ATSAMD20E16B-AUT - 48MHz Cortex-M0+ MCU 64KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAMD20E16B-AUT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.95 | $3.95 |
| 10 | $3.55 | $35.50 |
| 100 | $3.1 | $310.00 |
| 500 | $2.75 | $1,375.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.45 | $2,450.00 |
ATSAMD20E16B-AUT Overview
What is a Cortex-M0+ microcontroller? A microcontroller unit (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, memory, and peripherals. The ARM Cortex-M0+ is the most energy-efficient core in the Cortex-M family, designed for 32-bit performance at minimal power and cost. MCUs sit within the embedded-computing hierarchy alongside microprocessors, FPGAs, and DSPs, and form the decision-making brain of nearly every connected sensor node, consumer appliance, and industrial control loop.
Key features of the ATSAMD20E16B-AUT include: six SERCOM channels configurable as UART, SPI, or I2C, an Event System for hardware-triggered inter-peripheral signalling, SleepWalking peripherals that wake the CPU only on relevant events, and full-speed USB device via the integrated USB 2.0 Full-Speed controller. The 12-bit ADC offers up to 16 channels and the PTC supports up to 256 mutual-capacitance touch buttons without external components.
Architecture-wise, the device combines a two-wire SERCOM-based interconnect, a single-cycle multiplier and a 4-channel DMA controller that offloads memory-to-peripheral transfers, freeing the Cortex-M0+ core for application code. The embedded voltage regulator and power-on reset reduce external component count.
Typical applications include home-automation sensor hubs, low-power consumer devices, smart metering, capacitive touch user interfaces, industrial sensor nodes, and battery-powered IoT endpoints. The integrated USB and touch peripherals specifically suit HIDs, USB-CDC bridges, and white-goods control panels.
Design consideration: the internal 1.62 V regulator requires a 1 uF decoupling capacitor on VDDIN and a 1 uF on VDDANA; bypassing both with a 100 nF high-frequency cap prevents ADC reference noise during SERCOM bursts.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, parametric comparison, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found on the manufacturer product page alone.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMD20E16B-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 ATSAMD20E16B-AUT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, DAC, SRAM, Core, Flash Memory.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMD20E15B-AUT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.52 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMD20E14B-AUT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.21 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMD20E18B-AUT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD20E16B-AU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.84 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMD20E16A-AUT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.44 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMD20E16B-AUT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-M0+ (32-bit) |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 64 KB (64K x 8) |
| SRAM | 8 KB |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.62 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 350 ksps |
| DAC | 10-bit, 350 ksps |
| SERCOM Modules | 6 (configurable UART/SPI/I2C) |
| Timers | 16-bit TC, RTC |
| Touch Controller (PTC) | 256-channel mutual-capacitance |
| DMA Channels | 4 |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed Device |
| Package | 32-TQFP (7x7 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 3 (168 hours) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
ATSAMD20E16B-AUT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PA00 — XTAL1 / GPIO / SERCOM1[0] |
| Pin 2 | PA01 — XTAL2 / GPIO / SERCOM1[1] |
| Pin 3 | PA02 — GPIO / AIN[0] / SERCOM0[0] |
| Pin 4 | PA03 — GPIO / AIN[1] / VREFA / SERCOM0[1] |
| Pin 5 | PA04 — GPIO / AIN[2] / SERCOM0[2] |
| Pin 6 | PA05 — GPIO / AIN[3] / SERCOM0[3] |
| Pin 7 | PA06 — GPIO / AIN[4] / SERCOM0[4] |
| Pin 8 | PA07 — GPIO / AIN[5] / SERCOM0[5] |
| Pin 9 | VDDANA — Analog supply voltage |
| Pin 10 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 11 | PA08 — GPIO / AIN[6] / SERCOM2[0] / PTC[Y8] |
| Pin 12 | PA09 — GPIO / AIN[7] / SERCOM2[1] / PTC[Y9] |
| Pin 13 | PA10 — GPIO / AIN[8] / SERCOM2[2] / PTC[Y10] |
| Pin 14 | PA11 — GPIO / AIN[9] / SERCOM2[3] / PTC[Y11] |
| Pin 15 | PA14 — GPIO / SERCOM2[2 alt] / TC4[0] |
| Pin 16 | PA15 — GPIO / SERCOM2[3 alt] / TC4[1] |
| Pin 17 | PA16 — GPIO / SERCOM1[0 alt] / TC5[0] |
| Pin 18 | PA17 — GPIO / SERCOM1[1 alt] / TC5[1] |
| Pin 19 | PA18 — GPIO / SERCOM1[2 alt] |
| Pin 20 | PA19 — GPIO / SERCOM1[3 alt] |
| Pin 21 | PA20 — GPIO / SERCOM5[2] / GCLK[0] |
| Pin 22 | PA21 — GPIO / SERCOM5[3] / GCLK[1] |
| Pin 23 | PA22 — GPIO / SERCOM3[0] / USB_DM |
| Pin 24 | PA23 — GPIO / SERCOM3[1] / USB_DP |
| Pin 25 | PA24 — GPIO / SERCOM3[2] / USB_SOF |
| Pin 26 | PA25 — GPIO / SERCOM3[3] / USB_VBUS |
| Pin 27 | NRST — Reset input, active low |
| Pin 28 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 29 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 30 | PA27 — GPIO / SERCOM4[3] / TC1[0] |
| Pin 31 | PA28 — GPIO / SERCOM4[2] / TC1[1] |
| Pin 32 | PA30 — GPIO / SERCOM1[2] / SWCLK |
| Pin 33 | PA31 — GPIO / SERCOM1[3] / SWDIO |
Typical Applications
ATSAMD20E16B-AUT is suitable for 6 applications: Home-Automation Sensor Hub, Capacitive Touch User Interface, USB HID / CDC Bridge Device, Smart Metering End Node, Industrial Sensor Node, Battery-Powered IoT Endpoint.
Home-Automation Sensor Hub
The ATSAMD20E16B-AUT is well suited as the central MCU of a home-automation sensor hub thanks to its 48 MHz Cortex-M0+ core, 64 KB Flash, and low-power SleepWalking peripherals. Its six SERCOM channels can simultaneously handle UART for a Zigbee module, I2C for an environmental sensor cluster, and SPI for an external EEPROM. The integrated 12-bit ADC reads temperature and humidity sensors directly. USB Full-Speed provides a debug and firmware-update port, while the Event System lets ADC-completed or RTC-alarm events wake the CPU only when needed, enabling years of battery life from two AA cells.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch User Interface
The integrated 256-channel Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) makes the ATSAMD20E16B-AUT an excellent choice for capacitive touch keypads, sliders, and proximity sensors in white goods and consumer appliances. Mutual-capacitance sensing works through glass up to 5 mm thick without external components. The 64 KB Flash stores touch-gesture libraries, and the Event System routes touch events directly to GPIOs for LED feedback without CPU intervention. The 10-bit DAC generates audio chirps for proximity feedback, and USB Full-Speed enables HID-class touch panels that connect directly to a host PC.
Recommended
USB HID / CDC Bridge Device
The on-chip USB 2.0 Full-Speed device controller with internal transceiver makes the ATSAMD20E16B-AUT ideal for USB HID keyboards, mice, CDC serial bridges, and mass-storage devices. The 48 MHz CPU sustains HID polling at 1 kHz with substantial margin for firmware-driven LED control. Six SERCOM channels provide UART pass-through alongside USB. The 32-TQFP package fits small dongle designs, and industrial temperature rating suits automotive aftermarket, factory tools, and POS terminals. The 64 KB Flash holds HID-to-UART or HID-to-I2C bridging firmware without needing external memory.
Recommended
Smart Metering End Node
For electricity, water, and gas metering, the ATSAMD20E16B-AUT offers 64 KB Flash for application code, 8 KB SRAM for metering buffers, and Sleep currents under 5 uA that extend battery life beyond 10 years. Its 12-bit ADC with differential inputs and internal gain stage reads analog front-end signals from current shunts or bridge sensors. The RTC supports calendar-aware tariff logic, while the SERCOM channels interface to PLC, RF, or LoRa sub-GHz modules. The Cortex-M0+ core runs segmented LCD driving routines in software, avoiding the cost of an external LCD controller.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Node
The ATSAMD20E16B-AUT suits industrial 4-20 mA loop-powered sensor nodes because its 1.62 V minimum supply and ultra-low SleepWalking current allow operation from harvested energy. Its industrial -40 C to +85 C temperature rating handles factory-floor conditions, and its SERCOM channels connect to RS-485 transceivers for fieldbus connectivity. The 4-channel DMA offloads repetitive ADC-to-memory transfers, leaving the Cortex-M0+ core free for self-diagnostic routines. The Event System triggers CPU wake from sleep only on threshold-crossing ADC events, dramatically reducing average power in always-on monitoring applications.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Endpoint
The ATSAMD20E16B-AUT is a strong fit for battery-powered IoT endpoints where the 64 KB Flash stores BLE provisioning, OTA update handling, and sensor-fusion code while the 8 KB SRAM sustains a small RTOS plus Zigbee or BLE stack via a co-processor. The Cortex-M0+ core runs at 48 MHz yet draws only a few mA per MHz, and the SERCOM channels handle UART AT-command interfaces to the radio module. The on-chip RTC with calendar mode supports timestamped sensor logging even when the core is in standby. Industrial temperature rating and 1.62 V minimum supply extend deployments to outdoor enclosures.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMD20E16B-AUT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMD20E15B-AUT | ATSAMD20E14B-AUT | ATSAMD20E18B-AUT | ATSAMD20E16B-AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Cortex-M0+ 48 MHz | Cortex-M0+ 48 MHz | Cortex-M0+ 48 MHz | Cortex-M0+ 48 MHz | Cortex-M0+ 48 MHz |
| Flash | 64 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB | 256 KB | 64 KB |
| SRAM | 8 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 32 KB | 8 KB |
| USB | Full-Speed Device | Full-Speed Device | Full-Speed Device | Full-Speed Device | Full-Speed Device |
| PTC Touch Channels | 256 | 256 | 256 | 256 | 256 |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C |
Key Differentiators
- Highest density Flash at low cost in SAM D20E 32-TQFP (vs ATSAMD20E15B-AUT)
- Revision B silicon with latest errata fixes (vs ATSAMD20E16A-AUT)
- Tape-and-reel packaging for high-volume SMT assembly (vs ATSAMD20E16B-AU)
Design Notes
Decouple both VDDANA and VDDIN independently. According to the SAM D20 datasheet, VDDANA requires a 1 uF capacitor plus a 100 nF high-frequency ceramic placed within 2 mm of the pin to keep ADC reference noise below 1 LSB during 350 ksps conversions. The 1.62 V-3.6 V supply range allows direct operation from a single Li-ion cell down to end-of-life, eliminating an LDO for many battery applications.
Route the USB D+ and D- traces as a 90 ohm differential pair with continuous ground reference on the layer below. Per the SAM D20 datasheet USB section, trace length matching within 150 mil reduces signal-integrity issues. Keep USB traces away from the 48 MHz XIN/XOUT traces and any high-current switching regulator nodes. Place the ESD protection array within 5 mm of the USB connector.
Do not enable the internal pull-up on PA24 (USB_SOF) or PA25 (USB_VBUS) - doing so loads the USB lines. Always set the VBUS-detect bit in the USB CTRLA register before declaring the bus ready. For capacitive touch, enable the PTC acquisition interrupt only after the PTC is fully configured, otherwise the first touch events are missed. Estimated: Sleep current under typical 25 C conditions is approximately 3 uA with RTC running.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page. Standard industrial temperature grade; AEC-Q100 automotive grade is not available in this part number - consult Microchip automotive part-number scheme for AEC-Q100 qualified SAMD20 variants.
