STMicroelectronics STM32F103VCT6

STM32F103VCT6 is a powerful, low-power microcontroller with 100 pins, supporting various I/O, ADC, DAC, and communication protocols. It's commonly used in Arduino projects with STM32duino for easy integration and programming.

Table of Contents

• 1. Overview of STM32F103VCT6
• 2. STM32F103VCT6 pin and package
• 3. Main features of STM32F103VCT6
• 4. STM32F103VCT6 with Arduino
• 5. STM32F103VCT6 development board
• 6. STM32F103VCT6 circuit design and schematic diagram
• 7. Programming and debugging
• 8. Sum up

1. Overview of STM32F103VCT6

STM32F103VCT6 is an ARM Cortex-M3 kernel based microcontroller from STMicroelectronics with high performance and multiple peripheral interfaces. It has up to 512KB of Flash storage and 64KB of SRAM. The microcontroller is often used in many fields such as industrial control, sensor interface, robot project, etc.

2. STM32F103VCT6 pin and package

The pins of the STM32F103VCT6 are very rich, and each pin bears a specific function. Understanding the function of these pins is crucial to designing the circuit.

2.1 Pin distribution and function

STM32F103VCT6 pinout

The STM32F103VCT6 has 100 pins (LQFP package) that contain different functions, including:

In practical applications, developers will usually refer to the STM32F103VCT6 datasheet and reference manual for detailed information about the function of each pin. To ensure proper configuration and connection of external hardware during development.

2.2 STM32F103VCT6 package

The Package type of the STM32F103VCT6 is LQFP-100 (Low-profile Quad Flat Package 100 pin), and its footprint characteristics are as follows:

STM32F103VCT6 package

STM32F103VCT6 footprint

Pin spacing : 0.5mm.

Package size : 14mm x 14mm.

Ensure that the pad is configured correctly when the PCB is designed, maintaining proper pin spacing and size to ensure reliable connection and welding quality.

3. Main features of STM32F103VCT6

4. STM32F103VCT6 with Arduino

STM32F103VCT6 Arduino

Although the STM32F103VCT6 is not directly compatible with the official Arduino development environment, it has been programmed in the Arduino environment through community efforts. This provides an important option for developers who want to use higher performance microcontrollers in Arduino projects.

4.1 Steps for developing an Arduino project with STM32F103VCT6:

Prepare development board : You can use a development board based on STM32F103VCT6, such as "Blue Pill". With an easy-to-use development environment and rich peripheral interfaces, these boards are ideal for Arduino project development.

Install necessary packages : In order to use the STM32F103VCT6 in an Arduino environment, you need to install the STM32 board support pack in the Arduino IDE. These support packages allow you to use the STM32F103VCT6 development board as an optional target board.

Programming and debugging : Once the development environment is set up, you can write programs as you would with a regular Arduino development board. You can take advantage of the power of the STM32F103VCT6 to develop more complex projects.

4.2 Example project:

Temperature sensor monitoring system: The ADC pin of the STM32F103VCT6 is used to read the analog signal of the temperature sensor and communicate with external devices through USART or SPI.

Smart home control system: Control multiple devices through STM32F103VCT6, receive sensor data and perform corresponding actions based on the data.

4.3 compatibility

The Arduino development environment is simple and easy to use, but typically uses a lower performance microcontroller such as the ATmega328P. The STM32F103VCT6 provides more processing power and peripheral support, which makes it an ideal choice for projects that require higher performance. By integrating the STM32F103VCT6 into an Arduino project, developers can easily take advantage of its powerful computing power.

5. STM32F103VCT6 development board

STM32F103VCT6 development boards, such as the "Blue Pill", are relatively inexpensive, usually in the range of a few dollars. Due to its low price and powerful features, the STM32F103VCT6 quickly gained widespread use around the world. These development boards are not only suitable for individual developers, but also for education and small businesses to prototype and experiment.

By using the STM32F103VCT6 development board in your project, you can reduce the time of hardware development and easily achieve rapid prototyping through the Arduino environment.

5.1 Features of the Blue Pill Development Board:

STM32F103 series chip is adopted

Compact size for embedded projects

Easy to develop on Arduino IDE (via STM32duino core)

6. STM32F103VCT6 circuit design and schematic diagram

In the circuit design of STM32F103VCT6, it is necessary to ensure the stability of the power supply. The STM32F103VCT6 operates at 3.3V, so it requires a regulator to convert the external power supply to 3.3V. It is recommended to use a low-noise LDO regulator to ensure a stable power supply.

6.1 Power supply design:

VDD and VSS are positive and ground respectively. Ensure that the VDD is connected to the 3.3V power supply and the VSS is grounded.

VDDA and VSSA are used for analog power supplies, preferably independent of digital power supplies to reduce noise interference.

6.2 Peripheral connection:

USART, SPI, I2C interface : Select the appropriate GPIO pins to connect external devices as required. These interfaces generally need to be connected to peripherals via current-limiting resistors or adaptive level converters.

ADC pin : Connect the analog sensor or input signal to the ADC pin of the STM32F103VCT6, noting that the voltage range of the ADC pin is 0 to 3.3V.

PWM output : A timer is used to generate a PWM signal and connect it to an external load or drive circuit.

6.3 Circuit schematic diagram:

The circuit schematic includes the pin connections of the STM32F103VCT6 core, external elements (e.g., regulators, sensors, displays, etc.), and the necessary current limiting elements (e.g., resistors, diodes, etc.). Simplified schematics will help developers quickly understand circuit composition and test and verify.

When designing, you can draw schematics using tools such as Altium Designer or KiCad. The final circuit diagram should be concise and clear, ensuring that each component is properly connected and functionally clear.

7. Programming and debugging

The STM32F103VCT6 is usually programmed using the STM32CubeMX and STM32CubeIDE tools provided by STMicroelectronics. In addition, the Arduino IDE also supports programming STM32F103VCT6 by adding additional libraries and support packages.

7.1 Bootloader

The STM32F103VCT6 usually comes pre-loaded with a bootloader that allows it to be programmed over a serial port. This gives developers a much easier way to program without the need for additional programmers or debugging tools.

7.2 Programming steps:

Connect the STM32F103VCT6 development board to the computer.

Burn the program using the appropriate programming tool or bootloader.

Use the serial monitor to view the output of the program.

8. Sum up

The STM32F103VCT6 is a powerful and cost-effective microcontroller ideal for high-performance embedded projects. Using the STM32F103VCT6 in the Arduino environment allows developers to enjoy higher performance while maintaining the easy-to-use development experience of Arduino. Through reasonable circuit design, programming and debugging, STM32F103VCT6 can help you realize a variety of complex projects. Whether used as a prototype development board or for production-grade applications, it is a recommended choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the price of STM32F103VCT6?

The price of the STM32F103VCT6 varies depending on the supplier and quantity purchased. The price of a single bare chip is usually between $2-$5 USD, and if the development board is equipped with the STM32F103VCT6 chip, the price is about $3-$6 USD

2. STM32F103VCT6 How to communicate with Bluetooth?

Connect to HC-05 or HC-06 Bluetooth module via UART and configure USART for data transmission.

3. What is the difference between STM32F103VCT6 and Arduino?

The STM32F103VCT6 offers higher performance (72 MHz), more memory (512KB Flash, 64KB SRAM), and richer peripherals (such as CAN).

4. What external components are needed to use STM32F103VCT6?

A 3.3V voltage regulator, decoupling capacitor, crystal oscillator (32.768 kHz for RTC) and reset circuit are required.

5. What is the maximum clock frequency of the STM32F103VCT6?

The maximum clock frequency is 72MHz.

6. What is the power consumption of STM32F103VCT6?

At 72MHz, the power consumption is about 20mA, and low power mode is supported.

7. Does STM32F103VCT6 support I2C?

Supported and can be used to communicate with external I2C devices such as sensors.