NXP Semiconductors MCHC11F1CFNE4R

Overview

MCHC11F1CFNE4R from Freescale Semiconductor is an 8-bit microcontroller unit (MCU) featuring a 256-byte RAM, 512-byte EEPROM, and 12 KB on-chip ROM. It supports single-chip and expanded operating modes, includes a 10-bit ADC with 8 channels, dual serial interfaces (SCI and SPI), and a 16-bit timer subsystem with input capture/output compare. It is used in industrial control panels requiring deterministic real-time I/O handling.

For engineers reviewing the MCHC11F1CFNE4R datasheet, MCHC11F1CFNE4R pinout, MCHC11F1CFNE4R application, or MCHC11F1CFNE4R equivalent, key selection criteria include its 68-pin PLCC package, 2 MHz maximum bus frequency, integrated COP watchdog, EEPROM reprogrammability, and support for WAIT/STOP low-power modes.

Technical Context

The MCHC11F1CFNE4R implements the MC68HC11 CPU core with Harvard architecture memory mapping, supporting both single-chip mode (internal ROM/EEPROM/RAM active) and expanded mode (external memory interface via 8-bit data/16-bit address bus). Its timing system includes a programmable prescaler chain feeding a 16-bit free-running counter, four input capture registers, and five output compare channels.

It integrates two independent serial peripherals: an asynchronous SCI with baud rate generator and idle/address-mark wakeup, and a synchronous SPI master/slave with configurable clock polarity and phase. The 10-bit successive-approximation ADC operates with software- or timer-triggered conversions across eight analog inputs, with conversion times of 25 µs at 2 MHz bus speed.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: 68-pin Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier (PLCC), JEDEC MS-026AC compliant, body size 24.2 mm × 24.2 mm, lead pitch 0.05 inch.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar 8-bit MCU applications.

Compared with MC68HC11F1CFNE4R, the MC68HC11E9CP2 offers greater on-chip memory in a physically incompatible package, while the MC9S12XDP512 delivers architectural advancement and automotive-ready features - neither is pin-compatible, but both serve overlapping embedded control roles with distinct scalability paths.

Availability

MCHC11F1CFNE4R is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial motor control, energy metering interfaces, medical infusion pump controllers, and automotive body electronics requiring stable component supply and long-term lifecycle support.

Supply support for MCHC11F1CFNE4R 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, known for automotive, industrial, and networking solutions.

The MC68HC11 family was designed for cost-sensitive, deterministic real-time control applications where reliability, low power, and integrated peripherals outweigh raw performance - targeting legacy industrial automation and instrumentation systems.

FAQ

What is the maximum bus frequency supported by the MCHC11F1CFNE4R?

The MCHC11F1CFNE4R supports a maximum bus frequency of 2 MHz. This defines the base timing for all internal operations including instruction execution, memory access, and peripheral register updates. At this frequency, the MCU achieves approximately 1 million instructions per second (MIPS), sufficient for deterministic real-time control tasks such as motor commutation or sensor polling. The actual bus speed depends on the crystal or external clock applied to XTAL/EXTAL pins and internal divider settings configured in the OPTION register.

Does the MCHC11F1CFNE4R include on-chip EEPROM, and what is its capacity?

Yes, the MCHC11F1CFNE4R includes 512 bytes of on-chip EEPROM. This nonvolatile memory is electrically erasable and reprogrammable in-system using standard V_DD supply voltage - no external high-voltage programming required. It is commonly used to store calibration data, device configuration parameters, or runtime logs. The EEPROM supports byte-erase, row-erase, and bulk-erase operations controlled via the PPROG register and CONFIG register, with endurance rated at 10,000 write/erase cycles per location.

How does the Computer Operating Properly (COP) watchdog function in the MCHC11F1CFNE4R?

The COP watchdog in the MCHC11F1CFNE4R is an independent free-running timer that must be periodically cleared by software writing to the COPCTL register. If not serviced within the selected timeout interval (ranging from 2 ms to 1.1 s), it triggers a hardware reset to recover from software lockups. The COP is enabled via the CONFIG register and remains active even in STOP mode if configured accordingly. Its operation is decoupled from the main CPU clock, ensuring reliable fault detection regardless of bus frequency or clock source stability - a critical feature for MCHC11F1CFNE4R deployments in unattended equipment.

Can the MCHC11F1CFNE4R operate in low-power modes, and which ones are supported?

Yes, the MCHC11F1CFNE4R supports two low-power modes: WAIT and STOP. In WAIT mode, the CPU clock is halted but peripherals (ADC, timers, SCI, SPI) remain active - ideal for event-driven operation with fast wake-up (<1 µs). In STOP mode, all clocks are gated except those needed for wake-up sources (IRQ, XIRQ, RTI, COP timeout), reducing current consumption to approximately 10 µA. Wake-up from STOP requires an external interrupt or internal event; the CPU resumes execution from the instruction following the STOP instruction. Both modes are invoked via specific CPU instructions and configured through the CCR register's S and X bits.

What serial communication interfaces are integrated into the MCHC11F1CFNE4R?

The MCHC11F1CFNE4R integrates two serial interfaces: one asynchronous Serial Communications Interface (SCI) and one synchronous Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI). The SCI functions as a UART with programmable baud rate, full-duplex operation, and wakeup capability (idle-line or address-mark detection). The SPI supports master or slave operation, configurable clock polarity (CPOL) and phase (CPHA), and four-wire signaling (MISO, MOSI, SCK, SS). Neither interface includes native CAN or USB functionality; external transceivers or bridge ICs are required for CAN bus connectivity. These interfaces enable MCHC11F1CFNE4R to communicate with sensors, displays, host processors, or other MCUs in distributed control systems.