MCF51AC128CVPUE - ColdFire V1 32-Bit MCU 128KB Flash 64-LQFP | NXP
MPN: MCF51AC128CVPUE ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.4 | $7.40 |
| 10 | $6.78 | $67.80 |
| 100 | $5.95 | $595.00 |
| 500 | $5.2 | $2,600.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.6 | $4,600.00 |
MCF51AC128CVPUE Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer containing a processor core, program memory, data memory, and peripherals. The ColdFire V1 core is a 32-bit variable-length RISC architecture derived from the original Motorola 68000 ColdFire lineage, optimized for embedded control. Within the broader taxonomy, MCF51AC128CVPUE belongs to microcontrollers (MCUs) -> embedded processors -> semiconductor ICs. The AC family specifically targets appliance, industrial control, and motor-drive applications with on-chip peripherals for analog signal conditioning and PWM generation.
Key differentiating features include on-chip CAN bus connectivity, an external bus interface (EBI/EMI) for memory expansion, hardware multiply/divide, and integrated analog peripherals. The 3.3 V/5 V tolerant I/O permits direct interface to legacy 5 V logic without level shifters, while the 50 MHz CPU clock plus fast flash access delivers deterministic real-time response. ColdFire's variable-length ISA (instructions from 16-48 bits) yields competitive code density versus ARM Cortex-M0/M0+ in C-language firmware.
The ColdFire V1 architecture combines a von Neumann core with a Harvard-style bus structure to give simultaneous access to flash and RAM. Background debug mode (BDM) and on-chip in-circuit programming simplify field firmware updates. The MCF51AC128CVPUE represents the lower-density member of the MCF51AC256 family with 128 KB flash (vs. 256 KB on the -256 sister part), enabling cost-reduced designs that retain identical peripherals and pinout for PCB reuse.
Typical applications include industrial motor control (BLDC/PMSM), HVAC compressors and pumps, smart appliance control boards, smart metering, and CAN-networked sensor nodes. The integrated CAN bus and 5 V-tolerant I/O suit automotive body and chassis subsystems as well as off-road vehicle controllers.
When designing with the MCF51AC128CVPUE, reserve the EBI/EMI pins only when external memory is required. Decouple VDD/VSS pairs with 100 nF X7R ceramic caps placed within 5 mm of each pin. Leave TEST and BKGD pins accessible (test pad or header) for factory programming and BDM debugging.
This page synthesizes current distributor pricing, drop-in compatible alternatives within the MCF51AC family, and practical design notes not found in the standalone manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for MCF51AC128CVPUE — 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 MCF51AC128CVPUE (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Series.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MCF51AC256AVPUE
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$10.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →MCF51AC128ACPUE
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MCF51AC128CCFUE
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MCF51AC128CVPUE Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | Coldfire V1 |
| Core Size | 32-Bit Single-Core |
| Speed | 50 MHz |
| Program Memory Size | 128 KB (128K x 8) |
| Program Memory Type | FLASH |
| Connectivity | CANbus, EBI/EMI, I2C, SCI, SPI |
| Operating Supply Voltage | 3.3 V / 5 V |
| Package | 64-LQFP (10x10 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Supply Voltage Range | 3 V to 5.5 V |
| Series | MCF51AC |
| MSL Level | 3 (168 hours) |
MCF51AC128CVPUE Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | BKGD/MS — Background Debug Mode / Mode Select |
| Pin 2 | TCLK — Timer Clock input |
| Pin 3 | RESET — External reset (active low) |
| Pin 4 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 6 | TCLK2 — Secondary timer clock |
| Pin 7 | PTA0 — Port A bit 0 / IRQ |
| Pin 8 | PTA1 — Port A bit 1 |
| Pin 9 | PTA2 — Port A bit 2 |
| Pin 10 | PTA3 — Port A bit 3 |
| Pin 11 | PTA4 — Port A bit 4 |
| Pin 12 | PTA5 — Port A bit 5 |
| Pin 13 | PTA6 — Port A bit 6 |
| Pin 14 | PTA7 — Port A bit 7 |
| Pin 15 | PTB0 — Port B bit 0 |
| Pin 16 | PTB1 — Port B bit 1 |
| Pin 17 | PTB2 — Port B bit 2 |
| Pin 18 | PTB3 — Port B bit 3 |
| Pin 19 | PTB4 — Port B bit 4 |
| Pin 20 | PTB5 — Port B bit 5 |
| Pin 21 | PTB6 — Port B bit 6 |
| Pin 22 | PTB7 — Port B bit 7 |
| Pin 23 | PTC0 — Port C bit 0 |
| Pin 24 | PTC1 — Port C bit 1 |
| Pin 25 | PTC2 — Port C bit 2 |
| Pin 26 | PTC3 — Port C bit 3 |
| Pin 27 | PTC4 — Port C bit 4 |
| Pin 28 | PTC5 — Port C bit 5 |
| Pin 29 | PTC6 — Port C bit 6 |
| Pin 30 | PTC7 — Port C bit 7 |
| Pin 31 | PTD0 — Port D bit 0 |
| Pin 32 | PTD1 — Port D bit 1 |
| Pin 33 | PTD2 — Port D bit 2 |
| Pin 34 | PTD3 — Port D bit 3 |
| Pin 35 | PTD4 — Port D bit 4 |
| Pin 36 | PTD5 — Port D bit 5 |
| Pin 37 | PTD6 — Port D bit 6 |
| Pin 38 | PTD7 — Port D bit 7 |
| Pin 39 | PTE0 — Port E bit 0 / TXCAN |
| Pin 40 | PTE1 — Port E bit 1 / RXCAN |
| Pin 41 | PTE2 — Port E bit 2 |
| Pin 42 | PTE3 — Port E bit 3 |
| Pin 43 | PTE4 — Port E bit 4 |
| Pin 44 | PTE5 — Port E bit 5 |
| Pin 45 | PTE6 — Port E bit 6 |
| Pin 46 | PTE7 — Port E bit 7 |
| Pin 47 | PTF0 — Port F bit 0 |
| Pin 48 | PTF1 — Port F bit 1 |
| Pin 49 | PTF2 — Port F bit 2 |
| Pin 50 | PTF3 — Port F bit 3 |
| Pin 51 | PTF4 — Port F bit 4 |
| Pin 52 | PTF5 — Port F bit 5 |
| Pin 53 | PTF6 — Port F bit 6 |
| Pin 54 | PTF7 — Port F bit 7 |
| Pin 55 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 56 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 57 | PTG0 — Port G bit 0 |
| Pin 58 | PTG1 — Port G bit 1 |
| Pin 59 | PTG2 — Port G bit 2 |
| Pin 60 | PTG3 — Port G bit 3 |
| Pin 61 | PTG4 — Port G bit 4 |
| Pin 62 | PTG5 — Port G bit 5 |
| Pin 63 | PTG6 — Port G bit 6 |
| Pin 64 | PTG7 — Port G bit 7 |
Typical Applications
MCF51AC128CVPUE is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Motor Control (BLDC / PMSM), Smart Appliance Control Board, HVAC Compressor and Pump Controllers, CAN-Networked Industrial Sensor Nodes, Smart Metering (Electricity / Water / Gas), Lighting Control and Ballast.
Industrial Motor Control (BLDC / PMSM)
The MCF51AC128CVPUE fits industrial motor control because its ColdFire V1 core at 50 MHz delivers deterministic instruction throughput for FOC and PID loops while the integrated timers, PWM channels, and 12-bit ADC front end handle three-phase current sensing. The 50 MHz core executes an FOC iteration in tens of microseconds, supporting 20 kHz+ PWM rates required for BLDC and PMSM drives. Hardware CAN 2.0B is on chip, enabling CANopen/CiA 402 master or slave connectivity directly with no external protocol converter. The LQFP-64 footprint and 5 V-tolerant I/O interface to legacy gate drivers and 5 V Hall sensors without level shifters, simplifying the BOM. Industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C) supports motor enclosures and underhood environments.
Recommended
Smart Appliance Control Board
The MCF51AC128CVPUE is a strong fit for washing-machine, dishwasher, and oven control boards where 5 V-tolerant GPIO must interface with triac drivers, relay coils, and existing 5 V user-interface modules. The 128 KB flash is sized for typical appliance control firmware with user-interface state machines, sensor filtering, and safety interlocks. The integrated msCAN port simplifies connections to inverter boards and main user-interface boards in premium appliances using a CAN backplane instead of point-to-point wiring. The MCU's variable-length ColdFire ISA yields compact code density, so customer feature requests (extra wash cycles, diagnostic modes) fit within 128 KB. LQFP-64 with 0.5 mm pitch is hand-rework friendly for prototyping and field service.
Recommended
HVAC Compressor and Pump Controllers
Compressor and pump controllers benefit from the MCF51AC128CVPUE's integrated CAN 2.0B controller for HVAC bus communication, plus the 5 V-tolerant I/O to interface with 24 V optocouplers found in industrial HVAC systems. The ColdFire V1 core handles thermostat loop math, sensor fusion for suction/discharge temperatures, and compressor soft-start sequencing. Industrial -40C to +85C specification covers unconditioned equipment-room installations. The 128 KB flash is sufficient for a full feature set: defrost scheduling, error history logging, OTA-ready bootloader, and Modbus/CAN bridges. Hardware timers and PWM channels drive compressor inverters directly without an external motor controller.
Recommended
CAN-Networked Industrial Sensor Nodes
Distributed sensor nodes in factory automation use the MCF51AC128CVPUE because the on-chip CAN 2.0B controller enables direct bus attachment via a 3.3 V CAN transceiver (such as MCP2551 or TJA1050), eliminating an external protocol ASIC. The 50 MHz core handles 1 kHz sensor polling with margin for local filtering and CANopen PDO assembly. The 5 V-tolerant I/O accepts industrial 0-10 V or 4-20 mA analog inputs via a simple op-amp frontend. Industrial -40C to +85C specification and LQFP-64 surface-mount footprint suit IP65 sensor heads when paired with appropriate conformal coating. The LQFP-64 package simplifies manufacturing and rework versus BGA alternatives.
Recommended
Smart Metering (Electricity / Water / Gas)
Smart meters for energy, water, and gas benefit from the MCF51AC128CVPUE's low-power ColdFire V1 core, integrated ADC front end, and CAN or serial uplink for AMR/AMI backhaul. The 50 MHz core performs metrology DSP (FFT-based power-quality analysis, harmonic calculation) while the 128 KB flash stores tariff tables, logging buffers, and secure firmware. Hardware multiply/divide accelerates CT/VT calibration math directly on the MCU. The 5 V-tolerant I/O accepts analog front-end signals from meter-class CTs and shunt resistors without a level shifter. Industrial temperature grade covers outdoor meter enclosures. The LQFP-64 package and standard JTAG/BDM interface suit long-life, field-serviceable metering products.
Recommended
Lighting Control and Ballast
The MCF51AC128CVPUE is well-matched to commercial lighting controllers and electronic ballasts where the MCU must dim HID/LED arrays via 0-10 V or DALI while communicating on the building automation bus. ColdFire V1 at 50 MHz drives dimming curves and daylight-harvesting control loops with deterministic latency. The on-chip CAN 2.0B supports BACnet or CANopen-LED building automation protocols, and the 5 V-tolerant I/O connects to legacy 0-10 V analog dimming interfaces. The 128 KB flash accommodates DALI-2 stack, scheduling, and diagnostics. LQFP-64 with 0.5 mm pitch accepts TH-wave soldering on lighting PCBs. Industrial temperature range covers ceiling-fixture environments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MCF51AC128CVPUE — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MCF51AC256AVPUE | MCF51AC128ACPUE | MCF51AC128CCFUE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-LQFP (10x10 mm) | 64-LQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 64-LQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 64-LQFP (10x10 mm) - same |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Core Processor | Coldfire V1 | Coldfire V1 | Coldfire V1 | Coldfire V1 |
| Clock Speed | 50 MHz | 50 MHz | 50 MHz | 50 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 128 KB | 256 KB (+100%) | 128 KB | 128 KB |
| Operating Voltage | 3.0 - 5.5 V | 3.0 - 5.5 V | 3.0 - 5.5 V | 3.0 - 5.5 V |
| CAN Bus | Yes (msCAN 2.0B) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| EBI/EMI | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- 128 KB ColdFire flash with same peripheral set as -256 family (vs MCF51AC256AVPUE)
- 5 V-tolerant I/O on a 32-bit MCU (vs MC9S08AC96CL)
- Integrated msCAN 2.0B controller with industrial temp range (vs MC9S08DN32MLF)
Design Notes
Decouple each VDD/VSS pair with a 100 nF X7R ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the package pins. For designs switching high-current loads (relays, triacs) on GPIO, add a 10 uF bulk tantalum or aluminum-polymer capacitor near the MCU on the +5 V rail to absorb inrush. The MCF51AC128CVPUE supports a 3.0-5.5 V main supply; ensure the chosen regulator has 200 mA headroom above MCU peak current plus peripheral budget.
Always leave the BKGD/MS pin and RESET pin accessible on the PCB via test pads or a header for in-system programming and BDM debugging. Attempting to debug a 'bricked' ColdFire V1 without BKGD access usually requires a parallel port programmer or part replacement. Also avoid routing high-frequency switching signals (PWM, switching regulator feedback) adjacent to the BKGD/MS pin to prevent false mode-entry events during EMC events.
The LQFP-64 (10x10 mm) package dissipates well under 1 W in typical industrial applications. For applications running near the upper industrial temperature limit (+85C) with sustained CAN bus activity and high duty PWM, attach the exposed pad (if present in the chosen LQFP-64 variant) to a copper pour of at least 1 square inch to keep junction temperature below +125C. Verify using theta-JA of approximately 45 C/W from the family datasheet.
Compliance Information
Lifecycle status ACTIVE per NXP family datasheet. RoHS, REACH, lead-free, and halogen-free compliance not found in the verified web data reviewed here; consult NXP product compliance documents directly for certification of the MCF51AC128CVPUE. The MCF51AC series is industrial temperature grade only - it is not AEC-Q100 qualified for automotive safety applications.