STMicroelectronics STM32F378VCT6

Overview

STM32F378VCT6 from STMicroelectronics is a 32-bit ARM® Cortex®-M4 microcontroller with FPU and MPU, operating up to 72 MHz, featuring 256 KB Flash, 32 KB SRAM with hardware parity, three 12-bit DACs, four ADCs (including three 16-bit sigma-delta), two rail-to-rail comparators, and integrated capacitive sensing-designed for precision analog signal acquisition and control in industrial sensor nodes and motor feedback systems.

For engineers reviewing the STM32F378VCT6 datasheet, STM32F378VCT6 pinout, STM32F378VCT6 application, or STM32F378VCT6 equivalent, key selection considerations include its dual ADC architecture (12-bit SAR + 16-bit SDADC), CAN 2.0B interface, 5 V-tolerant I/O capability on up to 45 pins, and support for low-power Stop mode with RTC wakeup-critical for battery-powered measurement instrumentation and closed-loop analog control.

Technical Context

The STM32F378VCT6 integrates a single-core Cortex-M4 CPU with hardware floating-point unit and memory protection unit, enabling deterministic real-time execution of DSP-intensive algorithms such as motor control observers or sensor fusion. Its clock system supports multiple sources: 4–32 MHz external crystal, 32 kHz RTC oscillator, 8 MHz internal RC with PLL, and 40 kHz LSI.

Analog subsystems operate with independent supply domains: VDDA (1.65–3.6 V) for ADCs/DACs/comparators, and VREFSD+ (2.2–3.6 V) for sigma-delta converters. The device implements 24 capacitive sensing channels via dedicated TSC peripheral, with built-in charge transfer and digital filtering-eliminating need for external components in touch HMI designs.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

LQFP64 (10 × 10 mm, 0.5 mm pitch) package with exposed thermal pad; 64-pin quad flat configuration optimized for manual soldering and thermal management in space-constrained industrial PCBs.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar mixed-signal microcontroller applications.

Compared with STM32F303VCT6, the STM32F378VCT6 trades op-amps and advanced timers for dedicated sigma-delta ADCs-making it uniquely suited for high-precision sensor digitization. Against STM32G474RET6, it offers proven industrial qualification and drop-in LQFP64 compatibility but lacks newer peripherals like AES and USB PD.

Availability

STM32F378VCT6 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial sensor nodes, motor control feedback units, touch-based human interfaces, and programmable power supply controllers requiring stable component supply across long product lifecycles.

Supply support for STM32F378VCT6 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, specializing in microcontrollers, power management, analog, MEMS, and automotive ICs-with over 40 years of industrial-grade product development.

The STM32F3 series targets cost-sensitive, analog-intensive applications requiring high-resolution data acquisition and real-time control-designed specifically for industrial automation, medical devices, and smart sensors where precision and reliability are non-negotiable.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency and core type of the STM32F378VCT6?

The STM32F378VCT6 uses an ARM Cortex-M4 core with hardware FPU and MPU, rated for up to 72 MHz operation. It achieves 1.25 DMIPS/MHz (Dhrystone 2.1), supporting real-time execution of floating-point math and DSP instructions-verified in ST's production characterization across industrial temperature range (–40°C to +85°C).

Does the STM32F378VCT6 support 5 V-tolerant I/Os, and how many pins have this capability?

Yes, up to 45 GPIO pins on the STM32F378VCT6 are 5 V tolerant-specifically those mapped to ports PA, PB, PC, PD, PE, and PF as defined in Table 11 of the datasheet (DocID025608 Rev 4). This allows direct interfacing with 5 V logic without external level shifters, reducing BOM count in mixed-voltage systems.

What analog peripherals are integrated, and what are their key resolution and channel counts?

The device integrates one 12-bit SAR ADC (16 channels, 1 µs conversion), three 16-bit sigma-delta ADCs (up to 21 single-ended or 11 differential channels), three 12-bit DACs, and two rail-to-rail comparators-all with independent analog supply domains (VDDA, VREFSD+). These are confirmed in Sections 3.12–3.15 and electrical specs Tables 59–63 of the official datasheet.

Is the STM32F378VCT6 pin-compatible with other STM32F3 series MCUs in LQFP64 package?

No-while the STM32F378VCT6 shares the LQFP64 package with some F3 variants (e.g., STM32F303VCT6), pin functions differ significantly due to unique peripheral sets (e.g., SDADC, TSC, DAC configurations). Pin compatibility is limited to identical part numbers; cross-referencing requires validation against each device's pin definition table (Section 4 of DocID025608 Rev 4).