ATSAMD20E17A-MN - 128KB Flash ARM Cortex-M0+ MCU | Microchip
MPN: ATSAMD20E17A-MN ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.85 | $3.85 |
| 10 | $3.55 | $35.50 |
| 100 | $3.21 | $321.00 |
| 500 | $2.86 | $1,430.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.55 | $2,550.00 |
ATSAMD20E17A-MN Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is an integrated circuit that combines a processor core, program memory (Flash), working memory (SRAM), and a rich set of peripherals on a single die. The Cortex-M0+ is the most energy-efficient ARM processor core, offering Thumb-2 instruction set compatibility and a 2.14 CoreMark/MHz performance figure. Within the broader taxonomy, this device is a Flash microcontroller -> embedded MCU -> 32-bit microcontroller -> semiconductor. Compared to 8-bit MCUs like the PIC16F series, the Cortex-M0+ offers higher computational throughput, deterministic interrupts via the Nested Vectored Interrupt Controller (NVIC), and modern peripherals such as SERCOM configurable serial interfaces.
Key features of the ATSAMD20E17A-MN include six SERCOM interfaces (each configurable as UART, SPI, or I2C), a 12-bit 1 MSPS ADC with up to 10 analog channels, two 16-bit Timer/Counters (TC), a 32-bit Real-Time Counter (RTC) with calendar mode, a full-speed USB 2.0 device interface, and an Event System for inter-peripheral signaling without CPU intervention. The device supports up to 26 programmable I/O pins.
The SAM D20 architecture uses a single-cycle hardware multiplier and a 2-layer AHB-Lite bus matrix, giving 2.14 CoreMark/MHz. The Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) supports capacitive touch buttons, sliders, and wheels. A low-power SleepWalking peripheral can wake the CPU only when meaningful data is present, enabling battery-friendly idle states as low as a few microamperes in deep-sleep modes.
Typical applications include home automation nodes, smart metering endpoints, consumer electronics, low-cost sensor hubs, and industrial control peripherals. The wide 1.62-3.6V operating range and 105C extended-industrial temperature option also suit rugged environments.
When designing with this device, pay attention to decoupling (place 100nF and 1uF capacitors within a few millimeters of each VDD pin) and consider whether the 5x5 mm QFN land pattern is acceptable for your manufacturing process. The PTC touch channels overlap with the ADC, so verify pin allocation before locking the BOM.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternates within the SAM D20 family, and practical design notes that are not aggregated on the manufacturer datasheet alone, helping engineers accelerate their selection.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMD20E17A-MN — 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 ATSAMD20E17A-MN (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Operating Temperature, Operating Voltage Range, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMD20E18A-MN
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD20E17A-AUT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.7 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMD20E16B-MN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMD20E15B-MN
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMC20E17A-MNT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.43 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMD20E17A-AU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMD20E17A-AN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMD20E17A-MN Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | ARM Cortex-M0+ |
| Core Architecture | 32-bit RISC (Thumb/Thumb-2) |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Performance | 2.14 CoreMark/MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 128 KB |
| SRAM | 16 KB |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.62 V to 3.6 V |
| Package | 32-pin VQFN (5x5 mm) with exposed pad |
| I/O Pins | Up to 26 |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 1 MSPS, 10 channels |
| DAC | 10-bit, 1 MSPS |
| Timer/Counters | Two 16-bit TC, one 32-bit TC (TC3/TCC0) |
| RTC | 32-bit RTC with calendar mode |
| Communication Interfaces | 6 SERCOM (UART/SPI/I2C), USB 2.0 FS device, I2S |
| Touch Sensing | Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +105C (extended industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
ATSAMD20E17A-MN Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PA00 — General-purpose I/O / XIN32 (external 32 kHz crystal input) |
| Pin 2 | PA01 — General-purpose I/O / XOUT32 (external 32 kHz crystal output) |
| Pin 3 | PA02 — General-purpose I/O / ADC AIN0 |
| Pin 4 | PA03 — General-purpose I/O / ADC AIN1 / VREFA |
| Pin 5 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 6 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 7 | PA04 — General-purpose I/O / ADC AIN2 / VREFB |
| Pin 8 | PA05 — General-purpose I/O / ADC AIN3 |
| Pin 9 | PA06 — General-purpose I/O / ADC AIN4 |
| Pin 10 | PA07 — General-purpose I/O / ADC AIN5 |
| Pin 11 | PA08 — General-purpose I/O / ADC AIN6 |
| Pin 12 | PA09 — General-purpose I/O / ADC AIN7 |
| Pin 13 | PA10 — General-purpose I/O / ADC AIN8 |
| Pin 14 | PA11 — General-purpose I/O / ADC AIN9 |
| Pin 15 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 16 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 17 | PB10 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 18 | PB11 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 19 | PA12 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 20 | PA13 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 21 | PA14 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 22 | PA15 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 23 | PA16 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 24 | PA17 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 25 | PA18 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 26 | PA19 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 27 | PA20 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 28 | PA21 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 29 | PA22 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 30 | PA23 — General-purpose I/O |
| Pin 31 | GND — Ground (exposed pad) |
| Pin 32 | VDD — Digital supply voltage (core) |
Typical Applications
ATSAMD20E17A-MN is suitable for 6 applications: Home Automation Hubs, Smart Metering Endpoints, Wearable Health Sensors, Industrial Control Peripherals, Consumer Remote Controls, Low-Cost Sensor Hubs.
Home Automation Hubs
The ATSAMD20E17A-MN suits home automation hubs where 128 KB Flash is sufficient for Zigbee/BLE host stacks, six SERCOM interfaces can drive multiple UART-based radios simultaneously, and the Peripheral Touch Controller supports integrated capacitive touch keys on wall switches. The 1.62-3.6 V supply allows direct battery or USB-powered operation. The Event System and SleepWalking peripherals keep idle current in the microampere range, enabling always-on smart-home devices that respond to sensor events without CPU wakeup, an essential capability for mains-free battery sensor nodes.
Recommended
Smart Metering Endpoints
The ATSAMD20E17A-MN suits smart metering endpoints where its 32-bit Cortex-M0+ core delivers 2.14 CoreMark/MHz headroom for metering algorithms, and the 12-bit 1 MSPS ADC captures simultaneous voltage and current samples with sub-microsecond latency. The 16 KB SRAM buffers per-second accumulation windows, while the 32-bit RTC with calendar mode supports time-of-use tariff calculations. Operating across -40C to +105C makes the part viable for outdoor meter enclosures, and 128 KB Flash fits DLMS/COSEM or wireless M-Bus protocol stacks without external memory, lowering BOM cost.
Recommended
Wearable Health Sensors
The ATSAMD20E17A-MN fits wearable health sensors because SleepWalking peripherals can sample a pulse oximeter or heart-rate sensor at low duty cycle without waking the CPU, leaving the device in deep sleep most of the time. The 12-bit ADC is adequate for bio-impedance and PPG frontends, while the six SERCOM interfaces support simultaneous BLE radio, SPI display, and I2C sensor connections. The 5x5 mm QFN footprint is small enough for wristbands and patches, and the 1.62 V minimum supply allows direct operation from a single Li-ion cell down to its end-of-discharge voltage.
Recommended
Industrial Control Peripherals
The ATSAMD20E17A-MN serves industrial control peripherals where its extended -40C to +105C temperature range tolerates cabinet environments, and the Event System delivers deterministic inter-peripheral signaling for motor control loops. The hardware multiply and 48 MHz clock provide 2.14 CoreMark/MHz for PID control math, while the 16-bit Timer/Counters can drive PWM outputs at fixed frequency. Six SERCOM interfaces connect to RS-485 transceivers, I2C sensors, and SPI DACs without external glue logic, and 128 KB Flash fits proprietary protocol stacks for Modbus RTU or CANopen gateways when paired with an external CAN transceiver.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Controls
The ATSAMD20E17A-MN suits consumer remote controls where its Peripheral Touch Controller supports capacitive touchpads without external ICs, six SERCOM interfaces handle IR, BLE, and SPI flash simultaneously, and deep-sleep current in the microampere range enables coin-cell operation for years. The 12-bit ADC reads battery voltage for accurate low-battery indication, and the 128 KB Flash holds voice command firmware and gesture-recognition libraries. The 5x5 mm QFN fits inside slim remote enclosures, and 1.62 V minimum supply supports direct operation from CR2032 cells down to 2.0 V.
Recommended
Low-Cost Sensor Hubs
The ATSAMD20E17A-MN functions as a low-cost sensor hub where six SERCOM interfaces aggregate SPI/USB/UART sensors and stream processed data over USB or UART. The 12-bit ADC at 1 MSPS captures analog sensors such as strain gauges and thermocouples, while the hardware multiply accelerates sensor fusion math. 128 KB Flash holds firmware for multiple sensor protocol stacks, and the Event System routes DMA-free data transfers between peripherals. The 5x5 mm VQFN package keeps the sensor hub small enough for cable-mounted inline enclosures, and the 3.6 V maximum supply allows USB-powered operation.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMD20E17A-MN — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMD20E18A-MN | ATSAMD20E17A-AUT | ATSAMD20E16B-MN | ATSAMD20E15B-MN | ATSAMC20E17A-MN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 32-VQFN (5x5) | 32-VQFN (5x5) - same | 32-VQFN (5x5) - same | 32-VQFN (5x5) - same | 32-VQFN (5x5) - same | 32-VQFN (5x5) - same |
| Flash Memory | 128 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB | 128 KB |
| SRAM | 16 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB | 8 KB | 4 KB | 16 KB |
| Core | Cortex-M0+ | Cortex-M0+ | Cortex-M0+ | Cortex-M0+ | Cortex-M0+ | Cortex-M0+ |
| Maximum Clock | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz |
| Automotive Grade | No | No | Yes (AEC-Q100) | No | No | No |
| Operating Voltage | 1.62-3.6 V | 1.62-3.6 V | 1.62-3.6 V | 1.62-3.6 V | 1.62-3.6 V | 1.62-3.6 V |
| CAN Controller | No | No | No | No | No | Yes (CAN FD) |
Key Differentiators
- Drop-in upgrade path with 256 KB Flash and 32 KB SRAM (vs ATSAMD20E16B-MN)
- AEC-Q100 automotive grade option available (vs ATSAMD20E17A-AUT)
- CAN FD controller for in-vehicle networking (vs ATSAMC20E17A-MN)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 2-3 mm of each VDD pin and a bulk 1-4.7 uF capacitor on the main supply rail. The SAM D20 uses AHB-Lite power domains; decoupling each VDD pair reduces switching noise coupling into the analog references (VREFA, VREFB). For battery applications, route VDDIO and VDDCORE together to a single 1.8-3.6 V source - the device integrates an internal LDO so no external core supply is required.
At 48 MHz core clock the SAM D20E draws approximately 7 mA active and 3 uA in deep-sleep with RTC running. The 32-pin VQFN exposed pad must be soldered to a continuous ground copper pour of at least 25 mm^2 to maintain junction temperature within the -40C to +105C rating. Estimated theta_JA with the recommended PCB footprint is 35 C/W, so a worst-case 15 mA load yields a 5C rise above ambient, well within safe limits.
Keep the XIN32/XOUT32 traces short (under 5 mm), symmetric, and surrounded by a ground guard ring to minimize 32 kHz crystal crosstalk into adjacent ADC inputs. If the on-chip 32 kHz RC oscillator is used instead, leave the crystal footprint unpopulated to reduce BOM cost. For high-speed USB on the SAM D20, ensure the DP/DM traces are 90 ohm differential and matched within 150 mil, per USB 2.0 Full-Speed layout guidelines.
Do not leave unused GPIO floating - configure them as outputs or enable the internal pull resistor. Pin multiplexing on SAM D20 is SERCOM-based, so verify that your I2C, SPI, and UART assignments do not overlap with each other or with PTC touch channels. For SWD debugging, expose the SWDIO and SWCLK pins on test pads; the device does not support JTAG. Avoid using PA30/PA31 as GPIO if you need accurate ADC reference performance, since these pins carry the ADC bandgap reference.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Standard ATSAMD20E17A-MN is not AEC-Q100; choose ATSAMD20E17A-AUT for automotive grade.
