STMicroelectronics has launched innovative products keeping performance, security and cost as the core focus area for connected devices. One of the products launched recently is STM32H5 MCU series. It boosts performance and security for next-generation smart applications. STM32H5 MCU series is performance-oriented with cutting-edge security provided by STM32Trust TEE Security Manager for smart, connected devices.
The new STM32H5 MCUs contain the embedded core from Arm, the Cortex-M33, which blends high performance with security, energy efficiency, and affordability, to best address the mid-range class of MCU-based applications. Indeed, it’s the world’s highest performing Cortex-M33 implementation, running at 250MHz and 375 DMIPS for an EEMBC CoreMark industry-reference score of 1023.
The STM32H5 series is designed to accelerate innovation at scale for the coming generations of smart, connected devices, which provide more intelligence “in the edge” and strengthens protection against attacks on IoT assets. The Cortex-M33 core brings Arm’s TrustZone architecture. Building on this, ST adds a range of its own security features, including some developed with ST Authorized Partner, ProvenRun.
The STM32H5 is the first MCU series to come with system-on-chip (SoC) security services accessed via an industry-standard API. This facility, called STM32Trust TEE Secure Manager, saves developers writing their own code while providing security services developed according to known best practice. It simplifies development while ensuring effective protection.
Challenging the perception that increased performance comes with power dissipation constraints for developers, the STM32H5 MCUs also improve energy efficiency by leveraging ST’s advanced 40nm CMOS process technology and improved on-chip power-conversion circuits. With these MCUs, power dissipation is no longer a constraint when using a 250MHz device in harsh environments where the ambient temperature can reach 125°C. In addition, STM32H5 MCUs are SIL-ready for products that must meet an appropriate safety integrity level (SIL), thanks to native hardware features that address a wide range of industrial and medical applications.
Typical applications for the new MCUs include air conditioning systems, appliances, and alarm systems, industrial programmable logic controllers (PLCs), motor controls, industrial pumps, communication gateways, lighting controls, and energy conversion. They are also used in consumer products such as PC peripherals, smartphones, and accessories.
Further technical information:
ST has worked with highly regarded technology companies to achieve the significant improvements in performance and security now available with the STM32H5 series. The Company has been a lead development partner with Arm, supporting development of the Cortex-M33 core to comply with the PSA Certified Level 3 and Global Platform SESIP3 security specifications. In addition, ST has collaborated with Microsoft Azure on middleware with strong security.
STM32Trust TEE Secure Manager:
The STM32H5 is the first MCU series to come with system-on-chip (SoC) security services accessed via an industry-standard API. This facility, called STM32Trust TEE Secure Manager. The STM32Trust TEE Secure Manager is developed with ProvenRun and powered by ProvenCore-M to ensure today’s highest security-assurance levels. The SoC security services provided include isolation, cryptography, key storage, and initial attestation.
To help users maximize its potential, ST has created dedicated development kits NUCLEO-H503RB , NUCLEO-H563ZI , and STM32H573I-DK with examples showing how to use the security services and integrated all the necessary software tools and support in the STM32Cube development ecosystem.
The new devices also provide in-ST factory pre-provisioning credentials for seamless registration to various cloud and OEM servers, multi-tenant IP protection, and remote pre-integrated 3rd party public key infrastructure (PKI) lifecycle management.
In addition, the Kudelski IoT keySTREAM root of trust, from ST Authorized Partner Kudelski IoT, was pre-qualified on the STM32Trust TEE Secure Manager to allow remote credential lifecycle management services.
With its improved power-conversion circuits, the STM32H5 MCUs raise dynamic efficiency to 61µA/MHz in switched mode (SMPS) and 120µA/MHz running off the linear (LDO) converter (at VDD = 3.3V and 25°C) in Run mode with peripherals off. Consistent with other STM32 MCUs, ST’s advanced peripherals are engineered for maximum efficiency, while precision power management lets developers optimize performance versus power consumption in all operating modes.
Avaliability:
The product lines initially available include the STM32H503 product line with128KB Flash, allowing 250MHz computing capability in space- and cost-constrained applications. Also, the STM32H562 and STM32H563 product lines have up to 2MB Flash, rich connectivity, and deliver 250MHz over the extended temperature range up to 125°C. The STM32H573 includes AES cryptographic acceleration and security services.
Prices at 10,000 units for the new MCUs start at $1.44 with 128KB Flash in UFQFPN32 package. Devices with 2MB Flash size are priced from $2.93. Mass production is beginning now, starting with the STM32H503 and STM32H563. The full line up and package choices will be introduced in June.
STM32 microprocessors:
STMicroelectronics is enabling the next generation of smart devices for secure, safe, and sustainable living with its latest STM32 microprocessors (MPUs).
Energy savings, lower operating costs, improved safety and enhanced user experience are the main trends observed in Smart Buildings, Factory automation and smart cities. The latest applications such as industrial automation, communication gateways, payment terminals, appliances, and control panels serving these trends are demanding processors with high software-execution capability, low power consumption, strengthened security, and advanced feature integration.
ST is meeting these expectations with new MPUs that build on the microcontroller (MCU) knowhow and extensive development ecosystem of its STM32 family and is now extending this product family with the new STM32MP13 MPUs, now in mass production. They are the most affordable STM32 MPUs yet and further expand the choices available to product developers. The new microprocessors also support the latest security features for protecting connected assets.
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.
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 mainlined 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, thanks to the new X-LINUX-RT expansion package, available for all STM32MP13 and STM32MP15 devices.
Further technical information:
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.
The STM32MP13 is well suited to use with the Qt graphics framework for fast and responsive development of sophisticated user interfaces. Users can take advantage of powerful tools, optimized libraries, and easy porting of code from STM32 MCU projects, which result from extensive cooperation between ST and Qt as an ST Authorized Partner.
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 optimize 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.
Also available, STPMIC1 dedicated power-management ICs (PMIC) for STM32 MPUs help developers optimize power consumption to achieve superior energy ratings and maximize the runtime of battery-powered applications. Compared to bringing up a custom solution with discrete components, the ST PMICs also save bill-of-materials costs, engineering effort, and PCB footprint.
The STM32MP13 MPUs include the STM32MP131, STM32MP133, and STM32MP135. They are in full production, priced from $3.16 for orders of 10,000 pieces. Other pricing options are available. Samples and Boards are available through your preferred distributor.
