STMicroelectronics NUCLEO-L073RZ

Overview

NUCLEO-L073RZ from STMicroelectronics is an STM32 Nucleo-64 development board built around the STM32L073RZT6 ultra-low-power 32-bit Arm® Cortex®-M0+ MCU (64-pin LQFP, 192 KB Flash, 20 KB RAM), featuring integrated ST-LINK/V2-1 debugger/programmer via USB Mini-B, ARDUINO® Uno V3 and ST morpho expansion headers, and a 32.768 kHz crystal oscillator for real-time clock applications in battery-powered sensor nodes.

For engineers reviewing the NUCLEO-L073RZ datasheet, NUCLEO-L073RZ pinout, NUCLEO-L073RZ application, or NUCLEO-L073RZ equivalent, this board supports rapid prototyping of energy-constrained IoT edge devices, wearable health monitors, and smart metering subsystems requiring sub-μA stop-mode current, hardware-accelerated AES cryptography, and seamless integration with STM32CubeMX and STM32CubeIDE.

Technical Context

The NUCLEO-L073RZ implements the STM32L0 series architecture optimized for ultra-low-power operation, supporting multiple low-power modes (Stop mode current < 0.3 μA with RTC and 8 KB RAM retention) and flexible clock management including internal RC oscillators (MSI, LSI), external 32.768 kHz LSE, and up to 32 MHz HSI. It integrates a 12-bit ADC, two ultra-low-power comparators, and a 7-channel DMA controller tightly coupled to peripherals.

Hardware debugging is provided by the on-board ST-LINK/V2-1 interface, exposing Virtual COM Port, mass storage, and SWD debug capabilities over a single USB Mini-B connection-no external probe required. The board's dual-pin ARDUINO® and ST morpho headers expose all 50 GPIOs, including dedicated pins for USB device, USART, SPI, I²C, and SWD interfaces.

Key Specifications

Availability

NUCLEO-L073RZ is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for ultra-low-power sensor node development, portable medical device prototyping, and industrial wireless telemetry systems requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle support, and full toolchain compatibility with STM32Cube ecosystem.

Supply support for NUCLEO-L073RZ includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor leader headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, designing and manufacturing microcontrollers, power management ICs, sensors, and analog components for automotive, industrial, and consumer markets.

The STM32 Nucleo series was developed to accelerate embedded software development for Arm Cortex-M microcontrollers, providing standardized, open-hardware evaluation platforms with unified firmware libraries, IDE support, and community-driven shield compatibility.

FAQ

Does the NUCLEO-L073RZ support USB device functionality?

No-the NUCLEO-L073RZ board does not implement USB device capability on the target MCU. While the STM32L073RZT6 includes a USB 2.0 FS device peripheral, this board variant omits the required USB transceiver, pull-up resistor, and USB connector. USB communication is limited to the ST-LINK/V2-1 debug interface (Virtual COM port only).

What is the maximum operating temperature range for reliable prototyping?

The NUCLEO-L073RZ is rated for commercial operation from –40 °C to +85 °C ambient, matching the STM32L073RZT6 MCU specification. All onboard components-including the ST-LINK/V2-1 IC, LDO regulator, and crystal oscillator-are qualified across this range, enabling validation of low-power behavior under thermal stress.

Can the board be powered solely from the ARDUINO® header's 5 V pin?

Yes-the 5 V pin on the ARDUINO® header is directly connected to the VIN net and can supply power to the board when an external regulated 5 V source is applied. This bypasses the onboard LDO's dropout margin but requires clean, stable 5 V input to avoid brown-out or regulator instability.

Is the 32.768 kHz crystal oscillator mandatory for RTC operation?

Yes-the 32.768 kHz crystal (LSE) is required for accurate RTC timekeeping in Stop and Standby modes. The STM32L073RZT6 does not support RTC calibration using the internal LSI oscillator in low-power modes; omission of the crystal disables sub-second RTC accuracy and calendar functionality.