MK40DN512ZVLQ10-FR - Kinetis K40 100MHz Cortex-M4 MCU 512KB | NXP
MPN: MK40DN512ZVLQ10-FR ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $14.5 | $14.50 |
| 10 | $13.2 | $132.00 |
| 100 | $11.85 | $1,185.00 |
| 500 | $10.4 | $5,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $9.2 | $9,200.00 |
MK40DN512ZVLQ10-FR Overview
What is a Kinetis microcontroller? A microcontroller is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (flash), data memory (SRAM), and a rich set of peripherals (timers, communication controllers, analog blocks). The Kinetis family from NXP uses ARM Cortex-M cores; the K40 sub-family is positioned between the entry-level K10 and the full-featured K70, balancing analog integration, USB, Ethernet, and segment-LCD support for HMI applications. Microcontrollers sit below microprocessors in the compute hierarchy because they integrate non-volatile memory on-chip, eliminating external flash/RAM for most embedded applications.
Key features of the MK40DN512ZVLQ10-FR include 512 KB flash with Flash Access Control, 128 KB SRAM, Cortex-M4 with single-precision FPU and DSP instructions, Full-Speed USB OTG with charge-detect, segment-LCD controller supporting up to 320 segments, 16-bit SAR ADC, 12-bit DAC, multiple timers (FTM, PIT, RTC, LPTMR), and a wide supply range from 1.71 V to 3.6 V supporting both 1.8 V and 3.3 V rails. Communications include Ethernet MAC, USB OTG, CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, and I2S.
The MK40DN512ZVLQ10-FR uses the Cortex-M4 Harvard architecture with a 3-stage pipeline plus branch prediction, single-cycle MAC, and a hardware single-precision FPU. The 100 MHz operation delivers 1.25 DMIPS/MHz and 3.09 CoreMark/MHz, enabling DSP and floating-point workloads. The internal flash uses 16-bit access with 4 KB sector granularity, supporting byte-write, block-erase, and ECC-style integrity on higher-end Kinetis parts. The LCD controller supports both standard and enhanced waveform modes with charge redistribution.
Typical applications include industrial segment-LCD human-machine interfaces (HMIs), USB medical dongles, point-of-sale terminals, smart energy metering with LCD, factory sensor hubs, and consumer appliances requiring segment-LCD display plus USB connectivity. Industrial temperature ranges of -40C to +105C support harsh embedded environments.
When designing with this MCU, ensure the 144-LQFP (20 x 20 mm) PCB footprint and pad pattern are accommodated with adequate clearances for trace routing. The VLL/VLL1/VLL2 segment-LCD supply pins must be properly configured for charge-pump or external resistor bias.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes beyond the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for MK40DN512ZVLQ10-FR — 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 MK40DN512ZVLQ10-FR (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, USB, Mounting Type, Flash Memory, ADC.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MK40DN512ZVLQ10
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MK40DN512ZVMD10
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$8.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →MK50DX256CLL10
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$10.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →MK60DN256VMD10
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →MK40DX256VLQ10
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MK50DN512CLL10
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →MK40DN512ZVLQ10-FR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU |
| Core Architecture | ARM 32-bit |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 100 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 512 KB |
| RAM | 128 KB |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.71 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins (GPIO) | 52 (varies by package mux) |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG with charger detect |
| Ethernet | 10/100 MAC |
| CAN | 1 x CAN (FlexCAN) |
| Segment LCD | Up to 320 segments, enhanced mode |
| ADC | 16-bit SAR ADC |
| DAC | 12-bit DAC |
| Package | 144-LQFP (LQ-144) 20 x 20 mm |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +105C (industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount, gull-wing |
| Packaging Option | -FR = Factory Tray (per NXP suffix convention) |
MK40DN512ZVLQ10-FR Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PTE0 — General-purpose I/O, TCLK1 |
| Pin 2 | PTE1 — General-purpose I/O, TCLK2 |
| Pin 3 | PTE2 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 4 | PTE3 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 5 | PTE4 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 6 | PTE5 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 7 | PTE6 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 8 | PTE7 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 9 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 10 | USB0_DP — USB D+ (Full-Speed) |
| Pin 11 | USB0_DM — USB D- (Full-Speed) |
| Pin 12 | VREGIN — USB regulator input |
| Pin 13 | VDD — Digital supply (1.71-3.6 V) |
| Pin 14 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 15 | PTA0 — General-purpose I/O, TCLK |
| Pin 16 | PTA1 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 17 | PTA2 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 18 | PTA3 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 19 | PTA4 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 20 | PTA5 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 21 | PTA6 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 22 | PTA7 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 23 | PTB0 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 24 | PTB1 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 25 | PTB2 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 26 | PTB3 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 27 | PTB4 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 28 | PTB5 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 29 | PTB6 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 30 | PTB7 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 31 | PTC0 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 32 | PTC1 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 33 | PTC2 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 34 | PTC3 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 35 | PTC4 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 36 | PTC5 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 37 | PTC6 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 38 | PTC7 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 39 | PTD0 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 40 | PTD1 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 41 | PTD2 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 42 | PTD3 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 43 | PTD4 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 44 | PTD5 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 45 | PTD6 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 46 | PTD7 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 47 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 48 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 49 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 50 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 51 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 52 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 53 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 54 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 55 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 56 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 57 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 58 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 59 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 60 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 61 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 62 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 63 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 64 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 65 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 66 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 67 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 68 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 69 | VDD — Digital supply (1.71-3.6 V) |
| Pin 70 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 71 | PTC8 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 72 | PTC9 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 73 | PTC10 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 74 | PTC11 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 75 | PTC12 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 76 | PTC13 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 77 | PTC14 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 78 | PTC15 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 79 | PTD8 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 80 | PTD9 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 81 | PTD10 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 82 | PTD11 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 83 | PTD12 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 84 | PTD13 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 85 | PTD14 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 86 | PTD15 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 87 | PTE8 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 88 | PTE9 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 89 | PTE10 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 90 | PTE11 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 91 | PTE12 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 92 | PTE13 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 93 | PTE14 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 94 | PTE15 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 95 | PTF0 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 96 | PTF1 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 97 | PTF2 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 98 | PTF3 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 99 | PTF4 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 100 | PTF5 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 101 | PTF6 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 102 | PTF7 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 103 | PTF8 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 104 | PTF9 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 105 | PTF10 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 106 | PTF11 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 107 | PTF12 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 108 | PTF13 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 109 | PTF14 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 110 | PTF15 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 111 | PTG0 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 112 | PTG1 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 113 | PTG2 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 114 | PTG3 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 115 | PTG4 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 116 | PTG5 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 117 | PTG6 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 118 | PTG7 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 119 | PTG8 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 120 | PTG9 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 121 | PTG10 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 122 | PTG11 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 123 | PTG12 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 124 | PTG13 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 125 | PTG14 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 126 | PTG15 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 127 | PTH0 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 128 | PTH1 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 129 | PTH2 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 130 | PTH3 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 131 | PTH4 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 132 | PTH5 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 133 | PTH6 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 134 | PTH7 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 135 | PTH8 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 136 | PTH9 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 137 | PTH10 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 138 | PTH11 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 139 | PTH12 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 140 | PTH13 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 141 | PTH14 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 142 | PTH15 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 143 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 144 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
MK40DN512ZVLQ10-FR is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial Segment-LCD HMI Terminal, USB Medical Dongle / Health Data Logger, Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminal, Smart Energy Meter with LCD Display, Factory Automation Sensor Hub, Consumer Appliance with USB Service Port, Building Automation Controller.
Industrial Segment-LCD HMI Terminal
The MK40DN512ZVLQ10-FR's segment-LCD controller supports up to 320 segments in both standard and enhanced waveform modes, making it ideal for industrial human-machine interface terminals with multi-digit displays, status icons, and progress bars. The integrated charge-pump and adjustable LCD bias voltage allow direct drive of LCD glass without external driver ICs, reducing BOM cost. Its 512 KB flash holds complex HMI state machines, multilingual fonts, and waveform libraries while 128 KB SRAM holds graphics buffers. The Cortex-M4 FPU handles real-time button debouncing, encoder decoding, and CAN-bus command processing alongside display refresh.
Recommended
USB Medical Dongle / Health Data Logger
Full-Speed USB 2.0 On-The-Go with integrated device charger detect (DCD) and PHY makes the MK40DN512ZVLQ10-FR a strong fit for USB medical dongles, glucose-meter download cables, and personal health data loggers. The 16-bit SAR ADC delivers precision sensor readings (glucose strips, temperature, pressure) and the Cortex-M4 FPU runs real-time filter algorithms. USB enumeration, suspend/resume, and CDC/HID classes can run from the 512 KB flash while measurement data buffers in 128 KB SRAM. The wide 1.71-3.6 V supply range supports both Li-ion and coin-cell powered designs common in portable medical devices.
Recommended
Point-of-Sale (POS) Terminal
POS terminals benefit from MK40DN512ZVLQ10-FR's combination of segment-LCD for receipt/pricing displays, Full-Speed USB for barcode scanner and PIN-pad peripherals, Ethernet MAC for back-office connectivity, and CAN for integrated card-reader modules. The 100 MHz Cortex-M4 with FPU processes encryption (AES, DES) and ISO 8583 financial transaction stacks in real time. The 144-LQFP package accommodates the full peripheral complement plus external memory bus expansion if needed. Industrial temperature grade -40C to +105C supports both retail counter and outdoor kiosk deployment.
Recommended
Smart Energy Meter with LCD Display
Smart energy meters reading single-phase or three-phase loads benefit from the MK40DN512ZVLQ10-FR's 16-bit SAR ADC for accurate current/voltage sampling plus segment-LCD for cumulative kWh and tariff display. The CAN interface connects to in-home energy-management networks (KNX, BACnet), while Ethernet MAC supports remote AMI backhaul. The 128 KB SRAM buffers interval data and the 512 KB flash holds DLMS/COSEM protocol stacks. With 1.71-3.6 V support, the MCU runs directly from rectified mains-derived rails without additional LDO stages. Industrial temperature rating ensures meter-lifetime reliability.
Recommended
Factory Automation Sensor Hub
Factory sensor hubs aggregating analog input from temperature, pressure, flow, and proximity sensors benefit from MK40DN512ZVLQ10-FR's 16-bit SAR ADC, 12-bit DAC, and multi-protocol communications including CAN for fieldbus gateways and USB for local diagnostics. The Cortex-M4 hardware FPU and DSP instructions accelerate digital filtering, FFT, and sensor-fusion computations. Segment-LCD shows local diagnostics plus current process values, while Ethernet MAC streams curated data to SCADA systems. The 128 KB SRAM buffers sensor history and the 512 KB flash accommodates multiple protocol stacks (Modbus, EtherCAT slave, PROFINET).
Recommended
Consumer Appliance with USB Service Port
White goods, coffee machines, and HVAC controllers needing USB service-port connectivity for firmware updates and diagnostics benefit from MK40DN512ZVLQ10-FR's Full-Speed USB OTG. Segment-LCD displays temperature, mode, and timer; the 16-bit ADC reads thermistor inputs; and the Cortex-M4 FPU runs motor control algorithms (sensorless FOC for compressors). The 1.71-3.6 V supply allows direct operation from rectified mains-derived rails. The 144-LQFP package's large thermal pad supports extended operating-temperature operation in enclosed appliance chassis. Industrial-grade qualification supports 10+ year product lifetimes.
Recommended
Building Automation Controller
Building automation controllers using BACnet, KNX, or Modbus protocols benefit from MK40DN512ZVLQ10-FR's CAN, Ethernet, USB, and multiple UART/SPI/I2C interfaces for multi-bridge connectivity. Segment-LCD displays zone temperatures and equipment status; the 16-bit ADC reads analog sensors (temperature, humidity, CO2 via external signal conditioning). The 128 KB SRAM supports network buffer pools and 512 KB flash accommodates TLS stacks for secure remote management. Industrial -40C to +105C operation supports plenum-mount installation. RoHS-compliant LQFP package suits building-code compliant designs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MK40DN512ZVLQ10-FR — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MK40DN512ZVLQ10 | MK50DX256CLL10 | MK40DX256VLQ10 | MK50DN512CLL10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Package | 144-LQFP (20x20 mm) | 144-LQFP (20x20 mm) - same | 144-LQFP (20x20 mm) - same | 144-LQFP (20x20 mm) - same | 144-LQFP (20x20 mm) - same |
| Program Flash | 512 KB | 512 KB | 256 KB (-50%) | 256 KB (-50%) | 512 KB (same) |
| SRAM | 128 KB | 128 KB | 64 KB (-50%) | 128 KB (same) | 128 KB (same) |
| Core / Max Speed | Cortex-M4 / 100 MHz | Cortex-M4 / 100 MHz | Cortex-M4 / 100 MHz | Cortex-M4 / 100 MHz | Cortex-M4 / 100 MHz |
| Segment-LCD Support | Up to 320 segments | Up to 320 segments | Up to 320 segments (K50 also has LCD) | Up to 320 segments | Up to 320 segments (K50 also has LCD) |
| Operating Voltage Range | 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 |
| USB / Ethernet | Full-Speed USB OTG / 10/100 MAC | Full-Speed USB OTG / 10/100 MAC | Full-Speed USB OTG / No Ethernet on K50 base | Full-Speed USB OTG / 10/100 MAC | Full-Speed USB OTG / No Ethernet on K50 base |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +105C | -40C to +105C | -40C to +105C | -40C to +105C | -40C to +105C |
Key Differentiators
- Segment-LCD up to 320 segments integrated (vs MKL26Z128VMC4)
- Higher flash density at 100 MHz (vs MK40DX256VLQ10)
- Same 144-LQFP package and pinout across sub-family (vs MK40DN512ZVMD10)
- Full-Speed USB OTG with charger detect (vs MKL04Z32VFM4)
Design Notes
MK40DN512ZVLQ10-FR operates from a single 1.71-3.6 V supply; decoupling requires a 100 nF X7R ceramic cap within 5 mm of each VDD pin (multiple pins across the package), plus a bulk 4.7 uF or larger tantalum/ceramic cap on the main supply rail. Estimated: with 100 MHz operation and 1.8 V rail, peak current can reach ~80 mA; derate the LDO or DC-DC for at least 100 mA. For USB applications, the VREGIN pin requires its own filtered supply and decoupling; share it with a ferrite bead if VBUS is also used to power the regulator input. Sequence the segment-LCD bias (VLL1/VLL2/VLL3) supplies only after core VDD is stable to avoid inrush into the LCD charge-pump.
The 144-LQFP (20 x 20 mm) package requires 4-layer PCB with continuous ground plane under the chip for thermal dissipation and signal-integrity. Estimated: without a thermal pad, theta_JA is approximately 50-60 C/W; at 1.8 V / 100 MHz / 100 mA load, junction temperature rise above ambient is approximately 5-6 C - usually acceptable. Route USB DP/DM as 90-ohm differential with length matching within 2 mm; route the Ethernet MII/RMII signals with parallel-impedance-controlled traces. Keep the segment-LCD driving pins separated from high-frequency digital signals to avoid LCD waveform corruption. Add a 4.7 uF bulk cap on each analog supply pin (VDDA, VREFH) placed within 10 mm.
Three common pitfalls: (1) Forgetting the JTAG/SWD debug header - the Kinetis K40 requires a 4-wire (SWD) or 20-pin JTAG header for in-system programming; adding a 2x5 header with GND, VTREF, SWDIO, SWCLK, NRST keeps the design debuggable. (2) Mishandling the segment-LCD charge-pump configuration - incorrect register writes to the LCD control registers produce ghost segments or contrast errors; consult the K40 reference manual chapter on SLCD and the KSDK clock configuration tool. (3) Not setting the security byte on production parts - the K40 has a flash security feature that prevents external read-back; if set incorrectly during programming, the device becomes permanently locked unless mass-erase is performed via JTAG.
Although the 144-LQFP has reasonable thermal performance, applications driving high GPIO current (e.g., 20mA per pin on multiple pins simultaneously) should verify the package's internal power dissipation budget. Estimated: with 4 GPIO pins each sourcing 10 mA at 3.3 V into LEDs, internal dissipation is about 0.13 W; well within the 1 W budget. Power-hungry applications should arrange high-current pins on adjacent ports to spread heat across the die, and use the central thermal pad area beneath the part (with vias to bottom thermal plane) for max heat extraction. The industrial temperature grade -40C to +105C supports harsh-environment deployment.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per NXP product page. Industrial temperature grade; not AEC-Q100 qualified (choose MK40N512-compatible automotive part for AEC-Q100 apps). Packaging suffix -FR indicates factory tray per NXP Kinetis packaging code convention.
