STMicroelectronics STM32L431RCT6

Overview

STM32L431RCT6 from STMicroelectronics is an ultra-low-power Arm® Cortex®-M4 32-bit MCU with FPU, operating up to 80 MHz (100 DMIPS), featuring 256 KB Flash, 64 KB SRAM, and integrated analog peripherals including 12-bit ADC (5 Msps), dual 12-bit DACs, op-amp with PGA, and two ultra-low-power comparators. It supports capacitive touch sensing (21 channels), RTC with hardware calendar, and CAN 2.0B for industrial sensor nodes and battery-powered IoT edge devices.

For engineers reviewing the STM32L431RCT6 datasheet, STM32L431RCT6 pinout, STM32L431RCT6 application, or STM32L431RCT6 equivalent, key selection criteria include its 8 nA shutdown current, 4 µs wakeup from Stop mode, FlexPowerControl architecture, ART Accelerator™ enabling zero-wait-state Flash execution, and LQFP64 package compatibility with legacy STM32L0/L1 footprint constraints.

Technical Context

The STM32L431RCT6 implements an interconnect matrix for concurrent peripheral access, a dual-PLL system (one for CPU/audio, one for ADC), and adaptive voltage scaling across six low-power modes - from 8 nA Shutdown to 84 µA/MHz Run mode. Its ART Accelerator™ uses instruction/data prefetch and branch prediction to eliminate Flash wait states at 80 MHz.

It integrates independent analog power domains supporting simultaneous high-speed ADC sampling (5 Msps) and low-noise DAC output, plus hardware oversampling up to 16-bit resolution. The TSC supports linear/rotary touch sensors without external components, while the LPUART enables wake-up from Stop 2 mode with sub-µA active current.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

LQFP64 (10 × 10 mm, 0.5 mm pitch) with exposed thermal pad; RoHS-compliant and ECOPACK2® certified.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar ultra-low-power MCU applications.

Compared with STM32L431RCT6, the STM32L432KCU6 trades package size and peripheral count for footprint savings, while the STM32L552RET6 adds hardware security and deeper low-power states at the expense of cost and design complexity - making the L431 optimal for balanced performance, analog integration, and industrial temperature compliance.

Availability

STM32L431RCT6 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial sensor nodes, portable medical monitors, smart home thermostats, and asset tracking beacons requiring stable component supply across multi-year production cycles.

Supply support for STM32L431RCT6 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 products for industrial, automotive, and consumer markets.

The STM32L4 series targets ultra-low-power embedded applications demanding rich analog integration, real-time responsiveness, and long battery life - optimized for IoT endpoints, wearables, and energy-harvesting systems.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency and corresponding performance metric?

The STM32L431RCT6 operates at up to 80 MHz with an Adaptive Real-Time Accelerator (ART) enabling zero-wait-state execution from Flash. Its performance is rated at 100 DMIPS (Dhrystone 2.1), achieving 1.25 DMIPS/MHz and 273.55 CoreMark® (3.42 CoreMark/MHz). This reflects deterministic real-time behavior suitable for motor control and audio processing tasks.

Does STM32L431RCT6 support hardware cryptographic acceleration?

No, the STM32L431RCT6 does not include dedicated cryptographic accelerators such as AES, SHA, or PKA engines. It relies on software libraries (e.g., Mbed TLS) for encryption. For hardware crypto, consider the STM32L5 or STM32U5 series, which integrate ARM TrustZone® and cryptographic co-processors compliant with PSA Certified Level 1.

What are the supported low-power modes and their typical current consumption?

The device supports six low-power modes: Shutdown (8 nA), Standby (28 nA), Standby with RTC (280 nA), Stop 2 (1.0 µA), Stop 1 (1.28 µA with RTC), and Sleep (84 µA/MHz). Current values assume VDD = 3.3 V, 25 °C, and default configuration per DS11453 Rev 3 Table 40; actual consumption varies with peripheral usage and voltage scaling.

Can the internal op-amp drive standard audio codecs or external transducers directly?

The integrated op-amp features rail-to-rail output and programmable gain (1–40× via internal PGA), but its output current is limited to ±15 mA. It can drive high-impedance audio inputs (e.g., codec line-in) or small piezoelectric transducers, but not low-Z speakers or headphones. For direct speaker drive, external Class-D or AB amplifiers remain necessary.