What this part is and where it fits
20 MHz — what it means for the timing budget
At 20 MHz the Cortex-M3 executes most single-cycle instructions. The internal oscillator eliminates the external crystal for simpler BOM.
Memory fit — 16 KB Flash, 2 KB RAM
16 KB of Flash holds a modest firmware image. 2 KB of RAM is the real constraint.
Industrial temperature and peripherals
Rated for -40°C to 85°C, this MCU is at home in motor-drive enclosures, outdoor telecom cabinets, and factory-floor sensor nodes. The brown-out detect and POR ensure clean startup in noisy environments. The PWM and watchdog timer cover the basic control and supervision tasks without external supervisor ICs. Connectivity options — Microwire, SPI, SSI, UART/USART — cover the common serial buses for industrial sensors and HMI panels.
Lifecycle and sourcing reality
The LM3S301-IQN20-C2T carries an NRND (Not Recommended for New Designs) status. TI has not issued a formal last-time-buy notice for this exact variant, but the NRND flag means the part is in the phase-out pipeline. New designs should target a pin-compatible Stellaris or Tiva-C replacement. For existing BOM lines, this part is sourced through independent distribution against an RFQ — availability and current pricing are confirmed at quote time. No official successor order code is listed in the lifecycle record.