ATSAMA5D22A-CU - 500MHz Cortex-A5 MPU, 196-TFBGA | Microchip
MPN: ATSAMA5D22A-CU ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $12.45 | $12.45 |
| 10 | $11.2 | $112.00 |
| 100 | $9.85 | $985.00 |
| 500 | $8.95 | $4,475.00 |
| 1,000 | $8.2 | $8,200.00 |
ATSAMA5D22A-CU Overview
A microprocessor (MPU) is an integrated circuit that contains a full CPU core plus caches, memory management, and a rich peripheral set, intended to run a high-level operating system such as Linux. MPUs sit above microcontrollers (MCUs) in the embedded hierarchy: they require external DDR memory, deliver much higher compute throughput, and are typically deployed where an OS, complex GUI, networking stack, or multimedia processing is needed. The Cortex-A5 is ARM's smallest, lowest-power applications-class core, designed for cost-sensitive, power-constrained embedded products.
Key features of the ATSAMA5D22A-CU include support for LPDDR1/LPDDR2/LPDDR3, DDR2, DDR3, DDR3L, and QSPI memories, hardware graphics acceleration, an embedded audio subsystem, and a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet MAC. The integrated peripheral touch controller (PTC) supports moisture-tolerant capacitive touch sensing directly, reducing BOM cost. A simple power management scheme and 5 uA backup-mode current enable long battery life across industrial and IoT endpoints.
The device architecture combines the Cortex-A5 core with NEON SIMD, floating-point hardware, and a multi-layer bus matrix feeding the advanced interrupt controller, DMA, and peripherals. Hardware graphics acceleration offloads 2D composition, while the LCD controller supports displays up to WXGA. Cryptographic accelerators (AES, SHA, TRNG) are integrated for secure-boot and TLS workloads. The 196-ball TFBGA package uses a 0.8 mm ball pitch to simplify PCB routing on low-cost 4-layer stack-ups.
Typical applications include industrial HMI panels with capacitive touch, building automation gateways, smart energy meters, point-of-sale terminals, medical patient-monitoring displays, and connected IoT edge nodes running Linux. The wide memory-controller compatibility also suits brownfield designs migrating from older ARM9 or Cortex-A8 platforms.
When designing with this MPU, allocate at least a 4-layer PCB with a continuous ground plane beneath the BGA, follow the SAMA5D2 hardware design checklist for DDR3L length-matching, and provide a clean 3.3 V I/O plus 1.2/1.8/3.3 V rail scheme per the reference schematic. Boot configuration, OTP fuse, and secure-boot flow should be finalized early, as they constrain later firmware decisions.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives drawn from the SAMA5D2 family, and practical hardware design notes that go beyond the manufacturer datasheet to help engineers shorten their bring-up cycle.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMA5D22A-CU — 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 ATSAMA5D22A-CU (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Ethernet, Operating Temperature, RoHS Status, USB.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMA5D22A-CNR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$10.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D22A-CN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D22C-CNR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.3 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D21C-CUR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$11.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D21B-CU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D225C-D1M-CU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$12.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D22A-CU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Series | SAMA5D2 |
| Core | ARM Cortex-A5 (32-bit, single-core) |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 500 MHz |
| NEON SIMD Engine | Yes |
| Floating Point Unit | Yes |
| On-chip SRAM | 128 KB |
| Graphics Acceleration | Yes (2D hardware) |
| External Memory Support | LPDDR1, LPDDR2, LPDDR3, DDR2, DDR3, DDR3L, QSPI |
| Ethernet | 10/100 Mbps (1 port) |
| USB | USB 2.0 + HSIC |
| Display Controller | LCD controller supporting up to WXGA |
| Touch Controller | Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) integrated |
| Audio Subsystem | Embedded (I2S, SSC, Class-D support) |
| Cryptography | AES, SHA, TRNG accelerators |
| Package | 196-TFBGA (11x11 mm, 0.8 mm pitch) |
| I/O Voltage | 3.3 V |
| Core Voltage | 1.2 V / 1.8 V / 3.3 V |
| Backup Mode Current | 5 uA (typical, per datasheet) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (BGA) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
ATSAMA5D22A-CU 196-tfbga (11x11 mm, 0.8 mm pitch) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAMA5D22A-CU (196-tfbga (11x11 mm, 0.8 mm pitch) 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 ATSAMA5D22A-CU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAMA5D22A-CU is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial HMI Panels with Capacitive Touch, Building Automation Gateways, Smart Energy Meters and Data Concentrators, Point-of-Sale Terminals, Connected IoT Edge Nodes, Medical Patient-Monitoring Displays, Automotive Infotainment and Telematics (Non-Safety).
Industrial HMI Panels with Capacitive Touch
The ATSAMA5D22A-CU is purpose-built for industrial HMI panels: its integrated Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) drives moisture-tolerant self- and mutual-capacitance sensing directly, while the integrated LCD controller supports displays up to WXGA without an external graphics chip. The 500 MHz Cortex-A5 with NEON and 2D hardware acceleration renders Qt/embedded or LVDS-based UIs smoothly, and 128 KB of on-chip SRAM keeps touch latency low. The 196-TFBGA at 0.8 mm pitch routes easily on 4-layer PCBs typical of HMI backplanes, and 5 uA backup current supports battery-backed settings retention.
Recommended
Building Automation Gateways
Building automation gateways need a Linux-capable MPU with reliable Ethernet, USB for radios (Zigbee, Thread, LoRa), and crypto for secure cloud uplinks. The ATSAMA5D22A-CU delivers 10/100 Mbps Ethernet, USB 2.0 + HSIC, and integrated AES/SHA/TRNG accelerators, all in a 196-TFBGA that fits in a wall-mount enclosure. Linux BSP support is mature, and the 500 MHz core handles BACnet/Modbus/TLS stacks concurrently. The wide DDR2/DDR3L/LPDDR2 memory-controller flexibility lets designers source the most cost-effective DRAM per region.
Recommended
Smart Energy Meters and Data Concentrators
Smart meters demand cryptographic authentication, low standby power, and long product lifecycles. The ATSAMA5D22A-CU's hardware AES/SHA/TRNG blocks accelerate DLMS/COSEM and TLS handshakes, while 5 uA backup current preserves RTC and tamper logs during outages. The Cortex-A5 with NEON runs metering stacks and edge analytics concurrently, and the wide operating temperature range (-40C to +85C) suits outdoor cabinets. The 196-TFBGA's 0.8 mm pitch simplifies the meter main board layout and reduces PCB layer count.
Recommended
Point-of-Sale Terminals
POS terminals require a secure, multimedia-capable MPU with PCI-friendly peripherals. The ATSAMA5D22A-CU integrates the LCD controller, hardware 2D graphics, embedded audio subsystem, USB 2.0 for payment peripherals, and AES/SHA/TRNG for PIN-pad encryption. The Cortex-A5 at 500 MHz runs Linux with Qt for the cashier UI, and DDR3L support keeps DRAM cost low for sub-$200 terminal BOMs. The 196-TFBGA footprint fits the compact mainboard typical of mPOS and integrated-lane terminals.
Recommended
Connected IoT Edge Nodes
IoT edge nodes need Linux-class processing, security, and battery-friendly standby. The ATSAMA5D22A-CU runs containerized workloads (Docker, balena) on the 500 MHz Cortex-A5 with hardware crypto for secure boot and OTA updates. LPDDR2/LPDDR3 support enables low-power DRAM topologies, and the 5 uA backup current lets battery-powered sensors last years between charges. The integrated PTC can also wake the device on user interaction without an external touch IC.
Recommended
Medical Patient-Monitoring Displays
Patient-monitoring displays need a reliable MPU with isolated USB, accurate RTC, and a clean analog front-end supply. The ATSAMA5D22A-CU provides USB 2.0 + HSIC for tethered sensors, an LCD controller for clinical-grade displays, and the Cortex-A5 + NEON combination to drive waveform rendering in real time. Hardware AES accelerates HIPAA-compliant data encryption, while the industrial -40C to +85C temperature range supports bedside and cart-mounted deployments. The 196-TFBGA at 0.8 mm pitch enables compact mainboards inside space-constrained monitor housings.
Recommended
Automotive Infotainment and Telematics (Non-Safety)
Although not AEC-Q100 qualified, the ATSAMA5D22A-CU suits non-safety automotive applications such as rear-seat entertainment, fleet telematics boxes, and aftermarket infotainment. The Cortex-A5 + NEON handles H.264 decode for streaming media, USB 2.0 supports tethering and storage, and the integrated audio subsystem drives Class-D amplifiers directly. The 196-TFBGA footprint drops into existing telematics hardware designs migrating from older ARM9 platforms, and DDR3L support keeps BOM cost in line with telematics price points.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMA5D22A-CU — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMA5D22A-CNR | ATSAMA5D22A-CN | ATSAMA5D22C-CNR | ATSAMA5D21C-CUR | ATSAMA5D21B-CU | ATSAMA5D225C-D1M-CU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 196-TFBGA (11x11, 0.8 mm pitch) | 196-TFBGA (11x11) - same | 196-TFBGA (11x11) - same | 196-TFBGA (11x11) - same | 196-TFBGA (11x11) - same | 196-TFBGA (11x11) - same | 196-TFBGA (11x11) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Series | SAMA5D2 (D22) | SAMA5D2 (D22) | SAMA5D2 (D22) | SAMA5D2 (D22) | SAMA5D2 (D21) | SAMA5D2 (D21) | SAMA5D2 (D225) |
| Core | Cortex-A5 32-bit | Cortex-A5 32-bit | Cortex-A5 32-bit | Cortex-A5 32-bit | Cortex-A5 32-bit | Cortex-A5 32-bit | Cortex-A5 32-bit |
| Max CPU Clock | 500 MHz | 500 MHz | 500 MHz | 500 MHz | 500 MHz | 500 MHz | 500 MHz |
| Ethernet | 10/100 Mbps | 10/100 Mbps | 10/100 Mbps | 10/100 Mbps | 10/100 Mbps | 10/100 Mbps | 10/100 Mbps |
| Display Controller (LCD/Touch) | Touchscreen via PTC | Touchscreen via PTC | Touchscreen via PTC | Touchscreen via PTC | Touchscreen via PTC | Touchscreen via PTC | Touchscreen via PTC |
| Packaging Form | Tray (-CU) | Tape and Reel (-CUR) | Tray (-CN) | Tape and Reel (-CNR) | Tape and Reel (-CUR) | Tray (-CU) | Tray (-CU) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | Extended grade |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) (vs ATSAMA5D33A-CUR)
- Lower standby current at 5 uA backup mode (vs ATSAMA5D21B-CU)
- DDR3L memory-controller support (vs ATSAMA5D35A-CU)
Design Notes
The 196-TFBGA at 0.8 mm ball pitch requires 4-layer PCB construction with a continuous ground plane directly beneath the package to control impedance and provide a thermal spreader. Fan-out vias-in-pad are recommended for inner balls; Microchip's SAMA5D2 hardware design checklist documents exact via dimensions and antipad sizes. Keep all DDR3L traces length-matched per byte lane within the tolerances specified in the DDR3L layout application note.
The ATSAMA5D22A-CU requires a clean 3.3 V I/O rail plus separate 1.2 V, 1.8 V, and 3.3 V core/voltage rails generated by the SAMA5D2 power management IC (PMIC). Decouple each rail with 100 nF X7R ceramics placed as close as possible to the package balls, plus a bulk 4.7 uF to 10 uF tantalum or polymer capacitor within 5 mm. Sequencing must follow the PMIC's power-up order; failure to do so can latch the device into a non-recoverable state.
Estimated: at 500 MHz CPU utilization drawing approximately 0.5 W core power plus 0.3 W I/O power, junction-to-ambient thermal resistance is approximately 25 C/W for the 196-TFBGA on a JEDEC 4-layer test board, yielding roughly a 20C temperature rise above ambient. In enclosed HMI housings with limited airflow, derate CPU frequency if the enclosure ambient exceeds 70C. The exposed-pad-less BGA relies entirely on internal balls for heat conduction, so a copper pour on the top layer significantly improves dissipation.
Do not omit the boot configuration resistors on the BMS signal - the ATSAMA5D22A-CU will fail to start without correct boot mode selection. Secure-boot OTP fuses must be programmed before deployment in any field-connected product, because OTP cannot be reversed. The Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) requires firmware calibration per board; do not assume default touch thresholds work without PCB-specific tuning.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - do not use in automotive safety-critical applications. Lead-free and halogen-free per Microchip material declaration. Conflict-minerals compliant per Microchip CMRT.