NXP Semiconductors MCIMX6S5EVM10AD

Overview

MCIMX6S5EVM10AD from NXP Semiconductors is a single-core Arm Cortex-A9 applications processor operating at 1 GHz, supporting DDR3/DDR3L/LPDDR2-800 memory, integrated VPU and GPU2D/GPU3D accelerators, and dual CAN interfaces. It targets embedded HMI, portable medical devices, and IP phones requiring high multimedia throughput with extended temperature operation.

For engineers reviewing the MCIMX6S5EVM10AD datasheet, MCIMX6S5EVM10AD pinout, MCIMX6S5EVM10AD application, or MCIMX6S5EVM10AD equivalent, key selection criteria include its -20°C to +105°C extended commercial temperature grade, absence of EPDC (E-Ink controller), inclusion of MLB interface, and MAPBGA 21×21 mm 0.8 mm pitch package with 484 terminals.

Technical Context

The MCIMX6S5EVM10AD implements a single Arm Cortex-A9 core with 32 KB L1 instruction and 32 KB L1 data caches, plus 512 KB shared L2 cache. It integrates dedicated hardware accelerators including VPU for 1080p video decode/encode, GPU3Dv5 (OpenGL ES 2.0), GPU2Dv2, and PXP for pixel processing.

Its system architecture supports multiple concurrent interfaces: dual MIPI CSI-2 camera inputs, HDMI 1.4, LVDS, parallel LCD, four uSDHC ports (UHS-I SDR-104), USB 2.0 OTG + three HS hosts (one with HS PHY, two with HSIC PHY), PCIe v2.0 x1, Gigabit Ethernet (IEEE 1588), and two FlexCAN controllers - all managed via a unified AXI/AHB switch fabric.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

MCIMX6S5EVM10AD uses a 21 mm × 21 mm MAPBGA package with 0.8 mm ball pitch and 484 I/O terminals. Pin assignments follow the i.MX 6Solo signal naming convention defined in IMX6SDLCEC Rev. 9, with functional grouping across power domains (VDD_ARM, VDD_SOC, VDDA_3P3, etc.), high-speed interfaces (DDR, USB, PCIe), and peripheral muxing (eCSPI, I2C, UART).

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with MCIMX6S5EVM10AD, MCIMX6S5DVM10AD trades thermal resilience for lower cost in benign environments, while MCIMX6U5EVM10AD doubles compute throughput at higher power and software complexity - making the former optimal for thermally constrained cost-sensitive HMIs and the latter essential for multi-threaded gateway applications.

Availability

MCIMX6S5EVM10AD is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial HMI, portable medical monitors, and IP phones requiring stable component supply across long product lifecycles and extended temperature operation.

Supply support for MCIMX6S5EVM10AD 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 specializing in secure connectivity solutions for automotive, industrial, and IoT markets, with over 40 years of microcontroller and applications processor innovation.

The i.MX 6Solo family, including MCIMX6S5EVM10AD, was designed specifically for cost-optimized, multimedia-rich embedded applications requiring balanced performance, power efficiency, and extended temperature reliability - targeting human-machine interfaces and portable connected devices.

FAQ

What is the maximum DDR3 memory speed supported by MCIMX6S5EVM10AD?

The MCIMX6S5EVM10AD supports DDR3-800 (400 MHz clock, 800 MT/s data rate) with 32-bit bus width. This provides up to 3.2 GB/s theoretical bandwidth, sufficient for 1080p video buffering and multi-layer GUI rendering. The memory controller includes on-die termination and programmable drive strength to ensure signal integrity across varied PCB layouts.

Does MCIMX6S5EVM10AD include an E-Ink display controller (EPDC)?

No, MCIMX6S5EVM10AD does not include the EPDC module. Its part number suffix "5" indicates the "no EPDC" variant per NXP's i.MX 6Solo nomenclature (Table 1, IMX6SDLCEC Rev. 9). For E-Ink support, select MCIMX6S8xxx variants (e.g., MCIMX6S8DVM10AD) which integrate the EPDC capable of driving 1650×2332 monochrome/color E-Ink panels.

What is the function of the MLB interface on MCIMX6S5EVM10AD?

The MLB (MediaLB) interface on MCIMX6S5EVM10AD provides a deterministic, low-latency serial bus for connecting to MOST25/50/150 networks. It includes integrated DTCP cipher acceleration for encrypting audio/video streams, making MCIMX6S5EVM10AD suitable for premium automotive infotainment head units and professional broadcast equipment requiring secure media transport.

Can MCIMX6S5EVM10AD operate without an external crystal oscillator?

No, MCIMX6S5EVM10AD requires a 24 MHz crystal for USB functionality and a 32.768 kHz crystal for RTC operation. The internal oscillators cannot meet USB 2.0 timing jitter requirements. Omitting the 24 MHz crystal disables USB OTG and host ports, limiting connectivity to Ethernet, CAN, and SDIO-only interfaces.

How does the CAAM module in MCIMX6S5EVM10AD improve security in field-deployed devices?

The CAAM in MCIMX6S5EVM10AD accelerates AES-256, SHA-256, RSA-2048, and HMAC operations in hardware, enabling fast TLS 1.2 handshakes, secure firmware authentication during boot (A-HAB v4), and runtime encryption of sensitive data in RAM. Its NIST-certified PRNG ensures cryptographically strong key generation - critical for preventing replay attacks in remote medical or industrial monitoring systems using MCIMX6S5EVM10AD.