MK21DX256AVLK5 - 50MHz Cortex-M4 MCU 256KB Flash | NXP
N.º da peça: MK21DX256AVLK5 ✓ Ativo| Qtd. | Preço unitário | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15.77 | $15,77 |
| 10 | $14.4 | $144,00 |
| 100 | $13.2 | $1.320,00 |
| 500 | $12.1 | $6.050,00 |
| 1.000 | $11 | $11.000,00 |
MK21DX256AVLK5 Visão geral
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a processor core, memory, and peripherals on one die. Within the semiconductor hierarchy, the K21 sits under the Kinetis K family of ARM-based MCUs, which in turn belongs to the broader embedded-processor product category used to build firmware-controlled electronic systems.
Key features include the 50 MHz Cortex-M4 core with DSP instructions, 256 KB of on-chip flash for code storage, full-speed USB device support, and per NXP product information, hardware encryption and tamper-detection capability (DryIce) that distinguishes the K21 security-enabled variants from baseline K1x parts.
Technically, the Cortex-M4 architecture provides a 3-stage pipeline, single-cycle multiply-accumulate, and Thumb-2 instruction set, making the device suitable for digital signal processing tasks alongside general control firmware. The rich peripheral suite of analog, communication, timing, and control blocks allows the chip to host complete embedded applications with minimal external circuitry.
Typical applications include industrial control nodes, USB-connected instruments and Human Machine Interfaces, and secure embedded systems that benefit from the anti-tamper hardware. The industrial temperature grade and gull-wing LQFP terminals simplify both prototyping and production assembly.
For design, confirm RAM sizing early: the family spans variants with different SRAM configurations, and code growth in USB-heavy applications can exhaust flash faster than expected, so plan margin or select a 512 KB flash sibling in the same footprint.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Alternativas drop-in para MK21DX256AVLK5 — mesmo encapsulamento, compatível pino a pino. Peças de encapsulamento diferente que exigem retrabalho na PCB são excluídas.
Variantes desta série
Modelos da mesma série compatíveis como drop-in com MK21DX256AVLK5 (mesmo formato e footprint) — diferindo em Package, Flash Memory, Series, USB, Product Family.
Ferramenta de comparação rápida — selecione peças alternativas para comparação lado a lado:
MK21DN512AVLK5
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Especificações não verificadas✓ Em estoque
$4.8 / unidade
Ver ficha técnica →MK11DX256AVLK5
✅ Drop-In✓ Em estoque
$6 / unidade
Ver ficha técnica →MK11DN512AVLK5
✅ Drop-In📋 Alternativa de referência (fora do catálogo)
MK12DN512VLK5
✅ Drop-In📋 Alternativa de referência (fora do catálogo)
MK21DX128AVLK5
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Especificações não verificadas📋 Alternativa de referência (fora do catálogo)
MK21FX512AVLK5
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Especificações não verificadas📋 Alternativa de referência (fora do catálogo)
MK21DX256AVLK5 Classificações máximas e características elétricas
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Core Size | 32-bit |
| Frequência máxima de clock | 50 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB |
| SRAM | 64 KB |
| Tensão de alimentação | 1.8 V / 2.5 V / 3.3 V |
| Encapsulamento | 80-LQFP (12x12 mm), FQFP square, gull-wing terminals |
| Number of Pins / Terminals | 80 |
| Tipo de montagem | Surface Mount |
| USB | Full-Speed USB |
| Security Features | Hardware encryption and tamper detection (DryIce) |
| Series | Kinetis K2x (K2 USB Series, K Family) |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial |
| Packaging | Tray |
| Program Memory Type | FLASH |
| RISC Architecture | Yes |
Guia de Configuração de Pinos do MK21DX256AVLK5 80-lqfp (12x12 mm), fqfp square, gull-wing terminals
Configuração de pinos para MK21DX256AVLK5 (pacote 80-lqfp (12x12 mm), fqfp square, gull-wing terminals). Este CI digital inclui GPIO, interfaces de comunicação (UART, SPI, I2C) e pinos de alimentação. Consulte o datasheet do fabricante para funções alternativas dos pinos e opções de configuração. Essencial para projeto de sistemas embarcados e layout de PCB.
Nenhum dado detalhado de pinagem disponível para MK21DX256AVLK5.
Consulte a ficha técnica para a configuração completa dos pinos.
Aplicações típicas
MK21DX256AVLK5 é adequado para 6 aplicaçãos: USB Instruments and Test Equipment, Industrial Control Nodes, Secure USB Tokens and Dongles, Human Machine Interfaces (HMI), Battery-Powered Portable Devices, Data Loggers and Remote Monitoring.
USB Instruments and Test Equipment
The MK21DX256AVLK5 fits USB-connected bench and portable instruments because its full-speed USB controller provides direct host connectivity without an external interface chip, while the 50 MHz Cortex-M4 core with DSP instructions handles real-time signal processing for measurement data. Typical designs place the MCU between analog front ends and the USB host, streaming processed readings over a virtual COM port or HID class device. With 256 KB of flash, complete instrument firmware including USB stacks and signal processing routines fits on-chip, and the hardware encryption block can protect calibration data and measurement results from unauthorized access in professional test environments.
Recomendado
Industrial Control Nodes
The MK21DX256AVLK5 suits industrial control nodes because it combines a 50 MHz Cortex-M4 core with a rich suite of communication, timing, and control peripherals, allowing a single chip to manage sensors, actuators, and fieldbus interfaces simultaneously. The industrial temperature grade and robust 80-pin LQFP surface-mount package withstand factory-floor environments, and operation from 3.3V rails simplifies integration with modern industrial I/O. The 256 KB flash accommodates protocol stacks and control logic, while the hardware encryption and tamper detection protect configuration data and firmware IP in deployed automation equipment where physical access cannot always be controlled.
Recomendado
Secure USB Tokens and Dongles
The MK21DX256AVLK5 is well suited to secure USB tokens because it uniquely combines full-speed USB with hardware encryption and tamper detection in one package, per NXP product information. A token design uses the MCU to authenticate against a host over USB, with cryptographic keys stored and processed inside the chip while the tamper-detection circuitry responds to physical attack attempts on the enclosure. The 64 KB SRAM supports key material and session state, and the 12x12 mm 80-LQFP fits compact token PCBs. The 50 MHz core executes authentication protocols with headroom for future algorithm updates stored in the 256 KB flash.
Recomendado
Human Machine Interfaces (HMI)
The MK21DX256AVLK5 works well in HMI applications because the Cortex-M4 core provides the processing throughput to drive displays, scan touch inputs, and manage communication concurrently, while full-speed USB enables PC-connected control panels and configuration tools. The 256 KB flash stores graphical assets and localized string tables, and the rich peripheral suite handles keypads, encoders, and indicator outputs. Its 3.3V operation matches common display modules, reducing interface complexity. Designs that later require more code space can migrate to the pin-compatible MK21DN512AVLK5 with 512 KB flash without changing the PCB, protecting the layout investment.
Recomendado
Battery-Powered Portable Devices
The MK21DX256AVLK5 fits battery-powered portable designs through its ability to operate from a 1.8V rail, the lowest of the three supported supply options (1.8V/2.5V/3.3V), which aligns directly with single-cell lithium and low-voltage regulated systems. The Kinetis K2 architecture provides low-power modes for the 50 MHz Cortex-M4 core, letting the device sleep between USB or sensor events. Full-speed USB support allows the same unit to recharge and communicate when docked, and the 64 KB SRAM retains working state across power-managed operating sequences. Industrial temperature qualification adds margin against outdoor and vehicle-cabin thermal extremes.
Recomendado
Data Loggers and Remote Monitoring
The MK21DX256AVLK5 is a strong choice for data loggers because the combination of 256 KB flash, 64 KB SRAM, and a 50 MHz DSP-capable core handles time-stamped acquisition, buffering, and preprocessing of sensor data, while communication peripherals upload records over wired links. The hardware encryption block protects logged data integrity, valuable in compliance-regulated monitoring such as cold-chain or energy metering, and tamper detection flags unauthorized physical access to the enclosure. Multi-voltage operation from 1.8V to 3.3V suits solar- or battery-fed remote sites, and the industrial temperature grade covers unconditioned environments throughout the year.
Recomendado
Resumo dos produtos recomendados
Dados de referência de engenharia para MK21DX256AVLK5 — comparação, orientação de projeto e informações de conformidade.
Guia de seleção
Comparação com alternativas
| Parâmetro | Este produto | MK21DN512AVLK5 | MK11DX256AVLK5 | MK11DN512AVLK5 | MK12DN512VLK5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 80-LQFP (12x12 mm) | 80-LQFP (12x12 mm) - same | 80-LQFP (12x12 mm) - same | 80-LQFP (12x12 mm) - same | 80-LQFP (12x12 mm) - same |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Core / Clock | ARM Cortex-M4, 50 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 50 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 50 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 50 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 50 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 512 KB | 256 KB | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Principais diferenciais
- USB plus hardware security in one chip (vs MK11DX256AVLK5)
- Upgrade path with doubled flash on same footprint (vs MK21DN512AVLK5)
- Cost optimization option for non-USB designs (vs MK11DX256AVLK5)
Notas de projeto
The MK21DX256AVLK5 supports 1.8V, 2.5V, and 3.3V supply domains per the NXP datasheet summary. Plan the rail architecture before layout: USB full-speed transceiver operation is specified for the 3.3V domain, so battery designs intending 1.8V core-only operation need a boost or LDO stage for the USB VDD domain. Verify exact per-domain current draw in the family data sheet rather than assuming a single supply figure, and decouple each VDD pin pair with 0.1uF ceramics placed within 2 mm of the pins.
The 80-LQFP 12x12 mm package uses a 0.5 mm lead pitch, requiring solder-mask-defined pads and careful paste stencil design (recommend 0.12 mm stencil thickness with reduced aperture ratio to prevent bridging). Route the USB D+/D- pair as a 90-ohm differential pair with length matching within 1 mm, and keep the pair away from the crystal circuit. Provide at least one solid ground plane under the MCU region; the LQFP has no exposed pad, so thermal and ground performance depend entirely on pin vias.
A frequent mistake is ignoring the family memory matrix: MK21DX256 (256 KB flash) and MK21DN512 (512 KB flash) variants share the same 80-LQFP footprint, but firmware size and RAM allocation differ. If there is any chance of a flash upgrade path, lay out the board for the DN512 and purchase the DX256 initially - the swap is pin-to-pin. Also confirm SRAM configuration against the specific ordering code, because third-party summaries have shown inconsistent RAM figures (32 KB vs 64 KB) for this part; the NXP official product page value of 64 KB should be treated as authoritative.
Informações de conformidade
The NXP product page lists an Environmental Quality section, but specific RoHS/REACH status values for MK21DX256AVLK5 were not present in the retrieved web data and must be confirmed from the NXP environmental page.
