STMicroelectronics has raised the bar on the maximum amount of Flash on an ARM microcontroller - or any microcontroller - by introducing two new STR91xFA ARM9 microcontrollers. Based on the ARM966E-S core, the new microcontrollers include 1.1 Mbyte and 2.1 Mbyte of on-chip Flash.

STMicroelectronics STR910F Block Diagram

These new devices are software compatible and pin-for-pin compatible with ST's existing 288 Kbyte and 544 Kbyte versions in the LQFP-80, LQFP-128, and BGA-144 packages.

ST's targeted applications include networked embeddable systems such as web servers, printer controllers, Point-of-Sale terminals and peripherals, factory-automation equipment, serial-protocol gateways, security and surveillance equipment and building-automation systems.

The STR91xFA is a multi-chip device. The core and peripherals are fabbed at 0.18µ, while the Flash is on a separate die fabbed in 0.13µ Flash technology.

Flash runs at the full 96MHz and utilizes a burst mode interface. During sequential requests, the flash feeds the core with a new 32-bit word every clock cycle. In addition, a hefty 15-entry branch cache is used for non-sequential execution to predict multiple branch possibilities, helping to keep execution single-cycle.

The STR91xFAx46 has 1.1 Mbyte of Flash and 64 Kbyte of RAM.
The STR91xFAx47 has 2.1 Mbyte of Flash and 96 Kbyte of RAM.

Features
The STMicroelectronics STR910F family is a full-featured family of devices. Notable features of these devices include:

• 96 MHz ARM9 Harvard Architecture Core
• Multiple Voltage Options:
  - Core runs at 1.8V
  - Analog supply is 3.0-3.3V
  - Optional VBAT of 2.5-3.6V for SRAM and RTC
• Code is executed out of Flash at full 96 MHz
• Dual-Bank Burst-Mode Flash
  - Allows simultaneous program execution & In-Circuit Programming
  - Allows EEPROM emulation in Flash
• ARM966E-S core with single-cycle DSP instructions
• Many Power and Clock Management options
• 8 DMA channels
• 33 levels of vectored interrupts
• Draws 27mA at 72MHz
• Draws only 2µA in standby
• Real Time Clock (RTC) draws less than 1 µA
• 4 16-bit timers
• 8-channel 10-bit DMA with ±2LSB accuracy and 0.7µsec conversion time
• 10/100 10Base-T Ethernet MAC with dedicated DMA
• 2 I²C serial interfaces
• 2 SPI serial interfaces
• 3 UARTs with IrDA support
• USB 2.0 with dedicated DMA
• CAN 2.0

Single cycle DSP instructions accelerate motor control as well as sophisticated crypto code. DSP instructions include 32x16 Multiply ACcumulate (MAC), Saturating Addition/Subtraction, and Counting Leading Zeros.

STMicroelectronics ARM9 STR91xFA Family Roadmap

Development Tools
A free TCP/IP stack is available from STMicroelectronics with a small 12 Kbyte footprint. In addition, compilers/debuggers and development kits are available from Keil, Raisonance, IAR, and Hitex.

Pricing and Availability
The STR91xFA46 and STR91xFA47 are available immediately at prices starting from $6.89 in quantities of 10,000 units per year.

About STMicroelectronics
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