AT32F421F8P7

Introduction

AT32F421F8P7 is a cost-effective, high-performance 32-bit microcontroller (MCU) launched by ArteryTek, based on the Arm® Cortex®-M4 core. It is designed for embedded applications that require strong processing power and rich peripherals but are sensitive to cost. Operating at a maximum frequency of 120 MHz, it integrates a Digital Signal Processing (DSP) instruction set. The chip integrates up to 64KB of Flash and 16KB of SRAM in a tiny TSSOP-20 package. It also provides rich communication interfaces and analog peripherals, such as 2 USARTs, 2 SPIs, 2 I²Cs, 1 high-speed 12-bit ADC, and 1 advanced timer. It is ideal for industrial control, smart home applications, motor control, and IoT nodes.

Key Features

Core & Performance

• 32-bit Arm® Cortex®-M4 Core: Integrated with single-cycle multiplication and hardware division units, operating at a maximum frequency of 120 MHz with computing power up to 150 DMIPS.
• DSP Instruction Set: Built-in digital signal processing instructions for efficient execution of algorithms like filtering and FFT.
• Memory Protection Unit (MPU): Enhances system security by preventing illegal memory access.
• sLib™ Security Library: ArteryTek's proprietary technology that allows specific Flash areas to be set as "call-only, non-readable" secure code regions, effectively protecting intellectual property.

Memory Configuration

• Flash Memory: Up to 64KB, supporting read-while-write, sector erase, and security protection.
• SRAM: 16KB (including 4KB CCM tightly-coupled memory with zero wait states, suitable for high-speed data processing).
• Bootloader: Built-in 4KB ISP/IAP (In-System Programming / In-Application Programming) bootloader for easy firmware updates.
• Battery Backup Registers (BPR): 5x 32-bit registers that retain data in Standby mode.

Connectivity & Peripherals

• Communication Interfaces:
  • 2 USARTs + 2 UARTs: Baud rate up to 36 Mbit/s, supporting ISO7816, LIN, and IrDA.
  • 2 SPI/I²S: Speed up to 36 Mbit/s, full-duplex, multiplexable as I²S audio interface.
  • 2 I²C Interfaces: Supports SMBus/PMBus, speed up to 400kHz.
  • 1 Infrared Transmitter (IRTMR).
• Timers: Total of 10 timers.
  • 1x 16-bit Advanced Timer: 7-channel PWM output with dead-time generation and emergency stop functions, designed specifically for motor control.
  • 5x 16-bit General-Purpose Timers: Support input capture, output compare, PWM, and incremental encoder interfaces.
  • 1x 16-bit Basic Timer.
  • 2x Watchdog Timers: Independent (WDT) and Window (WWDT).
  • 1x SysTick Timer: 24-bit down-counter.
  • 1x Enhanced Real-Time Clock (ERTC): With alarm, sub-second precision, and hardware calendar.
• Analog Peripherals:
  • 1x 12-bit ADC: Sampling rate up to 2 MSPS, with up to 15 external channels.
  • 1x Analog Comparator (CMP): High-speed rail-to-rail output, usable for overcurrent protection.
  • Internal Temperature Sensor (VTS) and Internal Reference Voltage (VINTRV).
• DMA Controller: 1x 5-channel DMA to offload the CPU, supporting triggers from ADC, SPI, I²C, USART, and timers.
• GPIO: Up to 15 fast I/O pins; almost all pins are 5V tolerant and support pin remapping.

Power & Packaging

• Operating Voltage: 2.4V to 3.6V.
• Low Power Modes: Supports Sleep, Deep Sleep, and Standby modes. Typical current consumption in Standby mode is only 2.8µA.
• Package: TSSOP-20 (6.5mm x 4.4mm), saving PCB space.
• Operating Temperature: Industrial grade, -40°C to +105°C.
• Others: 96-bit Unique Chip ID (UID), CRC calculation unit, True Random Number Generator (TRNG).

Typical Specification Table

Typical Applications

• Industrial Automation: PLCs, motor drives, sensor data acquisition, base station monitoring units.
• Smart Home: Smart locks, smart lighting, washing machine/appliance motor control (e.g., direct drive inverter), white goods.
• Consumer Electronics: Portable medical devices, electronic toys, wireless charging.
• Internet of Things (IoT): IoT nodes, LoRa terminals, smart sensor modules.
• Robotics & Drones: Flight control, attitude stabilization, micro brushless motor drives (FOC).
• Others: Card reader design, 5G applications, intelligent traffic equipment.

Development & Ecosystem

• Development Tools: Fully supports mainstream IDEs like Keil MDK and IAR EWARM. Provides ArteryTek AT32F421 DFP device support packs.
• Debug Interface: Supports Serial Wire Debug (SWD) and JTAG.
• Software Libraries: Provides Standard Peripheral Libraries (SPL) and rich BSP packages, especially the FOC algorithm library for motor control (supports single/dual/triple resistor current sampling).
• Development Boards: Various low-cost development boards based on AT32F421F8P7 are available on the market, typically using the TSSOP-20 package in a compact size.
• Design Note: The TSSOP-20 package features high pin multiplexing; careful pin allocation is required during design. For mass production programming, the VCT programmer can be used for IAP updates via UART.