#Japan #Tokyo #NXP Semiconductors #MCX Series #FRDM Development

Farnell's Innovative Addition to Microcontroller Portfolio

In a significant advancement for embedded systems, Farnell has unveiled the inclusion of NXP® Semiconductors' MCX series industrial and IoT microcontrollers to its product lineup. This launch promises to broaden the horizons for design engineers by introducing a new FRDM development board geared towards sparking creativity.

MCX A Series: Tailored for Versatile Applications

The MCX A series comprises models MCX A13x, MCX A14x, and MCX A15x, designed as user-friendly mainstream microcontrollers. They are equipped with innovative power architecture and software compatibility, which are vital for embedded applications such as industrial sensors, motor control, battery, and handheld power system controllers, as well as IoT devices. The series operates on the Arm® Cortex®-M33, crafted for a variety of applications while offering scalable device options and low power consumption, thus ensuring intelligent peripherals. The ingenious power architecture fits a simple power circuit into a compact area while supporting high I/O utilization and power efficiency.

Features of MCX C Series and N Series

Moving on to the MCX C Series, these microcontrollers are powered by a maximum of 48 MHz Arm Cortex-M0+, and are built with energy and cost efficiency in mind. Thanks to their flexibility and scalable memory options, they cater to a diverse set of requirements.

On the other hand, the MCX N Series boasts highly integrated Arm Cortex-M33 microcontrollers, designed for high performance with low power usage. They come with intelligent peripherals and on-chip accelerators, facilitating multitasking and performance efficiency. Notably, some models feature NXP’s eIQ® Neutron Neural Processing Unit (NPU), tailored for machine learning applications.

Introducing the Innovative MCX W Series

Lastly, the MCX W Series stands out as a compact, scalable, and secure wireless microcontroller. Built on the Arm Cortex-M33 architecture, this series provides a unified, pin-compatible multi-protocol wireless MCU suitable for Matter™, Thread®, Bluetooth® Low Energy, and ZigBee®. It is particularly advantageous for the development of interoperable smart home devices, building automation sensors and controls, as well as smart energy products.

Insights from Industry Leaders

Justin Mortimer, NXP's Global Product Marketing Manager, states, "The NXP MCX portfolio establishes a foundational base for power-efficient edge devices catering to industrial and IoT markets. This new MCU enhances critical features using an improved MCX+FRDM platform, enabling engineers to design freely without limitations." Each MCX series also accompanies an enhanced NXP FRDM development board, which supports a cost-effective and scalable hardware platform bolstered by the MCUXpresso developer experience toolset.

Engineered to promote creative freedom, these compact boards are equipped with industry-standard headers for easy I/O access, facilitating quick and flexible prototyping. The inclusion of an MCU-Link debug probe and USB-C cable makes it easier for engineers to develop, program, and debug their innovations.

Comprehensive Software Support for Developers

The FRDM boards and MCX portfolio receive robust backing from the widely adopted MCUXpresso ecosystem of software and tools, ensuring an optimal developer experience. Developers can choose from MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code, NXP's Eclipse-based MCUXpresso IDE, or IDEs from IAR and Keil, which offer safety certification. Additionally, NXP provides drivers, middleware, and immediately usable samples tailored for device configuration and security, making it more accessible for developers.

Jose Luque, Director of Global Semiconductor Products at Farnell, expresses his enthusiasm, stating, "We are delighted to add NXP MCX microcontrollers to our offerings, which are designed to address a wide range of edge applications focusing on scalability. This product addition reflects our commitment to supporting customers and partners in thriving in an ever-evolving technological landscape."

Availability of MCX Series and FRDM Boards

The MCX series and extended FRDM boards are available for online order through Farnell in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, Newark in North America, and element14 in the Asia-Pacific region. For more details, visit Farnell's newsroom online.

About Farnell

Farnell Global is a premier distributor dedicated to providing high reliability and swift access to products and technologies for the design, maintenance, and repair of electronic and industrial systems. Spanning over 80 years of experience and supported by a team of more than 3,300 specialists, Farnell offers essential components needed for the creation of future technologies. The organization operates under various brand names, including Newark in the Americas, Farnell in Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Japan, and element14 in the Asia-Pacific region, supplemented by direct consumer sales under the CPC brand in the UK. After becoming part of the globally recognized technology distributor Avnet (Nasdaq: AVT) in 2016, Farnell has substantially enhanced its customer support and service offerings throughout the entire product lifecycle.

To discover more, visit Farnell.