ATSAM4E16CB-AN - Cortex-M4 120MHz 1MB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4E16CB-AN β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $10.76 | $10.76 |
| 10 | $10.1 | $101.00 |
| 100 | $9.4 | $940.00 |
| 500 | $8.85 | $4,425.00 |
| 1,000 | $8.3 | $8,300.00 |
ATSAM4E16CB-AN Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) integrates a processor core, memory, and peripherals on a single silicon die, sitting at the heart of embedded control systems within the broader hierarchy of ARM Cortex-M processor-based devices. The SAM4E Series belongs to Microchip's (formerly Atmel) high-performance SAM family, positioned above the SAM4S entry line by adding an Ethernet MAC and CAN controller for connectivity-focused designs.
Key features include the ARM Cortex-M4 core with 2 Kbytes instruction cache, Memory Protection Unit (MPU), DSP instructions and single-cycle MAC, Thumb-2 instruction set, and an FPU for efficient floating-point computation. Peripherals span a 10/100 Ethernet MAC, CAN 2.0B, USB 2.0 device port, multiple USARTs, SPI, TWI, 12-bit ADC and DAC, PWM channels, and a rich timer set.
Architecturally, the multi-layer bus matrix delivers high data bandwidth between the 120 MHz core, SRAM banks, and DMA channels, allowing peripherals to move data without CPU intervention. The DSP/FPU extension makes it suitable for control-loop mathematics such as PID, FFT, and motor-control transforms executed in hardware.
Typical applications include industrial Ethernet and CAN networking nodes, motor control and power conversion, building automation gateways, and medical instrumentation that needs deterministic 32-bit processing with on-chip networking.
Design consideration: the 'AN' temperature suffix denotes the extended temperature range per the ordering code, and Microchip recommends Revision B silicon for new prototypes and production, so verify the device revision marking on the package top.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, same-family drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4E16CB-AN 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 ATSAM4E16CB-AN (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Floating Point Unit, Package, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4E8CB-AN
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4E16CB-CU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4E16CB-AUR
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4SD32CB-AN
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4E16CB-AN Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU |
| Core Size | 32-bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 1 MB (1M x 8) |
| Instruction Cache | 2 Kbytes |
| Memory Protection Unit | Yes (MPU) |
| DSP Instructions | Yes |
| Floating Point Unit | Yes |
| Instruction Set | Thumb-2 |
| Series | SAM4E |
| Package | 100-LQFP (14 x 14 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Connectivity | Ethernet MAC, CAN, USB, USART, SPI, TWI |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (GREEN package per Mouser) |
| Device Revision Note | Revision B recommended for new prototypes and production (per Microchip product page) |
ATSAM4E16CB-AN 100-lqfp (14 x 14 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4E16CB-AN (100-lqfp (14 x 14 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 ATSAM4E16CB-AN.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4E16CB-AN is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Ethernet / CAN Networking Nodes, Motor Control and Power Conversion, Building Automation Gateways, Medical and Laboratory Instrumentation, Industrial HMI and Display Controllers, Embedded IoT / Connected Sensing Devices.
Industrial Ethernet / CAN Networking Nodes
The ATSAM4E16CB-AN fits industrial networking nodes because it is one of the few SAM4E devices integrating both a 10/100 Ethernet MAC and CAN 2.0B alongside the 120 MHz Cortex-M4 core with hardware FPU. This allows a single chip to bridge fieldbus (CAN) traffic to Ethernet-based supervision networks without an external communication processor. In a typical topology, the Ethernet MAC drives an external PHY (such as a KSZ8081) over RMII while the CAN controller connects to transceivers on the fieldbus; on-chip DMA moves frames between SRAM and peripherals, keeping the 1 MB Flash available for protocol stacks. The trade-off is that the MAC needs an external PHY, adding roughly one small IC and magnetics to the BOM.
Recommended
Motor Control and Power Conversion
The ATSAM4E16CB-AN suits motor control because its Cortex-M4 DSP instructions and single-cycle hardware FPU execute Clarke/Park transforms and PI current loops in microseconds, while the 120 MHz core with 2 Kbyte cache keeps control-loop jitter low. The device provides PWM peripherals and a 12-bit ADC for three-phase current and bus-voltage sampling, and DMA offloads sample transfer so the CPU is free for supervisory logic such as fieldbus communication. In a typical servo or inverter stage, the MCU drives gate drivers, reads shunt currents each PWM period, and closes the FOC loop; the FPU removes fixed-point scaling work from firmware. Compared to a fixed-point MCU, development time is reduced and higher loop bandwidth is achievable at the cost of higher unit price than entry-level parts.
Recommended
Building Automation Gateways
The ATSAM4E16CB-AN fits building automation gateways where CAN, RS-485, and Ethernet traffic must coexist. The chip integrates Ethernet MAC, CAN, multiple USARTs, SPI and TWI, so a single 100-LQFP device can terminate field devices on several buses and forward data to a BACnet/Modbus-TCP or MQTT upstream network. The 120 MHz Cortex-M4 with hardware FPU provides headroom for protocol stacks and TLS, while 1 MB Flash holds both the communication stack and application logic without external memory. DMA channels on all major peripherals keep CPU load low during sustained traffic. Designers should budget external magnetics for the Ethernet port and provide isolation for field-side buses; the main trade-off versus a dedicated gateway SoC is lower integration of secondary network features.
Recommended
Medical and Laboratory Instrumentation
The ATSAM4E16CB-AN is appropriate for medical and laboratory instruments that need deterministic 32-bit processing, USB connectivity to a host PC, and moderate analog acquisition. The 12-bit ADC with DMA enables periodic sampling of sensor front-ends, and the hardware FPU accelerates calibration math, digital filtering, and FFT-based analysis without fixed-point libraries. The integrated USB 2.0 device port supports communication with test software, while USART/SPI/TWI interfaces control signal-chain ICs such as precision ADCs and programmable-gain amplifiers. The MPU supports safe separation of measurement and communication firmware. Designs must respect the device's operating temperature grade and use clean analog grounding around the ADC; the trade-off is that for metrology-grade accuracy an external precision converter is still recommended over the internal ADC.
Recommended
Industrial HMI and Display Controllers
The ATSAM4E16CB-AN can serve as the control processor behind industrial human-machine interfaces. Its 1 MB Flash stores graphics assets and communication logic, the 120 MHz Cortex-M4 with cache renders simple UI layers, and SPI interfaces connect to TFT display modules and touch controllers. Multiple USART and Ethernet links let the HMI node exchange data with PLCs and supervisory systems while updating the display, and DMA keeps SPI display refresh from starving the communication stack. Typical implementations pair the MCU with an external controller-based TFT module or an SPI QVGA panel with a capacitive touch IC over I2C. Compared to a dedicated graphics SoC, the SAM4E16CB costs less and is adequate for text-and-meter style UIs, but is not suited to video-rate full-frame animation.
Recommended
Embedded IoT / Connected Sensing Devices
The ATSAM4E16CB-AN fits connected sensing devices that need wired networking - Ethernet or CAN - rather than short-range radio. The on-chip Ethernet MAC with an external PHY supports TCP/IP sensor nodes on factory floors, while the FPU processes sensor fusion and FFT analysis locally, sending only reduced feature data upstream. Multiple USART/TWI ports aggregate external sensor modules, DMA buffers keep sample streams continuous, and the 1 MB Flash supports secure boot plus a protocol stack simultaneously. Peripheral expansion is straightforward with SPI/TWI GPIO expanders and ADCs. The key consideration is power: as a high-performance MCU it is best for mains- or PoE-powered nodes; battery-powered designs should use a lower-power SAM L or SAM D family device instead.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4E16CB-AN β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4E8CB-AN | ATSAM4E16CB-CU | ATSAM4E16CB-AUR | ATSAM4SD32CB-AN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-LQFP (14 x 14 mm) | 100-LQFP (14 x 14 mm) - same | 100-LQFP (14 x 14 mm) - same | 100-LQFP (14 x 14 mm) - same | 100-LQFP (14 x 14 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU |
| Max Clock Frequency | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 1 MB (1M x 8) | 512 KB (-50%) | 1 MB | 1 MB | 1 MB dual-bank |
| Ethernet MAC | Yes (10/100) | Yes (10/100) | Yes (10/100) | Yes (10/100) | No |
| CAN Controller | Yes (CAN 2.0B) | Yes (CAN 2.0B) | Yes (CAN 2.0B) | Yes (CAN 2.0B) | No |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated Ethernet MAC plus CAN on one chip (vs ATSAM4SD32CB-AN)
- Double the Flash of the low-cost sibling (vs ATSAM4E8CB-AN)
- Hardware FPU with DSP instructions (vs Fixed-point Cortex-M3/M0+ MCUs)
Design Notes
Check the silicon revision marking on delivered ATSAM4E16CB units. Microchip explicitly states on the ATSAM4E16C product page: 'For New Designs, we highly recommend to consider Revision B for Prototypes and Production.' Older Revision A silicon may carry errata that affect peripheral behavior, so cross-check the errata document for your revision before releasing firmware, and specify Revision B in purchase orders to avoid mixed-revision production lots.
Design the PCB around the 100-LQFP (14 x 14 mm) footprint with power decoupling capacitors placed at each VDD/VDDIO pin pair, as close to the pins as practical. Route the RMII Ethernet signals (with the external PHY) as a controlled-impedance group per the PHY vendor layout guide, and keep the 12 MHz/25 MHz Ethernet crystal short and guarded. Reserve the SWD programming header on the layout even if production programming uses another interface - it saves rework during development.
Estimated: the 100-LQFP 14 x 14 mm package on a standard 4-layer board typically provides a theta_JA on the order of 40-50 C/W (verify the exact value in the manufacturer datasheet package thermal appendix). At a conservative 100 mA average core/peripheral current from a 3.3 V rail, dissipation is about 0.33 W, giving an estimated junction rise near 15-17 C over ambient - comfortable for industrial enclosures. Avoid enclosing the board without airflow when driving many peripherals simultaneously at 120 MHz.
Compliance Information
Mouser lists the part as 'LQFP,GREEN,EXT TEMP,MRL B', indicating a RoHS/GREEN package. Not an automotive-qualified ordering code in this variant.