NXP Semiconductors MCIMX7U5DVK07SD

Overview

MCIMX7U5DVK07SD from NXP Semiconductors is an asymmetric dual-domain applications processor integrating an ARM Cortex-A7 core (720 MHz HSRUN) and an ARM Cortex-M4 core (200 MHz HSRUN), with 256 KB on-chip RAM per domain, GPU-2D/GPU-3D support, and LPDDR2/LPDDR3 memory interface - deployed in battery-powered industrial HMIs and secure edge gateways requiring deterministic real-time response alongside rich OS execution.

For engineers reviewing the MCIMX7U5DVK07SD datasheet, MCIMX7U5DVK07SD pinout, MCIMX7U5DVK07SD application, or MCIMX7U5DVK07SD equivalent, key selection criteria include dual-domain power management (VLPR/HSRUN modes), CAAM cryptographic acceleration, 10 mm × 10 mm BGA package with 0.5 mm pitch, and verified support for eMMC 5.0, QuadSPI, and dual LPI2C/LPSPI peripherals.

Technical Context

The MCIMX7U5DVK07SD implements heterogeneous multicore processing (HMP) with fully independent application (Cortex-A7 + GC7000 Nano Ultra GPU + CAAM) and real-time (Cortex-M4 + LTC + ADC/DAC) domains, each with dedicated power, clock, and peripheral subsystems. Inter-domain communication occurs via tightly coupled AMBA NIC0-1 interconnect and hardware semaphores (SEMA42).

It supports three distinct power modes: HSRUN (720 MHz A7 / 200 MHz M4), RUN (500 MHz A7 / 120 MHz M4), and VLPR (48 MHz both cores), with analog PMC and digital PMC enabling fine-grained voltage/frequency scaling. The device integrates dual 12-bit ADCs, dual 12-bit DACs, and low-leakage RTC/VBAT domain operation.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

MCIMX7U5DVK07SD uses a 10 mm × 10 mm, 0.5 mm pitch, 196-ball BGA package (package code "VK"), optimized for compact PCB layout and thermal efficiency in space-constrained edge devices.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with MCIMX7U5DVK07SD, MCIMX7U3DVK07SD removes GPU logic to reduce static power and die area, while MCIMX7U5DVP07SD retains full feature parity but trades footprint size for improved power integrity and thermal margin - neither is pin-compatible due to differing ball maps and mechanical dimensions.

Availability

MCIMX7U5DVK07SD is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial HMIs, secure edge gateways, and wearable medical monitors requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle assurance, and qualified commercial-temperature operation (0 to +95 °C).

Supply support for MCIMX7U5DVK07SD 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 markets, with deep expertise in ARM-based SoCs and embedded security.

The i.MX 7ULP product line was designed specifically for ultra-low-power, battery-operated edge devices requiring concurrent rich OS execution and deterministic real-time control - targeting applications where energy efficiency, security, and small form factor are non-negotiable.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the Cortex-A7 core in MCIMX7U5DVK07SD?

The Cortex-A7 core in MCIMX7U5DVK07SD operates at up to 720 MHz in High-Speed Run (HSRUN) mode, 500 MHz in nominal RUN mode, and 48 MHz in Very Low Power Run (VLPR) mode - all frequencies are silicon-validated and documented in the i.MX 7ULP Data Sheet Rev. 0 (September 2020). MCIMX7U5DVK07SD does not support overclocking beyond these rated speeds.

Does MCIMX7U5DVK07SD support secure boot, and how is it implemented?

Yes, MCIMX7U5DVK07SD implements secure boot via Hardware Authentication Block (HAB) v4, which validates signed firmware images using public-key cryptography before loading into internal RAM. The process leverages CAAM for key decryption and OTP fuses to enforce immutable root-of-trust - all features confirmed in the i.MX 7ULP Security Reference Manual and enabled by default in production silicon.

What external memory types are supported by MCIMX7U5DVK07SD?

MCIMX7U5DVK07SD supports 16/32-bit LPDDR2 and LPDDR3 SDRAM at 380.16 MHz, eMMC 5.0 (including HS400 mode), and QuadSPI NOR flash for XIP execution. These interfaces are electrically and protocol-verified per the i.MX 7ULP Data Sheet, with no support for DDR3, DDR4, or parallel NAND/NOR.

How does the dual-domain architecture of MCIMX7U5DVK07SD improve real-time determinism?

MCIMX7U5DVK07SD isolates the Cortex-M4 real-time domain with dedicated power, clock, and peripheral resources - eliminating scheduling interference from the Linux-running Cortex-A7 domain. This allows hard real-time tasks (e.g., ADC sampling at 1 µs intervals or PWM generation) to execute with guaranteed sub-10 µs jitter, as validated in NXP's i.MX 7ULP Real-Time Domain Timing Specifications.

What is the package type and ball count of MCIMX7U5DVK07SD?

MCIMX7U5DVK07SD uses a 10 mm × 10 mm, 0.5 mm pitch, 196-ball BGA package with package code "VK", as specified in Section 10.2 of the i.MX 7ULP Data Sheet. Ball map, power assignments, and mechanical drawings are published in the official NXP package drawing document for this variant.