MCU supports machine-to-machine cellular communication

STMicroelectronics has announced a robust low-power processor chip dedicated to managing SIM data for machine-to-machine (M2M) cellular communication. The ST32-M IC family combines the advantages of advanced non-proprietary processor architecture and high-density low-power embedded flash memory, enabling machines to connect to cellular networks and to authenticate themselves and communicate automatically.

Applications that use M2M capabilities include the European eCall road-accident alert system, planned for launch in 2010, which allows vehicles to automatically inform rescue services of the location and details of an accident. Other M2M applications include automatic utility meter reading, retail systems such as replenishment monitoring for vending machines, security equipment, and asset-management systems.

For communication with the cellular network, the ST32-M has the same capabilities and security features as the company’s existing ST32 smart-card processor, which is used in mobile phone SIM cards worldwide. The ST32-M is designed specifically for M2M applications, with a wider temperature range (-40°C to 105°C) to enable M2M equipment to operate in harsh environments. The chip also supports many more data write cycles than the standard SIM controller, enabling continuous operation over an extended lifetime. It can also store data reliably for more than 10 years.

Like ST’s ST32 family, the ST32-M uses the industry-standard ARM Cortex™-M3 embedded processor core. This allows developers to benefit from the high performance and low operating power of latest-generation processor technology, and to re-use existing ST32 software and design tools for faster time to market. In addition, the ST32-M family utilises embedded flash technology to give card manufacturers a very high level of flexibility and improved time-to-market. The ST32-M family is available in four variants with flash capacity of 256 KB, 320 KB, 416 KB or 512 KB. The integrated memory supports a total data cycle count of 500,000 cycles per page or 50 million cycles per sector.

Source: STMicroelectronics

Image: STMicroelectronics