MK20DX256VLK7R528 - 72MHz Cortex-M4 MCU 256KB Flash LQFP-80
MPN: MK20DX256VLK7R528 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8.2 | $8.20 |
| 10 | $7.38 | $73.80 |
| 100 | $6.55 | $655.00 |
| 500 | $5.85 | $2,925.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.2 | $5,200.00 |
MK20DX256VLK7R528 Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (Flash), data memory (SRAM), and peripheral interfaces into one package. ARM Cortex-M4 cores implement the Thumb-2 instruction set and include a hardware single-precision FPU and DSP extensions, placing the K20 family in the mid-performance tier of the Kinetis portfolio: ARM Cortex-M0+ (Kinetis L) -> Cortex-M4 (Kinetis K) -> Cortex-M7 (Kinetis K high-performance). MCUs sit below microprocessors in capability but above discrete digital ICs in integration.
Key features of the MK20DX256VLK7R528 include USB 2.0 Full-Speed with OTG, a 16-bit ADC with up to 24 channels, low-power Run/Wait/Stop/VLPR/VLPS modes, and a wide operating voltage range suitable for battery-powered designs. The integrated FPU accelerates floating-point math, and the 72 MHz system clock provides sufficient throughput for sensor fusion, motor control, and Human-Machine Interface (HMI) tasks.
The K20 family uses a Cortex-M4 core with single-cycle MAC and a hardware FPU, paired with NXP's low-leakage process technology and an integrated LDO/voltage regulator for the core supply. Communication peripherals include USB, UART, SPI, I2C, and I2S, while timers support PWM, capture, and quadrature decoding for motor and encoder feedback.
Typical applications include USB HID peripherals (mouse, keyboard, game controllers), industrial sensor hubs, low-power IoT edge nodes, consumer health devices, and HMI touch interfaces. The combination of USB and low-power operation makes the K20 well-suited for tethered and untethered battery-powered products. When designing with this part, populate all VDD/VSS pin pairs even if not all peripherals are used, follow the recommended 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor placement adjacent to each supply pin, and verify JTAG/SWD pin assignments against the package variant.
Drop-in alternatives for MK20DX256VLK7R528 — 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 MK20DX256VLK7R528 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Operating Temperature, Communication Peripherals, Core.
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View Datasheet →MK20DX256VLK7R528 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 72 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 256 KB (256K x 8) |
| RAM | 32 KB |
| Package | 80-LQFP (LFQFP), 12x12 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +105C |
| Supply Voltage | 1.71 V to 3.6 V |
| USB Interface | USB 2.0 Full-Speed Device/Host/OTG |
| ADC | 16-bit SAR, up to 24 single-ended channels |
| Communication Peripherals | UART, SPI, I2C, I2S, USB |
| Timers | Multiple FTM, PIT, RTC, LPTMR |
| Data Bus Width | 32-bit |
| MSL Level | 3 (168 hours) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
MK20DX256VLK7R528 80-lqfp (lfqfp), 12x12 mm Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for MK20DX256VLK7R528 (80-lqfp (lfqfp), 12x12 mm package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for MK20DX256VLK7R528.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
MK20DX256VLK7R528 is suitable for 7 applications: USB HID Peripheral Devices, Industrial Sensor Hub, Low-Power IoT Edge Node, Consumer Health and Fitness Device, Touch HMI Control Panel, Motor Control and BLDC Driver, Smart Home Sensor and Bridge.
USB HID Peripheral Devices
The MK20DX256VLK7R528's integrated USB 2.0 Full-Speed controller with OTG support and 16 hardware endpoints makes it ideal for USB HID peripherals such as keyboards, mice, game controllers, and presentation remotes. The Cortex-M4 core at 72 MHz provides responsive HID report processing, while 256 KB Flash accommodates USB stack plus application code. Placed as the central MCU, the part handles USB enumeration, report generation, and device-side I/O.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Hub
The MK20DX256VLK7R528 integrates a 16-bit SAR ADC with up to 24 channels and multiple UART/SPI/I2C interfaces for aggregating sensor data from industrial sensor hubs. The Cortex-M4 with DSP extensions accelerates FFT and digital filtering on raw sensor streams. Operating from 1.71 V to 3.6 V and -40C to +105C, it tolerates factory floor conditions. The 32 KB SRAM buffers multi-sensor data before forwarding over USB or UART.
Recommended
Low-Power IoT Edge Node
With multiple low-power modes (Wait, Stop, VLPR, VLPS), the MK20DX256VLK7R528 suits battery-powered IoT edge nodes that spend most of their time in deep sleep and wake periodically for sensor sampling. The Cortex-M4 runs at 72 MHz, fast enough to process local sensor fusion before transmitting over Bluetooth, Zigbee, or LoRa companion radios. The integrated LDO reduces external power component count for compact wearables.
Recommended
Consumer Health and Fitness Device
The MK20DX256VLK7R528 supports consumer health and fitness devices including heart-rate monitors, blood-pressure cuffs, and pedometers that need 16-bit ADC precision for analog front-end conditioning and Cortex-M4 DSP for heart-rate variability calculation. USB Full-Speed allows data upload to a host computer without external bridge chips. Low-power Run and Wait modes extend battery life across weeks of use.
Recommended
Touch HMI Control Panel
The MK20DX256VLK7R528's combination of 16-bit ADC (for touch sensing via TSI), GPIO for LEDs and segment displays, and 72 MHz Cortex-M4 with FPU is well suited for touch HMI panels on appliances and industrial equipment. The MCU drives LED/LCD segment displays, scans touch electrodes, and runs local UI logic. With 256 KB Flash and 32 KB SRAM, it handles rich UI state machines and touch gesture libraries.
Recommended
Motor Control and BLDC Driver
The MK20DX256VLK7R528 includes FlexTimer (FTM) modules capable of complementary PWM outputs with dead-time insertion, hardware quadrature decode for encoder feedback, and ADC synchronization for current sensing. This makes it suitable for low-voltage BLDC, stepper, and DC motor control in 3D printers, fans, and small appliances. The Cortex-M4's single-cycle MAC and FPU accelerate field-oriented control (FOC) loops.
Recommended
Smart Home Sensor and Bridge
Smart home sensors and bridges using the MK20DX256VLK7R528 can leverage USB for local configuration, the 16-bit ADC for environmental sensing, and multiple low-power serial interfaces for wireless module connectivity. The MCU aggregates data from Zigbee, Thread, or BLE companion modules and presents a unified interface via USB or Wi-Fi. Low-power Stop/VLPS modes keep standby current in the microamp range.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MK20DX256VLK7R528 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MK20DX256VLK7 | MK20DX256VLK7R | MK22FN1M0AVLK12 | MK22FX512AVLK12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Package | 80-LQFP (LFQFP), 12x12 mm | 80-LQFP (LFQFP), 12x12 mm - same | 80-LQFP (LFQFP), 12x12 mm - same | 80-LQFP (LFQFP), 12x12 mm - same | 80-LQFP (LFQFP), 12x12 mm - same |
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 72 MHz | 72 MHz | 72 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 1 MB | 512 KB |
| SRAM | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 128 KB | 64 KB |
| USB Interface | USB 2.0 FS Device/Host/OTG | USB 2.0 FS Device/Host/OTG | USB 2.0 FS Device/Host/OTG | USB 2.0 FS Device/Host/OTG | USB 2.0 FS Device/Host/OTG |
| ADC | 16-bit SAR, up to 24 channels | 16-bit SAR, up to 24 channels | 16-bit SAR, up to 24 channels | 16-bit SAR, up to 32 channels | 16-bit SAR, up to 28 channels |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +105C | -40C to +105C | -40C to +105C | -40C to +105C | -40C to +105C |
| Supply Voltage | 1.71 V to 3.6 V | 1.71 V to 3.6 V | 1.71 V to 3.6 V | 1.71 V to 3.6 V | 1.71 V to 3.6 V |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated USB 2.0 Full-Speed with OTG in same LQFP-80 footprint (vs MKV30F64VLF10 (LQFP-48))
- Tape & Reel packaging carrier R528 versus tray (vs MK20DX256VLK7 (Tray))
- Lower 72 MHz core clock at lower power (vs MK22FN1M0AVLK12 (120 MHz))
- 256 KB Flash matches typical USB HID firmware footprint (vs MK22FX512AVLK12 (512 KB))
Design Notes
Estimated: Decoupling capacitor placement is critical for the MK20DX256VLK7R528. Place a 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitor adjacent to every VDD/VSS pin pair on the 80-LQFP package. For the USB VBUS pin, add a 4.7 uF bulk capacitor plus ESD protection diode (such as USBLC6-2SC6) to meet USB 2.0 FS inrush and ESD requirements.
The MK20DX256VLK7R528's power dissipation at 72 MHz running typical Cortex-M4 instructions is approximately 80 mW to 150 mW. The 80-LQFP package has theta_JA of approximately 60 C/W on a standard 2-layer JEDEC test PCB, allowing operation across the -40C to +105C industrial range without external heatsinking. Estimated values; verify against the K20 datasheet for final design.
Do not leave unused GPIO pins floating on the MK20DX256VLK7R528 - configure them as outputs driven low or enable internal pull-up/down resistors to avoid excess current draw in low-power modes. Also ensure JTAG/SWD pins (SWDIO, SWCLK, RESET_b) are not repurposed without disabling the debug interface in the SIM register.
Keep the 32.4 MHz external crystal traces short and symmetric, with a guard ground around the crystal load capacitors to minimize EMI coupling. Place the crystal within 1 cm of the XTAL pins. For USB designs, route the USB D+/D- traces as a 90-ohm differential pair with matched lengths and keep them away from noisy switching traces.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per NXP product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - for automotive applications consider NXP automotive-grade KEA or S32K families. Halogen-free per JEDEC JS709B.
