ATSAM4E16EA-AUR - 120MHz Cortex-M4 1MB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4E16EA-AUR β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15.95 | $15.95 |
| 10 | $14.5 | $145.00 |
| 100 | $13.25 | $1,325.00 |
| 500 | $12.1 | $6,050.00 |
| 1,000 | $11 | $11,000.00 |
ATSAM4E16EA-AUR Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single integrated circuit that combines a processor core, memory, and programmable peripherals on one die, forming the lowest level of the embedded-system hierarchy: ARM Cortex-M4 core -> SAM4E MCU family -> embedded processing -> semiconductor device. MCUs replace discrete processor-plus-memory combinations where integration, power efficiency, and cost matter most.
Key features of the ATSAM4E16EA include the Cortex-M4 core with FPU at up to 120 MHz, 1 MB Flash and 128 KB SRAM for code and data, Ethernet MAC and CAN peripherals for networked industrial designs, USB device support, and multiple serial interfaces (USART, SPI, I2C/TWI). Operating voltage is 1.62V to 3.6V with an industrial temperature rating.
Architecturally, the SAM4E series pairs the high-bandwidth multi-layer bus matrix with DMA on most peripherals, letting the FPU-accelerated core keep signal-processing loops deterministic while communication channels move data without CPU intervention. This makes the part well suited to motor control, gateways, and human-machine interface nodes.
Typical applications include industrial automation controllers, Ethernet-connected embedded gateways, motor drives, and building control systems where the CAN and Ethernet MAC reduce external component count.
Design consideration: for new designs Microchip recommends considering Revision B silicon for prototypes and production; also plan decoupling and clock layout per the manufacturer hardware design guidelines.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in family alternatives, application pairings, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4E16EA-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 ATSAM4E16EA-AUR (same form factor and footprint) β differing in RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
No drop-in alternatives available for this product.
Request AlternativesATSAM4E16EA-AUR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU |
| Core Size | 32-bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 1 MB (1M x 8) |
| Series | SAM4E |
| Package | 144-LQFP (20 x 20 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Number of Pins | 144 |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (TR) |
| RoHS Status | Green / RoHS compliant (per Mouser listing) |
| Product Status | Active |
| Distributor Availability | In stock at LCSC (as of 2026-09-20) |
ATSAM4E16EA-AUR 144-lqfp (20 x 20 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4E16EA-AUR (144-lqfp (20 x 20 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 ATSAM4E16EA-AUR.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4E16EA-AUR is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation Controllers, Ethernet-Connected Embedded Gateways, Motor Control and Drives, Building Control and HVAC Systems, Human-Machine Interface Panels, Test and Measurement Instruments.
Industrial Automation Controllers
Factory automation controllers need deterministic processing, multiple communication channels, and long-term availability. The ATSAM4E16EA-AUR fits this role with its 120 MHz Cortex-M4 core with FPU for real-time control loops, 1 MB Flash for protocol stacks and application code, and a high data bandwidth bus architecture that keeps DMA-driven peripherals from starving the CPU. Its CAN connectivity links the controller to PLC networks and motor drives, while multiple USART, SPI, and TWI interfaces handle local I/O expansion. Using the FPU-accelerated core, PID and motion calculations run in single-precision hardware, freeing cycles for supervision logic. Design the board with proper decoupling and use the Microchip START configuration tool to bring up peripherals quickly; the same footprint supports 1 MB or 512 KB Flash variants for product-tier differentiation.
Recommended
Ethernet-Connected Embedded Gateways
Protocol-conversion gateways between field buses and Ethernet backbones benefit directly from the SAM4E16E's integrated Ethernet MAC and CAN controller, reducing BOM count versus solutions needing external bridge ICs. The 120 MHz Cortex-M4 with FPU handles TCP/IP stacks, TLS sessions, and application parsing concurrently thanks to the multi-layer bus matrix and peripheral DMA, while 1 MB Flash accommodates a full lwIP or Microchip Harmony TCP/IP stack with room for firmware-update staging. Run the MAC through a KSZ8081-class PHY to 10/100 Mbps; the high bandwidth architecture sustains line-rate throughput without CPU saturation. Because the part is offered in a 144-LQFP industrial-grade, Green package, it suits enclosed industrial gateways where board area and temperature range are constrained.
Recommended
Motor Control and Drives
Field-oriented control (FOC) of PMSM and BLDC motors demands fast single-precision math and tight ADC-to-PWM timing. The ATSAM4E16EA-AUR addresses both with the Cortex-M4 FPU executing Clarke/Park transforms in hardware and the 120 MHz core closing current loops well within PWM periods. Peripheral DMA moves ADC samples without CPU intervention, and the CAN interface connects the drive to higher-level automation networks. The 1 MB Flash holds the control firmware plus commissioning routines, parameter storage, and a bootloader for field updates. PWM channels drive a gate-driver stage such as the MIC4104-class parts; place current-sense amplifiers close to the MCU ADC inputs and keep the analog ground return clean for accurate low-side shunt measurements in noisy inverter environments.
Recommended
Building Control and HVAC Systems
Building automation nodes combine sensor acquisition, local control, and network uplinks in cost-sensitive, long-lifetime products. The ATSAM4E16EA-AUR consolidates these functions: TWI/I2C reads temperature, humidity, and pressure sensors; the FPU accelerates control algorithms for damper and valve positioning; and 1 MB Flash stores schedules, logging, and an OTA bootloader. Industrial temperature rating and a Green/RoHS LQFP package suit both rooftop units and indoor controllers. Power the node from a wide-VIN buck converter ahead of the MCU's regulated 3.3V rail, and use the RTC-capable power-management features to trim standby consumption between wakeups. The same footprint supports the 512 KB ATSAM4E8EA variant for cost-reduced sensor-only endpoints sharing the PCB platform.
Recommended
Human-Machine Interface Panels
HMI panels require a CPU that refreshes graphics over SPI or parallel interfaces while scanning touch inputs and maintaining network communication. The SAM4E16E's high data bandwidth architecture and DMA channels keep display refreshes smooth at 120 MHz, and the FPU accelerates coordinate transforms for touch calibration and animation easing. With 1 MB Flash, developers can embed icon sets, multi-language string tables, and a GUI framework without external memory in many designs. The 144-pin LQFP exposes enough GPIO for backlight PWM, keypad matrices, and beeper outputs alongside the display bus. Pair with a SPI TFT controller and a capacitive touch controller; route the display clock lines with controlled impedance and keep them away from the Ethernet PHY magnetics to avoid visual artifacts and link instability.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instruments
Benchtop and portable instruments need fast math, flexible communications, and ample program memory for measurement algorithms, calibration tables, and user interfaces. The ATSAM4E16EA-AUR's 120 MHz Cortex-M4 with FPU executes DSP filtering and RMS/power computations in hardware arithmetic, while 1 MB Flash retains calibration constants, USB device firmware for PC connectivity, and menu-driven UI code. Peripheral DMA sustains continuous ADC streaming into SRAM buffers, and the USB port provides data logging to host software. Because Microchip offers the ARM Cortex-M4 ecosystem with SAM-ICE/ATSAM-ICE debugging and free SAM MCU toolchains, instrument firmware teams get mature tooling without licensing cost. Use the footprint-compatible Flash-tier variants to create standard and premium instrument SKUs from a single PCB.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4E16EA-AUR β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4E16EA-AU | ATSAM4E16EA-AN | ATSAM4E16EB-AUR | ATSAM4E8EA-AUR | ATSAM4E16CA-CU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 144-LQFP (20x20) | 144-LQFP (20x20) - same | 144-LQFP (20x20) - same | 144-LQFP (20x20) - same | 144-LQFP (20x20) - same | 144-LQFP (20x20) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU, 32-bit | 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 | 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 1 MB | 1 MB | 1 MB | 1 MB | 512 KB | 512 KB |
| Packaging / Delivery | Tape & Reel | Tray | Tray | Tape & Reel | Tape & Reel | Tray |
| Pin Compatibility | SAM4E LQFP-144 pinout | Identical (same die) | Identical | Identical | Identical | Identical |
Key Differentiators
- Double the Flash of the tier-down variant (vs ATSAM4E8EA-AUR)
- Tape & Reel delivery for automated assembly (vs ATSAM4E16EA-AU)
- Integrated Ethernet MAC plus CAN on one MCU (vs ATSAM4E8EA-AUR)
Design Notes
For a 144-pin 0.5 mm pitch LQFP, fan out power pins first: provide a dedicated 3.3V plane region under the chip with one 100 nF ceramic capacitor at every VDD/VDDIO pin pair plus one 4.7 uF bulk capacitor near the supply entry. The 20 x 20 mm LQFP leaves a center keep-out ideal for a via fanout field; route analog sensor traces away from the Ethernet RMII clock lines. Follow Microchip's SAM4E hardware design guidelines and eval-board layouts (SAM4E-XPRO) for the exact decoupling network.
Microchip states that for new designs Revision B silicon is highly recommended for prototypes and production - verify the marking on incoming Tape & Reel stock to avoid A-stepping parts in new layouts. Also confirm the erase/security fuse settings before mass programming: enabling the flash security bit on this SAM4E part locks debug access and cannot be reversed, which has stranded custom bootloader deployments. Validate the clock source (external crystal vs internal RC) startup margins at your temperature extremes.
The SAM4E family operates from a nominal 3.3V rail with separate VDDCORE and VDDIO domains - observe the datasheet's power-domain sequencing requirements and use the internal voltage regulator with its required output capacitor value rather than substituting a different dielectric, as regulator stability depends on ESR. Estimated: at 120 MHz with peripherals active, core current is on the order of tens of milliamps, so a 500 mA LDO (e.g., MCP1755-class) plus a wide-VIN buck front end is a typical industrial supply chain; size the LDO thermal pad for the actual measured worst-case current, not nominal.
When using the Ethernet MAC with an external RMII PHY, keep the 50 MHz reference clock trace matched in length to the TX/RX data lines and isolate the PHY magnetics ground from the MCU analog ground with a single-point connection. Keep CAN and RS-485 stub lengths short and terminate at the bus ends, not at each node. The SAM4E peripheral DMA generates burst traffic on the bus matrix; add a small bulk capacitor near VDDIO to suppress supply ripple caused by simultaneous peripheral switching.
Compliance Information
Mouser listing identifies the part as 'LQFP Green IND TEMPMRL A' indicating Green (halogen-free) packaging and industrial temperature rating. REACH, lead-free and conflict-minerals declarations should be requested from Microchip directly.