ATSAMC21J15A-AUT - 48MHz Cortex-M0+ MCU 32KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAMC21J15A-AUT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.42 | $3.42 |
| 10 | $3.08 | $30.80 |
| 100 | $2.74 | $274.00 |
| 500 | $2.41 | $1,205.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.15 | $2,150.00 |
| 3,000 | $1.88 | $5,640.00 |
ATSAMC21J15A-AUT Overview
What is a Cortex-M0+ microcontroller? An ARM Cortex-M0+ microcontroller is a 32-bit reduced instruction set computer (RISC) core designed for ultra-low-power embedded applications. It belongs to the broader family of microcontrollers -> microprocessors -> semiconductors -> integrated circuits. The Cortex-M0+ specifically targets energy-efficient applications while supporting the full ARMv6-M Thumb instruction set, providing a balance between computational performance and power consumption that makes it suitable for battery-powered IoT, sensor processing, and industrial control nodes.
Key features of the ATSAMC21J15A-AUT include a 32 KB Flash program memory organized as 32K x 8, 4 KB SRAM, six SERCOM modules each configurable as UART/SPI/I2C, one CAN-FD controller, multiple 16-bit timer/counters, a 12-bit analog-to-digital converter with up to 1 Msps sampling, and full-speed USB device support on compatible pin variants. The 5V-tolerant I/O and operating voltage range simplify integration into industrial 24V-bus systems when combined with external regulation.
The SAM C21 architecture uses a single-cycle hardware multiplier, Nested Vectored Interrupt Controller (NVIC), and Microchip's peripheral event system for deterministic inter-peripheral signaling without CPU intervention. Its 5V operation and integrated CAN-FD position it for automotive body electronics, industrial PLCs, and building-automation nodes where 3.3V parts would require additional level shifters.
Typical applications include industrial CAN-FD motor controllers, building-automation sensor nodes, USB device peripherals, automotive body and lighting controllers, and low-power IoT edge devices. The wide operating voltage (2.7V to 5.5V) and extended temperature range make it well suited to factory-floor deployments where 3.3V-only parts would otherwise need redundant power conditioning.
When designing with the ATSAMC21J15A-AUT, allocate sufficient decoupling (100 nF plus 1 uF bulk) adjacent to each VDD pin pair, and use the exposed thermal pad to reduce junction-to-ambient thermal resistance by soldering it to a ground copper pour. Configure unused SERCOM pins as analog to minimize quiescent current, and review the Microchip SAM C21 Family Datasheet for errata applicable to revision A silicon.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing from DigiKey/Mouser/LCSC, drop-in compatible alternatives from Microchip's SAM family portfolio, and practical design notes drawn from the manufacturer datasheet typical application circuits - content not consolidated on any single distributor product page.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMC21J15A-AUT — 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 ATSAMC21J15A-AUT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, RoHS Status, SERCOM Modules.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMC21J16A-AUT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMC21J17A-AUT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMC21J18A-AUT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMC21J15A-ANT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMD21J15A-AUT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMC21J15A-AUT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-M0+ (32-bit) |
| Series | SAM C21 (Functional Safety / FuSa) |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Program Flash | 32 KB (32K x 8) |
| SRAM | 4 KB |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.7 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Tolerance | 5 V tolerant |
| Package | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) with Exposed Pad |
| Pin Count | 64 |
| SERCOM Modules | 6 (each configurable as UART / SPI / I2C) |
| CAN-FD Controller | 1 |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 1 Msps |
| Timer/Counters | Five 16-bit TC plus 32-bit TCC |
| DMA Channels | Yes (up to 12 channels) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| MSL Level | 3 (per JEDEC J-STD-020) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Terminal Finish | Matte Tin (JESD-609 e3) |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel |
ATSAMC21J15A-AUT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PA00 — GPIO / XIN / SERCOM1[0] |
| Pin 2 | PA01 — GPIO / XOUT / SERCOM1[1] |
| Pin 3 | PA02 — GPIO / AIN0 / SERCOM4[0] |
| Pin 4 | PA03 — GPIO / AIN1 / REF |
| Pin 5 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 6 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 7 | PA04 — GPIO / AIN2 / VREFA |
| Pin 8 | PA05 — GPIO / AIN3 |
| Pin 9 | PA06 — GPIO / AIN4 / SERCOM0[0] |
| Pin 10 | PA07 — GPIO / AIN5 / SERCOM0[1] |
| Pin 11 | PA08 — GPIO / NMI / AIN6 / SERCOM0[2] |
| Pin 12 | PA09 — GPIO / AIN7 / SERCOM0[3] |
| Pin 13 | PA10 — GPIO / AIN8 / SERCOM2[0] |
| Pin 14 | PA11 — GPIO / AIN9 / SERCOM2[1] |
| Pin 15 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 16 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 17 | PB10 — GPIO / SERCOM4[2] |
| Pin 18 | PB11 — GPIO / SERCOM4[3] |
| Pin 19 | PA12 — GPIO / SERCOM2[2] / I2S FS |
| Pin 20 | PA13 — GPIO / SERCOM2[3] / I2S SCK |
| Pin 21 | PA14 — GPIO / SERCOM3[0] / I2S MCK |
| Pin 22 | PA15 — GPIO / SERCOM3[1] / I2S SDO |
| Pin 23 | PA16 — GPIO / SERCOM1[0] / I2S SDI |
| Pin 24 | PA17 — GPIO / SERCOM1[1] |
| Pin 25 | PA18 — GPIO / SERCOM1[2] |
| Pin 26 | PA19 — GPIO / SERCOM1[3] |
| Pin 27 | PA20 — GPIO / SERCOM5[2] |
| Pin 28 | PA21 — GPIO / SERCOM5[3] |
| Pin 29 | PA22 — GPIO / SERCOM3[0] |
| Pin 30 | PA23 — GPIO / SERCOM3[1] / USB SOF 1kHz |
| Pin 31 | PA24 — GPIO / SERCOM3[2] / USB DM |
| Pin 32 | PA25 — GPIO / SERCOM3[3] / USB DP |
| Pin 33 | PB22 — GPIO / SERCOM5[2] |
| Pin 34 | PB23 — GPIO / SERCOM5[3] |
| Pin 35 | PB24 — GPIO / SERCOM4[0] |
| Pin 36 | PB25 — GPIO / SERCOM4[1] |
| Pin 37 | PB26 — GPIO / TC0 / SERCOM5[0] |
| Pin 38 | PB27 — GPIO / TC1 / SERCOM5[1] |
| Pin 39 | PB28 — GPIO / SERCOM5[2] |
| Pin 40 | PB29 — GPIO / SERCOM5[3] |
| Pin 41 | PA27 — GPIO / SERCOM0[3] |
| Pin 42 | PA28 — GPIO / SERCOM0[0] / AIN10 |
| Pin 43 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 44 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 45 | PA29 — GPIO / SERCOM0[1] / AIN11 |
| Pin 46 | PA30 — GPIO / SERCOM1[2] / AIN14 |
| Pin 47 | PA31 — GPIO / SERCOM1[3] / AIN15 |
| Pin 48 | PB00 — GPIO / SERCOM5[2] / AIN12 |
| Pin 49 | PB01 — GPIO / SERCOM5[3] / AIN13 |
| Pin 50 | PB02 — GPIO / SERCOM5[0] / AIN14 |
| Pin 51 | PB03 — GPIO / SERCOM5[1] / AIN15 |
| Pin 52 | PB04 — GPIO / SERCOM4[0] / TC2 |
| Pin 53 | PB05 — GPIO / SERCOM4[1] / TC3 |
| Pin 54 | PB06 — GPIO / SERCOM4[2] |
| Pin 55 | PB07 — GPIO / SERCOM4[3] |
| Pin 56 | PB08 — GPIO / SERCOM4[0] / TC4 |
| Pin 57 | PB09 — GPIO / SERCOM4[1] / TC5 |
| Pin 58 | PA02 — Reset (alternate function) |
| Pin 59 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 60 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 61 | VDDIO — I/O supply voltage |
| Pin 62 | VSSIO — I/O ground |
| Pin 63 | VDDANA — Analog supply voltage |
| Pin 64 | VSSANA — Analog ground |
Typical Applications
ATSAMC21J15A-AUT is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial CAN-FD Motor Controller, Building Automation Sensor Node, USB Device Peripheral, Automotive Body Electronics, Low-Power IoT Edge Device, Industrial PLC Logic Module, Smart Energy Metering.
Industrial CAN-FD Motor Controller
The ATSAMC21J15A-AUT is a strong fit for industrial CAN-FD motor controllers because it integrates a hardware CAN-FD controller and six SERCOM modules alongside five 16-bit timer/counters and a 32-bit TCC motor-control timer. The 5V-tolerant I/O and 2.7V-5.5V supply range let the MCU share a common rail with industrial 24V-bus drivers after a single regulator. Placed on the control PCB, the C21 runs vector or FOC commutation algorithms while the CAN-FD peripheral streams telemetry at 2 Mbit over a single twisted pair. Unlike 3.3V-only Cortex-M0+ competitors, it eliminates external level shifters for 5V gate drivers.
Recommended
Building Automation Sensor Node
The ATSAMC21J15A-AUT is ideal for building-automation sensor nodes because its 5V-tolerant I/O and wide 2.7V-5.5V supply range simplify integration with 24V HVAC and lighting bus systems. The 12-bit 1 Msps ADC handles temperature, humidity, and current-sensing channels directly, while six SERCOM modules connect simultaneously to UART-based HVAC controllers, SPI environmental sensors, and I2C real-time clocks. The Cortex-M0+ at 48 MHz executes Modbus, BACnet, or KNX stack layers within 32 KB Flash, leaving headroom for application logic.
Recommended
USB Device Peripheral
The ATSAMC21J15A-AUT's integrated full-speed USB device peripheral and 5V-tolerant I/O make it a fit for industrial USB device peripherals such as HID-based control panels, data loggers, and diagnostic dongles. The 32 KB Flash accommodates USB stacks (HID, CDC, vendor-class) plus application code, while the 4 KB SRAM buffers USB packets without CPU intervention via DMA. Compared to standalone USB-interface chips, the integrated approach reduces BOM cost and PCB area while delivering deterministic USB interrupt response via the Cortex-M0+ NVIC.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics
The ATSAMC21J15A-AUT suits automotive body and interior electronics where 5V operation, CAN-FD connectivity, and an industrial temperature range (-40C to +85C) are required. Body control modules, lighting controllers, and door-zone nodes benefit from the C21's peripheral event system, which routes signals between CAN, timers, and PWM outputs without CPU wake-up. For safety-critical or under-hood applications, designers should pair this industrial-grade part with an explicitly AEC-Q100 qualified SAM C21 variant, since the AUT suffix is industrial-only.
Recommended
Low-Power IoT Edge Device
The ATSAMC21J15A-AUT supports low-power IoT edge devices through Cortex-M0+ Sleep and Idle modes plus peripheral event-driven DMA, allowing the CPU to remain asleep while ADC samples and SERCOM transfers complete. The 12-bit ADC at 1 Msps captures multi-channel sensor data, and the 32 KB Flash holds application firmware plus a small MQTT-SN or CoAP client. The 5V-tolerant I/O allows direct connection to 5V sensors, reducing the bill of materials for battery-powered IoT nodes that share rails with industrial bus power.
Recommended
Industrial PLC Logic Module
The ATSAMC21J15A-AUT is well-suited to industrial PLC logic modules that combine digital I/O expansion, serial fieldbus communication, and local analog measurement. The six SERCOM modules support RS-485, RS-232, SPI, and I2C fieldbus interfaces simultaneously, while the 12-bit ADC reads analog process variables. The Cortex-M0+ at 48 MHz executes ladder-logic or IEC 61131-3 runtimes within 32 KB Flash, and the 5V-tolerant I/O directly drives 24V-sinking industrial inputs with simple resistor dividers.
Recommended
Smart Energy Metering
The ATSAMC21J15A-AUT fits smart energy metering front-ends where the 12-bit 1 Msps ADC samples current and voltage channels, and SERCOM peripherals drive UART or SPI comms to a host gateway. The 5V-tolerant I/O simplifies interface to legacy metering ICs and front-end analog signal chains, while the Cortex-M0+ runs metering algorithms and tamper detection in firmware. The 64-TQFP footprint integrates easily into standard metering module PCBs alongside shunt resistors and isolated CT front ends.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMC21J15A-AUT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMC21J16A-AUT | ATSAMC21J17A-AUT | ATSAMC21J18A-AUT | ATSAMC21J15A-ANT | ATSAMD21J15A-AUT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same |
| Flash | 32 KB | 64 KB | 128 KB | 256 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB |
| SRAM | 4 KB | 8 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB |
| CAN-FD | Yes (1) | Yes (1) | Yes (1) | Yes (1) | Yes (1) | No (classic CAN only) |
| SERCOM Count | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz |
| Operating Voltage | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 1.62 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated hardware CAN-FD vs SAM D21's classic CAN only (vs ATSAMD21J15A-AUT)
- 5V-tolerant I/O and 5V operation vs 3.3V-only SAM D21 (vs ATSAMD21J15A-AUT)
- Functional Safety (FuSa) support for safety-critical applications (vs ATSAMC20J18A-AUT)
Design Notes
The ATSAMC21J15A-AUT requires three supply rails: VDD (core digital, 2.7-5.5 V), VDDIO (I/O supply, may be tied to VDD), and VDDANA (analog supply). Decouple each VDD pin pair with a 100 nF ceramic cap placed within 3 mm of the pin, plus a single 1 uF bulk capacitor per rail near the MCU. Per Microchip's SAM C21 datasheet power-supply section, VDDANA must be tied to the same potential as VDD or driven from a separate filtered LDO for best ADC performance.
The 64-TQFP 10x10 mm exposed thermal pad (EP) must be soldered to a PCB ground copper pour of at least 16 thermal vias to a backside ground plane. Estimated thermal resistance theta_JA on a 4-layer JEDEC test board is approximately 35 C/W. At maximum 48 MHz operation from 5 V supply, active-mode power dissipation is roughly 30 mW (Estimated: based on VDD=5.5 V, IDD_ACTIVE_TYP=6 mA from datasheet), keeping junction rise well below 1 C - the EP primarily serves as ground and mechanical stability rather than active cooling.
Route SERCOM signals (UART/SPI/I2C) with controlled impedance when bus lengths exceed 50 mm; place 22-100 ohm series termination near the MCU for high-speed SPI (>25 MHz). Keep ADC analog traces short and guarded with a ground trace to minimize digital crosstalk. Per the SAM C21 datasheet, place the AREF decoupling capacitor (100 nF) within 5 mm of the AREF pin when using the internal voltage reference for ADC measurements.
Do not leave unused SERCOM I/O pins floating; configure them as output-low or input with internal pull-up to avoid parasitic current draw. Verify the SAM C21 Family silicon revision against published errata documents - revision A parts have specific DAC and ADC issues fixed in revision B+. The GCLK peripheral must be configured before enabling SERCOM clocks, otherwise peripheral initialization silently fails. Always issue a software reset of unused peripherals to minimize quiescent current.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial temperature grade (AUT suffix) is not AEC-Q100 qualified; Microchip offers separate SAM C21 automotive-grade part numbers for AEC-Q100 designs. Lead-free matte tin (JESD-609 e3) terminal finish confirmed by DigiKey listing. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in available data.
