ATSAM4C-EK - SAM4C Cortex-M4 Evaluation Kit | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4C-EK β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $394.63 | $394.63 |
| 2 | $385 | $770.00 |
| 5 | $375 | $1,875.00 |
| 10 | $365 | $3,650.00 |
| 25 | $355 | $8,875.00 |
ATSAM4C-EK Overview
An MCU evaluation kit is a complete hardware platform that exposes all key peripherals of a target microcontroller - memory, communication interfaces, analog front ends, and user IO - so firmware engineers can develop and validate code before committing to custom PCB design. Evaluation kits sit at the top of the development-tool hierarchy: chip -> breakout board -> Xplained Pro starter kit -> full evaluation kit.
Key features of the ATSAM4C-EK include the SAM4C16C MCU based on the ARM Cortex-M4 core, a 32.768 kHz crystal and 8 MHz master clock source, on-board EEPROM/data flash, an LCD segment display interfaced through the SAM4C LCD controller, and an amber/green/blue user LED. The kit ships in a box and is supported by the Atmel-11251 user guide covering board schematics, peripheral demos, and software examples.
The board integrates the full peripheral set of the SAM4C family, which targets smart-energy and metering applications; the LCD controller directly drives segment LCDs typical of utility meters. The Cortex-M4 core with DSP instructions and floating-point unit handles metrology computations efficiently, while the dual-bank flash of the SAM4C16C supports live firmware updates.
Typical applications include smart energy metering prototyping, embedded control system development, and Cortex-M4 firmware benchmarking.
Design consideration: note that only certain LCD segments are usable without U11/U12 analog switches or unpopulated 0-ohm resistors, per the user guide.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing from LCSC, DigiKey and Octopart, alternative evaluation boards, and practical usage notes not found in the manufacturer user guide.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4C-EK β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAML22-XPRO-B
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMHA1E16A-XPRO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4C-EK Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | MCU 32-Bit Evaluation Board |
| Target MCU Family | SAM4C (SAM4C8C / SAM4C16C) |
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Core Architecture | 32-bit |
| Supported MCU | SAM4C16C |
| Reference Voltage | 3 V |
| Clock Sources | 32.768 kHz / 8 MHz |
| On-board Memory | EEPROM / Data Flash |
| Display | LCD segment (driven by SAM4C LCD controller) |
| User Indicators | 1 amber/green/blue LED |
| Utilization | SAM4C16C evaluation board |
| Mounting Type | Benchtop evaluation platform |
| Packaging | Box |
| Brand Original | Atmel (now Microchip Technology) |
| User Guide Document | Atmel-11251 ATSAM4C-EK User Guide (published 2016-11-23, 2072 KB PDF) |
ATSAM4C-EK Interfaces & Connectors
No manufacturer-published interface list is available for ATSAM4C-EK. Refer to the manufacturer documentation for connector and header details.
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4C-EK is suitable for 6 applications: Smart Energy Metering Development, Cortex-M4 Firmware Prototyping, LCD-Based Human-Machine Interface Development, Industrial Control System Evaluation, IoT Node and Low-Power Design Exploration, Education and Embedded Training Labs.
Smart Energy Metering Development
The ATSAM4C-EK is explicitly positioned by Microchip as a SmartEnergy evaluation kit, making it the reference platform for SAM4C-based utility meter development. The SAM4C16C's ARM Cortex-M4 core with DSP instructions computes metrology algorithms such as RMS voltage/current and active energy accumulation efficiently, while the 32.768 kHz crystal supports the real-time clock required for time-of-use tariffing. The on-board LCD segment display, interfaced through the SAM4C LCD controller, replicates the character display of a production meter so display firmware can be validated without custom hardware. Engineers should note that only certain LCD segments are usable without U11/U12 analog switches or unpopulated 0-ohm resistors, per the Atmel-11251 user guide.
Recommended
Cortex-M4 Firmware Prototyping
For teams beginning a Cortex-M4 based embedded design, the ATSAM4C-EK provides a complete, running hardware platform that removes PCB bring-up risk from the firmware schedule. The 8 MHz master clock and 32.768 kHz source let engineers benchmark clock-tree and low-power configurations realistically, and the on-board EEPROM/data flash exercises persistent-storage code paths before external memory is chosen for the production board. Because the SAM4C8C and SAM4C16C are both supported, the kit also serves as a migration testbed when flash and SRAM headroom limits are reached on the smaller variant. Code validated here runs unchanged on production SAM4C hardware, since the peripherals are identical to the production silicon.
Recommended
LCD-Based Human-Machine Interface Development
The ATSAM4C-EK integrates an LCD segment display connected to the SAM4C's dedicated LCD controller, giving firmware developers direct access to one of the SAM4C family's most application-specific peripherals. Developers can validate segment mapping, frame rates, bias configuration, and contrast control against real glass rather than simulation, which materially shortens display driver bring-up. The user guide highlights that a subset of segments requires U11 and U12 analog switches or unpopulated 0-ohm resistors to be usable, so reading the board schematic before display firmware work is essential. This capability is particularly valuable for metering and appliance products where a segment LCD is the primary user interface and driving it from the MCU eliminates a dedicated display driver IC.
Recommended
Industrial Control System Evaluation
Industrial control nodes benefit from the SAM4C family's balance of compute and integration, and the ATSAM4C-EK lets system architects evaluate that balance before component selection is frozen. The 3 V reference domain and 32-bit Cortex-M4 core with a floating-point unit support control-loop math such as PID and filter compensation in single precision, while the on-board EEPROM/data flash demonstrates parameter-retention schemes used in industrial settings. The amber/green/blue LED and available user IO provide immediate visual feedback for state-machine and communication firmware. Benchmarking interrupt latency and DMA throughput on this kit produces realistic sizing data for motor control, monitoring, and actuation subsystems that will later ship on custom SAM4C PCBs.
Recommended
IoT Node and Low-Power Design Exploration
Although the SAM4C family targets metering, its clock architecture makes the ATSAM4C-EK a useful lab vehicle for exploring low-power embedded techniques that transfer to IoT nodes. The 32.768 kHz crystal supports real-time-clock wake-up schemes, and engineers can measure current consumption of sleep modes and peripheral gating using an external ammeter on the kit's supply. The on-board EEPROM/data flash demonstrates store-and-forward buffering patterns common in battery-powered telemetry nodes. For teams ultimately moving to ultra-low-power Cortex-M0+ silicon, measurements taken on this kit provide a useful Cortex-M4 baseline; Microchip's ATSAML22-XPRO-B is the natural next platform for the ultra-low-power end of the same product space.
Recommended
Education and Embedded Training Labs
The ATSAM4C-EK works well as a university or corporate training platform because it combines an industry-standard ARM Cortex-M4 core with visible, self-contained peripherals - LCD segments, multi-color LED, user IO - that produce immediate, demonstrable results in lab exercises. Students can progress from blinking the amber/green/blue LED to configuring the LCD controller and clock tree, covering the core skills of 32-bit embedded development on real silicon. The publicly downloadable Atmel-11251 user guide (published 2016-11-23, 2072 KB) provides board descriptions and software examples that serve as ready-made course material. Because the kit is a complete evaluation environment in a box, no custom hardware or wiring is required to begin the first lab session.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4C-EK β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAML22-XPRO-B | ATSAMHA1E16A-XPRO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package | Box | Box | Box (En Vrac per ICDirectory) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Product Type | MCU 32-bit evaluation board | MCU 32-bit evaluation board | MCU 32-bit evaluation board |
| Target MCU Series | SAM4C (SAM4C8C/SAM4C16C) | SAM L22 | SAM HA1 |
| Status | Active | Active | Active |
Key Differentiators
- On-board LCD segment controller (vs ATSAML22-XPRO-B)
- Cortex-M4 with DSP/FPU compute (vs ATSAML22-XPRO-B)
- Dual MCU family support on one board (vs ATSAMHA1E16A-XPRO)
Design Notes
Per the Atmel-11251 user guide, only certain LCD segments on the ATSAM4C-EK are usable without U11 and U12 analog switches or unpopulated 0-ohm resistors. Before writing display firmware, review the board schematic and user guide Figure 3-17 to determine which segments are directly drivable. Budget time for board rework if your display demo requires the full segment set, and do not assume production-meter LCD behavior from a partially enabled segment glass.
The board operates with a 3 V reference voltage for the SAM4C MCU. When measuring current consumption of sleep modes for power-budget work, use a precision ammeter or source-measure unit in series with the supply, and account for the current drawn by the LCD segment display and the amber/green/blue LED, which will otherwise dominate the measurement. Estimated: an LED at 5 mA will mask sub-100 uA MCU sleep currents, so disconnect or gate LEDs during low-power benchmarks.
The kit provides both a 32.768 kHz crystal and an 8 MHz clock source. When validating clock-tree configurations, switch the master clock source deliberately in firmware and verify the PLL lock status before relying on timing-critical peripherals such as the LCD controller frame timing. Keep measurement probe grounds short when observing the 8 MHz clock node to avoid distorting the waveform, and remember that clock configuration errors are the most frequent cause of unexpected UART baud-rate errors on first bring-up.
Compliance Information
Compliance data not stated in the provided verified web data for this evaluation kit; consult the Microchip product page.