NXP Semiconductors MIMXRT1021DAF5A

Overview

MIMXRT1021DAF5A from NXP Semiconductors is a 500 MHz Arm® Cortex®-M7 crossover processor in 100-pin LQFP (14 × 14 mm, 0.5 mm pitch), featuring 256 KB on-chip RAM, dual FlexCAN, RMII Ethernet, and one uSDHC interface - deployed in industrial motor control and IoT edge gateways requiring real-time deterministic response with integrated power management.

For engineers reviewing the MIMXRT1021DAF5A datasheet, MIMXRT1021DAF5A pinout, MIMXRT1021DAF5A application, or MIMXRT1021DAF5A equivalent, key selection criteria include GPIO count (57), SAI/SPDIF audio support, FlexPWM channel count (16), ADC channel availability (10), and absence of SEMC - critical for memory-constrained embedded designs where package size and peripheral subset drive BOM and layout decisions.

Technical Context

The MIMXRT1021DAF5A implements a single Arm Cortex-M7 core with 16 KB I-cache, 16 KB D-cache, and VFPv5 FPU, operating at 500 MHz with full CoreSight debug support. It integrates DCDC/LDO power management to reduce external supply complexity and supports boot from Quad SPI, SD/eMMC, or NAND via configurable ROM-based boot flow.

Its peripheral set is defined by the 100-pin LQFP variant: 57 GPIOs, no SEMC, RMII-only Ethernet (no MII), one uSDHC (vs. two in 144-pin), and reduced FlexIO (22 channels) and ADC (10 channels vs. 19). All variants share identical 256 KB OCRAM/FlexRAM allocation and security features including HAB, DCP (AES-128/SHA-256), and SNVS.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

100-pin LQFP (14 × 14 mm, 0.5 mm pitch) with exposed thermal pad. Pin assignments follow NXP's i.MX RT1020 Reference Manual (IMXRT1020RM) Section 6.2 - contact assignments validated for MIMXRT1021DAF5A per datasheet IMXRT1020CEC Rev. 3.1.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with MIMXRT1021DAG5A, the MIMXRT1021DAF5A trades SDRAM support and dual uSDHC for smaller footprint and lower thermal density; versus MIMXRT1015DAF5A, it adds 100 MHz CPU headroom, dual CAN, and SPDIF - making it optimal for connected motor control where real-time throughput and interface breadth are balanced against size.

Availability

MIMXRT1021DAF5A is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial motor control, smart home gateways, and IoT edge nodes requiring stable component supply across multi-year production cycles.

Supply support for MIMXRT1021DAF5A 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 headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands, specializing in secure connectivity solutions for automotive, industrial, and IoT markets.

The i.MX RT series targets high-performance microcontroller applications needing MPU-level compute with MCU-level determinism - the MIMXRT1021DAF5A specifically addresses cost-sensitive, space-constrained edge devices requiring CAN, Ethernet, and audio without external memory controllers.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the MIMXRT1021DAF5A?

The MIMXRT1021DAF5A operates at a maximum frequency of 500 MHz. This is achieved using the Arm Cortex-M7 core with integrated L1 caches and FPU. The device is rated for consumer temperature range (0 °C to +95 °C junction), and sustained 500 MHz operation requires adherence to thermal design guidelines in the IMXRT1020CEC datasheet, including proper PCB copper pour and thermal pad soldering for the 100-pin LQFP package.

Does the MIMXRT1021DAF5A support external SDRAM?

No, the MIMXRT1021DAF5A does not support external SDRAM. Unlike the 144-pin variants (e.g., MIMXRT1021DAG5A), the 100-pin LQFP package omits the Smart External Memory Controller (SEMC). Its memory subsystem relies solely on 256 KB on-chip OCRAM, configurable as TCM or general-purpose RAM. Designs requiring SDRAM must use the MIMXRT1021DAG5A or higher-pin-count derivatives.

How many CAN interfaces does the MIMXRT1021DAF5A include?

The MIMXRT1021DAF5A includes two FlexCAN 2.0B modules. Both interfaces support standard and extended message frames, programmable bit rates up to 1 Mbps, and hardware mailbox filtering. Each requires an external CAN transceiver (e.g., TJA1042) for physical layer compliance. This dual-CAN capability is retained across all i.MX RT1021 variants, including the MIMXRT1021DAF5A, MIMXRT1021DAG5A, and their 'B' revisions.

What audio interfaces are available on the MIMXRT1021DAF5A?

The MIMXRT1021DAF5A provides three Synchronous Audio Interfaces (SAI1–SAI3), SPDIF transmitter and receiver, and MQS (Medium Quality Sound) output. All three SAIs support I2S, AC97, TDM, and codec/DSP modes with independent clock domains. SPDIF enables digital audio transmission to AV receivers, while MQS generates stereo PWM audio directly on GPIO pins - eliminating the need for external DACs in basic audio applications.

Is the MIMXRT1021DAF5A pin-compatible with other i.MX RT1021 variants?

No, the MIMXRT1021DAF5A is not pin-compatible with other i.MX RT1021 variants due to differing packages: MIMXRT1021DAF5A uses 100-pin LQFP, while MIMXRT1021DAG5A uses 144-pin LQFP. Pin counts, dimensions, and signal mappings differ fundamentally. Migration between them requires PCB redesign. However, software and register-level compatibility is maintained across the i.MX RT1021 family, enabling reuse of BSPs and drivers with peripheral-specific configuration adjustments.