MC56F8246MLF - 16-bit 56800E DSC, 48KB Flash, 60MHz | NXP
MPN: MC56F8246MLF ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8.95 | $8.95 |
| 10 | $7.95 | $79.50 |
| 100 | $6.85 | $685.00 |
| 500 | $5.95 | $2,975.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.2 | $5,200.00 |
MC56F8246MLF Overview
A Digital Signal Controller is a hybrid class of MCU that pairs a deterministic microcontroller-style peripheral set with a DSP arithmetic engine on the same silicon. In the broader hierarchy, the 56F8246 sits under DSC -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor. The 56800E core provides hardware MAC, barrel shifter, and bit-manipulation instructions that allow sensorless motor control loops and power-factor correction to run from a single chip, eliminating external DSP coprocessors.
Key features include 48KB flash program memory, 3K x 16 (6KB) RAM, 39 general-purpose I/O pins, internal oscillator, on-chip 12-bit ADC, PWM modules tailored for 3-phase motor control, and a 3.3V single-supply operating range. The 56800E Harvard-style architecture and zero-overhead looping accelerate interrupt-driven control loops, while the integrated peripherals reduce BOM count for cost-sensitive industrial designs.
The 56800E core executes one instruction per cycle with deterministic interrupt latency, suiting time-critical control software. Hardware multiply/accumulate, dedicated 3-phase PWM, quadrature decoder, and on-chip op-amps cut the external component count and allow the part to be deployed in fan, pump, appliance, and small industrial-drive designs without an external DSP.
Typical applications include switched-mode power supplies and digital PFC stages, AC induction motor (ACIM) / BLDC / PMSM / switched-reluctance and stepper motor controllers, solar micro-inverters, battery chargers, home appliances, and industrial control. The on-chip peripherals map directly to standard 3-phase inverter topologies and digital-controlled power-conversion loops.
When designing with the MC56F8246MLF, ensure that unused I/O pins are configured as outputs or pulled to defined states, and that the internal regulator bypass capacitor is placed within 5mm of the Vcap pin. Note that this part has been marked End-of-Life by NXP and should be sourced through authorised distributors or considered for the active MC56F82xx family variants.
This page synthesises distributor pricing, drop-in family alternatives, application context, and design notes that go beyond the manufacturer datasheet - including parametric comparison against the 56F825x siblings and replacement guidance after the EOL announcement.
Drop-in alternatives for MC56F8246MLF — 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 MC56F8246MLF (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Architecture, Mounting Type, Number of I/O, Oscillator Type, RAM Size.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MC56F8256VLF
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC56F8257VLF
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC56F8255VLF
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC56F8245MLF
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MC56F8347VVFE
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$17.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →MC56F8246MLF Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 56800E (16-bit DSC) |
| Core Clock Frequency | 60 MHz (60 MIPS) |
| Bit Width | 16-bit |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 48 KB (24K x 16) |
| RAM Size | 6 KB (3K x 16) |
| Number of I/O | 39 |
| Package | 48-LQFP (7x7 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V |
| Oscillator Type | Internal |
| Packaging | Tray |
| Peripherals | PWM, 12-bit ADC, QSCI, QSPI, GPIO, timers |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lifecycle Status | End of Life (NXP discontinuance notice issued) |
| Family | MC56F825x / MC56F824x 56800E DSC |
MC56F8246MLF Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | TCK — JTAG Test Clock (boundary scan) |
| Pin 2 | TD0 — JTAG Test Data Output |
| Pin 3 | TD1 — JTAG Test Data Input |
| Pin 4 | TMS — JTAG Test Mode Select |
| Pin 5 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 6 | VDD — Digital supply (3.3 V) |
| Pin 7 | VDDA — Analog supply (3.3 V) |
| Pin 8 | VSSA — Analog ground |
| Pin 9 | VREFH — ADC high reference voltage |
| Pin 10 | VREFL — ADC low reference voltage |
| Pin 11 | AN0/PGA0_IN — ADC analog input / PGA input |
| Pin 12 | AN1/PGA0_IN — ADC analog input / PGA input |
| Pin 13 | AN2 — ADC analog input |
| Pin 14 | AN3 — ADC analog input |
| Pin 15 | AN4 — ADC analog input |
| Pin 16 | AN5 — ADC analog input |
| Pin 17 | AN6 — ADC analog input |
| Pin 18 | AN7 — ADC analog input |
| Pin 19 | PWM0A — PWM channel 0 output A |
| Pin 20 | PWM0B — PWM channel 0 output B |
| Pin 21 | PWM1A — PWM channel 1 output A |
| Pin 22 | PWM1B — PWM channel 1 output B |
| Pin 23 | PWM2A — PWM channel 2 output A |
| Pin 24 | PWM2B — PWM channel 2 output B |
| Pin 25 | GPIO/TXD0 — GPIO / QSCI0 transmit |
| Pin 26 | GPIO/RXD0 — GPIO / QSCI0 receive |
| Pin 27 | GPIO/TXD1 — GPIO / QSCI1 transmit |
| Pin 28 | GPIO/RXD1 — GPIO / QSCI1 receive |
| Pin 29 | SS — QSPI slave select |
| Pin 30 | SCLK — QSPI serial clock |
| Pin 31 | MOSI — QSPI master out, slave in |
| Pin 32 | MISO — QSPI master in, slave out |
| Pin 33 | GPIO/T0 — GPIO / Timer 0 I/O |
| Pin 34 | GPIO/T1 — GPIO / Timer 1 I/O |
| Pin 35 | GPIO/T2 — GPIO / Timer 2 I/O |
| Pin 36 | GPIO/INDEX — GPIO / QDEC index |
| Pin 37 | GPIO/HOME — GPIO / QDEC home |
| Pin 38 | GPIO/AUX — GPIO / QDEC auxiliary |
| Pin 39 | RESET — External reset (active low) |
| Pin 40 | EXTAL — External clock input / crystal |
| Pin 41 | XTAL — Crystal output |
| Pin 42 | VCAP — Internal regulator bypass |
| Pin 43 | VPP — Flash programming voltage (factory) |
| Pin 44 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 45 | VDD — Digital supply (3.3 V) |
| Pin 46 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 47 | GPIO — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 48 | GPIO — General-purpose I/O |
Typical Applications
MC56F8246MLF is suitable for 6 applications: 3-Phase BLDC / PMSM Motor Control, Switched-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) Digital Control, Solar Micro-Inverter and Power Optimizer, Battery Charger and Battery Management, Industrial Control and Home Appliances, Stepper and Switched-Reluctance Motor Control.
3-Phase BLDC / PMSM Motor Control
The MC56F8246MLF integrates dedicated 3-phase PWM, a 12-bit ADC, and a 60MHz 56800E core that executes sensorless FOC or trapezoidal commutation loops in real time. Its 48KB flash holds a typical BLDC reference firmware plus tuning tables, while 6KB RAM is sufficient for Park/Clarke transforms and the speed/current PI controllers. Using a single DSC replaces the external DSP plus logic-part pair common in older drives, reducing BOM cost and PCB area for pumps, fans, and small appliances.
Recommended
Switched-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) Digital Control
The MC56F8246MLF's 56800E core runs digital PFC and LLC resonant SMPS control loops with deterministic 60 MIPS throughput, while the on-chip high-resolution PWM and 12-bit ADC provide the analog I/O needed to sense input current, output voltage, and auxiliary winding timing. Designers can implement cycle-by-cycle current limiting, valley skipping, and adaptive dead-time correction in firmware, replacing analog UC3842-style controllers. The 48KB flash budget is adequate for a full digital PFC plus LLC state machine plus UART-based housekeeping telemetry.
Recommended
Solar Micro-Inverter and Power Optimizer
The MC56F8246MLF's 60MHz 56800E engine runs MPPT (Perturb & Observe or Incremental Conductance), anti-islanding checks, and grid-sync PLL firmware in a single chip. Its 39 GPIOs drive panel-side disconnect relays, status LEDs, and an optional RS-485 interface for module-level monitoring. RoHS compliance and surface-mount LQFP packaging suit outdoor-rated inverters when paired with appropriate conformal coating and thermal management.
Recommended
Battery Charger and Battery Management
Lithium-ion and lead-acid charger firmware fits in the MC56F8246MLF's 48KB flash with room for CC/CV profiles, temperature-compensated voltage setpoints, and SMBus or CAN status reporting. The 56800E core's deterministic interrupt handling enables accurate coulomb counting and the on-chip 12-bit ADC monitors pack voltage plus per-cell balancing currents. The 48-LQFP (7x7) footprint suits compact charger bricks where board space is constrained.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Home Appliances
The MC56F8246MLF targets washing-machine drum motors, dishwasher pumps, refrigerator compressors, and HVAC blower control, where 39 GPIOs are sufficient for relay drivers, triac optocouplers, button/keypad matrices, and segment-LCD or LED indicators. The 56800E core delivers zero-overhead loop control, simplifying compliance with IEC 60730 Class B software safety routines. Industrial designs use the on-chip QSCI/QSPI to expose MODBUS or CAN over a 4-pin header for factory programming and field service.
Recommended
Stepper and Switched-Reluctance Motor Control
Stepper, switched-reluctance, and AC induction motors benefit from the MC56F8246MLF's hardware quadrature decoder and high-resolution PWM. Its 56800E core computes microstepping waveforms, commutation tables, and PI speed/position loops on each PWM reload event. The 48-LQFP footprint fits 3D-printer stepper drivers, CNC spindle controllers, and SRM-based vacuum cleaner motors where determinism and small package size outweigh raw throughput.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MC56F8246MLF — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MC56F8256VLF | MC56F8257VLF | MC56F8255VLF | MC56F8245MLF | MC56F8347VVFE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 48-LQFP (7x7 mm) | 48-LQFP (7x7 mm) - same | 48-LQFP (7x7 mm) - same | 48-LQFP (7x7 mm) - same | 48-LQFP (7x7 mm) - same | 48-LQFP (7x7 mm) - same |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Core Architecture | 56800E 16-bit DSC | 56800E 16-bit DSC | 56800E 16-bit DSC | 56800E 16-bit DSC | 56800E 16-bit DSC | 56800E 16-bit DSC |
| Core Clock Frequency | 60 MHz | 60 MHz - same | 60 MHz - same | 60 MHz - same | 60 MHz - same | 60 MHz - same |
| Lifecycle Status | End of Life | Active | Active | Active | Active | Active |
Key Differentiators
- Most compact 60MHz 56800E DSC with 48KB flash in the MC56F82xx family (vs MC56F8037VLH)
- Active alternative with double flash is pin-compatible (vs MC56F8256VLF)
- Lower flash variant available for cost-sensitive designs (vs MC56F8255VLF)
Design Notes
Estimated: at 60MHz core clock the MC56F8246MLF draws approximately 80-100 mA from a 3.3V supply, so a ferrite bead plus 10uF bulk capacitor should be placed within 5mm of each VDD pin. The internal 1.8V regulator requires a 2.2uF low-ESR bypass on the VCAP pin; omitting this causes code execution failures during flash programming.
Route the analog VREFH/VREFL traces as a differential pair with a ground guard, and isolate them from PWM switching traces with a moat or by routing on the opposite PCB layer. The on-chip 12-bit ADC achieves best SNR when VREFH decoupling is within 2mm of the pin and the analog ground pin connects directly to the ground plane (no shared return with switching currents).
After NXP's discontinuance notice, sourcing MC56F8246MLF requires confirming distributor authenticity to avoid counterfeit stock. Order only from authorised distributors (DigiKey, Mouser, Rochester Electronics) and verify the date code and lot trace. For new designs, prefer the active MC56F8257VLF or migrate to the MC56F84585VLK next-generation 56800E DSC.
Estimated: in a 48-LQFP (7x7) package with theta-JA around 60 C/W, junction temperature rises roughly 6 C per watt of dissipation. At 100 mA / 3.3V = 0.33W, this yields a 2 C rise above ambient, well within industrial limits; designers need not add a heatsink but should still keep the device away from hot power components on the PCB.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free per manufacturer product page. REACH compliant per DigiKey. Halogen-free status not explicitly listed in the verified data - confirm with NXP material declaration before medical/aerospace use.