ATSAMA5D23A-CU - ARM Cortex-A5 MPU 500MHz 196-TFBGA | Microchip
MPN: ATSAMA5D23A-CU ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $12.5 | $12.50 |
| 10 | $11.4 | $114.00 |
| 100 | $9.85 | $985.00 |
| 500 | $8.4 | $4,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $7.2 | $7,200.00 |
ATSAMA5D23A-CU Overview
An ARM Cortex-A5 MPU (Microprocessor Unit) is a 32-bit application-class processor core that executes an ARMv7-A instruction set. It sits above microcontrollers (MCUs) in the embedded hierarchy: MCUs integrate Flash + RAM + peripherals in one die, whereas MPUs typically rely on external DRAM and boot from dedicated non-volatile memory. The Cortex-A5 specifically targets low-power, cost-sensitive applications that still require full application processor features such as memory management, rich OS support (Linux), and a complete peripheral set.
Key features of the ATSAMA5D23A-CU include 128 KB on-chip SRAM, hardware AES and secure-boot features, a 24-bit LCD controller, USB 2.0 with HSIC, CAN-FD, and a 12-bit ADC. The 196-TFBGA package is industrial temperature rated (-40C to +85C) and is supplied in tray packaging for high-volume assembly.
The architecture pairs the Cortex-A5 core with the NEON SIMD engine, a floating-point unit, and dedicated crypto accelerators (AES, secure-boot, TRNG). The high-bandwidth multi-port DRAM controller supports DDR2/DDR3L/LPDDR2/LPDDR3, and the 12-layer AHB/APB bus matrix keeps peripheral contention low. This balance of deterministic real-time I/O with application-processor throughput makes the part well suited to Linux-driven edge devices.
Typical applications include industrial HMI panels, building automation gateways, smart energy / smart grid terminals, medical point-of-care devices, and connected IoT edge nodes. In each case the device runs Linux while still exposing real-time I/O for sensors, keypads, or industrial buses.
A key design consideration is PCB layout: the 196-ball TFBGA requires microvia or laser-drilled vias on at least four inner layers, and the DRAM interface demands length-matched routing and a clean power-rail decoupling strategy. Designers should follow the SAMA5D2 hardware design checklist published by Microchip.
This page synthesizes distributor stock, drop-in SAMA5D2 family alternatives, and practical hardware design notes not duplicated in the manufacturer's datasheet, providing a single source for evaluation engineers.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMA5D23A-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 ATSAMA5D23A-CU (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Ethernet, USB, Operating Temperature, CAN.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMA5D23A-CNR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$11.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D23A-CN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.15 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D22C-CU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$7.14 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D21B-CU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D22A-CN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMA5D23A-CU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-A5 with NEON SIMD and FPU |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 500 MHz |
| Instruction Set | ARMv7-A 32-bit |
| Internal SRAM | 128 KB |
| External Memory Bus | 16-bit DDR2/DDR3L/LPDDR2/LPDDR3 controller |
| Package | 196-ball TFBGA (CSBGA) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (BGA) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Supply Voltage (Core) | 1.2 V (typical) |
| Supply Voltage (I/O) | 3.3 V (typical) |
| LCD Controller | 24-bit, up to 1024x768 |
| USB | USB 2.0 Host + Device + HSIC |
| CAN | CAN-FD |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 12 channels |
| Security | Hardware AES, secure boot, TRNG, tamper pins |
| Ethernet | 10/100 Mbps MAC with GMII/RMII/MII |
| RoHS Status | ROHS3 Compliant |
| Packaging | Tray |
ATSAMA5D23A-CU 196-ball tfbga (csbga) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAMA5D23A-CU (196-ball tfbga (csbga) 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 ATSAMA5D23A-CU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAMA5D23A-CU is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial HMI Panels, Smart Energy and Grid Gateways, Building Automation Controllers, Medical Point-of-Care Devices, Connected IoT Edge Nodes, Automotive Infotainment Sub-Displays.
Industrial HMI Panels
The ATSAMA5D23A-CU is well suited to industrial human-machine-interface panels because its 24-bit LCD controller supports up to 1024x768 displays, and its 500 MHz Cortex-A5 core drives Qt or LVDS stacks with sub-100 ms touch response. The hardware AES and secure-boot block protect boot images and UI logic against tampering on the factory floor. The 196-TFBGA package allows compact board layouts, and the integrated CAN-FD interfaces simplify connection to PLC backbones. Designers can pair it with a 4.3- to 7-inch TFT and a projected-capacitive touch controller on the same PCB.
Recommended
Smart Energy and Grid Gateways
Smart-energy gateways aggregate data from PLC, RF mesh, and Modbus-equipped meters, then forward it to cloud services. The ATSAMA5D23A-CU fits this role because its CAN-FD, HSIC, Ethernet MAC, and multiple UART/SPI/I2C buses handle diverse metering protocols simultaneously, while Linux on Cortex-A5 runs MQTT or DLMS/COSEM stacks. The 128 KB on-chip SRAM is sufficient for short-term buffering during WAN outages. The hardware TRNG and tamper pins support utility-grade security requirements without an external secure element.
Recommended
Building Automation Controllers
Building automation controllers integrate HVAC, lighting, access control, and energy metering on a single platform. The ATSAMA5D23A-CU's mix of Ethernet, CAN-FD, USB, and high-speed serial ports handles BACnet, KNX, Modbus, and proprietary field buses concurrently. The Cortex-A5 + NEON combination runs predictive-control algorithms on sensor streams, while the LCD controller can drive local status displays. Industrial temperature range and tamper-resistant boot suit unattended equipment-room installations.
Recommended
Medical Point-of-Care Devices
Portable diagnostic instruments need a Linux-capable application processor with deterministic I/O for sensors, displays, and barcode scanners. The ATSAMA5D23A-CU's low-power ARM Cortex-A5 extends battery life while the 24-bit LCD drives 4- to 7-inch medical-grade displays. Hardware AES and secure boot protect patient data and firmware integrity, supporting compliance with FDA cybersecurity guidance. The 12-bit ADC integrates directly with analog front-end sensors such as electrochemical or optical detectors.
Recommended
Connected IoT Edge Nodes
Connected IoT edge nodes combine Linux-class processing with secure networking and low sleep current. The ATSAMA5D23A-CU runs containerized workloads (Docker, balenaCloud) on the Cortex-A5 core, exposes Ethernet/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth via the HSIC and SDIO buses, and uses its tamper pins for physical intrusion detection. The 196-TFBGA package suits compact fanless enclosures, and the rich peripheral set eliminates the need for external companion chips in most designs.
Recommended
Automotive Infotainment Sub-Displays
The ATSAMA5D23A-CU can drive rear-seat infotainment sub-displays, HVAC control panels, and instrument-cluster secondary screens in non-safety-critical zones. Its 24-bit LCD controller supports capacitive-touch overlays, and the CAN-FD interface connects to the vehicle's central gateway. Hardware AES plus secure boot meets the baseline OEM expectations for infotainment firmware protection. Designers should follow the SAMA5D2 hardware design checklist for EMI/ESD robustness on the 196-TFBGA ball map.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMA5D23A-CU — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMA5D23A-CNR | ATSAMA5D23A-CN | ATSAMA5D22C-CU | ATSAMA5D21B-CU | ATSAMA5D22A-CN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 196-TFBGA (CSBGA) | 196-TFBGA (CSBGA) | 196-TFBGA (CSBGA) | 196-TFBGA (CSBGA) | 196-TFBGA (CSBGA) | 196-TFBGA (CSBGA) |
| Core | ARM Cortex-A5 @ 500 MHz | ARM Cortex-A5 @ 500 MHz | ARM Cortex-A5 @ 500 MHz | ARM Cortex-A5 @ 500 MHz | ARM Cortex-A5 @ 500 MHz | ARM Cortex-A5 @ 500 MHz |
| On-chip SRAM | 128 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +105C | -40C to +105C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +105C |
| Crypto Accelerators | AES, secure boot, TRNG | AES, secure boot, TRNG | AES, secure boot, TRNG | AES, secure boot, TRNG | AES, secure boot, TRNG | Reduced crypto (no TEE) |
| LCD Controller | 24-bit, up to 1024x768 | 24-bit, up to 1024x768 | 24-bit, up to 1024x768 | 24-bit, up to 1024x768 | 24-bit, up to 1024x768 | 24-bit, up to 1024x768 |
| Target Position | Mid-tier industrial MPU | Extended-temp mid-tier industrial MPU | Extended-temp mid-tier industrial MPU | Cost-optimized mid-tier MPU | Low-power entry-level MPU | Cost-optimized extended-temp MPU |
Key Differentiators
- Mid-tier SAMA5D2 balance of cost and security (vs ATSAMA5D21B-CU)
- Industrial temperature rated without extended-temp cost (vs ATSAMA5D23A-CNR)
- Drop-in compatibility across SAMA5D2 family in 196-TFBGA (vs Cross-brand MPU alternatives)
Design Notes
The 196-ball TFBGA package (0.75 mm-0.8 mm pitch) requires microvia or laser-drilled PCB technology. Use at least a 6-layer stack-up with two dedicated ground planes and one solid VCC plane to control DDR impedance. Length-match the DDR2/DDR3L address/command traces within 50 mil and DQ traces within 25 mil to meet the SAMA5D2 series DDR controller timing budget.
Decouple the 1.2 V core rail with bulk ceramic capacitors (22 uF X5R minimum) plus 100 nF X7R bypass capacitors placed within 2 mm of each power ball. For the 3.3 V I/O rail, combine a 47 uF bulk with multiple 100 nF caps distributed across the ball map. Sequence core-before-IO if your regulator topology supports power-good signaling to the part.
Do not use the -40C to +85C ATSAMA5D23A-CU in sealed enclosures exceeding 70C ambient; the ball-grid solder joint reliability degrades rapidly above this threshold - upgrade to ATSAMA5D23A-CNR for the -40C to +105C rating. Also ensure the boot configuration pins (BMS, JTAG_SEL, TEST) are pulled to valid logic levels at power-up to avoid boot lock-out conditions.
Compliance Information
ROHS3 compliant per Full-Electronic distributor listing. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; choose ATSAMA5D2 AEC-grade parts (or ATSAMA5D27A-CNR) for automotive safety-critical applications. Lead-free packaging per Microchip product page.
