ATSAM4C4CB-AU - Dual Cortex-M4 120MHz MCU 256KB | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4C4CB-AU β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8.1 | $8.10 |
| 10 | $7.69 | $76.90 |
| 100 | $7.29 | $729.00 |
| 500 | $6.93 | $3,465.00 |
| 1,000 | $6.58 | $6,580.00 |
ATSAM4C4CB-AU Overview
A microcontroller unit (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a processor core, memory, and peripherals on one die, forming the lowest tier of the embedded processor hierarchy (MCU -> system-on-chip -> embedded processor -> semiconductor). The SAM4C series is a smart-energy system-on-chip family, meaning each die integrates two CPU cores plus metering-oriented peripherals such as cryptographic acceleration.
Key features include the dual ARM Cortex-M4 RISC cores each with on-chip cache, hardware cryptography (AES) acceleration, 256 Kbytes of embedded Flash (256K x 8), and 120 MHz maximum core speed. The cryptographic engine offloads security-critical computation from the main core, which is significant for revenue-grade smart meters where firmware must perform authenticated communication without sacrificing metering real-time performance.
Technically, the dual-core architecture allows functional partitioning: one core typically runs the metering/application stack while the second handles communication or security tasks, improving determinism and fault isolation. The on-chip cache for each core compensates for Flash wait states at 120 MHz, sustaining high effective throughput from the 256 KB program memory.
Typical applications include smart electricity meters, energy monitoring gateways, industrial data concentrators, and secure IoT nodes - use cases that benefit from the integrated crypto engine and dual-core processing headroom.
Design consideration: the 1.62V to 3.6V supply window accommodates 3.3V systems, but at 120 MHz designers must verify Flash accelerator settings and power budget against the datasheet electrical characteristics before finalizing the power tree.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, with data verified as of 2026-09-20.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4C4CB-AU β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
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ATSAM4C8C-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4C2C-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4C4CA-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4S4CA-AU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$3.85 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4C4CB-AU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 (dual-core) |
| Core Size | 32-bit |
| Number of Cores | 2 |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB (256K x 8) |
| SRAM | 152 KB |
| Cache | On-chip cache per core |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.62 V to 3.6 V |
| Core Voltage | 1.2 V |
| Security Features | Hardware cryptography (AES), crypto acceleration |
| Package | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Series | SAM4C |
| RoHS Status | RoHS Compliant |
| Packaging | Tray |
ATSAM4C4CB-AU 100-lqfp (14x14 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4C4CB-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 ATSAM4C4CB-AU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4C4CB-AU is suitable for 6 applications: Smart Electricity Meters, Energy Monitoring Gateways, Industrial Data Concentrators, Secure IoT Nodes, Home Energy Display and Sub-Metering, Battery-Powered Measurement Instruments.
Smart Electricity Meters
The ATSAM4C4CB-AU was purpose-built by Microchip as a smart-energy system-on-chip, making single-phase and three-phase electricity meters its primary application. The dual Cortex-M4 cores at 120 MHz let one core run the metrology algorithm while the second services communication protocols, so metering accuracy never degrades during heavy RF or PLC traffic. The 256 KB Flash holds the full metering firmware plus protocol stacks, and 152 KB SRAM buffers data logging. The integrated AES crypto engine supports authenticated, encrypted billing communication required by revenue-grade meter standards. Placed as the main SoC, it eliminates a separate security chip, reducing BOM cost and board area in the constrained meter housing.
Recommended
Energy Monitoring Gateways
Data concentrators and energy gateways aggregate readings from multiple meters and uplink to utility backends - a workload well matched to the ATSAM4C4CB-AU. The dual-core architecture partitions protocol translation (one core) from secure uplink processing (other core), and the hardware crypto engine accelerates TLS-class AES operations for grid-to-utility data security. The 120 MHz cores provide headroom for concurrent multi-meter polling, while 256 KB Flash stores protocol firmware and 152 KB SRAM buffers burst traffic. Designers should budget RAM carefully since gateway stacks can be large; the ATSAM4C8C-AU drop-in variant offers 512 KB Flash when code size grows beyond the 4C4 budget.
Recommended
Industrial Data Concentrators
In industrial automation, data concentrators collect sensor and actuator bus traffic and forward it to supervisory systems. The ATSAM4C4CB-AU fits this role because its 1.62V-3.6V supply integrates directly into 3.3V industrial backplanes, and its dual 120 MHz Cortex-M4 cores separate time-critical bus scanning from background analytics. The on-chip cache sustains execution efficiency from the 256 KB Flash at full clock speed, avoiding stalls in polling loops. Hardware cryptography secures plant-floor data at the source, increasingly required by OT security policies. The 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) package suits standard industrial PCB processes with adequate thermal margin at typical concentrator power levels.
Recommended
Secure IoT Nodes
IoT nodes that handle sensitive data benefit from the ATSAM4C4CB-AU's combination of dual-core processing and hardware AES. The security core can isolate key management and cryptographic operations from the application firmware, a layered security architecture recommended for connected devices facing remote attack. At 120 MHz with 152 KB SRAM, the part handles lightweight wireless stacks and local data processing, while the 256 KB Flash stores both application and security firmware with room for over-the-air update staging. The industrial supply range of 1.62V-3.6V supports battery-backed and mains-powered node designs alike. Its RoHS-compliant LQFP-100 package suits standard volume assembly lines.
Recommended
Home Energy Display and Sub-Metering
Sub-metering devices and in-home displays present measured energy data to consumers, requiring responsive UI processing plus reliable metering math. The ATSAM4C4CB-AU handles both: one Cortex-M4 core drives display and touch interface logic at 120 MHz while the second performs accumulation and tariff calculations deterministically. The 256 KB Flash and 152 KB SRAM comfortably store graphical assets buffers and daily consumption history. Because the same SoC family is used in the parent meter, shared toolchain and code reuse reduce development cost across the product line. Designers connecting the display via SPI or parallel bus should verify peripheral allocation against the SAM4C datasheet signal multiplexing tables.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Measurement Instruments
Portable measurement instruments demand compute performance and long battery life in tension; the ATSAM4C4CB-AU balances both with the ARM Cortex-M4 efficiency and the wide 1.62V-3.6V supply window that tolerates battery voltage sag. Dual cores at up to 120 MHz let one core sleep or run low-rate data logging while the other bursts through DSP-class signal processing for sensor analysis. The 152 KB SRAM supports capture buffering of ADC streams, and on-chip crypto secures logged results. Instrument designers should profile active-mode current at 120 MHz from the datasheet electrical characteristics and implement clock gating of the unused core to maximize battery runtime in the 100-LQFP package.
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Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4C4CB-AU β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4C8C-AU | ATSAM4C2C-AU | ATSAM4C4CA-AU | ATSAM4S4CA-AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) | 100-LQFP (14x14) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14) - same | 100-LQFP - same footprint, different family pinout functions |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology (Atmel legacy) |
| Core Architecture | Dual ARM Cortex-M4 | Dual ARM Cortex-M4 | Dual ARM Cortex-M4 | Dual ARM Cortex-M4 | Single ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Max Clock Speed | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 512 KB | 128 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 1.62 V to 3.6 V | 1.62 V to 3.6 V | 1.62 V to 3.6 V | 1.62 V to 3.6 V | 1.62 V to 3.6 V |
| Target Application | Smart energy / metering | Smart energy, larger firmware | Smart energy, cost-reduced | Smart energy | General industrial/embedded |
Key Differentiators
- Dual-core Cortex-M4 architecture (vs ATSAM4S4CA-AU)
- Integrated hardware AES crypto engine (vs ATSAM4C4CA-AU)
- More SRAM than SAM4S equivalent (vs ATSAM4S4CA-AU)
Design Notes
Supply the ATSAM4C4CB-AU from a regulated 3.3 V rail held within the 1.62 V to 3.6 V window across all load and temperature corners. Dual cores at 120 MHz create transient current steps when waking from sleep; use bulk capacitance near the VDD pins in addition to per-pin 100 nF decoupling. Estimated: two cores plus cache at full clock typically draw tens of milliamps - verify exact active-mode current in the SAM4C datasheet electrical characteristics before sizing the regulator, as this figure was not available in the reviewed summary data.
For the 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) package, fan out decoupling capacitors on the bottom layer directly beneath the die, one 100 nF ceramic per supply pin pair, connected with short vias. Route the crystal (if used for the main oscillator) with guard ground and keep it under 10 mm from the pins. The exposed geometry of LQFP-100 at 0.5 mm pitch requires careful solder-paste stencil design to prevent bridging; follow Microchip's surface-mount layout guidance in the SAM4C hardware design documentation.
When migrating between SAM4C family members (for example 4C4 to 4C8), confirm Flash organization and cache configuration in code rather than assuming binary compatibility of linker scripts - memory sizes change even on pin-compatible parts. Do not assume the ATSAM4S4CA-AU is firmware-compatible: it is single-core with a different peripheral map despite the same pin count. Also verify the crypto engine's key storage behavior if your product depends on hardware security, since this differs from software-only AES implementations.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per LCSC product listing (C1342505). REACH, lead-free, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals declarations not found in the provided data; request formal compliance certificates from Microchip.