The ST72F361K7T6 is a microcontroller IC (Integrated Circuit) developed by STMicroelectronics. It is a member of the ST7 family of microcontrollers and is widely used in various applications such as automotive, industrial control, and household appliances. Here is an overview of the key features of this IC:
1. Architecture: The ST72F361K7T6 is built on the popular 8-bit ST7 core architecture. It offers a good balance between performance and cost-effectiveness.
2. Memory: It comes with a Flash memory of 60 kilobytes (KB) which is ideal for storing program code. Additionally, it has an onboard RAM of 1.5 KB, providing temporary storage for data and variables.
3. Peripherals: The IC provides a wide range of integrated peripherals and interfaces, making it suitable for a variety of applications. Some notable peripherals include:
- Serial Communication: It has a USART (Universal Synchronous Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) module for various serial communication protocols like UART, SPI, and I2C.
- Timers: It offers two 8-bit timers and one 16-bit timer with multiple channels. These timers are essential for precision timing requirements in tasks like PWM generation, event counting, or interval measurement.
- GPIO: The IC features a set of general-purpose input/output pins that can be configured as either inputs or outputs. It allows for easy interfacing with external devices such as sensors, actuators, and displays.
- Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC): It includes an 8-channel, 10-bit ADC module for analog data acquisition and conversion. This is valuable in applications that require reading analog signals like temperature, voltage, or current.
4. Clock and Power Management: The IC incorporates an internal high-speed oscillator of 8 MHz, which simplifies the clock generation circuitry. It also provides various power-saving modes, reducing overall power consumption in battery-operated applications.
5. Debugging and Programming: The microcontroller supports in-circuit programming and debugging through an industry-standard interface like the SWIM (Single Wire Interface Module). This allows for easy and efficient development and testing of the firmware.
6. Development Tools: STMicroelectronics provides a well-established Integrated Development Environment (IDE) called ST Visual Develop (STVD) along with a comprehensive set of software libraries and utilities. This simplifies the development process and aids in code optimization.
In summary, the ST72F361K7T6 microcontroller IC offers a strong balance of performance, memory, and integrated peripherals. Its architecture, extensive features, and development tools make it suitable for a wide range of applications, particularly in the automotive and industrial sectors.
