STM32F1 vs. STM32F2 - Which Microcontroller Has Better Memory Protection?
When it comes to choosing the right microcontroller for your project, memory protection is a crucial factor to consider. In this blog post, we will compare STM32F1 and STM32F2 microcontrollers based on their memory protections.
Memory Protection
For those who are new to the concept, memory protection refers to a mechanism that prevents unauthorized access to memory areas that are critical to the system's operation. It is implemented to enhance system security and reliability.
Microcontrollers typically have two types of memory, namely, the Flash memory for storing program code and the RAM for temporary data storage. Memory protection ensures that only authorized code or data can access these memory areas.
STM32F1
The STM32F1 microcontroller series was the first to be released by STMicroelectronics in 2007. It is based on the Cortex-M3 core and is targeted at low to medium-end applications. The STM32F1 microcontrollers have embedded Flash memory ranging from 16KB to 512KB, and RAM ranging from 4KB to 64KB.
In terms of memory protection, the STM32F1 series offers two types of protection mechanisms - memory mapping and memory access control. Memory mapping allows different memory areas to be designated as read-only, read-write or execute-only, whereas memory access control provides access permissions to specific memory addresses.
STM32F2
The STM32F2 microcontroller series, on the other hand, was released in 2011 and is based on the Cortex-M3 core. The STM32F2 microcontrollers have embedded Flash memory ranging from 256KB to 1MB, and RAM ranging from 64KB to 192KB. They also feature a Floating-Point Unit (FPU), which enables faster and more precise mathematical calculations.
In terms of memory protection, the STM32F2 series improves upon the STM32F1 series by offering an enhanced memory protection unit (MPU). The MPU provides a finer level of access control, allowing memory areas to be designated with more specific access permissions. The STM32F2 series also supports ARM TrustZone technology, which provides hardware isolation between secure and non-secure memory areas.
Comparison and Conclusion
Both the STM32F1 and STM32F2 series offer robust memory protection mechanisms with varying levels of granularity. The STM32F2 series, however, takes it a step further by offering an enhanced memory protection unit, which provides finer-grained access control.
In conclusion, if your application requires a high level of memory protection, especially in critical applications, the STM32F2 is your best bet. However, if you are working on low to medium-end applications, the STM32F1 is a viable option.
References
- STMicroelectronics. (2021). STM32F1 MCU Series. Retrieved from https://www.st.com/en/microcontrollers-microprocessors/stm32f1-series.html
- STMicroelectronics. (2021). STM32F2 MCU Series. Retrieved from https://www.st.com/en/microcontrollers-microprocessors/stm32f2-series.html
- Embedded Artistry. (2021). ARM Cortex-M Memory Protection Unit (MPU). Retrieved from https://embeddedartistry.com/blog/2017/10/11/arm-cortex-m-memory-protection-unit-mpu/