NXP Semiconductors MCF51QE96CLH

Overview

MCF51QE96CLH from NXP Semiconductors (formerly Freescale) is a 32-bit ColdFire V1 microcontroller designed for low-power embedded control in industrial and automotive applications. It features a 50.33-MHz CPU (at ≥2.4V), 96 KB flash, 8 KB RAM, 20-channel 12-bit ADC, dual analog comparators, RTC, and dual SCI/IIC/SPI interfaces. Its stop3 mode draws just 0.8–1.3 μA, enabling battery-powered sensor nodes and metering systems.

For engineers reviewing the MCF51QE96CLH datasheet, MCF51QE96CLH pinout, MCF51QE96CLH application, or MCF51QE96CLH equivalent, this page delivers verified specifications, package mapping to 64-pin LQFP (Case 840F), validated peripheral timing, real-world power consumption data across run/wait/stop modes, and confirmed drop-in alternatives for migration and second-sourcing.

Technical Context

The MCF51QE96CLH implements ColdFire ISA_C with 0.94 Dhrystone MIPS/MHz performance from internal RAM and integrates a flexible Internal Clock Source (ICS) with FLL-based frequency synthesis-supporting CPU frequencies from 2 MHz to 50.33 MHz with ±0.2% trimming resolution. Its interrupt architecture supports up to 30 peripheral IRQs plus 7 software interrupts, managed by an on-chip INTC.

Power management includes two stop modes (Stop2/Stop3) and reduced-power wait mode, with selective peripheral clock gating via the Peripheral Clock Enable Register. Stop3 mode retains RTC, ACMP, and ADC operation using a very-low-power external oscillator or internal 1-kHz LPO, enabling wake-up in ≤6 μs with full peripheral state retention.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: 64-pin LQFP (Case 840F, 10 mm² footprint, 0.5 mm pitch). Pinout conforms to Figure 3 and Table 2 of MCF51QE128 Series Data Sheet Rev. 7, with all 64 pins assigned per the MCF51QE96 derivative specification.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with Kinetis KE02Z64VQH, MCF51QE96CLH offers deterministic ColdFire real-time performance and rapid GPIO atomic operations but lacks ARM toolchain breadth; compared with MCF51JM128VLD, it provides identical peripheral behavior in a smaller 64-pin footprint at lower cost and power, ideal for volume-constrained applications.

Availability

MCF51QE96CLH is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial sensor nodes, automotive body control modules, and smart utility meters requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle support, and guaranteed RoHS-compliant manufacturing.

Supply support for MCF51QE96CLH 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 delivering secure, scalable solutions for automotive, industrial, IoT, and mobile applications, with deep heritage in microcontroller innovation.

The MCF51QE96CLH belongs to the ColdFire Qorivva family-a line of energy-efficient, mixed-signal MCUs engineered for deterministic real-time control in harsh environments where reliability, low power, and analog integration are critical.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the MCF51QE96CLH and under what voltage conditions?

The MCF51QE96CLH achieves a maximum CPU frequency of 50.33 MHz when supplied with VDD ≥ 2.4 V across the full –40°C to +85°C temperature range. At 2.1 V, it operates up to 40 MHz, and at 1.8 V, up to 20 MHz. These ratings are guaranteed per the MCF51QE128 Series Data Sheet Rev. 7, Section 1, and reflect actual silicon characterization-not typical or simulated values. The MCF51QE96CLH maintains full peripheral functionality at all supported frequencies.

Does the MCF51QE96CLH support true hardware debugging with a single wire?

Yes, the MCF51QE96CLH includes a single-wire background debug interface (BDC) using the PTA4/BKGD pin. This interface supports full non-intrusive debugging-including breakpoints, memory access, and 64-entry trace buffer readout-without requiring dedicated JTAG pins. The MCF51QE96CLH's BDC is fully compatible with Freescale's BDM protocol and standard ColdFire debug tools, enabling rapid development in space-constrained layouts.

How many analog-to-digital converter (ADC) channels does the MCF51QE96CLH have, and what is its resolution?

The MCF51QE96CLH integrates a 20-channel, 12-bit successive approximation register (SAR) ADC with 2.5 μs conversion time. This is confirmed in Table 1 ("MCF51QE128 Series Comparison") of the official datasheet, which explicitly lists "20" for ADC channels under the MCF51QE96 row. The ADC supports automatic channel scanning, internal bandgap reference, and operation in stop3 mode-making it suitable for continuous sensor monitoring without CPU wake-up.

What low-power modes are available on the MCF51QE96CLH, and what is the lowest achievable current draw?

The MCF51QE96CLH supports Stop2 and Stop3 low-power modes. In Stop3 mode with no clocks active, it draws 0.8–1.3 μA (–40°C to +85°C), as specified in Table 9 of the datasheet. This mode retains RAM, RTC, ACMP, and ADC functionality while disabling the CPU and most clocks. The 6 μs typical wake-up time from Stop3 enables responsive event-driven operation-critical for battery-powered applications like wireless sensors and smart meters.

Is the MCF51QE96CLH pin-compatible with other members of the MCF51QE128 series?

The MCF51QE96CLH uses the 64-pin LQFP package (Case 840F), matching the pinout of the MCF51QE64 and MCF51QE32 derivatives-but not the 80-pin MCF51QE128/MCF51QE64 variants. Per Table 2 ("Pin Assignment by Package"), all 64 pins are functionally identical across 64-pin derivatives, including shared alternate functions (e.g., PTA4 as BKGD/ACMP1O). Therefore, MCF51QE96CLH is pin-compatible with MCF51QE64VLD and MCF51QE32VLD in the same package, enabling direct substitution where flash size permits.