ATSAM4E-EK - SAM4E16 Cortex-M4 Eval Kit 120MHz | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4E-EK ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $393.21 | $393.21 |
ATSAM4E-EK Overview
An MCU evaluation kit is a hardware development platform that exposes all of a microcontroller's peripherals - connectivity, analog, memory interfaces, and human-machine interface options - so engineers can benchmark performance, validate firmware, and prototype end systems before committing to custom PCB design. Within the development-tools hierarchy, the ATSAM4E-EK sits alongside boards and modules such as development boards and evaluation boards for embedded (MCU/DSP) processors.
Key features include the high-performance ARM Cortex-M4 core with hardware FPU for single-precision math, a high data bandwidth architecture targeted at industrial automation and building control, a standard 20-pin JTAG/ICE connector compatible with ARM emulators such as the Segger SAM-ICE, on-board NAND Flash for code and data storage, and a 12MHz main crystal with a 32.768kHz RTC crystal for accurate timing.
The SAM4E family delivers up to 1024KB of embedded Flash and integrates advanced connectivity peripherals, making the kit well suited for evaluating EtherCAT-ready and other communication-heavy designs. The FPU enables control algorithms, digital filtering, and sensor fusion workloads at 120MHz without software floating-point overhead.
Typical applications explored on this kit include industrial automation nodes, building control panels, motor control with sensor feedback, and connected sensor gateways - domains where the SAM4E series MCU is explicitly targeted by Microchip marketing material.
Design consideration: budget a compatible ARM JTAG emulator (e.g., Segger SAM-ICE) for debugging, since the board uses a standard 20-pin JTAG/ICE connector rather than an integrated debugger circuit.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing from LCSC, DigiKey, and Mouser, kit-level specifications from the SAM4E-EK user guide, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer product listing alone.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4E-EK — 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 ATSAM4E-EK (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Flash Memory, Maximum Clock Frequency, RoHS Status, Core Size, Core.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4E16CB-CN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.79 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM3S8BA-MUR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.15 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM3N4BA-MU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.48 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4E-EK Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | MCU Evaluation Kit / Development Board |
| Target MCU | ATSAM4E16E |
| Core | 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU |
| Maximum Core Speed | 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 1024 KB |
| SRAM | 128 KB |
| On-board NAND Flash | Yes |
| Main Crystal | 12 MHz |
| RTC Crystal | 32.768 kHz |
| Debug Interface | Standard 20-pin JTAG/ICE connector |
| Compatible Emulators | ARM JTAG emulator (e.g., Segger SAM-ICE) |
| Board Contents | Board(s), Cable(s), LCD, Power Supply |
| Target Series | Atmel | SMART SAM4E Series |
| Intended Applications | Industrial automation, building control |
ATSAM4E-EK Interfaces & Connectors
No manufacturer-published interface list is available for ATSAM4E-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
ATSAM4E-EK is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation Prototyping, Building Control Systems, Motor Control Development, Embedded Firmware Development and Debug, Human-Machine Interface Panels, Education and ARM Cortex-M4 Training.
Industrial Automation Prototyping
The ATSAM4E-EK directly targets industrial automation evaluation: Microchip positions the SAM4E series as ARM Cortex-M4 processor-based devices for industrial automation and building control. The kit's ATSAM4E16E runs at 120MHz with a hardware FPU, providing the compute headroom for PID motor control loops, digital filtering, and fieldbus protocol stacks that a Cortex-M3 without FPU would execute more slowly. On-board NAND Flash allows storing data logs, web assets, or firmware images during factory-node experiments. Engineers use the board's exposed peripherals to validate communication interfaces and analog acquisition chains before spinning a custom SAM4E16E PCB, shortening the path from evaluation to production hardware in PLC I/O modules, sensor hubs, and machine-control panels.
Recommended
Building Control Systems
Building automation controllers need accurate real-time clocks, robust communication peripherals, and enough processing power to run protocol stacks simultaneously. The ATSAM4E-EK exposes the SAM4E16E's 32.768kHz RTC crystal path and connectivity peripheral set, letting developers verify timekeeping accuracy and interface behavior under real network traffic. The 120MHz Cortex-M4 with FPU handles HVAC control algorithms and floating-point sensor conditioning without software floating-point libraries. Because the SAM4E family offers up to 1024KB Flash, BACnet or similar building-protocol firmware stacks fit on-chip without external code storage. Prototyping on this evaluation kit de-risks the peripheral configuration before committing to a custom controller board.
Recommended
Motor Control Development
Field-oriented control and sensorless motor algorithms rely on fast single-precision math, making the ATSAM4E-EK's FPU-equipped 120MHz Cortex-M4 core a natural fit. Developers implement current-loop and speed-loop controllers on the kit, benchmarking execution time against PWM periods before porting to production hardware. The high data bandwidth architecture noted by Atmel keeps ADC sampling and PWM update loops deterministic under load. Compared with evaluating on a Cortex-M3 board such as SAM3S-based kits, the hardware FPU measurably reduces cycle counts in Clarke/Park transforms and PI controllers. The kit's exposed peripheral headers allow hooking gate drivers and current-sense front ends for closed-loop bench testing.
Recommended
Embedded Firmware Development and Debug
As a general firmware development platform, the ATSAM4E-EK provides a stable, manufacturer-supported target for the SAM4E16E. Firmware teams validate bootloader, RTOS porting, and peripheral drivers on real silicon instead of simulators. Debugging uses the standard 20-pin JTAG/ICE connector, which per the user guide accepts ARM-compatible emulators such as the Segger SAM-ICE, giving full halt, step, and memory-inspection capability on the Cortex-M4 core. On-board NAND Flash supports testing of file systems and firmware-update mechanisms. Teams migrating between SAM family parts can reuse driver code validated on this kit across related Cortex-M devices, protecting software investment across product generations.
Recommended
Human-Machine Interface Panels
The ATSAM4E-EK ships with an LCD per distributor contents data, making it directly usable for evaluating HMI panel designs. The 120MHz Cortex-M4 with FPU provides enough performance to render UI elements, process touch input, and run application logic concurrently, while 1024KB Flash accommodates graphics assets and fonts on-chip. Developers measure UI responsiveness and memory utilization on the kit, then size the production SAM4E variant accordingly - including the smaller-Flash ATSAM4E16CB variant available in XAIPART's catalog when cost reduction is needed. Using the evaluation kit first avoids over- or under-specifying Flash and SRAM in the final panel controller, a common and expensive HMI design mistake.
Recommended
Education and ARM Cortex-M4 Training
The ATSAM4E-EK is a practical teaching platform for 32-bit embedded systems courses and corporate training on ARM Cortex-M4 architecture. Students exercise the FPU, NVIC interrupt system, DMA, and peripheral configuration on a self-contained board that includes LCD, cables, and power supply out of the box. The 120MHz clock and 128KB SRAM are generous enough for RTOS labs, while the 20-pin JTAG interface teaches industry-standard debugging workflows with tools like Segger SAM-ICE. Because the SAM4E series documentation from Microchip is publicly complete, instructors can build lab material directly from the manufacturer user guide without vendor licensing, making the kit a low-friction entry into ARM-based embedded education.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4E-EK — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4E16CB-CN | ATSAM3S8BA-MUR | ATSAM3N4BA-MU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | Evaluation Board (kit) | Evaluation Board / MCU variant | Evaluation Board / MCU variant | Evaluation Board / MCU variant |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU | ARM Cortex-M3 (no FPU) | ARM Cortex-M3 (no FPU) |
Key Differentiators
- Hardware FPU on Cortex-M4 core (vs ATSAM3S8BA-MUR)
- Largest Flash in the evaluated lineup (vs ATSAM3N4BA-MU)
- Complete out-of-box kit contents (vs ATSAM4E16CB-CN)
Design Notes
Do not assume the ATSAM4E-EK includes an on-board debugger. Per the SAM4E-EK user guide, the board implements a standard 20-pin JTAG/ICE connector for external ARM JTAG emulators such as the Segger SAM-ICE. Unlike newer Xplained Pro boards with Embedded Debugger circuitry, you must budget for a separate JTAG probe and cable in your development-tool cost, or programming and debugging will be impossible on first power-up.
The kit ships with a power supply per distributor contents data, but production designs based on the ATSAM4E16E need their own power architecture validated separately. When porting a design from the evaluation board, replicate the crystal configuration - the 12MHz main crystal and 32.768kHz RTC crystal - with equivalent load capacitors and PCB layout, because oscillator startup behavior measured on the kit may shift on a custom board with different parasitic capacitance.
When migrating from the ATSAM4E-EK to a custom PCB, remember the kit uses NAND Flash for data storage. If your application depends on file-system storage, verify that your production board includes a compatible NAND device or plan to use the internal 1024KB Flash only, since the SAM4E16E's embedded Flash is substantially smaller than typical NAND densities and wear-leveling behavior differs between the two media.
Compliance Information
No compliance information for the ATSAM4E-EK evaluation kit was present in the provided web data; consult the Microchip product page for current declarations.