ATSAM4C32-EK - Dual Cortex-M4 Smart Energy Eval Kit | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4C32-EK β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1 | $1.00 |
| 10 | $1 | $10.00 |
| 100 | $1 | $100.00 |
| 500 | $1 | $500.00 |
| 1,000 | $1 | $1,000.00 |
ATSAM4C32-EK Overview
An MCU evaluation board (or evaluation kit, EK) is a printed circuit assembly that exposes all key peripherals of a target microcontroller so firmware engineers can prototype, debug, and benchmark designs before committing to custom hardware. Within Microchip's development-tool hierarchy, the ATSAM4C32-EK sits in the ARM development boards category, alongside Xplained Pro and SAM series kits, and is programmed and debugged through standard ARM interfaces.
Key features of the underlying SAM4C32C microcontroller include the dual-core Cortex-M4 architecture with floating-point unit (FPU), 120 MHz maximum operating speed, 2 Mbytes of flash memory, and peripheral sets targeted at smart energy applications such as metering. The board carries the ATSAM4C32C MCU and provides connectors and headers for evaluating the supported SAM4C family members, which include the ATSAM4C8C, ATSAM4C16C, and ATSAM4C32C, differing mainly in flash and SRAM density.
Architecturally, the dual Cortex-M4 cores allow one processor to run the metrology and communication stack while the second handles application logic, improving determinism in energy-metering products. The Cortex-M4 core includes DSP instructions and a hardware FPU, enabling efficient signal-processing workloads on a 32-bit MCU.
Typical applications include smart electricity meters, energy monitoring gateways, industrial control panels, and other battery-backed or line-powered metering equipment where the SAM4C dual-core SoC is the intended production device.
When evaluating, note that the kit is a development tool, not a production component: it supports the supported target MCU list rather than a single fixed part, and board-specific peripheral configurations may differ from your final PCB.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, alternative evaluation-kit comparisons, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer product page alone.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4C32-EK β 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 ATSAM4C32-EK (same form factor and footprint).
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMA5D2C-XULT
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMHA1G16A-XPRO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4C32CN
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1618-E/SS
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$0.85 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4C32-EK Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Manufacturer | Microchip Technology |
| Product Type | Evaluation Board - Embedded MCU/DSP |
| Target MCU Family | SAM4C (ARM Cortex-M4) |
| Supported Target Devices | ATSAM4C8C, ATSAM4C16C, ATSAM4C32C |
| Mounted Device | ATSAM4C32C |
| Core Processor | 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4 (dual core) |
| Maximum Core Speed | 120 MHz |
| MCU Flash Memory | 2 MB |
| Architecture | Dual-core ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU |
| Applications Focus | Smart energy / metering |
| Packaging | Box |
| Product Status | Active |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
ATSAM4C32-EK Interfaces & Connectors
No manufacturer-published interface list is available for ATSAM4C32-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
ATSAM4C32-EK is suitable for 6 applications: Smart Electricity Metering, Energy Monitoring Gateways, Industrial Control Panels, Battery-Backed Metering Devices, DSP-Enabled Sensor Processing, Firmware Proof-of-Concept and Training.
Smart Electricity Metering
The ATSAM4C32-EK is purpose-built for smart energy meter development, since the SAM4C32 SoC it evaluates was architected by Microchip specifically for metering products. The dual 120 MHz Cortex-M4 cores with hardware FPU let one core run metrology sampling and DSP filter chains while the second core manages DLMS/COSEM communication stacks, improving determinism versus single-core parts. During development, engineers flash firmware to the on-board ATSAM4C32C and benchmark current consumption and real-time behavior against final meter requirements. The kit supports the ATSAM4C8C, ATSAM4C16C, and ATSAM4C32C densities, letting teams validate flash sizing before committing to a production BOM.
Recommended
Energy Monitoring Gateways
Energy gateways aggregate metering data over protocols such as Modbus, DLMS, or proprietary RF links, and the ATSAM4C32-EK provides a development platform for the MCU that orchestrates those links. The dual-core SAM4C32 architecture separates time-critical protocol timing from data aggregation tasks; the 2 Mbyte flash accommodates larger communication stacks and OTA update code banks. Firmware prototyped on the evaluation board can be benchmarked for worst-case interrupt latency before the custom gateway PCB is fabricated. Because the Cortex-M4 core includes DSP instructions, CRC and filtering operations used in utility communication run efficiently without a separate DSP.
Recommended
Industrial Control Panels
Industrial panel controllers benefit from the SAM4C family's real-time dual-core capability, and the ATSAM4C32-EK serves as the evaluation vehicle for that firmware. One Cortex-M4 core can handle deterministic I/O scanning and safety interlocks while the second core runs HMI update and logging tasks; at 120 MHz with a hardware FPU, PID loop calculations execute with ample headroom. Engineers prototype sensor sampling routines, watchdog behavior, and boot sequencing on the evaluation board, then port validated code to the production ATSAM4C8C/16C/32C device depending on code size. The kit's active product status and RoHS compliance align with industrial supply-chain requirements.
Recommended
Battery-Backed Metering Devices
Battery-backed metering endpoints, such as water or gas modules with energy-harvesting assistance, can be prototyped on the ATSAM4C32-EK by evaluating SAM4C low-power operating modes and wake-up timing. The dual-core Cortex-M4 SoC allows the system to park one core and run the second at reduced frequency for periodic meter reads, and developers use the evaluation board to measure whether the 120 MHz performance is worth its active current in their duty-cycle budget. Because the kit supports all three SAM4C densities, teams can validate that a smaller ATSAM4C8C suffices before production, saving cost in high-volume battery-powered deployments.
Recommended
DSP-Enabled Sensor Processing
The Cortex-M4 core in the ATSAM4C32C carries DSP instructions and a single-precision FPU, making the ATSAM4C32-EK a practical platform for prototyping sensor signal-processing chains such as FFT-based power-quality analysis, vibration monitoring, and digital filtering of ADC streams. Developers can benchmark filter tap counts and sampling rates on the evaluation board to confirm that the 120 MHz dual-core budget covers the arithmetic load, using one core for acquisition and the other for transform computation. Code validated on the kit runs unchanged on production SAM4C devices, preserving the investment in tuning and regression tests.
Recommended
Firmware Proof-of-Concept and Training
Beyond product development, the ATSAM4C32-EK works well as a proof-of-concept and training platform for the SAM4C ecosystem. Teams evaluating whether to standardize on ARM Cortex-M4 32-bit MCUs can flash demo applications to the board and exercise the dual-core scheduling model without PCB investment. Universities and training programs use the supported device list (ATSAM4C8C, ATSAM4C16C, ATSAM4C32C) to teach real-time concepts, since the kit presents the exact production silicon. The board's box packaging, active status, and wide 13-distributor availability per Octopart make procurement straightforward for classroom quantities.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4C32-EK β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMA5D2C-XULT | ATSAMHA1G16A-XPRO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package / Form Factor | Evaluation Board (Box) | Evaluation Board (Box) - same class | Evaluation Board (Box) - same class |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core Processor | Dual ARM Cortex-M4, 120 MHz | ARM Cortex-A5 (MPU class) | ARM Cortex-M0+ (32-bit MCU) |
| Product Type | MCU 32-Bit Evaluation Board | MPU 32-Bit Evaluation Board | MCU 32-Bit Evaluation Board |
| Target Device Family | SAM4C (ATSAM4C8C/16C/32C) | SAMA5D2 family | SAM HA1 family |
| Application Focus | Smart energy / metering | Linux-class HMI / connectivity | General-purpose touch/sensing |
| Product Status | Active | Active | Active |
| Packaging | Box | Box | Box |
Key Differentiators
- Dual-core Cortex-M4 architecture (vs ATSAMHA1G16A-XPRO)
- Smart-energy-optimized SoC (vs ATSAMA5D2C-XULT)
- 2 MB flash on the evaluated device (vs ATSAMHA1G16A-XPRO)
Design Notes
Remember that the ATSAM4C32-EK is a development tool, not a production component. Evaluation-board peripheral wiring, pull-ups, and power sequencing differ from a production SAM4C PCB, so any measured current consumption or EMC behavior is indicative only. Before layout sign-off, re-verify SAM4C32C configuration registers and clock tree settings on your own hardware, and consult the Microchip SAM4C device datasheet rather than relying solely on board-level measurements for absolute values.
When migrating firmware from the ATSAM4C32-EK to a battery-powered metering product, profile the dual-core power modes on the eval board first, then re-measure on the custom PCB. Dual-core 120 MHz operation draws substantially more current than single-core low-power modes, so validate that your duty cycle actually needs the second core. Estimated: in metering duty cycles, average current is dominated by sleep-state quiescent draw, not active runtime, so sleep-mode entry/exit code deserves the most tuning effort.
For the eventual production board, use the ATSAM4C32-EK as an architectural reference only and generate your layout from the SAM4C32C datasheet decoupling and clock-layout guidance. Keep crystal and PLL loop components close to the MCU, provide solid ground planes under high-speed peripheral routing, and follow Microchip's SAM4C hardware design application material. Reuse the eval kit's schematic as a checklist for reset circuitry, debug connector provisioning, and brown-out protection rather than copying it verbatim.
Compliance Information
RoHS: Y per distributor product attribute data (omo-ic listing). AEC-Q100 not applicable to evaluation boards. Other compliance attributes not stated in provided data.