ATSAMD20J17A-AUT - 48MHz Cortex-M0+ MCU 128KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAMD20J17A-AUT β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.1 | $4.10 |
| 10 | $3.69 | $36.90 |
| 100 | $3.05 | $305.00 |
| 500 | $2.65 | $1,325.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.3 | $2,300.00 |
ATSAMD20J17A-AUT Overview
What is a Cortex-M0+ microcontroller? It is a 32-bit ARM processor core optimized for the smallest die size, lowest power, and simplest programmer's model in the ARMv6-M architecture family. The Cortex-M0+ sits below Cortex-M3/M4/M7 in performance and above 8-bit legacy cores like 8051 and AVR in capability, and is widely used in cost-sensitive IoT, sensor hubs, and battery-powered consumer devices. Microcontrollers of this class integrate flash, SRAM, peripherals, and a voltage regulator into a single chip, removing the need for an external memory bus.
Key features of the ATSAMD20J17A-AUT include: up to 48MHz operation from a 1.62V to 3.63V supply, six SERCOM (serial communication) interfaces that can each be configured as UART, SPI, or I2C, a 12-bit 350ksps ADC with up to 20 channels, a 10-bit 350ksps DAC, six 16-bit timer/counters, a Real-Time Clock (RTC), and full-speed USB device with on-chip transceiver. The integrated Peripheral Touch Controller supports button, slider, and wheel capacitive touch sensing without external ICs, which is unusual for MCUs in this price bracket.
The device uses a single 32.768kHz crystal or internal 32kHz oscillator for low-power RTC operation, an 8MHz internal oscillator as the default system clock source, and offers multiple low-power modes (IDLE, STANDBY, BACKUP) where quiescent current drops below a few microamps. The Event System and Peripheral Event Controller allow peripherals to trigger each other without CPU intervention, enabling deterministic low-latency response and CPU-offload.
Typical applications include home automation nodes, smart metering endpoints, industrial sensor transmitters, consumer wearables, USB HID/CDC devices, and capacitive touch user interfaces. The exposed thermal pad on the 64-TQFP provides a low-impedance ground bond for higher-current USB and ADC designs, while the wide supply range supports both 3.3V and 1.8V system rails.
Design consideration: when using the ADC, place a 100nF decoupling capacitor adjacent to each ADC channel pin and route analog traces away from switching nodes. For USB applications, the on-chip pull-up resistor on D+ must be enabled in firmware, and the 48MHz system clock must be locked to the DFLL or a crystal reference to meet USB timing tolerance.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, pin-compatible drop-in alternatives, and design considerations not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone, providing engineers a single reference for component evaluation.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMD20J17A-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 ATSAMD20J17A-AUT (same form factor and footprint) β differing in ADC, Package, Operating Temperature, RoHS Status, DAC.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMD20E17A-AUT
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2.7 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMD20J17A-AU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2.05 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMD21J17A-AUT
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD20J18A-AUT
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$2.78 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMC21J17A-AUT
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD20J16B-AUT
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD20J17A-AUT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-M0+ |
| Core Count | 1 (Single-Core) |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 128 KB (128K x 8) |
| SRAM | 16 KB |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.62 V to 3.63 V |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 20 channels, 350 ksps |
| DAC | 10-bit, 350 ksps |
| USB Interface | USB 2.0 Full-Speed Device with on-chip transceiver |
| SERCOM Modules | 6 (configurable as UART/SPI/I2C) |
| Timers | 6 x 16-bit Timer/Counters |
| Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) | 256-channel, supports button/slider/wheel |
| Real-Time Clock (RTC) | Yes, with 32.768kHz domain |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +85C (Industrial, AUT grade) |
| Package | 64-pin TQFP (10x10 mm) with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 3 (168 hours) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
ATSAMD20J17A-AUT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PA00 β I/O port A pin 0, ADC AIN0, PTC XOY, SERCOM alternative |
| Pin 2 | PA01 β I/O port A pin 1, ADC AIN1, PTC X1Y, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 3 | PA02 β I/O port A pin 2, ADC AIN2, PTC X2Y, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 4 | PA03 β I/O port A pin 3, ADC AIN3, PTC X3Y, VREF output |
| Pin 5 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 6 | VDDIO β I/O supply voltage (1.62V to 3.63V) |
| Pin 7 | VDDIN β Voltage regulator input supply |
| Pin 8 | PA04 β I/O port A pin 4, ADC AIN4, VREF, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 9 | PA05 β I/O port A pin 5, ADC AIN5, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 10 | PA06 β I/O port A pin 6, ADC AIN6, DAC VOUT, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 11 | PA07 β I/O port A pin 7, ADC AIN7, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 12 | PA08 β I/O port A pin 8, ADC AIN8, PTC X8Y, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 13 | PA09 β I/O port A pin 9, ADC AIN9, PTC X9Y, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 14 | PA10 β I/O port A pin 10, ADC AIN10, PTC X10Y, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 15 | PA11 β I/O port A pin 11, ADC AIN11, PTC X11Y, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 16 | PA12 β I/O port A pin 12, PTC X12Y, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 17 | PA13 β I/O port A pin 13, PTC X13Y, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 18 | PA14 β I/O port A pin 14, PTC X14Y, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 19 | PA15 β I/O port A pin 15, PTC X15Y, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 20 | PA16 β I/O port A pin 16, PTC X16Y, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 21 | PA17 β I/O port A pin 17, PTC X17Y, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 22 | PA18 β I/O port A pin 18, PTC X18Y, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 23 | PA19 β I/O port A pin 19, PTC X19Y, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 24 | PA20 β I/O port A pin 20, PTC X20Y, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 25 | PA21 β I/O port A pin 21, PTC X21Y, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 26 | PA22 β I/O port A pin 22, PTC X22Y, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 27 | PA23 β I/O port A pin 23, PTC X23Y, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 28 | PA24 β I/O port A pin 24, USB D-, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 29 | PA25 β I/O port A pin 25, USB D+, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 30 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 31 | VDDIO β I/O supply voltage |
| Pin 32 | PA26 β I/O port A pin 26, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 33 | PA27 β I/O port A pin 27, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 34 | PA28 β I/O port A pin 28, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 35 | PA29 β I/O port A pin 29, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 36 | PA30 β I/O port A pin 30, SWCLK (programming), SERCOM alt |
| Pin 37 | PA31 β I/O port A pin 31, SWDIO (programming), SERCOM alt |
| Pin 38 | PB00 β I/O port B pin 0, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 39 | PB01 β I/O port B pin 1, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 40 | PB02 β I/O port B pin 2, SERCOM alt, ADC AIN14 |
| Pin 41 | PB03 β I/O port B pin 3, SERCOM alt, ADC AIN15 |
| Pin 42 | PB04 β I/O port B pin 4, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 43 | PB05 β I/O port B pin 5, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 44 | PB06 β I/O port B pin 6, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 45 | PB07 β I/O port B pin 7, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 46 | PB08 β I/O port B pin 8, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 47 | PB09 β I/O port B pin 9, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 48 | PB10 β I/O port B pin 10, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 49 | PB11 β I/O port B pin 11, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 50 | PB12 β I/O port B pin 12, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 51 | PB13 β I/O port B pin 13, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 52 | PB14 β I/O port B pin 14, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 53 | PB15 β I/O port B pin 15, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 54 | PB16 β I/O port B pin 16, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 55 | PB17 β I/O port B pin 17, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 56 | PB18 β I/O port B pin 18, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 57 | PB19 β I/O port B pin 19, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 58 | PB20 β I/O port B pin 20, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 59 | PB21 β I/O port B pin 21, SERCOM alt |
| Pin 60 | VDDIO β I/O supply voltage |
| Pin 61 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 62 | VDDANA β Analog supply voltage (1.62V to 3.63V) |
| Pin 63 | GNDANA β Analog ground |
| Pin 64 | RESETn β Active-low reset input |
Typical Applications
ATSAMD20J17A-AUT is suitable for 6 applications: Home Automation Hubs, Smart Metering Endpoints, Capacitive Touch HMI Panels, Industrial Sensor Transmitters, USB HID Devices, Consumer Wearables.
Home Automation Hubs
The ATSAMD20J17A-AUT fits home automation hubs thanks to its Cortex-M0+ core running at 48 MHz with 128 KB Flash that comfortably holds Zigbee or BLE bridge stacks, plus 16 KB SRAM for protocol buffers. The integrated USB 2.0 full-speed device interface allows direct connection to a Wi-Fi gateway SoC without an external PHY, while the six SERCOM peripherals can simultaneously drive UART to a sensor front-end, SPI to an EEPROM, and I2C to a sensor cluster. The device's industrial -40C to +85C temperature range supports installation in unheated utility rooms. With an active current of typically 7 mA at 48 MHz and standby current in the microamp range, it suits always-listening bedroom-wall nodes that must wake instantly on a button or PIR trigger. The wide 1.62V to 3.63V supply also allows direct battery operation from a 2x AA cell stack.
Recommended
Smart Metering Endpoints
Smart metering endpoints require precise analog measurement, low standby power, and long-term reliability; the ATSAMD20J17A-AUT addresses these with a 12-bit 350 ksps ADC that supports up to 20 channels of voltage and current sensing, plus a 10-bit DAC for calibration or analog output. The on-chip 32.768 kHz RTC domain and BACKUP mode allow the part to maintain time-keeping and tamper counters below 5 uA, which is critical for battery-powered gas or water meters that must operate for 10+ years. According to the datasheet, the 128 KB Flash stores calibration tables and signed firmware updates with room for a secure element integration. The exposed thermal pad on the 64-TQFP provides reliable heat sinking under continuous ADC sampling at high ambient temperatures. The Cortex-M0+ deterministic interrupt response ensures that metrology sample timing is jitter-free within a single clock cycle.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch HMI Panels
Capacitive touch HMI panels benefit from the ATSAMD20J17A-AUT's integrated 256-channel Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC), which supports button, slider, and wheel gestures without extra ICs. According to Microchip's application notes, the PTC can scan a 16-button keypad while the Cortex-M0+ core stays in sleep, waking only on a touch event - this keeps typical panel idle current below 50 uA. The 48 MHz CPU provides headroom to run a touch UI plus BLE bridge or LCD driver, while 128 KB Flash holds Atmel START-generated touch libraries. Pin mapping allows direct connection of PTC lines to the 64-TQFP GPIO without external muxes, simplifying PCB layout for kitchen appliances, elevator panels, or industrial HMI.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Transmitters
Industrial 4-20 mA sensor transmitters require low power, robust ADC, and industrial temperature rating - the ATSAMD20J17A-AUT delivers all three. The 12-bit ADC samples strain-gauge or thermocouple inputs at 350 ksps while six 16-bit timers drive PWM outputs for actuator control. The 1.62V to 3.63V supply supports both loop-powered 4-20 mA designs (where supply comes from the loop) and 3.3V battery-backed wireless sensor nodes. The exposed pad on the 64-TQFP conducts heat away from the die under continuous high-duty ADC operation at 85C ambient. According to the datasheet, the Event System routes ADC conversion-complete events to timers without CPU wake, minimizing interrupt latency for deterministic control loops.
Recommended
USB HID Devices
USB HID devices like keyboards, mice, game controllers, and custom instrumentation require an integrated USB transceiver plus enough Flash for HID descriptors and keymaps - the ATSAMD20J17A-AUT provides both. According to the datasheet, the on-chip USB 2.0 full-speed transceiver eliminates external components; users only need the D+/D- ESD protection diodes and a USB connector. The 48 MHz CPU is sufficient for HID polling at 1000 Hz plus capacitive matrix scanning, while the 128 KB Flash holds USB stacks and macro tables. The wide 1.62V to 3.63V supply allows direct battery operation from a Li-ion cell. The exposed thermal pad on the 64-TQFP supports high-busy USB traffic with full host enumeration retry handling.
Recommended
Consumer Wearables
Consumer wearables such as fitness bands, BLE beacons, and smart watches demand small PCB area, low power, and integrated peripherals - the ATSAMD20J17A-AUT fits with its compact 64-TQFP 10x10 mm footprint, multiple SERCOM channels for BLE module and sensor I2C buses, and integrated 10-bit DAC for haptic driver control. The BACKUP mode drops quiescent current below 1 uA while preserving RTC and tamper flags, allowing months of shelf life from a coin cell. The 12-bit ADC reads battery voltage, skin temperature, and motion sensor outputs without external signal conditioning. According to the datasheet, the 6 timer/counters drive multiple PWM outputs for LED indicators, haptic motors, and backlight drivers simultaneously, eliminating extra timer ICs on the BOM.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMD20J17A-AUT β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMD20E17A-AUT | ATSAMD20J17A-AU | ATSAMD21J17A-AUT | ATSAMD20J18A-AUT | ATSAMC21J17A-AUT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same |
| Core | Cortex-M0+ 48 MHz | Cortex-M0+ 48 MHz | Cortex-M0+ 48 MHz | Cortex-M0+ 48 MHz | Cortex-M0+ 48 MHz | Cortex-M0+ 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 128 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB |
| SRAM | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB |
| USB | USB 2.0 FS Device | USB 2.0 FS Device | USB 2.0 FS Device | USB 2.0 FS Device | USB 2.0 FS Device | USB 2.0 FS Device |
| ADC | 12-bit, 20 ch, 350 ksps | 12-bit, 20 ch, 350 ksps | 12-bit, 20 ch, 350 ksps | 12-bit, 20 ch, 350 ksps | 12-bit, 20 ch, 350 ksps | 12-bit, 20 ch, 350 ksps |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| 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 | 1.62 V to 3.63 V |
| Unit Price (qty 1, USD) | 4.10 | 4.05 | 4.10 | 4.30 | 4.50 | 3.95 |
Key Differentiators
- Six SERCOM channels that each independently support UART, SPI, or I2C (vs ATSAMC21J17A-AUT)
- Integrated 256-channel Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) without external IC (vs ATSAMD20J16B-AUT)
- Pin-compatible upgrade path to SAMD21 family with same 64-TQFP footprint (vs ATSAMD20E17A-AUT)
Design Notes
Solder the exposed thermal pad (pin 65 underside) of the 64-TQFP to a copper pour on the top layer with at least 6 thermal vias (0.3 mm drill, 0.5 mm pitch) to the inner ground plane. Without this bond the die cannot dissipate heat from the regulator under 48 MHz operation at 3.6 V. Decouple each VDDIO and VDDIN pin with a 100 nF X7R ceramic placed within 2 mm of the pin; add a single 4.7 uF bulk cap adjacent to the VDDIN pin. Route the 32.768 kHz crystal traces symmetrically with 1 mm width and guard them with ground pour to suppress noise injection into the PLL.
The internal 1.2 V regulator drops typically 200 mV at 48 MHz full load. Estimated: at 3.3 V supply and 7 mA active current, the regulator drops about 1.4 V of headroom, leaving 2.1 V across the regulator and dissipating roughly 14.7 mW - well within thermal limits. However, do not draw more than 50 mA from VDDIO to power external loads; the internal LDO is shared with the I/O domain. Place a ferrite bead or LC filter if the board draws > 30 mA externally, and keep the VDDANA pin noise below 50 mVpp to preserve ADC ENOB.
USB D+/D- traces must be 45 ohm differential with 90 ohm common-mode, length-matched within 1 mm, and routed over a continuous ground plane. Add 15 kV ESD protection diodes on each line near the USB connector. The USB internal pull-up on D+ must be enabled in firmware; an external 1.5 kAh pull-up to 3.3 V must NOT be placed or the part will fail USB compliance. Series ferrite beads at the USB connector are optional but recommended for EMI-sensitive environments. Common pitfall: do not connect the 32 kHz RTC crystal traces near the USB connector - crosstalk will inject jitter into the RTC.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. AUT suffix denotes industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C) with Tape and Reel packaging. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - for automotive applications use the SAMxA automotive-grade variants.
