ATSAM4CMP16CB-AU - Dual-Core 120MHz MCU 1MB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4CMP16CB-AU ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8.95 | $8.95 |
| 10 | $8.25 | $82.50 |
| 100 | $7.45 | $745.00 |
| 500 | $6.85 | $3,425.00 |
| 1,000 | $6.2 | $6,200.00 |
ATSAM4CMP16CB-AU Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer integrating a processor core, memory, and peripherals on one die, sitting at the heart of the embedded-system hierarchy: semiconductor -> integrated circuit -> microcontroller -> system-on-chip (SoC). The SAM4CM family extends this concept by pairing two high-performance Cortex-M4 RISC processors with floating-point (M4F) support in one device, a rare architecture targeted specifically at smart energy metering.
Key differentiating features include the dual-core 120 MHz processing engine, 1024 KB embedded Flash for large application and firmware images, a peripheral set tuned for utility metering (hardware support for metrology front ends and multiple communication channels), and industrial-grade temperature qualification. The 100-LQFP package provides abundant GPIO and peripheral pins while remaining hand- and reflow-solderable.
Architecturally, the two Cortex-M4 cores allow functional partitioning - for example, one core runs metrology and real-time sampling while the second manages communication stacks (DLMS/COSEM, PLC, RF) - improving determinism and security separation in smart meters. Flash at 1 MB supports dual-bank field firmware upgrades.
Typical applications include smart electricity meters, gas and water meter communication modules, industrial monitoring gateways, and any system needing isolated real-time control plus protocol processing.
Design consideration: budget PCB layout care for the 0.5 mm-pitch 100-pin LQFP, and validate core-to-core communication latency in shared-SRAM arbitration during early prototyping.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing data, drop-in same-family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, with all pricing referenced as of 2026-09-20.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4CMP16CB-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 ATSAM4CMP16CB-AU (same form factor and footprint) — differing in RoHS Status, Package, Core Processor, Flash Memory, Metrology Accuracy.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4C16CB-AU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4CMS16CB-AU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4CMS8CB-AU
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4CMS4CB-AU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →ATSAM4CMP16CB-AUR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4CMP16CB-AU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 32-bit Dual-Core ARM Cortex-M4/M4F |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 120 MHz |
| Program Memory Size | 1 MB (1M x 8) Flash |
| RAM Size | 128 KB |
| Core Processor Series | ARM Cortex-M4 SAM4CM |
| Number of Terminals | 100 |
| Package Code | LFQFP |
| Package Description | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) |
| Terminal Form | Gull Wing |
| Package Shape | Square |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial |
| Data Bus Width | 32 bit |
| Program Memory Type | FLASH |
| Target Application | Smart Energy / Metering |
ATSAM4CMP16CB-AU square Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4CMP16CB-AU (square 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 ATSAM4CMP16CB-AU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4CMP16CB-AU is suitable for 6 applications: Smart Electricity Meters, Gas and Water Metering Modules, Industrial Monitoring Gateways, Building Automation Controllers, Energy Data Concentrators, Security-Conscious IoT Edge Nodes.
Smart Electricity Meters
The ATSAM4CMP16CB-AU is purpose-built for smart electricity meters: Microchip positions the SAM4CM as a system-on-chip solution for smart energy. Its two 120 MHz Cortex-M4 cores enable functional partitioning - one core executes real-time metrology sampling of voltage/current channels while the second runs the DLMS/COSEM communication stack and cryptographic authentication using the P-variant crypto acceleration. The 1 MB Flash supports dual-bank field firmware upgrades mandated by utility fleets, and 128 KB SRAM buffers metering data and protocol frames. Placing metrology and protocol work on separate cores improves determinism and security separation compared to single-core designs, at comparable power and board cost.
Recommended
Gas and Water Metering Modules
Battery-powered gas and water meters benefit from the SAM4CM's dual-core architecture and industrial temperature grade. The ATSAM4CMP16CB-AU dedicates one 120 MHz Cortex-M4 core to low-rate flow sensing and accumulation while the second core handles wake-on-event RF or PLC communication, allowing aggressive sleep-duty-cycling of the active core. The 1 MB Flash retains multiple firmware images and logged consumption records, and 128 KB SRAM supports M-Bus or wireless M-Bus stacks. In the 100-LQFP 14x14 mm package, the device integrates into compact meter module PCBs while the gull-wing terminals simplify inspection in low-volume meter assembly processes.
Recommended
Industrial Monitoring Gateways
In industrial data concentrators and monitoring gateways, the ATSAM4CMP16CB-AU bridges field devices to backhaul networks. One Cortex-M4 core at 120 MHz manages Modbus/CAN field-side acquisition with hard real-time deadlines, while the second core runs TCP/IP and MQTT protocol stacks toward the cloud. The 100-pin LQFP exposes sufficient GPIO and serial peripherals for multi-channel sensor aggregation, and 1 MB Flash stores protocol firmware plus OTA update images. Its industrial temperature qualification suits panel-mounted enclosures, and the crypto acceleration of the P variant secures TLS sessions without software-only crypto overhead that would burden a single-core MCU.
Recommended
Building Automation Controllers
Building automation controllers and room controllers use the ATSAM4CMP16CB-AU where isolated control loops and network communication coexist. The dual-core 120 MHz Cortex-M4 architecture separates HVAC/PID loop execution from BACnet or KNX stack processing, avoiding stack-induced jitter in control loops. With 1 MB Flash and 128 KB SRAM, the controller hosts scheduling databases, trend logging, and web-style commissioning interfaces. The 100-pin LQFP provides enough pins for multiple UARTs, DALI, and I/O expansion, and industrial temperature grade covers plant rooms and rooftop installations. Flash-based firmware enables field reconfiguration during commissioning without replacing hardware.
Recommended
Energy Data Concentrators
Data concentrators in AMI (advanced metering infrastructure) networks aggregate dozens of downstream meters and uplink to utility head-end systems. The ATSAM4CMP16CB-AU's dual-core layout maps naturally to this role: core one polls and parses meter traffic over PLC or RS-485, core two encrypts and streams aggregated payloads via the P-variant crypto engine. 128 KB SRAM buffers concurrent meter sessions, and 1 MB Flash holds device tables and logged interval data through power outages. The 100-pin LQFP supports the multiple communication PHY interfaces concentrators require, and the industrial rating suits outdoor cabinet deployment across utility temperature extremes.
Recommended
Security-Conscious IoT Edge Nodes
For IoT edge nodes requiring device identity and secure firmware update, the ATSAM4CMP16CB-AU provides hardware crypto acceleration within its P-variant silicon, offloading AES-class operations from software. Two 120 MHz Cortex-M4 cores allow one core to run the application while the other validates and installs signed firmware images from the 1 MB dual-bank Flash, achieving fail-safe updates. 128 KB SRAM supports TLS 1.2/1.3 stacks and JSON/CBOR payload handling. The 100-LQFP industrial device fits DIN-rail and outdoor enclosures, and the pin-compatible SAM4C family lets designers scale memory down for cost-optimized product tiers without PCB respins.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4CMP16CB-AU — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4C16CB-AU | ATSAM4CMS16CB-AU | ATSAM4CMS8CB-AU | ATSAM4CMS4CB-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 | Dual-core Cortex-M4/M4F | Dual-core Cortex-M4/M4F | Dual-core Cortex-M4/M4F | Dual-core Cortex-M4/M4F | Dual-core Cortex-M4/M4F |
| Max Clock Frequency | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz |
| Crypto Acceleration | Yes (P variant) | No | No (S variant) | No (S variant) | No (S variant) |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial | Industrial | Industrial | Industrial | Industrial |
Key Differentiators
- Crypto acceleration hardware for secure metering (vs ATSAM4C16CB-AU)
- Full 128 KB SRAM across dual cores (vs ATSAM4CMS16CB-AU)
- Largest Flash in the 100-LQFP SAM4CM line for OTA dual-bank updates (vs ATSAM4CMS8CB-AU)
Design Notes
The 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) has 0.5 mm lead pitch. Use 0.2-0.25 mm trace widths under the body, solder-mask-defined or NSMD pads per IPC guidance in the Microchip packaging note, and a fan-out of at least two internal signal layers. Place 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitors within 2 mm of each VDD pin pair, plus one bulk 4.7-10 uF capacitor near the supply entry. Verify pin 1 dot orientation against the LQFP chamfer before stencil cut.
Dual-core firmware introduces shared-resource hazards: the two Cortex-M4 cores share SRAM and peripheral buses, so semaphores or the family's mailbox mechanism must guard cross-core communication. Teams new to SAM4C often write single-core-style code and hit intermittent data corruption. Prototype core-to-core arbitration latency early, and size the 128 KB SRAM budget across both cores plus communication buffers before committing to the S-variant cost-down.
SWD/JTAG debug of both cores through the 100-pin LQFP requires series resistors (22-33 ohm) on SWCLK/SWDIO and kept-short debug traces; long debug leads at 120 MHz core clocks cause flashing failures. For crypto-variant designs using the P hardware engine, follow the datasheet trace-length matching guidance for external clock inputs to minimize jitter affecting secure operations.
Estimated: when both cores run at 120 MHz, supply current is in the tens-of-mA class per Microchip SAM4C family data - confirm the exact figure in the manufacturer datasheet for your voltage and mode. Budget the 3.3 V rail and use the peripheral clock gating (PMC) to disable unused peripherals; in battery metering, deep-sleep modes with RTC-only operation dominate average current, so validate wake-up latency from your chosen low-power mode.
Compliance Information
Compliance statuses not stated in the provided web data; consult the official Microchip product page environmental data sheet for current RoHS/REACH declarations.
