NXP Semiconductors MK11DN512VLK5R

Overview

MK11DN512VLK5R from NXP Semiconductors (formerly Freescale) is a 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4 core microcontroller with DSP extensions, operating at up to 50 MHz, featuring 512 KB on-chip program flash, 64 KB RAM, and support for -40°C to +105°C ambient operation. It integrates USB Device Charger Detect, dual SPI/I²C, four UARTs, I²S, 16-bit SAR ADC, two analog comparators with 6-bit DACs, and hardware cryptographic acceleration (AES, SHA-256, DES).

For engineers reviewing the MK11DN512VLK5R datasheet, MK11DN512VLK5R pinout, MK11DN512VLK5R application, or MK11DN512VLK5R equivalent, key selection considerations include its 80-pin LQFP package, FlexMemory absence (flash-only configuration), VLLS0/VLLS1 ultra-low-power stop modes, and integrated tamper detection for secure boot in industrial control and medical edge devices.

Technical Context

The MK11DN512VLK5R implements a multi-clock architecture with independent 3–32 MHz and 32 kHz crystal oscillators, a multipurpose clock generator (MCG), and configurable low-power modes including VLPR, VLPS, LLS, and VLLS0–VLLS3. Its power management supports dynamic voltage scaling and clock gating per peripheral domain.

Security is enforced via hardware CRC, tamper-detect circuitry, secure storage, TRNG, and dedicated cryptographic engines for AES-128/256, SHA-1/256, MD5, and DES/3DES - all accessible without CPU intervention. The 16-channel DMA controller supports up to 63 request sources and scatter-gather transfers across memory-mapped peripherals.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: 80-pin LQFP (12 mm × 12 mm, 0.5 mm pitch), RoHS-compliant, moisture sensitivity level 3.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with MK11DN512VLK5R, MKE15Z64VLH4 trades security and processing headroom for cost reduction, while MKL27Z64VLH4 provides equivalent crypto assurance at lower performance - making MK11DN512VLK5R optimal for applications demanding both high computational throughput and robust embedded security in extended temperature environments.

Availability

MK11DN512VLK5R is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial automation, medical device control, smart grid sensing, and automotive body electronics requiring stable component supply across extended temperature ranges and long product lifecycles.

Supply support for MK11DN512VLK5R 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 K11 series - including MK11DN512VLK5R - was designed for cost-optimized, secure, low-power industrial and medical edge applications requiring extended temperature operation, cryptographic acceleration, and rich analog/motor control peripherals.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the MK11DN512VLK5R?

The MK11DN512VLK5R operates at a maximum system and core clock frequency of 50 MHz. This is achieved using the internal MCG in FEI or PEE mode with an external 3–32 MHz crystal. The flash clock is limited to 25 MHz, requiring wait states above that frequency. All timing specifications in the datasheet - including ADC conversion time, UART baud rate accuracy, and PWM resolution - are validated at this 50 MHz maximum.

Does the MK11DN512VLK5R include FlexMemory (FlexNVM/FlexRAM)?

No, the MK11DN512VLK5R does not include FlexMemory. Its part number encoding confirms this: the 'N' in position 5 indicates "program flash only", distinguishing it from 'X' variants (e.g., MK11DX512VLK5) which integrate FlexNVM and FlexRAM. Therefore, MK11DN512VLK5R provides 512 KB of main program flash and 64 KB of SRAM, with no emulated EEPROM or additional RAM partitioning capability.

What low-power modes are supported by the MK11DN512VLK5R, and what is the lowest achievable current?

The MK11DN512VLK5R supports seven low-power modes: RUN, WAIT, STOP, VLPR, VLPS, LLS, and VLLS0–VLLS3. The lowest active current is 0.543 μA in VLLS0 mode (with POR detect enabled) at 3.0 V and –40°C to 25°C ambient. In VLLS3 mode, current is 2.19 μA under the same conditions. These modes retain RAM and select registers while disabling clocks to non-essential modules - enabling rapid wake-up (<85 μs) for event-driven sensing applications.

Is the MK11DN512VLK5R pin-compatible with other K11 family members like MK11DX256VLK5?

No, the MK11DN512VLK5R is not pin-compatible with MK11DX256VLK5 despite sharing the same 80-pin LQFP package. While both use the LK package identifier, differences in internal memory mapping, peripheral enablement, and signal multiplexing (e.g., FlexNVM-related pins on DX variants are repurposed or undefined on DN variants) mean PCB layout cannot be reused without validation. Pin assignments for ADC, CMP, and timer functions may differ between flash-only and FlexMemory variants.

What cryptographic algorithms are hardware-accelerated in the MK11DN512VLK5R?

The MK11DN512VLK5R includes a dedicated hardware cryptography module supporting AES-128 and AES-256 (ECB/CBC/CTR modes), SHA-1 and SHA-256, MD5, and DES/3DES. These operations execute independently of the CPU core, reducing latency and power consumption during secure boot, firmware authentication, and encrypted communication. The module is accessed via the Cryptographic Services Engine (CSEc) peripheral and requires no external co-processor - all cryptographic functions are contained within the MK11DN512VLK5R die.