ATSAM4N16BA-MU - 100MHz Cortex-M4 MCU, 1MB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4N16BA-MU ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.74 | $5.74 |
| 10 | $5.45 | $54.50 |
| 100 | $5.1 | $510.00 |
| 500 | $4.75 | $2,375.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.45 | $4,450.00 |
ATSAM4N16BA-MU Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip embedded computer that integrates a processor core, non-volatile program memory, RAM, and peripherals such as timers, serial interfaces, and analog converters. Within the power-management hierarchy of embedded systems, MCUs sit at the application-control layer, executing firmware that coordinates sensors, actuators, and communication. The SAM4N family belongs to Microchip (formerly Atmel) ARM-based SAM product line, positioned as a cost-reduced migration path from the SAM4S series.
Key features of the ATSAM4N16BA include the ARM Cortex-M4 core with DSP instructions and the Thumb-2 instruction set, a Memory Protection Unit (MPU), and industrial temperature operation from a 1.62 V to 3.6 V supply. The device is specified as a GREEN, MRL A package for industrial applications per distributor listings.
Architecturally, the Cortex-M4 core executes Thumb-2 code with hardware DSP extensions, and the MPU supports functional-safety-oriented memory partitioning. The 1 MB single-cycle Flash array and 80 KB SRAM provide headroom for protocol stacks and data logging without external memory. Supply operation at 2.5 V or 3.3 V rails simplifies system power design.
Typical applications include industrial automation nodes, consumer and building-control systems, and cost-sensitive control panels where the SAM4N offers SAM4S-class performance at a reduced bill-of-materials cost. Pin-to-pin compatibility with SAM3N, SAM3S, SAM4S, and SAM7S devices enables board reuse across performance tiers.
When designing, budget Flash margin for over-the-air or field updates, and verify peripheral-set differences against the SAM4S before direct code migration, since SAM4N omits some SAM4S peripherals as part of its cost reduction.
This page synthesizes verified distributor pricing, pin-compatible alternatives across the Microchip SAM portfolio, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4N16BA-MU — 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 ATSAM4N16BA-MU (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Maximum Clock Frequency, RoHS Status, Core Processor, Operating Temperature, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4N8BA-MU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$1.76 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4S16BA-MU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$5.15 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM3N4BA-MU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.48 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM3S8BA-MUR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.15 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4N16BA-AU
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4N16BA-MU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Core Size | 32-Bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 100 MHz |
| Program Memory Size | 1 MB (1M x 8) FLASH |
| RAM Size | 80 KB (80K x 8) |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.62 V to 3.6 V |
| Instruction Set | Thumb-2, DSP instructions |
| Memory Protection Unit | Yes (MPU) |
| Package | 64-QFN (9x9 mm), Exposed Pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Pin-to-Pin Compatibility | SAM3N, SAM3S, SAM4S (64-pin), SAM7S (64-pin) |
| Series | SAM4N |
| Package Green Status | GREEN, MRL A |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (GREEN package) |
ATSAM4N16BA-MU green, mrl a Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4N16BA-MU (green, mrl a 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 ATSAM4N16BA-MU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4N16BA-MU is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation Nodes, Building Control and HVAC Panels, Sensor Data Acquisition Systems, Motor Control Boards, Smart Metering and Energy Monitoring, Legacy Migration and Supply-Chain Consolidation.
Industrial Automation Nodes
The ATSAM4N16BA-MU fits industrial automation nodes where deterministic control, fieldbus interfacing, and moderate data logging converge. Its 100 MHz ARM Cortex-M4 core with DSP instructions accelerates PID control loops and digital filtering, while 1 MB of Flash stores protocol stacks such as Modbus without external memory. The Memory Protection Unit isolates critical control code from communication tasks, improving robustness in 24/7 operation. Per Microchip positioning, SAM4N is the reduced-BOM-cost path from SAM4S, so deploying it across hundreds of node PCBs cuts unit cost measurably. Running from a 3.3 V industrial rail at 1.62 V to 3.6 V tolerance, it withstands supply variation typical of factory wiring, and the 64-QFN exposed-pad package supports reliable thermal grounding on multi-layer industrial PCBs.
Recommended
Building Control and HVAC Panels
Building-control panels require a microcontroller that combines enough compute headroom for control algorithms with long-term cost efficiency, and the ATSAM4N16BA-MU delivers both. The 100 MHz Cortex-M4 handles sensor aggregation, thermostat logic, and display refresh concurrently, while 80 KB of SRAM buffers schedules and network frames. Its 1.62 V to 3.6 V supply range tolerates the brownouts common in building wiring, and the industrial temperature grade suits rooftop and mechanical-room environments. Because SAM4N is pin-to-pin compatible with SAM3S, SAM3N, and SAM4S devices, panel OEMs can reuse one PCB layout across price tiers, swapping MCUs as feature requirements change. The 64-pin QFN (9x9 mm) keeps board area compact for wall-mounted enclosures.
Recommended
Sensor Data Acquisition Systems
In distributed data-acquisition systems, the ATSAM4N16BA-MU serves as the local processing and buffering engine for sensor arrays. The Cortex-M4's DSP instructions execute oversampling, decimation, and FIR filtering in real time, and the 1 MB Flash retains calibration tables and logging firmware. Sampling for such systems typically concentrates analog front-end work in companion ADCs, with the MCU handling digital conditioning; its MPU allows partitioning of acquisition code from communication code for improved fault containment. Operation at 1.62 V to 3.6 V aligns directly with 3.3 V sensor rails, simplifying level-shift design. The 64-QFN exposed pad provides a low-impedance ground reference that helps preserve signal integrity for the MCU's digital I/O between converter and communication peripherals.
Recommended
Motor Control Boards
The ATSAM4N16BA-MU is well suited to low- and mid-power motor-control boards, where its 100 MHz Cortex-M4 with hardware DSP executes Clarke/Park transforms and current-loop PI controllers with deterministic cycle times. The Thumb-2 instruction set keeps interrupt latency predictable, and 1 MB of Flash holds field-oriented-control firmware plus diagnostics and fault logs. Running from a 3.3 V rail with 1.62 V to 3.6 V tolerance, the MCU interfaces cleanly with gate-driver and gate-driver-adjacent logic. Because SAM4N is the cost-reduced derivative of SAM4S, motor-control OEMs can benchmark SAM4S designs and drop to SAM4N when the trimmed peripheral set suffices, reusing the same 64-pin QFN PCB footprint and lowering per-unit cost at volume production.
Recommended
Smart Metering and Energy Monitoring
Smart metering platforms benefit from the ATSAM4N16BA-MU's combination of DSP capability, memory, and migration-friendly packaging. DSP instructions support RMS computation, harmonic analysis, and digital filtering of current/voltage samples, while 1 MB Flash stores tariff tables, logs, and secure firmware-update images with headroom to spare. The MPU supports partitioning of metrology code from communication stacks, a common architectural requirement in metering firmware. Pin-to-pin compatibility with SAM3S and SAM4S lets meter manufacturers qualify one PCB across product variants, using SAM4N where BOM cost targets are tightest. The GREEN, MRL A package status and industrial temperature operation align with utility-grade environmental and regulatory requirements for deployed metering hardware.
Recommended
Legacy Migration and Supply-Chain Consolidation
Many installed designs use the Atmel SAM7S (ARM7TDMI) or SAM3N (Cortex-M3) families, and the ATSAM4N16BA-MU is Microchip's designated migration target for those sockets. According to the Microchip product page, the SAM4N is pin-to-pin compatible with SAM3N, SAM3S, SAM7S (64-pin), and SAM4S (64-pin) devices, so legacy PCBs accept the ATSAM4N16BA-MU without layout change while gaining Cortex-M4 performance, DSP instructions, and 1 MB Flash. For manufacturers facing end-of-life pressure on older parts, consolidating multiple legacy SKUs onto one SAM4N component simplifies procurement, firmware maintenance, and second-sourcing strategy. Board-level compatibility is preserved, but firmware should be recompiled and peripheral usage audited per the SAM4N datasheet's peripheral comparison.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4N16BA-MU — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4N8BA-MU | ATSAM4S16BA-MU | ATSAM3N4BA-MU | ATSAM4N16BA-AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-QFN (9x9) EP | 64-QFN (9x9) - same | 64-QFN (9x9) - same | 64-QFN (9x9) - same | 64-LQFP - different footprint |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 1 MB | 512 KB | 1 MB | 512 KB | 1 MB |
| 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 |
| Peripheral Set | SAM4N cost-reduced set | Same SAM4N set | SAM4S superset (more peripherals) | SAM3N reduced set | Same SAM4N set |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest-cost 1 MB Flash option in the pin-compatible 64-QFN SAM socket (vs ATSAM4S16BA-MU)
- Double the Flash of the SAM4N entry variant (vs ATSAM4N8BA-MU)
- Cortex-M4 with DSP instructions versus Cortex-M3 alternatives (vs ATSAM3N4BA-MU)
Design Notes
The 64-QFN (9x9 mm) exposed-pad package requires a dedicated thermal/electrical pad on the PCB. Follow the Microchip recommended footprint with an array of thermal vias (typically 5x5 or similar per the datasheet land-pattern drawing) connecting the exposed pad to internal ground planes. Insufficient solder coverage under the QFN is a leading cause of intermittent ground faults and poor thermal performance; specify an adequate stencil aperture design per IPC guidelines and inspect via X-ray for production builds.
Decouple each VDD/VDDIO pin pair with 100 nF ceramic capacitors placed within 2 mm of the pins, plus one bulk 4.7 uF to 10 uF capacitor per supply domain. The device accepts 1.62 V to 3.6 V, but performance and Flash timing are specified at nominal 2.5 V/3.3 V; verify your worst-case rail droop against the datasheet operating conditions. If using a buck converter upstream, confirm its output ripple leaves margin above 1.62 V under brownout conditions.
Migration from SAM4S or SAM3S is board-level compatible but not code-level identical: the SAM4N trims the peripheral set as a cost measure, so drivers referencing removed peripherals will fail to build. Recompile with the SAM4N device pack in Microchip's MPLAB/Start toolchain and audit peripheral usage against the SAM4N datasheet register map before prototype spin. Also verify pin-multiplex configurations, since default mux assignments can differ between SAM family generations.
Compliance Information
Mouser lists the part as GREEN, MRL A package; GREEN status per Microchip convention indicates RoHS-compliant, lead-free, halogen-free packaging. REACH and conflict-minerals status not stated in verified data.
