ATSAMD20E16A-AUT - ARM Cortex-M0+ 48MHz 64KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: ATSAMD20E16A-AUT β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.26 | $2.26 |
| 10 | $2.04 | $20.40 |
| 100 | $1.81 | $181.00 |
| 500 | $1.62 | $810.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.44 | $1,440.00 |
ATSAMD20E16A-AUT Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, memory (Flash for code, SRAM for data), and programmable peripherals. The ARM Cortex-M0+ is a 32-bit processor core optimized for energy efficiency and deterministic interrupt response, sitting within the ARM Cortex-M family hierarchy. The SAM D20E line is a sub-family of Microchip's SAM family, a broader portfolio that includes Cortex-M0+, M3, M4, and M7 variants. Within power-management ICs and embedded processors, the SAM D20E serves as a low-power general-purpose controller bridging 8-bit AVR/PIC designs to 32-bit ARM.
Key features include up to 48 MHz CPU clock, 64 KB Flash / 8 KB SRAM, six SERCOM (serial communication) interfaces configurable as UART/SPI/I2C, a 12-bit ADC up to 350 ksps, a 10-bit DAC, and full-speed USB 2.0 device support on selected variants. Peripherals also include six 16-bit timer/counters, an RTC, and a peripheral event system. Multiple sleep modes (IDLE, STANDBY, BACKUP) keep active current low for battery-driven products.
The device integrates a 2-channel DMA controller and uses Microchip's Atmel START / MPLAB X / Harmony code-generation framework. The Cortex-M0+ core uses the Thumb-2 instruction subset and offers single-cycle I/O access for deterministic GPIO toggling, important for LED control, sensor readout, and motor signaling loops.
Typical applications include home automation sensor nodes, smart metering endpoints, IoT edge nodes, low-power consumer devices, industrial sensor conditioning, and human-machine interface (HMI) controllers. The 32-pin TQFP footprint is compact enough for space-constrained designs yet large enough for hand-solderable prototyping.
When designing, choose between 1.8V, 2.5V, and 3.3V operation by selecting the appropriate regulator mode; decouple VDDCORE and VDDIO with 100 nF X7R ceramics placed within 3 mm of each pin. Unused SERCOM pads should be left floating or terminated to avoid current leakage.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, same-family drop-in alternatives, and practical engineering notes that supplement the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMD20E16A-AUT 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 ATSAMD20E16A-AUT (same form factor and footprint) β differing in ADC, SRAM, Flash Memory, Timers, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMD20E15A-AUT
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD20E14A-AUT
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD20E15B-AUT
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2.52 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMD20E14B-AUT
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$1.21 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMC20E16A-AUT
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$1.96 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMC20E15A-AUT
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD21E16A-AUT
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD20E16A-AUT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | ARM Cortex-M0+ |
| CPU Architecture | 32-bit RISC (Thumb-2 subset) |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 64 KB |
| SRAM | 8 KB |
| Package | 32-pin TQFP (7x7 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Voltage | 1.62 V to 3.63 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 350 ksps |
| DAC | 10-bit |
| Serial Communication | 6x SERCOM (UART/SPI/I2C configurable) |
| Timers | 6x 16-bit TC |
| DMA | 2-channel |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | 3 (168 hours) |
ATSAMD20E16A-AUT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PA03 β General-purpose I/O / ADC AIN1 / VREFA reference |
| Pin 2 | PA04 β General-purpose I/O / ADC AIN2 / VREFB reference |
| Pin 3 | PA05 β General-purpose I/O / ADC AIN3 |
| Pin 4 | PA06 β General-purpose I/O / ADC AIN4 |
| Pin 5 | PA07 β General-purpose I/O / ADC AIN5 |
| Pin 6 | VDDIN β Main supply input (1.62V-3.63V) |
| Pin 7 | VSS β Ground |
| Pin 8 | VDDOUT β Internal regulator output (decouple with 1uF) |
| Pin 9 | PA09 β General-purpose I/O / I2S MCK0 |
| Pin 10 | PA10 β General-purpose I/O / I2S SCK0 |
| Pin 11 | PA11 β General-purpose I/O / I2S FS0 |
| Pin 12 | PA14 β General-purpose I/O (XIN secondary) |
| Pin 13 | PA15 β General-purpose I/O (XOUT secondary) |
| Pin 14 | PA16 β General-purpose I/O / SERCOM1 PAD0 |
| Pin 15 | PA17 β General-purpose I/O / SERCOM1 PAD1 |
| Pin 16 | PA18 β General-purpose I/O / SERCOM1 PAD2 |
| Pin 17 | PA19 β General-purpose I/O / SERCOM1 PAD3 |
| Pin 18 | PA20 β General-purpose I/O / SERCOM3 PAD0 |
| Pin 19 | PA21 β General-purpose I/O / SERCOM3 PAD1 |
| Pin 20 | PA22 β General-purpose I/O / SERCOM3 PAD2 |
| Pin 21 | PA23 β General-purpose I/O / SERCOM3 PAD3 |
| Pin 22 | PA24 β General-purpose I/O / USB D- (selected variants) |
| Pin 23 | PA25 β General-purpose I/O / USB D+ (selected variants) |
| Pin 24 | PA27 β General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 25 | RESETN β Reset input, active low |
| Pin 26 | PA30 β General-purpose I/O / SWCLK (programming) |
| Pin 27 | PA31 β General-purpose I/O / SWDIO (programming) |
| Pin 28 | VDDIO β I/O supply input |
| Pin 29 | VSS β Ground |
| Pin 30 | PB02 β General-purpose I/O / ADC AIN10 |
| Pin 31 | PB03 β General-purpose I/O / ADC AIN11 |
| Pin 32 | PB08 β General-purpose I/O |
Typical Applications
ATSAMD20E16A-AUT is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Smart Home Automation Controller, Industrial Sensor Conditioning, Consumer Wearable Device, Smart Metering Endpoint, Human-Machine Interface Controller, Low-Cost Hobbyist / Maker Board.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The ATSAMD20E16A-AUT fits battery-powered IoT sensor nodes because it consumes approximately 90 uA/MHz active and drops below 5 uA in STANDBY with RTC running, enabling multi-year coin-cell operation. Its 64 KB Flash accommodates over-the-air firmware update bootloaders while 8 KB SRAM buffers sensor bursts. The Cortex-M0+ core deterministically wakes on RTC compare match, reads temperature/humidity sensors via I2C, posts results over UART, then returns to sleep. With six SERCOM channels configurable as UART/SPI/I2C, the part scales from single-sensor motes to multi-sensor hubs without external glue logic.
Recommended
Smart Home Automation Controller
The ATSAMD20E16A-AUT is well matched to smart home automation controllers where compact code, low standby power, and multiple serial interfaces drive the BOM. With 6 configurable SERCOM channels, a single MCU drives UART-modulated HVAC controls, SPI-controlled lighting ICs, and I2C-attached touch panels. The 12-bit ADC reads thermistor inputs for thermostat feedback, while the 10-bit DAC drives analog dimming channels. Operating from 1.62 V to 3.63 V, the part runs directly from 3.3V LDO rails common in wall-powered smart switches and remotes, eliminating dual-supply complexity.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Conditioning
For industrial sensor conditioning boards the ATSAMD20E16A-AUT brings ARM Cortex-M0+ processing to 4-20 mA loop interfaces and bridge sensors. The 12-bit ADC at up to 350 ksps oversamples bridge outputs to deliver effective 14-bit resolution when paired with a digital filter in firmware. Six 16-bit timer/counters generate PWM drive signals for proportional valves, while the peripheral event system routes ADC complete events to DMA without CPU wake-up. The industrial operating range of -40 C to +85 C suits factory-floor cabinets and outdoor metering enclosures.
Recommended
Consumer Wearable Device
Consumer wearables benefit from the ATSAMD20E16A-AUT because the small 32-TQFP footprint fits wrist-form-factor PCBs while leaving room for battery and BLE module. The Cortex-M0+ core wakes on accelerometer interrupts from an external SPI sensor, samples heart rate via I2C ADC, drives a small OLED over SPI, and returns to STANDBY within microseconds. With 64 KB Flash it accommodates Bluetooth Low Energy profiles, custom UI state machines, and persistent storage wear-levelling code, all within a single low-cost part.
Recommended
Smart Metering Endpoint
In smart metering endpoints such as electricity, gas, or water meters, the ATSAMD20E16A-AUT serves as a low-power metering engine. Its 12-bit ADC measures voltage and current sensors with sufficient resolution for class 1 accuracy meters, while the RTC tracks time-of-use tariffs for billing calculations. The 64 KB Flash stores calibration coefficients and rolling consumption logs, with the event system triggering metrology calculations without CPU overhead. Operating from 3.3V, it pairs directly with lithium battery backup rails.
Recommended
Human-Machine Interface Controller
The ATSAMD20E16A-AUT drives HMI panels where capacitive touch, LED indication, and small displays are coordinated. Up to six SERCOM channels handle SPI displays, I2C capacitive touch controllers, and UART-modulated communication to a main processor. The 10-bit DAC drives analog contrast or backlight brightness control, while PWM outputs from the 16-bit timers smoothly fade LED indicators. With its 48 MHz Cortex-M0+ core, the MCU updates graphical elements without visible lag, and the 64 KB Flash holds custom fonts, animation sequences, and menu logic.
Recommended
Low-Cost Hobbyist / Maker Board
Maker boards and Arduino-derived designs widely adopt the ATSAMD20E16A-AUT because the 32-TQFP package is hand-solderable while the ARM Cortex-M0+ core brings 32-bit performance to a hobbyist budget. The part is supported by the Arduino Zero bootloader, CircuitPython, and Microchip's MPLAB X with Harmony code generation. With 64 KB Flash and 8 KB SRAM, the chip comfortably runs user sketches, USB device stacks (via the bootloader), and peripheral driver libraries without external memory expansion.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMD20E16A-AUT β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMD20E15A-AUT | ATSAMD20E14A-AUT | ATSAMC20E16A-AUT | ATSAMD21E16A-AUT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 32-TQFP (7x7) | 32-TQFP (7x7) - same | 32-TQFP (7x7) - same | 32-TQFP (7x7) - same | 32-TQFP (7x7) - same |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ w/ CAN-FD | ARM Cortex-M0+ w/ USB 2.0 |
| Flash | 64 KB | 32 KB (-50%) | 16 KB (-75%) | 64 KB (same) | 64 KB (same) |
| SRAM | 8 KB | 4 KB | 2 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB |
| Max Clock | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz |
| USB 2.0 | No | No | No | No | Yes (Full Speed) |
| CAN-FD | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| ADC | 12-bit, 350 ksps | 12-bit, 350 ksps | 12-bit, 350 ksps | 12-bit, 350 ksps | 12-bit, 350 ksps |
Key Differentiators
- Largest Flash in same-family D20E line on the 32-TQFP (vs ATSAMD20E15A-AUT)
- Mature SAM D20 peripheral event system and code ecosystem (vs ATSAMC20E16A-AUT)
- USB-less variant reduces BOM and pin count (vs ATSAMD21E16A-AUT)
Design Notes
The ATSAMD20E16A-AUT operates from 1.62 V to 3.63 V on VDDIN, but VDDIO can be supplied independently to allow 1.8V peripherals while the core runs at 3.3V. Decouple each VDD pin with a 100 nF X7R ceramic placed within 3 mm of the pin, and add a 4.7 uF bulk capacitor near VDDOUT to stabilize the internal 1.2V regulator. Avoid switching the regulator between high-power and low-power modes without a 1 ms settling window or peripheral register access can glitch.
Place the 32-TQFP on a 7x7 mm land pattern with 0.8 mm pitch. Keep all four-corner ground stitching vias within 5 mm of the package to provide a low-impedance return path for high-speed SERCOM signals. Route SERCOM differential pairs (when used for USB or CAN on D21/C20 variants) with 90 ohm differential impedance, and avoid routing adjacent to noisy switching regulator traces to prevent crosstalk into the 12-bit ADC inputs.
Do not leave unused SERCOM pads floating - either configure them as outputs driven low or as inputs with internal pull enabled, otherwise the floating CMOS inputs can draw hundreds of microamps from leakage. The Cortex-M0+ NMIs are maskable only at the NMI controller level; ensure the watchdog is configured before enabling interrupts in production firmware. When migrating from D20 to D21/C20 silicon, verify that pin PA24/PA25 are correctly remapped for USB or CAN, as these peripherals are unavailable on the D20E family.
The ATSAMD20E16A-AUT draws approximately 90 uA/MHz active and less than 5 uA in STANDBY. Estimated: at 48 MHz active duty cycle, average consumption reaches roughly 4.3 mA, well below thermal limits. For applications exceeding 70 MHz equivalent duty cycle, validate junction temperature by measuring VDDIO supply current at the 1.8V/3.3V rail rather than relying on calculated estimates, since internal switching losses dominate at high GPIO toggle rates.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. AEC-Q100 not qualified for automotive - use ATSAM D20 automotive-grade variants if needed.
