ATSAMD20J17A-CNT - ARM Cortex-M0+ 48MHz MCU 128KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAMD20J17A-CNT β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.2 | $4.20 |
| 10 | $3.78 | $37.80 |
| 100 | $3.35 | $335.00 |
| 500 | $2.94 | $1,470.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.61 | $2,610.00 |
ATSAMD20J17A-CNT Overview
What is a Cortex-M0+ microcontroller? 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. The ARM Cortex-M0+ is the most energy-efficient member of the ARM Cortex-M family, designed for low-power embedded applications while providing Thumb-2 instruction-set efficiency and a deterministic nested-vector interrupt controller (NVIC). The ATSAMD20 sits in the hierarchy MCU -> microcontroller -> ARM Cortex-M0+ -> SAM D20 family -> semiconductor, and is purpose-built for always-on and battery-powered products.
Key features include up to 48 MHz core clock, 128 KB Flash, 16 KB SRAM, a 12-bit 1 Msps SAR ADC, a 10-bit DAC, a 256-channel Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC), SERCOM-configurable serial interfaces (I2C, SPI, UART), full-speed USB 2.0 device, a Real-Time Clock (RTC), and a 16-bit Event System. The part operates from 1.62 V to 3.63 V across an industrial -40C to +105C temperature range.
The ATSAMD20J17A-CNT uses Microchip's proprietary low-power technology with multiple Sleep, Standby, and Backup modes and an integrated 8 MHz DFLL (Digital Frequency Locked Loop) that can be referenced against a 32.768 kHz crystal, eliminating the need for an external high-frequency oscillator in most designs.
Typical applications include home automation, smart metering, consumer electronics, industrial sensor nodes, low-power wireless platforms, capacitive-touch user interfaces, and small USB peripherals. The 64-ball UFBGA package is well-suited to compact handheld designs where board area is at a premium.
Design consideration: route the SERCOM pins carefully and assign peripheral functions during firmware configuration, since SERCOM modules are multiplexed to multiple pin positions. Decouple VDD and VDDCORE with at least one 100 nF X7R ceramic capacitor placed within 3 mm of each supply pin.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, enabling faster BOM selection and design-in decisions.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMD20J17A-CNT 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-CNT (same form factor and footprint) β differing in ADC, Package, RoHS Status, SRAM, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMD20J18A-CNT
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD20J16A-CNT
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD20J15A-CNT
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2.54 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMD20J14A-CNT
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$1.95 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMD21J17A-AU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD20J17A-AU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2.05 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMD20J17A-AUT
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2.3 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMD20J17A-CNT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-M0+ (32-bit) |
| Series | SAM D20J |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 128 KB |
| SRAM | 16 KB |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.62 V to 3.63 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +105C (industrial) |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 1 Msps |
| DAC | 10-bit |
| Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) | 256-channel |
| Communication Interfaces | SERCOM (I2C/SPI/UART), I2S, full-speed USB 2.0 Device |
| Timers/Counters | TC modules, TCC modules, RTC |
| Event System | 16-bit interconnect, configurable |
| Package | 64-ball UFBGA (5x5 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (per distributor listings) |
| MSL Level | 3 (per JEDEC J-STD-020, reflow 260C) |
ATSAMD20J17A-CNT 64-ball ufbga (5x5 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAMD20J17A-CNT (64-ball ufbga (5x5 mm) package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for ATSAMD20J17A-CNT.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAMD20J17A-CNT is suitable for 6 applications: Home Automation Hubs, Smart Electricity Metering, Capacitive Touch User Interfaces, Industrial Sensor Nodes (4-20 mA / IO-Link), USB-Connected Consumer Peripherals, Wearables and Fitness Bands.
Home Automation Hubs
The ATSAMD20J17A-CNT is well suited to home automation hubs thanks to its 48 MHz Cortex-M0+ core and 128 KB Flash, which comfortably fits Zigbee/Thread/Z-Wave co-processor host stacks plus room for application firmware. Its six SERCOM modules map to UART bridges to wireless modules, SPI for flash storage, and I2C for sensor ports. The 5x5 mm UFBGA footprint is ideal for compact wall-mount or tabletop enclosures. Low-power SleepWalking peripherals allow the MCU to remain idle while sensors are monitored, extending battery life in wireless door/window sensors.
Recommended
Smart Electricity Metering
In smart metering designs, the ATSAMD20J17A-CNT's 12-bit 1 Msps SAR ADC and on-chip 10-bit DAC deliver accurate measurement of voltage and current with no external ADC required. The 16 KB SRAM supports rolling energy-calculation buffers, while 128 KB Flash accommodates segmented metering firmware with optional DLMS/COSEM protocols. The industrial -40C to +105C temperature range covers outdoor meter enclosures. Low-power Backup mode with RTC wakeup enables long battery life in last-mile communication modules reporting to AMI concentrators.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch User Interfaces
The ATSAMD20J17A-CNT integrates Microchip's 256-channel Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC), supporting both self-cap and mutual-capacitance touch buttons, sliders, and wheels without any external touch IC. The 12-bit ADC and 16 KB SRAM handle gesture recognition and debounce, while 128 KB Flash supports Qtouch or custom touch libraries. The compact 5x5 mm UFBGA package fits behind glass overlays on appliances, white goods, and consumer electronics. The Event System routes PTC touches directly to GPIO for ultra-low-latency wake from sleep.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Nodes (4-20 mA / IO-Link)
For factory sensor nodes, the ATSAMD20J17A-CNT provides Cortex-M0+ determinism and a 12-bit ADC for analog sensor front-ends plus SERCOM-configurable UARTs for IO-Link or RS-485 stacks. Operating temperature -40C to +105C supports cabinet mounting near motors. The 128 KB Flash is large enough for IO-Link stack plus sensor-specific calibration, while the UFBGA package keeps the PCB compact inside M12 sensor heads. Low-power modes enable energy harvesting designs.
Recommended
USB-Connected Consumer Peripherals
The ATSAMD20J17A-CNT's integrated full-speed USB 2.0 device controller (no external PHY required) and 128 KB Flash enable firmware-rich USB peripherals such as HID input devices, custom audio interfaces, or low-cost data loggers. SERCOM ports map to SPI/I2C sensors while the USB stack consumes under 16 KB of Flash, leaving room for application code. The UFBGA package's 5x5 mm footprint suits dongle-form-factor products.
Recommended
Wearables and Fitness Bands
The ATSAMD20J17A-CNT is well matched to wearable designs because of its small 5x5 mm UFBGA footprint, 1.62-3.63 V supply compatible with Li-Po cells, and low-power Sleep/Standby/Backup modes drawing only a few microamps. The 12-bit ADC reads optical heart-rate or SpO2 sensors, the DAC drives haptic feedback, and the SERCOM peripherals connect to BLE modules via UART. 128 KB Flash supports BLE profiles plus sensor-fusion firmware in compact wristbands.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMD20J17A-CNT β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMD20J18A-CNT | ATSAMD20J16A-CNT | ATSAMD20J15A-CNT | ATSAMD20J17A-AU | ATSAMD20J17A-AUT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-UFBGA (5x5) | 64-UFBGA (5x5) - same | 64-UFBGA (5x5) - same | 64-UFBGA (5x5) - same | TQFP-64 | TQFP-64 |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 128 KB | 256 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB |
| SRAM | 16 KB | 32 KB | 8 KB | 4 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz |
| 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 |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +105C | -40C to +105C | -40C to +105C | -40C to +105C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| USB Controller | 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 |
| Approx. Price at qty 1 (USD) | $4.20 | $4.80 (approx.) | $3.65 (approx.) | $3.40 (approx.) | $4.05 (approx.) | $4.05 (approx.) |
Key Differentiators
- Largest Flash in the SAM D20J 64-UFBGA family (vs ATSAMD20J16A-CNT)
- Higher temperature grade than TQFP variants (vs ATSAMD20J17A-AU)
- Smaller footprint than TQFP-64 alternative (vs ATSAMD20J17A-AU)
Design Notes
Estimated: at 48 MHz active mode, the ATSAMD20J17A-CNT draws approximately 7-9 mA from VDD (per SAM D20 datasheet typical curves). In Standby mode with RTC running, draw drops below 1.5 mA; Backup mode with RTC drops below 1 uA. Decouple each VDD and VDDCORE pin with 100 nF X7R ceramic capacitors placed within 3 mm of the pin. Add a bulk 4.7 uF tantalum or ceramic cap if using a switching regulator upstream.
For the 64-ball UFBGA package, use 0.4 mm pitch escape routing and a 4-layer PCB with continuous ground plane under the device. The thermal pad is not present on this package; thermal dissipation comes from the ball grid. Avoid routing high-speed traces under the UFBGA; route USB D+/D- as a 90-ohm differential pair with reference to the ground plane, length-matched within 150 mil.
The ATSAMD20J17A-CNT uses Microchip SERCOM peripheral multiplexing; pin functions for I2C/SPI/UART are firmware-assigned to multiple pads. Verify your pinout configuration in Atmel START / MPLAB Harmony before PCB fabrication. Do not exceed 3.63 V on any I/O pin or the regulator's absolute maximum; use level translators when interfacing with 5 V logic. The internal 32.768 kHz oscillator must be enabled before switching to DFLL closed-loop mode.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance confirmed by DigiKey and Mouser listings. AEC-Q100 automotive qualification not available for this suffix; consult Microchip SAM D20 AEC-Q100 variants for automotive use.
