ATSAME70Q21A-CFNT - 300MHz Cortex-M7 MCU 2MB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAME70Q21A-CFNT β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18.4 | $18.40 |
| 10 | $16.55 | $165.50 |
| 100 | $14.2 | $1,420.00 |
| 500 | $12.65 | $6,325.00 |
| 1,000 | $11.4 | $11,400.00 |
ATSAME70Q21A-CFNT Overview
What is a Cortex-M7 microcontroller? An ARM Cortex-M7 MCU is a 32-bit RISC processor core designed for high-performance embedded applications requiring DSP capability, single-precision/double-precision floating-point math, and deterministic real-time response. Within the broader taxonomy, the Cortex-M7 sits at the top of the Cortex-M family (Cortex-M0/M0+/M3/M4/M7), and the SAM E70 belongs to Microchip's high-end MCU family that competes with Cortex-M7 parts from ST, NXP, and Renesas. It is the central compute element in systems where an M4-class MCU is insufficient but an applications processor is unnecessary.
Key features of the ATSAME70Q21A-CFNT include 2MB on-chip Flash (2M x 8), 384KB SRAM, 16KB instruction cache plus 16KB data cache, a high-speed USB 2.0 High-Speed PHY with on-chip transceiver, dual CAN-FD controllers, an EMAC with 1588 PTP, image sensor interface, and a 12-bit ADC up to 2Msps. The 6-channel 16-bit PWM timer plus 8-channel 16-bit timer counter blocks make it suitable for motor and power conversion control. The peripheral DMA controller (PDC) and AHB bus matrix with QoS optimization allow sustained memory bandwidth at full core clock.
Architecturally, the ATSAME70Q21A-CFNT combines a superscalar Cortex-M7 core with Tightly Coupled Memory (TCM) interfaces and multi-port SRAM that delivers zero-wait-state performance to 384KB of fast memory while the 2MB Flash is accessed via an AHB interface with cache acceleration. The integrated FPU supports both single and double precision, enabling complex DSP and control algorithms without software emulation overhead. Hardware cryptographic accelerators and True Random Number Generator (TRNG) provide security primitives for connected applications.
Typical applications include industrial automation and PLCs, automotive body and infotainment ECUs, building automation and HVAC controllers, medical instrumentation with graphical displays, audio processing and high-end consumer audio, point-of-sale terminals, and IoT edge gateways requiring Ethernet connectivity with real-time deterministic response. The combination of HS USB, EMAC, and CAN-FD also makes it appropriate for industrial networking and remote telemetry.
When designing with this device, pay attention to the 144-ball UFBGA escape and the on-chip LDO/core supply sequencing. The internal 1.2V core regulator requires a specific decoupling network. For high-speed USB, follow the reference design layout for the 90-ohm differential pair. When migrating from a TFBGA-based SAMS70 design, the pinout is compatible within the same family.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAME70Q21A-CFNT 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 ATSAME70Q21A-CFNT (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, Core Architecture, DAC, Mounting Type, SRAM.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAME70Q21B-CFNT
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$9.95 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAME70Q21A-CFN
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAME70Q19A-CFNT
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$9.78 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMS70Q21A-CFN
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAME70Q21A-CFNT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-M7 with FPU (single + double precision) |
| Maximum Core Clock | 300 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 2 MB (2M x 8) |
| SRAM | 384 KB multi-port |
| Instruction Cache | 16 KB |
| Data Cache | 16 KB |
| Package | 144-ball UFBGA (10x10x0.6 mm) |
| Operating Voltage | 1.62 V to 3.6 V (core 1.2 V internal) |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (CFNT suffix, T&R) |
| USB | USB 2.0 High-Speed with on-chip PHY |
| Ethernet | 10/100 EMAC with 1588 PTP, requires external PHY |
| CAN | 2x CAN-FD controllers |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 2 Msps |
| PWM Channels | 6 channels, 16-bit |
| Timer Counters | 8 channels, 16-bit |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount, TAPE & REEL |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
ATSAME70Q21A-CFNT 144-ball ufbga (10x10x0.6 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAME70Q21A-CFNT (144-ball ufbga (10x10x0.6 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 ATSAME70Q21A-CFNT.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAME70Q21A-CFNT is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation and PLC, Automotive Body and Infotainment ECU, Building Automation and HVAC Controller, Medical Instrumentation with Graphical Display, High-End Consumer Audio Processor, IoT Edge Gateway with Ethernet.
Industrial Automation and PLC
The ATSAME70Q21A-CFNT fits industrial PLC and remote-I/O controller designs because of its 300MHz Cortex-M7 core with hardware double-precision FPU, which executes PID control loops and floating-point signal conditioning in microseconds. The 384KB multi-port SRAM sustains deterministic cycle times at full CPU load without cache-miss jitter, and the dual CAN-FD controllers plus EMAC with IEEE-1588 PTP enable tightly synchronized distributed I/O networks on Modbus-TCP, EtherCAT, and CANopen. The 6-channel 16-bit PWM plus 8-channel timer counter block drives three-phase motor stages and high-frequency power-conversion loops. Industrial-grade operating range (-40C to +85C) and the on-chip TRNG secure field-device authentication against counterfeiting.
Recommended
Automotive Body and Infotainment ECU
The ATSAME70Q21A-CFNT serves in automotive body controllers, HMI, and infotainment auxiliaries because the dual CAN-FD channels handle modern vehicle network bitrates up to 5Mbps while the high-speed USB 2.0 PHY connects to head-unit or phone-projection modules. The image sensor interface (ISI) drives rear-view or surround-view cameras up to HD resolution with hardware pixel formatting, offloading the CPU. The hardware crypto accelerator plus TRNG authenticates secure diagnostics over UDS. The LFBGA package is suitable for under-dash PCBs with limited board area; the same family has automotive-qualified versions for safety-critical ECUs.
Recommended
Building Automation and HVAC Controller
The ATSAME70Q21A-CFNT is well suited to building automation controllers because the EMAC with hardware IEEE-1588 timestamping and the high-speed USB host enable BACnet/IP, KNX/IP, or Modbus-TCP gateways with deterministic packet timing. The 12-bit ADC at 2Msps reads multiple analog sensors (temperature, humidity, pressure) directly, while the SDMMC controller logs to a microSD card for trend history. The 384KB SRAM buffers Modbus frames before forwarding, and the on-chip 2MB Flash stores the BACnet object database and trend logs without external memory. Low-power sleep modes with RTC retention are useful for battery-backed thermostats.
Recommended
Medical Instrumentation with Graphical Display
The ATSAME70Q21A-CFNT powers portable medical instruments such as patient monitors, infusion pumps, and handheld ultrasound because the Cortex-M7 with double-precision FPU executes DSP filter chains (FIR, IIR, FFT) for vital-sign signal conditioning in real time. The 16-bit PWM drives piezo and audio transducers for alarm tones and Doppler audio. The image sensor interface connects to a small camera for endoscopy or barcode scanning accessories, while the EMAC and HS USB provide wired connectivity to hospital networks. Hardware crypto and TRNG support FDA cybersecurity guidance for medical devices.
Recommended
High-End Consumer Audio Processor
The ATSAME70Q21A-CFNT serves in networked audio receivers, multichannel amplifiers, and DSP speakers because the Cortex-M7 single/double-precision FPU runs 32-bit audio DSP at low overhead. The high-speed USB host accepts 192kHz/24-bit streams from a connected PC or smartphone, and the EMAC plus TCP/IP stack pulls FLAC or DSD-over-UDP from a home network. Six 16-bit PWM channels plus the I2S ports drive multi-way class-D amplifiers, while the 384KB SRAM holds audio buffers at full rate. The on-chip TRNG plus crypto accelerator enable secure firmware boot and DRM payload handling.
Recommended
IoT Edge Gateway with Ethernet
The ATSAME70Q21A-CFNT acts as an IoT edge gateway aggregating sensor data over CAN-FD, RS-485, and Modbus, then publishing to the cloud via Ethernet or Wi-Fi through the HS USB. The 2MB Flash holds a full TLS 1.3 mbedTLS stack plus an MQTT-SN client, and the hardware crypto accelerator accelerates TLS handshakes. The 384KB SRAM buffers thousands of sensor frames before uplink, while the image sensor interface can attach a small camera for visual edge AI pre-processing. Operating temperature range covers outdoor enclosures, and the on-chip TRNG secures device identities.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAME70Q21A-CFNT β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAME70Q21B-CFNT | ATSAME70Q21A-CFN | ATSAME70Q19A-CFNT | ATSAMS70Q21A-CFN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 144-ball UFBGA (10x10 mm) | 144-ball UFBGA (10x10 mm) - same | 144-ball UFBGA (10x10 mm) - same | 144-ball UFBGA (10x10 mm) - same | 144-ball UFBGA (10x10 mm) - same |
| Core | Cortex-M7 @ 300 MHz | Cortex-M7 @ 300 MHz | Cortex-M7 @ 300 MHz | Cortex-M7 @ 300 MHz | Cortex-M7 @ 300 MHz |
| Flash | 2 MB | 2 MB | 2 MB | 1 MB (-50%) | 2 MB |
| SRAM | 384 KB | 384 KB | 384 KB | 384 KB | 384 KB |
| Ethernet MAC | Yes (10/100 with 1588) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| CAN-FD | 2x | 2x | 2x | 2x | 2x |
| HS USB PHY | Yes (on-chip) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Silicon Revision | A | B (drop-in, errata-fixed) | A (tray) | A (lower Flash) | A (no Ethernet) |
Key Differentiators
- A-revision errata fixed on B without design changes (vs ATSAME70Q21B-CFNT)
- Full Ethernet MAC vs SAMS70 stripped-down variant (vs ATSAMS70Q21A-CFN)
- Same ball map, lower Flash density for cost-down (vs ATSAME70Q19A-CFNT)
Design Notes
The ATSAME70Q21A-CFNT integrates a 1.2V core LDO that requires a 4.7uF X7R decoupling capacitor on VDDCORE; the datasheet specifies the LDO cannot supply external loads. Run VDDBU at 1.62-3.6V through a 100nF cap for RTC retention in backup mode. Use a star-ground topology with separate analog (GNDANA) and digital grounds joined at the BGA paddle to avoid noise coupling into the 12-bit ADC.
For the 144-ball UFBGA (0.65mm pitch), use a 4-layer PCB with a continuous ground plane under the BGA and micro-vias-in-pad to reach inner layers. Keep the HS USB 90-ohm differential pair length-matched within 150mil and isolated from switching nodes. Route EMAC RMII signals on the same layer with 50-ohm impedance; place the LAN8742A PHY within 50mm to avoid signal-integrity issues.
On the HS USB DP/DM lines, add 27-ohm series resistors close to the MCU and a 90-ohm common-mode choke near the connector to pass CISPR 22 Class B EMI. The SDMMC and EMAC clocks require series termination if the trace exceeds 25mm; otherwise use source termination at the MCU pin to dampen reflections.
Estimated: at 300MHz with all peripherals active, core current draw reaches ~120mA, so VDDCORE LDO dissipation is roughly 0.3W under worst case - ensure the LDO has a continuous ground return and 4.7uF X7R cap. Do not enable the on-chip USB HS PHY and the EMAC simultaneously with full DMA without checking the AHB bandwidth; the multi-port SRAM helps, but the bus matrix can still saturate at sustained 30 MB/s USB traffic plus 12 MB/s Ethernet.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. CFNT is the commercial-grade tape-and-reel variant; for AEC-Q100 automotive-qualified versions in the same SAM E70 family use the dedicated automotive-grade MPNs.
