What is the actual STM32 pin capacitance (for the purpose of sizing an HSE crystal)?

[NAbun.1]

Hello,

I originally tagged onto this thread: https://community.st.com/t5/stm32-mcus-products/stm32f103-hse-crystal-capacitors/td-p/771200 but I was recommended to make a separate thread.

Many of the STM32 datasheets, such as the STM32H753, say that the pin capacitance is 5pF per pin. When trying to size a crystal for the HSE oscillator, the designer is told to follow AN2867. When trying to calculate the stray capacitance we (at a minimum) add the pin capacitance of the two oscillator pins to get 10pF. The STM32H753 datasheet even says to approximate 10pF here on page 232:

AN2867 does not recommend any crystals for the STM32 HSE oscillator, so the assumption is that crystal has to have higher than 10pF load capacitance for STM32 devices. 

I understand that pin capacitance would vary per package. Does ST have a more accurate estimation of pin capacitance? Or does ST have recommendations for crystals for the STM32 HSE oscillator?

Thanks,

Nino

[jiangfan]

Yes, pin capacitance will vary per package, QFP has higher pin capacitance than BGA.

from experience, I agree that "pin capacitance should be in range of 2pF to 3pF in general, in our datasheet we are providing worst case typical condition of 5pF ( generic to all I/Os)" of post:

Crystals and load capacitors for stm32l432 - STMicroelectronics Community

although no recommendation from ST for crystals regarding the STM32 HSE oscillator, you may try to use same HSE crystal of official STM32 board.

[NAbun.1]

Hi @jiangfan ,

Thank you for your response. In the post you linked, they are discussing a UFQFPN32 (5x5) package, which I imagine is one of the lower pin capacitance parts.

Does the 2pF to 3pF apply to the STM32H753 LQFP100 (14 x 14 mm) package, or is that more likely to see the worst case, ad we should plan for the full 5pF?

Thanks,

Nino

[STOne-32]

Dear @NAbun.1 ,

I confirm what has been communicated by @jiangfan ( our boards expert here ) :) You can assume that HSE In/out pins are in range of 2 to 3pF on your selected LQFP100 package as worst case . In fact, it is very easy to obtain it with empirical testing on your PCB. Let’s called  “Cs” which is the Sum of pads and PCB parasitic capacitance .

if you choose a crystal of 8pF CL ( crystal datasheets ) , You can start by putting on the two legs CL1 and CL2  two capacitors of  10pF - which is { 8-3}  * 2 , then output the HSE frequency  and monitor the nominal frequency using a good oscilloscope or universal counter. The right value of CL1/CL2 you can adjust is when the MCO output is the closed to the Nominal Frequency of the crystal ( written in Datasheet +/- XXPPM) then you can adjust and deduce the exact Cs of your PCB including internal pads . Try it and let us know with scopes .

if the frequency is a bit higher than nominal , you need to add extra capacitance on CL1/CL2, if it slower you need to remove and reduce 10pF to smaller value .

Hope it helps you,

STOne-32

[jiangfan]

I would like to assume ~2pF for BGA/QFN, and assume ~3pF for QFP.