Dynamic Voltage Control for Multicore Microarchitecture, Adaptable
The MXC L microcontroller family, developed by NXP, is a game-changer in the world of ultra-low-power microcontrollers. This family, designed for a wide range of applications, boasts a dual-core design and integrates Adaptive Dynamic Voltage Control (ADVC) technology.
At the heart of the MXC L microcontroller is a 96-MHz Arm Cortex-M33 processor, which supports floating-point, SIMD, and DSP instructions. This main processor core operates alongside a Cortex-M0+ that runs at 10 MHz. Notably, both processor cores share access to 512 kB of flash memory and 128 kB of SRAM.
The ADVC technology is built into the MXC L and works to adjust the system operation point, ensuring the core supply voltage runs as close as possible to the internal transistor threshold voltage. This dynamic tuning reduces the core voltage from a typical 0.9 V down to levels such as 0.65 V depending on environmental conditions like temperature. According to Eli Hughes, a change from 0.9 V to 0.65 V in the core operating voltage will result in cutting overall power requirements by half.
ADVC takes into account environmental conditions such as temperature, ensuring efficient operation across various scenarios. This technology, integrated into the MXC L microcontroller family, enhances low-power operation by allowing the device to adapt to variations in process, voltage, and temperature to maintain reliable operation at the lowest feasible voltage.
The MXC L microcontroller also includes a 16-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that runs at 2 or 3.15 MSPS in 12-bit mode. Optional peripherals for the MXC L microcontroller include a 4- × 52-segment LCD drive and 8×8 keypad input sensor.
The MXC L microcontroller works with a range of RTOSes, including FreeRTOS and Zephyr. NXP's MXC L family targets applications that rely on battery power or energy harvesting, making it an ideal choice for energy-sensitive applications.
To support developers, NXP provides the MCUXpresso, an Eclipse-based integrated development environment (IDE) for the MXC L microcontroller family. A variety of NXP Freedom boards are available with an MCX L microcontroller on-board, and NXP's Expansion Board Hub lists a variety of plug-in peripheral boards.
In addition, NXP's MXC L family employs EdgeLock security and can incorporate EdgeLock PKC accelerators to enhance public key encryption that includes support for SHA, AES, and PKC. A 32-kB ROM in NXP's chips employed in the MXC L includes secure-boot support.
Jeff Steinheider, the General Manager of Industrial Edge Processing at NXP, emphasizes the importance of the MXC L family, stating, "The MXC L family enhances low-power operation by allowing the device to adapt to variations in process, voltage, and temperature to maintain reliable operation at the lowest feasible voltage."
In conclusion, the MXC L microcontroller family's integration of ADVC technology and its focus on ultra-low-power operation make it an ideal choice for energy-sensitive applications. With its flexibility, powerful features, and efficient design, the MXC L microcontroller family is poised to revolutionize the world of low-power microcontroller applications.
[1] Eli Hughes, "Power Consumption Scales with the Operating Voltage as ∆Vop," NXP Whitepaper, 2021.
Data-and-cloud-computing technology plays a crucial role in the development and testing of the MXC L microcontroller family, as it allows developers to remotely access and analyze the microcontroller's performance, optimizing its ultra-low-power operation. The technology enables real-time monitoring of power consumption, adapting to variations in process, voltage, and temperature, ensuring reliable operation at the lowest feasible voltage, just like the ADVC technology integrated into the MXC L.
The MXC L microcontroller family's advanced features, adaptability, and energy-efficient design open up numerous opportunities for seamless integration with advanced technology solutions, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things, further demonstrating its significance in today's data-and-cloud-computing-driven world.
