NXP Semiconductors LPC4350FET180,551

Overview

LPC4350FET180,551 from NXP Semiconductors is a dual-core ARM Cortex-M4/M0 microcontroller for high-performance embedded control, featuring 264 kB SRAM, integrated Ethernet MAC with IEEE 1588 support, dual high-speed USB 2.0 interfaces (one with on-chip HS PHY), and LCD controller - deployed in industrial gateways requiring deterministic real-time processing and multi-protocol connectivity.

For engineers reviewing the LPC4350FET180,551 datasheet, LPC4350FET180,551 pinout, LPC4350FET180,551 application, or LPC4350FET180,551 equivalent, key selection considerations include dual-core asymmetric execution capability, TFBGA180 package pin compatibility with legacy LPC43x0 designs, Ethernet+USB coexistence without bus contention, and SRAM partitioning for secure code/data isolation.

Technical Context

The LPC4350FET180,551 implements a tightly coupled dual-core architecture where the Cortex-M4 (up to 204 MHz) serves as the primary application processor with hardware FPU and MPU, while the Cortex-M0 (up to 204 MHz) operates as a dedicated offload engine for time-critical peripherals including SCTimer/PWM, GIMA event routing, and USB protocol handling. Both cores share access to the AHB multilayer matrix but maintain independent local SRAM blocks (128 kB + 72 kB).

Its clock system integrates three PLLs: one for CPU/AXI operation, one dedicated to USB0 high-speed PHY, and a third configurable as audio PLL; combined with a 12 MHz IRC oscillator trimmed to ±1.5% and RTC crystal oscillator, it enables precise timing across mixed-criticality subsystems without external frequency sources.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: TFBGA180 (Thin Fine-Pitch Ball Grid Array), 12 mm × 12 mm, 0.65 mm ball pitch, 180 I/O balls. Pinout conforms to Figure 3 in NXP document Rev. 4.6 (14 March 2016), with digital pins grouped into 16 ports (P0–P9, PA–PF), each supporting up to eight multiplexed functions via SCU configuration.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar dual-core microcontroller applications.

Compared with LPC4357FET180,551, the LPC4350FET180,551 trades integrated flash for lower unit cost and design flexibility with external memory; versus LPC4370FET256,551, it delivers identical dual-core performance in a smaller, lower-cost package at the expense of display and I/O scalability.

Availability

LPC4350FET180,551 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial automation, energy metering, and embedded audio applications requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle assurance, and traceable sourcing from authorized NXP distribution channels.

Supply support for LPC4350FET180,551 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

NXP Semiconductors is a global semiconductor leader specializing in secure connectivity solutions for automotive, industrial, and IoT markets, with deep expertise in ARM-based microcontrollers and edge processing.

The LPC4300 series was designed specifically for high-integrity embedded applications demanding dual-core determinism, hardware-accelerated peripherals, and robust security - targeting industrial control, metering, and audio gateway use cases.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the LPC4350FET180,551 dual-core system?

The LPC4350FET180,551 supports independent operation of both the ARM Cortex-M4 and Cortex-M0 cores at up to 204 MHz. This frequency is achieved using the on-chip CPU PLL with an external 1–25 MHz crystal or the internal 12 MHz IRC oscillator. The actual sustained frequency depends on thermal conditions and power supply stability, but the device is fully characterized to 204 MHz across its specified voltage (2.2–3.6 V) and temperature (-40°C to +85°C) range. The LPC4350FET180,551 datasheet confirms this rating in Section 2.2 "Features and benefits".

Does the LPC4350FET180,551 include on-chip flash memory?

No, the LPC4350FET180,551 is a flashless microcontroller. It contains 264 kB of SRAM and 64 kB of ROM (for boot code and drivers), but no embedded flash memory. Firmware must be loaded externally via SPIFI, USB, Ethernet, or SD/MMC interfaces, or stored in external QSPI/NOR flash. This architecture allows flexible memory mapping and avoids flash wear limitations - a key differentiator from flash-based variants like the LPC4357FET180,551. The LPC4350FET180,551 product brief explicitly states "flashless MCU" in its title.

How many Ethernet MAC interfaces does the LPC4350FET180,551 support?

The LPC4350FET180,551 integrates a single 10/100T Ethernet MAC with support for both RMII and MII physical layer interfaces, plus hardware-accelerated IEEE 1588-2008 v2 timestamping. It does not include multiple independent MACs. The MAC connects directly to the AHB bus and supports DMA for zero-CPU-load packet processing. This single MAC is confirmed in Table 2 ("Ordering options") and Section 2.2 of the LPC4350FET180,551 datasheet, which lists "Ethernet" as a yes/no feature per variant - and "yes" for LPC4350FET180.

What is the GPIO count and pin multiplexing capability of the LPC4350FET180,551?

The LPC4350FET180,551 provides 118 GPIO pins in its TFBGA180 package, organized across 16 ports (P0–P9, PA–PF). Each pin supports up to eight configurable functions - including GPIO, UART, I2C, SPI, USB, Ethernet, ADC, and SCTimer - selected dynamically via the System Configuration Unit (SCU) registers. Pin function assignment is fully software-defined at runtime, enabling flexible board design and firmware reuse across variants. This specification is documented in Section 6.2 "Pin description" of the LPC4350FET180,551 datasheet.

Is the LPC4350FET180,551 pin-compatible with other LPC43x0 family members in TFBGA180?

Yes, the LPC4350FET180,551 shares identical pinout and package dimensions (TFBGA180, SOT570-3) with other TFBGA180 variants in the LPC43x0 family, including LPC4330FET180 and LPC4330FET180. Signal mapping is consistent across these parts, enabling drop-in replacement where functional differences (e.g., LCD presence, USB1 PHY integration) are not required. This mechanical and electrical compatibility is verified in NXP's ordering information tables and pin configuration diagrams (Fig. 3) for LPC4350FET180,551.