NXP Semiconductors MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2

Overview

MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2 from NXP Semiconductors (formerly Freescale) is a low-power, high-performance ARM1136JF-S™ multimedia applications processor designed for industrial and automotive infotainment systems. It operates at 400 MHz, integrates 16 KB instruction and 16 KB data L1 caches, 128 KB unified L2 cache, 32 KB ROM, and 16 KB SRAM, and supports DDR, NAND Flash, and SDIO interfaces in a –40°C to +85°C operating range.

For engineers reviewing the MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2 datasheet, MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2 pinout, MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2 application, or MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2 equivalent, key selection criteria include its ARM1136JF-S core frequency, absence of GPU, dual-Vt 90 nm process, DVFS power management, and MAPBGA-473 19×19 mm 0.8 mm pitch package compatibility with industrial temperature requirements.

Technical Context

The MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2 implements the ARM v6 architecture with Jazelle® Java acceleration, Thumb® instruction set support, and SIMD DSP extensions. Its memory subsystem includes separate 16 KB L1 instruction and data caches with Hit-Under-Miss capability, a 128 KB unified L2 cache, and integrated 32 KB ROM for boot code plus 16 KB SRAM for low-power audio streaming.

It features a comprehensive peripheral suite including three CSPI interfaces, three I²C controllers, five UARTs, two USB 2.0 ports (one OTG), SDHC/MSHC host controllers, ATA interface, FIR, SSI, and an Image Processing Unit (IPU) for hardware-accelerated video preprocessing-excluding GPU functionality present in the MCIMX31C variant.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2 uses a MAPBGA-473 package (Case 1931), 19 mm × 19 mm body, 0.8 mm ball pitch, RoHS-compliant and lead-free, MSL Level 3.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2, i.MX357CJM8C delivers higher CPU throughput and integrated graphics but sacrifices IPU-accelerated video path efficiency, while i.MX27ADS offers pin-compatible legacy support at the expense of multimedia acceleration and modern peripheral integration.

Availability

MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for automotive infotainment head units, industrial HMI terminals, and portable medical diagnostic devices requiring stable component supply across extended temperature ranges and long production lifecycles.

Supply support for MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2 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 communication infrastructure markets.

The i.MX31 product line was engineered specifically for cost-sensitive, low-power multimedia applications in harsh environments - emphasizing robustness, integrated video acceleration, and extended temperature operation without GPU complexity.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2?

The MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2 operates at a maximum frequency of 400 MHz. This is the rated speed of its ARM1136JF-S™ core under specified voltage and temperature conditions (–40°C to +85°C). The device achieves this performance using 90 nm dual-Vt technology and dynamic voltage/frequency scaling (DVFS) to maintain stability and thermal limits. MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2 does not support overclocking beyond this specification.

Does the MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2 include a graphics processing unit (GPU)?

No, the MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2 does not include a GPU. As explicitly stated in the Freescale technical data sheet, the "MCIMX31LC does not include a graphics processing unit (GPU)." This distinguishes it from the MCIMX31C variant. Graphics acceleration relies on the Vector Floating Point (VFP11) co-processor and the Image Processing Unit (IPU) for 2D operations like scaling and blending - not dedicated 3D rendering hardware. MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2 is optimized for video-centric applications rather than complex GUI rendering.

What package type and pin count does the MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2 use?

The MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2 uses a MAPBGA-473 package (Case 1931), measuring 19 mm × 19 mm with a 0.8 mm ball pitch. It contains 473 solder balls arranged in a grid pattern. This RoHS-compliant, lead-free package has Moisture Sensitivity Level (MSL) 3 and is designed for surface-mount assembly on four-layer PCBs. MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2 shares this exact package footprint with other members of the i.MX31 family, enabling layout reuse across variants.

Which memory types does the MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2 support natively?

The MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2 supports DDR SDRAM, NAND Flash, NOR Flash, SDRAM, and SRAM via its External Memory Interface (EMI). It includes dedicated controllers for NAND Flash (NFC), enhanced SDRAM (ESDCTL), and wireless external interface (WEIM) for NOR/PSRAM. The EMI supports 16-bit or 32-bit data buses and configurable timing parameters. MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2 does not integrate memory but provides direct, high-bandwidth connectivity to these external types - critical for booting from NAND and buffering video streams in real time.

What is the purpose of the Image Processing Unit (IPU) in the MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2?

The Image Processing Unit (IPU) in the MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2 performs hardware-accelerated video preprocessing tasks-including scaling, rotation, color-space conversion (e.g., YUV to RGB), alpha blending, and de-interlacing-without involving the ARM CPU or external memory. This enables power-efficient viewfinder operation and real-time video post-processing up to VGA@30 fps. The IPU reduces system memory bandwidth usage and CPU load, making MCIMX31LCVMN4CR2 suitable for camera-based applications such as automotive backup cameras and portable diagnostics.