ATSAM4N16CA-CFUR - 100MHz Cortex-M4 1MB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4N16CA-CFUR β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.42 | $7.42 |
| 10 | $6.71 | $67.10 |
| 100 | $5.98 | $598.00 |
| 500 | $5.47 | $2,735.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.95 | $4,950.00 |
ATSAM4N16CA-CFUR Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single integrated circuit that combines a processor core, memory, and programmable peripherals into one chip, forming the lowest level of the embedded-system hierarchy: MCU -> embedded processor -> system-on-chip. The SAM4N family sits within Microchip's (formerly Atmel) ARM-based MCU portfolio and belongs to the broader class of 32-bit microcontrollers used across industrial, consumer, and IoT platforms.
Key features include the ARM Cortex-M4 core with DSP instructions and Thumb-2 instruction set, a Memory Protection Unit (MPU), and 1 MB (1M x 8) of Flash memory. The SAM4N series is positioned as the cost-reduced migration path from the SAM4S family, dropping USB and lowering BOM cost while retaining pin compatibility.
Architecturally, the device operates from a 1.62 V to 3.6 V supply (per the ATSAM4N16C product page) with an industrial temperature rating, and integrates typical SAM4N peripherals such as UART/USART, SPI, TWI (I2C), timers, ADC, and PWM controllers. Firmware development uses standard ARM toolchains plus Microchip (Atmel) Studio / MPLAB X ecosystem, and the Thumb-2 and DSP instruction support enables efficient digital filtering and control math.
Typical applications include industrial automation and sensor acquisition nodes, motor control and power-conversion supervision, and consumer/IoT devices requiring dense Flash for OTA-friendly firmware images. The 7x7 mm VFBGA suits space-constrained boards needing high integration without external memory.
Design consideration: as a VFBGA package, the part requires controlled-impedance PCB escape routing and reflow assembly; verify ball-map fanout early. Select the CFU tray variant for prototyping if reel quantities are unnecessary.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in SAM4N/SAM4S family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4N16CA-CFUR β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4N16CA-CFU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4N8CA-CFUR
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4SA16CA-CFUR
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4SD32CA-CFUR
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM3S8CA-CFU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4N16CA-CFUR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Core Size | 32-Bit Single-Core |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 100 MHz |
| Flash Memory Size | 1 MB (1M x 8) |
| SRAM Size | 80 KB |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.62 V to 3.6 V |
| Instruction Set | Thumb-2, DSP instructions |
| Memory Protection Unit | Yes (MPU) |
| Package | 100-VFBGA (7x7 mm) |
| Number of Pins / Balls | 100 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (R suffix) |
| Series | SAM4N |
| RoHS Status | Green / RoHS compliant (per Mouser listing) |
| Pin Compatibility | SAM3N, SAM3S, SAM4S, SAM7S (100-pin versions) |
| Program Memory Type | FLASH |
ATSAM4N16CA-CFUR 100-vfbga (7x7 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4N16CA-CFUR (100-vfbga (7x7 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 ATSAM4N16CA-CFUR.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4N16CA-CFUR is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation and Sensor Acquisition, Motor Control and Power Conversion, IoT Sensor Nodes and Smart Devices, Consumer Appliances and White Goods, Medical and Diagnostic Instrumentation, Building Automation and Access Control.
Industrial Automation and Sensor Acquisition
The ATSAM4N16CA-CFUR fits industrial sensor-acquisition nodes because its 100 MHz ARM Cortex-M4 core with DSP instructions performs on-chip filtering and averaging of ADC streams without a co-processor, while 1 MB of Flash leaves room for protocol stacks (Modbus, CAN-style fieldbus frames over UART/SPI/TWI) and future feature growth. Its industrial temperature grade matches factory-floor ambients, and the SAM4N peripheral set (multiple USARTs, TWI, SPI, PWM timers, 12-bit ADC class peripherals) covers typical PLC I/O. Placed as the local acquisition controller between analog front ends and a higher-level gateway, it reduces BOM cost versus the SAM4S by omitting unused USB, as Microchip positions the series specifically as a cost-reduced migration path.
Recommended
Motor Control and Power Conversion
The ATSAM4N16CA-CFUR suits BLDC/PMSM motor control and power-conversion supervision because the Cortex-M4's hardware DSP instructions accelerate the Park/Clarke transforms and PI loops at 100 MHz, keeping control-loop jitter low, while PWM-capable timers and ADC channels handle gate-command generation and current sampling. The 1.62 V to 3.6 V supply range integrates cleanly with 3.3 V gate-driver logic domains, and 80 KB SRAM accommodates state observers and fault logs. Used as the supervisory MCU feeding gate drivers such as gate-driver ICs and current-sense amplifiers, the SAM4N's reduced BOM versus SAM4S makes it attractive for high-volume drive units; however, designs needing USB commissioning should select the pin-compatible SAM4S instead.
Recommended
IoT Sensor Nodes and Smart Devices
For IoT endpoints, the ATSAM4N16CA-CFUR offers a 7x7 mm 100-ball VFBGA footprint that conserves PCB area in compact wireless nodes, and 1 MB Flash stores oversized images with room for secure-boot code and dual firmware slots when paired with external storage. The Cortex-M4 runs lightweight stacks (MQTT over UART-connected radios, BLE modules via USART) at a fraction of the power of application processors, and its MPU supports basic task isolation in RTOS-based firmware. Combined with radio modules and MEMS sensors over TWI/SPI, the MCU acts as the aggregation and preprocessing hub; the industrial temperature grade also suits outdoor smart-metering and agricultural monitoring deployments where consumer-grade parts would fail.
Recommended
Consumer Appliances and White Goods
Consumer appliance control boards benefit from the ATSAM4N16CA-CFUR's combination of 1 MB Flash (for touch UI logic, localization strings, and OTA-resilient firmware images), industrial temperature robustness beyond household requirements, and the SAM4N's cost-reduced peripheral set that omits unused USB to cut unit price. The 100 MHz Cortex-M4 handles capacitive-touch scanning, display refresh, and motor-driven actuator sequencing concurrently under an RTOS, with Thumb-2 code density keeping the Flash budget comfortable. In appliances such as washers, cookers, and HVAC indoor units, the MCU typically drives segment/LCD front ends and PWM-controlled blowers while communicating with the main controller over UART/TWI, replacing multiple 8-bit devices with one ARM part.
Recommended
Medical and Diagnostic Instrumentation
Benchtop and portable medical instruments use the ATSAM4N16CA-CFUR where deterministic 32-bit processing, an MPU for firmware partitioning, and industrial-grade reliability are required without automotive certification overhead. The Cortex-M4 DSP instructions accelerate signal conditioning of biopotential or optical sensor channels (IIR/FIR filtering at 100 MHz), and 1 MB Flash supports configurable measurement profiles and calibration tables with headroom for regulatory-mandated feature updates. The device typically interfaces analog front ends through SPI/TWI ADCs and reports to a host PC or gateway via USART, complementing precision amplifiers and reference ICs. The 1.62 V to 3.6 V supply range simplifies battery-backed portable designs, while the VFBGA package supports compact handheld form factors.
Recommended
Building Automation and Access Control
The ATSAM4N16CA-CFUR addresses building-automation controllers - access panels, damper actuators, lighting gateways - where 1 MB Flash stores authentication tables, schedule engines, and fieldbus stacks (DALI, Modbus RTU over USART) with margin for a decade of feature updates. The 100 MHz Cortex-M4 with MPU runs an RTOS with protected communication and control tasks, and the SAM4N's timers/PWM generate actuator drive signals while TWI/SPI connect to RTC, EEPROM, and touch interfaces. Because these controllers run continuously for years, the industrial temperature grade and Microchip long-term availability practices matter more than peak performance. The 7x7 mm VFBGA enables dense multi-node boards, and the pin compatibility with SAM4S/SAM3N simplifies second-source planning within the Microchip ARM portfolio.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4N16CA-CFUR β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4N16CA-CFU | ATSAM4N8CA-CFUR | ATSAM4SA16CA-CFUR | ATSAM4SD32CA-CFUR | ATSAM3S8CA-CFU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-VFBGA (7x7) | 100-VFBGA (7x7) - same | 100-VFBGA (7x7) - same | 100-VFBGA (7x7) - same | 100-VFBGA (7x7) - same | 100-VFBGA (7x7) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4 | ARM Cortex-M4 | ARM Cortex-M4 | ARM Cortex-M4 | ARM Cortex-M4 | ARM Cortex-M3 |
| Max Clock Speed | 100 MHz | 100 MHz | 100 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 96 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 1 MB | 1 MB | 512 KB | 1 MB (dual-bank) | 512 KB (dual-bank) | 512 KB |
| SRAM | 80 KB | 80 KB | 80 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB | 64 KB |
| USB | No | No | No | Yes (device) | Yes (device) | Yes (device) |
| 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 | 1.62 V to 3.6 V |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial | Industrial | Industrial | Industrial | Industrial | Industrial |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (R) | Tray | Tape & Reel | Tape & Reel | Tape & Reel | Tray |
Key Differentiators
- Full 1 MB Flash in the cost-reduced SAM4N series (vs ATSAM4N8CA-CFUR)
- Lowest BOM cost among 1 MB same-footprint parts (vs ATSAM4SA16CA-CFUR)
- Cortex-M4 with DSP instructions vs Cortex-M3 predecessor (vs ATSAM3S8CA-CFU)
Design Notes
The 100-ball VFBGA (7x7 mm, ~0.8 mm ball pitch class) requires reflow assembly and careful escape routing; plan a via-in-pad or dog-bone fanout on the outer ball rows before finalizing the stackup, and confirm solder-mask-defined versus non-solder-mask-defined pad geometry against the Microchip package outline drawing. Because the SAM4N is pin-to-pin compatible with SAM3N/SAM3S/SAM4S 100-pin parts, design the footprint and power ball assignments to the common family pattern so second-source variants can be fitted without respin. Include a ball-1 dot marking convention on the silkscreen to prevent rotational assembly errors.
Power the device from a regulated 3.3 V rail within the 1.62 V to 3.6 V operating range stated on the Microchip ATSAM4N16C product page. Decouple each VDD domain per the SAM4N datasheet power distribution section - typically 100 nF ceramic per VDD/VDDIO ball plus bulk capacitance near the regulator - keeping decoupling loops short because VFBGA ball inductance makes long traces ineffective at the harmonics of a 100 MHz core. If a buck converter precedes the MCU, verify its ripple never exceeds 3.6 V under no-load transients, and consider an RC or ferrite filter on the analog supply feeding the ADC.
Estimated: firmware sizing traps are the most common SAM4N16-to-SAM4N8 downgrade failure - if your image plus reserve for OTA updates exceeds 512 KB, the ATSAM4N8CA-CFUR drop-in will not work despite the identical footprint; budget Flash before qualifying a memory-downgrade alternate. Second, remember the SAM4N omits USB: designs ported from SAM4S schematics must disable or repurpose USB-related circuitry. Third, the R suffix is tape-and-reel only - tray (CFU) is preferable for hand-placed prototypes and programming-house flows to avoid reel waste on small batches.
Compliance Information
Mouser listing describes the part as 'VFBGA, GREEN, IND TEMP, MRL A' - Microchip 'GREEN' designation denotes RoHS-compliant, lead-free, halogen-free packaging. REACH and conflict-minerals status: request Microchip material declaration. No automotive AEC-Q100 qualification indicated in provided data.
