STMicroelectronics STM32L496VET6

Overview

STM32L496VET6 from STMicroelectronics is an ultra-low-power Arm® Cortex®-M4 32-bit MCU with FPU, operating up to 80 MHz (100 DMIPS), featuring 512 KB flash, 320 KB SRAM, USB OTG FS, hardware SHA-256 accelerator, and integrated SMPS support. It delivers 37 µA/MHz in SMPS-run mode and supports RTC with calendar, Chrom-ART Accelerator, and 136 fast I/Os (most 5 V-tolerant) for battery-powered industrial HMI and portable medical devices.

For engineers reviewing the STM32L496VET6 datasheet, STM32L496VET6 pinout, STM32L496VET6 application, or STM32L496VET6 equivalent, key selection criteria include ultra-low-power run/standby current specs, dual-bank flash with ROP, hardware crypto acceleration, LCD controller capability, and verified LQFP100 package compatibility with external SMPS integration.

Technical Context

The device integrates an Adaptive Real-time Accelerator (ART) enabling zero-wait-state execution from flash at 80 MHz, alongside a multi-AHB interconnect matrix for concurrent peripheral access. Its power architecture includes three voltage scaling ranges (VOS0–VOS2), brownout reset in all modes except shutdown, and FlexPowerControl supporting five low-power modes with sub-µA retention.

Core peripherals include two SAIs for stereo audio streaming, four I²C FM+ interfaces (1 Mbit/s), six USART/LPUARTs with LIN/IrDA/ISO7816 support, dual CAN 2.0B controllers, and a 14-channel DMA controller with scatter-gather capability - all accessible in Stop mode via dedicated low-power timers and wakeup pins.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

LQFP100 (14 × 14 mm, 0.5 mm pitch) package with exposed thermal pad; 100-pin layout optimized for mixed-signal routing, external SMPS integration, and LCD segment driving.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar ultra-low-power Cortex-M4 MCU applications.

Compared with STM32L476VGT6, the STM32L496VET6 adds USB OTG FS and SMPS control at the cost of 512 KB vs 1 MB flash; versus STM32U575ZIT6, it trades PSA-certified security for integrated LCD/DCMI - making it optimal for battery-powered HMI and medical imaging where display and sensor interface are primary.

Availability

STM32L496VET6 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for wearable health monitors, smart utility meters, industrial HMI panels, and portable diagnostic ultrasound systems requiring stable component supply across extended product lifecycles.

Supply support for STM32L496VET6 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 automotive-grade components since 1987.

The STM32L4 series targets ultra-low-power embedded applications demanding rich analog integration, cryptographic acceleration, and flexible power management - specifically engineered for battery-constrained industrial, medical, and consumer devices.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency and corresponding DMIPS rating?

The STM32L496VET6 operates at up to 80 MHz with an Adaptive Real-time Accelerator (ART) enabling zero-wait-state flash execution. It achieves 100 DMIPS (Dhrystone 2.1), measured at 80 MHz with ART enabled and cache configured. This performance is sustained across voltage scaling ranges VOS0–VOS2, with core voltage dynamically adjusted to minimize power consumption while maintaining throughput.

Does this MCU support external memory expansion, and if so, what types?

Yes, the STM32L496VET6 supports external memory via two dedicated interfaces: the Flexible Static Memory Controller (FSMC) for SRAM, PSRAM, NOR, and NAND memories; and the Dual-flash QUADSPI interface for high-speed serial flash. The FSMC provides parallel address/data bus timing with programmable setup/hold/wait cycles, while QUADSPI supports XIP (execute-in-place) and memory-mapped mode with dual-flash interleaving for bandwidth doubling.

How does the hardware SHA-256 accelerator improve system-level security?

The dedicated HASH peripheral performs SHA-256 cryptographic hashing in hardware with deterministic latency (<100 µs per 64-byte block), independent of CPU load. It supports message padding, multi-block chaining, and DMA-triggered operation - enabling secure firmware signature verification, TLS handshake acceleration, and tamper-proof log generation without exposing keys to software. Its integration with the firewall prevents unauthorized register access during hash computation.

What LCD capabilities does the STM32L496VET6 provide, and how are they implemented?

The MCU integrates a full-featured LCD controller supporting up to 8×40 or 4×44 segments with built-in step-up converter, eliminating external bias circuitry. It drives static, 2/3/4 multiplex displays using internal charge pumps and programmable contrast control. Segment outputs are mapped to GPIOs PD0–PD15 and PE7–PE15, with dedicated LCDCLK and LCD_COM pins. The controller operates in Stop mode and supports blinking, blinking mask, and voltage regulation monitoring for reliable display operation in ultra-low-power systems.