Resources: the STM32F103C8T6 ARM STM32 Minimum System Development Board
September 17, 2016
The Blue Pill
Apparently this board I have is called (in some quarters anyway) a "blue pill".
There is also a "red pill" which looks nearly identical.
The blue pill has a better PCB and the USB connector has less of a tendency to rip off.
People recommend adding some epoxy to reinforce it. The red pill has an LDO 3.3 volt
regulator that can crank out more current (if that matters). But buyers should use caution
since the color of the PCB may change without warning.
This device is more or less a clone of the "Maple Mini", but with some differences.
Also look for:
- AN2586 - STM32F10x getting started with hardware, 28 pages.
- AN3155 - serial bootloader protocol, 37 pages.
- AN2606 - memory boot modes, 248 pages,
- PM0075 - flash programming manual, 31 pages.
Most instructions use a USB to serial (TTL) board to program it, connected to PA9 and PA10 pins to program the board,
USB programming may be possible by replacing the 10kΩ pull up resistor on PA12 (USB D+) by a 1.5kΩ resistor.
By a USB to serial board is meant something like an FTDI friend jumpered in 3.3 volt mode.
Feedback? Questions?
Drop me a line!
Tom's Computer Info / tom@mmto.org