Arm® Cortex®-M0+|Kinetis® KW21Z 2.4 GHz|32-bit MCUs | NXP Semiconductors

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Kinetis® KW21Z-2.4 GHz 802.15.4 Wireless Radio Microcontroller (MCU) based on Arm® Cortex®-M0+ Core

KW21Z Active
Kinetis W Series MCUs: Expanding the Possibilities

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Note: JN5189/88T is preferred for any new Zigbee®, Thread design. No new software releases planned

The KW21Z is an ultra-low-power, highly-integrated single-chip device that enables IEEE® 802.15.4 RF connectivity for portable, extremely low-power embedded systems. Applications include portable healthcare devices, access control, security systems, smart energy and home area networks.

The KW21Z Wireless MCU integrates a 2.4 GHz transceiver supporting O-QPSK modulations, an Arm® Cortex®-M0+ CPU, up to 512 KB Flash and up to 128 KB SRAM, 802.15.4 packet processor, hardware security and peripherals optimized to meet the requirements of the target applications. The KW21Z is an ideal solution for single-chip Thread and Zigbee devices including routers and end devices as well as border routers and Coordinators when adding connectivity for communicating with the cloud.

Block Diagram

Kinetis® W Series KW21Z MCUs Block Diagram

Kinetis<sup>&#174;</sup> W Series KW21Z MCUs Block Diagram
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Features

802.15.4 Radio

  • IEEE® Std. 802.15.4-2011 Standard Compliant
  • Typical Receiver Sensitivity (802.15.4) = -100 dBm
  • Programmable Transmitter Output Power up to +3.5 dBm

Core and Memories

  • Up to 48 MHz Arm® Cortex®-M0+ core
  • Up to 512 KB Flash memory
  • Up to 128 KB SRAM
  • Excellent coexistence performance
  • Integrated balun to reduce system cost and PCB board area

Low Power Consumption and Operating Voltage Ranges

  • Nine low-power modes to provide power optimization based on application requirements
  • Typical Rx/Tx Current (DC/DC Enabled): 6.8/6.1 mA
  • Bypass Voltage: 1.71V to 3.6V
  • DCDC Converter Buck Configuration: 2.1V to 4.2V
  • DCDC Converter Boost Configuration: 0.9V to 1.795V

Analog modules

  • 16-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC)
  • 12-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC)
  • 6-bit High Speed Analog Comparator (CMP)

Security

  • AES-128 Accelerator (AESA), True Random Number Generator (TRNG)

Supported Software

  • Thread
  • Zigbee 3.0
  • Kinetis® Software Development Kit (SDK)
  • FreeRTOS kernel and a bare-metal non-preemptive task scheduler
  • Support for MCUXpresso and IAR

More

Comparison Table

Kinetis KW41Z Family Solutions

Part Number Wireless Connectivity Protocol Memory Package Size Hardware Development Tool
MKW41Z512VHT4 Bluetooth Low Energy and IEEE® 802.15.4 512 KB Flash,
128 KB RAM		 7 mm x 7 mm x 1 mm
48-pin Laminate QFN		 FRDM-KW41Z
USB-KW41Z
MKW41Z256VHT4 256 KB Flash,
64 KB SRAM
MKW41Z512CAT4R 512 KB Flash,
128 KB RAM		 3.9 mm x 3.8 mm
75-pin WLCSP
MKW31Z512VHT4 Bluetooth Low Energy 512 KB Flash,
128 KB RAM		 7 mm x 7 mm x 1 mm
48-pin Laminate QFN
MKW31Z256VHT4 256 KB Flash,
64 KB SRAM
MKW31Z512CAT4R 512 KB Flash,
128 KB RAM		 3.9 mm x 3.8 mm
75-pin WLCSP
MKW21Z512VHT4 IEEE® 802.15.4 512 KB Flash,
128 KB RAM		 7 mm x 7 mm x 1 mm
48-pin Laminate QFN
MKW21Z256VHT4 256 KB Flash,
64 KB SRAM

Buy/Parametrics

2 results

Include 0 NRND

Part

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CAD Model

IEEE 802.15.4 Radio

MKW21Z256VHT4
Data Sheet

Y

MKW21Z512VHT4
Data Sheet

Y

N true 0 PSPKW21Zen 10 Application Note Application Note t789 3 Data Sheet Data Sheet t520 1 Errata Errata t522 1 Fact Sheet Fact Sheet t523 1 Reference Manual Reference Manual t877 1 User Guide User Guide t792 3 en_US en_US en Data Sheet Data Sheet 1 1 MKW21Z256VHT4,MKW21Z512VHT4,MKW31Z256VHT4,MKW31Z512CAT4,MKW31Z512VHT4,MKW41Z256VHT4,MKW41Z512CAT4,MKW41Z512VHT4 4 English Product data sheet for MKW41Z/31Z/21Z 1470810391394714225077 PSP 1.3 MB None None documents None 1470810391394714225077 /docs/en/data-sheet/MKW41Z512.pdf 1289616 /docs/en/data-sheet/MKW41Z512.pdf MKW41Z512 documents N N 2016-11-06 MKW41Z/31Z/21Z Data Sheet /docs/en/data-sheet/MKW41Z512.pdf /docs/en/data-sheet/MKW41Z512.pdf Data Sheet N 980000996212993340 2023-08-31 pdf N en Apr 5, 2018 980000996212993340 Data Sheet Y N MKW41Z/31Z/21Z Data Sheet Reference Manual Reference Manual 1 2 3 English Reference manual for MKW41Z/31Z/21Z products 1470811945178713156363 PSP 21.3 MB Registration without Disclaimer None documents Extended 1470811945178713156363 /secured/assets/documents/en/reference-manual/MKW41Z512RM.pdf 21324973 /secured/assets/documents/en/reference-manual/MKW41Z512RM.pdf MKW41Z512RM documents Y N 2016-11-06 MKW41Z/31Z/21Z Reference Manual /webapp/Download?colCode=MKW41Z512RM /secured/assets/documents/en/reference-manual/MKW41Z512RM.pdf Reference Manual N 500633505221135046 2023-06-18 pdf Y en Apr 5, 2018 500633505221135046 Reference Manual Y N MKW41Z/31Z/21Z Reference Manual Application Note Application Note 3 3 1.2 English This document provides the RF evaluation test results of FRDM-KW41Z for the 802.15.4 applications (O-QPSK modulation). It includes the test setup description and the tools for you to perform the tests on your own. 1502870341354725124555 PSP 1.4 MB None None documents None 1502870341354725124555 /docs/en/application-note/AN11999.pdf 1429901 /docs/en/application-note/AN11999.pdf AN11999 documents N N 2017-08-16 FRDM-KW41Z RF System Evaluation Report for 802.15.4 Applications /docs/en/application-note/AN11999.pdf /docs/en/application-note/AN11999.pdf Application Note N 645036621402383989 2024-12-13 pdf N en Mar 16, 2018 645036621402383989 Application Note Y N FRDM-KW41Z RF System Evaluation Report for 802.15.4 Applications 4 2 English This application note describes Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design considerations for the MKW41Z, MKW31Z, and MKW21Z 48-pin Laminated QFN (LQFN) package. 1479313198492703106314 PSP 1.7 MB None None documents None 1479313198492703106314 /docs/en/application-note/AN5377.pdf 1690933 /docs/en/application-note/AN5377.pdf AN5377 documents N N 2016-11-16 Hardware Design Considerations for MKW41Z/31Z/21Z BLE and IEEE 802.15.4 Devices /docs/en/application-note/AN5377.pdf /docs/en/application-note/AN5377.pdf Application Note N 645036621402383989 2022-12-07 pdf N en Dec 8, 2017 645036621402383989 Application Note Y N Hardware Design Considerations for MKW41Z/31Z/21Z BLE and IEEE 802.15.4 Devices 5 1 English This document provides the RF evaluation test results of the FRDM-KW41Z for BLE applications (2FSK modulation) 1507885328111713921928 PSP 2.2 MB None None documents None 1507885328111713921928 /docs/en/application-note/AN12059.pdf 2235977 /docs/en/application-note/AN12059.pdf AN12059 documents N N 2017-10-13 FRDM-KW41Z RF System Evaluation Report for BLE Applications /docs/en/application-note/AN12059.pdf /docs/en/application-note/AN12059.pdf Application Note N 645036621402383989 2022-12-07 pdf N en Nov 12, 2017 645036621402383989 Application Note Y N FRDM-KW41Z RF System Evaluation Report for BLE Applications User Guide User Guide 3 6 4 English FRDM-KW41Z Quick Start Guide 1479262532588696478698 PSP 642.1 KB Registration without Disclaimer None documents Extended 1479262532588696478698 /secured/assets/documents/en/user-guide/FRDMKW41ZQRG.pdf 642142 /secured/assets/documents/en/user-guide/FRDMKW41ZQRG.pdf FRDMKW41ZQRG documents Y N 2016-11-15 FRDM-KW41Z Quick Start Guide /webapp/Download?colCode=FRDMKW41ZQRG /secured/assets/documents/en/user-guide/FRDMKW41ZQRG.pdf User Guide N 132339537837198660 2023-06-18 pdf Y en Oct 21, 2019 132339537837198660 User Guide Y N FRDM-KW41Z Quick Start Guide 7 1 English FRDM-KW41Z Freedom Development Board User's Guide 1476216935715715996713 PSP 2.0 MB Registration without Disclaimer None documents Extended 1476216935715715996713 /secured/assets/documents/en/user-guide/FRDMKW41ZUG.pdf 1951638 /secured/assets/documents/en/user-guide/FRDMKW41ZUG.pdf FRDMKW41ZUG documents Y N 2016-11-06 FRDM-KW41Z Freedom Development Board User's Guide /webapp/Download?colCode=FRDMKW41ZUG /secured/assets/documents/en/user-guide/FRDMKW41ZUG.pdf User Guide N 132339537837198660 2023-06-18 pdf Y en Aug 8, 2018 132339537837198660 User Guide Y N FRDM-KW41Z Freedom Development Board User's Guide 8 1 English USB-KW41Z Sniffer/Development Board User's Guide 1476217351372712464077 PSP 700.3 KB Registration without Disclaimer None documents Extended 1476217351372712464077 /secured/assets/documents/en/user-guide/USBKW41ZUG.pdf 700300 /secured/assets/documents/en/user-guide/USBKW41ZUG.pdf USBKW41ZUG documents Y N 2016-11-06 USB-KW41Z Sniffer/Development Board User's Guide /webapp/Download?colCode=USBKW41ZUG /secured/assets/documents/en/user-guide/USBKW41ZUG.pdf User Guide N 132339537837198660 2023-06-18 pdf Y en Jan 3, 2017 132339537837198660 User Guide Y N USB-KW41Z Sniffer/Development Board User's Guide Errata Errata 1 9 25 JUL 2019 English Mask Set Errata for Mask 1N16S 1475613251207708685472 PSP 145.6 KB None None documents None 1475613251207708685472 /docs/en/errata/KINETIS_W_1N16S.pdf 145592 /docs/en/errata/KINETIS_W_1N16S.pdf KINETIS_W_1N16S documents N N 2016-11-15 Mask Set Errata for Mask 1N16S /docs/en/errata/KINETIS_W_1N16S.pdf /docs/en/errata/KINETIS_W_1N16S.pdf Errata N 155452329886410597 2022-12-07 pdf N en Aug 26, 2019 155452329886410597 Errata Y N Mask Set Errata for Mask 1N16S Fact Sheet Fact Sheet 1 10 5 English The Kinetis KW41Z/31Z/21Z MCU family for wireless applications is the second multi-mode family in the Kinetis W series portfolio. Primarily used for automation and healthcare purposes, these MCUs enable low-energy and long-range connectivity. 1443715013394739627571 PSP 3.4 MB None None documents None 1443715013394739627571 /docs/en/fact-sheet/KNTSKW41Z31Z21ZFS.pdf 3421369 /docs/en/fact-sheet/KNTSKW41Z31Z21ZFS.pdf KNTSKW41Z31Z21ZFS documents N N 2016-10-31 Kinetis<sup>®</sup> KW41Z/31Z/21Z Wireless MCUs - Fact Sheet /docs/en/fact-sheet/KNTSKW41Z31Z21ZFS.pdf /docs/en/fact-sheet/KNTSKW41Z31Z21ZFS.pdf Fact Sheet N 736675474163315314 2022-12-07 pdf N en Feb 27, 2020 736675474163315314 Fact Sheet Y N Kinetis<sup>®</sup> KW41Z/31Z/21Z Wireless MCUs - Fact Sheet false 0 KW21Z downloads en true 1 Y PSP Application Note 3 /docs/en/application-note/AN11999.pdf 2017-08-16 1502870341354725124555 PSP 3 Mar 16, 2018 Application Note This document provides the RF evaluation test results of FRDM-KW41Z for the 802.15.4 applications (O-QPSK modulation). It includes the test setup description and the tools for you to perform the tests on your own. None /docs/en/application-note/AN11999.pdf English documents 1429901 None 645036621402383989 2024-12-13 N /docs/en/application-note/AN11999.pdf FRDM-KW41Z RF System Evaluation Report for 802.15.4 Applications /docs/en/application-note/AN11999.pdf documents 645036621402383989 Application Note N en None Y pdf 1.2 N N FRDM-KW41Z RF System Evaluation Report for 802.15.4 Applications 1.4 MB AN11999 N 1502870341354725124555 /docs/en/application-note/AN5377.pdf 2016-11-16 1479313198492703106314 PSP 4 Dec 8, 2017 Application Note This application note describes Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design considerations for the MKW41Z, MKW31Z, and MKW21Z 48-pin Laminated QFN (LQFN) package. None /docs/en/application-note/AN5377.pdf English documents 1690933 None 645036621402383989 2022-12-07 N /docs/en/application-note/AN5377.pdf Hardware Design Considerations for MKW41Z/31Z/21Z BLE and IEEE 802.15.4 Devices /docs/en/application-note/AN5377.pdf documents 645036621402383989 Application Note N en None Y pdf 2 N N Hardware Design Considerations for MKW41Z/31Z/21Z BLE and IEEE 802.15.4 Devices 1.7 MB AN5377 N 1479313198492703106314 /docs/en/application-note/AN12059.pdf 2017-10-13 1507885328111713921928 PSP 5 Nov 12, 2017 Application Note This document provides the RF evaluation test results of the FRDM-KW41Z for BLE applications (2FSK modulation) None /docs/en/application-note/AN12059.pdf English documents 2235977 None 645036621402383989 2022-12-07 N /docs/en/application-note/AN12059.pdf FRDM-KW41Z RF System Evaluation Report for BLE Applications /docs/en/application-note/AN12059.pdf documents 645036621402383989 Application Note N en None Y pdf 1 N N FRDM-KW41Z RF System Evaluation Report for BLE Applications 2.2 MB AN12059 N 1507885328111713921928 Data Sheet 1 /docs/en/data-sheet/MKW41Z512.pdf 2016-11-06 1470810391394714225077 PSP 1 Apr 5, 2018 Data Sheet Product data sheet for MKW41Z/31Z/21Z None /docs/en/data-sheet/MKW41Z512.pdf English documents 1289616 None 980000996212993340 2023-08-31 N /docs/en/data-sheet/MKW41Z512.pdf MKW41Z/31Z/21Z Data Sheet /docs/en/data-sheet/MKW41Z512.pdf documents 980000996212993340 Data Sheet N en None Y pdf 4 N N MKW41Z/31Z/21Z Data Sheet MKW21Z256VHT4,MKW21Z512VHT4,MKW31Z256VHT4,MKW31Z512CAT4,MKW31Z512VHT4,MKW41Z256VHT4,MKW41Z512CAT4,MKW41Z512VHT4 1.3 MB MKW41Z512 N 1470810391394714225077 Errata 1 /docs/en/errata/KINETIS_W_1N16S.pdf 2016-11-15 1475613251207708685472 PSP 9 Aug 26, 2019 Errata Mask Set Errata for Mask 1N16S None /docs/en/errata/KINETIS_W_1N16S.pdf English documents 145592 None 155452329886410597 2022-12-07 N /docs/en/errata/KINETIS_W_1N16S.pdf Mask Set Errata for Mask 1N16S /docs/en/errata/KINETIS_W_1N16S.pdf documents 155452329886410597 Errata N en None Y pdf 25 JUL 2019 N N Mask Set Errata for Mask 1N16S 145.6 KB KINETIS_W_1N16S N 1475613251207708685472 Fact Sheet 1 /docs/en/fact-sheet/KNTSKW41Z31Z21ZFS.pdf 2016-10-31 1443715013394739627571 PSP 10 Feb 27, 2020 Fact Sheet The Kinetis KW41Z/31Z/21Z MCU family for wireless applications is the second multi-mode family in the Kinetis W series portfolio. Primarily used for automation and healthcare purposes, these MCUs enable low-energy and long-range connectivity. None /docs/en/fact-sheet/KNTSKW41Z31Z21ZFS.pdf English documents 3421369 None 736675474163315314 2022-12-07 N /docs/en/fact-sheet/KNTSKW41Z31Z21ZFS.pdf Kinetis<sup>®</sup> KW41Z/31Z/21Z Wireless MCUs - Fact Sheet /docs/en/fact-sheet/KNTSKW41Z31Z21ZFS.pdf documents 736675474163315314 Fact Sheet N en None Y pdf 5 N N Kinetis<sup>®</sup> KW41Z/31Z/21Z Wireless MCUs - Fact Sheet 3.4 MB KNTSKW41Z31Z21ZFS N 1443715013394739627571 Reference Manual 1 /secured/assets/documents/en/reference-manual/MKW41Z512RM.pdf 2016-11-06 1470811945178713156363 PSP 2 Apr 5, 2018 Reference Manual Reference manual for MKW41Z/31Z/21Z products Registration without Disclaimer /secured/assets/documents/en/reference-manual/MKW41Z512RM.pdf English documents 21324973 None 500633505221135046 2023-06-18 Y /webapp/Download?colCode=MKW41Z512RM MKW41Z/31Z/21Z Reference Manual /secured/assets/documents/en/reference-manual/MKW41Z512RM.pdf documents 500633505221135046 Reference Manual N en Extended Y pdf 3 Y N MKW41Z/31Z/21Z Reference Manual 21.3 MB MKW41Z512RM N 1470811945178713156363 User Guide 3 /secured/assets/documents/en/user-guide/FRDMKW41ZQRG.pdf 2016-11-15 1479262532588696478698 PSP 6 Oct 21, 2019 User Guide FRDM-KW41Z Quick Start Guide Registration without Disclaimer /secured/assets/documents/en/user-guide/FRDMKW41ZQRG.pdf English documents 642142 None 132339537837198660 2023-06-18 Y /webapp/Download?colCode=FRDMKW41ZQRG FRDM-KW41Z Quick Start Guide /secured/assets/documents/en/user-guide/FRDMKW41ZQRG.pdf documents 132339537837198660 User Guide N en Extended Y pdf 4 Y N FRDM-KW41Z Quick Start Guide 642.1 KB FRDMKW41ZQRG N 1479262532588696478698 /secured/assets/documents/en/user-guide/FRDMKW41ZUG.pdf 2016-11-06 1476216935715715996713 PSP 7 Aug 8, 2018 User Guide FRDM-KW41Z Freedom Development Board User's Guide Registration without Disclaimer /secured/assets/documents/en/user-guide/FRDMKW41ZUG.pdf English documents 1951638 None 132339537837198660 2023-06-18 Y /webapp/Download?colCode=FRDMKW41ZUG FRDM-KW41Z Freedom Development Board User's Guide /secured/assets/documents/en/user-guide/FRDMKW41ZUG.pdf documents 132339537837198660 User Guide N en Extended Y pdf 1 Y N FRDM-KW41Z Freedom Development Board User's Guide 2.0 MB FRDMKW41ZUG N 1476216935715715996713 /secured/assets/documents/en/user-guide/USBKW41ZUG.pdf 2016-11-06 1476217351372712464077 PSP 8 Jan 3, 2017 User Guide USB-KW41Z Sniffer/Development Board User's Guide Registration without Disclaimer /secured/assets/documents/en/user-guide/USBKW41ZUG.pdf English documents 700300 None 132339537837198660 2023-06-18 Y /webapp/Download?colCode=USBKW41ZUG USB-KW41Z Sniffer/Development Board User's Guide /secured/assets/documents/en/user-guide/USBKW41ZUG.pdf documents 132339537837198660 User Guide N en Extended Y pdf 1 Y N USB-KW41Z Sniffer/Development Board User's Guide 700.3 KB USBKW41ZUG N 1476217351372712464077 true Y Products

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