ATSAM4C32CA-AU - Dual-Core 120MHz 2MB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4C32CA-AU β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $14.18 | $14.18 |
| 10 | $13.1 | $131.00 |
| 100 | $11.31 | $1,131.00 |
| 500 | $10.6 | $5,300.00 |
| 1,000 | $9.95 | $9,950.00 |
ATSAM4C32CA-AU Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that combines a processor core, memory, and peripherals into one integrated circuit. Within the power-management hierarchy, the SAM4C family sits in Microchip's 32-bit SAM portfolio: microcontroller -> ARM Cortex-M based MCU -> system-on-chip (SoC) solution. The SAM4C32 is specifically architected as a SoC for smart energy applications such as electricity meters.
Key differentiating features include the dual-core Cortex-M4/M4F architecture, which allows one core to run the metering application while the second core handles communication or security tasks; 2 MB of on-chip Flash for large firmware images with dual-bank boot strategies; and a hardware cryptographic engine (CRYPTO per Microchip product pages) supporting secure firmware and data handling. The 120 MHz maximum core speed with the Cortex-M4 DSP instructions and single-precision FPU supports FFT-based metering computations efficiently.
Technical depth: the device operates from a 1.2V core / 3.3V I-O supply domain structure (per FindIC verified data), supports industrial temperature ranges (IND TEMP per Mouser), and is offered in Microchip's MRLA (material declaration, green) packaging with RoHS-green LQFP construction. The two processors enable partitioned designs where metrology accuracy and network stack latency are addressed independently.
Typical applications include smart electricity meters, energy monitoring gateways, industrial control nodes, and secure IoT data concentrators, where dual-core partitioning and cryptographic acceleration directly reduce external component count.
Design consideration: as a dual-core device, partition Flash and SRAM between cores early in the design and verify the supply sequencing of the 1.2V core domain against the 3.3V I-O domain in the power tree.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing (as of 2026-09-20), drop-in same-family alternatives, pinout/package data, and practical design notes not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4C32CA-AU 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 ATSAM4C32CA-AU (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Core Processor, Package, Packaging, Flash Memory, RoHS Status.
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No drop-in alternatives available for this product.
Request AlternativesATSAM4C32CA-AU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4/M4F, dual-core, 32-bit |
| Core Size | 32-bit |
| Number of Cores | 2 |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 2 MB (2M x 8) |
| Supply Voltage | 1.2V / 3.3V |
| Series | SAM4C |
| Hardware Security | Crypto accelerator (CRYPTO) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Package | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) |
| Packaging | Tray |
| RoHS Status | Green / RoHS compliant (LQFP, Green per Mouser) |
| Program Memory Type | FLASH |
| Target Application | Smart energy (metering SoC) |
ATSAM4C32CA-AU 100-lqfp (14x14 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4C32CA-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 ATSAM4C32CA-AU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4C32CA-AU is suitable for 6 applications: Smart Electricity Meters, Energy Monitoring Gateways, Industrial Control Nodes, Secure IoT Data Concentrators, Smart Home Energy Hubs, Battery-Powered Data Loggers.
Smart Electricity Meters
The ATSAM4C32CA-AU is purpose-built as a smart energy SoC: per Microchip, the SAM4C32 wraps two 120 MHz Cortex-M4F cores and 2 MB Flash specifically for metering. The FPU-enabled cores execute FFT-based metrology algorithms with hardware acceleration, while the second core runs the DLMS/COSEM communication stack in isolation, improving worst-case metrology timing determinism. The integrated hardware crypto engine supports firmware authentication and secure data logging demanded by utility certifications. Deployed in the 100-LQFP 14x14 mm package with 3.3V I-O levels, the device reduces external component count in single- and three-phase meter designs where board area and long-term supply security are primary constraints.
Recommended
Energy Monitoring Gateways
In submetering and energy gateways, the dual-core ATSAM4C32CA-AU partitions protocol translation from data aggregation: one core services RS-485/PLC field traffic while the other aggregates readings into 2 MB of Flash with wear-managed logging. The 120 MHz Cortex-M4F performance handles TLS-style security workloads alongside the crypto engine, protecting meter-to-cloud data. Industrial temperature rating supports unconditioned panel and pole-top environments. The 100-LQFP surface-mount package permits two-layer routing of dense I-O in compact DIN-rail hardware, and the 3.3V I-O domain interfaces directly with standard transceivers and isolation devices common in gateway designs.
Recommended
Industrial Control Nodes
For factory automation nodes requiring deterministic control plus secure over-the-air updates, the ATSAM4C32CA-AU dedicates one Cortex-M4F core to the real-time control loop at 120 MHz while the second core manages HMI and network stacks, preventing jitter from communication interrupts. The 2 MB Flash enables dual-bank firmware images so updates can be validated before commit - a key reliability feature in industrial settings. Hardware crypto supports device identity and secure boot schemes aligned with modern factory security requirements. The industrial temperature rating and 3.3V I-O compatibility simplify integration with standard PLC I-O electronics and 24 V-domain level shifters.
Recommended
Secure IoT Data Concentrators
IoT concentrators collecting from dozens of endpoint meters benefit from the SAM4C32's security-first architecture: the CRYPTO peripheral offloads symmetric cipher operations, freeing both 120 MHz cores for protocol handling and data reduction. The 2 MB embedded Flash stores endpoint credentials and buffering queues without external memory, reducing attack surface versus SPI-NOR based designs. Dual-core partitioning allows a hardened, minimized RTOS on one core and feature-rich networking on the other, a structure that simplifies security certification arguments. The 100-LQFP package's 0.5 mm pitch supports standard SMT assembly, and 1.2V core operation keeps active power manageable in always-on concentrator duty.
Recommended
Smart Home Energy Hubs
Consumer energy hubs and smart panel monitors use the ATSAM4C32CA-AU to combine metrology-grade measurement with rich connectivity. The Cortex-M4F FPU accelerates power-quality calculations (THD, RMS sampling) while the second core runs wireless module AT-command stacks, keeping response times consistent. With 2 MB Flash the firmware can host OTA updaters, localized displays, and multiple protocol profiles without external storage. The 3.3V I-O domain connects directly to common Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and BLE modules, and the crypto engine protects user consumption data per privacy regulations. The 14x14 mm LQFP suits compact consumer enclosures with two-layer and four-layer PCB budgets.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Data Loggers
Long-life field loggers exploit the SAM4C32's ability to run one core at 120 MHz in short bursts while the other core sleeps with RAM retention, matching the duty-cycle profile of interval metering and environmental monitoring. The 2 MB Flash holds months of timestamped samples locally, and the crypto engine signs log blocks for tamper evidence in utility and billing applications. The industrial temperature rating covers outdoor enclosures, and the single 3.3V I-O rail simplifies regulator design from primary lithium cells. The LQFP-100 package provides enough GPIO for multiple sensor buses, tamper switches, and optical communication ports without port expanders.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4C32CA-AU β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4C32CA-AUR | ATSAM4C32CA-AUT | ATSAM4C16CA-AU | ATSAM4C8CA-AU | ATSAM4C4CA-AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) | 100-LQFP (14x14) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core Architecture | Dual-core ARM Cortex-M4F, 120 MHz | Dual-core Cortex-M4F, 120 MHz - identical | Dual-core Cortex-M4F, 120 MHz - identical | Dual-core Cortex-M4F, 120 MHz | Dual-core Cortex-M4F, 120 MHz | Dual-core Cortex-M4F, 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 2 MB | 2 MB - identical | 2 MB - identical | 1 MB | 512 KB | 256 KB |
| Relative Cost Tier | Highest Flash density in family | Equivalent to this product | Equivalent to this product | Lower (half Flash) | Lower | Lowest in family |
Key Differentiators
- Dual-core Cortex-M4F at 120 MHz (vs ATSAM4S16CA-AU)
- Maximum 2 MB embedded Flash in family (vs ATSAM4C16CA-AU)
- Integrated hardware crypto engine (vs ATSAM4C4CA-AU)
- Packaging flexibility without redesign (vs ATSAM4C32CA-AUR)
Design Notes
The ATSAM4C32CA-AU uses a dual supply-domain architecture (1.2V core, 3.3V I-O per verified data). Design the power tree so the 1.2V core rail is generated by the recommended regulator topology in the SAM4C datasheet and verify power-up/down sequencing to avoid core/I-O domain violations. In metering products subject to brown-out events, implement the datasheet's brown-out detector settings and confirm that Flash writes are inhibited below the minimum core voltage to prevent corrupt dual-bank images.
Do not assume single-core toolchain behavior: the dual-core SAM4C requires partitioning Flash/SRAM between the two Cortex-M4F cores at link time. Migrating firmware from a single-core SAM4S (e.g., ATSAM4S16CA-AU) is not a recompile exercise - interrupt routing, clock configuration, and bus mastership differ. Validate both cores' boot flow (per the Microchip SAM4C datasheet boot sequence) and reserve debugging capacity for each core independently in your JTAG/SWD plan.
For the 100-LQFP 14x14 mm package, place 100 nF decoupling capacitors at each supply pin pair within 2-3 mm of the device, plus bulk 10 uF per rail. The exposed fan-out of 100 pins at 0.5 mm pitch typically requires at least two signal layers plus dedicated ground plane; maintain a continuous return path under the crystal and crypto-related clock lines. Follow Microchip's SAM4C hardware design application guidance for oscillator layout and debug-header provisioning.
The 120 MHz core and external memory/peripheral clocks can couple into metrology analog front-ends in meter designs. Route sensitive analog sampling lines away from the oscillator and high-toggle GPIO banks, and use the device's peripheral clock gating to disable unused high-speed interfaces during ADC sampling windows. Estimated guidance based on standard MCU layout practice - validate with the SAM4C datasheet AC timing tables for your selected peripheral clock configuration.
Compliance Information
Mouser lists the part as LQFP, Green with MRLA status (Microchip material report line approval). REACH and halogen-free status not explicitly stated in provided data - obtain the official material declaration from Microchip.