ATSAM3N00BA-AU - ARM Cortex-M3 MCU 48MHz 16KB | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM3N00BA-AU β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.62 | $3.62 |
| 10 | $3.26 | $32.60 |
| 100 | $2.9 | $290.00 |
| 500 | $2.61 | $1,305.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.35 | $2,350.00 |
ATSAM3N00BA-AU Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single integrated circuit that combines a processor core, memory, and peripherals into one chip, forming the computational heart of embedded systems. Within the hierarchy of semiconductor devices, the SAM3N family sits in the 32-bit ARM microcontroller segment, positioned above 8-bit MCUs in processing capability while remaining economical. The ARM Cortex-M3 revision 2.0 core executes the Thumb-2 instruction set, delivering code density that reduces flash requirements for a given function.
Key features of the ATSAM3N00BA-AU include the 48 MHz Cortex-M3 processor, a 24-bit SysTick counter for deterministic RTOS timing, and a Nested Vector Interrupt Controller (NVIC) for low-latency interrupt handling. The 16KB flash provides program storage for compact applications, and the industrial temperature rating (-40C to +85C per Mouser listing) supports harsh environments. Mouser lists the package as LQFP, Green, IND TEMP, MRL A, indicating RoHS-aligned green packaging and moisture reflow level A.
According to the manufacturer datasheet, the SAM3N series provides pin-to-pin compatibility across memory-density variants, so the 16KB ATSAM3N00BA-AU can be swapped for larger-memory siblings on the same PCB when firmware outgrows available space. Architecture strengths include robust EMI tolerance and the ARM ecosystem of development tools, including the Atmel/Microchip Studio IDE and SAM-BA in-system programming.
Typical applications include industrial automation nodes, consumer appliance control, motor control interfaces, and sensor-gathering IoT endpoints where 16KB of code space and 48 MHz performance are sufficient.
A key design consideration: flash density is the primary constraint - verify the compiled firmware image fits within 16KB before committing to the 00B variant, since other SAM3N family members on the identical footprint offer up to 256KB.
This page synthesizes distributor listings from DigiKey, Mouser, Octopart, and cross-reference research into a single resource, adding drop-in family alternatives, comparison tables, and design guidance not consolidated on the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM3N00BA-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:
ATSAM3N001A-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM3N002A-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM3N004A-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM3N00BA-AU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M3 revision 2.0 |
| Core Size | 32-Bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 16KB (16K x 8) |
| Instruction Set | Thumb-2 |
| Series | SAM3N |
| Package | 64-LQFP (10x10 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Terminal Form | Gull Wing |
| Operating Temperature | Industrial (-40C to +85C) |
| SysTick Timer | 24-bit SysTick counter |
| Interrupt Controller | Nested Vector Interrupt Controller (NVIC) |
| RoHS Status | Green (RoHS-compliant packaging per Mouser listing) |
| Moisture Reflow Level | MRL A |
ATSAM3N00BA-AU 64-lqfp (10x10 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM3N00BA-AU (64-lqfp (10x10 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 ATSAM3N00BA-AU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM3N00BA-AU is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation Nodes, Consumer Appliance Control, Sensor-Gathering IoT Endpoints, Motor Control Interfaces, Building Security and Access Panels, Test and Measurement Accessories.
Industrial Automation Nodes
The ATSAM3N00BA-AU fits industrial automation nodes because the SAM3N datasheet explicitly emphasizes robust EMI tolerance, essential near variable-frequency drives, contactors, and switching power stages. Its 48 MHz ARM Cortex-M3 core with a Nested Vector Interrupt Controller delivers deterministic interrupt latency for real-time polling of limit switches, encoders, and analog sensors, while the 24-bit SysTick counter provides a stable RTOS timebase. Mouser lists the device in IND TEMP (industrial -40C to +85C) grade, so it survives control-cabinet temperatures. In a typical node, the MCU sequences I/O, runs a Modbus-style serial protocol, and reports status over UART; the 16KB flash accommodates compact protocol stacks. Using the pin-compatible SAM3N siblings, engineers can later upgrade flash density without a PCB respin if feature scope grows.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control
White goods, small kitchen appliances, and HVAC controllers benefit from the ATSAM3N00BA-AU's balance of 32-bit performance and entry-level cost. The 48 MHz Cortex-M3 core executes filtered PID loops for temperature and motor speed control with ample margin, while Thumb-2 code density keeps the compiled control firmware well within the 16KB flash. The green, RoHS-aligned LQFP packaging (MRL A per Mouser) meets consumer regulatory requirements for lead-free assembly. In a washing machine or air conditioner main board, the MCU drives a segmented LCD or LEDs, reads membrane-key inputs, and controls triac or relay loads with timing derived from the 24-bit SysTick. The industrial temperature rating provides design margin for hot compressor compartments, and the same-footprint SAM3N family allows a cost-optimized or feature-extended variant to be adopted without changing the PCB layout.
Recommended
Sensor-Gathering IoT Endpoints
Battery-tolerant sensor nodes use the ATSAM3N00BA-AU to digitize and forward measurements. The Cortex-M3 executes at 48 MHz only when needed, and its architecture supports low-power standby modes typical of the SAM3N family, extending battery life between wakeups. The 16KB flash is sufficient for a sensor driver, calibration tables, and a compact packet-framing protocol over UART or I2C-linked radio modules. Because the part is a standard ARM Cortex-M3, developers can reuse open-source peripheral drivers and FreeRTOS ports, shrinking development time. In practice, the MCU reads I2C temperature/humidity sensors, applies linearization, timestamps samples using the 24-bit SysTick, and bursts data to a wireless module. Designers should budget flash carefully at this density; if a TLS-style secure stack is later required, the pin-compatible 32KB or 64KB SAM3N variants drop onto the same footprint.
Recommended
Motor Control Interfaces
The ATSAM3N00BA-AU serves as the supervisory MCU in fan, pump, and small motor systems where a dedicated driver IC handles the power stage. The 48 MHz Cortex-M3 generates PWM commands and closes outer control loops (speed, current-limit, stall detection) with interrupt latencies managed by the NVIC, while the 24-bit SysTick counter gives a precise scheduling reference. EMI robustness noted in the SAM3N datasheet is valuable near switching MOSFET bridges, and the industrial temperature grade covers motor-adjacent mounting positions. The MCU reads hall or encoder feedback, implements ramp profiles, and reports diagnostics over UART. With 16KB flash, a scalar (V/f) control scheme or stepper sequencer fits comfortably; field-oriented control with floating-point math should instead target the pin-compatible higher-memory SAM3N variants to leave headroom for diagnostics and protection logic.
Recommended
Building Security and Access Panels
Door controllers, alarm panels, and access-card readers are classic fits for the ATSAM3N00BA-AU. The MCU polls keypad matrixes and Wiegand-format readers using NVIC-driven edge interrupts, validates credentials against codes stored in flash, and drives relays and annunciators with SysTick-based timing for precise pulse widths. The industrial temperature rating supports outdoor reader enclosures, and the LQFP package's gull-wing leads withstand thermal cycling on multi-layer boards. The 16KB flash accommodates a reader protocol stack plus a modest local credential table; networked panels that store hundreds of users typically migrate to the pin-compatible 32KB or 64KB SAM3N devices without any PCB change, which is a major advantage of the family's documented pin-to-pin compatibility. Robust EMI tolerance also helps near door-strike solenoids and switching power supplies.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Accessories
Handheld meters, probe interfaces, and bench accessories leverage the ATSAM3N00BA-AU as the system controller driving displays, reading ADC results, and managing the user interface. The 32-bit 48 MHz core performs scaling, calibration math, and averaging filters far faster than 8-bit alternatives, while Thumb-2 density keeps the command parser and display driver inside 16KB flash. The SAM3N series' NVIC allows the MCU to react immediately to range-change or over-limit interrupts while the main loop refreshes the display. The green LQFP-64 package simplifies assembly for two-sided boards typical of compact instruments, and the industrial temperature grade suits workshop environments. Because the SAM3N family is pin-to-pin compatible across flash densities, an instrument family can share one PCB, populating the 16KB part in the entry model and 64KB parts in premium models.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM3N00BA-AU β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM3N001A-AU | ATSAM3N002A-AU | ATSAM3N004A-AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-LQFP (10x10 mm) | 64-LQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 64-LQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 64-LQFP (10x10 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) |
| Core / Clock | ARM Cortex-M3 @ 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M3 @ 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M3 @ 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M3 @ 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 16KB | 8KB | 32KB | 64KB |
| Pin Compatibility | SAM3N family pin-to-pin | Yes (per SAM3N datasheet) | Yes (per SAM3N datasheet) | Yes (per SAM3N datasheet) |
| Instruction Set | Thumb-2 | Thumb-2 | Thumb-2 | Thumb-2 |
| Typical Use Case | Compact firmware under 16KB | Cost-reduced minimal firmware under 8KB | Mid-size stacks (RTOS + protocols) | Larger stacks, UI and diagnostics |
Key Differentiators
- Smallest flash in the pin-compatible SAM3N footprint with meaningful margin (vs ATSAM3N001A-AU)
- Straightforward flash upgrade path without PCB respin (vs ATSAM3N004A-AU)
- ARM ecosystem access at entry-level pricing (vs 8-bit PIC16 family alternatives)
Design Notes
Flash budget is the defining constraint of the ATSAM3N00BA-AU. Before freezing the PCB, compile the full firmware - bootloader, protocol stack, and RTOS - and confirm the image plus reserve fits inside 16KB. A common mistake is selecting the 16KB part, then needing a TCP/IP or USB class stack later; because the SAM3N family is pin-to-pin compatible per the manufacturer datasheet, the mitigation is to qualify the footprint once and drop in the 32KB or 64KB variants without redesign.
The 64-LQFP (10x10 mm) gull-wing package requires a standard 0.5 mm pitch land pattern; verify courtyard clearance for reflow and inspection. Decouple each supply pin with 100 nF ceramics placed within a few millimeters of the pin, plus one bulk capacitor per rail. Exposed traces under the package center should be used for a solid ground pour, and MRL A moisture sensitivity means following the manufacturer's floor-life and baking rules before reflow.
The SAM3N datasheet highlights robust EMI tolerance, but good practice still applies: keep crystal and high-speed traces short, route switching loads (relays, motor drivers) away from the MCU, and add series resistors on long external lines to damp ringing. The industrial temperature grade permits use near heat sources, but verify that local ambient around the package stays within the -40C to +85C rating when the board is fully populated and enclosed.
Compliance Information
Mouser listing describes package as LQFP, Green, IND TEMP, MRL A - Microchip Green packaging denotes lead-free, halogen-free, RoHS-aligned devices. REACH and conflict-minerals status not stated in provided data.