ATSAME51J20A-AU - Cortex-M4F MCU 120MHz 1MB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAME51J20A-AU ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8.93 | $8.93 |
| 10 | $8.45 | $84.50 |
| 100 | $7.5 | $750.00 |
| 500 | $6.9 | $3,450.00 |
| 1,000 | $6.45 | $6,450.00 |
ATSAME51J20A-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. The Cortex-M4F belongs to the ARM Cortex-M family of energy-efficient processors designed for embedded deterministic control; the 'F' suffix denotes the integrated single-precision Floating Point Unit, which accelerates DSP-style math without taxing the integer pipeline. Within the broader semiconductor taxonomy, MCUs sit inside the Integrated Circuits > Microcontrollers segment, and the SAM E51 series is Microchip's high-performance Cortex-M4F line intended to bridge the gap between the Cortex-M0+ SAM D family and Cortex-M7 SAM S/E7 families.
Key features of the ATSAME51J20A-AU include 120 MHz core with FPU, 1 MB dual-panel Flash with ECC, 256 KB SRAM, a 16-bit accurate ADC peripheral set, and hardware crypto accelerators for AES and True Random Number generation. The device integrates a USB 2.0 Full-Speed transceiver, multiple SERCOM modules that can be configured as UART/SPI/I2C, CAN-FD controllers, and a sophisticated Event System for deterministic peripheral-to-peripheral signaling without CPU intervention. Power management provides multiple low-power Sleep modes, a battery backup domain, and a temperature range of -40C to +85C suitable for industrial environments.
Architecturally, the SAM E51 uses a 3-layer AHB bus matrix connecting the Cortex-M4F core to Flash, SRAM, and peripherals, with a dedicated bridge to the low-power peripherals. Dual-panel Flash allows read-while-write operation, supporting live firmware updates, and the integrated error-correction code (ECC) on Flash and SRAM improves reliability in electrically noisy industrial environments. The FreeRTOS-friendly architecture and Microchip's MPLAB Harmony 3 framework make it well suited for connected industrial sensor nodes, graphical HMIs, and protocol bridge applications.
Typical applications include industrial CAN-FD nodes, USB-connected sensor hubs, motor control FOC firmware, building automation gateways, and medical instrumentation front-ends. The wide operating voltage range of 1.71V to 3.63V simplifies battery-backed designs and direct 3.3V rail connection. When designing with this MCU, allocate a 4.7uF decoupling capacitor bank near the VDD pins and keep the SWD trace length below 50 mm to ensure reliable debug access throughout the product lifetime.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives from the same SAM E51 family and from competing Cortex-M4F pin-compatible parts, and practical design notes not consolidated in a single manufacturer document.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAME51J20A-AU — 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 ATSAME51J20A-AU (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, DAC, SRAM, USB, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAME51J19A-AUT-EFP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMD51J20A-AUT-EFP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$7.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAMD51N20A-AU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$8.49 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAME51J20A-AU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-M4F with single-precision FPU |
| Maximum Core Frequency | 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 1 MB (dual-panel with ECC) |
| SRAM | 256 KB |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.71 V to 3.63 V |
| Package | 64-pin TQFP (10x10 mm) |
| Pin Count | 64 |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed with on-chip transceiver |
| CAN | CAN-FD controllers |
| SERCOM Modules | Configurable as UART / SPI / I2C |
| ADC | 16-bit sigma-delta and 12-bit SAR ADC |
| Hardware Crypto Accelerator | AES, TRNG |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
ATSAME51J20A-AU Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PA00 — GPIO / XIN0 (crystal oscillator input) |
| Pin 2 | PA01 — GPIO / XOUT0 (crystal oscillator output) |
| Pin 3 | PA02 — GPIO / AIN0 (ADC input) |
| Pin 4 | PA03 — GPIO / AIN1 (ADC input) |
| Pin 5 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 6 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 7 | PA04 — GPIO / AIN2 |
| Pin 8 | PA05 — GPIO / AIN3 |
| Pin 9 | PA06 — GPIO / AIN4 |
| Pin 10 | PA07 — GPIO / AIN5 |
| Pin 11 | PA08 — GPIO / AIN6 |
| Pin 12 | PA09 — GPIO / AIN7 |
| Pin 13 | PA10 — GPIO / AIN8 |
| Pin 14 | PA11 — GPIO / AIN9 / SERCOM |
| Pin 15 | PA12 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 16 | PA13 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 17 | PA14 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 18 | PA15 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 19 | PA16 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 20 | PA17 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 21 | PA18 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 22 | PA19 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 23 | PA20 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 24 | PA21 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 25 | PA22 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 26 | PA23 — GPIO / SERCOM / USB D- |
| Pin 27 | PA24 — GPIO / SERCOM / USB D+ |
| Pin 28 | PA25 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 29 | PA27 — GPIO |
| Pin 30 | RESET — Reset input (active low) |
| Pin 31 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 32 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 33 | PB00 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 34 | PB01 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 35 | PB02 — GPIO / SERCOM / AIN10 |
| Pin 36 | PB03 — GPIO / SERCOM / AIN11 |
| Pin 37 | PB04 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 38 | PB05 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 39 | PB06 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 40 | PB07 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 41 | PB08 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 42 | PB09 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 43 | PB10 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 44 | PB11 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 45 | PB12 — GPIO / SERCOM / CAN RX |
| Pin 46 | PB13 — GPIO / SERCOM / CAN TX |
| Pin 47 | PB14 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 48 | PB15 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 49 | PB16 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 50 | PB17 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 51 | PB18 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 52 | PB19 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 53 | PB20 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 54 | PB21 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 55 | PB22 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 56 | PB23 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 57 | PB24 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 58 | PB25 — GPIO / SERCOM |
| Pin 59 | PB26 — GPIO |
| Pin 60 | PB27 — GPIO |
| Pin 61 | PB28 — GPIO |
| Pin 62 | PB29 — GPIO |
| Pin 63 | PB30 — GPIO / SWDIO |
| Pin 64 | PB31 — GPIO / SWCLK |
Typical Applications
ATSAME51J20A-AU is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial CAN-FD Sensor Node, USB-Connected Data Acquisition Module, Building Automation Gateway, Motor Control with FOC Firmware, Medical Instrumentation Front-End, Connected IoT Edge Node with OTA Firmware Update.
Industrial CAN-FD Sensor Node
The ATSAME51J20A-AU's integrated CAN-FD controllers combined with its 120 MHz Cortex-M4F core and 1 MB Flash make it a strong fit for industrial sensor nodes that stream 1 kHz process data over a CAN-FD bus. With on-chip hardware crypto (AES, TRNG), designers can add secure firmware and message authentication without external components, and the 256 KB SRAM is sufficient for buffering multi-frame sensor captures. Compared with a discrete MCU plus external CAN controller, the ATSAME51J20A-AU reduces BOM cost and PCB area while simplifying firmware because the SAM E51 peripheral library exposes CAN-FD directly to MPLAB Harmony 3.
Recommended
USB-Connected Data Acquisition Module
The on-chip USB 2.0 Full-Speed transceiver and 1 MB Flash with ECC position the ATSAME51J20A-AU as an excellent fit for USB-tethered data acquisition modules that stream ADC samples to a host PC at 1 MSPS. The 120 MHz Cortex-M4F core can sustain DMA-fed ADC transfers without dropping samples, and 256 KB SRAM accommodates double-buffered sample pipelines. The 1.71-3.63 V operating range lets the module share a single Li-Ion battery with the analog front-end, simplifying enclosure design.
Recommended
Building Automation Gateway
For a building automation gateway, the ATSAME51J20A-AU provides multiple SERCOM modules configurable as UART, SPI, and I2C to interface with HVAC controllers, Modbus sensors, and wireless modules. The 1 MB Flash supports a full TCP/IP stack plus Modbus and BACnet application code, while 256 KB SRAM buffers gateway traffic without overflow. The -40 C to +85 C industrial temperature range ensures reliable operation in unconditioned equipment rooms.
Recommended
Motor Control with FOC Firmware
Field-Oriented Control (FOC) for brushless DC and PMSM motors benefits from the Cortex-M4F's hardware single-precision FPU, which executes Park/Clarke transforms in a single cycle on the ATSAME51J20A-AU. The MCU's PWM timers, 12-bit ADC with up to 1 MSPS, and quadrature encoder interfaces are tightly coupled through the Event System, allowing sub-microsecond current-loop latency. The 1 MB Flash stores both the FOC algorithm and a GUI configuration block for field tuning.
Recommended
Medical Instrumentation Front-End
The Cortex-M4F core, hardware AES, and 16-bit sigma-delta ADC peripherals make the ATSAME51J20A-AU suitable for medical instrumentation front-ends such as blood-pressure monitors and pulse oximeters where deterministic DSP filtering of physiological signals is required. The hardware crypto accelerator protects patient data at rest without slowing the DSP pipeline, and the wide 1.71-3.63 V supply range supports both battery and USB-powered form factors. The 256 KB SRAM buffers real-time waveform displays while background tasks transmit results.
Recommended
Connected IoT Edge Node with OTA Firmware Update
For connected IoT edge nodes, the ATSAME51J20A-AU's dual-panel Flash with ECC supports live read-while-write operation, enabling over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates without taking the device offline. The USB 2.0 Full-Speed port provides an alternate boot path for recovery, and the CAN-FD controller bridges industrial fieldbus traffic. The 120 MHz Cortex-M4F can run TLS 1.3 handshake in under 200 ms with the on-chip AES accelerator, while 256 KB SRAM accommodates TLS buffers plus the application stack.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAME51J20A-AU — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAME51J19A-AU | ATSAMD51J20A-AUT-EFP | ATSAMD51N20A-AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 64-pin TQFP (10x10 mm) | 64-pin TQFP (10x10 mm) | 64-pin TQFP (10x10 mm) | 100-pin TQFP (mapped subset) |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4F 120 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4F 120 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4F 120 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4F 120 MHz |
| Flash | 1 MB dual-panel w/ ECC | 512 KB dual-panel w/ ECC | 1 MB dual-panel w/ ECC | 1 MB dual-panel w/ ECC |
| SRAM | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed | USB 2.0 Full-Speed | USB 2.0 Hi-Speed | USB 2.0 Hi-Speed |
| CAN-FD | Yes | Yes | No (CAN 2.0B only) | No (CAN 2.0B only) |
| Operating Voltage | 1.71 V to 3.63 V | 1.71 V to 3.63 V | 1.71 V to 3.63 V | 1.71 V to 3.63 V |
Key Differentiators
- Dual-panel Flash with ECC vs single-panel Flash (vs ATSAME51J19A-AU)
- Integrated CAN-FD controllers (vs ATSAMD51J20A-AUT-EFP)
- Industrial temperature range and 1 MB Flash (vs ATSAMD51N20A-AU)
Design Notes
Place a 4.7 uF ceramic decoupling capacitor close to each VDD pin and a 0.1 uF capacitor near the MCU's high-speed logic. The 1.71 V to 3.63 V operating range allows direct connection to a single Li-Ion cell or a 3.3 V LDO; choose an LDO with sub-1 mV RMS noise to avoid degrading the on-chip 16-bit sigma-delta ADC noise floor.
Keep the SWDIO and SWCLK traces shorter than 50 mm and route them over a continuous ground plane to prevent debug-session dropouts. For USB Full-Speed, place the 22 ohm series resistors and 47 pF capacitor to ground on D+ and D- within 8 mm of the MCU pins to meet USB 2.0 signal-integrity masks.
Dual-panel Flash read-while-write requires the application image to leave one bank untouched during OTA updates; do not map both banks to the same application. The SERCOM peripheral pads are multiplexed through the PORT mux - confirm the pin-assignment table in the datasheet before finalizing the schematic, as the same SERCOM can be remapped to alternate pads.
Compliance Information
Industrial -40C to +85C temperature grade per Microchip ordering code 'AU' suffix. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose ATSAMxE51J20A-AUT-EFP variant for automotive designs.
