ATSAM4CMP8CB-AU - Dual-Core Cortex-M4 120MHz MCU | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4CMP8CB-AU β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
ATSAM4CMP8CB-AU Overview
A metering system-on-chip (SoC) is a microcontroller that integrates the compute cores, metrology-grade analog front-end support, memory, and communication peripherals required to measure, compute, and communicate energy data in a single device. Within the power management and embedded MCU hierarchy, the SAM4CM family extends Atmel's (now Microchip's) SAM4 and SAM4C families of Cortex-M4 controllers, adding metering-specific integration.
Key features include a unique dual ARM Cortex-M4 architecture that lets engineers implement signal processing in one core and application plus communications firmware in a separate, independent partition, improving isolation and safety. Peripherals include EBI/EMI, I2C, IrDA, SPI, and UART/USART connectivity, plus DMA, an LCD controller, power-on reset (POR), PWM, watchdog timer (WDT), and hardware cryptography. Program and data memory can be extended via the external bus interface.
Technically, the device operates from 1.2V/3.3V supplies and leverages the SAM4C family's on-chip cache design, with family memory options of up to 2 MB embedded Flash and 304 KB SRAM. The M4F cores include hardware floating-point units, benefiting 3-phase metering DSP computations and FFT-based power-quality analysis at 120 MHz.
Typical applications are poly-phase smart energy meters, residential electricity meters, industrial sub-metering, and power-quality monitoring equipment.
For design, use the LCD controller segment count and the independent core partitioning early in firmware architecture planning; allocate the metrology pipeline to one core to guarantee deterministic sampling.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing data, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, verified as of 2026-09-20.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4CMP8CB-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 ATSAM4CMP8CB-AU (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Core Processor, Series, Flash Memory, Metrology Accuracy.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4CMP8CB-AUR
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$6.55 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4CMP16CB-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$6.2 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4CMP32CB-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4C8C-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4C16C-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4CMP8CB-AU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4/M4F, dual-core |
| Core Size | 32-bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 512 KB (512K x 8) |
| Series | SAM4CM (ATSAM4CM) |
| Package | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) |
| Supply Voltage | 1.2V / 3.3V |
| Connectivity | EBI/EMI, I2C, IrDA, SPI, UART/USART |
| Peripherals | DMA, LCD controller, POR, PWM, WDT |
| Security Feature | Hardware cryptography |
| Target Application | Residential and poly-phase metering, class 0.2 accuracy, 3000:1 dynamic range |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Packaging | Tray |
ATSAM4CMP8CB-AU 100-lqfp (14x14 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4CMP8CB-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 ATSAM4CMP8CB-AU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4CMP8CB-AU is suitable for 6 applications: Poly-Phase Smart Energy Meters, Residential Electricity Meters, Industrial Sub-Metering, Power Quality Monitoring, Embedded HMI with Segment LCD, Secure Communication Nodes.
Poly-Phase Smart Energy Meters
The ATSAM4CMP8CB-AU is purpose-built as a three-phase metering system-on-chip, achieving class 0.2 metrology accuracy over a 3000:1 dynamic range across the industrial temperature range per the SAM4CM product description. One Cortex-M4F core executes the real-time metering DSP pipeline at 120 MHz with hardware floating point, while the second core independently runs DLMS/COSEM communications and application logic, improving determinism and security isolation. The integrated LCD controller drives the display without an external driver IC, and hardware cryptography secures billing data. Because metrology and communications share one 512 KB Flash device, BOM count and board area shrink versus discrete MCU-plus-metrology-ASIC designs.
Recommended
Residential Electricity Meters
For single-phase residential smart meters, the ATSAM4CMP8CB-AU provides the metering-grade signal processing and display integration required by modern utility programs. The 512 KB Flash accommodates metrology, tariff, and communication firmware within a single 100-pin LQFP footprint, and the LCD controller directly drives the customer display. SPI and I2C interfaces connect to external communication modules (RF, PLC, or cellular), while UART/USART ports support optical probe service access. The 120 MHz dual-core Cortex-M4F architecture keeps the sampling-and-computation loop isolated from network protocol handling, so billing-grade class 0.2 accuracy over the 3000:1 dynamic range is maintained even during heavy communication activity.
Recommended
Industrial Sub-Metering
Industrial facilities deploy sub-meters for tenant billing, machine-level energy monitoring, and ISO 50001 energy management. The ATSAM4CMP8CB-AU fits these designs because its SAM4CM metering SoC delivers class 0.2 accuracy across a 3000:1 dynamic range - sufficient for heavily loaded feeders down to light night-time loads - over the industrial temperature range. The EBI/EMI external bus allows memory extension for logging, the DMA offloads multi-channel ADC sample movement, and the watchdog timer enforces recovery in unattended installations. Cryptography hardware protects measured data communicated over I2C, SPI, or UART-linked gateways in the plant network.
Recommended
Power Quality Monitoring
Power-quality instruments must compute harmonics, sags, swells, and RMS trends continuously. The ATSAM4CMP8CB-AU's 120 MHz dual-core Cortex-M4F with hardware FPU executes FFT-based harmonic analysis on one core while the second core manages the user interface, LCD, and communications, preventing analysis glitches during data transfers. The SAM4CM family's on-chip cache improves real-time DSP throughput, and the EBI/EMI interface extends SRAM for waveform capture buffers beyond the on-chip allocation. Class 0.2 metrology capability over 3000:1 dynamic range ensures the instrument's energy measurements remain billing-credible across the full current span.
Recommended
Embedded HMI with Segment LCD
Any metering or control product that needs a segment LCD benefits from the ATSAM4CMP8CB-AU's integrated LCD controller, which removes an external LCD driver from the BOM. Combined with DMA-driven PWM, watchdog supervision, and power-on reset, the device implements a compact single-chip HMI controller: one Cortex-M4F core renders the display and scans inputs while the other runs control or communication firmware independently. I2C and SPI connect touch keys, EEPROM, or external sensors, and UART/USART links the HMI to a host PLC or gateway. The 100-pin LQFP provides abundant GPIO for backlight, key, and indicator control within a 14x14 mm footprint.
Recommended
Secure Communication Nodes
The hardware cryptography integrated in the ATSAM4CMP8CB-AU makes it suitable for secure metering-head-end nodes, data concentrators, and protected sensor gateways. The dual-core partitioning lets you run the TCP/IP or RF protocol stack in a partition isolated from the measurement or application logic, a structure the SAM4CM dual Cortex-M4 architecture was explicitly designed to support. SPI, I2C, and multiple UART/USART ports interface external radios or PLC modems, while the EBI/EMI bus extends buffer memory for packet processing. Firmware upgrades can be validated in the cryptographic hardware before activation, strengthening field-device security lifecycle management.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4CMP8CB-AU β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4CMP8CB-AUR | ATSAM4CMP16CB-AU | ATSAM4C16C-AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Embedded Flash | 512 KB | 512 KB | 1 MB | 1 MB |
| Core Configuration | Dual Cortex-M4/M4F | Dual Cortex-M4/M4F | Dual Cortex-M4/M4F | Dual Cortex-M4/M4F |
| Max Clock Frequency | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz | 120 MHz |
| Metering SoC Optimization | Yes (class 0.2, 3000:1) | Yes (class 0.2, 3000:1) | Yes (SAM4CM family) | No (general-purpose SAM4C) |
Key Differentiators
- Metering SoC integration with class 0.2 accuracy support (vs ATSAM4C16C-AU)
- Memory headroom upgrade path on identical footprint (vs ATSAM4CMP16CB-AU)
- Tray packaging for prototyping (vs ATSAM4CMP8CB-AUR)
Design Notes
Partition firmware by security and determinism boundaries, not by convenience. Place the metrology sampling-and-computation loop on one Cortex-M4F core with interrupt latency budgets verified at 120 MHz, and keep all network protocol parsing (DLMS/COSEM, TCP/IP) on the second core partition. Mixing these domains causes metering accuracy drift under communication load and weakens the cryptographic isolation that the SAM4CM dual-core architecture was designed to provide. Define the inter-core message contract early since 512 KB Flash leaves limited room for refactoring late in the project.
The 100-pin LQFP (14x14 mm) with 0.5 mm pitch requires careful decoupling: place one 100 nF ceramic capacitor at each VDD pin pair within 2 mm of the pin, plus bulk 10 uF at the supply entry. Because the device targets class 0.2 metrology over a 3000:1 dynamic range, analog supply cleanliness directly affects measurement accuracy - separate the analog and digital ground returns and route crystal and ADC reference traces away from LCD and communication line switching. Follow the SAM4CM datasheet power-connection table exactly for pin assignment.
Reserve EBI/EMI routing on the PCB even if the initial design fits in on-chip memory. The datasheet notes the SAM4CM family can extend program and data memory via the parallel external bus, and metering firmware with logging frequently outgrows 512 KB Flash. Keeping an unused EBI escape on a 2-layer region of the board (address/data bus plus chip selects to a spare footprint) lets you add external Flash or SRAM later without respin. Use length-matched traces if bus speeds exceed 50 MHz.
Compliance Information
Mouser listing describes the part as 'LQFP, Green, IND TEMP' suggesting a green/RoHS package, but explicit RoHS/REACH certificates were not present in the verified data - confirm with Microchip product documentation.