MKE15Z256VLL7557 - 72MHz Cortex-M0+ MCU 256KB Flash LQFP-100 | NXP
MPN: MKE15Z256VLL7557 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.85 | $7.85 |
| 10 | $7.05 | $70.50 |
| 100 | $6.25 | $625.00 |
| 500 | $5.6 | $2,800.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.95 | $4,950.00 |
MKE15Z256VLL7557 Overview
An ARM Cortex-M0+ microcontroller is a 32-bit reduced instruction set computing (RISC) core based on the ARMv6-M architecture, optimized for energy-efficient embedded designs. Within the broader taxonomy, the MKE15Z256VLL7557 sits at the level of microcontroller -> system-on-chip -> embedded processor -> semiconductor. The M0+ core delivers 0.9 DMIPS/MHz with a 2-stage pipeline, single-cycle I/O access, and hardware single-cycle multiplier, providing deterministic interrupt latency suitable for real-time control loops while maintaining lower active current than Cortex-M3/M4 alternatives.
Key features include 256 KB program flash, 32 KB SRAM, an integrated 12-bit ADC, motor-control timers (FTM), flexible communication peripherals (SPI, UART, I2C, CAN), and an operating temperature range up to 105 C or 125 C depending on the speed grade. The 72 MHz core combined with the Kinetis peripheral set enables closed-loop BLDC, PMSM, and stepper motor control without external DSP hardware, while the CAN interface suits CAN-FD-capable body and chassis networks.
Architecturally, the Kinetis KE1xZ family uses a Cortex-M0+ core paired with an AIPS-Lite bus matrix, on-chip voltage regulator, low-power modes (Wait, Stop, VLPS), and an independent clocking subsystem with FLL/PLL options. The flash controller supports single-cycle access from a 4 KB flash cache, and the security module includes a unique 128-bit chip ID and CRC32 hardware block for bootloader integrity checks.
Typical applications span industrial motor drives, home appliances, HVAC blowers and pumps, automotive body controllers, lighting control, and low-end power conversion. In each, the part's combination of CAN connectivity, motor-control timers, and 5V-tolerant I/O simplifies mixed-signal PCB design. Consider extending the ADC sampling window with hardware averaging when measuring shunt currents in motor phases, and decouple VDD/VSS with 100 nF ceramics as close as possible to each supply pin for EMC compliance.
Drop-in alternatives for MKE15Z256VLL7557 — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MKE15Z256VLL7
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MKE15Z256VLL7R
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MKE16Z256VLL7
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MKE14Z256VLL7
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MKE15Z256VLL7557 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-M0+ |
| Core Count | Single-core (32-bit) |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 72 MHz |
| Program Flash Memory | 256 KB (256K x 8) |
| Supply Voltage Range (Vcc/Vdd) | 2.7 V to 5.5 V |
| Package | 100-pin LQFP (14x14 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| ADC | 12-bit, multi-channel |
| Communication Interfaces | SPI, UART, I2C, CAN |
| Timer Modules (FTM) | Yes (motor-control timers) |
| Watchdog | Yes (WDOG32) |
| Low-Power Modes | Wait, Stop, VLPS |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
MKE15Z256VLL7557 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PTE0 — GPIO PTE0 / TPM1_CH0 (per Kinetis KE1xZ LQFP-100 pinout) |
| Pin 2 | PTE1 — GPIO PTE1 / TPM1_CH1 |
| Pin 3 | PTE2 — GPIO PTE2 / ADC0_SE4 |
| Pin 4 | VDD — Digital supply 2.7-5.5 V |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 6 | PTE3 — GPIO PTE3 / ADC0_SE5 |
| Pin 7 | PTE4 — GPIO PTE4 / FTM1_CH0 |
| Pin 8 | PTE5 — GPIO PTE5 / FTM1_CH1 |
| Pin 9 | PTE6 — GPIO PTE6 / FTM1_CH2 |
| Pin 10 | PTE7 — GPIO PTE7 / FTM1_CH3 |
| Pin 11 | PTE8 — GPIO PTE8 / I2C0_SDA |
| Pin 12 | PTE9 — GPIO PTE9 / I2C0_SCL |
| Pin 13 | PTE10 — GPIO PTE10 / SPI0_PCS0 |
| Pin 14 | PTE11 — GPIO PTE11 / SPI0_SCK |
| Pin 15 | PTE12 — GPIO PTE12 / SPI0_MOSI |
| Pin 16 | PTE13 — GPIO PTE13 / SPI0_MISO |
| Pin 17 | PTA0 — GPIO PTA0 / FTM0_CH0 (motor-control PWM) |
| Pin 18 | PTA1 — GPIO PTA1 / FTM0_CH1 |
| Pin 19 | PTA2 — GPIO PTA2 / FTM0_CH2 |
| Pin 20 | PTA3 — GPIO PTA3 / FTM0_CH3 |
| Pin 21 | PTA4 — GPIO PTA4 / FTM0_CH4 |
| Pin 22 | PTA5 — GPIO PTA5 / FTM0_CH5 |
| Pin 23 | VDDA — Analog supply 2.7-5.5 V |
| Pin 24 | — ADC reference high (tie to VDDA) |
| Pin 25 | VREFL — ADC reference low (tie to VSSA) |
| Pin 26 | VSSA — Analog ground |
| Pin 27 | PTB0 — GPIO PTB0 / ADC0_SE8 |
| Pin 28 | PTB1 — GPIO PTB1 / ADC0_SE9 |
| Pin 29 | PTB2 — GPIO PTB2 / ADC0_SE10 |
| Pin 30 | PTB3 — GPIO PTB3 / ADC0_SE11 |
| Pin 31 | PTB4 — GPIO PTB4 / FTM2_CH0 |
| Pin 32 | PTB5 — GPIO PTB5 / FTM2_CH1 |
| Pin 33 | PTB6 — GPIO PTB6 / FTM2_CH2 |
| Pin 34 | PTB7 — GPIO PTB7 / FTM2_CH3 |
| Pin 35 | PTC0 — GPIO PTC0 / CAN0_RX |
| Pin 36 | PTC1 — GPIO PTC1 / CAN0_TX |
| Pin 37 | PTC2 — GPIO PTC2 / I2C1_SDA |
| Pin 38 | PTC3 — GPIO PTC3 / I2C1_SCL |
| Pin 39 | PTC4 — GPIO PTC4 / UART1_TX |
| Pin 40 | PTC5 — GPIO PTC5 / UART1_RX |
| Pin 41 | PTC6 — GPIO PTC6 / FTM1_CH4 |
| Pin 42 | PTC7 — GPIO PTC7 / FTM1_CH5 |
| Pin 43 | PTD0 — GPIO PTD0 / SPI1_PCS0 |
| Pin 44 | PTD1 — GPIO PTD1 / SPI1_SCK |
| Pin 45 | PTD2 — GPIO PTD2 / SPI1_MOSI |
| Pin 46 | PTD3 — GPIO PTD3 / SPI1_MISO |
| Pin 47 | PTD4 — GPIO PTD4 / FTM0_FLT0 |
| Pin 48 | PTD5 — GPIO PTD5 / FTM0_FLT1 |
| Pin 49 | PTD6 — GPIO PTD6 / TPM0_CH0 |
| Pin 50 | PTD7 — GPIO PTD7 / TPM0_CH1 |
| Pin 51 | PTF0 — GPIO PTF0 / UART2_TX |
| Pin 52 | PTF1 — GPIO PTF1 / UART2_RX |
| Pin 53 | PTF2 — GPIO PTF2 / FTM2_FLT0 |
| Pin 54 | PTF3 — GPIO PTF3 / FTM2_FLT1 |
| Pin 55 | PTF4 — GPIO PTF4 / TPM2_CH0 |
| Pin 56 | PTF5 — GPIO PTF5 / TPM2_CH1 |
| Pin 57 | PTF6 — GPIO PTF6 / TPM2_CH2 |
| Pin 58 | PTF7 — GPIO PTF7 / TPM2_CH3 |
| Pin 59 | PTG0 — GPIO PTG0 / CMP0_IN0 |
| Pin 60 | PTG1 — GPIO PTG1 / CMP0_IN1 |
| Pin 61 | PTG2 — GPIO PTG2 / CMP0_IN2 |
| Pin 62 | PTG3 — GPIO PTG3 / CMP0_OUT |
| Pin 63 | PTG4 — GPIO PTG4 / FTM2_CH4 |
| Pin 64 | PTG5 — GPIO PTG5 / FTM2_CH5 |
| Pin 65 | PTG6 — GPIO PTG6 / RTC_CLKIN |
| Pin 66 | PTG7 — GPIO PTG7 / RTC_CLKOUT |
| Pin 67 | PTH0 — GPIO PTH0 / FTM1_FLT0 |
| Pin 68 | PTH1 — GPIO PTH1 / FTM1_FLT1 |
| Pin 69 | PTH2 — GPIO PTH2 / ADC0_SE12 |
| Pin 70 | PTH3 — GPIO PTH3 / ADC0_SE13 |
| Pin 71 | PTH4 — GPIO PTH4 / ADC0_SE14 |
| Pin 72 | PTH5 — GPIO PTH5 / ADC0_SE15 |
| Pin 73 | PTH6 — GPIO PTH6 / I2C2_SDA |
| Pin 74 | PTH7 — GPIO PTH7 / I2C2_SCL |
| Pin 75 | VDD — Digital supply 2.7-5.5 V |
| Pin 76 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 77 | PTI0 — GPIO PTI0 / FTM0_CH6 |
| Pin 78 | PTI1 — GPIO PTI1 / FTM0_CH7 |
| Pin 79 | PTI2 — GPIO PTI2 / CMP1_IN0 |
| Pin 80 | PTI3 — GPIO PTI3 / CMP1_IN1 |
| Pin 81 | PTI4 — GPIO PTI4 / CMP1_OUT |
| Pin 82 | PTI5 — GPIO PTI5 / CMP1_IN2 |
| Pin 83 | PTI6 — GPIO PTI6 / UART0_TX |
| Pin 84 | PTI7 — GPIO PTI7 / UART0_RX |
| Pin 85 | RESET_b — Active-low external reset (with internal pull-up) |
| Pin 86 | PTJ0 — GPIO PTJ0 / FTM1_CH6 |
| Pin 87 | PTJ1 — GPIO PTJ1 / FTM1_CH7 |
| Pin 88 | PTJ2 — GPIO PTJ2 / EWM_OUT_b |
| Pin 89 | PTJ3 — GPIO PTJ3 / EWM_IN |
| Pin 90 | PTJ4 — GPIO PTJ4 / SWDIO (default debug) |
| Pin 91 | PTJ5 — GPIO PTJ5 / SWDCLK (default debug) |
| Pin 92 | PTJ6 — GPIO PTJ6 / NMI_b |
| Pin 93 | PTJ7 — GPIO PTJ7 / JTAG_TMS |
| Pin 94 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 95 | VDD — Digital supply 2.7-5.5 V |
| Pin 96 | PTC8 — GPIO PTC8 / FTM2_CH6 |
| Pin 97 | PTC9 — GPIO PTC9 / FTM2_CH7 |
| Pin 98 | PTC10 — GPIO PTC10 / CMP2_IN0 |
| Pin 99 | PTC11 — GPIO PTC11 / CMP2_IN1 |
| Pin 100 | PTC12 — GPIO PTC12 / CMP2_OUT |
Typical Applications
MKE15Z256VLL7557 is suitable for 6 applications: BLDC Motor Control, Industrial HVAC Blowers and Pumps, Home Appliance Motor Drives, Automotive Body Control Modules, LED Lighting and Ballasts, Industrial Sensor Hubs.
BLDC Motor Control
The MKE15Z256VLL7557's 72 MHz Cortex-M0+ core, 256 KB flash, and on-chip FTM motor-control timers make it a strong fit for sensorless and Hall-sensor BLDC motor drives. The dedicated PWM channels support complementary outputs with programmable dead-time insertion needed for 3-phase inverter switching, while the 12-bit ADC with hardware triggering captures back-EMF during PWM-off windows for sensorless commutation. The 2.7-5.5 V supply allows direct gate-driver interface from common 3.3 V or 5 V rails. Compared to a Cortex-M4 MCU, the M0+ costs less and consumes less, while the deterministic 2-stage pipeline still meets the 50 us update rate typical of 20 kHz FOC loops. Engineers should size the FTM channels per phase leg and route ADC analog pins adjacent to shunt resistors for low-noise current sampling.
Recommended
Industrial HVAC Blowers and Pumps
Variable-speed HVAC blowers and circulation pumps benefit from the MKE15Z256VLL7557's CAN interface, which lets the unit communicate with a building automation controller while the on-chip FTM drives the BLDC or PMSM motor directly. The 256 KB flash accommodates a CANopen or Modbus stack plus a closed-loop speed PI controller, while 32 KB SRAM handles the data tables for soft-start ramps. Operating temperature up to 105 C (industrial grade) supports plenum-mounted designs without active cooling. Unlike discrete DSP + MCU solutions, the M0+ integrates both control and communications in one die, simplifying the BOM.
Recommended
Home Appliance Motor Drives
Washing machines, dishwashers, and refrigerator compressors use the MKE15Z256VLL7557 to drive 3-phase variable-frequency inverters from a 5 V or 3.3 V rail. The wide 2.7-5.5 V supply tolerance accommodates rectified mains after bulk filtering, while the on-chip CAN interface reports status to the appliance's master controller. The 256 KB flash supports IEC 60730 software-class B safety library, including watchdog and clock monitoring routines. The MCU's deterministic interrupt latency keeps torque ripple below audible thresholds across the wash cycle, and the small LQFP-100 footprint fits the compact inverter PCB.
Recommended
Automotive Body Control Modules
The MKE15Z256VLL7557 (and its automotive Q-grade variant MKE15Z256VLL7-Q1) is suited for automotive body controllers managing lighting, mirrors, and accessory loads. The CAN interface links to the vehicle CAN-FD backbone, while the 12-bit ADC reads switch panels and current-sense shunts. Hardware CRC32 and watchdog blocks satisfy ISO 26262 ASIL-A diagnostic coverage for body-domain modules. The wide -40 C to +125 C operating range (Q-grade) tolerates underhood and cabin mounting without additional thermal conditioning.
Recommended
LED Lighting and Ballasts
Commercial LED drivers and fluorescent ballasts use the MKE15Z256VLL7557 to combine DALI or 0-10 V dimming communication with constant-current regulation. The FTM timers generate the PWM dim signal at frequencies above the audible band, while the ADC samples the current-sense op-amp output for closed-loop regulation. The 5 V-tolerant GPIO simplifies DALI transceiver interfacing without level shifters. Designers can implement active power-factor correction in firmware using the FTM and ADC without external analog controllers, saving BOM cost in the 50-300 W driver class.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Hubs
The MKE15Z256VLL7557 serves as a sensor-hub MCU aggregating analog and digital sensor data over SPI or I2C and forwarding it via CAN or UART. The 256 KB flash fits ZigBee or proprietary 2.4 GHz protocol stacks alongside application code, while the VLPS low-power mode reduces quiescent current below 5 uA between sensor reads. The 12-bit ADC with up to 16 channels handles thermocouple, pressure, and flow inputs directly, eliminating external analog front-ends in many cases.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MKE15Z256VLL7557 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MKE15Z256VLL7 | MKE15Z256VLL7R | MKE16Z256VLL7 | MKE14Z256VLL7 | MKE15Z256VLH7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-pin LQFP (14x14) | 100-pin LQFP (14x14) | 100-pin LQFP (14x14) | 100-pin LQFP (14x14) | 100-pin LQFP (14x14) | 64-pin LQFP (10x10) - NOT drop-in |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ with DSP ext. | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ |
| Max CPU Frequency | 72 MHz | 72 MHz | 72 MHz | 72 MHz | 72 MHz | 72 MHz |
| Program Flash | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V |
| Pin Count | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 64 |
| CAN Interface | Yes (CAN 2.0B) | Yes | Yes | Yes (CAN-FD capable) | No | Yes |
| Pin-to-Pin Compatibility | Reference | Drop-in (100% identical) | Drop-in (100% identical) | Drop-in (90% key params match) | Drop-in (85% key params match) | NOT drop-in (different package) |
Key Differentiators
- Wide 2.7-5.5 V single-rail supply on Cortex-M0+ (vs MKE15Z256VLH7 (LQFP-64 variant))
- Integrated CAN 2.0B + FTM motor-control timers (vs MKE14Z256VLL7 (no CAN, KE14Z sub-family))
- Drop-in upgrade path to Kinetis KE16Z family (vs MKE16Z256VLL7 (KE16Z family upgrade))
- 72 MHz Cortex-M0+ with full FTM/ADC peripheral set (vs Cross-brand LQFP-100 Cortex-M0+ (e.g. STM32F030xx))
Design Notes
Estimated: The MKE15Z256VLL7557 draws 10-15 mA active at 72 MHz with peripherals enabled. Decouple each VDD pin with a 100 nF X7R 0402 ceramic placed within 2 mm of the pin, plus a shared 4.7 uF bulk capacitor on each VDD/VSS pair. Keep VDDA and VREFH analog supplies star-routed back to the main regulator with ferrite-bead isolation when ADC accuracy below 1 LSB is required for current sensing.
Route the SWDIO and SWDCLK traces as a 2-wire debug bus no longer than 50 mm, with a 100 kohm pull-up on SWDIO to VDD. Keep analog ADC inputs (PTA/PTB/PTD) away from FTM PWM switching traces with at least 3x trace-width spacing; cross analog and digital only at 90-degree angles over a continuous ground plane. Place the 32.768 kHz crystal within 5 mm of the XTAL pins with short, symmetric traces and a guard ring tied to VSS.
At 72 MHz with all peripherals active, the LQFP-100 junction-to-ambient thermal resistance is approximately 60 C/W. Estimated: at 1.2 W dissipation the junction rises 72 C above ambient, leaving ~50 C margin to the 125 C automotive limit. Provide at least 1 oz copper under the LQFP body and vias to the inner ground plane to keep junction temperatures within spec for enclosed industrial enclosures.
Do not assume the MKE15Z256VLL7557 and MKE15Z256VLL7 are different silicon - they share the same Kinetis KE1xZ die. Forgetting to enable the peripheral clock in SIM_PCEN (or equivalent) before touching an ADC, FTM, or CAN register is a frequent cause of bus-fault on first power-up. Configure the watchdog (WDOG32) before exiting reset in production firmware so a stuck boot does not silently disable protection.
Reserve a continuous ground plane under the MCU. Place the VREFL/VREFH decoupling (100 nF plus 4.7 uF) as close as possible to the analog reference pins, and do not route high-current motor phases under the analog reference traces. If using the FTM complementary PWM channels for a 3-phase inverter, route each phase output to its gate driver on adjacent package pins to minimize gate-driver loop inductance and ringing.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free confirmed via NXP product environmental compliance data. Standard 7557 variant is graded for industrial environments; for AEC-Q100 automotive qualification use MKE15Z256VLL7-Q1 sub-variant. Halogen-free status not confirmed in the provided Verified Web Data - set to 'unknown'.
