Atmel samples 32-bit ARM Cortex -M3-based MCUs with 1MB Flash and 128KB SRAM

Atmel Corporation is sampling its 32-bit ARM Cortex -M3-based microcontrollers (MCUs) with 1MB embedded Flash and 128KB SRAM. The new Atmel SAM3S16 Cortex-M3 MCU offers high performance, low power and large memory density for applications demanding modern user interfaces including capacitive touch, increased data processing and connectivity. Target applications include medical equipment, building and home control, industrial automation, Machine-to-Machine (M2M), test and measurement, smart grid, and data input/output peripherals for consumer and computing devices.

The Atmel SAM3S16 Cortex-M3 MCU is pin-to-pin compatible with existing Atmel SAM3N and SAM3S Cortex-M3 MCUs, and also supports In System Programming and development tools from Atmel and third party ecosystem partners. The device operates at a maximum speed of 100MHz with 1024KB Flash and 128KB SRAM and includes a full peripheral set, featuring full-speed USB, high-speed MCI for SDIO/SD/MMC, 4 UART, TWIs, SPI, I2S and an external bus interface supporting PSRAM, NOR Flash, LCD Modules and NAND Flash.

"The SAM3S16 is further evidence that Atmel is a leader in microcontrollers and brings innovative and easy-to-use ARM-based products to market, addressing the need for higher performance, additional memory density and lower power," said Jacko Wilbrink, director of ARM marketing, Atmel Corporation. "Using 90nm embedded Flash technology enables Atmel to integrate 1MB of Flash, 128KB of SRAM and extensive peripheral set on a monolithic Cortex-M3 microcontroller running up to 100MHz."

Atmel supports capacitive touch buttons, slider and wheel (BSW) capability on the Atmel SAM3S16 Cortex-M3 MCUs through the Atmel QTouch library. The SAM3S16 operates from 1.62V to 3.6V and can achieve 200 uA/Mhz in dynamic mode at a low operating frequency; 30mA at 100MHz; and 3uA at 1.8 V in back-up mode with the RTC (real-time clock) running.

Availability: Early sampling of the Atmel ATSAM3S16CA-AU Cortex-M3 MCU is available now in a 100-pin QFP package for alpha customers. Production quantities will be available in Q1 2012.

For more information visit: http://www.atmel.com