NXP Semiconductors MCF52230CAL60

Overview

MCF52230CAL60 from NXP Semiconductors (formerly Freescale) is a 32-bit ColdFire V2 RISC microcontroller targeting industrial control and networked embedded systems. It operates at up to 60 MHz, integrates 128 KB Flash and 32 KB SRAM, features a Fast Ethernet Controller with on-chip EPHY, three UARTs, I²C, QSPI, 8-channel 12-bit ADC, FlexCAN, and dual interrupt controllers - deployed in motor drive gate control and industrial gateway applications.

For engineers reviewing the MCF52230CAL60 datasheet, MCF52230CAL60 pinout, MCF52230CAL60 application, or MCF52230CAL60 equivalent, key selection criteria include its LQFP-80 package, 60 MHz V2 ColdFire core with EMAC, integrated 10/100 Mbps Ethernet PHY, absence of CAU and FlexCAN (per family configuration table), and support for real-time trace and BDM debugging.

Technical Context

The MCF52230CAL60 implements the ColdFire ISA_A+ instruction set with a two-pipeline V2 core (IFP/OEP), supporting static operation, 32-bit addressing, and enhanced multiply-accumulate (EMAC) for DSP-like operations. Its clock system includes an on-chip PLL fed by crystal or external oscillator, generating core and peripheral clocks with programmable dividers.

It integrates a full Fast Ethernet Controller (FEC) with dedicated DMA, on-chip EPHY supporting 10/100BASE-TX, auto-negotiation, and MDIO; plus three UARTs with FIFOs, I²C master/slave, QSPI master-only interface, and four-channel DMA supporting burst transfers and auto-alignment - all accessible via a unified memory-mapped peripheral bus.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

LQFP-80 package, 14 mm × 14 mm body, 0.5 mm pitch, thermally enhanced exposed pad (EPAD). Pin assignments conform to Figure 2 ("80-pin LQFP Pin Assignments") in MCF52235 Rev. 10 datasheet, with dedicated power/ground pins distributed across all four sides for noise suppression and thermal dissipation.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with K60DN512ZVMD10 and MCF52259CAG80, the MCF52230CAL60 offers the lowest system-level integration for 10/100 Ethernet edge nodes - delivering verified PHY interoperability, deterministic real-time latency, and mature ColdFire toolchain support without requiring external transceivers or architectural migration.

Availability

MCF52230CAL60 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial motor drives, building automation gateways, PLC I/O modules, and networked power quality monitors requiring stable component supply across extended product lifecycles.

Supply support for MCF52230CAL60 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.

The MCF52230CAL60 belongs to the ColdFire V2 microcontroller family, designed specifically for deterministic real-time control in resource-constrained industrial Ethernet edge devices - emphasizing integrated peripherals, low-power operation, and long-term supply assurance.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the MCF52230CAL60?

The MCF52230CAL60 operates at a maximum core frequency of 60 MHz, delivering 56 Dhrystone 2.1 MIPS performance when executing from on-chip Flash memory. This frequency is achieved using the integrated PLL with crystal or external clock input, and is validated across industrial temperature ranges (–40°C to +85°C) per datasheet Section 2.5.

Does the MCF52230CAL60 include an integrated Ethernet PHY?

Yes, the MCF52230CAL60 includes a fully integrated Ethernet PHY (EPHY) supporting 10/100BASE-TX operation with auto-negotiation, MDIO management, and baseline wander correction. This eliminates the need for an external PHY IC and simplifies PCB layout for industrial Ethernet applications - confirmed in Section 1.2.5 of the MCF52235 datasheet, which covers the entire family including MCF52230.

What memory resources are available on the MCF52230CAL60?

The MCF52230CAL60 integrates 128 KB of on-chip Flash memory and 32 KB of static RAM (SRAM). The Flash is organized as four 32 KB banks supporting interleaved access, while the SRAM is dual-ported to allow concurrent CPU and DMA access - enabling efficient real-time buffering for Ethernet and ADC operations without external memory.

Which serial communication interfaces does the MCF52230CAL60 support?

The MCF52230CAL60 supports three UARTs (with hardware flow control), one I²C bus controller (master/slave mode), and one queued serial peripheral interface (QSPI) operating in master-only mode with up to four chip selects. These interfaces are fully memory-mapped and support DMA transfers - enabling concurrent sensor, display, and flash expansion connectivity in industrial control systems.

Is the MCF52230CAL60 pin-compatible with other ColdFire V2 microcontrollers?

The MCF52230CAL60 uses an LQFP-80 package identical in footprint and pinout to other 80-pin ColdFire V2 variants like MCF52233CAL60 and MCF52234CAL60. However, peripheral enablement differs: MCF52230 lacks FlexCAN and CAU blocks present in higher-family members. Pin compatibility is confirmed in Table 1 (Family Configurations) and Figure 2 (80-pin LQFP Pin Assignments) of the MCF52235 datasheet.