Freescale Kinetis K : The new generation of MCU with ARM Cortex-M4 core and enhanced peripherals

1. Introduction to ARM Cortex-M4 core

a. Cortex-M processor family

• Seamless embedded architecture
  • Spanning cost and performance points

b. Spanning the application range

• Forget traditional 8/16/32-bit classifications
  • Seamless architecture across all applications
  • Every product optimised for ultra low power systems

c. Cortex-M4 for digital signal control

d. ARM Cortex-M4 Processor Microarchitecture

• Backwards compatible with ARM Cortex-M3
• New features
  • Single cycle MAC (Up to 32 x 32 + 64 -> 64)
  • DSP extensions
  • Single Precision Floating Point Unit
• Freescale IP and Innovation
  • On-chip cache for instructions and data
  • Cross-Bar Switch for concurrent multi-master/slave accessing
  • On-chip DMA for CPU off-load
  • Low-leakage Wake-up Unit adds flexibility for low power operation
• Architected for Digital Signal Processing
  • Motor Control - advanced algorithms, longer lifespan, power efficiency
  • Automation - high calculation and algorithm bandwidth at a low cost
  • Power management – designed for low/battery powered systems
  • Audio and Video – 5x performance improvement over software, making batteries last longer

e. Feature comparison chart

f. Cortex-M4 DSP capability compared

g. Cortex-M products fully code compatible

h. Migrating from ARM Cortex-M3 to Cortex-M4

the knode document by element14

2. Freescale Kinetis-K Family

a. Introduction

Scalability

Over 200 hardware and software compatible ARM Cortex-M4 MCUs with DSP + low-power,

connectivity, communications, HMI and security features

Mixed Signal

Exceptional integration with fast 16-bit ADCs, DACs, PGAs and more. Powerful,
cost-effective signal conversion, conditioning and control

Flex Memory

Fast, low-power 90nm Thin-Film Storage Flash. Innovative FlexMemory technology delivers fast,

flexible, high-endurance on-chip EEPROM

Enablement

Freescale bundled MQX RTOS and CodeWarrior IDE with Processor Expert auto code generator.

3rd party support from IAR, KEIL and other ARM ecosystem providers

b. Freescale Product Longevity Program

►The embedded market needs long-term product support ►Freescale has a longstanding track record of providing long-term production support for our products   ►Freescale offers a formal product longevity program for the market segments we serve • For the automotive and medical segments, Freescale will make a broad range of program devices available for a minimum of 15 years • For all other market segments in which Freescale participates, Freescale will make a broad range of devices available for a minimum of 10 years • Life cycles begin at the time of launch   ►A list of participating Freescale products is available at:                www.freescale.com/productlongevity

c. Kinetis Product Family Features

d. Kinetis : Scalable MCUs based on the ARM Cortex-M4 core

e. Kinetis : MCU Family compatibility

Hardware & software compatible MCU families with scalable performance, memory and feature integration

f. Pin compatibility accross family

K10 to K20/K40 = Add USB with almost zero changes

• The only difference will be 4 extra USB pins and 4 less digital I/O pins

K10/K20 to K30 à K40 = Add Segment LCD with minimal board layout changes

• Digital & Analog I/O signals maintain placement order
• Segment LCD signals are muxed
• Most Digital I/O signals muxed

g. What is Flexmemory ?

h. Part Number List

The following table is the part number decoder to help you to identify the reference of your Kinetis solution.

Sub. Family K10 : Base

Sub. Family K20 : Base + USB

Sub. Family K30 : Base + Segment LCD

Sub. Family K40 : Base + USB + Segment LCD

Sub. Family K50 : K40 + Enhanced Analog Mesurement + Ethernet + Encryption

Sub. Family K60 : Base + Ethernet + USB

Sub. Family K70 : K60 + Graphics LCD

3. The tools and the Ecosystem

a. Freescale Enablement Bundle

b. Freescale Tower Kinetis MCU Part Number List

There is many MCU Module boards for Kinetis compatible with Freescale Tower System.

Tower System tools are available in two versions :

- MCU board (embedding debug and programming interface), for ex TWR-K40X256

- Complete Kit (same part number as MCU board with suffix -KIT) with additional Elevator and Connector boards, for example TWR-K40X256-KIT

What is the recommanded evaluation board to evaluate and develop with a Kinetis MCU Family considering its frequency, memory size ...

4. Summary

• 200 scalable devices from 32KB to 1MB of flash and up to 150MHz performance   • FlexMemory delivering on-chip EEPROM   • Incredible mixed-signal integration and low power capability   • Complete enablement • Free MQX RTOS • Free CodeWarrior IDE • Tower system for rapid prototyping

Kinetis: the future of microcontroller technology