NXP Semiconductors MC9328MX21DVM

Overview

MC9328MX21DVM from Freescale Semiconductor is an ARM926EJ-S™-based microprocessor IC designed for smartphone and portable multimedia applications, operating at 266 MHz with integrated LCD controller, USB On-The-Go, NAND Flash controller, CMOS sensor interface, and dual MMC/SD host controllers.

For engineers reviewing the MC9328MX21DVM datasheet, MC9328MX21DVM pinout, MC9328MX21DVM application, or MC9328MX21DVM equivalent, key selection considerations include its -30°C to +70°C industrial temperature range, 289-pin MAPBGA (0.8 mm pitch, 17 mm × 17 mm), ARM926EJ-S core with Java acceleration, and integrated eMMA video accelerator for real-time media processing.

Technical Context

The MC9328MX21DVM implements a 32-bit ARM926EJ-S core with Jazelle® technology for hardware-accelerated Java bytecode execution and supports Smart Speed dynamic voltage/frequency scaling. Its memory subsystem includes SDRAMC supporting up to 256 MB DDR/SDR SDRAM, EIM for NOR/NAND/ROM expansion, and dedicated NAND Flash controller with on-chip ECC.

Peripherals are organized into functional domains: display (LCDC, SLCDC, CSI), connectivity (USB OTG, dual USB Host, three CSPI, two SSI/I2S, I²C, UART×4), and system control (CGM, DMAC, RTC, WDOG, PWM, GPIO×128). All interfaces support multiplexed pin assignment controlled via FMCR registers.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

MC9328MX21DVM is housed in a 289-pin MAPBGA package (0.8 mm pitch, 17 mm × 17 mm, lead-free), with signal multiplexing managed via Function Multiplexing Control Register (FMCR) to maximize peripheral flexibility per pin.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with i.MX27 and PXA270, the MC9328MX21DVM delivers optimal balance of 266 MHz performance, integrated NAND ECC, and industrial temperature support in a mature, production-proven 289-pin MAPBGA footprint-making it ideal for cost-sensitive, long-lifecycle portable devices where reliability outweighs peak clock speed.

Availability

MC9328MX21DVM is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for smartphone baseband systems, digital media players, industrial handheld terminals, and medical point-of-care displays requiring stable component supply and long-term industrial temperature qualification.

Supply support for MC9328MX21DVM 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, analog, and connectivity solutions for automotive, industrial, and consumer markets.

The i.MX21 product line was engineered specifically for cost-sensitive, battery-powered portable devices demanding rich multimedia capability, low-power ARM9 performance, and integrated peripheral sets-including LCD, camera, and NAND interfaces-without external glue logic.

FAQ

What is the maximum SDRAM capacity supported by the MC9328MX21DVM?

The MC9328MX21DVM SDRAM Controller supports up to 256 MB of DDR or SDR SDRAM using 12-bit row address, 4-bit bank address, and 8-bit column address fields. This is confirmed in Section 3.2.1 of the MC9328MX21 Technical Data Rev. 3.4 specification, which defines MA[11:0], SDBA[4:0], and SDIBA[3:0] signal mapping and timing compliance with JEDEC-standard SDRAM protocols.

Does the MC9328MX21DVM include hardware JPEG acceleration?

Yes, the MC9328MX21DVM includes the enhanced Multimedia Accelerator (eMMA) module, which provides hardware-accelerated JPEG encode and decode functionality. The eMMA block handles YUV/RGB conversion, Huffman coding/decoding, and IDCT operations independently of the ARM926EJ-S core, enabling real-time 320×240 JPEG playback at 30 fps as validated in Freescale's i.MX21 Reference Manual.

What is the function of the NF_IO[15:0] pins on the MC9328MX21DVM?

The NF_IO[15:0] pins on the MC9328MX21DVM serve as the bidirectional data bus for the integrated NAND Flash Controller. NF_IO[15:7] are multiplexed with address lines A[25:21] and A[15:13], while NF_IO[7:0] share pins with multiple PCMCIA signals. These pins carry command, address, and data traffic to/from NAND devices, with on-chip ECC applied automatically during read/write cycles.

Can the MC9328MX21DVM operate in USB device mode without external transceivers?

Yes, the MC9328MX21DVM USB OTG interface includes a fully integrated transceiver for USB 2.0 Full-Speed (12 Mbps) operation. Pins USBG_RXDP/USBG_RXDM/USBG_TXDP/USBG_TXDM provide direct differential signaling compliant with USB electrical specifications-no external PHY or level-shifting components are required for basic device-mode operation.

Is the MC9328MX21DVM pin-compatible with other i.MX21 variants like MC9328MX21DVK?

No, the MC9328MX21DVM is not pin-compatible with MC9328MX21DVK. Although both use 289-pin MAPBGA packages, the MC9328MX21DVM uses a 0.8 mm pitch (17 mm × 17 mm) variant while the MC9328MX21DVK uses 0.65 mm pitch (14 mm × 14 mm). Physical footprint, ball layout, and thermal pad dimensions differ, requiring separate PCB designs for each variant.