ATSAMC21E16A-MNT - 48MHz Cortex-M0+ MCU, 64KB Flash, CAN-FD | Microchip
MPN: ATSAMC21E16A-MNT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.92 | $3.92 |
| 10 | $3.58 | $35.80 |
| 100 | $2.95 | $295.00 |
| 500 | $2.6 | $1,300.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.44 | $2,440.00 |
| 5,000 | $2.3 | $11,500.00 |
ATSAMC21E16A-MNT Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, memory, and programmable peripherals on one IC. The Cortex-M0+ is the smallest and most energy-efficient member of the ARM Cortex-M family, designed for deterministic embedded control in cost-sensitive applications. Within the broader hierarchy, this part is a microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor device, and the SAM C21 family specifically targets noisy industrial environments requiring robust 5 V I/O tolerance.
Key features of the ATSAMC21E16A-MNT include 6 SERCOM serial communication channels (each configurable as UART, SPI, or I2C), a full-speed USB 2.0 device interface, a 12-channel Event System for inter-peripheral signalling without CPU intervention, and a Self-Programming Flash controller for in-field firmware updates. The 5 V tolerant I/O simplifies interfacing to legacy 5 V sensors and industrial buses, eliminating the need for external level shifters. The integrated PTC supports up to 256 mutual-capacitance touch channels for robust button, slider, and proximity sensing in the presence of moisture and noise.
The device operates from a 2.7 V to 5.5 V supply, supports -40 °C to +105 °C industrial temperature range, and includes functional safety (FuSa) features such as a dedicated CRC, a Windowed Watchdog Timer (WWDT), and a Memory Protection Unit (MPU) for IEC 60730 Class B compliance. The Cortex-M0+ core executes the Thumb instruction set with hardware single-cycle multiplication, delivering 0.93 DMIPS/MHz while consuming as little as 50 µA/MHz in active mode.
Typical applications include industrial CAN-FD sensor nodes, building automation controllers, automotive body and chassis ECUs (sub-systems), USB-connected human-machine interface (HMI) modules, and capacitive-touch user interfaces for appliances. The wide 5 V tolerance and robust ESD ratings (HBM 4 kV, CDM 500 V) make it particularly suitable for factory-floor equipment, motor-control peripherals, and HVAC controllers.
When designing with this MCU, place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor adjacent to each VDD pin and route the analog supply (VDDANA) through a ferrite bead from the digital supply to preserve ADC accuracy. Configure unused pins as outputs driven low to minimize current leakage in battery-backed applications, and ensure JTAG/SWD traces are length-matched and kept under 50 mm to avoid programming failures.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the standalone manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMC21E16A-MNT — 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 ATSAMC21E16A-MNT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, RoHS Status, Core, MSL Level.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMC21E17A-MNT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMC21E18A-MNT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMC21E15A-MNT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMC20E16A-MNT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMC21E16A-AUT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMC21E16A-MNT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | ARM Cortex-M0+ (32-bit, single-core) |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 64 KB (64K x 8) |
| SRAM | 8 KB |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.7 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Voltage Tolerance | 5 V tolerant |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 °C to +105 °C |
| Package | 32-pin VQFN (5x5 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| CAN-FD Controller | Yes (1 channel) |
| USB Interface | USB 2.0 Full-Speed Device |
| SERCOM Channels | 6 (configurable as UART/SPI/I2C) |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 1 Msps |
| Sigma-Delta ADC | 16-bit |
| Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) | Yes (supports self/mutual capacitance) |
| Event System Channels | 12 |
| DMA Channels | 12 |
| Watchdog Timer | Windowed Watchdog Timer (WWDT) |
| Memory Protection Unit (MPU) | Yes |
| Functional Safety (FuSa) | IEC 60730 Class B ready |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
ATSAMC21E16A-MNT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PA00 — GPIO / XIN32 (external 32.768 kHz crystal input) |
| Pin 2 | PA01 — GPIO / XOUT32 (external 32.768 kHz crystal output) |
| Pin 3 | PA02 — GPIO / AIN0 (ADC input) |
| Pin 4 | PA03 — GPIO / AIN1 / VREFA (ADC reference voltage) |
| Pin 5 | PA04 — GPIO / AIN2 |
| Pin 6 | PA05 — GPIO / AIN3 |
| Pin 7 | PA06 — GPIO / AIN4 |
| Pin 8 | PA07 — GPIO / AIN5 |
| Pin 9 | VDDIO — Digital I/O supply voltage (2.7-5.5 V) |
| Pin 10 | GND — Ground reference for digital I/O |
| Pin 11 | PA08 — GPIO / SERCOM0 PAD0 / I2C SDA |
| Pin 12 | PA09 — GPIO / SERCOM0 PAD1 / I2C SCL |
| Pin 13 | PA10 — GPIO / SERCOM2 PAD0 / CAN0 TX |
| Pin 14 | PA11 — GPIO / SERCOM2 PAD1 / CAN0 RX |
| Pin 15 | PA14 — GPIO / SERCOM3 PAD0 / TC0 WO0 |
| Pin 16 | PA15 — GPIO / SERCOM3 PAD1 / TC0 WO1 |
| Pin 17 | PA16 — GPIO / SERCOM1 PAD0 / I2S SCK |
| Pin 18 | PA17 — GPIO / SERCOM1 PAD1 / I2S FS |
| Pin 19 | PA18 — GPIO / SERCOM1 PAD2 / I2S SDO |
| Pin 20 | PA19 — GPIO / SERCOM1 PAD3 / I2S SDI |
| Pin 21 | PA22 — GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD0 / TC1 WO0 |
| Pin 22 | PA23 — GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD1 / TC1 WO1 |
| Pin 23 | PA24 — GPIO / USB D- |
| Pin 24 | PA25 — GPIO / USB D+ |
| Pin 25 | PA27 — GPIO / SWDIO (debug data) |
| Pin 26 | PA28 — GPIO / SWCLK (debug clock) |
| Pin 27 | RESET — Reset input, active-low |
| Pin 28 | VDDIN — Main voltage regulator input (2.7-5.5 V) |
| Pin 29 | VDDANA — Analog supply voltage for ADC/DAC |
| Pin 30 | GND — Ground reference for analog |
| Pin 31 | GND — Ground reference for digital core |
| Pin 32 | VDDCORE — Internal core voltage (decoupling only) |
Typical Applications
ATSAMC21E16A-MNT is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial CAN-FD Sensor Node, Building Automation Controller, Capacitive-Touch HMI Module, USB-Connected Sensor Bridge, Sub-System Automotive Body ECU, Battery-Backed Industrial Data Logger.
Industrial CAN-FD Sensor Node
The ATSAMC21E16A-MNT's integrated CAN-FD controller compliant with ISO 11898-1:2015 supports payloads up to 64 bytes and data-phase bit rates up to 8 Mbps, making it ideal for industrial sensor nodes that aggregate field data from pressure, flow, and temperature transmitters. The 5 V tolerant I/O simplifies direct interfacing to legacy 4-20 mA loops and 5 V industrial sensors without external level shifters. The 12-bit 1 Msps ADC and the integrated 16-bit Sigma-Delta converter allow simultaneous high-speed and high-precision analog measurements, while the 48 MHz Cortex-M0+ core has ample headroom to run CANopen or J1939 stacks concurrently with sensor-fusion algorithms. The exposed pad of the VQFN-32 package provides low thermal resistance for continuous operation at +105 °C ambient in factory cabinets.
Recommended
Building Automation Controller
The 5 V tolerant I/O, 6 SERCOM channels (each configurable as UART/SPI/I2C), and integrated Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) make the ATSAMC21E16A-MNT a strong fit for building-automation controllers driving HVAC actuators, lighting dimmers, and occupancy sensors. The PTC supports up to 256 mutual-capacitance touch channels with built-in moisture and noise immunity, enabling robust glass-fronted control panels in commercial buildings. The Windowed Watchdog Timer (WWDT), hardware CRC, and Memory Protection Unit (MPU) satisfy IEC 60730 Class B functional-safety requirements for unattended domestic appliances. USB 2.0 Full-Speed device support simplifies commissioning via standard USB-host interfaces on technician laptops, eliminating the need for proprietary programming pods in field service.
Recommended
Capacitive-Touch HMI Module
The built-in Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) on the ATSAMC21E16A-MNT supports self-capacitance and mutual-capacitance sensing for buttons, sliders, and proximity wake-up functions - all without an external touch IC. Combined with the 12-bit ADC for analog front-panel measurements and the 12-channel Event System for hardware-driven button debouncing, the MCU delivers a complete human-machine interface (HMI) controller in a single chip. The 32-pin VQFN (5x5 mm) package fits behind small glass panels in appliance and white-goods designs. Functional safety features including hardware CRC and WWDT simplify compliance with IEC 60335 safety standards for unattended household appliances.
Recommended
USB-Connected Sensor Bridge
The integrated USB 2.0 Full-Speed device interface on the ATSAMC21E16A-MNT eliminates the need for an external bridge chip when connecting industrial sensors to PC-based data-acquisition systems. The 5 V tolerant USB D+/D- pins interface directly with standard USB connectors, while the SERCOM channels can simultaneously drive UART- or SPI-based sensors. The 8 KB SRAM is sufficient to buffer multi-channel sensor data before bulk USB transfers, and the 64 KB Flash accommodates full USB device stacks (CDC, HID, vendor-class) plus application firmware. The wide 2.7-5.5 V supply range allows the bridge to be powered directly from the USB VBUS rail at 5 V without additional regulation.
Recommended
Sub-System Automotive Body ECU
Although the standard ATSAMC21E16A-MNT is industrial-grade, the +105 °C operating temperature and 5 V tolerant I/O make it suitable for non-safety-critical automotive body and chassis sub-systems such as lighting controllers, mirror-adjust modules, and HVAC panel drivers. The Cortex-M0+ core's deterministic interrupt latency simplifies LIN-slave firmware, while the CAN-FD controller provides a migration path from classic CAN to next-generation in-vehicle networks. For AEC-Q100 qualified designs, the automotive variant ATSAMC21E16A-MNTVAO is available with PPAP documentation and full automotive reliability testing per the device family datasheet.
Recommended
Battery-Backed Industrial Data Logger
The low-power Run, Wait, and Sleep modes of the ATSAMC21E16A-MNT - combined with on-chip RTC, Event System wake-on-interrupt, and battery-domain backup registers - support multi-year battery-backed operation in remote industrial data loggers. The 12-bit 1 Msps ADC captures fast transients, while the 16-bit Sigma-Delta converter delivers 16-bit effective resolution for slow high-precision channels like thermocouples. The 64 KB Flash stores several months of compressed sensor history, and the integrated CAN-FD or USB interface enables periodic data offload to a gateway. The WWDT, CRC, and MPU enable unattended IEC 60730 Class B compliance for unattended logger deployments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMC21E16A-MNT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMC21E17A-MNT | ATSAMC21E18A-MNT | ATSAMC21E15A-MNT | ATSAMC20E16A-MNT | ATSAMC21E16A-AUT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | VQFN-32 (5x5 mm) | VQFN-32 (5x5 mm) - same | VQFN-32 (5x5 mm) - same | VQFN-32 (5x5 mm) - same | VQFN-32 (5x5 mm) - same | TQFP-32 (7x7 mm) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 64 KB | 128 KB | 256 KB | 32 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB |
| SRAM | 8 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB | 4 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB |
| CAN-FD Controller | Yes (1 channel) | Yes (1 channel) | Yes (1 channel) | Yes (1 channel) | No | Yes (1 channel) |
| USB 2.0 FS Device | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +105 °C | -40 °C to +105 °C | -40 °C to +105 °C | -40 °C to +105 °C | -40 °C to +105 °C | -40 °C to +105 °C |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated CAN-FD plus USB 2.0 FS Device in VQFN-32 (5x5 mm) (vs ATSAMC20E16A-MNT)
- Memory upgrade path within same VQFN-32 footprint (vs ATSAMC21E15A-MNT)
- Industrial +105 °C operating temperature in tiny 5x5 mm package (vs ATSAMC21E16A-AUT)
Design Notes
The ATSAMC21E16A-MNT requires two supply rails: VDDIN (2.7-5.5 V main input) and VDDANA (analog supply, must track VDDIN within ±0.3 V). Place a 100 nF X7R 0402 ceramic decoupling capacitor adjacent to each VDD pin and a single 4.7 µF bulk capacitor within 5 mm. Route the analog supply through a ferrite bead (600 Ω at 100 MHz, BLM18PG601) from VDDIN to VDDANA, with separate decoupling on each side, to preserve ADC SNR. The exposed thermal pad must be soldered to a continuous ground plane on the top layer with at least 8 thermal vias to the inner ground plane for heat dissipation at high CPU loads.
Keep the 32 kHz crystal traces within 5 mm of the XIN32/XOUT32 pins, with a guard ring tied to analog ground to reduce noise injection into the RTC. For the SWD/SWCK debug interface (PA27/PA28), keep trace lengths under 50 mm and route them over a continuous ground plane to avoid programming failures in production. If the PTC is used for capacitive touch, isolate the touch-sensor traces with a hatched ground pour and avoid running them parallel to noisy switching traces or under the crystal oscillator. Verify touch performance with moisture, water droplets, and glove-finger scenarios before finalizing the layout.
The USB D+/D- pins (PA24/PA25) require a 90 Ω differential impedance on the PCB, with traces matched within 0.5 mm length. Place the USBLC6-2SC6 ESD protection array within 3 mm of the USB connector, with its ground paddle connected to the chassis ground through a ferrite bead. For CAN-FD (PA10/PA11), use twisted-pair cabling with 120 Ω termination at each end of the bus, and place the MCP2562FD transceiver within 10 mm of the MCU to minimize stub lengths. The CAN bus common-mode choke (e.g., DLW32SH101XK2) reduces EMI from the 8 Mbps data-phase transitions.
Do not leave unused GPIO pins floating - configure them as outputs driven low to minimize current leakage (each floating input can leak 1-10 µA, totalling 50-100 µA for 10 unused pins). The SAM C21's brown-out detector (BOD) must be enabled at boot to prevent Flash corruption during supply dips below 2.7 V. When using the SERCOM peripheral for I2C, ensure external 4.7 kΩ pull-ups are present because the SAM C21's internal pull-ups are too weak for 400 kHz Fast-Mode operation. Finally, when migrating from the SAM C20 to the SAM C21, verify the CAN-FD peripheral interrupt vector assignments as they differ from the SAM C20's CAN0 register map.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product environmental certification. Industrial grade -40 °C to +105 °C; AEC-Q100 automotive qualification available on the VAO variant only.
