STM8 8 Bit Microcontroller Tutorial

August 25, 2022
 STMicroelectronics' STM8 family of 8-bit microcontrollers is supported by a wide range of software IDEs with C and C++ support from ST and 3rd parties. The STM8 family of microcontrollers comprises the STM8S, STM8L, and STM8AF series of microcontrollers which are implemented around a high-performance 8-bit core and come with a state-of-the-art set of peripherals. They are manufactured using  ST-proprietary 130 nm embedded non-volatile memory technology and support fast and safe development through enhanced stack pointer operations, advanced addressing modes, and new instructions.

The 8-bit microcontroller platform supports four product series:

REQUIRED COMPONENTS : 

  • The STM8S103F Development Board
  • The ST link V2 programmer
  • A breadboard
  • Jumper wires

SCHEMATICS : 

Since we will implement the blink example using the LED onboard the STM8S103F, there is not much to do in terms of schematics. However, for those who may not be familiar with the process of connecting the ST link programmer to the STM8S103F  board, the connection is described in the schematics below:

ST-Link V2 Programmer Pinout :

  • (3.3v) - 3.3
  • (SWIM) - SWIM
  • (GND) - GND
  • (RST) - NRST




    • Setting up the Arduino IDE

    Step 1: If you are completely new to the Arduino Environment, Download Arduino based on your operating system and install it.  

    Step 2: Follow File -> Preferences to open the preferences window and paste the link given below into the additional boards manage URL text box and click on OK.
    Step 3: Follow Tools -> Board -> Board manager to open the board manager dialog box and search for “sduino”. Click on install and close the dialog box after the installation is completed.
    Step 4: Restart the IDE and then follow Tools -> Board -> STM8S103F3. You can select other boards if you have a different development board. 



    Now check your Board in Board Manager


    Now the Arduino IDE is ready for programming the STM8S103F3 Development Board. Let us set up the board, connect it to the computer, and program for a simple LED blink.

    Arduino Pin Mapping for STM8S103F3

    If you want to proceed from here, you need to know how to address each pin on the STM8S103F3 Development board. The pin mapping can be understood from this image below-

    For example from the STM8S103F3 Board circuit diagram, we know that the on-board LED is connected to PB5. To address this pin on Arduino, we have to use 3, hence the program can be written as-



    CODE

    As mentioned during the introduction, for demonstration purposes, we will upload the blink example to the STM8S103F Development Board. You can use the generic blink example (File -> Example -> Basics -> Blink) or use the blink example among the STM8s Specific libraries (File -> Example -> Generic_Example -> Basics -> Blink).

    void setup() {
  // initialize digital pin LED_BUILTIN as an output.
  pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT);
}
// the loop function runs over and over again forever
void loop() {
  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);   // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
  delay(1000);                       // wait for a second
  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW);    // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
  delay(1000);                       // wait for a second
}

    I believe the code for the blink example needs no explanation. 

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