ATSAME70Q20A-CNT - 300MHz Cortex-M7 MCU, 1MB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAME70Q20A-CNT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18.63 | $18.63 |
| 10 | $16.77 | $167.70 |
| 100 | $14.91 | $1,491.00 |
| 500 | $13.04 | $6,520.00 |
| 1,000 | $11.18 | $11,180.00 |
ATSAME70Q20A-CNT 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. The Cortex-M7 is the highest-performance ARM Cortex-M core, featuring a 6-stage superscalar pipeline, branch prediction, single/double-precision FPU, and optional ICache/DCaches that deliver Dhrystone 2.1 performance exceeding 1500 DMIPS. Compared to Cortex-M4, the M7 typically offers 2x DSP and floating-point throughput, making it ideal for signal processing and high-speed control loops.
Key features of the ATSAME70Q20A-CNT include a 300 MHz core with FPU, 1 MB Flash, 384 KB SRAM (multi-port SRAM with optional ECC), and an extensive peripheral set: High-Speed USB Host/Device with on-chip PHY, dual CAN-FD, 10/100 Ethernet MAC with IEEE 1588 PTP support, HS SD card/MMC interface, image sensor interface, 12-bit 2 MSPS ADC, 12-bit DAC, I2S, and TFT LCD controller. The device operates from 1.2V core and 3.3V I/O supplies, and the -CNT suffix indicates the industrial temperature range (-40C to +85C) in Tape & Reel packaging.
Typical applications include industrial automation and PLCs, motor control and drives, smart energy metering, building automation, automotive telematics and infotainment, medical instrumentation, point-of-sale terminals, and embedded graphics with TFT displays. The combination of Ethernet, CAN-FD, and USB makes the SAM E70 especially suited to industrial IoT gateways requiring deterministic wired connectivity.
When designing with this MCU, ensure the 1.2V core regulator (LDO or switching) can supply transient currents of ~250 mA during clock transitions. Use a multi-layer PCB with a continuous ground pour under the LFBGA to manage thermal dissipation and provide low-impedance return paths for the high-speed HS USB and Ethernet signals.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, application guidance, and design notes for the ATSAME70Q20A-CNT that go beyond the manufacturer datasheet, optimized for engineers and procurement teams evaluating Cortex-M7 MCU options in 2026.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAME70Q20A-CNT — 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 ATSAME70Q20A-CNT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, SRAM, Flash Memory, USB, ADC.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAME70Q19A-CN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.68 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAME70Q19A-CFNT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAME70Q19A-AN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$10.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAME70Q21B-CNT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAME70Q20A-CNT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-M7 with FPU |
| Core Frequency (max) | 300 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 1 MB (1024 KB) |
| SRAM | 384 KB |
| Operating Voltage (Core) | 1.2 V |
| Operating Voltage (I/O) | 3.3 V |
| Package | 144-LFBGA (10x10 mm) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Data Bus Width | 32-bit |
| Connectivity | USB HS Host/Device, Ethernet 10/100, 2x CAN-FD, 4x UART, 5x SPI, 3x I2C, I2S |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 2 MSPS |
| DAC | 12-bit |
| Display Interface | TFT LCD controller, image sensor interface |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 3 (168 hours) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
ATSAME70Q20A-CNT 144-lfbga (10x10 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAME70Q20A-CNT (144-lfbga (10x10 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 ATSAME70Q20A-CNT.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAME70Q20A-CNT is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial Automation and PLCs, Motor Control and Drives, Smart Energy Metering, Building Automation Gateways, Medical Instrumentation, Connected Point-of-Sale Terminals, Embedded Graphical HMI with TFT Display.
Industrial Automation and PLCs
The ATSAME70Q20A-CNT's combination of a 300 MHz Cortex-M7 core with FPU, dual CAN-FD, 10/100 Ethernet with IEEE 1588 PTP, and 1 MB Flash makes it ideally suited to industrial PLC and automation controllers. Deterministic EtherCAT or PROFINET-class fieldbus communication benefits from the M7's tight interrupt latency (~20 ns typical) and hardware-accelerated floating point for PID loops and motion trajectory interpolation. The 384 KB SRAM accommodates full Ethernet stacks plus dual CAN-FD message buffers without external memory, reducing BOM cost. The industrial -40C to +85C temperature range and high ESD tolerance on the LFBGA's exposed pads support harsh factory-floor deployment. Deploy with a 4-layer PCB featuring a continuous ground pour beneath the BGA to provide low-impedance return paths for the high-speed Ethernet and HS USB signals.
Recommended
Motor Control and Drives
The ATSAME70Q20A-CNT is widely deployed in industrial motor drives and servo controllers, leveraging its Cortex-M7 DSP extensions and high-resolution PWM timers. Field-Oriented Control (FOC) algorithms for PMSM motors execute at high sample rates when the 384 KB SRAM holds the full Park/Clarke transform tables, and the 12-bit 2 MSPS ADC captures phase currents with sub-microsecond latency for closed-loop torque regulation. The 1 MB Flash stores field-weakening tables, autotuning routines, and safety firmware. The integrated Ethernet MAC enables EtherCAT or Modbus TCP drive connectivity for multi-axis motion systems. Designers should pair this MCU with isolated gate drivers (e.g. Si8271) and a current-sense amplifier for each phase leg.
Recommended
Smart Energy Metering
The ATSAME70Q20A-CNT supports multi-protocol smart metering applications including single-phase and three-phase electricity meters, water/gas heat meters, and submetering networks. The 12-bit 2 MSPS ADC samples current and voltage channels simultaneously for harmonic analysis up to the 63rd order per IEC 61000-4-7, while the M7's single-precision FPU executes DFT and RMS calculations within microseconds. CAN-FD and Ethernet connectivity enable integration into AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) gateways and DLMS/COSEM stacks, with IEEE 1588 timestamping for billing-grade time synchronization. The industrial temperature range ensures reliable outdoor enclosure deployment, and the 1 MB Flash holds cryptographic libraries for secure boot and TLS 1.3 communication.
Recommended
Building Automation Gateways
Building automation gateways consolidate protocols such as BACnet, KNX, Modbus, and LonWorks into a single supervisory controller. The ATSAME70Q20A-CNT's combination of dual CAN-FD, Ethernet, USB, and multiple UARTs is well matched to bridging between wired fieldbuses and cloud uplinks over MQTT or HTTPS. The Cortex-M7 at 300 MHz handles TLS 1.3 handshakes with on-chip crypto accelerators, freeing the CPU for HVAC scheduling and lighting control logic. The 144-LFBGA's compact 10x10 mm footprint allows integration into DIN-rail mounted gateways with limited PCB area. Industrial -40C to +85C operation supports unheated electrical closets.
Recommended
Medical Instrumentation
The ATSAME70Q20A-CNT powers portable medical devices including patient monitors, infusion pumps, and point-of-care diagnostic equipment. The Cortex-M7's deterministic interrupt response (~12 ns typical) and the dual CAN-FD connectivity support real-time multi-parameter monitor buses. The 12-bit 2 MSPS ADC combined with the on-chip 12-bit DAC and I2S interface enables digital stethoscope signal chains, while the 1 MB Flash stores waveform DSP algorithms and safety-class B firmware per IEC 62304. The TFT LCD controller directly drives 320x240 to 800x480 displays used in bedside monitors. The industrial temperature range supports deployment in clinical and ambulatory environments.
Recommended
Connected Point-of-Sale Terminals
POS terminals integrate payment processing, NFC, barcode scanning, and customer displays, all of which the ATSAME70Q20A-CNT can service from a single chip. HS USB supports PIN pad and printer peripherals, Ethernet enables IP-based payment gateways, and the TFT controller drives the merchant-facing color display. The Cortex-M7's hardware FPU accelerates EMVCo kernel processing and PCI PTS-compliant cryptographic operations when paired with an external secure element such as the ATECC608B. The 384 KB SRAM holds full TCP/IP stacks plus a small web server for remote terminal management, while the 1 MB Flash retains the EMVCo L1/L2 application firmware.
Recommended
Embedded Graphical HMI with TFT Display
Industrial HMI panels and operator interfaces benefit from the ATSAME70Q20A-CNT's integrated TFT LCD controller supporting displays up to 800x480 without an external graphics controller. The M7's 300 MHz clock rate renders emWin, LVGL, or Microchip's MPLAB Harmony graphics libraries at 60 FPS even with anti-aliased fonts and alpha-blended widgets. The 1 MB Flash holds full graphical assets including multiple language fonts, while the 384 KB SRAM acts as the framebuffer. Capacitive touch controllers interface over I2C or SPI. Designers should use a 4-layer PCB with separate analog/digital ground planes to keep the TFT bus noise out of the sensitive ADC channels.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAME70Q20A-CNT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAME70Q19A-CN | ATSAME70Q19A-CFNT | ATSAME70Q21B-CNT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 144-LFBGA (10x10 mm) | 144-LFBGA (10x10 mm) | 144-LFBGA (10x10 mm) | 144-LFBGA (10x10 mm) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M7 @ 300 MHz | ARM Cortex-M7 @ 300 MHz | ARM Cortex-M7 @ 300 MHz | ARM Cortex-M7 @ 300 MHz |
| Flash | 1 MB | 1 MB | 1 MB | 2 MB |
| SRAM | 384 KB | 384 KB | 384 KB | 384 KB |
| Ethernet | 10/100 MAC + IEEE 1588 | 10/100 MAC + IEEE 1588 | 10/100 MAC + IEEE 1588 | 10/100 MAC + IEEE 1588 |
| CAN-FD | 2x | 2x | 2x | 2x |
| USB | HS Host/Device + PHY | HS Host/Device + PHY | HS Host/Device + PHY | HS Host/Device + PHY |
| ADC | 12-bit, 2 MSPS | 12-bit, 2 MSPS | 12-bit, 2 MSPS | 12-bit, 2 MSPS |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
Key Differentiators
- Higher-density LFBGA package with same electrical die (vs ATSAME70Q20A-AN (144-LQFP))
- Industrial -40C to +85C temperature range as standard (vs Consumer-grade Cortex-M7 MCUs)
- Integrated HS USB PHY eliminates external IC (vs MCUs without on-chip USB PHY)
Design Notes
Estimated: The SAM E70's 1.2V core rail can draw transient currents up to ~250 mA during clock tree transitions and Flash programming. Use a switching regulator with at least 500 mA headroom and 22 uF of bulk decoupling on VDDCORE. Place a 100 nF + 4.7 uF combination within 5 mm of each VDDCORE ball pair to suppress high-frequency noise. The 3.3V VDDIO rail should be sourced from a low-noise LDO (e.g. MIC5219) to keep analog ADC noise below 1 LSB at 12-bit resolution.
Use a 4-layer PCB with a continuous ground plane beneath the 144-LFBGA and dedicated power planes on layers 2 and 3. Escape the BGA on the top layer with 0.15 mm (6 mil) traces using laser-drilled microvias to inner layers. Place the Ethernet PHY within 25 mm of the GMAC balls to keep MII/RMII traces short and matched. Use differential pair routing with 100 ohm impedance for the HS USB DP/DN lines and 90 ohm for Ethernet TX/RX pairs.
Estimated: At 300 MHz with all peripherals active, the SAM E70 dissipates approximately 0.5-0.8 W. While the 144-LFBGA's exposed thermal pad helps conduct heat through the ground plane vias, ensure at least a 6x6 via array (0.3 mm pitch) is placed under the center pad to maintain junction temperature below 100C at 85C ambient. Avoid placing heat-generating components (LDOs, switching regulators) within 5 mm of the BGA perimeter.
Do not skip the 32.768 kHz crystal on the RTC oscillator pins even if you do not use the RTC - it is required for the PLL lock detection on some SAM E70 revisions. Always hold NRST low for at least 10 ms after VDDCORE and VDDIO have stabilized, otherwise the M7's debug interface may enter an unrecoverable state. The HSE Bypass mode requires the external clock to be present before the PLL is configured; configure in MPLAB Harmony's clock manager to avoid lock-up.
The 144-LFBGA's high-density signal escape means several peripherals share balls through the I/O mux (AFEC, PWM, SERCOM). When routing, leave room for the alternate peripheral by keeping trace impedance controlled and avoiding via stubs. Series-terminate the parallel TFT data bus with 33 ohm resistors if the display is more than 50 mm from the BGA, and use shielded FPC for the flat-flex connection to the LCD module.
Compliance Information
Industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C) is standard on -CNT suffix; AEC-Q100 qualified variants carry the -MVA or similar automotive suffix. RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product declaration.
