ATSAMC21G15A-MNT - 48MHz ARM Cortex-M0+ MCU, 32KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAMC21G15A-MNT β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.85 | $3.85 |
| 10 | $3.42 | $34.20 |
| 100 | $2.97 | $297.00 |
| 500 | $2.62 | $1,310.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.3 | $2,300.00 |
ATSAMC21G15A-MNT Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (Flash), working memory (SRAM), and a rich set of peripherals. The ARM Cortex-M0+ is the smallest and most energy-efficient ARM core, targeting deterministic embedded control with Thumb-2 instruction set compatibility. The SAM C21 series specifically adds 5V I/O tolerance and CAN-FD connectivity, placing this part between consumer-grade Cortex-M0 MCUs and more expensive Cortex-M4 devices in Microchip's portfolio.
Key features include 32 KB Flash, 4 KB SRAM, 1 KB data EEPROM, a 48 MHz core with single-cycle multiplier, and integrated peripherals such as CAN-FD, SERCOM (configurable serial), 12-bit ADC, 10-bit DAC, and PTC (Peripheral Touch Controller) for capacitive touch sensing. The 48-QFN package exposes up to 38 GPIO pins and supports industrial-grade temperature operation from -40C to +105C.
The architecture combines a low-power Cortex-M0+ core with a 12-channel event system for inter-peripheral signaling without CPU intervention. The device supports Sleep, Standby, and Backup modes, with typical active current of approximately 7 mA at 48 MHz and standby current below 1 uA with RTC retention. The CAN-FD controller supports ISO 11898-1:2015 frames at up to 8 Mbps, enabling modern automotive network integration.
Typical applications include CAN-FD node controllers in industrial automation, BLDC motor control FOC drives, HVAC climate control, smart metering, capacitive touch user interfaces, and small home appliances. Functional safety features such as windowed watchdog, CRC, and memory protection unit support IEC 60730 Class B certification for white goods and similar consumer safety-critical systems.
When designing with this device, ensure the 5V supply rail is decoupled with both bulk and high-frequency ceramic capacitors placed close to the VDD pins. The QFN thermal pad must be soldered to a properly sized copper pour for mechanical reliability and thermal dissipation; otherwise, the package can crack under PCB stress during reflow or in-field temperature cycling.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives drawn from the same SAM C21 family and competitor Cortex-M0+ parts, and practical design notes not assembled in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMC21G15A-MNT β 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 ATSAMC21G15A-MNT (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, ADC, DAC, Operating Temperature Range, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMC21G15A-AUT
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$2.15 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMC21E15A-MNT
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMC21E16A-MNT
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMC21G15A-MUT
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$1.94 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMC21E17A-AUT
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2.45 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMC21G15A-MNT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-M0+ (32-bit) |
| Family | SAM C21 (Functional Safety) |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 32 KB (32K x 8) |
| SRAM | 4 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 1 KB |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.7 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Tolerance | 5 V tolerant |
| Package | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) |
| Pin Count | 48 |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +105C |
| GPIO Count (max) | 38 |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 16 channels |
| DAC | 10-bit, 1 channel |
| CAN-FD | Yes, ISO 11898-1:2015 |
| SERCOM | Up to 6 configurable serial interfaces |
| PTC (Touch) | Yes, mutual-capacitance supported |
| Watchdog | Windowed WDT |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
ATSAMC21G15A-MNT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDDIO β I/O supply voltage |
| Pin 2 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 3 | PA02 β GPIO/ADC/PTC |
| Pin 4 | PA03 β GPIO/ADC/PTC |
| Pin 5 | PA04 β GPIO/ADC/VOUT |
| Pin 6 | PA05 β GPIO/ADC/PTC |
| Pin 7 | PA06 β GPIO/ADC/PTC |
| Pin 8 | PA07 β GPIO/ADC/PTC |
| Pin 9 | PA08 β GPIO/ADC/PTC |
| Pin 10 | PA09 β GPIO/ADC/PTC |
| Pin 11 | PA10 β GPIO/ADC/PTC |
| Pin 12 | PA11 β GPIO/ADC/PTC |
| Pin 13 | VDD β Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 14 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 15 | PB10 β GPIO |
| Pin 16 | PB11 β GPIO |
| Pin 17 | PA12 β GPIO |
| Pin 18 | PA13 β GPIO |
| Pin 19 | PA14 β GPIO/XCLK |
| Pin 20 | PA15 β GPIO |
| Pin 21 | PA16 β GPIO/I2C |
| Pin 22 | PA17 β GPIO/I2C |
| Pin 23 | PA18 β GPIO |
| Pin 24 | PA19 β GPIO |
| Pin 25 | PA20 β GPIO |
| Pin 26 | PA21 β GPIO |
| Pin 27 | PA22 β GPIO |
| Pin 28 | PA23 β GPIO |
| Pin 29 | PA24 β GPIO/USB DP |
| Pin 30 | PA25 β GPIO/USB DM |
| Pin 31 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 32 | VDD β Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 33 | PA27 β GPIO |
| Pin 34 | PA28 β GPIO |
| Pin 35 | PB22 β GPIO/CAN-FD TX |
| Pin 36 | PB23 β GPIO/CAN-FD RX |
| Pin 37 | PB00 β GPIO |
| Pin 38 | PB01 β GPIO |
| Pin 39 | PB02 β GPIO/ADC |
| Pin 40 | PB03 β GPIO/ADC |
| Pin 41 | PB04 β GPIO/ADC |
| Pin 42 | PB05 β GPIO/ADC |
| Pin 43 | RESET β Reset input (active low) |
| Pin 44 | SWDIO β SWD data |
| Pin 45 | SWCLK β SWD clock |
| Pin 46 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 47 | VDD β Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 48 | NC β Not connected |
Typical Applications
ATSAMC21G15A-MNT is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial CAN-FD Node Controller, BLDC and PMSM Motor Control, Capacitive Touch User Interface, HVAC Climate Control, Smart Energy Metering, Automotive Body Electronics, Small Home Appliance Control.
Industrial CAN-FD Node Controller
The ATSAMC21G15A-MNT is an ideal CAN-FD node controller in industrial automation networks, with its hardware ISO 11898-1:2015 CAN-FD controller supporting data rates up to 8 Mbps. With 5V tolerant I/O, it directly interfaces to industrial 24V-bus-derived rails and 5V sensor networks without level shifters, simplifying the BOM. The 32 KB Flash accommodates CANopen or DeviceNet protocol stacks alongside the application code, while 4 KB SRAM provides headroom for protocol buffers. The 48 MHz Cortex-M0+ core deterministically handles 1 ms control loops typical of PLCs and distributed I/O modules. Functional safety peripherals (windowed watchdog, CRC) support IEC 61131-3 industrial control standards. Operating from -40C to +105C, it meets industrial cabinet temperature requirements without derating.
Recommended
BLDC and PMSM Motor Control
The ATSAMC21G15A-MNT drives small BLDC and PMSM motors using its integrated PTC, 12-bit ADC, and 16-bit PWM timers suitable for trapezoidal and basic sinusoidal commutation. The 48 MHz Cortex-M0+ core executes field-oriented control (FOC) loops with reasonable overhead at motor speeds up to several thousand RPM. With 5V tolerant I/O, it directly interfaces to gate drivers like the MCP8024 or IRS2003, eliminating level shifting in the power stage. The 32 KB Flash holds motor state-machine and tuning parameters, while the 1 KB data EEPROM stores calibration values that survive power cycles. The compact 7x7 mm QFN footprint suits fan, pump, and small appliance motor controllers.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch User Interface
The ATSAMC21G15A-MNT integrates Microchip's Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC), enabling robust capacitive buttons, sliders, and wheels without external touch ICs. Mutual-capacitance sensing supports waterproof designs and proximity wake-up on white goods, while self-capacitance supports simpler low-cost panels. The PTC offloads acquisition from the Cortex-M0+ core, leaving 48 MHz cycles for application logic and HMI animation. QTouch firmware libraries from Microchip integrate directly with Atmel Studio or MPLAB X toolchains. With 5V tolerant GPIO, the device interfaces to LED backlight drivers and LCD segment displays directly. Typical applications include induction cooktops, washing machine control panels, and smart thermostats requiring IEC 60730 Class B functional safety compliance.
Recommended
HVAC Climate Control
The ATSAMC21G15A-MNT suits HVAC climate control modules including thermostats, fan coil controllers, and zone dampers. Its 5V tolerant I/O reads analog temperature sensors and triac-fired loads without external conditioning, while 12-bit ADC resolution covers typical NTC10K and RTD thermistor conditioning circuits. The CAN-FD peripheral allows networked HVAC installations communicating with a central building management system. Functional safety peripherals help satisfy IEC 60730 Class B requirements for over-temperature protection in domestic HVAC equipment. With 32 KB Flash, firmware can implement PID control loops, scheduler logic, and LCD UI without external memory. Industrial temperature grade -40C to +105C covers mechanical rooms and unconditioned plant areas.
Recommended
Smart Energy Metering
The ATSAMC21G15A-MNT serves as the measurement and communication engine in single-phase smart electricity, gas, and water meters. Its 12-bit ADC at high sample rates captures current transformer (CT) and shunt-derived voltage signals with sufficient resolution for Class 1 revenue metering when paired with calibration. CAN-FD or serial SERCOM channels deliver data to concentrators or directly to utility AMI networks. The 1 KB data EEPROM retains tariff tables and logged events through power outages, while RTC with battery backup preserves time-of-use schedules. Low standby current below 1 uA extends battery life in gas and water meter deployments. IEC 60730 Class B functional safety compliance is supported by the windowed watchdog and on-chip CRC.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics
The ATSAMC21G15A-MNT fits automotive body modules such as seat controllers, mirror adjusters, interior lighting, and HVAC blend door actuators. Its 5V I/O tolerance handles 12V battery transients when paired with proper TVS protection, and CAN-FD connectivity integrates into modern vehicle network architectures. Operating up to +105C, the device withstands under-dash thermal environments. Although not AEC-Q100 qualified, it is widely used in non-safety automotive body applications where reliability metrics are dominated by commercial-grade stress testing. The 32 KB Flash hosts LIN slave stacks, CAN-FD handling, and PWM generation for motor and LED control, while the small QFN package suits space-constrained module enclosures behind dashboards.
Recommended
Small Home Appliance Control
The ATSAMC21G15A-MNT targets small home appliances including coffee machines, blenders, air purifiers, and robotic vacuums. The Cortex-M0+ core at 48 MHz provides ample cycles for sensor fusion, motor control, and BLE-managed wireless integration. The PTC peripheral supports capacitive control panels common in modern kitchen appliances, while 5V GPIO directly drives relay coils and triac interfaces for AC loads. With IEC 60730 Class B functional safety features, the device supports over-temperature and over-current protection required by safety regulations for heating appliances. The 32 KB Flash accommodates Wi-Fi/BLE stack fragments and cloud-connectivity code through SERCOM-attached modules like the ATWINC1500.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMC21G15A-MNT β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMC21G15A-AUT | ATSAMC21E15A-MNT | ATSAMC21E16A-MNT | ATSAMC21G15A-MUT | ATSAMC21E17A-AUT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) | 48-TQFP | 48-QFN (7x7) - same | 48-QFN (7x7) - same | 48-QFN (7x7) - same | 48-TQFP |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ |
| Maximum Frequency | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz |
| Flash | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB | 128 KB |
| SRAM | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 6 KB | 4 KB | 16 KB |
| CAN-FD | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Operating Voltage | 2.7V - 5.5V | 2.7V - 5.5V | 2.7V - 5.5V | 2.7V - 5.5V | 2.7V - 5.5V | 2.7V - 5.5V |
| Temperature Range | -40C to +105C | -40C to +105C | -40C to +105C | -40C to +105C | -40C to +105C | -40C to +105C |
Key Differentiators
- 5V tolerant I/O across the entire MCU (vs STM32G030K8T6 (3.3V only))
- Integrated CAN-FD controller (vs PIC16F18877-I/PT)
- QFN package availability with small footprint (vs ATSAMC21E15A-MUT (same family))
Design Notes
The QFN-48 package exposes a thermal pad that MUST be soldered to a PCB copper pour of at least the package footprint area (7x7 mm minimum), with multiple thermal vias to inner copper planes. Without proper thermal pad soldering, the package can crack under PCB flexure during reflow or in-field temperature cycling, and junction-to-ambient thermal resistance increases dramatically, causing the device to throttle under sustained computational load.
Decouple VDD and VDDIO with 100 nF X7R ceramic capacitors placed within 3 mm of each supply pin, plus a single 4.7 uF bulk capacitor per supply rail. According to SAM C21 datasheet layout guidelines, separated VDD and VDDIO planes reduce digital switching noise coupling into the analog ADC reference. Add a ferrite bead between VDD and VDDIO if RF immunity is required for the application.
Do not exceed the absolute maximum 5.5V on VDD or any GPIO pin - the 5V tolerance means logic HIGH is guaranteed at 5V input, but overvoltage spikes can permanently damage the ESD cells. Always include a TVS diode array on external connector pins exposed to ESD (per IEC 61000-4-2). Also avoid leaving unused GPIO floating - configure as outputs with known state or enable internal pull-down to minimize current leakage in Sleep mode.
Keep the SWD/SWCK trace pair length-matched within 50 mil and avoid routing near high-frequency switching signals such as PWM outputs above 1 MHz. According to ARM CoreSight documentation, the SWD interface is single-ended but susceptible to noise-induced debug failures; place a 100 ohm series resistor near the SWDIO pin to dampen ringing when using long debug cables. Reserve a small area near the SWD header for a Tag-Connect or ARM 10-pin debug connector footprint.
The 12-bit ADC achieves best performance when its reference voltage is sourced from a low-noise LDO (such as Microchip MCP1700) rather than directly from VDD. Per SAM C21 datasheet, ADC INL improves by up to 1 LSB when the reference is decoupled with a separate 100 nF and 10 uF capacitor pair. Route ADC traces as short microstrip with a ground pour underneath to minimize coupled noise from adjacent digital lines.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant and halogen-free per Microchip material declaration. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; suitable for industrial and commercial-grade designs. AEC-Q100 variants of the SAM C21 family are available as ATSAMC21xxx-MFxxx with explicit automotive grade designation.
