User Manual

Apollo3 Blue Datasheet

DS-A3-0p9p1 Page 67 of 909 2019 Ambiq Micro, Inc.

The Apollo3 Blue MCU provides support for higher performance operating modes through Ambiq’s

TurboSPOT technology. The TurboSPOT technology allows applications to meet critical timing as/when

needed while still providing extremely high energy efficiency operation. The Apollo3 Blue MCU also

supports secure boot using Ambiq’s SecureSPOT technology enabling applications to establish and

maintain a root of trust from boot to execution.

At the center of the Apollo3 Blue MCU is a 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4 processor with Floating Point Unit with

several tightly coupled peripherals. The Ambiq Micro implementation of the Cortex-M4 core delivers both

greater performance and much lower power than 8-bit, 16-bit, and other comparable 32-bit cores. Code

and data may be stored in the 1 MB Flash Memory and the 384 KB Low Leakage RAM. The Wake-Up

Interrupt Controller (WIC) coupled with the Cortex-M4 supports sophisticated and configurable sleep state

transitions with a variety of interrupt sources.

An integrated Bluetooth low energy controller provides support for Bluetooth 5 at 3mA Rx/Tx. Apollo3 Blue

MCU supports up to 4dBm transmit power with optional external power amplifier controls to enable even

higher transmit range.

A rich set of sensor peripherals enable the monitoring of several sensors. An integrated temperature

sensor enables the measurement of ambient temperature. A scalable ultra-low power Successive

Approximation Register (SAR) Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) monitors the temperature sensor,

several internal voltages, and up to eight external sensor signals. The ADC is uniquely tuned for minimum

power with a configurable measurement mode that does not require MCU intervention. In addition to

integrated analog sensor peripherals, I

C/SPI/PDM master ports and/or UART ports enables the MCU to

communicate with external sensors and radios (such as Bluetooth transceivers) that have digital outputs.

For higher bandwidth peripherals, the Apollo3 Blue MCU supports a multi-bit SPI (MSPI) controller for 1-

bit, 2-bit, 4-bit and 8-bit data. For devices requiring secure communication, it supports an ISO7816

compliant master controller.

The Apollo3 Blue MCU also includes a set of timing peripherals and an RTC which is based on Ambiq’s

AM08XX and AM18XX Real-Time Clock (RTC) families. The general purpose Timer/Counter Module

(CTIMER), 32-bit System Timer (STIMER), and the RTC may be driven independently by one of three

different clock sources: a low frequency RC oscillator, a high frequency RC oscillator, and a 32.768 kHz

crystal (XTAL) oscillator. These clock sources use the proprietary advanced calibration techniques

developed for the AM08XX and AM18XX products that achieve XTAL-like accuracy with RC-like power.

Additionally, the Apollo3 Blue MCU includes clock reliability functions first offered in the AM08XX and

AM18XX products. For example, the RTC can automatically switch from an XTAL source to an RC source

in the event of an XTAL failure.

Apollo3 supports highly optimized PWM pattern generation for complex, efficient stepper motor control

operation. Up to 8 independent motors can be controlled from the MCU supporting several different

operating modes.

As with any ARM-based MCU, the Apollo3 Blue MCU is supported by a complete suite of standard

software development tools. Ambiq Micro provides drivers for all peripherals along with basic application

code to shorten development times. Software debug is facilitated by the addition of an Instrumentation

Trace Macrocell (ITM), a Trace Port Interface Unit (TPIU) and through the use of a Serial Wire Debugger

interface (SWD).