ATSAM4C16CA-AU - Dual Cortex-M4 120MHz 1MB MCU | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4C16CA-AU ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $11.76 | $11.76 |
| 10 | $11.18 | $111.80 |
| 100 | $10.59 | $1,059.00 |
| 500 | $10.06 | $5,030.00 |
| 1,000 | $9.56 | $9,560.00 |
ATSAM4C16CA-AU Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single integrated circuit that combines a processor core, program memory, data memory, and peripherals into one chip, forming the highest-volume segment of the embedded systems and power management IC hierarchy. The SAM4C family extends Microchip's (formerly Atmel) ARM-based SAM line by pairing two Cortex-M4 cores in one device, allowing one core to run the main application while the second handles communication, math acceleration, or safety tasks.
Key features of the ATSAM4C16CA include the 32-bit dual-core Cortex-M4 architecture with DSP and floating-point extension, 120MHz operating frequency, 1MB embedded flash, connectivity peripherals including EBI/EMI external bus, I2C, IrDA, SPI, and UART/USART, plus brown-out detect/reset, DMA, LCD controller, POR, PWM, and watchdog timer peripherals.
The dual-core CM4F implementation enables true parallel processing: each core executes SIMD and hardware FPU instructions, useful for motor control algorithms, cryptography, and digital signal processing without a separate DSP. Program memory is organized as 1M x 8 flash, and the device operates from a 1.2V/3.3V supply per distributor specification data.
Typical applications include industrial automation, motor control with encoder feedback, LCD-based human-machine interfaces leveraging the integrated LCD controller, and communication-intensive IoT gateways using multiple UART/USART channels.
Design consideration: verify flash density and I/O count against the pin-compatible SAM4C siblings (ATSAM4C8CA at 512KB, ATSAM4C32CA at 2MB) since the 100-LQFP footprint allows same-board memory migration.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, lifecycle status, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4C16CA-AU — 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 ATSAM4C16CA-AU (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Processor, Peripherals, RoHS Status, Core Size, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4C16CA-AUR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4C8CA-AU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4C32CA-AU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4CMS16CB-AU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4C16CB-AU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$5.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4C16CN-AU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4C16CA-AU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 (Dual-Core) |
| Core Size | 32-Bit Dual-Core |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 1 MB (1M x 8) |
| Series | SAM4C |
| Connectivity | EBI/EMI, I2C, IrDA, SPI, UART/USART |
| Peripherals | Brown-out Detect/Reset, DMA, LCD, POR, PWM, WDT |
| Number of I/O | 74 |
| Supply Voltage | 1.2 V / 3.3 V |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Package | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) |
| Part Status | Obsolete |
| Program Memory Type | FLASH |
| Packaging | Tray |
ATSAM4C16CA-AU 100-lqfp (14x14 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4C16CA-AU (100-lqfp (14x14 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 ATSAM4C16CA-AU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4C16CA-AU is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation and Control, Motor Control, LCD-Based HMI and Metering, IoT Gateways and Communication Nodes, Embedded Signal Processing, Legacy System Maintenance and Repair.
Industrial Automation and Control
The ATSAM4C16CA-AU fits industrial automation nodes that must combine deterministic control with rich connectivity. Its dual 120MHz Cortex-M4 cores allow one core to execute the real-time control loop while the second runs fieldbus or diagnostics firmware, and peripherals such as DMA, PWM, and watchdog timer reduce external component count. The 1MB flash accommodates protocol stacks and OTA update headroom, while EBI/EMI enables memory-mapped expansion for displays or FPGA-style external logic. Because the part is now obsolete, new industrial designs should validate the ATSAM4C32CA-AU (2MB flash, same footprint) for long-term supply before committing production volumes.
Recommended
Motor Control
Dual-core operation makes the ATSAM4C16CA-AU well suited to motor control: one Cortex-M4 core executes the field-oriented control loop using hardware FPU and PWM peripherals at 120MHz, while the second core manages the communication interface (UART/USART or SPI) to a higher-level controller. The 74 I/O pins support encoder, resolver, or hall-sensor feedback without port expansion. Estimated benchmark: with CMSIS-DSP, a 10kHz FOC loop consumes only a modest share of the 120MHz core budget, leaving headroom for housekeeping tasks. Designers should verify PWM dead-time insertion features against the current SAM4C datasheet during migration from this obsolete part.
Recommended
LCD-Based HMI and Metering
The integrated LCD controller distinguishes the ATSAM4C16CA-AU for metering and panel-HMI products. Segment or character LCDs can be driven directly from the chip, freeing the dual Cortex-M4 cores for measurement computation and communication: one core runs metrology algorithms using the FPU, the other services UART/USART links to billing infrastructure. The 1MB flash stores multi-language UI assets and firmware update images. EMI/EMC-conscious designs benefit from the on-chip brown-out detect/reset and POR for robust power-fail behavior. Because this exact part is obsolete, evaluate the ATSAM4CMS16CB-AU or newer SAM L-family MCUs with LCD controllers for new designs.
Recommended
IoT Gateways and Communication Nodes
With five connectivity interfaces - EBI/EMI, I2C, IrDA, SPI, and multiple UART/USART channels - the ATSAM4C16CA-AU acts as a protocol-aggregation gateway. A practical split assigns one 120MHz core to radio or modem communication stacks while the other handles sensor polling over I2C/SPI, isolating timing-critical wireless code from application logic. The 1MB flash holds dual firmware banks for reliable OTA updates. DMA offloads data movement between peripherals and SRAM, keeping CPU cycles available. For new gateway designs, note this part is obsolete; the pin-compatible ATSAM4C32CA-AU doubles flash for heavier TLS stacks on the same PCB.
Recommended
Embedded Signal Processing
The Cortex-M4 with hardware FPU in both cores delivers DSP-class throughput: single-cycle MAC, SIMD instructions, and floating-point at 120MHz. The ATSAM4C16CA-AU can dedicate one core to a filter bank or FFT pipeline via CMSIS-DSP while the second runs the host application - a common pattern in vibration monitoring and audio processing equipment. The 1MB flash retains coefficient tables and calibration data, and DMA sustains streaming data paths without CPU intervention. Engineers migrating from this obsolete part should benchmark the newer SAMD5/SAME5 Cortex-M4F family, which offers higher SRAM and active lifecycle status at a similar instruction efficiency.
Recommended
Legacy System Maintenance and Repair
Since Microchip has marked the ATSAM4C16CA-AU obsolete, a major remaining use case is sustaining existing deployed systems: metering fleets, industrial controllers, and medical accessories already designed around the 100-LQFP footprint. Distributor inventory (approximately 6,432 pieces reported in September 2026 at around $11.76 per unit) supports last-time-buy strategies. Recommended practice is to purchase sufficient buffer stock for the remaining service life, or qualify the pin-compatible ATSAM4C32CA-AU/ATSAM4C8CA-AU as a second source, since both share the SAM4C dual-core 120MHz architecture and package footprint.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4C16CA-AU — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4C16CA-AUR | ATSAM4C8CA-AU | ATSAM4C32CA-AU | ATSAM4CMS16CB-AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4 Dual-Core | ARM Cortex-M4 Dual-Core | ARM Cortex-M4 Dual-Core | ARM Cortex-M4 Dual-Core | ARM Cortex-M4 Dual-Core |
| Max Clock Speed | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 1 MB | 1 MB | 512 KB | 2 MB | 1 MB (CMS security variant) |
Key Differentiators
- True dual-core processing in a mainstream flash MCU (vs ATSAM4S16CA-AU)
- Balanced 1MB flash with same-footprint migration range (vs ATSAM4C8CA-AU)
- Integrated LCD controller reduces BOM cost (vs ATSAM4C8CA-AU)
- Honest trade-off: obsolete lifecycle status (vs ATSAM4C32CA-AU)
Design Notes
The ATSAM4C16CA-AU is listed as Obsolete by Microchip and distributors, so it must not be designed into new products. For existing designs, execute a last-time-buy now: broker stock was about 6,432 pieces as of September 2026 at roughly $11.76 per unit, and lead time is 'to be confirmed'. Simultaneously qualify the pin-compatible ATSAM4C32CA-AU (2MB) or ATSAM4C8CA-AU (512KB) as a second source, verifying flash density, pinout, and peripheral mapping on real silicon before release.
Distributor data lists a 1.2V/3.3V supply configuration - the SAM4C family uses a 3.3V I/O domain with an internal 1.2V core domain, so design the power tree with a clean 3.3V rail and follow Microchip's decoupling guidance: place low-ESR ceramic capacitors on each VDD/VDDIO pair as close to the pins as possible. Confirm exact VDDCore/VDDIO pin requirements from the current SAM4C hardware design guide, since dual-core operation increases core-current transients versus single-core SAM4S parts.
At 120MHz CPU clock, the EBI/EMI external bus toggles fast enough that bus traces longer than roughly 10 cm warrant series termination and length matching estimates for address/data lines. Keep the 100-LQFP crystal circuit loop short and guarded, and route UART/USART lines away from the EBI bus to avoid crosstalk-induced framing errors. Use solid ground planes under the 14x14 mm LQFP land pattern, with thermal vias connecting exposed copper pours to reduce ground bounce across the 74 I/O.
Compliance Information
Compliance status not stated in verified web data; consult Microchip product page and Microchip's environmental documentation for RoHS/REACH certificates for this legacy part.