STM32 programming / debug probe extends measurement range
To develop low power applications running on any STM32 microcontroller, STMicroelectronics has developed the STLINK-V3PWR in-circuit debugging and programming probe for power measurement.
The in-circuit debugging and programming probe has a wide dynamic range to handle power-conscious projects including IoT and wireless applications. The probe measures current values from nanoA to 500mA and remains accurate up to ±0.5 per cent. It can supply up to 2A to the target system through a single USB cable, said STMicroelectronics, enabling developers to power the board without a separate supply.
STLINK-V3PWR is supported directly within the STM32CubeMonitor-Power graphical tool, which helps visualise the power demands of the application in real time and analyse the effects of design changes to improve energy efficiency. The probe is also supported within the Arm Keil development tool and IAR integrated development environment (IDE) which enable users to synchronise code execution with energy consumption measurements.
Low-power microcontroller applications use energy harvesting or run for years on batteries, explained Reinhard Keil, senior director, embedded technology at Arm. “Small design errors can create unexpected power issues,” he added. “The new STLINK-V3PWR probe enables power profiling with Keil MDK (mobile development kit). The uVision debugger can correlate program events with power consumption, providing analysis to help developers identify potential design errors and enabling multi-fold improvements to battery lifetime.”
Anders Holmberg, CTO at IAR added, ““Full support for the STLINK-V3PWR probe within IAR Embedded Workbench for Arm allows developers faster and easier access to power analysis that is both accurate and repeatable, and with high resolution. It is sure to help realise greater energy savings and efficiency gains in next generation, low power and efficient smart, connected devices while also drastically accelerating their time to market.”
STLINK-V3PWR adds further strength to the energy-conscious embedded developer’s toolkit alongside the STM32 Power shield (X-NUCLEO-LPM01A), a programmable power supply source that provides dynamic current measurement from 100nA to 50mA. It is typically used to analyse applications running on low-power STM32 MCUs. The energy meter of the STM32L562E-DK intermediate board measures dynamic current from 300nA to 150mA. The STM32CubeMonitor-Power acquires power measurements through any of these devices and allows data rendering in real time as well as updating of acquisition parameters.
As a programming and debug probe, STLINK-V3PWR also features single wire debug (JTAG/SWD) interfaces to communicate with the STM32 MCU on the application board. There is also a virtual COM port interface and a multi-path bridge allowing the host PC to communicate with the target microcontroller through a SPI / UART / I2C / CAN / GPIO communication to facilitate firmware update as well as power measurement tests in the field.
The new STLINK-V3PWR is available now.
