NXP Semiconductors MCF5249LPV120

Overview

MCF5249LPV120 from Freescale Semiconductor is a 32-bit ColdFire V2 microprocessor designed as a system controller/decoder for portable MP3 CD players. It integrates a 140 MHz CPU core (125 Dhrystone MIPS), 96 KB on-chip SRAM (64 KB + 32 KB banks), EMAC unit for signal processing, and hardware CD-ROM XA decode logic - enabling full MP3 decoding in on-chip SRAM with <20 MHz CPU bandwidth consumption.

For engineers reviewing the MCF5249LPV120 datasheet, MCF5249LPV120 pinout, MCF5249LPV120 application, or MCF5249LPV120 equivalent, key selection criteria include its 160-pin MAPBGA package qualified at 140 MHz, 1.8 V core / 3.3 V I/O voltage scheme, integrated IEC958 audio interfaces, dual UARTs with DMA support, and glueless SDRAM/IDE/SmartMedia interface capability.

Technical Context

The MCF5249LPV120 implements a decoupled two-stage instruction fetch pipeline (IFP) and operand execution pipeline (OEP), enabling high instruction throughput with minimal stalls. Its clock-multiplied PLL accepts 5–35 MHz external crystals and generates internal clocks up to 140 MHz, with programmable MCLK1/MCLK2 outputs for audio master clocking.

It features a dedicated audio bus connecting four IIS/EIAJ serial audio interfaces (three inputs, two outputs), two IEC958 digital audio inputs plus one dual-output IEC958 transmitter, and hardware-accelerated CD-ROM sector sync recognition, descrambling, and CRC verification per Mode 1/2 Form 1/2 standards - all operating without CPU intervention.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: 160-ball MAPBGA (12 × 12 mm, 0.8 mm pitch), qualified for operation up to 140 MHz. Pin assignments include dedicated audio (lrck3, sclk3, sdata0_sdio1), memory (SDRAM_CS2, EbuOut2), interface (QSPI_CS1, QSPI_CS3), and GPIO (gpio7–gpio54) signals - all confirmed in Freescale's MCF5249PB/D Product Brief and ball assignment tables.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar microprocessor-based audio and storage controller applications.

Compared with MCF5249LPV120, the MCF52235CAG80 trades CD-ROM acceleration and IEC958 compliance for lower cost and power, while the MCF5272CZP166 adds USB and raw performance but removes critical legacy media interfaces - making MCF5249LPV120 uniquely optimized for portable CD-based audio systems.

Availability

MCF5249LPV120 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for portable media players, industrial audio terminals, legacy storage interface bridges, and embedded CD-ROM decoder applications requiring stable component supply across extended production lifecycles.

Supply support for MCF5249LPV120 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 mixed-signal ICs for automotive, industrial, and consumer applications.

The MCF5249 belongs to the ColdFire family of 32-bit microprocessors engineered specifically for cost-sensitive, low-power embedded audio and media control systems - emphasizing hardware acceleration for CD-ROM, MP3, and digital audio protocols.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the MCF5249LPV120?

The MCF5249LPV120 is qualified for operation at 140 MHz in its 160-ball MAPBGA package, delivering 125 Dhrystone 2.1 MIPS performance. This frequency is achieved using the on-chip PLL with an external crystal input ranging from 5 to 35 MHz. The MCF5249LPV120's clock-multiplied architecture and decoupled pipelines ensure stable execution at this speed while maintaining low power consumption for portable applications.

Does the MCF5249LPV120 support hardware-accelerated MP3 decoding?

The MCF5249LPV120 does not perform full MP3 decoding in hardware, but it provides critical hardware acceleration that enables efficient software-based MP3 decode: its EMAC unit executes multiply-accumulate operations in a single cycle, and its 96 KB on-chip SRAM allows the entire MP3 decoder algorithm to run without external memory access - consuming less than 20 MHz of CPU bandwidth. The MCF5249LPV120 also includes hardware CD-ROM XA sector processing to feed decoded audio data efficiently.

What audio protocols does the MCF5249LPV120 natively support?

The MCF5249LPV120 natively supports IEC958 (S/PDIF) digital audio input and output, four Philips IIS/Sony EIAJ serial audio interfaces (with flexible master/slave configuration), and CD subcode (CD-Text) transmission. It includes dedicated IEC958 transmitter logic with dual outputs - one for professional "c" channel and one for consumer "c" channel - and internal multiplexing to route any of four IEC958 inputs to the output path. The MCF5249LPV120 does not support AES3 or HDMI audio protocols.

Can the MCF5249LPV120 boot directly from external Flash memory?

Yes, the MCF5249LPV120 boots automatically from external Flash or ROM using chip-select CS0, which is active immediately after reset. This glueless boot interface supports 16-bit wide memories with programmable wait states and port sizes. The MCF5249LPV120's external bus interface provides full control over address strobes, output enable, and read/write signals - allowing reliable initialization without external boot logic or FPGA configuration.

What is the role of the XTRIM pin on the MCF5249LPV120?

The XTRIM pin on the MCF5249LPV120 provides a 16-bit pulse density modulation (PDM) output used to trim an external crystal oscillator circuit. This enables the MCF5249LPV120 to lock its internal clock to the frequency of an incoming IEC958 or IIS audio signal - achieving typical trim ranges of ±100 ppm with crystal oscillators or ±1000 ppm with LC oscillators. This feature ensures precise audio sample rate synchronization without requiring a separate PLL IC.