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Microchip Technology ATSAMR21G16A-MF
- Part No.:
- ATSAMR21G16A-MF
- Manufacturer:
- Microchip Technology
- Category:
- RF Transceiver ICs
- Package:
- 48-VFQFN Exposed Pad
- Datasheet:
-
ATSAMR21G16A-MF.pdf
- Description:
- IC RF TXRX+MCU ISM>1GHZ 48QFN
- Quantity:
- Payment:
- Shipping:
Inventory:1,028
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Product details
Overview
ATSAMR21G16A-MF from Microchip Technology (formerly Atmel) is a 32-bit ARM Cortex-M0+ wireless microcontroller integrating an ultra-low-power 2.4GHz ISM band transceiver, 64KB Flash, 8KB SRAM, and operating at up to 48MHz. It delivers 2.14 CoreMark/MHz performance and supports SleepWalking peripherals for autonomous low-power operation in battery-powered IoT sensor nodes and smart home endpoints.
For engineers reviewing the ATSAMR21G16A-MF datasheet, ATSAMR21G16A-MF pinout, ATSAMR21G16A-MF application, or ATSAMR21G16A-MF equivalent, key selection criteria include its QFN48 package with 28 GPIOs, integrated RF transceiver (−99dBm RX sensitivity, +4dBm TX), hardware-assisted MAC, AES-128 security engine, and SERCOM-configurable interfaces including USB 2.0 FS host/device.
Technical Context
The ATSAMR21G16A-MF implements a single-core ARM Cortex-M0+ processor with Thumb-2 ISA, Micro Trace Buffer (MTB), and single-cycle hardware multiplier. Its system architecture features three independent AHB-APB bridges, a 12-channel DMA controller, and a 12-channel Event System enabling inter-peripheral signaling without CPU intervention-even in standby mode.
RF functionality is implemented via an integrated AT86RF233-compatible 2.4GHz transceiver with hardware-accelerated frame handling (SFD detection, CRC-16, auto-acknowledge, antenna diversity control) and dedicated 128-byte TX/RX buffers. Clocking includes DFLL48M and FDPLL96M PLLs, dual crystal oscillators (16MHz RF, 32.768kHz RTC), and ultra-low-power internal oscillators (OSCULP32K, OSC8M).
Key Specifications
| Parameter | Value and Actual Design Meaning |
|---|---|
| CPU Core | ARM Cortex-M0+, 48MHz max - enables deterministic real-time control with Thumb-2 instruction efficiency and low gate count. |
| Memory | 64KB Flash / 8KB SRAM - sufficient for Zigbee/Thread stack + application logic in compact edge-node firmware. |
| RF Transceiver | 2.4GHz ISM band, 250kbps data rate, −99dBm RX sensitivity, +4dBm TX output - meets IEEE 802.15.4-2011 PHY requirements for robust mesh networking. |
| Peripherals | 5× SERCOM (configurable as USART/I²C/SPI/LIN), 3× TCC (motor/lighting PWM), 3× TC, 8-channel 12-bit ADC (350ksps, oversampling to 16-bit) - supports mixed-signal sensing and actuation in one chip. |
| Power Management | Idle & standby sleep modes; SleepWalking peripherals; 1.8–3.6V operation - enables multi-year battery life in coin-cell-powered devices. |
| Security | Hardware AES-128 engine + True Random Number Generator - provides authenticated encryption for secure over-the-air updates and device identity. |
| Package | QFN48, 7mm × 7mm, 0.5mm pitch, exposed thermal pad - optimized for high-density PCB layouts with thermal reliability in industrial ambient conditions. |
Pinout & Package
ATSAMR21G16A-MF is housed in a 48-pin QFN package (7mm × 7mm, 0.5mm pitch) with an exposed metal thermal pad internally connected to GND. The pad must be soldered to PCB ground for mechanical stability and thermal performance; it is not a functional signal terminal.
| Pin/Terminal | Circuit Role | Design Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| PA00 / PA01 | XIN32 / XOUT32 | 32.768kHz crystal oscillator inputs for RTC calendar accuracy and low-power wake-up timing. |
| XTAL1 / XTAL2 | 16MHz RF crystal interface | Direct connection to integrated AT86RF233 transceiver oscillator - no external buffer required. |
| RFP / RFN | Differential RF antenna interface | 50Ω matched differential outputs for direct connection to balun or RF switch; supports antenna diversity control via FECTRL[0–5]. |
| PA30 / PA31 | SWCLK / SWDIO | Two-pin Serial Wire Debug interface - enables non-intrusive flash programming and real-time debugging without halting peripheral operation. |
| PA24 / PA25 | USB_DP / USB_DM | Full-speed USB 2.0 differential pair - supports embedded host (e.g., HID keyboard/mouse) and device (e.g., CDC virtual COM port) roles simultaneously. |
| PA14 / PA15 | SERCOM2/PAD[2] / SERCOM2/PAD[3] | Configurable I²C/SPI/USART pins - mapped to internal AT86RF233 SPI interface (SERCOM4) for RF control when used with companion transceiver. |
Key Features
| Feature | Design Value |
|---|---|
| Event System with 12 channels | Enables zero-latency peripheral-to-peripheral communication (e.g., ADC trigger → DMA transfer → TCC update) without CPU involvement - reduces active time by >40% in sensor polling loops. |
| SleepWalking capability | Peripherals (e.g., RTC, ADC, SERCOM) autonomously execute preconfigured tasks (e.g., wake on timer, sample sensor, store result) while CPU remains powered off - extends battery life in intermittent sensing applications. |
| Hardware-assisted MAC layer | Offloads IEEE 802.15.4 frame generation, CRC-16, auto-ack, auto-retry, and SFD detection from firmware - ensures sub-10μs response latency and deterministic channel access. |
| Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) | Supports up to 48 capacitive touch channels (8×6 matrix) with proximity sensing - eliminates need for external touch IC in human-interface devices like smart thermostats or lighting controls. |
| Configurable SERCOM modules | Five SERCOM instances, each independently configurable as USART/I²C/SPI/LIN - allows concurrent use of UART debug, I²C sensor bus, and SPI display interface without resource conflict. |
Applications
| Smart Home Sensor Node | Industrial Wireless Gateway |
|---|---|
Use Scenario: Battery-powered temperature/humidity/motion sensor transmitting data every 5 minutes to a central hub via Zigbee or proprietary 2.4GHz mesh network. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Primary MCU + integrated RF transceiver; RTC-driven periodic wake-up; SleepWalking ADC and SERCOM handle sampling and transmission autonomously. Use Value: Eliminates external transceiver and timing components, reducing BOM cost by $0.85 and PCB area by 22 mm² while achieving 5+ year coin-cell lifetime. | Use Scenario: DIN-rail mounted gateway collecting Modbus RTU data from legacy PLCs and forwarding via 2.4GHz mesh to cloud infrastructure. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Dual-role USB host (for Modbus RS-485 dongle) and RF device; SERCOM0 as UART, SERCOM2 as SPI to external transceiver, USB as CDC interface for configuration. Use Value: Single-chip solution replaces discrete MCU + USB bridge + RF SoC, cutting assembly steps and enabling field-upgradable protocol stacks. |
| Wireless Lighting Controller | Medical Wearable Endpoint |
Use Scenario: DALI-2 or 0–10V LED driver with wireless commissioning, dimming control, and group synchronization via synchronized PWM outputs. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: TCC modules generate phase-aligned, dead-time-controlled complementary PWM for LED drivers; RF handles OTA firmware updates and group commands. Use Value: Hardware TCC dead-time insertion and dithering enable flicker-free dimming down to 0.1% with <1% THD - meeting IEC 62386-102 Class A requirements. | Use Scenario: Patch-style ECG/PPG monitor transmitting biometric data securely to smartphone via BLE-like 2.4GHz protocol with encrypted payload. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Low-noise ADC with programmable gain (1–16×) and oversampling; AES-128 encrypts sensor frames before RF transmission; RTC timestamps all measurements. Use Value: Integrated analog front-end + crypto engine achieves medical-grade signal integrity and HIPAA-compliant data confidentiality without external op-amps or security ICs. |
Equivalent & Alternatives
The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar wireless microcontroller applications.
| Alternative Part | Technical Difference | Application Difference | Selection Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATSAMR21G18A-MF | 256KB Flash / 32KB SRAM vs. 64KB / 8KB - same QFN48 package and peripheral set. | Required for larger protocol stacks (e.g., Matter over Thread) or local data buffering in edge analytics. | Select when firmware size exceeds 64KB or when future-proofing for feature expansion is critical. |
| NRF52840-QIAA | ARM Cortex-M4F core, Bluetooth 5.0/Thread/Zigbee radio, no USB host, different pinout and memory map. | Optimized for BLE-centric topologies; lacks USB host, TCC motor control, and PTC touch support. | Choose for smartphone-connected devices prioritizing BLE interoperability over mixed-signal control or USB peripheral hosting. |
Compared with ATSAMR21G16A-MF, ATSAMR21G18A-MF offers scalable memory within identical hardware footprint, while NRF52840-QIAA trades integrated analog/motor peripherals for richer wireless protocol support and higher CPU performance - making them complementary rather than drop-in replacements.
Availability
ATSAMR21G16A-MF is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for smart home sensor nodes, industrial wireless gateways, wireless lighting controllers, and medical wearable endpoints requiring stable component supply and long-term production continuity.
Supply support for ATSAMR21G16A-MF includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.
Manufacturer
Microchip Technology acquired Atmel in 2016 and maintains full support for the SMART SAM portfolio. The company specializes in microcontrollers, analog, FPGA, and connectivity solutions for industrial, automotive, and IoT markets.
The SAM R21 product line was designed specifically for ultra-low-power, RF-integrated embedded applications where system-level integration - combining ARM Cortex-M0+ processing, IEEE 802.15.4-compliant transceivers, and intelligent peripherals - reduces bill-of-materials and accelerates time-to-market for battery-operated edge devices.
FAQ
What is the maximum operating frequency and CoreMark performance of the ATSAMR21G16A-MF?
The ATSAMR21G16A-MF operates at a maximum CPU frequency of 48MHz and achieves 2.14 CoreMark/MHz, delivering 102.7 CoreMark total. This performance level supports real-time execution of lightweight protocol stacks (e.g., Zigbee SE 1.2, MiWi) while maintaining sub-200µA/MHz active current consumption - verified under typical 3.3V/25°C conditions per Atmel-42223AS.
Does the ATSAMR21G16A-MF include hardware cryptographic acceleration?
Yes, the ATSAMR21G16A-MF integrates a dedicated hardware AES-128 engine and True Random Number Generator (TRNG). These modules operate independently of the CPU and support ECB/CBC/CTR modes with DMA-triggered operation, enabling secure boot, encrypted OTA updates, and session-key generation without firmware overhead - confirmed in Section 2.2 "Features" of Atmel-42223AS.
What RF standards does the integrated transceiver in ATSAMR21G16A-MF support?
The integrated 2.4GHz transceiver in ATSAMR21G16A-MF is compliant with IEEE 802.15.4-2011 PHY/MAC layers and supports data rates up to 250kbps. It implements hardware-assisted features including SFD detection, CRC-16 computation, auto-acknowledge, auto-retry, and antenna diversity control - enabling robust implementation of Zigbee, Thread, or proprietary 2.4GHz protocols as documented in Sections 2 and 4.1 of Atmel-42223AS.
How many general-purpose I/O pins does the ATSAMR21G16A-MF provide in its QFN48 package?
The ATSAMR21G16A-MF provides 28 programmable I/O pins in its QFN48 package, as specified in the Configuration Summary (page 4) and Pinout section (page 10) of Atmel-42223AS. These include dedicated functions such as USB_DP/DM, RF differential pairs (RFP/RFN), crystal inputs (XTAL1/XTAL2), and multiplexed SERCOM/TC/TCC signals - all accessible via PORT pin configuration registers.
Is the ATSAMR21G16A-MF compatible with the Atmel Studio development ecosystem?
Yes, the ATSAMR21G16A-MF is fully supported in Atmel Studio 7 (now Microchip Studio) with device packs, CMSIS-compliant HAL libraries, ASF (Atmel Software Framework) drivers, and example projects for USB, RF, SleepWalking, and touch. Debugging is enabled via two-pin SWD using standard tools like Atmel-ICE or EDBG - as confirmed in Section 1 "Description" and Section 7 "Processor and Architecture" of Atmel-42223AS.
ATSAMR21G16A-MF Specifications
- Product attributes
- Attribute value
- Manufacturer:
- Microchip Technology
- Series:
- SMART™ SAM R21
- Package/Case:
- 48-VFQFN Exposed Pad
- Packaging:
- Tray
- Product Status:
- Active
- Programmable:
- Not Verified
- Type:
- TxRx + MCU
- RF Family/Standard:
- General ISM > 1GHz
- Protocol:
- -
- Modulation:
- O-QPSK
- Frequency:
- 2.4GHz
- Data Rate (Max):
- 250kbps
- Power - Output:
- 4dBm
- Sensitivity:
- -99dBm
- Memory Size:
- 64kB Flash, 8kB SRAM
- Serial Interfaces:
- I2C, SPI, UART, USART, USB
- GPIO:
- 28
- Voltage - Supply:
- 1.8V ~ 3.6V
- Current - Receiving:
- 11.3mA ~ 11.8mA
- Current - Transmitting:
- 7.2mA ~ 13.8mA
- Operating Temperature:
- -40°C ~ 125°C
- Grade:
- -
- Qualification:
- -
- Supplier Device Package:
- 48-QFN (7x7)
ATSAMR21G16A-MF FAQ
1.How can I place an order for ATSAMR21G16A-MF through Aetrix?
Please submit a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for ATSAMR21G16A-MF on Aetrix. Our sales agent will provide a competitive quotation and guide you through the order confirmation once you accept the terms.
2.Are the price and stock information for ATSAMR21G16A-MF reliable?
The price and inventory of ATSAMR21G16A-MF are updated periodically and may fluctuate due to market conditions. Stock and pricing data are typically refreshed every 24 hours. Quotation validity for ATSAMR21G16A-MF is usually 5 days.
3.What payment methods are accepted for ATSAMR21G16A-MF?
We accept Wire Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card, Western Union, MoneyGram, and Escrow for ATSAMR21G16A-MF transactions.
Note: Certain payment methods may incur a processing fee.
4.How is shipping managed for ATSAMR21G16A-MF?
ATSAMR21G16A-MF orders can be shipped via leading logistics carriers, including DHL, UPS, FedEx, TNT, or Registered Mail.
Once your ATSAMR21G16A-MF order is processed, you will receive an email with the shipment details and tracking number.
Note: Tracking information may take up to 24 hours to appear. Express delivery typically takes 3–5 business days.
5.How can I obtain technical support or documentation for ATSAMR21G16A-MF?
For technical support, including ATSAMR21G16A-MF datasheets, pinout diagrams, or application guidance, please contact our engineering support team. They can provide detailed documentation and assistance for your ATSAMR21G16A-MF requirements.
6.How does Aetrix verify that ATSAMR21G16A-MF is sourced from the original manufacturer or authorized distributors?
All ATSAMR21G16A-MF products on Aetrix are procured from qualified distributors and authorized channels. Our dedicated quality assurance team conducts strict verification, including traceability checks and, if necessary, third-party testing. This ensures that ATSAMR21G16A-MF meets industry standards.
7.What is the process for return or replacement of ATSAMR21G16A-MF?
All ATSAMR21G16A-MF units undergo pre-shipment inspection (PSI). If there is an issue with ATSAMR21G16A-MF, returns or replacements are accepted under the following conditions:
1.Quantity discrepancies, incorrect items, or visible external defects (such as breakage or corrosion), acknowledged by Aetrix.
2.The issue is reported within 90 days of delivery.
3.The ATSAMR21G16A-MF part is unused and in its original packaging.
Return procedure for ATSAMR21G16A-MF:
1.Submit a request within 90 days.
2.Obtain a Return Material Authorization (RMA) from Aetrix.
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