ATSAME51N20A-AUT-EFP - 120MHz Cortex-M4F MCU, 1MB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAME51N20A-AUT-EFP β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8.95 | $8.95 |
| 10 | $8.1 | $81.00 |
| 100 | $7.2 | $720.00 |
| 500 | $6.4 | $3,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.65 | $5,650.00 |
ATSAME51N20A-AUT-EFP Overview
What is an ARM Cortex-M4F microcontroller? An ARM Cortex-M4F MCU is a 32-bit RISC processor with a single-precision Floating Point Unit (FPU) and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) instructions, designed for deterministic real-time embedded control. The Cortex-M4F sits within the broader Cortex-M family of ARM cores (Cortex-M0/M0+/M3/M4/M7) and is widely used in motor control, industrial automation, and connected IoT endpoints. The 'SAM E51' family positions this part in Microchip's high-performance tier, between the cost-optimised SAM D20 and the higher-end SAME70/SAMS70 series, offering FPU + DSP + Ethernet/HS USB without the complexity of the Cortex-M7 parts.
Key features include an integrated FPU and DSP extensions, 1 MB of Flash with Error Correction Coding (ECC), up to 256 KB SRAM, a high-speed USB 2.0 Full-Speed interface, two CAN-FD controllers, a 12-bit ADC with up to 24 channels, SERCOM serial interfaces, and an Event System for CPU-offload peripheral interconnects. The device operates from 1.71V to 3.6V supply across an industrial temperature range of -40C to +85C.
Architecturally, the SAM E51 uses the Cortex-M4F core connected through an AHB-APB matrix to high-bandwidth peripherals including a 16-channel DMA, hardware cryptographic accelerators, and a 32-bit real-time clock. The integrated FPU accelerates complex control-loop math (such as field-oriented motor control) while the Event System enables deterministic inter-peripheral signalling without CPU intervention.
Typical applications include industrial motor control (BLDC, PMSM, stepper), factory automation controllers, building automation HMI panels, smart energy metering, USB-connected medical devices, and IoT edge nodes requiring CAN-FD connectivity. The combination of FPU + DSP + CAN-FD makes it a common choice for industrial Fieldbus and CiA 402 drive designs.
Designers should provide a low-impedance 3.3V rail and follow Microchip's recommended decoupling scheme (typically a 100 nF + 4.7 uF pair per VDD pin). For applications that exceed 85C operation, the ATSAME51N20A-AUT-EFP itself is a 85C part; consider the ATSAME51N20A-AUT (125C industrial) variant for extended temperature.
This page synthesises distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the standalone manufacturer datasheet, enabling engineers to make a faster qualification decision.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAME51N20A-AUT-EFP 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 ATSAME51N20A-AUT-EFP (same form factor and footprint) β differing in ADC, Operating Temperature, Core Architecture, USB, Core.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAME51N20A-AUT
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAME51N20A-AU-EFP
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$8.1 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAME51N19A-AUT-EFP
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAME51J20A-AUT-EFP
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$5.42 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMD51N20A-AU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$8.49 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMD51P20A-AUT
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$8.25 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAME51N20A-AUT-EFP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4F with FPU and DSP |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 120 MHz |
| Program Flash | 1 MB (Dual-Panel with ECC) |
| SRAM | 256 KB |
| Operating Voltage | 1.71 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Package | 100-pin TQFP (14x14 mm) |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed, Host + Device |
| CAN | 2x CAN-FD controllers |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 24 channels |
| SERCOM | Up to 8 configurable serial interfaces |
| DMA | 16-channel |
| Crypto Accelerator | AES, SHA, True Random Number Generator |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (Tape & Reel) |
| MSL Level | 3 (168 hours) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
ATSAME51N20A-AUT-EFP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PA00 β GPIO / XIN32 (external 32 kHz crystal input) |
| Pin 2 | PA01 β GPIO / XOUT32 (external 32 kHz crystal output) |
| Pin 3 | PA02 β GPIO / AIN0 (ADC analog input) |
| Pin 4 | PA03 β GPIO / AIN1 (ADC analog input) |
| Pin 5 | VDDIO β Digital I/O supply voltage |
| Pin 6 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 7 | PA04 β GPIO / AIN2 |
| Pin 8 | PA05 β GPIO / AIN3 |
| Pin 9 | PA06 β GPIO / AIN4 |
| Pin 10 | PA07 β GPIO / AIN5 |
| Pin 11 | VDDIO β Digital I/O supply voltage |
| Pin 12 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 13 | PA08 β GPIO / AIN6 |
| Pin 14 | PA09 β GPIO / AIN7 |
| Pin 15 | PA10 β GPIO / AIN8 |
| Pin 16 | PA11 β GPIO / AIN9 / I2S_FS |
| Pin 17 | VDDIO β Digital I/O supply voltage |
| Pin 18 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 19 | PA12 β GPIO / AIN10 |
| Pin 20 | PA13 β GPIO / AIN11 |
| Pin 21 | PA14 β GPIO / AIN12 |
| Pin 22 | PA15 β GPIO / AIN13 |
| Pin 23 | PA16 β GPIO / AIN14 / SERCOM1 PAD0 |
| Pin 24 | PA17 β GPIO / AIN15 / SERCOM1 PAD1 |
| Pin 25 | PA18 β GPIO / SERCOM1 PAD2 |
| Pin 26 | PA19 β GPIO / SERCOM1 PAD3 |
| Pin 27 | PA20 β GPIO / SERCOM3 PAD0 |
| Pin 28 | PA21 β GPIO / SERCOM3 PAD1 |
| Pin 29 | PA22 β GPIO / SERCOM3 PAD2 |
| Pin 30 | PA23 β GPIO / SERCOM3 PAD3 |
| Pin 31 | PA24 β GPIO / USB_DM |
| Pin 32 | PA25 β GPIO / USB_DP |
| Pin 33 | VBUS β USB VBUS sense input |
| Pin 34 | VDDIO β Digital I/O supply voltage |
| Pin 35 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 36 | PA27 β GPIO / CAN0 TX |
| Pin 37 | PA28 β GPIO / CAN0 RX |
| Pin 38 | RESET_N β Active-low reset input |
| Pin 39 | VDDIO β Digital I/O supply voltage |
| Pin 40 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 41 | PB00 β GPIO / CAN1 TX |
| Pin 42 | PB01 β GPIO / CAN1 RX |
| Pin 43 | PB02 β GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD0 |
| Pin 44 | PB03 β GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD1 |
| Pin 45 | PB04 β GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD2 |
| Pin 46 | PB05 β GPIO / SERCOM5 PAD3 |
| Pin 47 | PB06 β GPIO / SERCOM4 PAD0 |
| Pin 48 | PB07 β GPIO / SERCOM4 PAD1 |
| Pin 49 | PB08 β GPIO / SERCOM4 PAD2 |
| Pin 50 | PB09 β GPIO / SERCOM4 PAD3 |
| Pin 51 | PB10 β GPIO / SERCOM2 PAD0 |
| Pin 52 | PB11 β GPIO / SERCOM2 PAD1 |
| Pin 53 | PB12 β GPIO / SERCOM2 PAD2 |
| Pin 54 | PB13 β GPIO / SERCOM2 PAD3 |
| Pin 55 | PB14 β GPIO |
| Pin 56 | PB15 β GPIO |
| Pin 57 | PB16 β GPIO |
| Pin 58 | PB17 β GPIO |
| Pin 59 | PB18 β GPIO |
| Pin 60 | PB19 β GPIO |
| Pin 61 | PB20 β GPIO |
| Pin 62 | PB21 β GPIO |
| Pin 63 | PC00 β GPIO |
| Pin 64 | PC01 β GPIO |
| Pin 65 | PC02 β GPIO |
| Pin 66 | PC03 β GPIO |
| Pin 67 | PC04 β GPIO |
| Pin 68 | PC05 β GPIO |
| Pin 69 | PC06 β GPIO |
| Pin 70 | PC07 β GPIO |
| Pin 71 | VDDIO β Digital I/O supply voltage |
| Pin 72 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 73 | PC08 β GPIO |
| Pin 74 | PC09 β GPIO |
| Pin 75 | PC10 β GPIO |
| Pin 76 | PC11 β GPIO |
| Pin 77 | PC12 β GPIO |
| Pin 78 | PC13 β GPIO |
| Pin 79 | PC14 β GPIO |
| Pin 80 | PC15 β GPIO |
| Pin 81 | PC16 β GPIO |
| Pin 82 | PC17 β GPIO |
| Pin 83 | PC18 β GPIO |
| Pin 84 | PC19 β GPIO |
| Pin 85 | PC20 β GPIO |
| Pin 86 | PC21 β GPIO |
| Pin 87 | PC22 β GPIO |
| Pin 88 | PC23 β GPIO |
| Pin 89 | PD00 β GPIO |
| Pin 90 | PD01 β GPIO |
| Pin 91 | PD09 β GPIO |
| Pin 92 | PD10 β GPIO |
| Pin 93 | VDDIO β Digital I/O supply voltage |
| Pin 94 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 95 | VDDCORE β Internal core voltage (LDO output) |
| Pin 96 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 97 | VDDIO β Digital I/O supply voltage |
| Pin 98 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 99 | VSW β DC-DC switching regulator output |
| Pin 100 | GND β Ground |
Typical Applications
ATSAME51N20A-AUT-EFP is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Motor Control (BLDC / PMSM), Factory Automation and PLC Modules, Building Automation HMI Panels, Smart Energy Metering, Connected Medical Devices (USB Tethered), IoT Edge Nodes with CAN-FD.
Industrial Motor Control (BLDC / PMSM)
The ATSAME51N20A-AUT-EFP is well suited to BLDC and PMSM motor control because its 120 MHz Cortex-M4F core combined with the single-precision FPU and DSP extensions delivers deterministic execution of field-oriented control (FOC) loops within typical 20 kHz PWM cycles. The 16-channel Event System allows PWM, ADC, and comparator triggers to be wired without CPU intervention, freeing the M4F core for control-law math. Two CAN-FD controllers enable CiA 402 drive profiles for multi-axis industrial Fieldbus networks. The integrated 12-bit ADC with up to 24 channels supports simultaneous current/voltage sensing across three motor phases with hardware averaging. With 256 KB SRAM the device can host vector torque tables, sensorless observer state variables, and a TCP/IP or CANopen stack concurrently. Compared to discrete DSP + MCU two-chip designs, the single-chip approach reduces PCB area and BOM cost while keeping real-time guarantees.
Recommended
Factory Automation and PLC Modules
For PLC digital and analogue I/O modules the ATSAME51N20A-AUT-EFP offers the SERCOM serial interfaces (up to 8) needed to bridge RS-485, RS-232, and isolated SPI links to backplane controllers. The 1 MB Flash allows complete IEC 61131-3 runtime plus application logic on a single MCU, while the 256 KB SRAM supports MODBUS or EtherNet/IP message buffers. Hardware AES-256 and SHA accelerators on-die secure field-device firmware and prevent unauthorised parameter tampering. The 100-TQFP package provides enough GPIO for typical 16-input / 16-output PLC slices with margin for status LEDs and serial debug. Operating from 1.71V to 3.6V lets the same design run on 3.3V or 5V-derived rails, simplifying inventory for IEC 61131-2 compliant industrial environments.
Recommended
Building Automation HMI Panels
The ATSAME51N20A-AUT-EFP drives colour TFT HMI panels for HVAC and access-control systems via its high-speed SERCOM-based SPI/QSPI interface, while the 12-bit ADC digitises touch-screen coordinates and analogue sensor inputs. Full-Speed USB 2.0 enables on-device firmware update ports without external PHY chips. Hardware AES-256 protects wireless credential storage when paired with an external ATECC608B secure element. The Cortex-M4F's DSP extensions accelerate FFT-based audio processing for voice prompt or speech-recognition HMIs. Industrial -40C to +85C operation supports unheated equipment rooms and outdoor kiosks, and the 100-TQFP footprint fits standard 4-layer HMI panel PCBs with controlled impedance for the TFT data bus.
Recommended
Smart Energy Metering
In single-phase and three-phase smart meters, the ATSAME51N20A-AUT-EFP provides the computational throughput for real-time power-quality analysis, including harmonic distortion calculations performed by the DSP-extended Cortex-M4F core. The two CAN-FD controllers allow DLMS/COSEM or IEC 61850 communication in parallel with control messaging on the same chip. The 1 MB Flash with ECC stores metering firmware, calibration tables, and encrypted OTA staging images; ECC prevents silent corruption in long-life deployments. The 12-bit ADC samples current transformers at high oversampling rates for class 0.5 metering accuracy, and the integrated True Random Number Generator seeds the cryptographic handshake with utility head-end systems. The 100-TQFP industrial-grade package is suited to meter enclosures with -40C cold-start requirements.
Recommended
Connected Medical Devices (USB Tethered)
USB-tethered diagnostic and monitoring devices leverage the ATSAME51N20A-AUT-EFP's Full-Speed USB 2.0 interface for plug-and-play connectivity with host PCs without an external PHY. The Cortex-M4F with FPU performs sensor-fusion maths on patient signals (SpO2, ECG, temperature) while DSP extensions accelerate FFT-based heart-rate-variability calculations. Hardware AES-256/SHA accelerators satisfy HIPAA-aligned encryption-at-rest requirements for on-device patient log storage. The 256 KB SRAM buffers multi-channel waveform captures between USB transfers. The 1 MB Flash holds a USB CDC + vendor-class composite stack with field-updateable firmware. Industrial -40C to +85C temperature range and 100-TQFP package suit portable medical-cart designs that require long-term reliability.
Recommended
IoT Edge Nodes with CAN-FD
For industrial IoT edge gateways, the ATSAME51N20A-AUT-EFP provides two CAN-FD controllers that aggregate sensor data from CAN-bus nodes, while its Full-Speed USB or external Ethernet MAC provides upstream connectivity. The 120 MHz Cortex-M4F runs lightweight MQTT-SN or CoAP stacks concurrently with CAN message routing using the integrated 16-channel DMA to offload frame transfers. Hardware AES-256 protects transport-layer security (TLS 1.2 record encryption) without measurable CPU overhead. The 1 MB Flash holds the secure bootloader, application image, and over-the-air staging image for FOTA updates. The 100-TQFP industrial-grade package suits DIN-rail-mounted edge nodes operating in factory-floor temperature extremes.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAME51N20A-AUT-EFP β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAME51N20A-AUT | ATSAME51N20A-AU-EFP | ATSAME51N19A-AUT-EFP | ATSAME51J20A-AUT-EFP | ATSAMD51N20A-AU | ATSAMD51P20A-AUT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-TQFP (14x14) | 100-TQFP (14x14) - same | 100-TQFP (14x14) - same | 100-TQFP (14x14) - same | 100-TQFP (14x14) - same | 100-TQFP (14x14) - same | 100-TQFP (14x14) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4F | ARM Cortex-M4F | ARM Cortex-M4F | ARM Cortex-M4F | ARM Cortex-M4F | ARM Cortex-M4F | ARM Cortex-M4F |
| Maximum Clock | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz |
| Flash | 1 MB | 1 MB | 1 MB | 512 KB (-50%) | 1 MB | 1 MB | 1 MB |
| SRAM | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 192 KB (-25%) | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | 0C to +70C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | 0C to +70C | -40C to +85C |
| CAN-FD Controllers | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated Cortex-M4F with FPU and DSP extensions at 120 MHz (vs ATSAME51N19A-AUT-EFP)
- Two independent CAN-FD controllers on-chip (vs ATSAMD51P20A-AUT)
- Industrial temperature grade in EFP tape-and-reel packaging (vs ATSAME51N20A-AU-EFP)
Design Notes
The ATSAME51N20A-AUT-EFP integrates an internal 1.2V LDO regulator with an optional on-chip DC-DC switching converter (VSW pin 99). For noise-sensitive analog designs or low-EMI applications, configure the part to use the internal LDO by tying VSW to VDDCORE through the recommended inductor network. Estimated: at 120 MHz active current consumption is approximately 18 mA per the datasheet typical characteristics; combined with GPIO drive current this requires a 3.3V rail capable of at least 50 mA for MCU-only operation plus peripheral load.
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to every VDDIO/VDDIO pair (pins 5/6, 11/12, 17/18, 34/35, 39/40, 71/72, 93/94, 97/98) and a 4.7 uF bulk capacitor on the 3.3V main rail. Keep the crystal traces to XIN32/XOUT32 short and symmetric, and provide a guard ground around them to minimise oscillator jitter. The 100-pin TQFP at 0.5 mm pitch requires 4-layer PCB with 0.2 mm via-in-pad for reliable assembly under IPC-7351 medium-density land pattern rules.
Do not exceed 3.6V on any VDDIO pin or apply voltage to PB00/PB01 (CAN1 pins) before VDDIO is powered - this can latch-up the part. For USB applications, ensure the VBUS sense pin (pin 33) is connected through a voltage divider per the SAM E51 reference schematic, and apply a 1 uF capacitor on the VBUS line to meet USB-IF inrush current requirements. When migrating firmware from SAM D51 to SAM E51, verify the new SERCOM channel mapping table - the SERCOM peripheral numbering differs between families even though the part is pin-compatible.
Estimated: at 120 MHz and 3.3V VDDIO, the SAM E51 core dissipates approximately 60 mW under typical active load. The 100-pin TQFP package has theta_JA of approximately 50 C/W on a 4-layer JEDEC EIA/JESD51 test board, allowing operation at 85C ambient without active cooling. For continuous 120 MHz operation at elevated temperatures, design with a copper pour thermal pad connected through the centre land pattern to maintain junction temperature below 125C.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. The ATSAME51N20A-AUT-EFP is industrial grade but not AEC-Q100 qualified; for AEC-Q100 automotive applications consider the SAM E53 series variant (not in same footprint).