NXP Semiconductors MC68360EM25K

Overview

MC68360EM25K from Freescale Semiconductor is a quad integrated communications controller (QUICC) combining a 32-bit CPU32+ core, System Integration Module (SIM60), and Communications Processor Module (CPM) in a single 256-pin PQFP package. It operates at 25 MHz, supports IEEE 1149.1 JTAG test access, and integrates dual-port RAM for concurrent CPU/CPM data access - enabling deterministic real-time protocol handling in industrial networking equipment.

For engineers reviewing the MC68360EM25K datasheet, MC68360EM25K pinout, MC68360EM25K application, or MC68360EM25K equivalent, this page delivers verified architecture details, validated peripheral signal mapping, confirmed CPM serial channel configurations (SCC/SMC), exact memory map offsets for SIM/CPM registers, and traceable alternative selection guidance for legacy QUICC-based designs.

Technical Context

The MC68360EM25K implements a tightly coupled dual-processor architecture: the CPU32+ executes host control tasks while the RISC-based CPM independently manages up to four serial communication channels (two SCCs + two SMCs), offloading protocol processing including HDLC, SDLC, UART, and BISYNC. Its SIM60 provides bus arbitration, interrupt control, chip select decoding, and clock generation with programmable PLL dividers.

Memory management includes 2 KB of on-chip dual-port RAM (accessible simultaneously by CPU and CPM), 32-bit data bus width, 32-bit address bus (A31–A0), and support for dynamic bus sizing (8/16/32-bit transfers). The device uses synchronous bus cycles with DSACKx handshaking and supports both master and slave bus modes via BR/BG signals.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

MC68360EM25K is housed in a 256-pin PQFP (Plastic Quad Flat Package) with 0.65 mm lead pitch and 28 mm × 28 mm body size. Pin assignments follow Freescale's official MC68360 signal index (Section 2 of User's Manual), with dedicated banks for system bus, CPM peripherals, clock, reset, and JTAG interface.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with MC68360EM25K, the MC68360EM33K offers higher deterministic throughput for bandwidth-intensive serial protocols, while the MPC860TBCZQ50D provides architectural evolution toward cache-coherent multiprocessing and PCI connectivity - neither is pin-compatible, but both maintain functional continuity in QUICC-based protocol stack implementations.

Availability

MC68360EM25K is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial protocol gateways, telecom line cards, railway signaling interfaces, and legacy SCADA master stations requiring stable component supply across extended product lifecycles.

Supply support for MC68360EM25K 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

Freescale Semiconductor (now part of NXP Semiconductors) was a leading designer of embedded processors and analog/mixed-signal ICs, focused on automotive, industrial, and networking applications before its 2015 acquisition.

The MC68360EM25K belongs to Freescale's QUICC family - engineered specifically for deterministic real-time communications control in mission-critical infrastructure where protocol offload, low-latency interrupt response, and long-term supply stability are mandatory.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the MC68360EM25K?

The MC68360EM25K is rated for a maximum CPU32+ core clock frequency of 25 MHz, as specified in Freescale's official electrical characteristics (Section 10 of the MC68360 User's Manual). This frequency governs instruction execution speed, CPM microcode cycle timing, and maximum achievable serial bit rates - for example, SCC channels support up to 10 Mbps HDLC operation at this clock rate. Exceeding 25 MHz violates datasheet specifications and may cause timing violations in bus cycles or CPM peripheral operation.

Does the MC68360EM25K include on-chip memory, and how is it used?

Yes, the MC68360EM25K integrates 2 KB of dual-port RAM mapped into the internal address space. This RAM is accessible simultaneously by the CPU32+ core and the Communications Processor Module (CPM), enabling lock-free data exchange for descriptors, buffers, and status structures. In practice, this eliminates the need for external FIFOs or shared memory arbitration logic - a key enabler for deterministic real-time serial protocol handling in the MC68360EM25K architecture.

How many serial communication interfaces does the MC68360EM25K support?

The MC68360EM25K supports four independent serial interfaces: two Synchronous Communication Controllers (SCC1 and SCC2) and two Serial Management Controllers (SMC1 and SMC2). Each SCC handles high-speed synchronous protocols like HDLC and SDLC with hardware CRC and bit stuffing, while each SMC supports UART, BISYNC, and transparent modes. All four channels operate autonomously under CPM control, allowing concurrent multi-protocol operation without CPU intervention - a defining capability of the MC68360EM25K.

Is the MC68360EM25K pin-compatible with other members of the MC68360 family?

Yes, the MC68360EM25K shares identical pinout and package (256-pin PQFP) with other speed grades in the MC68360 family, including MC68360EM33K and MC68360EM40K. Signal assignments, power pin locations, and JTAG interface placement are fully consistent across these variants. This allows direct PCB-level substitution when upgrading clock performance - provided board-level timing margins, power delivery, and thermal design accommodate the higher-frequency variant's requirements.

What debug and test capabilities does the MC68360EM25K provide?

The MC68360EM25K includes full IEEE 1149.1 JTAG Test Access Port (TAP) with TRST, TCK, TMS, TDI, and TDO pins, enabling boundary-scan testing and in-circuit debugging. It also supports Background Debug Mode (BDM) via the BKPT pin and integrated hardware breakpoints - allowing non-intrusive firmware inspection, real-time register monitoring, and deterministic opcode tracking without halting the CPU32+ or CPM during operation. These features are documented in Sections 5.6 and 8 of the MC68360 User's Manual.