ATSAMD20G15A-MN - ARM Cortex-M0+ MCU 48MHz 32KB Flash QFN-48
MPN: ATSAMD20G15A-MN β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.45 | $2.45 |
| 10 | $2.18 | $21.80 |
| 100 | $1.86 | $186.00 |
| 500 | $1.59 | $795.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.32 | $1,320.00 |
| 3,000 | $1.1 | $3,300.00 |
ATSAMD20G15A-MN Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory, data memory, and peripheral interfaces. The Cortex-M0+ is ARM's smallest and most energy-efficient 32-bit core, designed for deterministic real-time embedded workloads. The SAM D20 family sits within Microchip's broader portfolio of 32-bit microcontrollers, which serve applications ranging from consumer wearables to industrial automation and IoT edge nodes. The ATSAMD20G15A-MN specifically targets the 32 KB Flash / 4 KB SRAM tier of the family.
Key features of the ATSAMD20G15A-MN include a hardware-based Event System for inter-peripheral signalling without CPU intervention, a Sleepwalking peripheral power manager that allows I/O to wake the core only when needed, and a single-cycle 32-bit hardware multiplier. The device offers 38 GPIO lines, 6 SERCOM channels that can each be configured as UART, SPI, or I2C, and a 12-bit 1 Msps ADC with up to 14 analog input channels. The integrated Full-Speed USB 2.0 device controller requires only an external 48 MHz crystal plus a few passive components.
Architecturally, the ATSAMD20G15A-MN leverages a 2-layer AHB bus matrix that allows simultaneous peripheral DMA and CPU fetches, reducing stalls and lowering average power. The device ships with Microchip's Atmel START / MPLAB Harmony software framework support, including ASF (Advanced Software Framework) drivers and freeRTOS ports. The Cortex-M0+ core delivers 2.14 CoreMark/MHz, which translates to roughly 0.9 DMIPS/MHz, suitable for sensor fusion, protocol bridging, and simple user-interface applications.
Typical applications for the ATSAMD20G15A-MN include home automation controllers, low-power wireless sensor nodes, industrial metering and HVAC peripherals, consumer wearables, and USB HID peripherals such as keyboards and custom input devices. The device's USB device controller makes it especially attractive for low-cost USB-C accessories, while the rich SERCOM complement suits sensor hubs and protocol-conversion bridges.
When designing with the ATSAMD20G15A-MN, ensure the exposed pad (EP) is soldered to a continuous ground plane for both thermal and electrical performance. Decouple VDDCORE and VDDIO independently with 100 nF X7R capacitors placed within 3 mm of each supply pin, and provide a bulk 4.7 uF capacitor at the regulator output. The 48 MHz system clock source can be the internal 8 MHz RC oscillator multiplied by the on-chip PLL, or an external crystal; whichever is chosen must meet the USB 48 MHz +/- 0.25% accuracy budget for USB Full-Speed operation.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing across seven channels, drop-in alternatives from the same Microchip SAM D20 family, and practical design notes beyond the manufacturer datasheet, giving engineers a single reference for sourcing, substitution, and PCB bring-up decisions.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMD20G15A-MN 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 ATSAMD20G15A-MN (same form factor and footprint) β differing in ADC, DAC, Package, Program Memory (Flash), SRAM.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMD20G15A-MNT
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD20G15A-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$2.49 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMD20G16A-MN
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD20G14B-MUT
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$1.1 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMD20G14A-MN
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$1.89 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMD20G14B-MU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMD20G15A-MN Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | ARM Cortex-M0+ 32-bit |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 32 KB |
| SRAM | 4 KB |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.62 V to 3.63 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +105 C (industrial grade) |
| GPIO Count | 38 |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 350 ksps, 14 channels |
| DAC | 10-bit, 1 channel |
| SERCOM Channels | 6 (configurable UART/SPI/I2C) |
| USB Interface | Full-Speed USB 2.0 Device |
| Package | 48-pin QFN (7x7 mm) with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 3 (168 hours) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| CoreMark/MHz | 2.14 |
| Multiplier | Single-cycle 32-bit hardware |
| DMA Channels | 12 |
ATSAMD20G15A-MN Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PA00 β GPIO / XIN (external clock input) |
| Pin 2 | PA01 β GPIO / XOUT (external clock output) |
| Pin 3 | PA02 β GPIO / AIN[0] (ADC input) |
| Pin 4 | PA03 β GPIO / AIN[1] / VREFA (ADC reference) |
| Pin 5 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 6 | VDD β I/O supply voltage (1.62 V to 3.63 V) |
| Pin 7 | PA04 β GPIO / AIN[2] |
| Pin 8 | PA05 β GPIO / AIN[3] |
| Pin 9 | PA06 β GPIO / AIN[4] |
| Pin 10 | PA07 β GPIO / AIN[5] |
| Pin 11 | PA08 β GPIO / AIN[6] / SERCOM0 PAD0 |
| Pin 12 | PA09 β GPIO / AIN[7] / SERCOM0 PAD1 |
| Pin 13 | PA10 β GPIO / AIN[8] / SERCOM0 PAD2 |
| Pin 14 | PA11 β GPIO / AIN[9] / SERCOM0 PAD3 |
| Pin 15 | PA12 β GPIO / SERCOM2 PAD0 |
| Pin 16 | PA13 β GPIO / SERCOM2 PAD1 |
| Pin 17 | PA14 β GPIO / SERCOM2 PAD2 |
| Pin 18 | PA15 β GPIO / SERCOM2 PAD3 |
| Pin 19 | PA16 β GPIO / SERCOM1 PAD0 / I2S_SD0 |
| Pin 20 | PA17 β GPIO / SERCOM1 PAD1 / I2S_MCK0 |
| Pin 21 | PA18 β GPIO / SERCOM1 PAD2 / I2S_FS0 |
| Pin 22 | PA19 β GPIO / SERCOM1 PAD3 / I2S_SCK0 |
| Pin 23 | PA20 β GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD2 / GCLK_IO0 |
| Pin 24 | PA21 β GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD3 / GCLK_IO1 |
| Pin 25 | PA22 β GPIO / SERCOM3 PAD0 |
| Pin 26 | PA23 β GPIO / SERCOM3 PAD1 |
| Pin 27 | PA24 β GPIO / SERCOM3 PAD2 / USB_DM (D20G variant) |
| Pin 28 | PA25 β GPIO / SERCOM3 PAD3 / USB_DP (D20G variant) |
| Pin 29 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 30 | VDDCORE β Decoupling for internal 1.2 V LDO output |
| Pin 31 | VDD β I/O supply voltage |
| Pin 32 | PB02 β GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD0 |
| Pin 33 | PB03 β GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD1 |
| Pin 34 | PB04 β GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD2 |
| Pin 35 | PB05 β GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD3 |
| Pin 36 | PB06 β GPIO / SERCOM4 PAD0 |
| Pin 37 | PB07 β GPIO / SERCOM4 PAD1 |
| Pin 38 | PB08 β GPIO / SERCOM4 PAD2 |
| Pin 39 | PB09 β GPIO / SERCOM4 PAD3 |
| Pin 40 | PB10 β GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD2 / GCLK_IO4 |
| Pin 41 | PB11 β GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD3 / GCLK_IO5 |
| Pin 42 | PB12 β GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD0 |
| Pin 43 | PB13 β GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD1 |
| Pin 44 | PB14 β GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD2 |
| Pin 45 | PB15 β GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD3 |
| Pin 46 | PB16 β GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD0 / TCC0 WO0 |
| Pin 47 | PB17 β GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD1 / TCC0 WO1 |
| Pin 48 | RESET β Active-low reset input |
| Pin 49 | EP β Exposed thermal pad - must be soldered to ground for thermal and electrical performance |
Typical Applications
ATSAMD20G15A-MN is suitable for 6 applications: USB HID Peripheral (Keyboard / Mouse / Custom Input), Home Automation Sensor Hub, Industrial Metering / HVAC Peripheral, Consumer Wearable / Fitness Band, Battery-Powered IoT Edge Node, Industrial Protocol Bridge (UART / SPI to USB).
USB HID Peripheral (Keyboard / Mouse / Custom Input)
The ATSAMD20G15A-MN is purpose-built for low-cost USB Human Interface Devices because it integrates a Full-Speed USB 2.0 device controller directly on-chip, eliminating the need for an external PHY. With 38 GPIO lines and 6 SERCOM channels, the MCU can scan a 20-key matrix while still driving an RGB LED strip via SPI - all within the 32 KB Flash budget when using the ASF USB HID class driver. The 12-bit ADC and 10-bit DAC further enable analog inputs such as joystick axes or rotary encoders without external converters. Its 1.62 V to 3.63 V supply range allows direct USB bus-powered operation at 3.3 V after the 5 V VBUS drop, simplifying the BOM to a single LDO plus a few passive components.
Recommended
Home Automation Sensor Hub
In a smart-home sensor hub the ATSAMD20G15A-MN can aggregate data from multiple I2C/SPI sensors via its 6 SERCOM channels and forward packets over a downstream radio or Wi-Fi module. The Cortex-M0+ SleepWalking peripherals wake the core only on threshold-crossing events, allowing a battery-powered CO2 or occupancy sensor to run for years on two AA cells. The 12-bit 350 ksps ADC supports up to 14 analog channels, suiting multi-sensor boards that combine temperature, humidity, and gas-sensor analog front-ends. The 48 MHz clock and 2.14 CoreMark/MHz easily handle Zigbee or Thread protocol stacks when paired with an external radio coprocessor.
Recommended
Industrial Metering / HVAC Peripheral
The industrial -40 C to +105 C temperature rating makes the ATSAMD20G15A-MN suitable for utility metering and HVAC controller boards operating in unconditioned enclosures. Its hardware Event System allows direct peripheral-to-peripheral signalling (for example, ADC-to-DAC sample-and-hold loops) without CPU intervention, lowering latency and power. Six SERCOM channels support multiple RS-485 or Modbus ports via external transceivers, while the 32 KB Flash comfortably fits standard metering firmware stacks. The on-chip 12-bit ADC with differential input support directly interfaces with current-sense amplifiers for power-meter applications, eliminating external ADC parts.
Recommended
Consumer Wearable / Fitness Band
Wearable devices benefit from the ATSAMD20G15A-MN's tight power budget: the SleepWalking I/O channels, 12-bit ADC, and event-driven DMA all consume under 100 uA/MHz active and a few microamps in deep-sleep. Its small 7x7 mm QFN-48 footprint leaves room for a slim PCB, while 38 GPIOs are sufficient to drive an OLED display, a touch-sense keypad, an I2C heart-rate sensor, and an SPI accelerometer simultaneously. The Cortex-M0+ delivers enough MIPS for a BLE-through-SPI link to a paired radio coprocessor running a low-power fitness profile. Developers can leverage the Atmel START code configurator to generate optimized low-power skeletons within minutes.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Edge Node
Edge sensor nodes benefit from the ATSAMD20G15A-MN's combination of low active current, deep-sleep modes under 5 uA with RTC running, and fast 1.5 us wake-up time. The device can sleep for years on a CR2032 cell when waking only on a periodic RTC interrupt or external sensor interrupt via the Event System. The 6 SERCOM channels multiplex as I2C/SPI/UART, supporting sensor, flash memory, and radio connectivity in parallel. Hardware AES via the on-chip peripheral (in B-revision parts) secures OTA firmware updates without external crypto chips, reducing BOM cost and PCB area.
Recommended
Industrial Protocol Bridge (UART / SPI to USB)
Industrial gateways frequently need to expose legacy UART or SPI field-bus devices over USB to a host PC or tablet. The ATSAMD20G15A-MN's 6 SERCOM channels can each be independently configured as UART, SPI, or I2C, allowing a single MCU to bridge multiple field buses simultaneously. The integrated Full-Speed USB device port enumerates as a CDC virtual COM port or vendor-class device with no external PHY. The 48 MHz CPU and DMA channels sustain sustained USB Full-Speed throughput of 12 Mbps while protocol-converting without dropped bytes, and the 32 KB Flash is sufficient for typical CDC or vendor-class firmware stacks.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMD20G15A-MN β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMD20G15A-MNT | ATSAMD20G16A-MN | ATSAMD20G14B-MUT | ATSAMD20G15A-AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 48-pin QFN (7x7 mm) | 48-pin QFN (7x7 mm) - same | 48-pin QFN (7x7 mm) - same | 48-pin QFN (7x7 mm) - same | 48-pin QFN (7x7 mm) - same |
| Flash Memory | 32 KB | 32 KB | 64 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB |
| SRAM | 4 KB | 4 KB | 8 KB | 2 KB | 4 KB |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +105 C | -40 C to +105 C | -40 C to +105 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C |
| USB 2.0 Full-Speed | Yes (integrated) | Yes (integrated) | Yes (integrated) | Yes (integrated) | Yes (integrated) |
| Shipping Packaging | Tray | Tape and Reel | Tray | Tape and Reel | Tray |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated Full-Speed USB 2.0 device controller on-chip (vs ATSAMD20E15A-AN)
- Same-family pin-compatible upgrade path to 256 KB Flash (vs ATSAMD20G18A-AU)
- 6 SERCOM channels each configurable as UART/SPI/I2C (vs ATSAMD20G14A-MN)
- Industrial -40 C to +105 C operating range (vs ATSAMD20G15A-AU)
Design Notes
Solder the exposed thermal pad (EP, pin 49) of the QFN-48 package to a continuous ground copper pour with at least 8 thermal vias (0.3 mm drill, 0.6 mm pitch) to the inner ground plane. This provides both the electrical ground reference for the on-chip LDO and a thermal path that keeps the junction temperature rise below 25 C at typical 48 MHz active current. Per Microchip's SAM D20 hardware design guide, missing or partial EP soldering can cause ESD susceptibility and analog ADC accuracy degradation of up to 5 LSB.
Place one 100 nF X7R 0402 ceramic decoupling capacitor within 3 mm of each VDD pin (pin 6 and pin 31) and one 4.7 uF X5R bulk capacitor on the VDDCORE pin (pin 30). VDD can be supplied from a single 3.3 V rail across the 1.62 V to 3.63 V range; the internal 1.2 V LDO is bypassed by the VDDCORE capacitor and powers the core logic. For USB Full-Speed operation VDD must remain above 3.0 V to meet the USB transceiver 3.3 V signalling requirement with the allowed 10% tolerance. Brown-out detection at 1.62 V should be enabled in firmware to prevent Flash corruption at low supply.
Route the USB_DP (PA25, pin 28) and USB_DM (PA24, pin 27) differential pair as a 90-ohm differential impedance matched microstrip on the top layer, with continuous ground reference underneath and no splits in the reference plane. Series 22-ohm source-matching resistors should be placed within 5 mm of the MCU pins to meet USB Full-Speed signal-integrity masks. The 48 MHz system clock must be sourced from the on-chip PLL locked to an external 12 MHz crystal or to the 48 MHz internal oscillator with USB SOF calibration; the internal 8 MHz RC alone cannot meet the +/- 0.25% USB accuracy budget.
Do not exceed 3.63 V on any VDD pin: the ATSAMD20G15A-MN is NOT 5 V tolerant on GPIO, and applying 5 V to a pin will permanently damage the I/O cells. Use a TI TXS0108E or NLSV8T244 level translator when interfacing to 5 V logic. Also note that the SAM D20G variant integrates USB, so pin PA24/PA25 USB function cannot be reassigned as plain GPIO in B-revision silicon without fuse changes - consult the device errata DS80000488 before PCB finalization.
Keep analog and digital grounds on a unified ground plane but separate the analog traces (ADC inputs, DAC output, VREFA) from high-speed digital switching traces like SERCOM SPI clocks. Place the 12-bit ADC reference decoupling (100 nF + 1 uF on pin 4 VREFA) close to the pin with a star connection back to the MCU ground pad. Per Microchip's SAM D20 layout checklist, trace lengths on AIN lines should not exceed 50 mm to minimize ADC sampling-charge errors.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product environmental certification page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose ATSAMx21E variants for automotive designs. Lead-free reflow profile per JEDEC J-STD-020.