Freescale: Kinetis K Series Microcontrollers Family

More Resources Freescale Line card Other Freescale Product Families Freescale CodeWarrior IDE Knode Development Kits & Platform Room element14 Knode   Overview   Kinetis portfolio of ARM Cortex MCUs consists of multiple hardware- and software-compatible ARM Cortex-M0+ and Cortex-M4 MCU families with exceptional low-power performance, memory scalability and feature integration. Families range from the entry-level ARM Cortex-M0+ Kinetis L Series to the high-performance, feature-rich ARM Cortex-M4 Kinetis K and include a wide selection of analog, communication, HMI, connectivity and security features.   Seven hardware and software compatible ARM Cortex-M4 MCU families with exceptional low-power performance, memory scalability including on-chip FlexMemory/EEPROM and peripheral integration. Devices range from 50 to 150 MHz, 32 KB to 1 MB and include analog, human-machine interface, connectivity, safety and security features.   This series is designed for scalable performance, integration, connectivity, communications, HMI and security and features exceptional integration with multiple fast 16-bit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), digital-to-analog converters (DACs) and a programmable-gain amplifier (PGA), along with powerful, cost-effective signal conversion, conditioning and control.   The enablement package includes Freescale's Tower System Development Platform, Freedom Development Platform, bundled MQX RTOS and CodeWarrior IDE with Processor Expert auto code generator, as well as broad support from IAR Systems, KEIL, Green Hills and other partners. The Kinetis K series is included in Freescale's Energy Efficient Solutions and Product Longevity programs.   Freescale IP and Innovation: On-chip cache for instructions and data Cross-bar switch for concurrent multi-master/slave accesses Low-leakage wake-up unit adds flexibility for low power operationCore

Key Features

• ARM Cortex-M4 Technology:The ARM Cortex-M4 core builds on the legacy of its ARM Cortex-M3 predecessor and brings an intelligent blend of MCU and DSP features. Supplementing this are a range of Freescale IP blocks that maximize bus bandwidth and flash execution performance allowing CPU frequencies of up to 150 MHz.
  • ARMv7 METM Architecture

  • Thumb-2 technology

  • DSP and SIMD extensions
  • Single cycle MAC (up to 32 x 32 + 64 -> 64)
  • Optional single-precision floating point unit
  • Integrated configurable NVIC
  • Compatible with Cortex-M3
• Low power architecture:
  • The architecture allows for adjustable clocking for peripherals and the core. This allows for quick changes to MCU clocks and different clock speeds for peripherals such as USB and Ethernet.
  • A separate power supply for the real time clock allows low power time keeping with less than 1uA power consumption.
  • The first phase of the Kinetis portfolio contains five compatible MCU families that contain market-focused and common embedded MCU peripherals.
  • Five performance options are available from 50 to 150 MHz with flash memory ranging from 32 KB to 1 MB and high RAM to-flash ratios throughout.
  • All families include devices with FlexMemory technology providing on-chip EEPROM capability and/or additional program and data memory.
  • Common peripherals, memory maps and packages both within families and between families allow easy migration to greater/less memory and functionality.
  • Packages range from the ultra-small footprint 5 mm x 5 mm 32-pin QFN up to the high density 256-pin BGA.
• 90nm Thin Film Storage (TFS) Flash Memory Technology:
  • Kinetis MCU devices are built from Freescale’s new 90nm TFS flash memory technology.
  • TFS offers enhanced reliability through its silicon nanocrystal charge storage construction and supports full flash programming and analog peripheral operation down to 1.71V, extending battery life in low-power applications.
  • A variety of sophisticated flash memory access acceleration schemes are employed, including a flash memory controller which can be configured to perform speculative pre-fetches and supports page buffer, local cache storage and a full-Harvard, full-crossbar architecture which enables enhanced CPU access to memories.
  • Depending on the user code, Kinetis MCUs are capable of running at full frequency with zero wait states. As well as enhancing performance, these features lower MCU power consumption by significantly reducing flash array utilization.
• Mixed-Signal Analog:
  • Kinetis MCUs are rich in mixed-signal analog capability. All families include one or more 16-bit ADCs.
  • ADC resolution can be configured from 8 to 16 bits and traded against signal conversion time to satisfy the high-resolution needs of metering and medical applications, or the fast signal processing demands of motor control systems.
  • ADC inputs can also be configured as single or differential for maximum noise immunity and dynamic range. Multiple 12-bit DACs, high-speed comparators, programmable gain amplifiers and an on-chip analog voltage reference also contribute to a reduced total system cost and integration effort.
  • The Kinetis K50 family integrates an analog measurement engine consisting of 2x OPAMPS and 2x TRIAMPS for the correct conditioning of analog signals.
• Ultra-Low Power:
  • Kinetis MCUs feature the best in low power innovation, including ten flexible low-power operating modes for power profile optimization, power and clock gating, back-biasing, 4 μS wake up times, flash programming and analog peripheral operation down to 1.71V.
  • The result is Stop and Run currents of <500 nA and <200μA/MHz respectively.
  • A low-power RTC and low-leakage wake-up unit add further low power flexibility, while a low-power timer enables continual system operation in reduced power states.

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Development Tools

Software Development Tools:

Tool Type	Supplier	MPN	Supported Family	Description
IDE	Freescale	CodeWarrior	All Freescale MCU's	Freescale's software and development solutions take you beyond the silicon, helping to bring your embedded applications to life.  Learn More
IDE	ARM Keil	MDK ARM	ARM Cortex-M  / Cortex-R4 / ARM7 / ARM9	The MDK-ARM (Microcontroller Development Kit) is the complete software development environment for ARM7, ARM9, Cortex-M, and Cortex-R4 processor-based devices.  Learn More
RTOS	Freescale	MQX	ColdFire / HC08 / HC12 / ARM / S08 / RS08 / PowerPC	The Freescale MQX Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) provides real-time performance within a small, configurable footprint. This RTOS is designed to allow you to configure and balance code size with performance requirements. Learn More
RTOS	Micrium	uC/OS III	ColdFire / HC08 / HC12 / ARM / S08 / RS08 / PowerPC	μC/OS-III is Micrium’s newest RTOS, designed for developers who need to save time on their current and next embedded sytem projects. Using a commercial real-time kernel such as μC/OS-III provides a solid foundation and framework to the design engineer dealing with the growing complexity of embedded designs.  Learn More
RTOS	Segger	embOS	ColdFire / HC08 / HC12 / ARM / S08 / RS08	SEGGER embOS (Real Time Operating System) follows strict, yet efficient coding and documentation standards. embOS is a priority-controlled real time operating system, designed to be used as foundation for the development of embedded real-time applications.  Learn More

Hardware Development Tools:

Tool Type	Supplier	MPN	Supported Family	Description
Debuggers, Emulators & JTAG Tools	Freescale	U-MULTILINKU-MULTILINK	HC08 / HCS12 / S08 / RS08 / Coldfire / Kinetis	P&E USB Multilink Universal debug and programming interface for HCS08, HC(S)12(X), ColdFire, Qorivva MPC55xx/56xx, and Kinetis
Debuggers, Emulators & JTAG Tools	ARM	ULINK2ULINK2	ARM Cortex-M  / ARM7 / ARM9	USB DEBUG
Debuggers, Emulators & JTAG Tools	ARM	ULINKProULINKPro	ARM Cortex-M  / ARM7 / ARM9	High-Speed Debug and Trace Unit
Emulator	Segger	J-LinkJ-Link	ARM Cortex-M  / Cortex-R4 / Cortex-A / ARM7 / ARM9	JTAG/SWD Emulator with USB interface
Programmer	Segger	Flasher ARMFlasher ARM	ARM Cortex-M  / Cortex-R4 / Cortex-A / ARM7 / ARM9	Flash Programmer for ARM and Cortex cores

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Applications

• Consumer
• Industrial
• Medical/Healthcare

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Video

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Kits & Evaluation Modules

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