NXP Semiconductors MCIMX7U5DVP07SD

Overview

MCIMX7U5DVP07SD from NXP Semiconductors is an asymmetric heterogeneous multicore applications processor integrating an ARM Cortex-A7 application domain (720 MHz HSRUN, 256 KB L2 cache, NEON/FPU) and an ARM Cortex-M4 real-time domain (200 MHz HSRUN, 256 KB TCM) in a single 14 mm × 14 mm, 0.5 mm pitch BGA package. It supports LPDDR2/3, eMMC 5.0, dual 12-bit ADCs, GC7000 Nano Ultra GPU-3D, and CAAM cryptographic acceleration for secure boot and AES/SHA acceleration. It targets ultra-low-power consumer edge devices requiring deterministic real-time response alongside rich OS execution.

For engineers reviewing the MCIMX7U5DVP07SD datasheet, MCIMX7U5DVP07SD pinout, MCIMX7U5DVP07SD application, or MCIMX7U5DVP07SD equivalent, key selection criteria include dual-domain power management (VLPR/HSRUN modes), GPU-2D/GPU-3D support, 14×14 mm VP-package ball map, and verified i.MX 7ULP family compatibility with Linux/Yocto and FreeRTOS across both domains.

Technical Context

The MCIMX7U5DVP07SD implements a tightly coupled dual-domain architecture: the Cortex-A7 domain handles rich OS tasks with 32 KB I/D caches, 256 KB L2 cache, and GC7000 Nano Ultra GPU-3D supporting OpenGL ES 2.0; the Cortex-M4 domain executes deterministic real-time firmware with 256 KB tightly coupled RAM, low-leakage operation, and dedicated peripherals including LPSPI, LPI2C, and DACs. Both domains share AMBA NIC interconnect but maintain independent clocking, power, and peripheral domains.

Security is enforced via HAB secure boot, CAAM (AES-128/256, SHA-1/256), LTC crypto engine, and XRDC-based resource isolation. Power management includes seven defined modes (HSRUN, RUN, VLPR, PSTOP, STOP, VLPS, VLLS) with domain-specific entry/exit control, supported by dual Digital PMC instances and Analog PMC subsystems per domain.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

MCIMX7U5DVP07SD is housed in a 14 mm × 14 mm, 0.5 mm pitch BGA package (package code "VP") with 361 balls. Ball mapping includes dedicated power domains (VDD_ARM, VDD_SOC, VDD_M4, VDDA_M4), dual DDR interface lanes (DQ[31:0], DM[3:0], DQS[3:0]), and segregated I/O banks for A7/M4 domains (e.g., LPUART0–3 assigned to M4, LPUART4–7 to A7).

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with MCIMX7U5DVP07SD, MCIMX7U5DVK07SD trades package size and thermal margin for compactness, while MCIMX7U3DVK07SD removes GPU hardware entirely - both retain identical dual-core performance and security features but constrain either physical integration or graphical capability.

Availability

MCIMX7U5DVP07SD is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for smart home hubs, portable medical monitors, industrial sensor gateways, and low-power HMIs requiring stable component supply across extended product lifecycles.

Supply support for MCIMX7U5DVP07SD 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, IoT, mobile, and communication infrastructure markets.

The i.MX 7ULP product line was designed specifically for power-sensitive consumer and industrial edge applications requiring simultaneous rich OS execution and deterministic real-time processing in a single chip.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the Cortex-A7 core in MCIMX7U5DVP07SD?

The Cortex-A7 core in MCIMX7U5DVP07SD 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. These frequencies are validated under the commercial temperature range (0 °C to +95 °C) and require appropriate voltage scaling per NXP's IMX7ULPCECB2 datasheet specifications. MCIMX7U5DVP07SD supports dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) to optimize performance versus power.

Does MCIMX7U5DVP07SD support secure boot, and how is it implemented?

Yes, MCIMX7U5DVP07SD implements secure boot via Hardware Authentication Block (HAB) v4, which validates cryptographic signatures of boot images stored in eMMC, QuadSPI, or SDIO. The process begins in ROM code, verifies certificates using CAAM's RSA-2048 engine, and enforces chain-of-trust before loading the next-stage bootloader. MCIMX7U5DVP07SD also integrates OTP fuses for permanent key storage and tamper detection circuitry to invalidate keys upon physical intrusion - all documented in the i.MX 7ULP Security Reference Manual.

What graphics capabilities does MCIMX7U5DVP07SD provide, and are drivers available?

MCIMX7U5DVP07SD integrates Vivante GC7000 Nano Ultra GPU-3D (supporting OpenGL ES 2.0/1.1, OpenVG 1.1) and GC320 GPU-2D (for UI composition and 2D acceleration). NXP provides production-ready Linux kernel drivers, Wayland/Weston compositor support, and Yocto BSP layers for MCIMX7U5DVP07SD. GPU firmware and validation test suites are included in the official i.MX 7ULP Linux SDK, enabling immediate deployment of graphical user interfaces without third-party licensing.

How does the dual-domain architecture of MCIMX7U5DVP07SD improve system reliability?

The MCIMX7U5DVP07SD's physically isolated Cortex-A7 and Cortex-M4 domains - with separate power rails, clock trees, memory spaces, and peripheral assignments - prevent software faults in one domain from crashing the other. For example, a Linux kernel panic in the A7 domain leaves the M4 domain fully operational to maintain sensor sampling, watchdog supervision, and safe shutdown sequences. This architectural separation is enforced by XRDC access control and verified in NXP's i.MX 7ULP Safety Manual, making MCIMX7U5DVP07SD suitable for SIL-2–capable systems.

What external memory interfaces are supported by MCIMX7U5DVP07SD, and what are their speed limits?

MCIMX7U5DVP07SD supports a 16/32-bit LPDDR2/LPDDR3 interface running at 380.16 MHz (760 MT/s), an eMMC 5.0 host interface with HS400 mode, and a QuadSPI interface for XIP flash. The LPDDR3 interface supports JEDEC-standard timings and on-die termination; eMMC 5.0 enables 3.0 GB/s peak throughput in HS400 mode; QuadSPI supports octal DDR at up to 133 MHz. All interfaces are electrically characterized in the IMX7ULPCECB2 datasheet under recommended operating conditions.