ATSAM3N1BA-AU - 48MHz ARM Cortex-M3 MCU 64KB Flash | Atmel
MPN: ATSAM3N1BA-AU β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.2 | $4.20 |
| 10 | $3.85 | $38.50 |
| 100 | $3.42 | $342.00 |
| 500 | $3.1 | $1,550.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.85 | $2,850.00 |
ATSAM3N1BA-AU Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) integrates a processor core, memory, and peripherals on a single die, serving as the mid-level controller between simple 8-bit parts and full application processors. The SAM3N series sits within the broader ARM Cortex-M embedded controller hierarchy and is designed to converge performance and simplicity for cost-sensitive 32-bit designs.
Key features include the ARM Cortex-M3 revision 2.0 core with Thumb-2 instruction set, a 24-bit SysTick timer, and a Nested Vector Interrupt Controller (NVIC) for deterministic interrupt handling. The internal oscillator eliminates the need for an external crystal in many designs, and the device is pin-to-pin compatible with SAM7S legacy products (48- and 64-pin versions) and SAM3S devices, simplifying migration paths.
Technical depth: the Cortex-M3 core provides Harvard architecture with separate instruction and data buses, hardware divide, and low-latency interrupt preemption. Flash memory executes code at full speed with an integrated controller, while the 8 KB SRAM supports typical control-loop and communication-buffer workloads at 48 MHz.
Typical applications include industrial control, consumer appliances, metering, and general-purpose embedded systems where a modern 32-bit upgrade from 8-bit MCUs is desired without raising system cost.
Design consideration: the -AU suffix denotes a lead-free, RoHS-compliant LQFP tray package rated for industrial temperature ranges; verify current consumption budget versus the lower-power SAM3N variants early in the design.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, pinout data, and practical design notes not found on the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM3N1BA-AU 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 ATSAM3N1BA-AU (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Core Processor, Pin Compatibility, Program Memory Size, RAM Size, Core Size.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
No drop-in alternatives available for this product.
Request AlternativesATSAM3N1BA-AU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M3 revision 2.0 |
| Core Size | 32-bit |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 48 MHz |
| Program Memory Size | 64 KB (64K x 8) |
| Program Memory Type | FLASH |
| RAM Size | 8K x 8 |
| Number of I/O | 47 |
| Instruction Set | Thumb-2 |
| SysTick Timer | 24-bit |
| Interrupt Controller | NVIC (Nested Vector Interrupt Controller) |
| Oscillator Type | Internal |
| Package / Case | 64-LQFP (10x10 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Packaging | Tray |
| Pin Compatibility | Pin-to-pin compatible with SAM7S (48/64-pin) and SAM3S (48/64/100-pin) |
| Series | SAM3N |
ATSAM3N1BA-AU Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PA00 β Parallel I/O port A, line 0 |
| Pin 2 | PA01 β Parallel I/O port A, line 1 |
| Pin 3 | PA02 β Parallel I/O port A, line 2 |
| Pin 4 | PA03 β Parallel I/O port A, line 3 |
| Pin 5 | PA04 β Parallel I/O port A, line 4 |
| Pin 6 | PA05 β Parallel I/O port A, line 5 |
| Pin 7 | PA06 β Parallel I/O port A, line 6 |
| Pin 8 | PA07 β Parallel I/O port A, line 7 |
| Pin 9 | PA08 β Parallel I/O port A, line 8 |
| Pin 10 | PA09 β Parallel I/O port A, line 9 |
| Pin 11 | PA10 β Parallel I/O port A, line 10 |
| Pin 12 | PA11 β Parallel I/O port A, line 11 |
| Pin 13 | PA12 β Parallel I/O port A, line 12 |
| Pin 14 | PA13 β Parallel I/O port A, line 13 |
| Pin 15 | PA14 β Parallel I/O port A, line 14 |
| Pin 16 | PA15 β Parallel I/O port A, line 15 |
| Pin 17 | PA16 β Parallel I/O port A, line 16 |
| Pin 18 | PA17 β Parallel I/O port A, line 17 |
| Pin 19 | PA18 β Parallel I/O port A, line 18 |
| Pin 20 | PA19 β Parallel I/O port A, line 19 |
| Pin 21 | PA20 β Parallel I/O port A, line 20 |
| Pin 22 | PA21 β Parallel I/O port A, line 21 |
| Pin 23 | PA22 β Parallel I/O port A, line 22 |
| Pin 24 | PA23 β Parallel I/O port A, line 23 |
| Pin 25 | PA24 β Parallel I/O port A, line 24 |
| Pin 26 | PA25 β Parallel I/O port A, line 25 |
| Pin 27 | PA26 β Parallel I/O port A, line 26 |
| Pin 28 | PA27 β Parallel I/O port A, line 27 |
| Pin 29 | PA28 β Parallel I/O port A, line 28 |
| Pin 30 | PA29 β Parallel I/O port A, line 29 |
| Pin 31 | PA30 β Parallel I/O port A, line 30 |
| Pin 32 | PA31 β Parallel I/O port A, line 31 |
| Pin 33 | PB00 β Parallel I/O port B, line 0 |
| Pin 34 | PB01 β Parallel I/O port B, line 1 |
| Pin 35 | PB02 β Parallel I/O port B, line 2 |
| Pin 36 | PB03 β Parallel I/O port B, line 3 |
| Pin 37 | PB04 β Parallel I/O port B, line 4 |
| Pin 38 | PB05 β Parallel I/O port B, line 5 |
| Pin 39 | PB06 β Parallel I/O port B, line 6 |
| Pin 40 | PB07 β Parallel I/O port B, line 7 |
| Pin 41 | PB08 β Parallel I/O port B, line 8 |
| Pin 42 | PB09 β Parallel I/O port B, line 9 |
| Pin 43 | PB10 β Parallel I/O port B, line 10 |
| Pin 44 | PB11 β Parallel I/O port B, line 11 |
| Pin 45 | PB12 β Parallel I/O port B, line 12 |
| Pin 46 | PB13 β Parallel I/O port B, line 13 |
| Pin 47 | PB14 β Parallel I/O port B, line 14 |
| Pin 48 | VDDIO β I/O power supply |
| Pin 49 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 50 | VDDCORE β Core power supply |
| Pin 51 | VDDIN β Internal regulator input supply |
| Pin 52 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 53 | XIN β Crystal oscillator input |
| Pin 54 | XOUT β Crystal oscillator output |
| Pin 55 | VDDPLL β PLL power supply |
| Pin 56 | GND_PLL β PLL ground |
| Pin 57 | NRST β Bidirectional reset pin with internal pull-up |
| Pin 58 | ERASE β Flash erase pin (active high) |
| Pin 59 | TCK/SWCLK β JTAG test clock / SWD clock |
| Pin 60 | TMS/SWDIO β JTAG test mode select / SWD data I/O |
| Pin 61 | TDI β JTAG test data input |
| Pin 62 | TDO/TRACESWO β JTAG test data output / trace output |
| Pin 63 | TST β Test mode pin (tie to GND in normal operation) |
| Pin 64 | VDDIO β I/O power supply |
Typical Applications
ATSAM3N1BA-AU is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Systems, Smart Metering, Consumer Appliances, Legacy SAM7S Board Migration, Embedded Sensing and Data Logging, Motor Control and Lighting Control.
Industrial Control Systems
The ATSAM3N1BA-AU fits industrial control nodes where a deterministic 32-bit core is required at 8-bit-class cost. Its 48 MHz ARM Cortex-M3 core with NVIC delivers fast, bounded interrupt latency for real-time control loops, while 47 GPIO lines drive relays, read sensors, and interface with HMI elements. The 64 KB Flash accommodates typical PLC-style control firmware, and the 8 KB SRAM buffers communication payloads. Deployed between a 24 V industrial supply (via a simple buck regulator) and peripheral drivers, the MCU's internal oscillator reduces BOM cost in noise-tolerant nodes, while an external crystal can be added for precise UART timing on Modbus RTU links. Because it is pin-compatible with SAM3S and SAM4S parts, industrial OEMs can qualify one PCB across multiple firmware and memory configurations, reducing inventory risk when production volumes shift between product tiers.
Recommended
Smart Metering
Utility metering - electricity sub-meters, water meters, and gas telemetry nodes - benefits from the ATSAM3N1BA-AU's balance of performance, memory, and cost. The Cortex-M3 core performs pulse counting, cumulative consumption arithmetic, and CRC-protected data framing at 48 MHz without consuming the entire 64 KB Flash budget, leaving headroom for field-updatable calibration tables in the remaining code space. The 47 I/O lines support optical port interfaces, tamper switches, and segment LCD or LED indicators. Firmware can rely on the internal oscillator for wake-up timing and switch to a crystal for precision measurement windows, reducing average power. The tray-packed 64-LQFP suits automated pick-and-place in meter PCB assembly, and the SAM3N's documented migration path to SAM3S/SAM4S allows meter platforms to add communication stacks (USB, more Flash) on the same footprint across product generations.
Recommended
Consumer Appliances
Home appliances such as coffee machines, air purifiers, rice cookers, and fan controllers use the ATSAM3N1BA-AU as their main control MCU. The 48 MHz Cortex-M3 core comfortably runs state machines, touch/button debouncing, and display refresh concurrently, while Thumb-2 instruction density keeps the complete application within 64 KB Flash including localized string tables. The internal oscillator supports cost-optimized boards without a crystal in designs where timing accuracy is non-critical, and the NVIC enables responsive safety interrupts (over-temperature, lid-open) with deterministic latency. The 47 GPIO lines drive relays, triac control logic, seven-segment displays, and buzzer outputs. Because appliance OEMs often face long service lives, the SAM3N's pin-to-pin compatibility with SAM7S legacy parts allows PCB reuse when refreshing older product lines to a modern, actively supported 32-bit platform without layout changes.
Recommended
Legacy SAM7S Board Migration
The ATSAM3N1BA-AU is explicitly designed as a drop-in migration target for SAM7S legacy designs in 48- and 64-pin packages, per the Atmel SAM3N datasheet. Engineering teams maintaining aging ARM7TDMI-based boards can drop the SAM3N1B into the same 64-LQFP footprint and gain the modern Cortex-M3 revision 2.0 core, Thumb-2 density, and a 24-bit SysTick timer while keeping the PCB unchanged. Firmware requires recompilation for the ARMv7-M architecture, and interrupt controllers differ (VIC vs NVIC), so the migration involves a firmware port rather than a binary swap - typically a bounded engineering effort since peripheral register maps follow Atmel's common style. This migration path de-risks sourcing of discontinued ARM7 parts and prepares the platform for further upgrades to SAM3S or SAM4S on the identical footprint, protecting the PCB investment across multiple silicon generations.
Recommended
Embedded Sensing and Data Logging
Battery-powered and line-powered data loggers use the ATSAM3N1BA-AU to poll analog and digital sensors, timestamp events, and store or transmit records. The 8 KB SRAM buffers sensor frames and communication packets, while the 64 KB Flash leaves room for firmware plus configuration tables. Multiple serial peripherals handle RS-485, I2C sensor buses, and debug UARTs simultaneously; the 47 GPIO lines manage sensor enable switches and status LEDs. Designers can clock the core down from 48 MHz between sampling windows to cut current consumption, then run at full speed during ADC sampling and radio or modem transfers. The internal oscillator provides clock-free standby timing, and the LQFP's exposed lead-frame thermal behavior keeps junction temperatures safe in sealed enclosures. Pin compatibility with SAM3S/SAM4S lets a logger family share one PCB across connectivity tiers.
Recommended
Motor Control and Lighting Control
Low-end motor control - fans, pumps, dampers - and advanced lighting ballast controllers leverage the ATSAM3N1BA-AU's deterministic 48 MHz Cortex-M3 core for PWM generation, commutation timing, and closed-loop speed regulation. The NVIC delivers sub-microsecond-class interrupt response for current-loop servicing, while the 24-bit SysTick provides a stable timebase for control scheduling. The 47 GPIO lines multiplex PWM outputs, hall/encoder inputs, and fault inputs; 64 KB Flash holds control firmware plus parameter tables, and 8 KB SRAM supports PI-loop state variables and diagnostic buffers. Using the internal oscillator for boot and a crystal for precision commutation timing balances cost and accuracy. Because the SAM3N is pin-compatible with SAM3S parts, lighting OEMs can add USB (DALI/DMX service interfaces) by swapping to ATSAM3S4BA-AU on the same PCB without redesigning the power or driver stages.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM3N1BA-AU β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM3S4BA-AU | ATSAM3N1AA-AU | ATSAM4S8BA-AU | ATSAM3N1CA-AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-LQFP (10x10 mm) | 64-LQFP (10x10 mm) - same footprint | 64-LQFP (10x10 mm) - same footprint | 64-LQFP (10x10 mm) - same footprint | LQFP-100 (shares SAM3 pinout subset) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M3 rev 2.0 | ARM Cortex-M3 | ARM Cortex-M3 | ARM Cortex-M4 | ARM Cortex-M3 |
| Max Clock Speed | 48 MHz | 64 MHz | 48 MHz | 120 MHz | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 64 KB | 256 KB | 32 KB | 512 KB | 96 KB |
| SRAM | 8 KB | 48 KB | 8 KB | 128 KB | 16 KB |
| USB Peripheral | No | Yes (USB 2.0 Full Speed device) | No | Yes (USB 2.0 device) | No |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest-cost entry into the pin-compatible SAM3 64-LQFP family (vs ATSAM3S4BA-AU)
- Documented legacy migration path (vs ATSAM4S8BA-AU)
- 48 MHz Cortex-M3 with internal oscillator (vs ATSAM3N1AA-AU)
Design Notes
The SAM3N family integrates an internal voltage regulator: VDDIN feeds the on-chip regulator that supplies VDDCORE, so connect VDDIN and VDDIO to the 3.3 V rail with local 100 nF decoupling plus a bulk capacitor, and place the regulator output capacitor per the datasheet's stated value on VDDCORE. Do not drive VDDCORE externally unless the datasheet variant requires it. Distribute VDDIO at multiple points across the 64-LQFP to keep I/O ground bounce low when driving many GPIO simultaneously.
For reliable SWD debugging, bring TCK/SWCLK (pin 59) and TMS/SWDIO (pin 60) to a standard 10-pin Cortex debug header with series resistors (33-100 ohm) near the MCU. Tie ERASE (pin 58) through a jumper to ground - it blanks Flash security bits when pulsed high - and never leave it floating in noisy environments. Keep the crystal (XIN/XOUT, pins 53-54) loop compact with guard ground if precision timing is needed; otherwise the internal oscillator suffices for crystal-free designs.
The TST pin (pin 63) must be tied to ground in production; leaving it floating can place the device into test mode. NRST has an internal pull-up but benefits from an external 100 nF to ground for brown-out robustness. When migrating firmware from SAM7S, remember the interrupt architecture changes from VIC to NVIC and startup code, vector tables, and clock configuration (PLL settings differ) must be regenerated - a recompiled port is required, not a binary copy.
Compliance Information
The -AU package suffix denotes lead-free/RoHS-compliant LQFP per historical Atmel package nomenclature; formal RoHS/REACH declarations should be confirmed on the current Microchip compliance portal before regulated-market shipping.