5, let's get starting.

Part 1. The Features of STM32U5

1. Higher Energy Efficiency Ratio

High performance is the first keyword of the U5.

The STM32U5 is equipped with the Cortex-M33 core, which improves performance by more than 20% compared to the Cortex-M4; with a 160MHz main frequency, the STM32U5 series can achieve 240DMIPS and 651Coremark performance scores, while the previous generation, which also uses the Cortex-M33 core, has a 110MHz main frequency.

To further enhance performance, the STM32U5 also integrates gas pedals for mathematical operations (trigonometric functions as well as digital filter gas pedals CORDIC and FMAC), enabling acceleration of digital signal processing functions while reducing CPU load, and in the case of motor drive applications, increasing the control loop speed by 12%.

The U5 also integrates Cache (8 kB instruction Cache, 4 kB data Cache) and Art gas pedals for optimizing instruction and data throughput speed on internal and external storage, and Chrom-Art for graphics processing acceleration to achieve a smoother and higher value graphics display interface. As an MCU, internal storage is another important performance indicator, and the STM32U5 has further expanded the storage space.

1MB to 2MB of Flash is currently supported in the STM32U5, and 512KB of Flash is included with a 100K erase guarantee to increase reliability for repeated user data storage. And the SRAM is equipped with 768KB and supports ECC, thus satisfying critical security applications. The STM32U5 is also equipped with a memory controller interface, FSMC, and OctoSPI for more flexible external storage expansion.

2. Ultra-Low Power Consumption

Ultra-low power consumption is the second keyword of the STM32U5, which achieves outstanding low power consumption through multiple technical innovations.

• The introduction of LPBAM low-power autonomous operation mode allows the direct memory access (DMA) controller and peripherals to operate normally when most devices are asleep, greatly reducing system power consumption
• 40nm manufacturing technology saves power in dynamic operation mode and power saving mode
• Inherits the ultra-low power success of the previous generation MCU STM32L family
• Innovative LPBAM low-power autonomous operation mode, greatly reducing the average power consumption of the system
• More flexible power consumption modes to extend battery life and enhance user experience
• Multiple low-power mode options and fast wake-up support, with low-power performance that achieves excellent scores on third-party platforms EEMBC

Further Reading:  [Must-Read] What is Low Power Microcontroller and the Development Trend 2022

3. Rich Interfaces and Peripherals

Rich interfaces and peripherals are the third keyword of STM32U5, which has a higher level of integration with various digital and analog peripherals, advanced hardware gas pedals, and larger memory cells.

The multifunction digital filter (MDF) and audio digital filter (ADF) replace ST's Sigma-Delta modulated digital filter (DFSDM). Now, by improving sound activity detection performance, these features allow users to integrate AI into low-cost, low-power microcontroller-based application scenarios. In addition, by embedding error correction code (ECC) memory within the product's SRAM memory, the STM32U5 MCUs can also meet the requirements of functional safety-critical applications.

4. Robust Information Security Features

Whether it is industrial control, personal medical and health devices, or industrial metering applications where various types of data are exchanged, higher security is required. The STM32U5 family introduces innovative security technologies to achieve strong information security features.

• Encryption engine (AES) and public key algorithm gas pedal (PKA) hardware units with resistance to differential power analysis (DPA) and channel measurement attacks
• Secure data storage with Hardware Unique Keys (HUK)
• Active tamper detection
• Internal monitoring technology removes confidential data in the event of a tampering attack, helping to meet PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) security requirements for point-of-sale devices (POS)  

In addition, the U5 also integrates additional security features to protect customer designs, data support hardware isolation, encryption and decryption, security authentication, long product lifecycle assurance, storage protection, active anti-attack system, root of trust, etc., to guard the user's system and data security in all aspects. It has been applied to industrial intelligent flow meters, health and fitness wearable products, medical monitoring devices, POS payment terminals and other scenarios with high requirements for high performance, low power consumption and security.

Part 2. The Application of STM32u5

1. In Industrial Control Application

In industrial control applications, the functionality supported by a controller is gradually increasing, the performance requirements of processors are increasing year-over-year while requiring a higher level of integration, and as networking requirements increase, so do the requirements for security. the STM32U5 family meets these requirements while giving engineers room to achieve more innovation.

The STM32U5's high performance is reflected not only in the high main frequency and new cores, but also in the cache enhancements and the integration of hardware math gas pedals and more.

Such performance can well support the implementation of control algorithms and also meet the local implementation of some AI algorithms, such as motor vibration fault monitoring, item shape and color recognition, etc.

The STM32U5 has excellent peripheral integration, 14-bit and 12-bit ADC configurations, DAC, op-amps, comparators and other rich analog peripherals, together with two advanced motor control timers and several general-purpose timers to meet the needs of the motor control part of industrial control. In terms of industrial bus interface, FD-CAN peripherals are built-in and can be easily expanded, for example, by FSMC to expand the FPGA to achieve more complex buses. The rich serial communication peripheral interface is also convenient for expansion of sensor acquisition and industrial configuration display, etc.

The built-in 2MB dual-bank Flash and 768KB RAM are very friendly to application development and facilitate the consideration of upgrade functions. 512KB Data Flash with 100K erasable cycles and O-SPI interface for external storage also provide solutions for real-time storage and recording of field data. The strong security gene of STM32U5 provides better protection for industrial control products networking.

The TrustZone mechanism of the Cortex-M33 core and the rich hardware gas pedals of AES, PKA, OTFDEC and other encryption algorithms provide comprehensive security solutions for industrial controller firmware burning, security upgrades, and networking communications. Cube.AI, etc.

For industrial applications, STM32U5 ecosystem also provides ClassB for IEC60730 and SIL certified functional safety design package for IE61508.

2. In Healthcare Application

In healthcare applications, the requirements for MCUs are similar to those of industrial control systems, with the same need for high performance, high integration, and better security, and higher requirements for the low-power characteristics of MCUs.

Thanks to the STM32U5's high level of integration with analog peripherals, medical and health devices can be designed to easily collect various types of sensor data, store them locally or upload them over the network. The low-power background autonomous mode LPBAM is able to collect and carry sensor data without waking up the MCU core, reducing the number of wake-ups of the MCU core by several times compared to the traditional mode, while saving power to a large extent.

Thanks to the high performance of STM32U5, medical and health devices can be designed to handle large amounts of sensor data and localize pathology diagnosis algorithms, as well as incorporate some algorithm processing of AI. STM32U5 also has a built-in image display hardware gas pedal, which can be combined with the graphical ecology TouchGFX to obtain smooth and brilliant display effects. The STM32U5 is also extremely suitable for industrial metering applications where the MCU needs are similar to those of health care devices.

The STM32U5 is the flagship of the STM32 high-performance, low-power series, which can continue the range of STM32F2/F4/F7 applications while having lower power consumption and a higher price/performance ratio. In industrial control systems, the U5 can assume core functions such as master controller, system monitoring, and graphics display. STM32U5 is the STM32 product family based on the 40nm low-power process, featuring a highly efficient Arm Cortex-M33 core and supporting more advanced digital peripherals and rich analog peripherals, while maintaining low power consumption while improving performance.

The STM32U5 also adds cutting-edge technologies for new applications, such as advanced security features based on hardware protection that meet PSA and SESIP (Security Evaluation Standard for Internet of Things Platform) Level 3 requirements, helping to further enhance device security.

It is also equipped with a hardware graphics gas pedal, which enables a rich, beautiful and smooth graphical interface to better enhance the user experience. High performance, low power consumption, rich digital peripherals and higher performance analog interfaces, strong security features, and support for GUI acceleration allow the STM32U5 to achieve good performance in industrial control, industrial metering and medical health, personal wearable devices and other application areas, enabling innovation for pan-industrial systems.