ATSAMD20J17A-AU - 48MHz Cortex-M0+ MCU, 128KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAMD20J17A-AU β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.51 | $3.51 |
| 10 | $3.21 | $32.10 |
| 100 | $2.84 | $284.00 |
| 500 | $2.55 | $1,275.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.3 | $2,300.00 |
| 3,000 | $2.05 | $6,150.00 |
ATSAMD20J17A-AU Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (Flash), working memory (SRAM), and a rich set of peripherals on one silicon die. The Cortex-M0+ is the smallest, lowest-power ARM core, optimized for energy-efficient embedded designs. Within Microchip's portfolio, the SAM D20 family sits between the 8-bit PIC/AVR families and the higher-end Cortex-M4 SAM D5x/E5x families, balancing deterministic real-time performance with very low active and sleep current consumption.
Key features of the ATSAMD20J17A-AU include the Cortex-M0+ core with single-cycle I/O access and hardware multiplier, the SERCOM peripheral block (six instances, each reconfigurable to multiple protocols), a 12-bit 350 ksps ADC with up to 20 channels, a 10-bit 350 ksps DAC, two analog comparators, and a Real-Time Clock (RTC) with calendar mode. The device supports 1.62 V to 3.63 V supply and six flexible low-power sleep modes (IDLE, STANDBY, BACKUP, OFF), achieving current consumption as low as a few microamperes in BACKUP mode with RTC running.
Architecturally, the SAM D20 uses a single AHB-Lite bus matrix, a separate low-power APB bridge, and a Peripheral Event System that lets peripherals trigger one another without CPU involvement, reducing wake latency. The integrated Full-Speed USB 2.0 device controller with on-chip transceiver eliminates the need for an external PHY, simplifying USB-equipped designs. The 128 KB Flash is ECC-protected and supports in-application programming (IAP) through the bootloader ROM.
Typical applications include low-power IoT sensor nodes, smart home and home automation devices, consumer electronics (wearables, toys, appliances), industrial metering and HVAC controllers, and human-machine interface (HMI) modules. The combination of USB, ADC, DAC, and flexible SERCOM makes it well-suited as a single-chip solution for tethered peripherals, small appliances, and connected sensor hubs.
When designing with the ATSAMD20J17A-AU, pay close attention to decoupling (place a 100 nF X7R plus 4.7 uF bulk capacitor close to VDDIN and VDDIO), provide a stable VDDCORE voltage using the internal regulator, and route the 48 MHz crystal traces symmetrically with a ground guard ring for low-EMI performance. Microchip's Atmel Studio 7 / MPLAB X IDE with the START code configurator shortens firmware development time significantly.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives from Microchip's SAM D20 and SAM D21 families, and practical design notes not found in the standalone manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMD20J17A-AU 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 ATSAMD20J17A-AU (same form factor and footprint) β differing in ADC, Package, Flash Memory, MSL Level, DAC.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMD20J18A-AU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2.15 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMD21J17A-AU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD21J18A-AU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD20J16A-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD20J17A-AUT
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2.3 / Unit
View Datasheet βSTM32F072C8T6
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD20J17A-AU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | ARM Cortex-M0+ 32-bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 128 KB |
| SRAM | 16 KB |
| Supply Voltage (VDDIN) | 1.62 V to 3.63 V |
| Package | 64-pin TQFP (10x10 mm) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 350 ksps |
| DAC | 10-bit, 350 ksps |
| USB | Full-Speed USB 2.0 Device with on-chip PHY |
| SERCOM | 6 instances, each configurable as UART/SPI/I2C |
| I/O Pins | 52 GPIO (varies by package) |
| Analog Comparators | 2 |
| Timers/Counters | TC x6 + TCC x2 + RTC x1 + WDT x1 |
| DMA Channels | 12 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free / Halogen-Free | Yes |
ATSAMD20J17A-AU Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PA00 β GPIO / SERCOM1[0] / TCC2[0] |
| Pin 2 | PA01 β GPIO / SERCOM1[1] / TCC2[1] |
| Pin 3 | PA02 β GPIO / SERCOM0[0] / ADC_AIN0 |
| Pin 4 | PA03 β GPIO / SERCOM0[1] / ADC_AIN1 / VREFA |
| Pin 5 | PA04 β GPIO / SERCOM0[2] / ADC_AIN2 / VREFB |
| Pin 6 | PA05 β GPIO / SERCOM0[3] / ADC_AIN3 |
| Pin 7 | PA06 β GPIO / SERCOM0[0] alt / ADC_AIN4 |
| Pin 8 | PA07 β GPIO / SERCOM0[1] alt / ADC_AIN5 |
| Pin 9 | VDDIO β Digital I/O supply |
| Pin 10 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 11 | PA08 β GPIO / SERCOM2[0] / NMI |
| Pin 12 | PA09 β GPIO / SERCOM2[1] / I2S_FS0 |
| Pin 13 | PA10 β GPIO / SERCOM2[2] / I2S_SCK0 |
| Pin 14 | PA11 β GPIO / SERCOM2[3] / I2S_MCK0 |
| Pin 15 | PA12 β GPIO / SERCOM4[0] |
| Pin 16 | PA13 β GPIO / SERCOM4[1] |
| Pin 17 | PA14 β GPIO / SERCOM4[2] / XIN32 |
| Pin 18 | PA15 β GPIO / SERCOM4[3] / XOUT32 |
| Pin 19 | PA16 β GPIO / SERCOM1[0] alt |
| Pin 20 | PA17 β GPIO / SERCOM1[1] alt |
| Pin 21 | PA18 β GPIO / SERCOM1[2] alt |
| Pin 22 | PA19 β GPIO / SERCOM1[3] alt |
| Pin 23 | PA20 β GPIO / SERCOM5[2] |
| Pin 24 | PA21 β GPIO / SERCOM5[3] |
| Pin 25 | PA22 β GPIO / SERCOM3[0] / I2S_FS1 |
| Pin 26 | PA23 β GPIO / SERCOM3[1] / I2S_SCK1 |
| Pin 27 | PA24 β GPIO / SERCOM3[2] / USB_NEG |
| Pin 28 | PA25 β GPIO / SERCOM3[3] / USB_POS |
| Pin 29 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 30 | VDDIO β Digital I/O supply |
| Pin 31 | PB00 β GPIO / SERCOM5[0] / ADC_AIN8 |
| Pin 32 | PB01 β GPIO / SERCOM5[1] / ADC_AIN9 |
| Pin 33 | PB02 β GPIO / SERCOM5[2] alt / ADC_AIN10 |
| Pin 34 | PB03 β GPIO / SERCOM5[3] alt / ADC_AIN11 |
| Pin 35 | PB04 β GPIO / SERCOM3[0] alt / ADC_AIN12 |
| Pin 36 | PB05 β GPIO / SERCOM3[1] alt / ADC_AIN13 |
| Pin 37 | PB06 β GPIO / SERCOM3[2] alt / ADC_AIN14 |
| Pin 38 | PB07 β GPIO / SERCOM3[3] alt / ADC_AIN15 |
| Pin 39 | PB08 β GPIO / SERCOM4[0] alt / ADC_AIN2 alt |
| Pin 40 | PB09 β GPIO / SERCOM4[1] alt / ADC_AIN3 alt |
| Pin 41 | PB10 β GPIO / SERCOM4[2] alt |
| Pin 42 | PB11 β GPIO / SERCOM4[3] alt |
| Pin 43 | PB12 β GPIO / SERCOM4[0] |
| Pin 44 | PB13 β GPIO / SERCOM4[1] |
| Pin 45 | PB14 β GPIO / SERCOM4[2] |
| Pin 46 | PB15 β GPIO / SERCOM4[3] |
| Pin 47 | PB16 β GPIO / SERCOM5[0] alt |
| Pin 48 | PB17 β GPIO / SERCOM5[1] alt |
| Pin 49 | PB18 β GPIO / SERCOM5[2] alt |
| Pin 50 | PB19 β GPIO / SERCOM5[3] alt |
| Pin 51 | PB20 β GPIO / SERCOM3[0] |
| Pin 52 | PB21 β GPIO / SERCOM3[1] |
| Pin 53 | VDDCORE β Internal 1.2 V regulator output (decoupling cap) |
| Pin 54 | VDDIN β Main supply input 1.62-3.63 V |
| Pin 55 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 56 | PA27 β GPIO / SERCOM0[0] |
| Pin 57 | PA28 β GPIO / SERCOM0[1] / SWD_IO |
| Pin 58 | PA29 β GPIO / SERCOM0[2] |
| Pin 59 | PA30 β GPIO / SERCOM1[2] / SWD_CLK |
| Pin 60 | PA31 β GPIO / SERCOM1[3] / BOOT_MODE |
| Pin 61 | XIN β External 8-48 MHz crystal input |
| Pin 62 | XOUT β External 8-48 MHz crystal output |
| Pin 63 | VDDIO β Digital I/O supply |
| Pin 64 | GND β Ground |
Typical Applications
ATSAMD20J17A-AU is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, USB-Connected Smart Home Devices, Industrial Metering and HVAC Controllers, Consumer Wearables and Fitness Trackers, Human-Machine Interface (HMI) Modules, USB-Connected Sensor Hubs and Test Fixtures.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The ATSAMD20J17A-AU is purpose-built for coin-cell or single-cell Li-ion powered IoT sensor nodes, where quiescent current and supply range dominate BOM decisions. Operating from 1.62 V to 3.63 V on VDDIN, the device runs directly from a 3 V CR2032 or Li-MnO2 primary cell without boost converters. In BACKUP mode with RTC running at 32.768 kHz, current drops to a few microamperes, while active current is approximately 30 uA/MHz at 48 MHz, delivering long battery life in duty-cycled sensing applications. The 12-bit ADC (up to 20 channels, 350 ksps) handles temperature, humidity, and pressure sensors via I2C/SPI through the six SERCOM peripherals. Recommended companion MPNs: Bosch BMP280 (pressure/temperature), Sensirion SHT31 (humidity), and the ATSAMW25 Wi-Fi module for cloud connectivity. Compared to a discrete MCU + ADC + RTC solution, the SAM D20 cuts BOM by 2-3 parts and reduces quiescent current by 40-60%.
Recommended
USB-Connected Smart Home Devices
Smart-home hubs and USB-tethered appliances benefit from the ATSAMD20J17A-AU's integrated Full-Speed USB 2.0 device controller with on-chip transceiver, eliminating the need for an external USB PHY and reducing BOM cost by $0.30-$0.60. The 48 MHz Cortex-M0+ core easily handles HID-class firmware, USB CDC virtual COM ports, and standard device firmware upgrade (DFU) bootloaders via the on-chip ROM. Six SERCOM peripherals support concurrent interfaces for I2C sensor hubs (e.g., environmental sensors, lighting controllers) and SPI connections to non-volatile memory for firmware logging. Designers can use the START code configurator to generate USB stacks in minutes rather than weeks. The 128 KB Flash comfortably accommodates USB stacks plus application firmware, while 16 KB SRAM handles HID report buffers and protocol state machines. Recommended companion MPNs: ATECC608B (secure element), W25Q32 (SPI flash for logging), and TLV320DAC3203 (USB audio codec).
Recommended
Industrial Metering and HVAC Controllers
Industrial metering applications (electricity, water, gas) require the ATSAMD20J17A-AU's combination of 12-bit ADC accuracy (down to 1.5 LSB INL), wide 1.62-3.63 V supply (tolerating regulated 24 V bus drops and battery backup transitions), and low-power sleep modes that preserve battery life in unattended deployments. The Cortex-M0+ core running at 48 MHz executes metering algorithms (RMS, energy accumulation, tamper detection) at high sample rates while keeping active power manageable. Six SERCOM peripherals support simultaneous I2C (for RTC and EEPROM), SPI (for displays), and UART (for optoisolated communication modules). The Real-Time Clock with calendar mode handles time-of-use (TOU) tariff schedules critical for smart meters. The -40 C to +85 C industrial temperature range covers most outdoor enclosures. Recommended companion MPNs: MCP3564 (24-bit delta-sigma ADC for high-precision measurement), MCP9808 (temperature sensor), and MCP79410 (I2C RTC with battery backup).
Recommended
Consumer Wearables and Fitness Trackers
Wearable devices demand the ATSAMD20J17A-AU's ultra-low sleep current (single-digit uA in BACKUP), small PCB footprint thanks to the 64-pin TQFP at 10x10 mm with integrated analog peripherals, and flexible peripherals for biometric sensor integration. The Cortex-M0+ at 48 MHz executes step-counting algorithms, heart-rate processing via the 12-bit ADC, and OLED display refresh via SPI SERCOM. The on-chip 10-bit DAC supports audio cue generation for haptic or buzzer feedback. Six SERCOMs allow simultaneous I2C connection to accelerometer + optical heart-rate sensor + capacitive touch controller, plus SPI display, plus UART BLE module. Designers typically pair the SAM D20 with a Li-Po battery (3.7 V nominal, fits within 1.62-3.63 V VDDIN), a 32.768 kHz crystal for RTC, and a small buck regulator. Recommended companion MPNs: LIS2DH (low-power 3-axis accelerometer), MAX30102 (PPG heart-rate sensor), and SSD1306 (I2C OLED display).
Recommended
Human-Machine Interface (HMI) Modules
HMI modules (control panels, appliance interfaces, building automation touch screens) leverage the ATSAMD20J17A-AU's integrated 12-bit ADC for touch-button sensing (via the Peripheral Touch Controller PTC) and 10-bit DAC for analog contrast control of LCDs. The 48 MHz core executes display refresh, debouncing, and serial communication protocols concurrently. Six SERCOM peripherals support UART to a host controller, I2C to a capacitive touch IC, SPI to an LCD, and a second UART for RS-485 industrial networks. The 128 KB Flash holds graphical user interface code (small icons, menus) and the 16 KB SRAM supports frame buffers for small monochrome displays. The -40 C to +85 C industrial temperature range suits factory floor and outdoor environments. Compared to an 8-bit PIC + external ADC + external touch IC solution, the SAM D20 reduces BOM by 3-4 components and shortens development time by 30-50%. Recommended companion MPNs: AT42QT1010 (single-key touch), MCP23017 (I2C GPIO expander), and a ST7565R-based 128x64 LCD.
Recommended
USB-Connected Sensor Hubs and Test Fixtures
USB sensor hubs and laboratory test fixtures use the ATSAMD20J17A-AU's integrated USB 2.0 Full-Speed device with on-chip PHY to provide instant host connectivity for multi-sensor data acquisition. The six SERCOM peripherals can each drive a separate I2C/SPI/UART sensor channel, multiplexing data streams back to a host PC over USB CDC virtual COM. The 12-bit ADC with up to 20 channels handles analog sensors (temperature, strain gauges, photodiodes) at up to 350 ksps aggregate throughput, while the 10-bit DAC generates analog stimulus signals for sensor calibration. The 48 MHz Cortex-M0+ core executes time-stamping and protocol framing without host CPU overhead. The USB DFU bootloader enables field firmware upgrades without a programmer. Recommended companion MPNs: FT232H (high-speed USB-to-GPIO bridge as host counterpart), ADS1115 (external 16-bit ADC for higher resolution), and PCA9685 (I2C PWM driver for actuator control).
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMD20J17A-AU β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMD20J18A-AU | ATSAMD21J17A-AU | ATSAMD21J18A-AU | ATSAMD20J16A-AU | STM32F072C8T6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | STMicroelectronics |
| Package | 64-pin TQFP (10x10 mm) | 64-pin TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 64-pin TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 64-pin TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 64-pin TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 64-pin LQFP (10x10 mm) - same footprint family |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ |
| Max Clock | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz |
| Flash | 128 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB | 256 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB |
| SRAM | 16 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB | 8 KB | 16 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 1.62 V to 3.63 V | 1.62 V to 3.63 V | 1.62 V to 3.63 V | 1.62 V to 3.63 V | 1.62 V to 3.63 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| SERCOM / UART-SPI-I2C | 6 SERCOM | 6 SERCOM | 8 SERCOM | 8 SERCOM | 6 SERCOM | 3 USART + 2 SPI + 2 I2C |
| USB | FS USB 2.0 Device | FS USB 2.0 Device | FS USB 2.0 Device | FS USB 2.0 Device | FS USB 2.0 Device | FS USB 2.0 Device |
| ADC | 12-bit, 350 ksps | 12-bit, 350 ksps | 12-bit, 350 ksps | 12-bit, 350 ksps | 12-bit, 350 ksps | 12-bit, 1 Msps |
Key Differentiators
- Mature, widely adopted SAM D20 family with extensive Microchip ecosystem (vs STM32F072C8T6)
- Wide 1.62 V supply enables direct Li-ion / 2x AA battery operation without boost (vs ATSAMD21J17A-AU)
- Same-family upgrade path with more memory at no extra cost (vs ATSAMD20J16A-AU)
Design Notes
Power decoupling for ATSAMD20J17A-AU requires one 100 nF X7R ceramic capacitor placed within 2 mm of each VDDIO and VDDIN pin, plus a single shared 4.7 uF X5R bulk capacitor on VDDIN. The internal 1.2 V VDDCORE regulator output (pin 53) needs its own 1 uF X7R ceramic capacitor with traces short and wide to minimize loop inductance. Avoid routing high-frequency signals across the gap between the VDDIN and VDDCORE capacitor grounds - route each ground directly to the common ground plane via a via or short trace.
The 48 MHz external crystal (XIN pin 61 / XOUT pin 62) requires symmetrical routing with matched trace lengths and a guard ring tied to ground. Place the load capacitors (typically 12-22 pF NPO/C0G) within 2 mm of the crystal pads. For low-power designs using the internal 32.768 kHz oscillator on PA14/PA15 (XIN32/XOUT32), add 7-15 pF load capacitors close to those pins. Keep crystal traces away from switching signals (USB, PWM outputs) to avoid radiated clock coupling into analog inputs.
USB DP (PA25) and DM (PA24) differential pair must be routed as 90-ohm differential impedance with no splits in the reference ground plane beneath the traces. Maximum trace length should be under 50 mm, with the D+/D- matching within 0.15 mm. Add a 1 M-ohm pull-up on PA24 (USB_POS) to enable Full-Speed device mode at USB enumeration. ESD protection (e.g., USBLC6-2SC6 from ST) should be placed as close to the USB connector as possible, with short stubs to D+/D-.
Estimated: At full CPU load (48 MHz active with all peripherals running), the ATSAMD20J17A-AU dissipates approximately 60 mW typical (1.2 V x ~50 mA core current). With the 64-pin TQFP at 10x10 mm, theta_JA on a 4-layer JEDEC EIA/JESD51 test board is approximately 50 C/W, resulting in a junction temperature rise of only 3 C above ambient - well within thermal limits. No thermal management is required for typical embedded applications.
Common design pitfalls with ATSAMD20J17A-AU: (1) Forgetting the VDDCORE 1 uF capacitor - causes boot failures; (2) Using a single 100 nF capacitor for both decoupling and bulk on VDDIN - causes voltage sag under USB transmit bursts; (3) Configuring PA24/PA25 as GPIO without disabling USB - causes USB enumeration failures; (4) Using the internal 8 MHz RC oscillator for USB - not accurate enough; must use DFLL48M referenced to a 32.768 kHz crystal for USB Full-Speed; (5) Forgetting the BOOT_MODE (PA31) pull-up or pull-down configuration for bootloader entry behavior.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial temperature grade -40 C to +85 C. AEC-Q100 grade not applicable - the MPN does not carry the automotive-grade suffix (would be ATSAMD20J17A-AUTEXT or similar).
