STMicroelectronics STM32L486VGT6

Overview

STM32L486VGT6 from STMicroelectronics is an ultra-low-power Arm® Cortex®-M4 32-bit microcontroller with FPU, delivering 100 DMIPS at 80 MHz, featuring 1 MB flash, 128 KB SRAM, USB OTG FS, integrated LCD controller, and hardware AES encryption. It operates across -40 °C to 105 °C, supports external SMPS for 39 µA/MHz run efficiency, and targets battery-powered industrial sensors and portable medical devices.

For engineers reviewing the STM32L486VGT6 datasheet, STM32L486VGT6 pinout, STM32L486VGT6 application, or STM32L486VGT6 equivalent, key selection criteria include its dual-voltage I/O (1.08 V–3.6 V), 114 fast I/Os (most 5 V-tolerant), Stop mode wakeup in 45 µs, 3× 12-bit ADCs (5 Msps), and integrated LCD driver supporting 8×40 segments - all critical for energy-constrained embedded control designs.

Technical Context

The STM32L486VGT6 implements an Adaptive Real-time Accelerator (ART™) enabling zero-wait-state execution from flash memory, paired with a Memory Protection Unit (MPU) and interconnect matrix for deterministic peripheral arbitration. Its FlexPowerControl architecture integrates three independent voltage domains (VDD, VDDA, VDDIO2) and supports dynamic voltage scaling between Range 1 (1.2 V) and Range 2 (1.0 V) to optimize active and low-power modes.

It features three PLLs - one for system clock (up to 80 MHz), one dedicated to USB (48 MHz), and one for audio/SAI - alongside multiple clock sources including 4–48 MHz HSE, 32 kHz LSE for RTC, and auto-trimmed MSI (±0.25% accuracy). The device includes a true random number generator (RNG), CRC unit, and 96-bit unique ID for secure firmware deployment.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

LQFP100 package with 100 leads, 0.5 mm pitch, exposed thermal pad, RoHS-compliant and ECOPACK2-certified. Pinout validated per STMicroelectronics DS10199 Rev 8, Section 4 ("Pinouts and pin description").

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with STM32L476VGT6, the STM32L486VGT6 adds USB OTG FS and LCD support at higher memory density - essential for HMI-rich edge nodes. Versus STM32L562VEJ6, it trades hardware security extensions for larger flash and proven low-power analog integration, favoring cost-sensitive industrial sensing over certified secure firmware chains.

Availability

STM32L486VGT6 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial sensor nodes, portable medical monitors, smart utility meters, and asset tracking beacons requiring stable component supply across extended product lifecycles.

Supply support for STM32L486VGT6 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 industrial, automotive, and consumer markets.

The STM32L4 series targets ultra-low-power embedded applications demanding high performance-per-milliwatt, extended battery life, and rich analog/mixed-signal integration - especially in metering, wearables, and wireless sensor networks.

FAQ

Does STM32L486VGT6 support external SMPS, and how does it affect power consumption?

Yes, the STM32L486VGT6 supports external SMPS via the VDD12 pin, enabling operation in SMPS mode. In this configuration, active current drops to 39 µA/MHz at 3.3 V - a 61% reduction versus 100 µA/MHz in LDO mode. This requires proper external regulator design and VDD12 voltage regulation to 1.05–1.15 V, as specified in Section 6.3.6 of DS10199 Rev 8.

What LCD configurations does STM32L486VGT6 support, and what external components are needed?

The STM32L486VGT6's integrated LCD controller supports 8×40 or 4×44 segment drive with internal step-up converter, eliminating need for external bias generators. It requires only passive LCD glass, COM/SEG routing, and optional external capacitor for charge pump stability. No external driver IC or voltage booster is necessary for standard character or graphical segment displays.

Can STM32L486VGT6 achieve 80 MHz operation with zero wait states from flash?

Yes, the ART Accelerator™ ensures zero-wait-state execution from flash at 80 MHz when enabled. This is verified by ST's CoreMark® benchmark (3.42 CoreMark/MHz) and Drystone 2.1 (1.25 DMIPS/MHz). ART must be activated in firmware (RCC->CR |= RCC_CR_ARTON) and flash latency set to 2WS (FLASH_ACR |= FLASH_ACR_LATENCY_2WS) for full-speed operation.

How many independent power domains does STM32L486VGT6 have, and why does it matter?

The STM32L486VGT6 has three independent power domains: VDD (digital/core), VDDA (analog), and VDDIO2 (I/O bank 2). This separation allows VDDIO2 to be supplied down to 1.08 V for low-voltage peripherals while maintaining full analog performance on VDDA, and enables selective power gating - crucial for mixed-voltage system designs and noise-sensitive measurement accuracy.