ATSAM3N0BA-MU - 48MHz Cortex-M3 MCU 32KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM3N0BA-MU β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.54 | $1.54 |
| 10 | $1.41 | $14.10 |
| 100 | $1.26 | $126.00 |
| 500 | $1.12 | $560.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.98 | $980.00 |
ATSAM3N0BA-MU Overview
A microcontroller unit (MCU) is a single integrated circuit that combines a processor core, non-volatile memory for program storage, SRAM for data, and a rich set of peripherals onto one chip. The ARM Cortex-M3 is a 32-bit RISC processor core designed for cost-sensitive embedded applications, positioned above simple 8-bit PIC cores and below high-performance Cortex-M4/M7 cores within the embedded hierarchy. The SAM3N series is Microchip's (formerly Atmel's) entry-level, general-purpose Cortex-M3 family without USB or external bus interfaces, targeting cost- and power-sensitive designs.
Key features of the ATSAM3N0BA-MU include the Cortex-M3 revision 2.0 core with Thumb-2 instruction set, a 24-bit SysTick counter, and a Nested Vector Interrupt Controller (NVIC) for deterministic interrupt handling. The device operates from a single 1.62V to 3.6V supply and is specified for industrial temperature environments. Per the verified data, the part is graded industrial and supplied in a green, RoHS-compliant QFN package on tape and reel.
The SAM3N series is explicitly pin-to-pin compatible with the legacy SAM7S (48- and 64-pin versions) and the SAM3S series (48- and 64-pin versions), enabling straightforward migration within the Atmel/Microchip ARM portfolio. This footprint compatibility is a major advantage for designs upgrading from ARM7TDMI-based SAM7S parts to the more efficient Cortex-M3.
Typical applications include industrial control panels, consumer appliance interfaces, sensor aggregation nodes, motor control auxiliaries, and general-purpose embedded controllers where 48 MHz performance and 32 KB flash are sufficient and USB connectivity is not required.
A key design consideration is memory margin: with only 32 KB flash and 8 KB SRAM, firmware size should be budgeted carefully; if growth is expected, pin-compatible SAM3N1/SAM3N2 variants with larger flash offer a no-PCB-change upgrade path.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, same-family drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM3N0BA-MU β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with ATSAM3N0BA-MU (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Core Processor, Packaging, Core Size, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM3N1BA-MU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM3N2BA-MU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$3.25 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM3N0AA-MU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM3S2BA-MU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM7S64BU-MU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM3N0BA-MU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M3 (revision 2.0) |
| Core Size | 32-bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Program Memory Type | FLASH |
| Program Memory Size | 32 KB (32K x 8) |
| RAM Size | 8 KB |
| Series | SAM3N |
| Instruction Set | Thumb-2 |
| Package | 64-QFN (9x9 mm) |
| Package Code (JEDEC style) | HVQCCN, square, no-lead |
| Number of Terminals | 64 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial |
| Packaging | Tray (MRL A per Mouser listing) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (QFN, Green per Mouser listing) |
| Footprint Compatibility | Pin-to-pin compatible with SAM7S (48/64-pin) and SAM3S (48/64-pin) |
| SysTick Timer | 24-bit |
ATSAM3N0BA-MU hvqccn, square, no-lead Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM3N0BA-MU (hvqccn, square, no-lead 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 ATSAM3N0BA-MU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM3N0BA-MU is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Panels, Sensor Aggregation Nodes, Consumer Appliance Control, Motor Control Auxiliaries, POS and Payment Peripherals, Legacy SAM7S Design Migration.
Industrial Control Panels
The ATSAM3N0BA-MU fits industrial control panels where a 48 MHz Cortex-M3 provides sufficient headroom for state machines, HMI polling loops, and communication handling without the cost of higher-tier MCUs. Its industrial temperature grading and green RoHS-compliant 64-QFN package align with panel-level environmental requirements. The 32 KB flash accommodatesModbus or UART protocol stacks, while 8 KB SRAM supports modest buffering. Because SAM3N is pin-to-pin compatible with SAM3S and SAM7S, panel designs retain a migration path: if USB or more memory is later required, a footprint-compatible SAM3S can be fitted without PCB rework. The NVIC enables deterministic handling of safety-relevant interrupts such as limit switches and watchdog events, and the 24-bit SysTick provides a stable RTOS tick for task scheduling.
Recommended
Sensor Aggregation Nodes
Sensor nodes benefit from the ATSAM3N0BA-MU's balance of performance and low power. The 48 MHz Cortex-M3 quickly processes readings from multiple analog sensors while spending most time in low-power idle modes, extending battery life in wall-powered or intermittently powered nodes. The 32 KB flash stores calibration tables and filtering routines, and 8 KB SRAM provides ring buffers for multi-channel sampling. SPI, TWI (I2C), and UART peripherals let one MCU aggregate data from accelerometers, temperature sensors, and ADCs simultaneously. Its 9x9 mm 64-QFN package keeps node PCB area compact. Because the SAM3N family scales to 128 KB flash in the same footprint, a node design can be upgraded with richer on-node analytics without respinning the PCB, protecting long-lived deployed designs against firmware growth.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control
Home appliances such as coffee machines, fans, and small cooktops use the ATSAM3N0BA-MU for button decoding, LED or segment display driving, and simple closed-loop control. The Cortex-M3's Thumb-2 instruction density helps 32 KB flash hold both the control logic and a small user interface layer, while the 48 MHz clock makes capacitive-touch and debounce routines invisible to the user. The single 1.8V-3.3V-class supply simplifies the appliance power tree, and the industrial temperature grade covers kitchen environments. The QFN no-lead package withstands the thermal cycling typical of appliance PCBs. If the product line later adds USB update ports or richer menus, the pin-compatible SAM3S (with USB) fits the identical land pattern, letting one appliance platform serve multiple SKUs with a single PCB layout.
Recommended
Motor Control Auxiliaries
In motor-driven products, the ATSAM3N0BA-MU works well as the supervisory controller alongside a dedicated driver: it runs the command interface, monitors current and temperature feedback through ADC inputs, and executes fault handling with low latency via the NVIC. The 48 MHz core leaves ample cycle margin for PI loop bookkeeping at typical PWM frequencies, and the 24-bit SysTick provides a deterministic control tick. The 32 KB/8 KB memory budget comfortably stores ramp profiles, fault logs, and a UART or SPI link to a host. Its industrial grading and green no-lead QFN package suit power-electronics environments with elevated ambient temperatures. For designs needing more SRAM for diagnostics, the pin-compatible SAM3N2 with 16 KB SRAM offers an in-footprint upgrade without PCB changes.
Recommended
POS and Payment Peripherals
Point-of-sale peripherals such as receipt sorters, barcode-trigger interfaces, and numeric keypads use the ATSAM3N0BA-MU for dependable, low-cost control. The Cortex-M3 delivers responsive key-scan and display refresh at 48 MHz, and Thumb-2 code density keeps the 32 KB flash adequate for the communication stack plus application logic. Multiple USART/SPI/TWI interfaces connect card-reader front ends, printers, and host links; 8 KB SRAM buffers transaction strings. The industrial temperature grade tolerates countertop equipment enclosures, and the green RoHS-compliant 64-QFN 9x9 mm package suits compact peripheral housings. The pin-to-pin compatibility with SAM3S means a payment platform can add USB connectivity on the same PCB when a higher-tier SKU requires it, amortizing layout and certification work across the product family.
Recommended
Legacy SAM7S Design Migration
The ATSAM3N0BA-MU is the modern replacement path for designs built around Atmel SAM7S ARM7TDMI microcontrollers. The SAM3N series is explicitly documented as pin-to-pin compatible with the 48- and 64-pin SAM7S versions, so an existing PCB accepts the new device without layout changes. The Cortex-M3 core at 48 MHz delivers higher effective throughput per clock than the SAM7S ARM7 core, improving response times in legacy human-interface and monitoring equipment. Firmware must be ported (the architectures are not binary compatible), but Thumb-2 code density often shrinks the image, easing the move into 32 KB flash. For teams maintaining long-lifecycle industrial equipment, migrating to the active SAM3N line secures supply continuity while the SAM7S ages toward end-of-life, using the identical 64-pin QFN footprint.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM3N0BA-MU β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM3N1BA-MU | ATSAM3N2BA-MU | ATSAM3N0AA-MU | ATSAM3S2BA-MU | ATSAM7S64BU-MU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-QFN (9x9 mm) | 64-QFN (9x9 mm) - same | 64-QFN (9x9 mm) - same | 64-QFN (9x9 mm) - same | 64-QFN (9x9 mm) - same | 64-QFN (9x9 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M3 @ 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M3 @ 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M3 @ 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M3 @ 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M3 @ 48 MHz (with USB) | ARM7TDMI (legacy core) |
| Flash | 32 KB | 64 KB | 128 KB | 16 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB |
| SRAM | 8 KB | 8 KB | 16 KB | 4 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB |
| USB | No | No | No | No | Yes (USB 2.0 device) | Yes (USB device) |
| Key Advantage | Lowest-cost active Cortex-M3 in footprint | 2x flash for headroom | Largest memory in footprint | Lowest cost | Adds USB device port | Legacy design reuse (ARM7) |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest flash density means lowest cost in the active 64-QFN SAM3N family (vs ATSAM3N1BA-MU)
- Active Cortex-M3 architecture vs legacy ARM7TDMI (vs ATSAM7S64BU-MU)
- Cost advantage over USB-capable sibling when USB is not needed (vs ATSAM3S2BA-MU)
Design Notes
Budget flash carefully: 32 KB is the entry point of the SAM3N family, and after a bootloader and communication stack the application space shrinks quickly. Compile with -Os, avoid heavy printf libraries, and verify the linked image leaves at least 20-30% margin. If the roadmap may exceed 32 KB, either start on ATSAM3N1BA/ATSAM3N2BA or ensure the code is written to be memory-scalable, since all 64-pin SAM3N parts share the same QFN 9x9 footprint and can be swapped without PCB rework.
The 64-QFN 9x9 mm no-lead package (HVQCCN) requires careful land-pattern design and solder paste allocation under the exposed center pad for reliable solder joints and grounding. Follow the Microchip-recommended QFN land pattern, use thermal vias under the center pad tied to ground plane, and include at least one 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor per supply pin pair placed within 2 mm of the pin. Verify pin-1 index marking orientation before pick-and-place programming; QFN pin-1 ambiguity is a common assembly defect.
When migrating from SAM7S or SAM3S parts onto the same footprint, remember that electrical parameters and register maps differ even though the pins match. The Cortex-M3 SAM3N is not binary compatible with ARM7TDMI SAM7S firmware; a port with vendor CMSIS libraries is required. Confirm the exact supply voltage range, peripheral clock configuration, and programming algorithm (SAM-BA) against the manufacturer datasheet for the specific density variant before committing to production firmware.
Compliance Information
Mouser listing describes the part as 'QFN, Grn' indicating green (halogen concerns addressed per Microchip green packaging definition) and lead-free. RoHS compliant per distributor data. AEC-Q100 qualification not indicated in provided data.
