STMicroelectronics STM32F401CBU6

Overview

STM32F401CBU6 from STMicroelectronics is a 32-bit Arm® Cortex®-M4 microcontroller with FPU, operating up to 84 MHz, featuring 128 KB Flash, 32 KB SRAM, one 12-bit 2.4 MSPS ADC (16 channels), USB 2.0 FS OTG controller with on-chip PHY, and 42 fast I/Os - deployed in industrial sensor nodes requiring real-time signal processing and low-power connectivity.

For engineers reviewing the STM32F401CBU6 datasheet, STM32F401CBU6 pinout, STM32F401CBU6 application, or STM32F401CBU6 equivalent, key selection criteria include Flash/SRAM size trade-offs, USB OTG FS integration, ART Accelerator™-enabled zero-wait-state Flash execution, and 5 V-tolerant GPIO support for mixed-voltage system interfacing.

Technical Context

The device implements an Arm Cortex-M4 core with floating-point unit and DSP instructions, coupled with ST's Adaptive Real-Time Accelerator (ART Accelerator™) to eliminate Flash wait states at 84 MHz. It integrates a multi-AHB bus matrix for concurrent peripheral access and supports dynamic efficiency line operation across 1.7–3.6 V supply.

Clock architecture includes four oscillators: 4–26 MHz external crystal, 16 MHz factory-trimmed RC, 32 kHz RTC oscillator with calibration, and 32 kHz internal RC - enabling precise timekeeping and flexible low-power mode transitions including Stop (10 µA typ) and Standby (2.4 µA @25 °C).

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

STM32F401CBU6 is housed in a 48-pin Ultra-Fine Pitch Quad Flat No-lead (UFQFPN48) package with 0.5 mm pitch, exposed thermal pad, and RoHS-compliant ECOPACK2 construction. Pin functions are validated per ST's DS9716 Rev 11 datasheet Section 4 (Pinouts and pin description).

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with STM32F401CCU6, the CBU6 offers reduced memory at lower cost and power; compared with STM32F072CBU6, it delivers higher performance, FPU, and full OTG flexibility - making it optimal for USB-reliant edge nodes needing balanced compute and integration.

Availability

STM32F401CBU6 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial sensor nodes, USB-capable data loggers, smart home hubs, and motor control edge nodes requiring stable component supply and long-term manufacturability.

Supply support for STM32F401CBU6 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, designing and manufacturing microcontrollers, power management ICs, sensors, and analog devices for industrial, automotive, and consumer markets.

The STM32F4-series targets high-performance, cost-sensitive embedded applications requiring real-time responsiveness, rich peripheral integration, and energy efficiency - especially where USB, ADC, and timer resources are critical.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency and how is it achieved?

The STM32F401CBU6 achieves 84 MHz maximum CPU frequency using its internal PLL driven by either the 4–26 MHz external crystal or the 16 MHz internal RC oscillator. The ART Accelerator™ enables zero-wait-state execution from Flash memory at this speed, eliminating instruction fetch bottlenecks. This frequency is fully supported across the specified voltage (1.7–3.6 V) and temperature (-40 °C to 105 °C) ranges per DS9716 Rev 11 Section 6.3.1.

Does STM32F401CBU6 support USB host functionality?

Yes - the integrated USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG controller supports both device and host modes via software configuration. Host capability requires external VBUS detection and power switching circuitry, and is validated per USB OTG specification. The on-chip PHY eliminates need for external transceivers, and the USB module supports standard classes including HID, CDC, and Mass Storage.

How many ADC channels are available and what is their maximum sampling rate?

The device features one 12-bit ADC with up to 16 external input channels and a maximum sampling rate of 2.4 MSPS (mega-samples per second). This rate is achievable in interleaved mode with dual ADC synchronization disabled; single-channel sampling at full resolution yields 2.4 MSPS with typical SNR of 70.5 dB. All channels share the same ADC clock domain derived from APB2.

What debug interfaces are supported and what are their physical requirements?

STM32F401CBU6 supports Serial Wire Debug (SWD) and JTAG via dedicated pins (SWCLK, SWDIO, JTCK, JTMS, JTDI, JTDO, NRST). SWD is the recommended interface: it uses only two pins (SWCLK + SWDIO), supports full debug and programming, and is electrically compatible with ST-LINK v2/v3 debug probes. JTAG requires five pins and is typically used for boundary scan or legacy toolchains.