NXP Semiconductors MCIMX31LDVKN5DR2

Overview

MCIMX31LDVKN5DR2 from NXP Semiconductors (formerly Freescale) is a low-power multimedia applications processor built around an ARM1136JF-S core, operating up to 532 MHz with 16 KB instruction and 16 KB data L1 caches, 128 KB unified L2 cache, and integrated MPEG-4 hardware encoder supporting VGA@30 fps video encoding - deployed in portable media players and mid-tier smartphones requiring real-time video processing and power-constrained operation.

For engineers reviewing the MCIMX31LDVKN5DR2 datasheet, MCIMX31LDVKN5DR2 pinout, MCIMX31LDVKN5DR2 application, or MCIMX31LDVKN5DR2 equivalent, key selection criteria include its -20°C to +70°C industrial temperature range, MAPBGA-457 14 × 14 mm 0.5 mm pitch package, absence of GPU (distinguishing it from MCIMX31), dual-Vt 90 nm process for leakage control, and support for DDR, NAND Flash, SDHC, USB 2.0 OTG, and IPU-based camera/display pipelines.

Technical Context

The MCIMX31LDVKN5DR2 implements the ARM v6 architecture with Jazelle Java acceleration, SIMD DSP extensions, and an eight-stage pipeline with branch prediction. It integrates a Vector Floating Point (VFP11) co-processor for 3D graphics acceleration and supports dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) with multiple clock/power domains and independent power gating.

Its memory subsystem includes embedded 32 KB ROM for boot code, 16 KB SRAM for low-power audio streaming, and external interfaces for DDR, SDRAM, NOR/NAND Flash, and SRAM via a multi-master EMI. The Image Processing Unit (IPU) enables on-the-fly video preprocessing without CPU or memory system involvement - critical for power-efficient viewfinder and display path applications.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

MCIMX31LDVKN5DR2 is housed in a plastic MAPBGA-457 package (Case 1581), 14 × 14 mm body size, 0.5 mm ball pitch, RoHS-compliant and lead-free, moisture sensitivity level (MSL) 3. Ball map follows standard BGA layout with dedicated power, ground, I/O, and functional signal groups as defined in Freescale Document MCIMX31_5 Rev. 4.3 Section 5.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with i.MX27, MCIMX31LDVKN5DR2 delivers 30% higher Dhrystone MIPS/Watt and adds hardware MPEG-4 encode; compared with i.MX51, it consumes ~40% less active power but lacks GPU and NEON - making it optimal for cost-sensitive, battery-constrained VGA media applications where graphics acceleration is unnecessary.

Availability

MCIMX31LDVKN5DR2 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for portable media players, industrial HMIs, medical handheld imagers, and smartphone companion modules requiring stable component supply, extended lifecycle support, and qualified industrial temperature operation.

Supply support for MCIMX31LDVKN5DR2 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 company formed from the spin-off of Philips' semiconductor division, specializing in secure connectivity solutions for automotive, industrial, and IoT markets.

The i.MX family - including MCIMX31LDVKN5DR2 - was designed specifically for low-power, high-performance multimedia applications in portable and industrial edge devices, emphasizing integration of video encode, image processing, and secure boot capabilities.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the MCIMX31LDVKN5DR2 and under what conditions?

The MCIMX31LDVKN5DR2 operates up to 532 MHz in overdrive mode with core voltage between 1.47 V and 1.65 V. Non-overdrive operation is rated to 400 MHz at 1.22–1.38 V. Overdrive use is limited to ≤10,950 cumulative hours (e.g., 6 hours/day for 5 years) to prevent device degradation - verified in Freescale MCIMX31_5 Rev. 4.3 Table 8 and Errata ENGcm02610.

Does the MCIMX31LDVKN5DR2 include a graphics processing unit (GPU)?

No, the MCIMX31LDVKN5DR2 does not include a GPU. It is the "L" variant of the i.MX31 family, explicitly differentiated from MCIMX31 by omission of the GPU block. Graphics acceleration relies solely on the Vector Floating Point (VFP11) co-processor and software rendering - confirmed in the Introduction section of MCIMX31_5 Rev. 4.3.

What memory types does the MCIMX31LDVKN5DR2 support via its External Memory Interface (EMI)?

The MCIMX31LDVKN5DR2 supports DDR SDRAM, SDRAM, NOR Flash, NAND Flash, and SRAM through its multi-master EMI. Specific timing parameters and configuration registers for each memory type are detailed in Section 4.3.9 of the MCIMX31_5 Rev. 4.3 datasheet, with NAND Flash controlled via the NFC module and DDR via the ESDCTL block.

What is the package type and ball count of the MCIMX31LDVKN5DR2?

The MCIMX31LDVKN5DR2 uses a MAPBGA-457 package (Case 1581), 14 × 14 mm body size, 0.5 mm ball pitch, RoHS-compliant and lead-free. This is confirmed in Table 1 (Ordering Information) and Section 5 (Package Information and Pinout) of MCIMX31_5 Rev. 4.3 - distinct from the 473-ball 19 × 19 mm variant used in other i.MX31 SKUs.

How does the Image Processing Unit (IPU) in the MCIMX31LDVKN5DR2 reduce system memory bandwidth?

The IPU performs on-the-fly video preprocessing - including rotation, scaling, color-space conversion, and blending - directly in hardware without CPU or main memory involvement. This eliminates intermediate frame buffer reads/writes, reducing external memory bandwidth by up to 40% in viewfinder and display pipeline use cases - documented in Section 1.1 Features and Figure 1 block diagram of MCIMX31_5 Rev. 4.3.