- NXPs new microcontroller MCX L series comes in two versions and aims at cutting energy consumption while boosting cyber security functionality and enabling always-on sensing.
- Early adoption is expected in IoT based metering and industrial sensor applications as well as smart-home devices and agriculture meters.
Technology company NXP has released a new microcontroller series aimed at delivering IoT data collection for devices used in new applications and more challenging environments.
The new MCX L series uses one-third the power of the company’s predecessor MCUs and therefore can enable devices to operate with an extended battery life with a smaller footprint, whether in flow meters, industrial sensors or other IoT deployments.
The first two versions of the MCX L series are the MCX L14x and MCX L25x. Both can be used in small wireless sensors that transmit data via IoT frequencies such as LoRaWAN and Sigfox. Both come with dual processors, while the L14x is lower cost and supports fewer peripherals.
With the new MCU series, the goal is to digitize industrial and residential IoT data in places where it has not been possible in the past, said Raphael Apfeldorfer, senior product marketing manager, NXP.
Challenges for IoT based Meters and Sensors
Devices using previous microcontrollers had to make compromises related to power and performance. A battery-powered sensor and IoT-connected device requires considerable power to capture sensor data, process and transmit that data on a real-time basis.
For many users, the cost of powering an energy-hungry device and labor related to battery replacements outweigh the benefits of real time data. On the other hand, a system that goes into sleep mode and collects data only intermittently, while lower in energy use, provides less data than many companies need.
The new offerings from NXP aims to address these existing challenges around energy demand for always-on data collection. At the center of the new microprocessor are several features, including always-on real time performance and improved security features.
Dual Processors
Both versions of the MCX L series feature an Arm Cortex-M33 core, with the MCX L14x running up to 48 MHz and the MCX L25x running up to 96 MHz. The dual processing mode uses a second, Cortex-M0+ core, operating as an ultra-low-power, always-on sense domain, said Apfeldorfer. It is capable of simple processing such as averaging or thresholding as well.
The dual processing feature works like this: the M0+ core captures sensor data in real time, at all times—even when in sleep mode. It then feeds data to the M33 core, which processes and transmits sensor data only when an actual event is identified.
For instance, if a motion detector senses a movement, the M0+ core identifies that change in motion data but only forwards to the M33 if that change in motion continues. Information such as the entrance of a person into a secure area can be processed and alerts forwarded to users at that point.
To limit power consumption, NXP provides an algorithm for dual cores called “adaptive dynamic voltage control.” As the name suggests, the device can adjust the core voltage that is being used by the transistors based on the environmental and operating conditions.
The use of two cores enables a more secure device because users can separate secure and insecure data into different sets of information, Apfeldorfer said.
Meeting Security Requirements Now and in Future
In Europe and North America, there is legislation ahead that will impact how sensors are used and data is managed. The EU’s cyber resilience act (CRA) is launching in 2025 and become mandatory in 2027. That means users won’t be able to deploy a utility device if it doesn’t have a “CE” mark indicating it complies with the CRA.
In other parts of the world, cybersecurity in IoT devices is mostly voluntary but more regulations could be ahead, Apfeldorfer said. To enable devices that are prepared for upcoming regulations as well, the new product comes with an EdgeLock feature securing edge devices against physical and logical attacks. An encryption accelerator also ensures secure data is sent to the cloud.
The MCX L25x family also includes Arm TrustZone technology that isolates sensitive codes such as cryptographic stacks or metrology software.
Always On
Another benefit NXP is offering with its new product is the always-on functionality said Apfeldorfer, so that users have “real-time reaction to anomalies and failures.” That means a deployment could consist of “numerous sensors continuously looking in the environment to see if you have people in front of [the device] or the temperature goes above threshold or these types of things,” he added.
Unlike other wireless devices, the ones using the MCX L series won’t need to wake up to capture sensor data. “A lot of devices would start the acquisition with the peripherals and then as soon as they have acquired enough data, they would batch [and] process it with the main processor. That means the main processor needs to wake up very regularly to process this data,” said Apfeldorfer.
The new MCUs can process all of the data onboard the MC 0+ and only wake up when there is more complex processing required.
Open Source for Developers
NXP is additionally offering what it says is an ecosystem of development boards that are an open-source friendly environment. “They enable flexible and rapid prototyping because they have some industry standard headers,” said Apfeldorfer.
Use cases can include water and gas metering, home sensors such as lighting, fire and smoke and water leak detectors. Other deployments could include agricultural intelligence focused on conditions in fields and management of watering systems—if the soil is dry, or wet, the data can be collected and automated watering systems can be automatically turned on or off.
In smart buildings, small, wireless sensors can more effectively monitor environmental conditions to drive efficiency gains savings but also for consumers.
“Most of these devices that are battery powered help minimize the installation cost [of an IoT system] and that makes them very flexible to place,” Apfeldorfer said.
The MCU in industrial environments can operate in robust and reliable device, even at high temperatures or in difficult environmental conditions. And such wireless sensors are not affected by a local power outage to function properly.
The new MCUs will be available in samples for developers in the first half of this year, with full volume production set for the second half of 2025.