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NXP UM12121 Development Board using MCUX Pressor

NXP-UM12121-Development-Board-using-MCUX-Pressor-FEATURED

Product Information

Specifications

  • Target MCU: NXP MCXA156
  • Core: Arm Cortex-M33 running at speeds up to 96 MHz
  • Supports: Industrial communication protocol, BLDC motor/PMSM control, sensor interfaces (MIPI I3C, I2C, SPI)
  • Compatibility: Arduino boards, motor control boards, Mikroe click boards, Pmod boards
  • Development Tools: NXP MCUXpresso IDE, IAR Embedded Workbench, Arm Keil MDK
  • Debug Probe: Onboard MCU-Link based on NXP LPC55S69
  • Interfaces: USB Type-C, CAN, SWD, GPIO/PWM, UART/SPI/I2C/ADC/PWM, and more
  • Lead-free and RoHS-compliant

Product Usage Instructions

  1. Powering the Board
    Connect the FRDM-MCXA156 board to a power source using the USB Type-C connector.
  2. Programming the MCU
    Use development tools such as NXP MCUXpresso IDE, IAR Embedded Workbench, or Arm Keil MDK to program the MCXA156 MCU.
  3. Debugging
    For debugging purposes, utilize the onboard MCU-Link debug probe connected via USB Type-C.
  4. Interfacing with Peripherals 
    The board supports various interfaces including UART, SPI, I2C, ADC, and PWM. Connect peripherals to the corresponding headers or sockets based on your requirements.
  5. Compatibility with Expansion Boards
    Utilize the Arduino/FRDM headers, mikroBUS headers, and Pmod header to connect compatible expansion boards for additional functionality.

Document information

Information Content
Keywords UM12121, FRDM-MCXA156, MCXA156, Arduino, mikroBUS, Pmod, MCU-Link
Abstract The FRDM-MCXA156 board is a design and evaluation platform based on the NXP MCXA156 MCU.

Board Overview

The FRDM-MCXA156 board is a design and evaluation platform based on the NXP MCXA156 microcontroller (MCU). The MCXA156 MCU is a low-power microcontroller for industrial and consumer Internet of Things (IoT) applications. It has one Arm Cortex-M33 core running at speeds of up to 96 MHz. It supports industrial communication protocol, brushless direct current (BLDC) motor / permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) control, and integrated sensor interfaces (MIPI I3C, I2C, and SPI). The board is compatible with Arduino boards (Arduino UNO R3 and Arduino A4/A5), motor control boards (FRDM-MC-LVBLDC and FRDM-MC-LVPMSM), Mikroe click boards, and Pmod boards. It can be used with a wide range of development tools, including NXP MCUXpresso IDE, IAR Embedded Workbench, and Arm Keil MDK. The board is lead-free and RoHS-compliant. For debugging the MCXA156 MCU, the FRDM-MCXA156 board uses an onboard (OB) debug probe, MCU-Link OB, which is based on another NXP MCU: LPC55S69. For simplicity, the MCXA156 MCU and the LPC55S69   MCU are respectively referred to as “target MCU” and “debug MCU”int some places in this document. This document provides details about the FRDM-MCXA156 board interfaces, power supplies, clocks, connectors, jumpers, push buttons, LEDs, and MCU-Link OB.

Block diagram
Figure 1 shows the FRDM-MCXA156 board block diagram.

NXP-UM12121-Development-Board-using-MCUX-Pressor-FIG- (1)

Board features
Table 1 lists the features of the FRDM-MCXA156 board.

Table 1. FRDM-MCXA156 features

Board feature Target MCU features used Description
MCU (target MCU) NXP MCXA156 MCU (part number: MCXA156VLL) based on an Arm Cortex-M33 core, running at speeds of up to 96 MHz.

Note: For details on the MCXA156 MCU, see MCXA156, A155, A154, A146, A145, A144 Reference Manual and MCXA156, A155, A154, A146, A145, A144 Data Sheet.

USB interface USBFS0 module Supports a USB full-speed connection through a USB 2.0 Type-C connector J23
FlexCAN interface CAN0 module Provides a high-speed CAN FD transceiver accessible through a 2×2-pin header J22
LPUART interface LPUART0 module Supports a USB-to-UART bridge connection using MCU-Link
LPUART1 module Supports an external UART connection through mikroBUS socket connector J5
LPUART2 module Supports an external UART connection through Arduino socket connector J1
LPSPI interface LPSPI0 module Supports an external SPI connection through mikroBUS socket connector J6 or Pmod connector J7 (DNP)
LPSPI1 module Supports an external SPI connection through Arduino socket connector J2
LPI2C interface LPI2C0 module Provides an I2C connection to Arduino socket connector J2
LPI2C2 module Provides an I2C connection to FlexIO LCD connector J8 and camera connector J9 (DNP)
LPI2C3 module Provides an I2C connection to mikroBUS socket connector J5 and Pmod connector J7 (DNP)
I3C interface I3C0 module Supports a digital temperature sensor (P3T1755DP)
FlexIO interface FLEXIO0 module Supports FlexIO LCD connector J8 and camera connector J9 (DNP)
ADC interface ADC0 module Accepts ADC inputs through Arduino socket connector J2
ADC1 module Accepts ADC inputs through Arduino socket connector J2, Arduino socket connector J4, and mikroBUS socket connector J6
Arduino socket LPUART2, LPSPI1, LPI2C0, ADC0, ADC1, PWM0, and PWM1

modules

Arduino socket with four connectors J1, J2, J3, and J4
mikroBUS socket LPUART1, LPSPI0, LPI2C3, ADC1, and

PWM0 modules

mikroBUS socket with a pair of connectors J5 and J6
Pmod connector LPSPI0 and LPI2C3

modules

Pmod connector J7 (DNP)
Debug interface LPUART0 module Onboard MCU-Link debug probe with USB Type-C connector J21 for debugging the MCXA156 MCU
Board feature Target MCU features used Description
Power supply The following options are available to power up the board:

•   External 5 V power through USB Type-C connector J23

•   External 5 V power through USB Type-C connector J21

•   5-9 V power from Arduino socket connector J3, pin 16

Clocks •   8 MHz clock for the MCXA156 MCU

•   16 MHz clock for the LPC55S69 MCU

Orderable part number FRDM-MCXA156

Kit contents
Table 2 lists the items included in the FRDM-MCXA156 board hardware kit.

Table 2. Kit contents

Item Quantity
FRDM-MCXA156 board hardware assembly 1
USB 2.0 Type-A to Type-C cable, 1 meter 1
FRDM-MCXA156 Quick Start Guide 1

Board pictures
Figure 2 shows the top-side view of the FRDM-MCXA156 board with MCXA156 MCU (target MCU), LPC55S69 MCU (debug MCU), temperature sensor, and CAN FD transceiver highlighted.

NXP-UM12121-Development-Board-using-MCUX-Pressor-FIG- (2)NXP-UM12121-Development-Board-using-MCUX-Pressor-FIG- (3)

Figure 3 shows the bottom-side view of the FRDM-MCXA156 board.

Connectors
Figure 4 shows the FRDM-MCXA156 board connectors

NXP-UM12121-Development-Board-using-MCUX-Pressor-FIG- (4)

Table 3 describes the connectors available on the FRDM-MCXA156 board.

Table 3. FRDM-MCXA156 connectors

Part identifier Connector type Description Reference section
J1 2×8-position receptacle Arduino socket connectors Section 2.11
J2 2×10-position receptacle
J3 2×8-position receptacle
J4 2×6-position receptacle
Part identifier Connector type Description Reference section
J5 1×8-position receptacle mikroBUS socket connectors Section 2.12
J6 1×8-position receptacle
J7 (DNP) 2×6-pin/position connector Pmod connector Section 2.13
J8 2×14-position receptacle FlexIO parallel LCD connector Section 2.9
J9 (DNP) 2×9-pin/position connector Camera connector
J10 (DNP) 1-pin/position connector Clock output test point Section 2.2
J11 (DNP) 1-pin/position connector I3C data test point Section 2.8
J12 (DNP) 1-pin/position connector I3C clock test point
J14 (DNP) 1×3-pin/position connector 5 V DC voltage regulator connector Section 2.1
J15 (DNP) 1-pin/position connector GND test points For more information on these connectors, see the FRDM-MCXA156 board

schematics.

J16 (DNP) 1-pin/position connector
J19 (DNP) 1-pin/position connector
J20 (DNP) 1-pin/position connector
J17 (DNP) 1-pin/position connector Power supply test points
J18 (DNP) 1-pin/position connector
J21 USB Type-C connector MCU-Link USB connector Section 3.6
J22 2×2-pin header CAN header Section 2.4
J23 USB Type-C connector MCXA156 USB full-speed (FS) connector Section 2.3
J24 2×5-pin header Target MCU (MCXA156) external debugger connector Section 3.2

Jumpers
Figure 5 shows the FRDM-MCXA156 board jumpers

NXP-UM12121-Development-Board-using-MCUX-Pressor-FIG- (5)

Table 4 describes the FRDM-MCXA156 board jumpers.

Table 4. FRDM-MCXA156 jumpers

Part identifier PCB label Jumper type Description Reference section
JP1 (DNP) POW_BRD 1×2-pin header Board power (VDD_BOARD) measurement jumper. JP1 is not populated on the board by default. It can be populated to measure the current for the VDD_BOARD supply. When populating JP1, ensure to remove the 0 Ω resistor R4.

When open, JP1 can be used to measure the current for the VDD_BOARD supply (see

Section 2.1.1 for more details). When shorted, JP1 produces the VDD_BOARD supply.

Section 2.1
JP2 MCU_DIGITAL

_POW

1×2-pin header Target MCU (MCXA156) digital power (VDD_ MCU) measurement jumper:

•   Open: The VDD_MCU supply is OFF initially. JP2 can be used to measure the current consumption of the MCXA156 digital IPs (see Section 2.1.1 for more details).

•   Shorted (default setting): JP2 produces the VDD_MCU supply.

JP3 (DNP) MCU_TOTAL_ POW 1×2-pin header Target MCU total power (analog + digital) (MCU_VDD_P3V3) measurement jumper. JP3 is not populated on the board by default. It

can be populated to measure the total current consumption of the target MCU. When populating JP3, ensure to remove the 2.7 Ω resistor R6.

When open, JP3 can be used to measure the current for the target MCU total power (MCU_ VDD_P3V3) (see Section 2.1.1 for more details).

Part identifier PCB label Jumper type Description Reference section
When shorted, JP3 produces the MCU_VDD_P3

V3 supply.

JP4 (DNP) MCU_ ANALOG_ POW 1×2-pin header Target MCU (MCXA156) analog power (VDDA_ MCU) measurement jumper. JP4 is not populated on the board by default. It can be populated

to measure the current consumption of the MCXA156 analog IPs. When populating JP4, ensure to remove the 0 Ω resistor R7.

When open, JP4 can be used to measure the current consumption of the MCXA156 analog IPs (see Section 2.1.1 for more details). When shorted, JP4 produces the VDDA_MCU supply.

JP5 ISP_EN_SWD_ ACT 1×2-pin header MCU-Link (LPC55S69) ISP mode enable jumper:

•   Open (default setting): MCU-Link follows the normal boot sequence (MCU-Link boots from its internal flash if a boot image is found). With the internal flash erased, the MCU-Link normal boot sequence falls through to In-System Programming (ISP) boot mode.

•   Shorted: MCU-Link is forced to ISP mode (USB1). Use this setting to reprogram the MCU-

Link internal flash with a new image or use the MCUXpresso IDE with the CMSIS-DAP protocol.

Note: By default, the MCU-Link internal flash is preprogrammed with a version of the CMSIS-DAP firmware.

Section 3.4
JP6 VCOM_DIS 1×2-pin header MCU-Link VCOM port disable jumper:

•   Open (default setting): The MCU-Link virtual communication (VCOM) port (USB-to-UART bridge) is enabled.

•   Shorted: The MCU-Link VCOM port (USB-to- UART bridge) is disabled.

Section 3.7
JP7 SWD_DIS 1×2-pin header MCU-Link SWD disable jumper:

•   Open (default setting): The MCU-Link serial wire debug (SWD) feature is enabled. MCU-Link can be used to drive the SWD of the target MCU.

•   Shorted: The MCU-Link SWD feature is disabled. This jumper setting can be used for debugging the target MCU, using an external debugger connected through connector J24.

Section 3.2
JP8 SWD_CLK 1×2-pin header MCU-Link SWD clock enable jumper:

•   Open: The MCU-Link SWD clock is disabled.

•   Shorted (default setting): The MCU-Link SWD clock is enabled. MCU-Link drives SWD of the target MCU.

For more information on this jumper, see FRDM- MCXA156

board schematics.

Push buttons
Figure 6 shows the FRDM-MCXA156 board push buttons

NXP-UM12121-Development-Board-using-MCUX-Pressor-FIG- (6)

Table 5 describes the FRDM-MCXA156 board push buttons.

Table 5. FRDM-MCXA156 push buttons

Part identifier PCB label Name/function Description
SW1 RESET Reset button Pressing SW1 asserts the MCXA156 MCU pin P1_29 (RESET_B), which wakes up the MCU from any mode. When SW1 is pressed, the reset LED D11 turns ON.
SW2 WAKE UP Wake-up button Pressing SW2 asserts the MCXA156 MCU pin P1_7, which can be configured through software to wake up the MCU from low-power modes.
SW3 ISP ISP button Pressing SW3 asserts the MCXA156 MCU pin P0_6 (ISPMODE_N), which forces the MCU extended bootloader to run in In-System Programming (ISP) mode.

To boot the MCU in ISP mode, hold down SW3 while pressing SW1 (reset button) or while supplying power to the board.

For more information on the MCXA156 MCU ISP mode, see MCXA156, A155, A154, A146, A145, A144

Reference Manual.

LEDs
The FRDM-MCXA156 board provides light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for monitoring system status. The information collected from the LEDs can be used for debugging purposes.

Figure 7 shows the FRDM-MCXA156 board LEDs.

NXP-UM12121-Development-Board-using-MCUX-Pressor-FIG- (7)

Table 6 describes the FRDM-MCXA156 board LEDs except for MCU-Link-specific LEDs, which are described in Section 3.8.

Table 6. FRDM-MCXA156 LEDs

Part identifier PCB label LED color Description (when LED is ON)
D4 POWER Green The LDO_3V3 supply is available.
D11 RESET Red Indicates system reset activity. When board reset is initiated, for example, by pressing the reset button (SW1), D11 turns ON.
D12 RGB Red/green/blue User-defined LED, which can be controlled through a user application.

Note: MCU-Link-specific LEDs D5, D6, and D7 are described in Section 3.8.

Functional description

This section contains the following subsections:

  • Section 2.1 “Power supplies”
  • Section 2.2 “Clocks”
  • Section 2.3 “USB interface”
  • Section 2.4 “FlexCAN interface”
  • Section 2.5 “LPUART interface”
  • Section 2.6 “LPSPI interface”
  • Section 2.7 “LPI2C interface”
  • Section 2.8 “I3C interface”
  • Section 2.9 “FlexIO interface”
  • Section 2.10 “ADC interface”
  • Section 2.11 “Arduino socket”
  • Section 2.12 “mikroBUS socket”
  • Section 2.13 “Pmod connector”

Power supplies
The FRDM-MCXA156 board is powered up using one of the following primary power supply options:

  • External 5 V power through USB Type-C connector J23
  • External 5 V power through USB Type-C connector J21
  • 5-9 V power from Arduino socket connector J3, pin 16

The primary power supply is used to produce secondary power supplies on the board. The secondary power supplies provide power to board components, including the MCXA156 MCU, MCU-Link, temperature sensor, CAN FD transceiver, CAN connector, Arduino socket, mikroBUS socket, Pmod connector, FlexIO LCD connector, camera connector, and external debugger connector.
Table 7 describes the FRDM-MCXA156 board power supplies.

Table 7. FRDM-MCXA156 power supplies

Power source Manufacturer and part number Power supply Description
External supply through USB Type-C connector J23 P5V_USB_FS (5 V) One of the three power source options for the SYS_5V0 supply
External supply through USB Type-C connector J21 P5V_MCU_ LINK_USB (5 V) •   Second power source option for the SYS_5V0 supply

•   Provides the USB1_VBUS power to the LPC55S69 MCU (MCU-Link)

Arduino socket connector J3, pin 16 P5-9V_VIN (5-9 V) Supplies power to 5 V DC voltage regulator connector J14 (not populated)
DC voltage regulator attached to connector J14 (DNP) P5V_HDR_IN (5 V) Third power source option for the SYS_5V0 supply (disabled by default)
From the P5V_USB_ FS / P5V_MCU_ LINK_USB / P5V_

HDR_IN supply

SYS_5V0 (5 V) •   Provides the VCC power to CAN FD transceiver U6

•   Supplies power to LDO voltage regulator U2, CAN connector J22, Arduino socket connector J3 (pin 10), and mikroBUS socket connector J5

Power source Manufacturer and part number Power supply Description
Note: By default,

the option to produce the SYS_5V0 supply from the P5V_HDR_ IN supply is disabled.

LDO voltage regulator U2 Torex Semiconductor XC6227C331PR-G LDO_3V3 (3.3 V) •   Produces the MCU_VDD_P3V3 supply through either

2.7 Ω resistor R6 or jumper JP3 (not populated)

•   Produces the VDD_BOARD supply through either 0 Ω resistor R4 or jumper JP1 (not populated)

•   Supplies power to Arduino socket connector J3 (pin 8), power LED D4, and power test points J17 (DNP) and J18 (DNP)

From the LDO_3V3 supply through resistor R6 or jumper JP3 (DNP) MCU_VDD_ P3V3 (3.3 V) •   Produces the VDD_MCU supply through either 0 Ω resistor R5 (not populated) or jumper JP2

•   Produces the VDDA_MCU supply through either 0 Ω resistor R7 or jumper JP4 (not populated)

•   Produces the VDD_USB supply through 0 Ω resistor R9

From the MCU_ VDD_P3V3 supply through resistor R5 (DNP) or jumper JP2 VDD_MCU Provides the VDD and VDD_P3 powers to the MCXA156 MCU
From the MCU_ VDD_P3V3 supply through resistor R7 or jumper JP4 (DNP) VDDA_MCU •   Provides the VDD_ANA and VREFH powers to the MCXA156 MCU

•   Supplies power to Arduino socket connector J2 (pin 16)

From the MCU_ VDD_P3V3 supply VDD_USB Provides the VDD_USB power to the MCXA156 MCU
From the LDO_3V3 supply through resistor R4 or jumper JP1 (DNP) VDD_BOARD (3.3 V) •   Produces the following power supplies:

–  VDD_P3T

–  MCU_LINK_3V3

–  VREF_MCULINK

•   Provides the VIO power to CAN FD transceiver U6

•   Provides the VDDA power to the LPC55S69 MCU (MCU-Link)

•   Supplies power to:

–  Arduino socket connector J3 (pin 4)

–  mikroBUS socket connector J6

–  Pmod connector J7 (not populated)

–  FlexIO LCD connector J8

–  Camera connector J9 (not populated)

–  External debugger connector J24

–  Push buttons SW1, SW2, and SW3

–  Reset LED D11 and RGB LED D12

–  MCU-Link LEDs D5, D6, and D7

From the VDD_ BOARD supply VDD_P3T Supplies power to temperature sensor U5
MCU_LINK_3 V3 (3.3 V) Provides the VDD, USB0_3V3, and USB1_3V3 powers to the LPC55S69 MCU (MCU-Link)
Power source Manufacturer and part number Power supply Description
VREF_ MCULINK Provides the VREFP power to the LPC55S69 MCU (MCU-Link)

Current measurement
The FRDM-MCXA156 board supports current measurement using an ampere meter (ammeter) on the power supplies shown in Table 8.

Table 8. Power supplies with current measurement support

Power supply Description Jumper (2- pin) Resistor Current measurement steps
VDD_MCU Target MCU (MCXA156) digital power JP2 R5 (DNP) 1.   Open the jumper (JP2).

2.   Connect an ammeter to the jumper pins 1 and 2.

VDD_BOARD Board power JP1 (DNP) R4 1.   Remove the corresponding resistor.

2.   Populate the corresponding jumper (2-pin).

3.   Connect an ammeter to the jumper pins 1 and 2.

MCU_VDD_P3 V3 Target MCU total power (analog

+ digital)

JP3 (DNP) R6
VDDA_MCU Target MCU analog power JP4 (DNP) R7

Clocks
Table 9 provides details about input clocks on the FRDM-MCXA156 board.

Table 9. FRDM-MCXA156 clocks

Clock generator Manufacturer and part number Clock Frequency Destination
Crystal Y1 Würth Elektronik 830064296 MCU_LINK_[P, N]_16

MHz

16 MHz LPC55S69 MCU
Crystal Y2 XTAL48M, EXTAL48M 8 MHz MCXA156 MCU

The MCXA156 MCU also provides a clock output CLKOUT, which can be accessed by populating clock output test point J10.

USB interface
The MCXA156 MCU has one Universal Serial Bus (USB) Full Speed (FS) module, USBFS0, and one USB FS PHY. The USBFS0 module only supports Device mode operation. The FRDM-MCXA156 board supports communication with the USBFS0 module. Figure 8 shows the FRDMMCXA156 USB diagram.

NXP-UM12121-Development-Board-using-MCUX-Pressor-FIG- (8)

Table 10 describes the FRDM-MCXA156 USB connections.

Table 10. USB connections

USB module Peripheral devices
Part identifier Description
USBFS0 J23 USB 2.0 (FS) Type-C connector J23, which allows communication with the USBFS0 module of the MCXA156 MCU through a USB Type-C cable. It operates in Device mode. It also serves as a 5 V power source to power up the board.

FlexCAN interface
The MCXA156 MCU has a Flexible Data Rate Controller Area Network (FlexCAN) module: CAN0. The FRDMMCXA156 board supports communication with the CAN0 module. Figure 9 shows the FRDM-MCXA156 FlexCAN diagram.

NXP-UM12121-Development-Board-using-MCUX-Pressor-FIG- (9)

Table 11 describes the FRDM-MCXA156 FlexCAN connections.

Table 11. FlexCAN connections

FlexCAN module Peripheral devices
Part identifier Manufacturer and part number Description
CAN0 U6 NXP TJA1057GTK/3Z A high-speed CAN flexible data rate (FD) transceiver, which drives CAN signals between the CAN0 module of the MCXA156 MCU and a physical two-wire CAN bus. It performs the following functions:

•   Receives digital data from the MCU, converts it into analog data, and sends it to CAN bus lines.

•   Receives analog data from the CAN bus lines, converts it into digital data, and sends it to the MCU.

FlexCAN module Peripheral devices
Part identifier Manufacturer and part number Description
J22 A 2×2-pin header that allows external CAN connection with the CAN bus. It has the following pinout:

•   Pin 1: Power connection (SYS_5V0)

•   Pin 2: High-level CAN bus line connection

•   Pin 3: Ground

•   Pin 4: Low-level CAN bus line connection

LPUART interface
The MCXA156 MCU has five Low-Power Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (LPUART) modules: LPUART0, LPUART1, LPUART2, LPUART3, and LPUART4. The FRDM-MCXA156 board only supports communication with the LPUART0, LPUART1, and LPUART2 modules. Figure 10 shows the FRDM-MCXA156 LPUART diagram.

NXP-UM12121-Development-Board-using-MCUX-Pressor-FIG- (10)

Table 12 describes the FRDM-MCXA156 LPUART connections.

Table 12. LPUART connections

LPUART

module

Peripheral devices
Part identifier Manufacturer and part number Description
LPUART0 U3 NXP LPC55S69JEV98 MCU-Link, which is a 32-bit MCU based on the Arm Cortex- M33 core running at speeds of up to 150 MHz.

MCU-Link can be used as a USB-to-UART bridge to debug the target MCU (MCXA156) through a virtual communication (VCOM) port.

LPUART

module

Peripheral devices
Part identifier Manufacturer and part number Description
LPUART1 J5 1×8-position mikroBUS socket connector that allows the plugged-in mikroBUS click board to communicate with the MCXA156 MCU through a UART connection.
LPUART2 J1 2×8-position Arduino socket connector that allows the plugged-in Arduino board to communicate with the MCXA156 MCU through a UART connection.

LPSPI interface
The MCXA156 MCU has two Low-Power Serial Peripheral Interface (LPSPI) modules: LPSPI0 and LPSPI1.

Each LPSPI module supports two modes:

  • Controller mode, with support for up to four peripheral chip selects (PCSs)
  • Peripheral mode

The FRDM-MCXA156 board supports communication with both LPSPI modules of the MCXA156 MCU.

Figure 11 shows the FRDM-MCXA156 LPSPI diagram.NXP-UM12121-Development-Board-using-MCUX-Pressor-FIG- (11)

Table 13 describes the FRDM-MCXA156 LPSPI connections.

LPSPI module Peripheral chip select Peripheral devices
Part identifier Description
LPSPI0 PCS0 J6 1×8-position mikroBUS socket connector that allows the plugged- in mikroBUS click board to communicate with the MCXA156 MCU through an SPI connection.
J7 (DNP) 2×6-pin/position Pmod connector that allows the plugged-in Pmod board to communicate with the MCXA156 MCU through an SPI connection. By default, J7 is not populated on the board.
LPSPI1 PCS1 J2 2×10-position Arduino socket connector that allows the plugged-in Arduino board to communicate with the MCXA156 MCU through an SPI connection.

By default, the SPI1_PCS1 and SPI1_SDO signals between the MCXA156 MCU and the J2 connector are disabled. You can enable these signals as follows:

•   To enable the SPI1_PCS1 signal, move the 0 Ω resistor R59 from position A to position B.

•   To enable the SPI1_SDO signal, move the 0 Ω resistor R60 from position A to position B.

LPI2C interface
The MCXA156 MCU has four Low-Power Inter-Integrated Circuit (LPI2C) modules: LPI2C0, LPI2C1, LPI2C2, and LPI2C3. Each LPI2C module supports serial I2C communication through a pair of control and data signals and can act as a controller or target. The FRDM-MCXA156 board only supports communication with the LPI2C0, LPI2C2, and LPI2C3 modules.

Figure 12 shows the FRDM-MCXA156 LPI2C diagram.

NXP-UM12121-Development-Board-using-MCUX-Pressor-FIG- (12)

Table 14 describes the FRDM-MCXA156 LPI2C devices. The I2C address of each device depends on the plugged-in board/module.

Table 14. LPI2C devices

LPSPI module Peripheral devices
Part identifier Description
LPI2C0 J2 2×10-position Arduino socket connector that allows an I2C connection between the MCXA156 MCU and the plugged-in Arduino board.
LPI2C2 J8 2×14-position FlexIO LCD connector that allows an I2C connection between the MCXA156 MCU and the plugged-in LCD module.
J9 (DNP) 2×9-pin/position camera connector that allows an I2C connection between the MCXA156 MCU and the plugged-in camera module. By default, J9 is not populated on the board.
LPI2C3 J5 1×8-position mikroBUS socket connector that allows an I2C connection between the MCXA156 MCU and the plugged-in mikroBUS click board.
LPSPI module Peripheral devices
Part identifier Description
J7 (DNP) 2×6-pin/position Pmod connector that allows an I2C connection between the MCXA156 MCU and the plugged-in Pmod board. By default, J7 is not populated on the board.

I3C interface
The Improved Inter-Integrated Circuit (I3C) specification from the Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) Alliance brings major improvements over I2C in terms of use and power. It also provides an alternative to SPI for mid-speed applications. The MCXA156 MCU has one I3C module, I3C0, which acts as the I3C controller for the target devices (for example, a temperature sensor) placed on the I3C bus. The I3C module dynamically assigns I3C addresses to the I3C targets; the targets do not need static I3C addresses. However, a target can have an I2C static address assigned at startup, so that the target can operate on an I2C bus.

The FRDM-MCXA156 board supports communication with the I3C0 module of the MCXA156 MCU. Figure 13 shows the FRDM-MCXA156 I3C diagram.

NXP-UM12121-Development-Board-using-MCUX-Pressor-FIG- (13)

Table 15 describes the FRDM-MCXA156 I3C connections.

Table 15. I3C connections

I3C module Peripheral devices
Part identifier Manufacturer and part number Description
I3C0 U5 NXP P3T1755DP A digital temperature sensor with support for over-temperature detection. It can measure temperature in the range from -40 ℃ to +125 ℃ with ±0.5 ℃ accuracy. It has an on-chip band gap

temperature sensor and uses the analog-to-digital conversion

technique.

It has a temperature register to store the digital temperature reading that can be read by a controller via the 2-wire serial I3C (up to 12.5 MHz) or I2C (up to 3.4 MHz) interface.

On the FRDM-MCXA156 board, the U5 sensor can work in one of the following modes:

I3C module Peripheral devices
Part identifier Manufacturer and part number Description
•   I2C mode (default mode): Populate resistors R57 and R55

(populated by default). The static I2C address (7-bit) of the U5 sensor is 0x90.

•   I3C mode: Unpopulate (remove) resistors R57 and R55. The U5 sensor is assigned with an I3C address dynamically.

The FRDM-MCXA156 board also provides test point support for the two I3C signals:

•   J11 (DNP): I3C data test point

•   J12 (DNP): I3C clock test point

For more information on P3T1755DP, visit nxp.com.

FlexIO interface
The MCXA156 MCU has one Flexible Input/Output (FlexIO) module, FLEXIO0, which provides emulation of various serial or parallel communication protocols, including:

  • CART
  • SPI
  • I2C
  • I2S
  • Camera interface
  • PWM or waveform generation

The FRDM-MCXA156 board supports communication with the FLEXIO0 module through the following connectors:

  • J8: 2×14-position FlexIO parallel LCD connector
  • J9 (DNP): 2×9-pin/position camera connector. It supports a camera module based on the OmniVision OV7670 image sensor.

Figure 14 shows the FRDM-MCXA156 FlexIO diagram.

NXP-UM12121-Development-Board-using-MCUX-Pressor-FIG- (14)

Table 16 shows the pinout of the FlexIO LCD connector J8.

Table 16. FlexIO LCD connector pinout

Pin number Signal name Description
3 P1_9/LPI2C2_SCL-FXIO_HDR I2C signals
4 P1_8/LPI2C2_SDA-FXIO_HDR
5 P2_15/FXIO_LCD_INT LCD interrupt signal
6 P3_22/FXIO_LCD_GPIO LCD GPIO signal
7 P3_0/FXIO_LCD_RST LCD reset signal
8 P2_17/FXIO_LCD_DC LCD data/command selection signal
Pin number Signal name Description
9 P2_19/FXIO_LCD_CS LCD chip select signal
10 P2_23/FXIO_LCD_WR LCD write signal
11 P2_20/FXIO_LCD_RD LCD read signal
12 P2_21/FXIO_LCD_TE LCD tear enable signal
13 P0_16/FXIO_D0 Data signals
14 P0_17/FXIO_D1
15 P0_18/FXIO_D2
16 P0_19/FXIO_D3
17 P0_20/FXIO_D4
18 P0_21/FXIO_D5
19 P0_22/FXIO_D6
20 P0_23/FXIO_D7
21 P2_0/FXIO_D8
22 P2_1/FXIO_D9
23 P4_2/FXIO_D10
24 P4_3/FXIO_D11
25 P4_4/FXIO_D12
26 P4_5/FXIO_D13
27 P4_6/FXIO_D14
28 P4_7/FXIO_D15
1 VDD_BOARD Power supply
2 GND Ground

Table 17 shows the pinout of the camera connector J9 (DNP).

Table 17. Camera connector pinout

Pin number Signal name Description
3 P1_8/LPI2C2_SDA-CAM_HDR I2C signals
4 P1_9/LPI2C2_SCL-CAM_HDR
5 P3_18/GPIO-CAM_HREF Camera horizontal reference signal
6 P3_1/GPIO-CAM_VSYNC Camera vertical sync signal
7 P3_6/CLKOUT Camera input clock signal
8 P3_21/FXIO_D29-CAM_PCLK Camera pixel clock signal
9 P4_6/FXIO_D14 Data signals
10 P4_7/FXIO_D15
11 P4_4/FXIO_D12
12 P4_5/FXIO_D13
13 P4_2/FXIO_D10
Pin number Signal name Description
14 P4_3/FXIO_D11
15 P2_0/FXIO_D8
16 P2_1/FXIO_D9
17 P1_14/GPIO-CAM_PWDN Camera power-down signal
18 P1_15/GPIO-CAM_RESET Camera reset signal
2 VDD_BOARD Power supply
1 GND Ground

ADC interface
The MCXA156 MCU has two 12-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) modules: ADC0 and ADC1. The FRDM-MCXA156 board supports communication with both ADC modules of the MCXA156 MCU. Figure 15 shows the FRDM-MCXA156 ADC diagram.

NXP-UM12121-Development-Board-using-MCUX-Pressor-FIG- (15)

Table 18 describes the FRDM-MCXA156 ADC connections

Table 18. ADC connections

ADC module ADC input connections Peripheral devices
Part identifier Description
ADC0, ADC1 ADC0_A1, ADC0_A4, ADC0_A6, ADC0_A20, ADC0_A21, ADC1_A0, ADC1_A1, ADC1_A3, ADC1_A4, ADC1_A8 J2 2×10-position Arduino socket connector that allows the plugged-in Arduino board to communicate with the MCXA156 MCU through an ADC connection.
ADC1 ADC1_A0, ADC1_A1, ADC1_A4, ADC1_A8, ADC1_A10, ADC1_A11 J4 2×6-position Arduino socket connector that allows the plugged-in Arduino board to communicate with the MCXA156 MCU through an ADC connection.
ADC1_A21 J6 1×8-position mikroBUS socket connector that allows the plugged-in mikroBUS click board to communicate with the MCXA156 MCU through an ADC connection.

Arduino socket
The FRDM-MCXA156 board has an Arduino socket with the following four connectors:

  • J1: 2×8-position receptacle
  • J2: 2×10-position receptacle
  • J3: 2×8-position receptacle
  • J4: 2×6-position receptacle

The two 2×8-position receptacles are placed diagonally opposite to each other. Figure 16 shows the pinouts of the Arduino socket connectors.

NXP-UM12121-Development-Board-using-MCUX-Pressor-FIG- (16)

The Arduino socket allows communication with the following modules of the MCXA156 MCU:

  • Low-Power Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter 2 (LPUART2)
  • Low-Power Serial Peripheral Interface 1 (LPSPI1)
  • Low-Power Inter-Integrated Circuit 0 (LPI2C0)
  • Analog-to-Digital Converter 0 (ADC0)
  • Analog-to-Digital Converter 1 (ADC1)
  • Pulse Width Modulator 0 (PWM0)
  • Pulse Width Modulator 1 (PWM1)

The Arduino socket is pin-compatible with the following boards:

  • Arduino boards:
    • Arduino Uno revision 3 (R3)
    • Arduino A4/A5
      Note: When using an Arduino A4/A5 board, remove resistors R75 and R76.
  • Motor control boards:
    • FRDM-MC-LVBLDC
    • FRDM-MC-LVPMSM

mikroBUS socket
A mikroBUS socket is a pair of 1×8-position receptacles (connectors) with a proprietary pin configuration and silkscreen markings. It provides many hardware expansion options with few pins. The FRDM-MCXA156 board has a mikroBUS socket with a pair of 1×8-position receptacles, J5 and J6.

Figure 17 shows the pinouts of the mikroBUS socket connectors.

NXP-UM12121-Development-Board-using-MCUX-Pressor-FIG- (17)

The Arduino socket allows communication with the following modules of the MCXA156 MCU:

  • Low-Power Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter 1 (LPUART1)
  • Low-Power Serial Peripheral Interface 0 (LPSPI0)
  • Low-Power Inter-Integrated Circuit 3 (LPI2C3)
  • Analog-to-Digital Converter 1 (ADC1)
  • Pulse Width Modulator 0 (PWM0)

An add-on board, called a click board, can be installed on a mikroBUS socket. A click board provides a plug-and-play solution for adding new functionality to a board design. A click board has a pair of 1×8-pin headers that connect to the pair of receptacles on a mikroBUS socket. MikroElektronika (MIKROE) is one of the manufacturers of clickboards. To find some example click boards for the FRDM-MCXA156 mikroBUS socket, visit the MIKROE website.

Pmod connector
Digilent Pmod (peripheral module) devices are small input/output interface boards that can be easily integrated with embedded control boards to expand their capabilities. The FRDM-MCXA156 board supports a Pmod connector J7 (Digilent PPPC062LJBN-RC) for expanding the capabilities of the board. J7 is not populated on the board. If populated, it can be used to work with a remote host, or as an interface to a Pmod expansion board.

Table 19 shows the pinout of the Pmod connector J7.

Table 19. Pmod connector pinout

Pin number Signal name Description
1 P1_3/LPSPI0_PCS-PMOD SPI signals
3 P1_0/LPSPI0_SDO-PMOD
5 P1_2/LPSPI0_SDI-PMOD
7 P1_1/LPSPI0_SCK-PMOD
Pin number Signal name Description
2 P3_19/GPIO-PMOD GPIO signals
4 P3_20/GPIO-PMOD
6 P3_27/LPI2C3_SCL-PMOD I2C signals
8 P3_28/LPI2C3_SDA-PMOD
11, 12 VDD_BOARD Power supply
9, 10 GND Ground

The Pmod connector allows communication with the following modules of the MCXA156 MCU:

  • Low-Power Serial Peripheral Interface 0 (LPSPI0)
  • Low-Power Inter-Integrated Circuit 3 (LPI2C3) UM12121

MCU-Link OB debug probe

MCU-Link is a debug probe architecture jointly developed by NXP and Embedded Artists. The MCU-Link architecture is based on the NXP LPC55S69 MCU, which is based on an Arm Cortex-M33 core. It can be configured to support different debug feature options.

The MCU-Link architecture is used in:

  • Standalone debug probes, such as MCU-Link Pro
  • Onboard debug probes implemented on NXP evaluation boards, such as FRDM-MCXA156

The onboard implementation of MCU-Link is referred to as MCU-Link OB. The FRDM-MCXA156 board implements a subset of the MCU-Link architecture features, as mentioned in Section 3.1. For more details on the MCU-Link architecture, visit the MCU-Link Debug Probe Architecture page. The MCU-Link OB on the FRDM-MCXA156 board is factory-programmed with the firmware based on the NXP CMSIS-DAP protocol. The firmware also supports all other features supported in the hardware. A custom version of the J-Link firmware to make MCU-Link OB compatible with J-Link LITE is also available. However, this firmware version only supports limited features, including debug/SWO and VCOM. For information on how to update the firmware, see Section 3.4.

Supported MCU-Link features
MCU-Link includes several mandatory and optional features. Table 20 summarizes the MCU-Link features supported on the FRDM-MCXA156 board.

Table 20. Supported MCU-Link features

Feature Description
Serial wire debug (SWD) / serial wire debug trace output (SWO) MCU-Link allows SWD-based debugging with SWO for profiling and/or low overhead debug standard I/O communication.
Virtual communication (VCOM) serial port MCU-Link adds a serial COM port on the host computer and connects it to the target MCU, while acting as a USB-to-UART bridge.
External debug probe support The MCU-Link interface supports debugging the target MCU (MCXA156) using an external debug probe, instead of MCU-Link. Support for an external debug probe is enabled by disabling the SWD feature.

Supported debug scenarios
Table 21 describes the debug scenarios supported on the FRDM-MCXA156 board.

Table 21. Supported debug scenarios

Debug scenario Feature support Required jumper/connector settings
Use MCU-Link for debugging the MCXA156 MCU SWD: Enabled MCU-Link SWD disable jumper JP7 is open.
External debugger connector J24 is not used for external connection.
VCOM: Enabled MCU-Link VCOM port disable jumper JP6 is open.
Use an external debugger for debugging the MCXA156 MCU SWD: Not supported Short JP7.
Connect the external debugger to J24.
VCOM: Supported JP6 is open.c

MCU-Link firmware update utility installation
The MCU-Link debug probe is supported on a host computer running a Windows 10/11, MacOS X, or Ubuntu Linux operating system (OS). The debug probe works with standard OS drivers. For Windows, the MCU-Link firmware installation program also includes information files to provide user-friendly device names. Support for MCU-Link can be enabled using the LinkServer utility, which is an NXP GDB server and flash utility that supports many NXP debug probes. For more details on this utility, visit the https://nxp.com/linkserver page. Running the LinkServer installer also installs a firmware update utility and the drivers (information files) required for MCU-Link. NXP recommends using the LinkServer installer for installing the MCU-Link firmware update utility unless you are using MCUXpresso IDE version 11.6.1 or earlier.

Note: To use MCU-Link with MCUXpresso IDE version 11.6.1 or earlier, you need MCU-Link firmware update utility version 2.263 (not included in the LinkServer installer). For Linux OS, MCU-Link installation package 2.263 is available for download at the following link: https://www.nxp.com/design/design-center/software/development-software/mcuxpresso-software-and-tools-/mcu-link-debug-probe:MCU-LINK#design-resources

Note: If the MCU-Link firmware version is 3.122 or later, an automatic firmware update can be done using LinkServer installer version 1.4.85 or later. For more details on automatic firmware updates, refer to the Readme mark-down file in the LinkServer installation package. However, if the current firmware version is earlier than 3.122, you are required to run manually the MCU-Link firmware update utility, which is included in the LinkServer installation package. To update the MCU-Link firmware using the firmware update utility, see Section 3.4. To work with MCU-Link, NXP recommends using the latest MCU-Link firmware. The steps to update the MCULink firmware manually are provided in Section 3.4. Before updating the MCU-Link firmware, check the versions of the MCUXpresso IDE and LIBUSBIO (if you are using these tools) installed on your host computer. Then, check the compatibility of these tools with the MCU-Link firmware by referring to Table 22. If you are using the MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code extension or a third-party IDE from IAR or Keil, NXP recommends using the latest MCU-Link firmware version.

Table 22. Compatibility check between MCUXpresso IDE and MCU-Link firmware

MCUXpresso IDE version Supported MCU-Link firmware version USB driver type CMSIS-SWO

support

FreeMASTER support via
SWD / JTAG USB bridge
MCUXpresso 11.3 or later V1.xxx and V2.xxx HID No Yes Yes
MCUXpresso 11.7.0 or later V3.xxx (up to and including V3.108) WinUSB No Yes FreeMASTER V3.2.2

or later

MCUXpresso 11.7.1 or later V3.117 and later WinUSB Yes Yes FreeMASTER V3.2.2

or later

Updating MCU-Link firmware using firmware update utility
To update the MCU-Link firmware using the firmware update utility included in the LinkServer installation package, the MCU-Link must be powered up in ISP mode. Follow these steps to configure MCU-Link in ISP mode and update MCU-Link firmware

  1. Disconnect the board from the host computer, short jumper JP5, and reconnect the board. The red MCULink status LED D6 lights up and stays on. For more details on MCU-Link LEDs, see Section 3.8.
  2. Download the LinkServer installation package from https://nxp.com/linkserver and install the LinkServer utility. For example, download and install “Linkserver 1.4.85 installer for Windows”.
  3. Navigate to the MCU-LINK_installer_Vx_xxx directory, where Vx_xxx indicates the version number,
  4. Follow the instructions in Readme.txt to find and run the firmware update utility for the CMSIS-DAP or J-Link firmware version.
  5. Disconnect the board from the host computer, open jumper JP5, and reconnect the board. The board is enumerated on the host computer as a WinUSB or HID device (depending on the firmware version, see Table 22).

Note: Starting version V3.xxx, the MCU-Link firmware uses WinUSB (instead of HID) for higher performance. However, it is not compatible with MCUXpresso IDE versions earlier than 11.7.0.

Note: To enable SWO-related features in non-NXP IDEs, CMSIS-SWO support was introduced in firmware version V3.117.

Using MCU-Link with development tools
The MCU-Link debug probe can be used with IDEs supported within the MCUXpresso ecosystem, such as:

  • MCUXpresso IDE
  • MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code
  • IAR Embedded Workbench
  • Arm Keil MDK
  1. Using MCU-Link with MCUXpresso IDE
    The MCUXpresso IDE recognizes any type of MCU-Link probe that uses either the CMSIS-DAP or J-Link firmware. When you start a new debug session, the IDE checks for all the available debug probes. For all the probes it finds, the IDE displays the probe types and unique identifiers in the Probes Discovered dialog box. If a debug probe requires a firmware update, the probe is displayed with a warning in the Probes discovered dialog box. For each such probe, the latest firmware version is indicated and a link to download the latest firmware package is provided. To update the firmware for the MCU-Link debug probe, see the instructions provided in Section 3.4. You are advised to use the latest MCU-Link firmware to take the benefit of the latest functionality. However, the MCU-Link firmware version you can use depends on the MCUXpresso IDE installed on your host computer. To check the compatibility of the MCU-Link firmware you want to use with your MCUXpresso IDE, see Table 22.
  2. Using MCU-Link with MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code
    The MCU-Link debug probe can be used with the MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code extension from NXP. This extension uses the LinkServer debug server. To work with MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code, install the LinkServer utility using the MCUXpresso Installer tool or as described in Section 3.3. For more details on MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code, visit the MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code page.
  3. Using MCU-Link with third-party IDEs
    The MCU-Link debug probe can be used with third-party IDEs, such as IAR Embedded Workbench and Arm Keil MDK. For more details, refer to the third-party tool documentation, covering the use of generic CMSIS-DAP probes or J-Link probes (depending on the firmware image you are using).
  4. MCU-Link USB connector
    The FRDM-MCXA156 board has a USB Type-C connector J21, which allows you to connect MCU-Link with your host computer. It can also be used to supply 5 V power to the board.
  5. VCOM port (USB to target UART bridge)
    MCU-Link supports a feature, known as virtual communication (VCOM) serial port. This feature allows MCULink to add a serial COM port on the host computer and connect it to the target MCU. In this setup, MCU-Link acts as a USB-to-UART bridge. In the FRDM-MCXA156 board, MCU-Link is connected to the LPUART0 port of the target MCU. To use MCULink as a USB-to-UART bridge, follow these steps:
    1. Ensure that jumper JP5 is open (MCU-Link boots normally).
    2. Ensure that jumper JP6 is open (MCU-Link VCOM port is enabled).
    3. Connect the MCU-Link USB connector J21 to the USB port of the host computer.
      When you boot the FRDM-MCXA156 board, a VCOM port with the name MCU-Link Vcom Port (COMxx) is enumerated on the host computer, where “xx” may vary from one computer to another. Each MCU-Link-based board has a unique VCOM number associated with it. The VCOM function can be disabled by shorting jumper JP6, before powering up the board. Changing the JP6 setting (open/short) after powering up the board has no impact on the MCU-Link VCOM function.
  6. MCU-Link status LEDs
    The FRDM-MCXA156 board has three status indicator LEDs for MCU-Link. Table 23 lists these LEDs and describes how each LED behaves in different MCU-Link modes.
Part identifier PCB label LED color LED function
Normal operation (with CMSIS-DAP) Normal operation (with J-Link) ISP (firmware update) mode
D5 USB_ACTIVE Green Indicates USB communication. The LED lights up after successful USB enumeration at startup, and then stays ON. The LED remains OFF. The LED remains OFF.
D6 ISP_EN Red Indicates MCU-Link status / SWD activity. It acts as a heartbeat LED (fades in/ out repeatedly), with SWD activity overlaid.

If an error occurs at startup, the D6 LED blinks rapidly.

The LED remains OFF. The LED lights up when MCU-Link (LPC55S69) boots in ISP mode.
D7 VCOM_ACTIVE Green Indicates if the VCOM port is receiving/sending data. The LED lights up when MCU-Link boots, and then blinks when debug activity happens. Indicates if the VCOM port is receiving/ sending data. The LED lights up when MCU- Link boots, and then blinks when debug activity happens. The LED remains OFF.

Board errata
Not applicable to the current board revision.

Related Documentation
Table 24 lists some additional documents and resources that you can refer to for more information on the FRDM-MCXA156 board. Some of these documents may only be available under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). To access such a document, contact a local NXP field applications engineer (FAE) or sales representative.

Document Description Link / how to obtain
MCXA156, A155, A154, A146, A145,

A144 Reference Manual

Provides a detailed description about the MCXA156/A155/A154/A146/A145/A144

MCU and its features, including memory maps, power supplies, and clocks.

Contact an NXP FAE/sales representative
MCXA156, A155, A154, A146, A145,

A144 Data Sheet

Provides information about electrical characteristics, hardware design considerations, and ordering information.
FRDM-MCXA156 board schematics Provides a circuit representation showing the functionality and connectivity of the FRDM- MCXA156 board components.

Acronyms
Table 25 lists the acronyms used in this document.

Table 25. Acronyms

Acronym Description
ADC Analog-to-Digital Converter
BLDC Brushless direct current
CAN Controller Area Network
DNP Do not populate / do not place
FD Flexible data rate
FlexCAN Flexible Data Rate Controller Area Network
FlexIO Flexible Input/Output
FS Full-speed
I2C Inter-Integrated Circuit
I2S Integrated Inter-IC Sound
I3C Improved Inter-Integrated Circuit
IoT Internet of Things
IP Intellectual property
ISP In-System Programming
LCD Liquid-crystal display
LDO Low-dropout regulator
LED Light-emitting diode
LPI2C Low-Power Inter-Integrated Circuit
LPSPI Low-Power Serial Peripheral Interface
LPUART Low-Power Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter
MCU Microcontroller unit
MIPI Mobile Industry Processor Interface
OB Onboard
PCS Peripheral chip select
Pmod Peripheral module
PMSM Permanent magnet synchronous motor
PUR Pull-up resistance
PWM Pulse Width Modulator
SPI Serial Peripheral Interface
SWD Serial wire debug
SWO Serial wire debug trace output
TPM Timer/PWM Module
USB Universal Serial Bus
Acronym Description
USBFS Universal Serial Bus Full Speed
UART Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter
VCOM Virtual communication

Revision history
Table 26 summarizes the revisions to this document.

Table 26. Revision history

Document ID Release date Description
UM12121 v.1 22 July 2024 Initial public release

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NXP — wordmark and logo are trademarks of NXP B.V. AMBA, Arm, Arm7, Arm7TDMI, Arm9, Arm11, Artisan, big.LITTLE, Cordio, CoreLink, CoreSight, Cortex, DesignStart, DynamIQ, Jazelle, Keil, Mali, Mbed, Mbed Enabled, NEON, POP, RealView, SecurCore, Socrates, Thumb, TrustZone, ULINK, ULINK2, ULINK-ME, ULINK-PLUS, ULINKpro, μVision, Versatile — are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Arm Limited (or its subsidiaries or affiliates) in the US and/or elsewhere. The related technology may be protected by any or all patents, copyrights, designs, and trade secrets. All rights reserved.

  • IAR — is a trademark of IAR Systems AB.
  • The I2C-bus — logo is a trademark of NXP B.V.
  • J-Link — is a trademark of SEGGER Microcontroller GmbH.

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Document Feedback

  • Date of release: 22 July 2024
  • Document identifier: UM12121

FAQ

Q: Can I use the FRDM-MCXA156 board with Arduino UNO R3?
A: Yes, the board is compatible with Arduino UNO R3.

Q: What are the supported development tools for programming the MCXA156 MCU?
A: Supported development tools include NXP MCUXpresso IDE, IAR Embedded Workbench, and Arm Keil MDK.

Q: Does the board support industrial communication protocols?
A: Yes, the board supports industrial communication protocols along with other features suitable for IoT applications.

Documents / Resources

NXP UM12121 Development Board using MCUX Pressor [pdf] User Manual
UM12121 Development Board using MCUX Pressor, UM12121, Development Board using MCUX Pressor, Board using MCUX Pressor, using MCUX Pressor, MCUX Pressorr, Pressorr

References

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