STMicroelectronics STM32L4Q5CGU6

Overview

STM32L4Q5CGU6 from STMicroelectronics is an ultra-low-power Arm® Cortex®-M4 32-bit MCU with FPU, 120 MHz max frequency, 1-MB Flash, 320-KB SRAM, and integrated LCD-TFT controller, AES+PKA cryptographic accelerators, and external SMPS support - deployed in battery-powered medical sensors and portable industrial HMI displays.

For engineers reviewing the STM32L4Q5CGU6 datasheet, STM32L4Q5CGU6 pinout, STM32L4Q5CGU6 application, or STM32L4Q5CGU6 equivalent, key selection criteria include verified 22 nA shutdown current, dual-bank read-while-write Flash, hardware parity on 64 KB SRAM, and Octo-SPI interface compatibility with high-density serial memories.

Technical Context

This MCU integrates an adaptive real-time (ART) accelerator enabling zero-wait-state execution from Flash at 120 MHz, a multi-speed internal oscillator auto-trimmed by LSE (±0.25% accuracy), and three independent PLLs for system, USB, and audio clock domains. Its interconnect matrix features a 14-channel DMA controller and AHB bus matrix to manage concurrent peripheral access without arbitration bottlenecks.

The device supports flexible power architecture: internal LDO or external SMPS input (1.08–3.6 V), five low-power modes including 190 nA standby-with-RTC and 2.95 µA Stop 2 with RTC, and brownout reset across all active modes except Shutdown. Analog subsystem includes two 12-bit ADCs (5 Msps), two DACs, two op-amps with PGA, and two ultra-low-power comparators - each with independent supply domain.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

STM32L4Q5CGU6 uses the UFQFPN48 package: 7 × 7 mm body, 0.5 mm lead pitch, exposed thermal pad, wettable flanks for automated optical inspection. Pin count is 48 with 42 general-purpose I/Os (most 5 V-tolerant), 3 dedicated VDD/VSS pairs, VBAT, VREF+, VREF−, VSSA/VDDA analog supplies, and dedicated BOOT0/NRST.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with STM32L4R5ZIT6, STM32L4Q5CGU6 offers smaller footprint and SMPS support for extended battery life, while STM32L552RET6 trades display capability for certified security - making STM32L4Q5CGU6 optimal for cost-sensitive, power-constrained HMI and sensor edge devices.

Availability

STM32L4Q5CGU6 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for portable medical sensors, industrial HMI displays, smart utility meters, and asset tracking beacons requiring stable component supply across long-lifecycle deployments.

Supply support for STM32L4Q5CGU6 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 semiconductors since 1987.

The STM32L4 series targets ultra-low-power embedded applications demanding rich peripherals, cryptographic acceleration, and extended battery life - optimized for wearables, IoT endpoints, and portable industrial equipment.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency and associated power consumption in Run mode?

The STM32L4Q5CGU6 achieves 120 MHz using its ART Accelerator and internal 16 MHz RC or external crystal. In Run mode with LDO, it consumes 110 µA/MHz; with external SMPS, consumption drops to 41 µA/MHz at 3.3 V - verified per DS12902 Rev 3 Table 26.

Does STM32L4Q5CGU6 support hardware-based public-key cryptography?

Yes - it integrates a Public Key Accelerator (PKA) supporting RSA-2048, ECC-256, and ECDSA operations with dedicated RAM and DMA channels. PKA reduces ECC-256 signature time to under 15 ms, confirmed in Section 3.34 of the datasheet.

Which package variant does STM32L4Q5CGU6 use, and what are its assembly advantages?

STM32L4Q5CGU6 uses the UFQFPN48 package (7 × 7 mm, 0.5 mm pitch) with wettable flanks. This enables reliable automated optical inspection (AOI) of solder joints and supports high-yield reflow processes - critical for compact, high-volume consumer and medical PCBs.

Can the LCD-TFT controller drive standard RGB panels without external components?

Yes - the integrated LTDC supports RGB666 and RGB888 interfaces up to 1024×768@60 Hz with programmable polarity, synchronization, and dithering. It requires only passive termination resistors and direct connection to panel timing controllers - no external video buffer or level shifters needed.