NXP Semiconductors MIMXRT1021DAF5B

Overview

MIMXRT1021DAF5B 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 interfaces, 100 Mbps RMII Ethernet, and 57 GPIOs. It integrates DCDC/LDO power management, SAI ×3, SPDIF, USB OTG, and uSDHC1 for eMMC 4.5/SD 3.0 - deployed in industrial motor control and smart home appliance edge nodes.

For engineers reviewing the MIMXRT1021DAF5B datasheet, MIMXRT1021DAF5B pinout, MIMXRT1021DAF5B application, or MIMXRT1021DAF5B equivalent, key selection criteria include its 100-pin LQFP package constraint, single uSDHC channel, RMII-only Ethernet interface, and 10-channel ADC configuration - all confirmed in NXP's IMXRT1020CEC Rev. 3.1 documentation.

Technical Context

The MIMXRT1021DAF5B implements a single Arm Cortex-M7 core with 16 KB I-cache, 16 KB D-cache, and VFPv5 FPU, operating at 500 MHz with TCM configurable up to 256 KB. Its memory subsystem includes 96 KB boot ROM and flexible OCRAM allocation via FlexRAM controller.

It supports real-time peripherals including two FlexPWM modules (16 total channels), two Quad Timers, four general-purpose timers, and dual FlexCAN controllers compliant with CAN 2.0B. Connectivity is enabled through one USB 2.0 OTG with integrated PHY, one RMII Ethernet MAC with IEEE 1588 support, and three SAI modules for I2S/TDM audio.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

100-pin LQFP package (14 × 14 mm, 0.5 mm pitch) with exposed pad; pin assignments follow NXP's IMXRT1020CEC Rev. 3.1 Section 6.2 "14 x 14 mm package information".

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with MIMXRT1021DAF5B, MIMXRT1021DAG5B adds SDRAM and dual uSDHC at the cost of larger footprint and higher pin count, while MIMXRT1015DAF5A trades networking peripherals and RAM for higher clock speed and lower gate count - making MIMXRT1021DAF5B the optimal balance for CAN/Ethernet-enabled compact industrial controllers.

Availability

MIMXRT1021DAF5B is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial motor control, smart home appliance hubs, and IoT edge gateways requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle assurance, and full traceability.

Supply support for MIMXRT1021DAF5B 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, high-performance processing solutions for automotive, industrial, and IoT markets.

The i.MX RT1020 product line delivers crossover processors bridging MCU simplicity with application-processor capability - designed specifically for real-time edge intelligence in cost-sensitive, power-constrained industrial and consumer systems.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the MIMXRT1021DAF5B?

The MIMXRT1021DAF5B operates at a maximum frequency of 500 MHz, as specified in NXP's IMXRT1020CEC Rev. 3.1 datasheet. This frequency is guaranteed across the full 0 °C to +95 °C junction temperature range and under nominal VDD_SOC conditions. The MIMXRT1021DAF5B achieves this performance using an optimized Arm Cortex-M7 core with tightly coupled memory and hardware-accelerated peripherals.

Does the MIMXRT1021DAF5B support external SDRAM?

No, the MIMXRT1021DAF5B does not support external SDRAM. According to Table 1 in the IMXRT1020CEC Rev. 3.1 datasheet, SDRAM support via the SEMC interface is exclusive to the 144-pin LQFP variants (e.g., MIMXRT1021DAG5B). The MIMXRT1021DAF5B uses only internal 256 KB RAM and external flash via FlexSPI or uSDHC1.

How many CAN interfaces does the MIMXRT1021DAF5B include?

The MIMXRT1021DAF5B includes two fully compliant FlexCAN 2.0B controllers, as confirmed in the "Features" section for this part number on page 7 of IMXRT1020CEC Rev. 3.1. Both controllers support standard and extended frames, message RAM, and hardware filtering - enabling robust industrial fieldbus communication without external CAN controllers.

What is the ADC resolution and channel count on the MIMXRT1021DAF5B?

The MIMXRT1021DAF5B integrates two 12-bit Analog-to-Digital Converters with a total of 10 usable input channels, as documented in Table 1 (page 5) and the ordering information table (page 7) of IMXRT1020CEC Rev. 3.1. This configuration supports simultaneous sampling of motor phase currents, temperature sensors, and analog control signals in compact industrial designs.

Is the MIMXRT1021DAF5B pin-compatible with other i.MX RT102x variants in the same package?

Yes, the MIMXRT1021DAF5B shares identical pinout and package dimensions (100-pin LQFP, 14 × 14 mm, 0.5 mm pitch) with MIMXRT1021DAF5A, as verified in Section 6.2 of IMXRT1020CEC Rev. 3.1. Functionally identical pins ensure drop-in replacement for design revisions requiring updated silicon revision (A → B) without PCB changes.