ATSAM3S2CA-AUR - 64MHz Cortex-M3 MCU 128KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM3S2CA-AUR β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
ATSAM3S2CA-AUR Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a processor core, program memory (flash), data memory (SRAM), and a rich set of peripherals such as timers, serial interfaces (USART, SPI, I2C/TWI), ADC channels, and general-purpose I/O. Within the semiconductor hierarchy, the ATSAM3S2CA-AUR belongs to the SAM3S family, the ARM Cortex-M3 core class, the 32-bit microcontroller category, and the broader embedded processor / power management system domain of a board design.
Key differentiating features include the Thumb-2 instruction set of the Cortex-M3 core, which delivers high code density; 128 KB (128K x 8) of on-chip flash for program storage; fast SRAM for data; and a comprehensive peripheral set that allows a single MCU to handle sensing, control, and communication tasks simultaneously. Industrial temperature qualification and a green, RoHS-compliant LQFP package make the part suitable for long-lifecycle embedded products.
Architecturally, the Cortex-M3 core uses a Harvard bus structure with separate instruction and data paths, a nested vectored interrupt controller (NVIC) for deterministic interrupt latency, and hardware multiply/divide support. The SAM3S series pairs this core with Microchip (formerly Atmel) peripheral infrastructure, including DMA-capable serial controllers that offload the CPU during data transfers.
Typical applications include industrial control and automation nodes, consumer and medical devices, test instruments, and smart sensing modules. The 100-pin LQFP offers abundant GPIO for keypad, display, and peripheral interfacing, which is why this variant is popular for human-machine interface boards.
When designing with this MCU, verify the flash density matches your firmware footprint before committing a footprint - larger SAM3S family members (ATSAM3S4CA, ATSAM3S8CA) are pin-compatible upgrades that require no PCB changes.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing context, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes beyond what the manufacturer datasheet provides, giving engineers a single citable reference for the ATSAM3S2CA-AUR.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM3S2CA-AUR 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 ATSAM3S2CA-AUR (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, RoHS Status, Core Processor, Supply Voltage Range, Connectivity.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM3S4CA-AUR
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM3S8CA-AU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM3S2CA-AU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$4.25 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM3S2CA-CUR
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$4.89 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM3S2CA-AUR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M3 |
| Core Size | 32-Bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 64 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 128 KB (128K x 8) |
| Instruction Set | Thumb-2 (RISC) |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.62 V to 3.6 V (1.8 V / 3.3 V) |
| Package | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Terminal Form | Gull Wing |
| Number of Terminals | 100 |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (TR) |
| RoHS Status | ROHS3 Compliant |
| Package Color / Green Status | LQFP GREEN |
ATSAM3S2CA-AUR lqfp green Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM3S2CA-AUR (lqfp green 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 ATSAM3S2CA-AUR.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM3S2CA-AUR is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control and Automation, Human-Machine Interface (HMI) Boards, Test and Measurement Instruments, Medical and Health Monitoring Devices, Smart Sensing and IoT Edge Nodes, Consumer Appliance Control.
Industrial Control and Automation
The ATSAM3S2CA-AUR fits industrial control nodes because its industrial temperature grade and 64 MHz Cortex-M3 core handle deterministic interrupt-driven control loops while leaving CPU headroom for communication. The 1.62V-3.6V supply tolerance absorbs rail sag on factory floors, and the Thumb-2 instruction set keeps control firmware compact within the 128 KB flash. Typical topologies place the MCU between sensors and actuators, using USART/SPI for PLC backhaul and timers for PWM actuation. Unlike 8-bit MCUs, it runs full protocol stacks without external memory, though designers should budget flash for field-updatable bootloaders.
Recommended
Human-Machine Interface (HMI) Boards
The 100-pin LQFP package of the ATSAM3S2CA-AUR provides abundant GPIO for keypads, rotary encoders, LCD segments, and status indicators, which is why HMI front panels are a classic SAM3S use case. The 64 MHz core drives segment or small TFT displays through SPI with DMA offload, keeping the CPU free for touch/keypad scanning. The 128 KB flash accommodates display fonts and localized string tables. Placing the MCU near the display connector shortens high-speed SPI traces; use series resistors on SCK/MOSI to control edge rates and reduce EMI on the front-panel assembly.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instruments
Bench and handheld instruments benefit from the ATSAM3S2CA-AUR's Cortex-M3 timing precision, hardware divider, and 64 MHz clock for measurement sequencing. Its 128 KB flash stores calibration tables and multi-language menus, while SRAM buffers sampled data streamed through DMA-capable USART or SPI links. Industrial temperature rating keeps handheld instruments stable across field conditions. Designers typically pair the MCU with a precision ADC front end, using a dedicated crystal for the MCU and shielding the analog section from the digital bus to preserve measurement accuracy at the microvolt level.
Recommended
Medical and Health Monitoring Devices
Portable health devices use the ATSAM3S2CA-AUR for its balance of 64 MHz processing, 128 KB flash for signal-processing code, and 1.62V-3.6V single-supply operation compatible with battery-backed 3.3V rails. The Cortex-M3 NVIC supports fast, deterministic servicing of sensor-ready interrupts from physiological front ends (heart-rate, SpO2, temperature). DMA-driven serial interfaces stream samples without CPU intervention, extending battery life. Because medical designs require long procurement lifecycles, the active lifecycle status of the SAM3S family and Microchip's longevity commitments make this MCU a defensible platform choice for regulated product roadmaps.
Recommended
Smart Sensing and IoT Edge Nodes
IoT edge nodes pair the ATSAM3S2CA-AUR with radio modules over USART or SPI; the 64 MHz core runs protocol framing, AES-style payload preparation, and sensor fusion while the radio sleeps. The 128 KB flash holds a full TCP/LoRa-style stack plus OTA-update bootloader, and DMA buffers decouple bursty radio traffic from the MCU. Supply tolerance from 1.62V allows direct operation from a single-cell regulator chain. The main design trade-off versus newer ultra-low-power cores is standby energy - put the MCU in its lowest-power wait modes between sensor intervals and gate peripheral clocks aggressively.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control
Appliances such as coffee machines, air purifiers, and small HVAC units use the ATSAM3S2CA-AUR to run user interfaces, motor control sequencing, and safety monitoring in one chip. The industrial temperature grade exceeds consumer requirements, adding reliability margin, and the green ROHS3-compliant LQFP supports high-volume SMT assembly on tape and reel. The 128 KB flash is sufficient for touch-debounce logic, display drivers, and fault-logging firmware. Use timer peripherals for zero-cross detection and triac firing, and reserve one USART for a production-line diagnostic port to reduce field-service costs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM3S2CA-AUR β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM3S4CA-AUR | ATSAM3S8CA-AU | ATSAM3S2CA-AU | ATSAM3S2CA-CUR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M3, 32-bit | ARM Cortex-M3, 32-bit | ARM Cortex-M3, 32-bit | ARM Cortex-M3, 32-bit | ARM Cortex-M3, 32-bit |
| Max Clock Frequency | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 128 KB | 256 KB | 512 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 1.62 V to 3.6 V | 1.62 V to 3.6 V | 1.62 V to 3.6 V | 1.62 V to 3.6 V | 1.62 V to 3.6 V |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial | Industrial | Industrial | Industrial | Commercial |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel | Tape & Reel | Tray | Tray | Tape & Reel |
Key Differentiators
- Cost-optimized 128 KB flash density within the SAM3S 100-pin family (vs ATSAM3S4CA-AUR)
- Tape-and-reel packaging for automated SMT lines (vs ATSAM3S2CA-AU)
- Industrial temperature qualification (vs ATSAM3S2CA-CUR)
Design Notes
Design the 3.3V rail for the ATSAM3S2CA-AUR within its 1.62V-3.6V datasheet window and follow the SAM3S datasheet power-supply decoupling scheme: place a 100 nF ceramic capacitor at each VDD/VDDIO pin pair plus bulk capacitance near the regulator. Brown-out behavior should be enabled so the MCU resets cleanly rather than executing corrupted code during rail sag on shared industrial supplies. Estimated: total current draw depends on enabled peripherals; consult the datasheet power consumption section for per-mode figures before sizing the regulator.
For the 100-pin LQFP (0.5 mm pitch, 14x14 mm), follow the package drawing in the SAM3S datasheet for land pattern dimensions and use the exposed-numbering convention consistently in your footprint library. Route the main crystal as close as possible to the OSC pins with short guard traces and a local ground. Because this is a fine-pitch gull-wing package, specify a no-clean or water-wash soldering process and verify with X-ray or AOI that no bridges exist on the densest corners of the footprint.
Do not confuse ordering suffixes: the -AUR is industrial grade, tape and reel; the -CU variant is commercial grade and unsuitable for extended-temperature products; the -AU tray variant is identical silicon but packaged for prototypes. Also confirm flash sizing headroom - at 128 KB, a bootloader plus OTA payload double-buffering can consume the majority of flash; if your roadmap includes field updates, consider pin-compatible ATSAM3S4CA or ATSAM3S8CA parts from the start of layout.
Compliance Information
ROHS3 compliant and green package per Mcu-Supplier and Mouser listings (LQFP GREEN, industrial temp). REACH, halogen-free, and conflict minerals declarations must be confirmed via the Microchip compliance portal.