ATSAM3N1CB-AU - 48MHz Cortex-M3 MCU 64KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM3N1CB-AU β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.22 | $0.22 |
| 10 | $0.2 | $2.00 |
| 100 | $0.18 | $18.00 |
| 500 | $0.18 | $90.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.18 | $180.00 |
ATSAM3N1CB-AU Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a processor core, program memory, data memory, and peripheral interfaces such as UART, SPI, and I2C. The SAM3N family sits within the broader hierarchy of 32-bit MCUs based on the ARM Cortex-M3 RISC processor, a widely adopted embedded-core architecture that balances performance, deterministic interrupt handling, and low power consumption for cost-sensitive industrial designs.
Key features of the ATSAM3N1CB-AU include the high-performance 32-bit Cortex-M3 core at 48 MHz, 64KB (64K x 8) of embedded flash for program storage, operation from 1.8V, 2.5V, or 3.3V supply rails, and the high pin-count 100-LQFP package that exposes generous GPIO and peripheral routing for complex boards. The device belongs to the SAM3N series, which Microchip (via the Atmel acquisition) positions as a general-purpose, cost-effective flash MCU line.
Technically, the part leverages the ARM Cortex-M3 RISC processor with thumb-2 instruction set efficiency, nested vectored interrupt control, and standard Atmel/Microchip SAM peripheral infrastructure. The 100-pin LQFP (14x14) footprint is a mature, industry-standard surface-mount package compatible with conventional reflow assembly processes.
Typical applications include industrial automation nodes, consumer appliance control boards, motor-adjacent control logic, and embedded sensing/communication modules where a 32-bit core with 64KB flash is sufficient and USB or Ethernet are not required.
A key design consideration is supply-rail selection: because the device supports 1.8V, 2.5V, and 3.3V operation, engineers should validate I/O voltage level compatibility with connected peripherals early in the design. Adequate decoupling capacitors on all supply pins of the 100-pin package are essential.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM3N1CB-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 ATSAM3N1CB-AU (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Core Processor, Package, Program Memory Size, Instruction Set, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM3N1CA-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM3N1CB-AUR
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2.7 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM3N0CB-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM3N0CA-AU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$3.6 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM3N2CB-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM3N4CB-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM3N1CB-AU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M3 |
| Core Size | 32-Bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Program Memory Type | FLASH |
| Program Memory Size | 64KB (64K x 8) |
| Series | SAM3N |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8V / 2.5V / 3.3V |
| Package | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Instruction Set | RISC |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Packaging | Tray |
ATSAM3N1CB-AU 100-lqfp (14x14 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM3N1CB-AU (100-lqfp (14x14 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 ATSAM3N1CB-AU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM3N1CB-AU is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation Control Nodes, Consumer Appliance Control Boards, Embedded Sensing and Data Logging Modules, Motor Control and Drive Interface Logic, Building Automation and Security Panels, Portable and Battery-Powered Instruments.
Industrial Automation Control Nodes
The ATSAM3N1CB-AU fits industrial automation nodes where a 48 MHz Cortex-M3 core and 64KB flash are sufficient for control loops, Modbus-style UART communication, and digital I/O sequencing. Its 100-pin LQFP (14x14 mm) exposes ample GPIO for driving relays, reading limit switches, and interfacing multiple SPI/I2C sensors on one board. Operation from a 3.3V rail matches standard industrial logic levels, and the flash memory accommodates protocol stacks and bootloader code with headroom. Compared with an 8-bit MCU, the 32-bit core handles nested interrupts deterministically, improving scan-time consistency in PLC-adjacent subsystems and factory sensor aggregation modules.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control Boards
Consumer appliance controllers - washing machines, rice cookers, air-conditioner indoor units - need a cost-optimized MCU with enough GPIO for keypads, displays, and motor drive signaling. The ATSAM3N1CB-AU provides this with a 48 MHz Cortex-M3 core, 64KB flash for control firmware and fault logging, and a 100-pin LQFP footprint that routes dozens of I/O lines without pin-multiplexing compromises. Its 1.8V/2.5V/3.3V supply flexibility allows direct interfacing with low-voltage display drivers. The flash architecture supports in-field firmware updates via a UART bootloader, reducing service costs. LCSC lists the part in stock at roughly $0.18 at volume as of 2026-09-19, meeting aggressive BOM cost targets.
Recommended
Embedded Sensing and Data Logging Modules
Sensor aggregation and data-logging modules benefit from the ATSAM3N1CB-AU's combination of 64KB flash, a 48 MHz 32-bit core, and multiple serial interfaces routed on the 100-pin LQFP. SPI and I2C links connect ADCs, temperature, pressure, and humidity sensors, while a UART uploads data to a gateway. The Cortex-M3's nested vectored interrupt controller timestamps sensor events deterministically, important for event-sequence reconstruction in monitoring systems. The 3.3V operating rail matches most MEMS sensors directly, eliminating level-shift components. Firmware fits comfortably in 64KB, leaving space for wear-leveled flash logging routines and communications error handling.
Recommended
Motor Control and Drive Interface Logic
In motor-driven products, the ATSAM3N1CB-AU serves as command and sequencing logic that feeds PWM signals to driver stages and reads encoder or hall-sensor feedback. The 48 MHz Cortex-M3 core executes timing-critical commutation sequences with predictable interrupt latency, and the 100-LQFP pin count lets designers dedicate ports to a full 3-phase PWM set plus fault and brake lines without heavy pin multiplexing. The 64KB flash holds FOC-lite or block-commutation algorithms plus a communication link to a supervisory controller. Supply operation at 3.3V matches gate-driver input thresholds; designers should add robust decoupling near the MCU to reject driver-stage switching noise.
Recommended
Building Automation and Security Panels
Access-control panels, alarm keypads, and room controllers require an MCU with generous GPIO, serial interfaces for door hardware and network modules, and non-volatile program storage - all delivered by the ATSAM3N1CB-AU in its 100-pin LQFP (14x14 mm) package. The 48 MHz Cortex-M3 handles keypad scanning, LCD driving, buzzer timing, and RS-485 framing concurrently under interrupt control. The 64KB flash supports cryptographic-style challenge-response routines for simple credential checking, and the 3.3V rail integrates with standard building-automation logic. Its RoHS-compliant construction meets commercial-building procurement requirements, and distributor stocking (DigiKey, LCSC) supports both prototype and volume production runs.
Recommended
Portable and Battery-Powered Instruments
Handheld meters, testers, and portable instruments leverage the ATSAM3N1CB-AU's 1.8V/2.5V/3.3V supply options, which permit operation directly from two-cell or single-cell-boosted battery rails. The 48 MHz Cortex-M3 core provides enough throughput for digital filtering of ADC streams, and the 64KB flash stores calibration tables plus UI firmware. The 100-pin LQFP supports a segment LCD interface, matrix keypad, USB-adjacent serial links via bridges, and multiple analog front-end control lines. Designers should exploit the MCU's low-power idle modes between measurements; the deterministic wake-up of the Cortex-M3 nested vectored interrupt controller makes sample scheduling straightforward without an external real-time kernel.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM3N1CB-AU β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM3N1CA-AU | ATSAM3N0CB-AU | ATSAM3N0CA-AU | ATSAM3N2CB-AU | ATSAM3N4CB-AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | 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 | ARM Cortex-M3, 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M3, 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 64KB (64K x 8) | 64KB | 32KB | 32KB | 128KB | 256KB |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8V / 2.5V / 3.3V | 1.8V / 2.5V / 3.3V | 1.8V / 2.5V / 3.3V | 1.8V / 2.5V / 3.3V | 1.8V / 2.5V / 3.3V | 1.8V / 2.5V / 3.3V |
| Packaging | Tray | Tray | Tray | Tray | Tray | Tray |
| Lifecycle Status | Active | Active | Active | Active | Active | Active |
Key Differentiators
- Doubled flash versus the ATSAM3N0 tier (vs ATSAM3N0CB-AU)
- Same package, zero-rework upward migration (vs ATSAM3N2CB-AU)
- Cost position versus top-of-family (vs ATSAM3N4CB-AU)
Design Notes
Decouple every supply pin pair of the 100-LQFP package with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 2-3 mm of each pin, plus one bulk 4.7-10 uF capacitor near the part. Because the device accepts 1.8V, 2.5V, or 3.3V rails, ensure the selected rail stays within the datasheet tolerance under all load transients, and confirm I/O level compatibility with connected peripherals at the chosen voltage. Estimated: at 48 MHz with light I/O loading, core current is typically in the tens of milliamps range per SAM3N family behavior - verify against the manufacturer datasheet electrical characteristics table for your exact voltage and clock configuration.
Keep the SWD (serial wire debug) pads accessible on production boards - the Cortex-M3 SWDIO/SWCLK pair is the primary debug and recovery interface, and burying it under a connector or component makes rework after a failed flash operation very difficult. Route the SWD traces short and away from high dv/dt nets such as motor driver gate lines. Provide a programming header or tag-connect footprint compatible with SAM-BA UART recovery as a second-path fallback for field service.
A frequent mistake when migrating within the SAM3N family is assuming identical peripheral sets across ATSAM3N0/3N1/3N2/3N4 variants. While all share the 100-LQFP footprint and Cortex-M3 core, peripheral instances and pin-multiplex options differ. Before swapping a 3N0CB for the 64KB ATSAM3N1CB-AU (or vice versa), regenerate pin-mux configuration from the Microchip device header files and re-verify every alternate-function assignment. Also confirm the exact '-AU' temperature/speed grade suffix matches your environment, and review Microchip PCN notifications for lifecycle updates since this is a legacy Atmel-origin product line.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance indicated by the green ('Grn') marking in the Utmel listing for SAM3N LQFP parts. Other compliance statuses not stated in provided data.