ATSAMD20J17A-CUT - 48MHz Cortex-M0+ MCU 128KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAMD20J17A-CUT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.32 | $4.32 |
| 10 | $3.91 | $39.10 |
| 100 | $3.34 | $334.00 |
| 500 | $2.85 | $1,425.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.42 | $2,420.00 |
| 5,000 | $2.05 | $10,250.00 |
ATSAMD20J17A-CUT Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (Flash), data memory (SRAM), and a rich set of peripherals (ADC, timers, communication interfaces, GPIO). The SAM D20 family sits inside the broader hierarchy of ARM Cortex-M0+ based microcontrollers -> 32-bit microcontrollers -> microcontrollers -> integrated circuits -> semiconductors. By using the Cortex-M0+ core, the ATSAMD20J17A-CUT delivers 2.14 CoreMark/MHz while preserving the energy efficiency required for battery-powered end nodes.
Key features include the Cortex-M0+ core with single-cycle I/O access, a 12-bit 350 ksps ADC, a 10-bit DAC, up to 6 SERCOM serial communication interfaces, a 24-channel event system, a Real-Time Clock (RTC), and a 256-channel Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC). The device also integrates an 8-channel DMA, a 32-bit hardware divider, and an on-chip 32 kHz RTC oscillator with PLL for the 48 MHz system clock. Sleep current is in the microampere range, with multiple low-power modes (IDLE, STANDBY, BACKUP) selectable per peripheral.
The 64-UFBGA package supports up to 52 GPIO with 5 V tolerant inputs on most pins, plus dedicated I/O for USB, I2C, SPI, and UART through the flexible SERCOM peripheral. The 5x5 mm BGA footprint is intended for space-constrained designs where a QFP would be too large but the application still requires substantial memory and peripheral counts. The device is fully supported by Microchip/Atmel Studio, MPLAB X IDE, and Atmel START code-generator, with a free ASF (Atmel Software Framework) and Harmony 3 drivers.
Typical applications include low-power IoT sensor nodes, smart meters, home automation gateways, industrial control, human-machine interface (HMI), and consumer wearables. The wide supply range and integrated 12-bit ADC also make it a strong fit for battery monitoring and analog front-end (AFE) interfaces.
When designing with this part, ensure the four required decoupling capacitors (one 100 nF per VDD pin group) are placed as close as possible to the IC. For low-power RTC backup from a coin cell, route VBAT through a decoupling network and tie the XIN/XOUT 32.768 kHz crystal traces with short, guarded routing to minimize load capacitance error.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in package-compatible alternatives from the same SAM D20 family, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone, giving procurement and engineering teams a single reference for sourcing decisions.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMD20J17A-CUT — 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-CUT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, DAC, SRAM, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMD20J17A-CNT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.61 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMD20J18A-CUT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD21J17A-CUT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.48 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMD20J16B-MN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.73 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMC21J18A-MUT64
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMD20J17A-CUT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | ARM Cortex-M0+ (32-bit) |
| Series | SAM D20J |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 48 MHz |
| CoreMark Performance | 2.14 CoreMark/MHz |
| Program Memory | 128 KB Flash |
| Data Memory | 16 KB SRAM |
| Supply Voltage | 1.62 V to 3.63 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Package | 64-ball UFBGA (5x5 mm) |
| GPIO Count | Up to 52 |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 350 ksps, up to 14 channels |
| DAC | 10-bit, 1 channel |
| Communication Interfaces | Up to 6 SERCOM (configurable as UART/SPI/I2C) |
| RTC | Yes, 32-bit RTC with calendar |
| DMA Channels | 8 channels |
| Touch Controller | 256-channel PTC (Peripheral Touch Controller) |
| Event System | 24 channels |
| Low-Power Modes | IDLE, STANDBY, BACKUP |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (BGA) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
ATSAMD20J17A-CUT Pin Configuration
| Pin A1 | VDDIN — Main supply input, 1.62-3.63 V |
| Pin A2 | PA00 — GPIO / ADC IN0 / SERCOM1 PAD0 |
| Pin A3 | PA01 — GPIO / ADC IN1 / SERCOM1 PAD1 |
| Pin A4 | PA02 — GPIO / ADC_IN2 / DAC OUT |
| Pin A5 | PA03 — GPIO / ADC_IN3 / VREFA |
| Pin A6 | GND — Ground |
| Pin A7 | PA04 — GPIO / VREFB / ADC_IN4 |
| Pin A8 | PA05 — GPIO / ADC_IN5 |
| Pin B1 | PA06 — GPIO / ADC_IN6 / SERCOM0 PAD0 |
| Pin B2 | PA07 — GPIO / ADC_IN7 / SERCOM0 PAD1 |
| Pin B3 | PA08 — GPIO / SERCOM0 PAD2 / I2S |
| Pin B4 | PA09 — GPIO / SERCOM0 PAD3 / I2S |
| Pin B5 | PA10 — GPIO / SERCOM2 PAD2 |
| Pin B6 | PA11 — GPIO / SERCOM2 PAD3 |
| Pin B7 | PA12 — GPIO / SERCOM2 PAD0 / USB DP (alt fn) |
| Pin B8 | PA13 — GPIO / SERCOM2 PAD1 / USB DM (alt fn) |
| Pin C1 | PA14 — GPIO / SERCOM3 PAD2 |
| Pin C2 | PA15 — GPIO / SERCOM3 PAD3 |
| Pin C3 | PA16 — GPIO / SERCOM1 PAD0 / I2S |
| Pin C4 | PA17 — GPIO / SERCOM1 PAD1 / I2S |
| Pin C5 | PA18 — GPIO / SERCOM3 PAD0 |
| Pin C6 | PA19 — GPIO / SERCOM3 PAD1 |
| Pin C7 | PA20 — GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD2 |
| Pin C8 | PA21 — GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD3 |
| Pin D1 | PA22 — GPIO / SERCOM3 PAD0 / I2C SDA |
| Pin D2 | PA23 — GPIO / SERCOM3 PAD1 / I2C SCL |
| Pin D3 | PA24 — GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD0 / USB Host enable |
| Pin D4 | PA25 — GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD1 / 32 kHz out |
| Pin D5 | PB00 — GPIO / ADC IN8 |
| Pin D6 | PB01 — GPIO / ADC IN9 |
| Pin D7 | PB02 — GPIO / ADC IN10 / SERCOM5 PAD0 |
| Pin D8 | PB03 — GPIO / ADC IN11 / SERCOM5 PAD1 |
| Pin E1 | PB04 — GPIO / ADC IN12 |
| Pin E2 | PB05 — GPIO / ADC IN13 |
| Pin E3 | PB06 — GPIO / SERCOM4 PAD0 |
| Pin E4 | PB07 — GPIO / SERCOM4 PAD1 |
| Pin E5 | PB08 — GPIO / SERCOM4 PAD2 / I2S |
| Pin E6 | PB09 — GPIO / SERCOM4 PAD3 / I2S |
| Pin E7 | PB10 — GPIO / SERCOM4 PAD0 |
| Pin E8 | PB11 — GPIO / SERCOM4 PAD1 |
| Pin F1 | PB12 — GPIO / PTC YN0 |
| Pin F2 | PB13 — GPIO / PTC YP0 |
| Pin F3 | PB14 — GPIO / PTC YN1 |
| Pin F4 | PB15 — GPIO / PTC YP1 |
| Pin F5 | PB16 — GPIO / PTC YN2 |
| Pin F6 | PB17 — GPIO / PTC YP2 |
| Pin F7 | PA27 — GPIO / XIN32 (32 kHz crystal in) |
| Pin F8 | PA28 — GPIO / XOUT32 (32 kHz crystal out) |
| Pin G1 | VDDCORE — Internal core voltage (decouple) |
| Pin G2 | RESET — Reset input, active-low |
| Pin G3 | VDDIO — I/O supply |
| Pin G4 | GND — Ground |
| Pin G5 | PA30 — GPIO / SWCLK (programming) |
| Pin G6 | PA31 — GPIO / SWDIO (programming) |
| Pin G7 | VBAT — RTC battery domain supply |
| Pin G8 | VSW — DC-DC converter switch node |
Typical Applications
ATSAMD20J17A-CUT is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Smart Electricity Meters, Home Automation Gateways and HMI, Industrial Control and Sensor Conditioning, Consumer Wearables and Fitness Bands, HVAC and Building Climate Controllers.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The ATSAMD20J17A-CUT is an ideal host for coin-cell powered IoT sensor endpoints because the Cortex-M0+ core delivers 2.14 CoreMark/MHz at very low active current, and the BACKUP mode retains the RTC while dropping supply current into the low microampere range. With 128 KB of Flash it can host an over-the-air (OTA) bootloader plus the application image for Zigbee, LoRaWAN, or BLE stack peripherals, while 16 KB SRAM comfortably buffers sensor samples before radio transmission. The on-chip 12-bit 350 ksps ADC handles temperature, humidity, and battery voltage sensing without an external AFE, lowering BOM cost.
Recommended
Smart Electricity Meters
In single-phase smart electricity meters, the ATSAMD20J17A-CUT samples current and voltage through its 12-bit ADC at up to 350 ksps, performs RMS and power calculations in firmware, and stores 128 KB worth of load profile data in Flash with EEPROM emulation. The integrated RTC with calendar supports time-stamped tariff events, and the wide 1.62-3.63 V supply lets the meter share the same 3.3 V rail with the metrology AFE. Six SERCOM channels comfortably handle UART to the communication module, I2C to the EEPROM/display, and SPI to the RF or PLC modem.
Recommended
Home Automation Gateways and HMI
Home automation control panels and gateways leverage the ATSAMD20J17A-CUT for the local touch user interface: the on-chip 256-channel PTC (Peripheral Touch Controller) drives capacitive sliders, wheels, and buttons without an external touch IC. With up to 52 GPIO the part can also drive small TFT displays, segment LCDs, or LED indicators while bridging to wireless modules through SERCOM. The Cortex-M0+ at 48 MHz is fast enough to render lightweight LVGL UI frames and parse Matter/Thread/Zigbee payloads simultaneously.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Sensor Conditioning
In factory-automation end nodes, the ATSAMD20J17A-CUT provides multi-protocol industrial connectivity through six configurable SERCOMs supporting RS-485 UART, SPI for digital sensors, and I2C for EEPROMs and IO expanders. Its -40C to +85C industrial temperature rating covers most factory-floor enclosures, while 128 KB of memory can host IEC 61131-3 soft-PLC interpretation logic. The integrated 12-bit ADC with internal references is adequate for 4-20 mA loop monitoring when paired with external current-sense resistors.
Recommended
Consumer Wearables and Fitness Bands
Wearable fitness bands benefit from the ATSAMD20J17A-CUT's combination of low-power operation and integrated peripherals: BACKUP current is in the low microampere range while the 32.768 kHz RTC keeps time-stamping alive, and the 12-bit ADC reads optical heart-rate sensor signals and battery voltage. With 128 KB Flash it can host a BLE GATT service stack plus activity recognition algorithms, and the SERCOM peripherals easily bind to a low-energy BLE companion radio. The 64-UFBGA package supports slim wristband form factors with less than 5x5 mm MCU footprint.
Recommended
HVAC and Building Climate Controllers
HVAC zone controllers and thermostats use the ATSAMD20J17A-CUT to drive TRIACs, read NTC thermistors, and communicate over Modbus or BACnet. Its 128 KB Flash is sufficient for scheduling firmware and adaptive control loops, and the 12-bit ADC directly digitizes multiple temperature and humidity sensors. The RTC maintains time-of-day schedules without an external RTC IC, while six SERCOMs handle UART for Modbus, SPI for the LCD, and I2C for external EEPROM and environment sensors. Wide supply tolerance permits direct use on 3.3 V rails derived from rectified 24 VAC.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMD20J17A-CUT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMD20J17A-CNT | ATSAMD20J18A-CUT | ATSAMD21J17A-CUT | ATSAMD20J16B-MN | ATSAMC21J18A-MUT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-UFBGA (5x5) | 64-UFBGA (5x5) - same | 64-UFBGA (5x5) - same | 64-UFBGA (5x5) - same | 64-UFBGA (5x5) - same | 64-UFBGA (5x5) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ |
| Maximum Clock | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz |
| Flash | 128 KB | 128 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB | 64 KB | 256 KB |
| SRAM | 16 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB | 8 KB | 32 KB |
| ADC | 12-bit, 350 ksps | 12-bit, 350 ksps | 12-bit, 350 ksps | 12-bit, 1 Msps | 12-bit, 350 ksps | 12-bit, 1 Msps |
| 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 |
| USB | No | No | No | Yes, USB 2.0 FS | No | Yes, USB 2.0 FS |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
Key Differentiators
- Largest Flash in 64-UFBGA SAM D20 family with no USB overhead (vs ATSAMD21J17A-CUT)
- Pin-compatible upgrade path to 256 KB Flash (vs ATSAMD20J18A-CUT)
- Lower-cost downgrade path with same die family (vs ATSAMD20J16B-MN)
Design Notes
Place one 100 nF X7R decoupling capacitor as close as possible to each VDD pin ball (VDDIN, VDDIO, VDDCORE) and connect the GND end to the inner ground plane with a short, wide via. Add a single 4.7 uF bulk capacitor near the IC for transient response during sleep-wake cycles. For the VBAT RTC supply, route through a ferrite bead from VDDIN or coin cell and add 100 nF decoupling close to the VBAT ball.
The 64-UFBGA uses 0.5 mm ball pitch - design PCB pad diameter 0.30 mm with NSMD (non-solder mask defined) pads and a microvia-in-pad stackup. Use a 4-layer PCB with a continuous ground plane beneath the BGA to provide thermal spreading. Escape routing on the top layer requires 0.10 mm trace width/spacing with 0.20 mm drill microvias; use the BGA escape pattern recommended in the SAM D20 datasheet section 38.
Route the SWD signals (PA30 SWCLK, PA31 SWDIO) with characteristic impedance of 50 ohms and a maximum length of 50 mm to the debug header. Place the 10 kohm SWD pull-up on SWDIO close to the MCU. The 32.768 kHz crystal traces (XIN32, XOUT32) must be short, matched-length, and surrounded by ground guard to minimize load capacitance error.
Do not exceed 3.63 V on any VDD pin - the part is 1.8 V logic-class and lacks 5 V tolerance on most GPIO. Use an external level shifter for legacy 5 V peripherals. The ARM Cortex-M0+ core begins execution from the on-chip NVM; if using an external bootloader, configure the BOOTPROT bits correctly or the device will lock. Always configure the unused GPIO as inputs with pull-up enabled to avoid floating input leakage.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip/Atmel product page; industrial temperature grade only. AEC-Q100 qualification is not applicable to standard SAM D20 commercial/industrial parts. For automotive designs, choose the SAM D20 AEC-Q100 qualified variants.
