STMicroelectronics STM32F038C6T6

Overview

STM32F038C6T6 from STMicroelectronics is an ARM® Cortex®-M0 32-bit microcontroller operating up to 48 MHz, featuring 32 KB Flash, 4 KB SRAM with hardware parity, and integrated peripherals including a 12-bit 1.0 µs ADC, nine timers (including advanced-control TIM1 with deadtime generation), RTC with alarm, I²C (Fast Mode Plus), USART (LIN/IrDA/ISO7816), and SPI/I²S - deployed in industrial sensor nodes requiring low-voltage operation (1.8 V ±8%) and extended temperature range (–40 to +105°C).

For engineers reviewing the STM32F038C6T6 datasheet, STM32F038C6T6 pinout, STM32F038C6T6 application, or STM32F038C6T6 equivalent, key selection criteria include 5 V-tolerant I/O count (up to 25 pins), 1.8 V core supply compatibility, integrated CRC unit, SWD debug interface, and ECOPACK®2-compliant UFQFPN32 package.

Technical Context

The STM32F038C6T6 implements a single-cycle ARM Cortex-M0 core with Thumb-2 instruction set, tightly coupled with on-chip memories (32 KB Flash, 4 KB SRAM), CRC calculation unit, and nested vectored interrupt controller (NVIC) supporting up to 32 interrupts. Its clock system integrates multiple oscillators: 4–32 MHz HSE, 32 kHz LSE for RTC, 8 MHz HSI with x6 PLL, and 40 kHz LSI.

Peripheral integration includes one advanced-control timer (TIM1) with 6-channel PWM, deadtime insertion, and emergency stop; five general-purpose timers (TIM2/3/14/16/17); 12-bit ADC with 10 input channels and 0–3.6 V conversion range; and communication interfaces with Stop-mode wakeup capability (I²C, USART, SPI). All I/Os support external interrupt vectors, and 25 pins are 5 V tolerant.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

STM32F038C6T6 is housed in a 5 × 5 mm UFQFPN32 (32-pin ultra-fine pitch quad flat no-lead) package with 0.5 mm pitch, ECOPACK®2 compliant, and rated for –40 to +105°C operation. Pinout conforms to ST's standardized LQFP48/UFQFPN32 mapping for STM32F038x6 series.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar 32-bit Cortex-M0 microcontroller applications.

Compared with STM32F038C6T6, STM32F070F6P6 trades Flash size, advanced timer, and 5 V tolerance for lower BOM cost, while STM32F042F6P6 matches core peripherals but omits Fast Mode Plus I²C - making STM32F038C6T6 optimal for mixed-voltage industrial nodes requiring high-speed sensor bus integration.

Availability

STM32F038C6T6 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial sensor nodes, smart lighting controllers, automotive body control modules, and home appliance UI subsystems requiring stable component supply, extended temperature operation, and ECOPACK®2 compliance.

Supply support for STM32F038C6T6 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 ICs, sensors, and analog components for industrial, automotive, and consumer markets.

The STM32F0-series targets cost-sensitive, low-power embedded applications demanding ARM Cortex-M0 performance with rich analog and timing peripherals - optimized for industrial automation, appliance control, and smart infrastructure edge nodes.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency and voltage range for the STM32F038C6T6?

The STM32F038C6T6 operates at up to 48 MHz using its internal 8 MHz HSI oscillator with x6 PLL or external 4–32 MHz crystal. Its digital supply (VDD) is strictly 1.8 V ±8% (1.656–1.944 V), while analog supply (VDDA) supports 2.4–3.6 V. Operation outside these ranges violates absolute maximum ratings and may cause functional failure or latent damage.

Does the STM32F038C6T6 support 5 V-tolerant I/Os, and how many pins have this capability?

Yes - up to 25 I/O pins (PA0–PA15, PB0–PB11, except PB12–PB15) are 5 V tolerant when VDD = 1.8 V, as confirmed in Section 6.3.13 of the datasheet. This allows direct connection to 5 V logic without external level shifters, reducing BOM count and PCB area in mixed-voltage systems such as industrial HMI or sensor hubs.

What debug interface does the STM32F038C6T6 provide, and what are its physical requirements?

The device uses Serial Wire Debug (SWD) with two dedicated pins: SWDIO (PA13) and SWCLK (PA14). No JTAG header is needed. SWD supports full programming, real-time debugging, and trace via standard ARM-compliant tools (ST-LINK, J-Link). Pull-up resistors on SWDIO and SWCLK are recommended per ST AN4229 for noise immunity in noisy industrial environments.

How is the RTC powered during system sleep, and what backup features does it support?

The RTC is powered by the VBAT pin, which accepts 1.8–3.6 V from a coin cell or supercapacitor. With VBAT active, the RTC maintains calendar time, alarm, and periodic wakeup from Stop mode - verified in Section 3.12 and Table 24 of the datasheet. Backup registers retain 32 bytes of user data across power cycles, enabling state persistence without external EEPROM.