News ST Release Software IDE Upgrade for ST7 Microcontrollers Supports New ST7 Microcontrollers Including the ST7Lite and Superlite, ST Microelectronics has released an upgraded version of the ST7 Software Library, the optimized development tool that provides comprehensive support for designers creating applications based on the popular ST7 family of enhanced 8-bit microcontrollers. The upgrade adds support for recently introduced MCUs – including the ST72561 automotive microcontroller, the ST72264, and the small-scale, cost-sensitive ST7Lite and Superlite series – as well as for a range of peripheral modules. The Library is available as a free download to support ST7 developers. It enables standardized source code to be created rapidly for a wide range of target applications, without the need for users to make an in-depth study of each peripheral’s specification. Library code is fully documented and tested, ensuring simplicity and code reliability. Working and thoroughly tested example applications are provided for each peripheral and device, and these templates can easily be adapted by users to meet their specific requirements. For software engineers with a basic grounding in ‘C’ and a working knowledge of microcontrollers, the ST7 Library provides significant cost savings through faster development, proven program code, easier integration and reduced testing time. It supports Metrowerks and Cosmic compilers, and is fully compliant with the MISRA (Motor Industry Software Reliability Association) automotive software standard. A RIDE graphical interface (GUI) is available, supporting the Cosmic compiler. The ST7 core is based on an industry-standard 8-bit architecture, extended by ST to improve support for high-level language programming and to provide additional interrupt handling features. The microcontroller family is ideal for smart appliances, motor control, automotive body systems, home automation, USB peripherals, cost-sensitive markets and thousands of other emerging applications. Support for all of the ST7 standard peripherals is provided by the library, including A/D Converter, Interrupt Controller, EEPROM, the serial communication interfaces, eight different timers, general I/Os and CAN (Controller Area Network). The MCU families ST7232x, ST7252x, ST726x, ST72561 and ST7Lite and their subsets are all represented, with register map files for all devices and device configuration files for the Metrowerks and Cosmic compilers. A detailed user manual provides a description of every library function, plus example code and instructions on the most effective way to use the library. The company's Web site address is http://www.st.com/. [Reprinted with kind permission from ST Microelectronics]