NXP Semiconductors LS1022AXN7EKB

Overview

LS1022AXN7EKB from NXP is a dual-core ARM Cortex-A7 communications processor for power-constrained industrial and networking applications, operating at up to 1.0 GHz (600 MHz core frequency), featuring ECC-protected 32 KB L1 I/D caches per core, 512 KB coherent L2 cache, DDR3L memory controller (up to 1033 MHz), and integrated security engine supporting Secure Boot and ARM TrustZone. It targets IoT gateways and building automation systems requiring sub-2 W total system power.

For engineers reviewing the LS1022AXN7EKB datasheet, LS1022AXN7EKB pinout, LS1022AXN7EKB application, or LS1022AXN7EKB equivalent, key selection factors include its CAN interface support, PCIe Gen2 dual-lane capability, 4× I2C/2× SPI serial connectivity, 4× CAN controllers, and industrial protocol readiness via UART and FlexTimer peripherals.

Technical Context

The LS1022AXN7EKB implements a cache-coherent dual-core ARM Cortex-A7 subsystem with CCI-400 interconnect, NEON SIMD and dual-precision FPU on each core. Its memory subsystem includes DDR3L controller (8/16/32-bit, up to 1033 MHz) and 128 KB on-die SRAM.

Networking and I/O are handled by a 1-lane 5 GHz SerDes supporting PCIe Gen2, three Gigabit Ethernet MACs with IEEE 1588 timestamping, QuadSPI, SD/MMC, IFC NAND/NOR interface, and four CAN 2.0B controllers - distinguishing it from the LS1020A which lacks CAN but adds QUICC Engine and USB 3.0.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

LS1022AXN7EKB is housed in a 23 x 23 mm, 621-pin FC-BGA package (RoHS-compliant, Pb-free, 0.8 mm pitch). Pin assignment follows NXP's LS1022A reference layout with dedicated balls for DDR3L DQ/DM/DQS, PCIe REFCLK, Ethernet MDIO/MDC, CAN_H/L differential pairs, and secure boot strap configuration.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar communications processor applications.

Compared with LS1021AXN7EKB and i.MX 8M Mini, the LS1022AXN7EKB uniquely balances dual-core ARM A7 compute, hardware CAN support, ECC memory protection, and sub-2 W power - making it optimal for fanless industrial gateways where protocol determinism and long-term reliability outweigh raw throughput.

Availability

LS1022AXN7EKB is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial PLC controllers, smart energy gateways, and building automation systems requiring stable component supply, long lifecycle support, and traceable sourcing under NXP's industrial product longevity program.

Supply support for LS1022AXN7EKB 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 company headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands, specializing in secure connectivity solutions for automotive, industrial, and IoT markets.

The LS1022A belongs to NXP's QorIQ LS series - purpose-built for power-sensitive, highly integrated communications processors targeting industrial control, networking edge nodes, and secure IoT gateways with deterministic peripheral support.

FAQ

What is the maximum DDR3L speed supported by LS1022AXN7EKB?

The LS1022AXN7EKB supports DDR3L memory at data rates up to 1033 MT/s (516.5 MHz clock), limited to DDR3L-1066 and DDR3L-1033 configurations. It does not support DDR4 or standard DDR3. The memory controller implements 8/16/32-bit bus widths with on-die termination and configurable read/write leveling, enabling robust signal integrity in compact industrial PCB layouts. LS1022AXN7EKB requires matched trace lengths and strict impedance control for reliable operation at this speed.

Does LS1022AXN7EKB include an integrated CAN physical layer?

No, LS1022AXN7EKB provides four CAN 2.0B controller modules only - each requiring an external CAN transceiver (e.g., TJA1042 or SN65HVD230) for bus-level signaling. The processor outputs differential CAN_H/CAN_L signals compliant with ISO 11898-2, but lacks on-die termination resistors or voltage regulation for bus biasing. LS1022AXN7EKB's CAN peripherals support bit rates up to 1 Mbps and include dedicated message RAM, FIFOs, and loopback self-test modes.

Is LS1022AXN7EKB pin-compatible with LS1020A or LS1021A?

No, LS1022AXN7EKB is not pin-compatible with LS1020A or LS1021A. Although all three belong to the LS102x family and share the same 621-pin FC-BGA footprint, ball assignments differ significantly - especially for DDR, PCIe, Ethernet, and CAN signals. LS1020A includes USB 3.0 and QUICC Engine pins absent in LS1022AXN7EKB, while LS1022AXN7EKB dedicates pins to four CAN controllers not present on LS1020A/LS1021A. Board redesign is required for substitution.

What boot sources are supported by LS1022AXN7EKB?

LS1022AXN7EKB supports boot from QuadSPI flash, SD/MMC card, or IFC-connected NAND/NOR flash, selected via BOOT_CFG[0:7] strap pins. It executes initial code from internal ROM, then loads FSBL (First Stage Boot Loader) from the configured source. Secure Boot validates digital signatures of subsequent stages using SHA-256 and RSA-2048. LS1022AXN7EKB does not support boot from SATA or PCIe devices - those interfaces are initialized only after boot completion.

Does LS1022AXN7EKB support virtualization?

Yes, LS1022AXN7EKB supports hardware-assisted virtualization via ARM Virtualization Extensions (ARMv7-A Virtualization Host Extensions), enabling hypervisor-based partitioning of CPU resources, memory, and peripherals. This allows concurrent execution of real-time control tasks (e.g., CAN messaging) in one VM and general-purpose Linux services (e.g., web server, TLS stack) in another. The CCI-400 interconnect ensures cache coherency across VMs, and TrustZone provides additional isolation for secure monitor mode transitions. LS1022AXN7EKB has been validated with Xen and KVM hypervisors.