STM32L452RCT6 - 80MHz Cortex-M4 MCU | STMicroelectronics
MPN: STM32L452RCT6 ✓ ActiveSTM32L452RCT6 Overview
An ultra-low-power microcontroller is an integrated semiconductor that balances processing capability with minimized energy consumption. Within the product hierarchy, it is an Arm Cortex-M4 MCU, a 32-bit RISC microcontroller, and a member of the STM32L4 power-management-oriented product family. Low-power operating modes allow the processor to remain responsive while reducing energy use during idle, standby, shutdown, and battery-backed operation. This makes the device suitable for systems where average power consumption matters as much as peak processing performance.
The STM32L452RCT6 integrates 52 I/O pins, a floating-point unit, USB device connectivity, digital filtering and analog conversion capabilities, and interfaces including CAN and QSPI. Its operating supply range of 1.71 V to 3.6 V supports low-voltage battery-powered designs. The manufacturer lists operating-temperature options from -40 °C to 85 °C or 125 °C, allowing selection according to environmental requirements. FlexPowerControl supports explicit control of low-power behavior, while Stop and Shutdown modes can reduce consumption when extended active processing is unnecessary.
The Cortex-M4 architecture provides a strong balance of performance and efficiency for embedded control, sensor processing, communications, and human-interface tasks. Its floating-point unit accelerates mathematical operations that would otherwise require software emulation. The 256 KB Flash partition supports firmware and application code, while 160 KB of SRAM provides working memory for protocol stacks, data buffers, graphics, and control algorithms. This combination of memory capacity and peripheral integration reduces the need for external components in moderately complex embedded designs.
Typical applications include low-power USB-connected sensors, industrial monitoring equipment, portable medical instruments, USB data loggers, energy-management controllers, compact human-interface panels, and connected embedded products. The USB device interface is particularly useful for configuration, data transfer, and firmware update workflows. CAN and QSPI connectivity broaden the design options for industrial networks and external flash-memory expansion. Developers can also use analog peripherals and digital filtering for direct acquisition and conditioning of sensor signals.
Power-rail and decoupling decisions are critical in a 1.71 V to 3.6 V design. Place the required input, output, and bypass capacitors close to their corresponding pins, keep sensitive analog and communication traces away from high-current switching paths, and verify all timing constraints against the STM32L452xx manufacturer datasheet. Firmware should also use the device's clock, flash, and low-power configuration procedures rather than treating the MCU as a conventional 80 MHz processor.
This product page combines manufacturer specifications, package and application guidance, sourcing workflows, and same-family replacement analysis. It also distinguishes documented characteristics from details that require confirmation with the manufacturer datasheet, helping engineers plan PCB reuse, firmware validation, power-budget analysis, and second-source qualification with greater confidence.
Drop-in alternatives for STM32L452RCT6 — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with STM32L452RCT6 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature Range, ADC, Core Architecture, DAC.
STM32L452RET6
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs UnverifiedContact for price
View Datasheet →STM32L452RDT6
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
STM32L452RBT6
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
STM32L443RCT6
✅ Drop-InContact for price
View Datasheet →STM32L443RCT6TR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
STM32L452RCT6 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | Ultra-low-power 32-bit microcontroller |
| Processor Core | Arm Cortex-M4 with floating-point unit |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 80 MHz |
| Architecture | 32-bit RISC |
| Peak Performance | 100 DMIPS |
| Embedded Flash Memory | 256 KB |
| Static RAM | 160 KB |
| Number of I/O Pins | 52 pins |
| Operating Supply Voltage Range | 1.71 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 °C to 85 °C or -40 °C to 125 °C |
| Shutdown Mode Current | 22 nA |
| VBAT Mode Current | 145 nA |
| USB Interface | USB Device |
| Digital Filter Interface | DFSDM |
| Communication Interfaces | CAN and QSPI |
| Package | 64-LQFP, 10 mm x 10 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| REACH Status | Compliant |
STM32L452RCT6 64-lqfp, 10 mm x 10 mm Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for STM32L452RCT6 (64-lqfp, 10 mm x 10 mm package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for STM32L452RCT6.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
STM32L452RCT6 is suitable for 6 applications: USB-Powered Sensor Node, Industrial Data Logger, Portable Medical Instrument, USB Connectivity Controller, Energy and Power Management Controller, Embedded Human Interface Panel.
USB-Powered Sensor Node
The STM32L452RCT6 fits compact USB sensor nodes because its Arm Cortex-M4 core operates at up to 80 MHz while the 1.71 V to 3.6 V supply range supports low-voltage power systems. A 256 KB Flash partition can hold acquisition control, protocol handling, and field-update logic, while 160 KB of SRAM supports working buffers. The integrated USB device interface can carry configuration and measurement data over one connector. During idle periods, shutdown and stop functions can reduce current draw, although the complete power budget depends on sensor duty cycle, wake sources, and regulator losses.
Recommended
Industrial Data Logger
The STM32L452RCT6 is appropriate for an industrial data logger that combines local signal processing with removable storage or a host interface. Its 100 DMIPS Cortex-M4 performance and floating-point unit can process sensor readings, filters, and conversion results without offloading every operation to the host. The 256 KB Flash and 160 KB SRAM provide room for buffering, event logs, and protocol code, while QSPI can support external serial-memory expansion. Device-level qualification, brownout behavior, and write-endurance management remain important when logging continuously in harsh environments.
Recommended
Portable Medical Instrument
The STM32L452RCT6 can serve as the central controller in a portable medical instrument where low-power operation, local processing, and compact packaging are priorities. The 80 MHz Cortex-M4 core and floating-point unit support signal conditioning, filtering, and user-interface logic, while the 160 KB SRAM can support short-term acquisition buffers. Its low-power modes help preserve battery life between measurements or user interactions. Medical designs still require independent risk assessment, electrical-safety analysis, validation of analog measurements, and confirmation that the selected device grade satisfies the applicable product requirements.
Recommended
USB Connectivity Controller
The STM32L452RCT6 is suitable for a USB device controller because it combines an 80 MHz Cortex-M4 processor, 256 KB of Flash, 160 KB of SRAM, and integrated USB device connectivity. Firmware can implement enumeration, configuration descriptors, data transfer, control commands, and firmware maintenance functions on the same MCU. Its low 1.71 V minimum supply operation supports compact power designs, although USB bus voltage and signal requirements must be handled separately. Board validation should include signal integrity, power consumption, suspend behavior, and operating across the intended host configurations.
Recommended
Energy and Power Management Controller
The STM32L452RCT6 can act as a supervisory controller for energy-management equipment because it combines low-power modes, a broad I/O complement, analog-adjacent resources, and flexible communications. It can monitor external sensors, operate relays or power stages through suitable drivers, record operating events, and expose status through CAN or USB. The 80 MHz processing rate allows deterministic control and diagnostic routines without a separate host processor. Designers should size input filtering, isolation, protection, and switching components independently, and should verify timing and power-control behavior against the manufacturer datasheet.
Recommended
Embedded Human Interface Panel
The STM32L452RCT6 is a practical choice for a compact embedded human-interface panel because 256 KB of Flash can accommodate control firmware and UI logic, while 160 KB of SRAM can support display buffering and input handling. The Cortex-M4 floating-point unit supports responsive menu, numeric, and control calculations, and the 52 I/O pins provide connections for displays, buttons, indicators, and communications. Low-power operation is valuable in portable panels because the controller can enter a reduced-consumption state during inactivity. Final GPIO allocation must be checked against alternate functions and board-level timing requirements.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for STM32L452RCT6 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | STM32L452RET6 | STM32L452RDT6 | STM32L452RBT6 | STM32L443RCT6 | STM32L443RCT6TR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-LQFP (10x10) | 64-LQFP (10x10) | 64-LQFP (10x10) | 64-LQFP (10x10) | 64-LQFP (10x10) | 64-LQFP (10x10) |
| Brand | STMicroelectronics | STMicroelectronics | STMicroelectronics | STMicroelectronics | STMicroelectronics | STMicroelectronics |
| Processor Core | Arm Cortex-M4 with FPU | Arm Cortex-M4 with FPU | Arm Cortex-M4 with FPU | Arm Cortex-M4 with FPU | Arm Cortex-M4 with FPU | Arm Cortex-M4 with FPU |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 80 MHz | 80 MHz | 80 MHz | 80 MHz | 80 MHz | 80 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 512 KB | 384 KB | 128 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB |
| Static RAM | 160 KB | 160 KB | 160 KB | 160 KB | 160 KB | 160 KB |
| Operating Supply Voltage | 1.71 V to 3.6 V | 1.71 V to 3.6 V | 1.71 V to 3.6 V | 1.71 V to 3.6 V | 1.71 V to 3.6 V | 1.71 V to 3.6 V |
| USB Interface | USB Device | USB Device | USB Device | USB Device | USB Device | USB Device |
| Digital Filter Interface | DFSDM | DFSDM | DFSDM | DFSDM | DFSDM | DFSDM |
Key Differentiators
- Higher Flash capacity in STM32L452RET6 (vs STM32L452RET6)
- Lower Flash capacity in STM32L452RBT6 (vs STM32L452RBT6)
- Defined STM32L452 low-power positioning (vs STM32L443RCT6)
Design Notes
Design the supply network around the 1.71 V to 3.6 V operating range and validate startup, brownout, and shutdown behavior with the exact STM32L452RCT6 grade. Place the required bulk and bypass capacitors close to their power pins, provide a stable low-noise source for sensitive analog functions, and use the manufacturer reference schematic as the basis for the final network. The MCU's 22 nA shutdown specification does not describe total board current; sensors, pull networks, LEDs, regulators, and leakage paths can dominate the final standby budget.
Keep the 64-LQFP footprint compatible with the target pin assignments and route sensitive analog inputs away from USB, clock, and high-current switching nets. Preserve short ground returns beneath the device, use an uninterrupted ground plane where practical, and place decoupling capacitance at the nearest valid supply pins rather than distributing it around the board. Check exposed pad or thermal requirements against the specific 64-LQFP package drawing and thermal design before committing the PCB footprint.
Treat USB, QSPI, clock, and debug signals as constrained interfaces even though the operating frequency is 80 MHz. Match impedance to the actual board stack-up, provide the required series termination where recommended, avoid stubs, and maintain continuous reference planes beneath high-speed routes. USB data pairs must be routed with consistent geometry and controlled differential impedance. Validate timing, overshoot, and EMI behavior using the final board rather than relying only on simulation.
Do not assume that a same-package alternative is firmware-compatible. Before replacing STM32L452RCT6 with STM32L452RET6, STM32L452RDT6, STM32L452RBT6, or an STM32L443 option, compare the complete pin table, memory organization, peripheral instances, clock tree, low-power behavior, startup procedure, and package drawing. Higher or lower Flash can alter linker placement and bootloader logic, while a footprint match alone does not validate peripheral functionality or timing.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance are identified for the STM32L452RCT6. No AEC-Q100 qualification, lead-free statement, halogen-free statement, or conflict-minerals declaration was available for this exact order code.