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STM32F103RCT6 Microcontroller: Features, Pinout, Applications, and Power Management

STM32F103RCT6 Description

The STM32F103RCT6 Microcontroller features an Arm® Cortex®-M3 core, running at a maximum of 72 MHz, providing 1.25 DMIPS/MHz performance with zero wait state memory access. It supports single-cycle multiplication and hardware division.
The STM32F103RCT6 comes with 256-512 KB of Flash memory and up to 64 KB of SRAM. It also features a flexible memory controller that supports multiple memory types, including Compact Flash, SRAM, PSRAM, NOR, and NAND, with four chip selects.
The voltage supply ranges from 2.0 to 3.6 V, with POR, PDR, and a programmable voltage detector. Clock sources include a 4-16 MHz crystal, internal 8 MHz RC, and 32 kHz for RTC. Low-power modes include Sleep, Stop, and Standby, with a separate VBAT supply for RTC.
There are three 12-bit A/D converters with 21 channels and a temperature sensor, as well as two 12-bit D/A converters. The 12-channel DMA controller supports peripherals like timers, ADCs, DACs, and communication interfaces.
For debugging, it offers SWD and JTAG interfaces with embedded trace. The microcontroller has up to 112 I/O ports, all 5V-tolerant and mappable on 16 external interrupt vectors. Timers include 16-bit PWM, motor control, watchdog, and basic timers for DAC.
Communication interfaces include up to 2 I2C, 5 USART, 3 SPI, CAN, USB 2.0, and SDIO. It also includes a CRC unit and a 96-bit unique ID. Available in ECOPACK® packages.

STM32F103RCT6 Pinout

The STM32F103RCT6 pinout provides a detailed mapping of each pin's functionality, including ADC, USART, SPI, I2C, and other essential features for precise hardware interfacing.

STM32F103RCT6 Pinout

STM32F103RCT6 Pin Configuration:

Pin Number Function Description
PA0 ADC1_IN0, JTAG_TDI, USART1_CK
PA1 ADC1_IN1, JTAG_TMS, USART1_RX
PA2 ADC1_IN2, JTAG_TRST, USART1_TX
PA3 ADC1_IN3, JTAG_TDO, USART1_RX
PA4 ADC1_IN4, SPI1_NSS
PA5 ADC1_IN5, SPI1_SCK
PA6 ADC1_IN6, SPI1_MISO
PA7 ADC1_IN7, SPI1_MOSI
PA8 USART1_CK
PA9 USART1_TX
PA10 USART1_RX
PA11 USB_DM
PA12 USB_DP
PA13 SWDIO
PA14 SWCLK
PA15 EXTI15_10, SPI1_CS
PB0 ADC2_IN8, SPI1_NSS
PB1 ADC2_IN9, SPI1_SCK
PB2 ADC2_IN10, SPI1_MISO
PB3 ADC2_IN11, SPI1_MOSI
PB4 I2C1_SCL
PB5 I2C1_SDA
PB6 USART1_TX
PB7 USART1_RX
PB8 I2C1_SCL
PB9 I2C1_SDA
PB10 USART2_TX
PB11 USART2_RX
PB12 SPI2_NSS
PB13 SPI2_SCK
PB14 SPI2_MISO
PB15 SPI2_MOSI
PC13 TAMPER, EXTI15_13
PC14 OSC32_IN
PC15 OSC32_OUT
PD0 USART2_TX
PD1 USART2_RX
PD2 SPI2_NSS
PD3 SPI2_SCK
PD4 SPI2_MISO
PD5 SPI2_MOSI
PE0 EXTI0
PE1 EXTI1
PE2 EXTI2
PE3 EXTI3
PE4 EXTI4
PE5 EXTI5
PE6 EXTI6
PE7 EXTI7

STM32F103RCT6 Microcontroller Applications

The STM32F103RCT6 microcontroller is ideal for embedded systems requiring real-time processing. Key applications include:

  • Industrial Control: Used in motor control, automation, and robotics, leveraging high-speed I/O and multiple timers for precise control.
  • Consumer Electronics: Powers home appliances and automation systems with seamless communication through USB, I2C, and SPI interfaces.
  • Automotive: Processes sensor data and manages body control and infotainment systems with low power consumption for automotive applications.
  • Medical Devices: Utilized in diagnostic equipment and patient monitoring systems, benefiting from its precise ADCs and communication capabilities.
  • Communication Systems: uitable for wireless communication modules using CAN, USART, and SPI.
  • Power Management: Ideal for power supplies and battery-powered devices, ensuring energy efficiency with low-power modes.

STM32F103RCT6 Block Diagram

STM32F103RCT6 Block Diagram

The STM32F103RCT6 block diagram showcases the key functional blocks of the microcontroller, including the Arm Cortex-M3 core, Flash memory, and SRAM.

  • CPU and Memory: The Cortex-M3 core is supported by 512 KB Flash and 64 KB SRAM. These components handle system processing and data storage.

  • Power Supply: The diagram includes the POR (Power-On Reset) and PVD (Programmable Voltage Detector), ensuring stable power management, along with VBAT support for RTC and backup registers during power-down.

  • Clock System: Multiple clock sources, including a 16 MHz external crystal and 8 MHz internal RC oscillator, are managed by the PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) for frequency control.

  • Timers and DMA: Various timers like TIM1, TIM2, and TIM3 are integrated for PWM, motor control, and general purpose tasks. The DMA controller helps with efficient data transfer between peripherals and memory.

  • Communication Interfaces: The microcontroller supports USART, SPI, I2C, CAN, and USB interfaces, facilitating flexible communication with external devices.

  • Analog and I/O: Three 12-bit ADCs and two 12-bit DACs are included, along with GPIO pins that can be mapped for various alternate functions like timers, communication, and PWM.

  • Debugging: The microcontroller supports SWD (Serial Wire Debug) and JTAG for easy development and troubleshooting.

STM32F103RCT6 Power Supply Scheme

STM32F103RCT6 Power Supply Scheme
The STM32F103RCT6 Power Supply Scheme outlines the distribution of power across various components.

  1. VBAT: Powers the RTC and backup registers, ensuring continuity during power-down (1.8V to 3.6V).

  2. Power Switch: Manages the selection between battery and main power.

  3. Regulator: Converts input voltage to VDD, supplying the CPU and digital logic.

  4. Decoupling Capacitors: 100nF and 10nF capacitors reduce noise and stabilize the ADC/DAC power rails.

  5. Analog Power Supplies: VDD, VSSA, and VREF ensure stable analog signal processing.

STM32F103RCT6 Current consumption measurement

STM32F103RCT6 Current consumption measurement
The STM32F103RCT6 Current Consumption Measurement diagram shows the current paths for VDD and VBAT.

  1. VDD: Powers the CPU and digital components, with current IDD drawn from this supply.

  2. VBAT: Powers the RTC and backup registers during low-power modes, with current IDD_VBAT drawn from this supply.

  3. Current Measurement: IDD and IDD_VBAT represent the current consumption from VDD and VBAT, respectively.

This diagram illustrates how current consumption from different supplies is measured for accurate power assessment.

Conclusion

With its rich feature set, ease of integration, and low power consumption, the STM32F103RCT6 microcontroller is an excellent choice for embedded systems across various industries, providing robust performance and reliability.

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