ATSAM3N00AA-AU - 48MHz Cortex-M3 MCU 16KB Flash LQFP-48 | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM3N00AA-AU β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.66 | $3.66 |
| 10 | $3.49 | $34.90 |
| 100 | $3.31 | $331.00 |
| 500 | $3.12 | $1,560.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.95 | $2,950.00 |
ATSAM3N00AA-AU Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single integrated circuit that combines a processor core, memory, and programmable peripherals into one chip, forming the lowest tier of the embedded computing hierarchy (MCU -> embedded processor -> SoC -> application processor). The SAM3N series belongs to Microchip's ARM-based SAM flash MCU family, built on the high-performance 32-bit ARM Cortex-M3 RISC processor with Thumb-2 instruction set and an integrated Nested Vector Interrupt Controller (NVIC).
Key features of the ATSAM3N00AA-AU include the ARM Cortex-M3 revision 2.0 core at 48 MHz, a 24-bit SysTick timer for RTOS tick generation, a single-cycle hardware multiply, and pin-to-pin compatible scaling across the SAM3N memory family. Supply operation spans 1.8V, 2.5V, and 3.3V rails, giving designers flexibility across battery and industrial power architectures.
Technically, the device leverages the Cortex-M3 three-stage pipeline and Harvard architecture, separating instruction and data buses for efficient flash execution. The 16 KB flash supports in-system programming, while the 4 KB SRAM handles stack and data buffers. Because the SAM3N family shares a common peripheral set and footprint, firmware written for the ATSAM3N00AA migrates to larger 256 KB flash variants with minimal code changes.
Typical applications include industrial sensing nodes, consumer appliance control panels, low-cost data loggers, and general-purpose embedded control where a 32-bit core is required but USB connectivity of higher SAM3N members is not used.
A key design consideration is power budgeting: select the 1.8V rail for lowest active power, and verify that the 4 KB SRAM is sufficient for your RTOS stack, since this is the smallest memory point in the SAM3N family.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM3N00AA-AU β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM3N001AA-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM3N002AA-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM3N004AA-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM3N00AA-AU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M3 |
| Core Size | 32-Bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB (16K x 8) |
| SRAM | 4 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V / 2.5 V / 3.3 V |
| Package | 48-LQFP (7x7 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Instruction Set | Thumb-2 |
| SysTick Timer | 24-bit |
| Core Revision | ARM Cortex-M3 revision 2.0 |
| Series | SAM3N |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (Green package) |
| Packaging | MouseReel (MRL) / Tape & Reel |
ATSAM3N00AA-AU 48-lqfp (7x7 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM3N00AA-AU (48-lqfp (7x7 mm) package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for ATSAM3N00AA-AU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM3N00AA-AU is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensing Nodes, Consumer Appliance Control Panels, Low-Cost Data Loggers, General-Purpose Embedded Control, IoT Sensor Endpoints, Test and Measurement Accessories.
Industrial Sensing Nodes
The ATSAM3N00AA-AU fits industrial sensing nodes because its 48 MHz Cortex-M3 core delivers far more processing headroom than 8-bit MCUs while its industrial -40C to +85C rating survives factory-floor environments. With 16 KB Flash and 4 KB SRAM, it handles sensor polling, filtering, and protocol framing for I2C/SPI/UART-connected sensors. Operated from a 1.8V rail, active power drops substantially versus 3.3V designs, extending battery life in wireless nodes. Placed as the node controller with a low-power radio module, the Thumb-2 code density keeps the entire application inside 16 KB Flash, though complex stacks may require the 32 KB ATSAM3N001AA-AU sibling in the same footprint.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control Panels
Appliance control panels need a 32-bit core for button debouncing, display driving, and state-machine logic, and the ATSAM3N00AA-AU delivers this at a roughly $3 unit price point (LCSC, as of 2026-09-19). The 48-LQFP (7x7 mm) package offers enough GPIO on its 48 pins to directly drive segment LCDs, keypads, relays, and indicator LEDs without port expanders. The 3.3V supply option simplifies interfacing with common consumer electronics peripherals. Because the SAM3N family is pin-to-pin scalable, one PCB supports multiple memory tiers across product lines, reducing inventory complexity. Firmware is developed in Atmel Studio 7 with ASF3 libraries, keeping software cost near zero for high-volume consumer products.
Recommended
Low-Cost Data Loggers
The ATSAM3N00AA-AU suits compact data loggers where its 48 MHz core timestamps, filters, and buffers ADC samples into external EEPROM or SD-card media. The 4 KB SRAM provides ring-buffer space for burst capture, while the 24-bit SysTick timer delivers precise timekeeping for sample intervals. Running from 1.8V minimizes quiescent drain between logging events, a critical parameter for months-long deployments. In a typical design the MCU sits between a sensor front-end and SPI flash memory, with the Cortex-M3 core doing lossless compression in real time. Designers should budget code size carefully: a logger with FAT filesystem code usually exceeds 16 KB Flash and should use the pin-compatible ATSAM3N001AA-AU or larger instead.
Recommended
General-Purpose Embedded Control
For general-purpose 32-bit control tasks - motor sequencing, power-supply housekeeping, backlight dimming - the ATSAM3N00AA-AU offers a balanced mix of performance and cost. The ARM Cortex-M3 revision 2.0 core at 48 MHz executes control loops with single-cycle hardware multiply, enabling integer PID algorithms that an 8-bit MCU cannot sustain. The Thumb-2 instruction set maximizes code density in 16 KB Flash, and the NVIC provides deterministic interrupt latency for multi-source event handling. At $3 to $3.66 per unit (as of 2026-09-19), it undercuts many competing Cortex-M0/M3 parts while providing the same development ecosystem as the rest of the SAM family, so teams can standardize one toolchain across an entire product portfolio.
Recommended
IoT Sensor Endpoints
IoT endpoint designs benefit from the ATSAM3N00AA-AU's combination of a 32-bit core, small footprint, and low-voltage operation. The MCU preprocesses sensor data - averaging, thresholding, and protocol packing - before handing off to a wireless module over UART or SPI, offloading the radio from compute tasks and shortening airtime. Its 1.8V to 3.3V supply range matches common lithium-cell and boost-converter architectures directly. The industrial temperature rating covers outdoor enclosures. Because 16 KB Flash limits the part to lightweight messaging protocols, designs using TLS stacks should move to the pin-compatible ATSAM3N002AA-AU (64 KB) in the same 48-LQFP footprint, requiring zero PCB rework for the upgrade.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Accessories
In bench accessories such as sensor adapters and calibration fixtures, the ATSAM3N00AA-AU acts as a USB-free measurement controller with a 48 MHz core for real-time sample processing. Its deterministic Cortex-M3 interrupt behavior gives consistent timing for stimulus generation and response capture, while the 24-bit SysTick provides microsecond-level scheduling. The 7x7 mm LQFP fits compact fixture PCBs, and the industrial rating tolerates unconditioned lab environments. Firmware typically fits comfortably in 16 KB Flash for simple acquisition loops, and the single SAM3N codebase ports upward if measurement sequences grow. Development in Atmel Studio 7 with ASF3 drivers shortens bring-up compared with bare-metal register coding on unfamiliar cores.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM3N00AA-AU β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM3N001AA-AU | ATSAM3N002AA-AU | ATSAM3N004AA-AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 48-LQFP (7x7 mm) | 48-LQFP (7x7 mm) - same | 48-LQFP (7x7 mm) - same | 48-LQFP (7x7 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB | 32 KB | 64 KB | 128 KB |
| SRAM | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 16 KB |
| Core / Max Frequency | Cortex-M3 @ 48 MHz | Cortex-M3 @ 48 MHz | Cortex-M3 @ 48 MHz | Cortex-M3 @ 48 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V / 2.5 V / 3.3 V | 1.8 V / 2.5 V / 3.3 V | 1.8 V / 2.5 V / 3.3 V | 1.8 V / 2.5 V / 3.3 V |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest-cost entry to 32-bit SAM3N family (vs ATSAM3N001AA-AU)
- Smallest SRAM in family (vs ATSAM3N004AA-AU)
- Full pin compatibility across memory tiers (vs ATSAM3N002AA-AU)
Design Notes
Operate the ATSAM3N00AA-AU from a 1.8V rail when power budget dominates, or 3.3V when interfacing with 3.3V peripherals, since the SAM3N family explicitly supports 1.8V, 2.5V, and 3.3V operation. Decouple each supply pin with 100 nF ceramic capacitors placed within 2 mm of the pin, plus one bulk 10 uF per supply domain. Verify brown-out detector thresholds in the manufacturer datasheet for your chosen rail before enabling reset supervision, and confirm flash write operations meet minimum supply voltage for your rail.
The 16 KB Flash and 4 KB SRAM are the smallest in the SAM3N family. Estimate code size early: a bare-metal control loop fits easily, but adding a full TCP/IP or FAT filesystem stack will exceed 16 KB. Because the family is pin-to-pin compatible, the safest mitigation is to lay out the PCB once and qualify the ATSAM3N001AA-AU (32 KB) as an approved alternate BOM line. Also budget stack depth carefully in the 4 KB SRAM when running an RTOS with multiple task stacks.
The 48-LQFP (7x7 mm) has 0.5 mm pitch leads; use a solder-mask-defined footprint per the Microchip/Atmel recommended land pattern in the SAM3N datasheet, with a nominal 0.02 mm pullback to prevent bridging. Provide at least one ground plane layer beneath the device and stitch the exposed thermal region with ground vias. Keep the SWD debug header (SWDIO/SWCLK) routed as short direct traces so in-circuit programming remains reliable through the fixture.
The 48 MHz Cortex-M3 core produces harmonics into the tens of MHz on GPIO toggling. For designs passing EMC, add 22 to 33 ohm series resistors on fast-switching output lines and route clock-related signals away from analog sensor traces. Keep crystal or clock-source traces short and guarded by ground, following the SAM3N hardware design guidelines in the Atmel application notes referenced on the Microchip product page.
Compliance Information
Green package with industrial temperature rating per Mouser listing ('LQFP, Green, IND TEMP'). REACH, halogen-free and conflict-minerals declarations should be obtained directly from Microchip compliance documentation.