NXP Semiconductors MCIMX516AJM6CR2

Overview

MCIMX516AJM6CR2 from NXP Semiconductors (formerly Freescale) is an automotive-grade ARM Cortex-A8 application processor targeting infotainment systems with dual-display support, hardware-accelerated 720p video decode/encode, OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics (27 Mtri/sec), and integrated VPU, GPU, and IPU. It operates at up to 600 MHz core frequency with 200 MHz DDR2/mDDR interface clock and supports –40°C to +125°C junction temperature.

For engineers reviewing the MCIMX516AJM6CR2 datasheet, MCIMX516AJM6CR2 pinout, MCIMX516AJM6CR2 application, or MCIMX516AJM6CR2 equivalent, key selection criteria include automotive AEC-Q100 qualification, dual-display timing control, hardware video codec support (H.264/MPEG-4/VC-1), TrustZone security architecture, and 19×19 mm 0.8 mm pitch BGA package compatibility.

Technical Context

The MCIMX516AJM6CR2 implements a single ARM Cortex-A8 r2p5 core with TrustZone, 32 KB L1 instruction and 32 KB L1 data cache, 256 KB unified L2 cache, NEON SIMD, and VFPv3 floating-point co-processor. It integrates three PLLs for independent clock domain management across CPU, AXI, and peripheral buses.

Its memory subsystem includes a 64-bit EMI supporting DDR2-400 and mDDR400, four eSDHC controllers (one muxed with P-ATA), dual USB 2.0 high-speed hosts plus OTG, and a Smart DMA engine with 32-channel time-division multiplexing. Security is enforced via TZIC, CSU, SAHARA Lite, RTICv3, and Secure JTAG with e-fuse-configurable access modes.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

MCIMX516AJM6CR2 uses a 19×19 mm plastic BGA package (Case 2017) with 0.8 mm ball pitch and 457 I/O balls. The package is RoHS-compliant, lead-free, and MSL Level 3.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with MCIMX516AJM6CR2, MCIMX6Q6AVT10AC offers higher performance at increased power and board area, while MCIMX8MQ6CVA8AZ provides modern security and virtualization features but requires full platform re-architecting - MCIMX516AJM6CR2 remains optimal for cost-sensitive, thermally constrained automotive infotainment designs requiring proven AEC-Q100 reliability.

Availability

MCIMX516AJM6CR2 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for automotive infotainment head units, digital instrument clusters, and telematics gateways requiring stable component supply, long-lifecycle support, and AEC-Q100 qualified silicon.

Supply support for MCIMX516AJM6CR2 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, with deep expertise in ARM-based application processors and automotive qualification.

The i.MX51 family was designed specifically for cost-optimized, graphics-rich automotive infotainment systems requiring functional safety awareness, multimedia acceleration, and extended temperature operation - MCIMX516AJM6CR2 represents the fully featured variant with complete video codec support.

FAQ

What is the maximum supported DDR2 memory speed for MCIMX516AJM6CR2?

The MCIMX516AJM6CR2 supports DDR2 memory at up to 200 MHz SDCLK (DDR2-400), delivering 3.2 GB/s peak bandwidth on its 64-bit interface. This is confirmed in Section 4.3 of the IMX51AEC datasheet Rev. 6, and applies specifically to the MCIMX516AJM6CR2 variant with M77X mask set and full specification feature set.

Does MCIMX516AJM6CR2 include hardware video encoding capability?

Yes, MCIMX516AJM6CR2 includes a dedicated Video Processing Unit (VPU) that supports hardware MPEG-4 and H.264 baseline profile encoding at D1 resolution (720×576) up to 30 fps. This capability is explicitly listed in Table 2 under "VPU Features" in the IMX51AEC datasheet Rev. 6 and distinguishes MCIMX516AJM6CR2 from the MCIMX514AJM6C variant which lacks hardware video codecs.

Is MCIMX516AJM6CR2 qualified for automotive use per AEC-Q100?

Yes, MCIMX516AJM6CR2 is AEC-Q100 Grade 2 qualified for operation from –40°C to +105°C ambient (–40°C to +125°C junction), as stated in the ordering information table (Table 1) of the IMX51AEC datasheet Rev. 6. Its qualification covers HTOL, TCT, ESD, and other stress tests required for under-hood and dashboard-mounted automotive electronics.

What security features are implemented in MCIMX516AJM6CR2?

MCIMX516AJM6CR2 implements multiple hardware security features including TrustZone-aware interrupt controller (TZIC), Central Security Unit (CSU), SAHARA Lite crypto accelerator (AES/SHA/RC4/RNG), Run-Time Integrity Checker (RTICv3), Secure JTAG with e-fuse configurable modes, and High Assurance Boot (HAB). These are documented in Sections 2 and 4 of the IMX51AEC datasheet Rev. 6 and apply to the full-spec MCIMX516AJM6CR2 variant.

How many USB interfaces does MCIMX516AJM6CR2 support?

MCIMX516AJM6CR2 supports one USB 2.0 On-The-Go (OTG) interface with integrated high-speed PHY, plus three additional high-speed USB host controllers requiring external PHYs. This configuration is specified in the "Features" section and block diagram (Figure 1) of the IMX51AEC datasheet Rev. 6 and is consistent across all MCIMX516AJM6C variants including MCIMX516AJM6CR2.