ATSAMD21G17A-MFT - SAM D21G 48MHz Cortex-M0+ MCU 128KB | Microchip
MPN: ATSAMD21G17A-MFT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.32 | $4.32 |
| 10 | $3.88 | $38.80 |
| 100 | $3.45 | $345.00 |
| 500 | $3.05 | $1,525.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.71 | $2,710.00 |
| 3,000 | $2.4 | $7,200.00 |
ATSAMD21G17A-MFT Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is an integrated circuit combining a CPU core, volatile and non-volatile memory, programmable peripherals, and interrupt logic on a single die. The Cortex-M0+ core is the smallest, most energy-efficient member of the ARM Cortex-M family, designed for deterministic real-time embedded control in deeply embedded applications. The ATSAMD21G17A-MFT belongs to the broader SAM D family (Cortex-M0+) within Microchip's portfolio of 32-bit microcontrollers, sharing a linear address map and hex-compatible code with sibling SAM D21E/J variants for simple migration.
Key features of the ATSAMD21G17A-MFT include a full-speed USB 2.0 device/host port, an Event System for inter-peripheral signalling, a 12-bit 1 MSPS ADC, 10-bit DAC, multiple timers/counters, SERCOM serial interfaces, and an I2S interface for digital audio. The device operates from 1.6V to 3.6V and includes integrated touch support via the Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) and a Dual-Interface Flash ROM that supports both MCU and bootloader access.
The architecture pairs a Cortex-M0+ core with Microchip's peripheral DMA, an 8-channel Event System, and an advanced analog front-end including two configurable analog comparators and a 12-bit ADC with up to 350 kSPS throughput. SleepWalking peripherals and a low-power RTC enable idle current as low as a few microamperes, suiting battery-operated designs. Functional Safety (FuSa) features and the 125C temperature grade qualify the part for industrial-grade deployments.
Typical applications include home automation nodes, smart metering endpoints, consumer Human-Interface Devices (HIDs), industrial sensor hubs, and IoT edge devices that need USB connectivity. The integrated USB, ADC, and PWM channels also serve well in motor-control subsystems, BLDC driver control boards, and low-power wearables that demand deterministic Cortex-M0+ behaviour. When designing with this part, allocate careful PCB routing for the 48-pin QFN thermal pad and provide low-impedance ground returns for the analog channels; keep high-speed SERCOM traces short to preserve signal integrity at 48MHz.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMD21G17A-MFT — 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 ATSAMD21G17A-MFT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, ADC, Core Architecture, SERCOM.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMD21G17A-MF
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMD21G17A-AFT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.7 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMD21G17A-MFT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-M0+ |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 48 MHz |
| CoreMark/MHz | 2.46 |
| Flash Memory | 128 KB |
| SRAM | 16 KB |
| RWW Flash Partition | 4 KB |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.6 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C |
| Package | 48-pin QFN (7x7 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| USB | Full-Speed USB 2.0 Device/Host |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 350 kSPS |
| DAC | 10-bit |
| SERCOM | Configurable serial (UART/SPI/I2C) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
ATSAMD21G17A-MFT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PA00 — GPIO/ADC AIN0/XIN32K |
| Pin 2 | PA01 — GPIO/ADC AIN1/XOUT32K |
| Pin 3 | PA02 — GPIO/AIN2/SERCOM0 PAD0 |
| Pin 4 | PA03 — GPIO/AIN3/ADC Reference |
| Pin 5 | PA04 — GPIO/AIN4/SERCOM0 PAD2 |
| Pin 6 | PA05 — GPIO/AIN5 |
| Pin 7 | PA06 — GPIO/AIN6 |
| Pin 8 | PA07 — GPIO/AIN7 |
| Pin 9 | VDDIO — I/O supply voltage |
| Pin 10 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 11 | PA08 — GPIO/AIN8/SERCOM2 PAD0 |
| Pin 12 | PA09 — GPIO/AIN9/SERCOM2 PAD1 |
| Pin 13 | PA10 — GPIO/AIN10/SERCOM2 PAD2 |
| Pin 14 | PA11 — GPIO/AIN11/SERCOM2 PAD3 |
| Pin 15 | PA12 — GPIO/SERCOM4 PAD0 |
| Pin 16 | PA13 — GPIO/SERCOM4 PAD1 |
| Pin 17 | PA14 — GPIO/SERCOM4 PAD2 |
| Pin 18 | PA15 — GPIO/SERCOM4 PAD3 |
| Pin 19 | PA16 — GPIO/SERCOM1 PAD0 |
| Pin 20 | PA17 — GPIO/SERCOM1 PAD1 |
| Pin 21 | PA18 — GPIO/SERCOM1 PAD2 |
| Pin 22 | PA19 — GPIO/SERCOM1 PAD3 |
| Pin 23 | PA20 — GPIO/SERCOM5 PAD2 |
| Pin 24 | PA21 — GPIO/SERCOM5 PAD3 |
| Pin 25 | PA22 — GPIO/SERCOM3 PAD0 |
| Pin 26 | PA23 — GPIO/SERCOM3 PAD1 |
| Pin 27 | PA24 — GPIO/SERCOM3 PAD2 |
| Pin 28 | PA25 — GPIO/SERCOM3 PAD3 |
| Pin 29 | VDDIN — Voltage regulator input |
| Pin 30 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 31 | VDDCORE — Internal regulator output |
| Pin 32 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 33 | PA26 — GPIO |
| Pin 34 | PA27 — GPIO |
| Pin 35 | RESETn — Reset (active low) |
| Pin 36 | SWDIO — SWD debug data |
| Pin 37 | SWDCLK — SWD debug clock |
| Pin 38 | PA30 — GPIO/SWD reset entry |
| Pin 39 | PA31 — GPIO/bootloader entry |
| Pin 40 | DM — USB D- |
| Pin 41 | DP — USB D+ |
| Pin 42 | VBUS — USB VBUS detect |
| Pin 43 | VDDIO — I/O supply voltage |
| Pin 44 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 45 | PB00 — GPIO/ADC AIN12 |
| Pin 46 | PB01 — GPIO/ADC AIN13 |
| Pin 47 | PB02 — GPIO/ADC AIN14 |
| Pin 48 | PB03 — GPIO/ADC AIN15 |
Typical Applications
ATSAMD21G17A-MFT is suitable for 6 applications: Home Automation Controllers, USB HID Consumer Devices, Industrial Sensor Hubs and Metering, IoT Edge Nodes with USB-C, Low-Power Wearables and Fitness Bands, Human-Machine Interface (HMI) Panels.
Home Automation Controllers
The ATSAMD21G17A-MFT fits home automation controller roles through its 48MHz Cortex-M0+ core with 128KB flash and 16KB SRAM, which comfortably runs Zigbee/BLE co-processor firmware, multi-protocol bridge logic, and Microchip's Lightweight Mesh stack. The on-chip full-speed USB 2.0 device/host controller and multiple SERCOM peripherals (UART/SPI/I2C configurable) allow simultaneous connection to Wi-Fi/BLE modules, sensors, and a USB Type-C power port. The 12-bit 350 kSPS ADC reads analog occupancy and ambient-light sensors with low noise, and the Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) supports up to 256 capacitive touch channels for keypad-less wall switches. The -40C to +125C industrial temperature grade means the part survives outdoor enclosures and attic-mounted equipment. Event System and SleepWalking peripherals reduce quiescent current to a few microamperes between radio events, suiting battery-backed smart-home hubs. Microchip's ATSAMD21G17A-AFT shares the same 48-QFN footprint for variants requiring different tape-and-reel packaging.
Recommended
USB HID Consumer Devices
The ATSAMD21G17A-MFT is ideal for USB HID class devices because of its integrated full-speed USB 2.0 device controller with on-chip transceiver and 2.0K internal pull-up resistor. This eliminates an external PHY, reducing BOM cost and PCB area in keyboards, mice, gaming controllers, presentation clickers, and industrial HMI panels. The 128KB flash supports complex HID report descriptors, macro storage, and firmware update over USB (DFU bootloader), while 16KB SRAM buffers HID reports and LED RGB animations. Multiple SERCOM interfaces can drive external SPI keyboards or I2C sensors concurrently with USB active. The integrated Event System allows the USB SOF signal to trigger peripheral events for low-latency indicator updates. -40C to +125C industrial rating supports rugged HID use in factory floor panels, and the Peripheral Touch Controller can replace mechanical buttons with capacitive sliders on consumer HID products. The ATSAMD21G17A-MF is the commercial temperature equivalent for non-industrial HID designs.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Hubs and Metering
Industrial sensor hubs and smart-metering endpoints benefit from the ATSAMD21G17A-MFT's combination of 12-bit 350 kSPS ADC with up to 20 analog channels, dual 12-bit DAC outputs for bias generation, and an integrated Peripheral Touch Controller for keypad input. The 1.6V to 3.6V supply range lets the part run directly from a 3.6V LiSOCl2 primary battery for remote metering endpoints with decade-long service life. The Cortex-M0+ core at 48MHz (2.46 CoreMark/MHz) processes sensor fusion and Modbus/CAN-FD frames with deterministic latency. Functional Safety (FuSa) features and the -40C to +125C industrial temperature grade qualify the part for utility metering deployments requiring IEC 61000-4 EMC compliance. SleepWalking peripherals, an RTC with calendar, and a low-power brown-out detector hold system quiescent current at microampere levels, while the integrated Event System wakes the CPU only on relevant sensor interrupts. The ATSAMD21G17A-AFT shares the same die for tape-and-reel industrial builds.
Recommended
IoT Edge Nodes with USB-C
USB-C powered IoT edge nodes benefit from the ATSAMD21G17A-MFT's USB 2.0 device/host controller that supports USB-C 5V/1.5A bus-powered designs without external MCU supervision. The Cortex-M0+ at 48MHz with 128KB flash runs Microchip's LWMesh, Thread, or Matter-over-Thread application layer, while the SERCOM peripherals provide I2C/SPI to environmental sensors and SPI flash. The 12-bit ADC reads analog battery voltage and load current for health-monitoring logs. Operating from 1.6V to 3.6V, the part survives brownouts during USB bus renegotiations. The integrated DMA with 32 channels offloads sensor reads from the CPU, keeping the core available for radio-event handling. The -40C to +125C industrial temperature grade supports indoor and sheltered outdoor IoT nodes. Compatible drop-in parts in the Site MPN list include the ATSAMD21G15B-MUT for designs needing less flash at lower cost.
Recommended
Low-Power Wearables and Fitness Bands
Wearable devices benefit from the ATSAMD21G17A-MFT's Cortex-M0+ core with SleepWalking peripherals, integrated 12-bit ADC for heart-rate/SpO2 sensor reads, and on-chip Peripheral Touch Controller for capacitive user input. The 128KB flash stores firmware and BLE stack buffers, while 16KB SRAM supports sensor data aggregation before radio offload. Full-speed USB supports charging and firmware update over USB-C cables, eliminating the need for a separate bootloader MCU. The 1.6V to 3.6V supply range allows direct Li-Po battery coupling, with on-chip ADC monitoring cell voltage and load current. Event System chains allow sensor-ready signals to wake the CPU only when new data is available, holding battery current draw at microampere levels between events. Industrial temperature range supports sports wearables in cold-weather and high-sweat conditions. The ATSAMD21E17A-MUT (32-pin QFN) drop-in is preferred for slimmer wristbands where pin count is sufficient.
Recommended
Human-Machine Interface (HMI) Panels
HMI panels use the ATSAMD21G17A-MFT's 48MHz Cortex-M0+ core, 12-bit ADC for touchless proximity sensing, and on-chip Peripheral Touch Controller for capacitive touchscreens up to 256 channels. The integrated Event System handles low-latency touch processing without waking the core on every scan, allowing multi-touch HMI designs with deterministic response. Multiple SERCOM ports drive TFT LCD panels over SPI or RGB-with-FDMA channels, while the integrated I2S supports digital audio playback in multimedia HMI panels. Full-speed USB enables firmware update and configuration download from a host PC. The -40C to +125C industrial temperature rating supports harsh factory environments. The on-chip DMA with 32 channels offloads framebuffer transfers to SPI/I2S peripherals without CPU intervention. The ATSAMD21G17A-MF (commercial temperature grade) is a lower-cost drop-in for indoor HMI designs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMD21G17A-MFT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMD21G17A-MF | ATSAMD21G17A-AFT | ATSAMD21G17A-AUT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) - same | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) - same | 48-TQFP (7x7) - different |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ | ARM Cortex-M0+ |
| Max CPU Frequency | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz |
| Flash | 128 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB |
| SRAM | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 1.6 V to 3.6 V | 1.6 V to 3.6 V | 1.6 V to 3.6 V | 1.6 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C |
| USB | Full-Speed USB 2.0 | Full-Speed USB 2.0 | Full-Speed USB 2.0 | Full-Speed USB 2.0 |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial 125C temperature grade in 48-QFN (vs ATSAMD21G17A-MF)
- Full-speed USB 2.0 on-chip transceiver (vs PIC16F723A-I/MV)
- Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) up to 256 channels (vs PIC16F722-E/SO)
Design Notes
The 48-QFN (7x7 mm) package has an exposed thermal pad (EP) at pins 49-50. The pad must be soldered to a copper pour on the PCB for electrical ground and thermal dissipation. Use an array of thermal vias under the EP to a ground plane on the opposite layer. Keep analog traces routed over a continuous ground plane to minimize coupling, and ensure high-speed USB D+/D- traces are 90 ohm differential with no stubs, as recommended in the SAM D21 datasheet layout section.
The ATSAMD21G17A-MFT integrates a 1.2V core LDO. Place a 1uF X7R decoupling capacitor close to VDDIN and a 1uF X7R + 100nF NP0 pair close to VDDIO and VDDCORE. Bulk capacitance of 4.7uF on VDDIN suppresses USB inrush transients. The part can operate directly from a Li-Ion/LiPo cell without external regulation due to its 1.6V-3.6V input range. For USB bus-powered designs, add a 10uF tantalum or ceramic capacitor at the VBUS pin to handle USB inrush.
Avoid routing SWDIO/SWDCLK traces over long distances (>50mm) without ground shielding - this degrades programming reliability. The PA30/PA31 pins are used for SWD reset entry; leave them accessible in production PCB layouts for field recovery. When using USB, ensure the VBUS pin is connected through a resistor divider or comparator - do not connect VBUS directly to 5V. The on-chip 32.768kHz crystal oscillator requires external load capacitors per the SAM D21 crystal selection guide - choose CL = 12.5pF crystals for typical tuning accuracy.
For SERCOM peripherals configured in SPI mode, keep MOSI/MISO/SCK trace lengths matched within 10mm to avoid clock-data skew. The on-chip DMA with 32 channels can service high-speed SERCOM transfers without CPU intervention, freeing the Cortex-M0+ core for application logic. Use short return paths for ADC analog inputs; the integrated 12-bit ADC achieves 350 kSPS throughput only with low-impedance source drivers and proper grounding.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial 125C temperature grade but NOT AEC-Q100 qualified - select ATSAMD21G17A-AF for automotive qualified variants.
