What are the "added functional value" features of NXP MCX?
As a result, this microcontroller significantly improves product value while maintaining a balance between cost, package size, and core performance.
The key advantage isn't just improved performance, but the ability to optimize the product configuration with a single microcontroller chip.
This allows us to simultaneously achieve "reduced component count," "smaller circuit board size," and "reduced development time," thereby enhancing the overall competitiveness of the product.
This article will introduce the "additional functional value" that MCX offers.
①: Built-in 16-bit ADC/DAC/Comparator/OPAMP reduces the number of components and miniaturizes the board area.
・②: Unusually for a low-cost microcontroller, it is equipped with up to 5 32-bit timers to reduce input capture function overflow.
③: By utilizing FlexIO and GUI Guider, LCD display control and HMI can be built in a short period of time.
④: Equipped with a built-in PHY, Full Speed USB, 10/100Mbps Ethernet MAC, and up to two CAN FD ports, enabling the creation of various communication functions.
⑤: With eIQ Tool Kit and NPU support, edge AI functions such as anomaly detection can be implemented using only the microcontroller.
NXP MCX Reference Guide
- NXP Microcontroller MCX Peripheral Guide
- NXP Microcomputer Beginner's Guide Summary Site
- NXP Microcontroller Visual Studio Code Development Guide
①: Built-in 16-bit ADC / DAC / Comparator / OPAMP
With a built-in 16-bit ADC/DAC/Comparator/OPAMP, it's possible to reduce the number of components and miniaturize the board area.
In addition to high-precision measurement, the 16-bit SAR ADC can autonomously perform multi-channel measurement, judgment, and data acquisition with low CPU load by combining command buffering, trigger control, averaging, range comparison, and FIFO integration.
An OPAMP is an analog signal processing block that amplifies, buffers, and inverts/non-inverts input signals.
The MCXN incorporates multiple modes, including PGA and buffer, allowing for flexible gain setting and offset adjustment via software control.
The DAC, with its high resolution (12-bit/14-bit) and FIFO/hardware trigger function, can output voltage steps in fine and constant cycles, enabling the generation of smooth, low-distortion waveforms.
Autonomous peripherals such as DMA and timer integration enable stable waveform generation without CPU intervention, allowing for highly integrated and high-precision designs that eliminate the need for external DACs or waveform generation circuits.
The Comparator (CMP) features analog comparison with variable thresholds using a built-in 8-bit DAC, as well as window detection and digital filtering functions, enabling highly noise-resistant signal detection.
By integrating with triggers and interrupts, it enables high-speed event detection without CPU intervention, and because it continues to operate even during low-power operation, it can realize real-time and power-efficient monitoring functions with just the MCU.
Because these peripherals can be interconnected internally, a series of analog processes, from signal generation and adjustment to judgment and measurement, can be completed without external circuitry, enabling the configuration of a high-precision, low-noise analog front-end using only the MCU.
As a result, by incorporating a 16-bit ADC/DAC/Comparator/OPAMP, we can reduce the number of components and miniaturize the board area while simultaneously achieving both simplified design and enhanced functionality.
Reference information
AN14190: OPAMP usage on MCXN947 | NXP Semiconductors
[NXP MCX Peripheral Guide 9] MCX A3xx Built-in Op-Amp Basics – Macnica NXP Support
②: Features up to 5 32-bit timers, which is unusual for a low-cost microcontroller.
Unusually for a low-cost microcontroller, it features up to five 32-bit timers to reduce input capture function overflow.
By incorporating a 32-bit CTIMER, it can be used without worrying about overflow even during long-term measurements or low-frequency signal measurements.
Particularly for input capture applications, it can stably measure signals ranging from long-period to high-speed signals using the same mechanism, significantly reducing the need for software correction and segmentation.
The fact that five 32-bit CTIMERs can operate independently is a significant advantage for applications that require capturing multiple signals.
Another notable feature is that it includes application-specific timers in addition to the CTIMER.
For example, there are SCTimer/PWM and FlexPWM suitable for advanced PWM control, LPTMR for low-power operation, Micro-tick timers specialized for periodic interrupts, and RTCs with time correction functions suitable for long-term management.
This allows for flexible processing of general-purpose applications with CTIMER, while optimized dedicated timers can be selected for specific applications such as high-precision control and low power consumption, maximizing overall system efficiency and performance.
In this way, by combining "high resolution of 32 bits," "parallelism through five independent operations," and "division of labor with a dedicated timer," this microcontroller can achieve advanced time control at a low cost.
Reference information
③: By utilizing FlexIO and GUI Guider, LCD display control and HMI can be built in a short period of time.
By combining it with GUI Guider, it is possible to seamlessly integrate "GUI layout design, UI implementation using generated code (GUI Guider), and LCD driving (FlexIO + DMA)".
We can develop the entire process from UI design to code generation to actual device display in a single, seamless workflow.
FlexIO is a highly flexible I/O module that can emulate various interfaces, including the 8080 parallel bus required for LCD control, in hardware. Because it does not require dedicated peripheral circuitry and allows for free customization of pin assignments, signal polarity, and timing, it efficiently handles parallel data transfer and control signal generation in hardware by combining shifters and timers.
This allows designers to connect LCDs without being constrained by device-specific limitations, simultaneously reducing the number of components and increasing design flexibility.
By combining a shifter for data transfer, a timer for timing generation, and flexible pin control, it is possible to implement various parallel communications in software definition, not just the 8080 LCD interface. It supports parallel widths from 1 to 32 bits, enables continuous data transfer using a double buffer structure and high-speed transfer from the frame buffer in cooperation with DMA, and also processes precise timing generation of signals such as WR signals in hardware.
When used in conjunction with SmartDMA, SmartDMA can handle the conversion from RGB565 format to RGB888 format without involving the CPU, reducing CPU load and allowing resources to be concentrated on GUI and application processing.
Reference information
Using Kinetis FlexIO to Drive a Graphical LCD
Introduction to the FlexIO module
Using SmartDMA for Graphic on MCX N Series MCU
[NXP MCX Peripheral Guide 6] FlexIO Control Method ~8080 LCD Interface~ – Macnica NXP Support
④: Equipped with a built-in PHY, Full Speed USB, 10/100Mbps Ethernet MAC, and up to two CAN FD ports.
The MCXN is equipped with peripherals that enable high-performance communication capabilities.
The NXP MCUXpresso SDK includes not only drivers but also a stack, FatFS, USB sample software, and much more, allowing for immediate functionality testing.
■ USB function
- Supports High-Speed (HS) USB 2.0 (up to 480Mbps, built-in HS USB PHY) and Full-Speed (FS) USB 2.0 Dual Role (built-in FS USB PHY)
• Host mode: Supports high speed/full speed/low speed
• Device Mode: High-speed/Full-speed compatible (supports crystal oscillator-less design)
- Low power consumption mode with local/remote wake-up support
The serial PHY interface supports bidirectional/unidirectional and differential/single-ended configurations.
• Supports charger detection function
- Equipped with an embedded DMA controller
- Supports crystal oscillator-less design in device mode.
■ Ethernet(10/100Mbps)
• Equipped with an Ethernet MAC interface
- Supports MII/RMII interfaces for connection with external PHYs.
- Built-in IEEE 1588 compliant timestamp function enables high-precision clock synchronization of distributed nodes in industrial automation applications.
・High performance is achieved through DMA support and dedicated packet RAM.
■ FlexCAN module
- Fully implements CAN protocol specification Version 2.0B (supports standard/extended frames)
- Programmable bitrate up to 10 Mb/s
- CAN-FD support (an extension of CAN 2.0)
- Data communication speed improved from 500kb/s (conventional) to a maximum of 2Mb/s (normal mode), and to a maximum of 5Mb/s in programming mode.
- Expanded the payload from 8 bytes to a maximum of 64 bytes, improving communication efficiency.
• Increased speed and capacity enable enhanced security, such as encryption.
■ SD / eMMC interface (uSDHC)
- Supports SD/SDIO standard (up to Ver. 3.0)
- Supports MMC standard (up to Ver. 5.0)
• Supports 3.3V and 1.8V operation
• SD / SDIO: Supports 1-bit / 4-bit modes
• MMC: Supports 1-bit / 4-bit / 8-bit modes
Reference information
MCX N947: Simultaneous implementation of Ethernet and camera functions
⑤: With eIQ Tool Kit and NPU support, edge AI functions such as anomaly detection can be implemented using only the microcontroller.
■ Object detection, person detection, facial recognition/authentication
By using the NPU installed in MCXN, it is possible to offload the CNN AI model.
By combining it with camera functionality, MCX can implement face recognition and object detection.
Reference information
GitHub - nxp-appcodehub/dm-multiple-face-detection-on-mcxn947
GitHub - nxp-appcodehub/dm-multiple-person-detection-on-mcxn947
MCXN947: How to train customer ML models and deploy them to NPUs
■ Time-series data AI for status monitoring and anomaly detection
Since time-series data AI can be run by performing inference on a CPU core, it is possible to build time-series data AI using eIQ Time Series Studio even on microcontrollers that do not have an NPU.
Features
- By importing time-series data from sensors showing various states into the eIQ TSS Tool, it is possible to create AI models.
- Capable of performing data collection (data logging), labeling, data processing, training, evaluation, and deployment to MCX.
- Automatically generates the optimal anomaly detection algorithm and allows selection of the best model considering accuracy and RAM size.
- Achieves low-cost, high-precision anomaly detection in condition monitoring and predictive maintenance of motors, pumps, industrial equipment, etc.
Summary
NXP MCUs are microcontrollers that offer high performance, low power consumption, and optimize the entire system through the integration of peripheral functions.
It meets a wide range of needs, including reducing the number of components through built-in analog functions, high-precision control with multiple 32-bit timers, streamlining HMI development with FlexIO and GUI Guider, and supporting advanced communication functions.
Furthermore, with the eIQ Tool Kit and NPU, edge AI processing can also be implemented on the microcontroller alone, playing a crucial role in next-generation embedded system development.
Selecting the right MCU is crucial, as it depends on the application and required specifications. Please use this article as a reference to help you consider the best MCU for your system.
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