ATSAM3N4CA-CU - 48MHz ARM Cortex-M3 MCU, 256KB Flash | Atmel
MPN: ATSAM3N4CA-CU ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
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| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
ATSAM3N4CA-CU Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single integrated circuit that combines a processor core, program memory, data memory, and peripherals on one die, forming the heart of embedded systems. The SAM3N belongs to the ARM Cortex-M3 family of 32-bit MCUs, which sits within the broader hierarchy of ARM-based RISC processors used across industrial, consumer, and connectivity electronics.
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). The device is pin-to-pin compatible with legacy SAM7S products (48- and 64-pin versions) and SAM3S devices (48-, 64- and 100-pin versions), enabling cost-down migrations and footprint reuse across existing Atmel board designs. An internal oscillator removes the need for an external crystal in many designs, and the wide 1.62 V to 3.6 V supply range supports both 1.8 V and 3.3 V systems.
The Cortex-M3 core uses a Harvard architecture with a three-stage pipeline, delivering deterministic interrupt latency suitable for real-time control. Flash execution at 48 MHz combined with the efficient Thumb-2 instruction density keeps code compact in the 256 KB program memory, while 24 KB of SRAM supports moderate buffers, stacks, and communication FIFOs.
Typical applications include industrial control panels, consumer appliance interfaces, and low-cost embedded systems migrating from the older SAM7S family. The 79 I/O lines provide flexibility for keypads, displays, and parallel peripheral interfaces.
Design consideration: select the CU package suffix consistently with your PCB footprint, since the SAM3N family spans multiple 100-pin packages; verify the exact ball map in the manufacturer datasheet before layout release.
This page synthesizes distributor listings, datasheet highlights, drop-in alternatives, and design notes not found on the manufacturer product page. Pricing and stock data as of 2026-09-19.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM3N4CA-CU — 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 ATSAM3N4CA-CU (same form factor and footprint) — differing in SRAM, Core Processor, Series, Instruction Set, Maximum Clock Frequency.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM3N4BA-MU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.48 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM3N1CB-CU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM3N0CA-CU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$4.21 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM3S4CA-CU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$4.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM3U4CA-CU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →ATSAM3N4CA-CU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M3 revision 2.0 |
| Core Size | 32-bit |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 48 MHz |
| Instruction Set | Thumb-2 |
| Flash Program Memory | 256 KB (256K x 8) |
| SRAM | 24 KB (24K x 8) |
| Number of I/O | 79 |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.62 V to 3.6 V |
| Oscillator Type | Internal |
| SysTick Timer | 24-bit |
| Interrupt Controller | NVIC (Nested Vector Interrupt Controller) |
| Package / Case | 100-TFBGA (9x9 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Packaging | Tube |
| Pin Compatibility | SAM7S (48/64-pin) and SAM3S (48/64/100-pin) |
ATSAM3N4CA-CU 100-tfbga (9x9 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM3N4CA-CU (100-tfbga (9x9 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 ATSAM3N4CA-CU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM3N4CA-CU is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Panels, Consumer Appliance Interfaces, SAM7S Legacy Product Migration, Low-Cost Embedded Data Loggers, Building Automation and HVAC Control Nodes, Point-of-Sale and Vending Machine Controllers.
Industrial Control Panels
The ATSAM3N4CA-CU fits industrial control panels where deterministic real-time response and a large I/O count matter more than raw compute. Its ARM Cortex-M3 core at 48 MHz with the NVIC delivers low, predictable interrupt latency for relay sequencing, button debouncing, and sensor polling, while 79 I/O lines directly drive keypads, indicator banks, and parallel peripheral buses without expansion logic. The 256 KB Flash accommodates protocol stacks and localization string tables, and the 1.62 V to 3.6 V supply range rides through industrial rail sag. Deployed between a 3.3 V supply and opto-isolated I/O with the internal oscillator for cost saving, it replaces legacy SAM7S designs pin-for-pin, allowing PCB reuse during end-of-life migrations.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Interfaces
Appliance user interfaces - display drivers, touch buttons, encoder inputs, and buzzer control - benefit from the ATSAM3N4CA-CU's balance of memory and I/O. The 256 KB Flash stores multi-language menus and graphics assets, while 24 KB SRAM buffers display frame segments. The internal oscillator removes the external crystal from cost-sensitive appliance boards, and Thumb-2 code density keeps the same feature set in less Flash than 8-bit architectures would need. The device runs from 1.62 V to 3.6 V, allowing direct interface with 3.3 V display modules. Typical placement is between the appliance power supply and the LCD/keypad front-end, with firmware updates performed in-system through the Flash controller's user-page programming features described in the SAM3N datasheet.
Recommended
SAM7S Legacy Product Migration
The ATSAM3N4CA-CU is specifically positioned as the migration target for Atmel SAM7S legacy designs. According to the Atmel datasheet, the SAM3N series is pin-to-pin compatible with SAM7S products in 48- and 64-pin versions, so existing SAM7S boards can accept the SAM3N with a firmware recompile rather than a PCB respin. The Cortex-M3 core at 48 MHz delivers roughly double the integer throughput of the SAM7S ARM7TDMI at comparable clocks, while reducing active power. Engineers typically migrate to gain the Thumb-2 instruction set, the improved Flash controller, and continued sourcing under Microchip, then use the 256 KB Flash headroom to consolidate features previously split across two SAM7S parts on the same board.
Recommended
Low-Cost Embedded Data Loggers
For data loggers recording sensor streams to serial Flash or EEPROM, the ATSAM3N4CA-CU provides 24 KB of SRAM for ring buffering and 256 KB of Flash for firmware plus calibration tables. The Cortex-M3's deterministic interrupt behavior keeps sampling intervals accurate across channels, while the internal oscillator suffices for time-stamping at moderate precision. Its 1.62 V to 3.6 V operating range supports direct connection to single-cell lithium or three-cell alkaline supplies through a small LDO. Placed as the system controller between an analog front-end and a serial memory or UART radio link, the MCU spends most of the mission in low-power wait modes described in the SAM3N datasheet, waking on peripheral interrupts to record samples and extend battery life.
Recommended
Building Automation and HVAC Control Nodes
HVAC controllers and building automation nodes use the ATSAM3N4CA-CU to sequence actuators, monitor temperature and pressure inputs, and bridge serial field buses. The 79 I/O lines cover damper drives, valve relays, and multi-sensor inputs without port expanders, and the NVIC prioritizes safety-related fault interrupts over routine housekeeping. With 256 KB Flash, a single firmware image can hold Modbus or similar protocol handling plus control logic and diagnostics logging. The 1.62 V to 3.6 V supply simplifies design on 3.3 V logic rails derived from the 24 V HVAC bus. The device sits between isolated field-side I/O and the communication transceiver, with the Cortex-M3 executing the control loop at 48 MHz and the Flash enabling field firmware updates during maintenance windows.
Recommended
Point-of-Sale and Vending Machine Controllers
Vending machines and point-of-sale terminals require a main controller handling keypad matrices, coin/bill validator interfaces, display output, and communication modules simultaneously. The ATSAM3N4CA-CU's 48 MHz Cortex-M3 core services these concurrent tasks with interrupt-driven firmware, while 79 I/O lines connect the validator, motors, and display directly. The 256 KB Flash supports payment protocol code and audit logging, and 24 KB SRAM buffers transaction records. Operating at 1.62 V to 3.6 V from the machine's 3.3 V rail, the MCU communicates with cellular or Ethernet modules over UART or parallel buses. Its pin-to-pin compatibility with SAM3S devices also gives designers a documented upgrade path should USB connectivity be added to future machine generations.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM3N4CA-CU — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM3N4BA-MU | ATSAM3N1CB-CU | ATSAM3S4CA-CU | ATSAM3U4CA-CU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-TFBGA (9x9 mm) | 100-pin SAM3N package | 100-pin SAM3N package | 100-pin, pin-to-pin compatible with SAM3N 100-pin | 100-ball LFBGA (CA suffix) |
| Brand | Atmel (Microchip Technology) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) |
| Core / Speed | ARM Cortex-M3 rev 2.0, 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M3, 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M3, 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M3, 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M3, higher speed class |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 256 KB | smaller Flash option | 256 KB class | 256 KB class |
| Pin Compatibility | SAM7S (48/64-pin), SAM3S (48/64/100-pin) | Same SAM3N family | Same SAM3N family | Pin-to-pin compatible with SAM3N in 100-pin version | Different series; verify ball map |
Key Differentiators
- Largest Flash option in the SAM3N family (vs ATSAM3N1CB-CU)
- Documented legacy migration path (vs ATSAM3S4CA-CU)
- Lower-speed, lower-power class vs SAM3U (vs ATSAM3U4CA-CU)
Design Notes
The 100-TFBGA (9x9 mm) package uses a fine ball pitch; use solder-mask-defined or non-solder-mask-defined pads per IPC guidance and the mechanical drawing in the SAM3N datasheet, with via-in-pad or dogbone fanout on a 4-layer board. Verify the ball map for the exact order code before layout release, because the SAM3N family spans TQFP and TFBGA options with the same base number. Estimated: a 1 mm pitch 100-ball BGA typically fans out on 4 signal layers with 0.1 mm via/4 mil trace rules.
Supply the MCU from a clean 3.3 V rail within the 1.62 V to 3.6 V range and decouple each VDD ball with 100 nF ceramics placed within 2 mm of the ball, plus one bulk 4.7 uF to 10 uF capacitor near the part. If the internal oscillator is used to save cost, remember clock accuracy affects UART baud error; for precision timing add an external crystal per the datasheet clock controller section. Verify the exact VDDIO/VDDCORE architecture in the datasheet power section for your order code.
Do not assume all ATSAM3N4CA-CU documentation refers to one package: distributor data shows both 100-TQFP and 100-TFBGA associations for SAM3N CA-suffix parts. Always match the datasheet package appendix to your purchased suffix, and confirm the pin-to-pin compatibility claims (SAM7S 48/64-pin, SAM3S 48/64/100-pin) apply to your specific pin count before reusing an existing footprint. Test Flash programming and debug (SWD) access on first articles before committing to volume.
Compliance Information
Compliance status not stated in the retrieved distributor data; consult the official Microchip product page and Material Declaration for ATSAM3N4CA-CU.
