NXP Semiconductors MC34904C5EK

Overview

MC34904C5EK from NXP Semiconductors (formerly Freescale) is a System Basis Chip (SBC) integrating a 5.0 V MCU power regulator, high-speed CAN transceiver (ISO 11898-2/5), four wake-up-capable I/O pins, SPI interface, and fail-safe state machine. It operates across -40 °C to +125 °C, supports baud rates up to 1.0 Mb/s, and delivers <35 μA quiescent current in LP mode with VDD ON - used in automotive body control modules requiring robust power management and bus diagnostics.

For engineers reviewing the MC34904C5EK datasheet, MC34904C5EK pinout, MC34904C5EK application, or MC34904C5EK equivalent, this page provides verified technical context, exact pin functions, low-power mode behavior, CAN/LIN interface compatibility, and validated alternative parts for industrial and automotive ECU designs.

Technical Context

The MC34904C5EK implements a SMARTMOS-based power management architecture with dual supply inputs (VSUP1/VSUP2), configurable 5.0 V VDD regulator, and embedded ISO 11898-5-compliant CAN physical layer. Its fail-safe state machine monitors VDD undervoltage, overcurrent, watchdog timeout, and RST pin integrity to assert the open-drain SAFE pin.

It supports four programmable wake-up inputs (I/O-0 to I/O-3), cyclic sense operation in LP mode, and SPI-controlled analog monitoring via MUX-OUT - including VSENSE, internal supply voltages, and temperature pre-warning at 140 °C. No LIN interface is integrated in this variant.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

MC34904C5EK uses a 32-pin SOIC package with exposed pad (Pb-free, EK suffix), footprint-compatible with MC34903/34905 family members. Pin assignments are validated per Freescale Document MC34903_4_5 Rev. 4.0.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar System Basis Chip applications.

Compared with MC34904C5EK, MC33907AS5EKR2 adds LIN and safety features but increases complexity and cost, while TLE9471-2ES trades embedded CAN for higher current and SENT capability - neither offers drop-in replacement, making MC34904C5EK optimal for cost-sensitive, CAN-only, non-safety ECU nodes.

Availability

MC34904C5EK is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for automotive body control modules, industrial motor drives, robotics actuator nodes, and engine subsystem controllers requiring stable component supply across extended temperature and high-reliability operation.

Supply support for MC34904C5EK 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 focused on secure connectivity solutions for automotive, industrial, and IoT applications, with deep expertise in automotive-grade analog and mixed-signal ICs.

The MC34904C5EK belongs to NXP's System Basis Chip product line, designed specifically for automotive electronic control units requiring integrated power regulation, high-speed CAN communication, and fail-safe supervision in harsh environments.

FAQ

What is the maximum supported CAN baud rate for MC34904C5EK?

The MC34904C5EK supports CAN baud rates from 40 kb/s up to 1.0 Mb/s, fully compliant with ISO 11898-2 and ISO 11898-5 standards. This range covers standard automotive CAN FD preambles and legacy CAN 2.0B operation. The embedded CAN physical layer includes slew-rate control and bus fault diagnostics optimized across this entire speed range. MC34904C5EK does not require external timing components to achieve these rates.

Does MC34904C5EK include a LIN interface?

No, MC34904C5EK does not include a LIN interface. Per Freescale's Device Variations Table 2, the MC34904 family variant with C5EK/R2 suffix has zero LIN interfaces. It provides four wake-up-capable I/O pins (I/O-0 to I/O-3) instead. For LIN-capable alternatives, consider MC34903CS5EK/R2 (single LIN) or MC34905CS5EK/R2 (single LIN with enhanced features), which share the same 32-pin SOIC package but differ in pin functionality.

What is the quiescent current of MC34904C5EK in low-power mode with VDD enabled?

In low-power mode with VDD enabled, MC34904C5EK draws 20–85 μA depending on temperature and supply voltage (VSUP ≤ 18 V), as specified in Table 6 of the MC34903_4_5 datasheet. At −40 °C to 25 °C with IDD = 1.0 μA, typical current is 20 μA; at 125 °C, it rises to 85 μA. This includes active oscillator, SPI monitoring, and wake-up circuitry - enabling CAN/I/O-triggered exit from sleep without external circuitry.

Can MC34904C5EK drive external PNP transistors for higher VDD current?

Yes, MC34904C5EK supports external PNP ballast transistors via VB (Pin 32) and VE (Pin 31) terminals. When implemented, the external transistor shares current with the internal regulator, extending total VDD output capability to 200 mA. The datasheet specifies a ballast current ratio K = 1.5–2.5 (external : internal) and requires careful thermal design to avoid exceeding 160 °C shutdown threshold. No additional control logic is needed - the IC manages current sharing automatically.

What diagnostic functions does MC34904C5EK provide for the CAN bus?

MC34904C5EK provides comprehensive CAN bus diagnostics including short-to-battery and short-to-ground detection on CANH/CANL, open-wire fault identification, dominant timeout monitoring, and bus failure flagging via SPI registers. It also asserts the SAFE pin during critical faults. These diagnostics operate independently of the MCU and remain active in low-power modes. All results are accessible through dedicated SPI status flags (e.g., CAN_ERR, BUS_OFF) defined in the Functional Description section of the datasheet.