ATSAM4LC2AA-MUR - Cortex-M4 48MHz 128KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4LC2AA-MUR ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.76 | $5.76 |
| 10 | $5.36 | $53.60 |
| 100 | $4.86 | $486.00 |
| 500 | $4.42 | $2,210.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.05 | $4,050.00 |
ATSAM4LC2AA-MUR Overview
A microcontroller unit (MCU) is a single-chip embedded computer that integrates a processor core, memory, and peripherals on one die; within the power-management hierarchy of embedded systems, ultra-low-power MCUs like the SAM4L sit between simple 8-bit controllers and high-performance application processors, targeting battery-powered and energy-harvesting designs.
Key differentiating features include an embedded hardware capacitive touch controller (QTouch) supporting up to 13 touch channels, USB device and embedded host operation, and a 128-bit AES cryptographic accelerator for secure data handling. A segment LCD controller drives displays directly, and high-speed serial peripherals (USART, SPI, I2C) plus audio interfaces cover most connectivity needs.
Technically, the Cortex-M4 core provides single-cycle DSP instructions and hardware floating-point acceleration, while the Peripheral Event System and SleepWalking architecture allow peripherals to communicate and process data autonomously while the CPU sleeps, dramatically cutting average power consumption in duty-cycled systems.
Typical applications include battery-powered metering, wearable and handheld devices, capacitive-touch human-machine interfaces with LCD feedback, and USB-connected sensor nodes where microamp sleep currents determine battery service life.
Design consideration: the 48-QFN exposed-pad package requires a solid ground vias array under the pad for both thermal dissipation and signal integrity; budget GPIO carefully, as the 48-pin footprint limits available I/O.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing from LCSC, DigiKey and Mouser, drop-in same-family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4LC2AA-MUR — 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 ATSAM4LC2AA-MUR (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Packaging, Wake-up Time, Core Processor, Flash Memory.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4LC2AA-AUR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$3.35 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4LC2BA-MUR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$3.25 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4LC2CA-MUR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4LC2AA-MU
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4LS2AA-MUR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$2.98 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4LC8AA-MUR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$5 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4LC2AA-MUR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Core Size | 32-Bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 128KB (128K x 8) |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V |
| Active Mode Current | 90 uA/MHz |
| Sleep Mode Current | 1.5 uA |
| Wake-up Time | 1.5 us (minimum) |
| Capacitive Touch Channels | 13 (hardware QTouch) |
| USB | USB Device and Embedded Host |
| Security | 128-bit AES |
| Serial Interfaces | USART, SPI, I2C, audio interfaces |
| Display Peripheral | Segment LCD controller |
| Package | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) with Exposed Pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (T/R) |
ATSAM4LC2AA-MUR 48-qfn (7x7 mm) with exposed pad Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4LC2AA-MUR (48-qfn (7x7 mm) with exposed pad 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 ATSAM4LC2AA-MUR.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4LC2AA-MUR is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Metering, Capacitive Touch HMI with LCD, Wearable and Handheld Devices, USB Sensor Nodes and Data Loggers, Industrial Sensor Interfaces, Smart Home and IoT End Nodes.
Battery-Powered Metering
The ATSAM4LC2AA-MUR fits utility and sub-metering designs where a 10-year battery budget is the binding constraint. Its 90 uA/MHz active current and 1.5 uA sleep current allow the Cortex-M4 core to burst-process metrology calculations and then sleep for the vast majority of the duty cycle, while the 1.5 us wake-up time enables rapid response to load-switching events. The 128-bit AES accelerator secures consumption data and firmware updates without a separate crypto chip, reducing BOM cost. USART and I2C interfaces connect metrology front-ends and communication modules. Because SleepWalking lets peripherals gather samples autonomously, the CPU never wakes just to poll, which is the single largest energy saving in a metering loop. Average current can fall to a few microamps in a typical 1-second reporting duty cycle.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch HMI with LCD
For human-machine interfaces combining touch keys and a segment LCD, the ATSAM4LC2AA-MUR is a two-in-one solution: its embedded hardware QTouch controller supports 13 capacitive touch channels with drift compensation, while the integrated segment LCD controller drives display digits directly, eliminating two external ICs from a traditional HMI stack. The hardware touch acquisition runs autonomously via the Peripheral Event System, so the CPU sleeps between scans, keeping the touch interface responsive without a real-time power penalty. 128KB Flash holds touch tuning parameters, GUI state machines, and communication stacks concurrently. Typical products include appliance panels, thermostat controls, and industrial set-point terminals. Designers should allow one guard channel per touch electrode group and tune sensitivity per the Microchip QTouch design guide for wet-finger and glove-touch robustness.
Recommended
Wearable and Handheld Devices
Wearables and handheld instruments demand small footprint, low sleep current, and enough compute for signal processing - the ATSAM4LC2AA-MUR addresses all three. The 48-QFN 7x7 mm package suits compact PCBs, the 1.5 uA sleep current extends coin-cell life, and the Cortex-M4 DSP instructions accelerate sensor filtering tasks such as PPG or accelerometer FFT processing that a Cortex-M0+ would struggle with at equal energy. The SPI and I2C ports connect MEMS sensors and Bluetooth modules, while USB device mode supports charging/cradle communication. The 1.5 us wake-up permits event-driven sampling of motion sensors with negligible latency. Estimated battery life for a 220 mAh coin cell with 5% duty-cycling at 48 MHz exceeds one year, assuming peripheral SleepWalking is used to pre-process data during sleep.
Recommended
USB Sensor Nodes and Data Loggers
The ATSAM4LC2AA-MUR integrates USB device and embedded host controllers, enabling data loggers that enumerate as USB mass-storage or CDC devices when docked, then revert to microamp sleep when undocked. 128KB Flash stores firmware with headroom for a lightweight FAT file layer, while external SPI flash or SRAM extends logging capacity over the high-speed SPI port. The 12-bit ADC paired with the Peripheral Event System can sample analog sensors on a timer trigger and buffer results in SRAM without CPU intervention, achieving precise timing with low jitter. USB embedded-host mode allows direct attachment of USB flash drives for field data offload without a PC. Designers should budget a 1.5 kOhm pull-up on D+ handled internally and verify VBUS monitoring per the SAM4L USB datasheet section.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Interfaces
In factory and process environments, the ATSAM4LC2AA-MUR serves as a sensor-front-end controller that digitizes, conditions, and forwards measurements over robust serial links. USARTs support RS-485 framing in firmware, SPI connects high-resolution ADCs, and I2C reads calibration EEPROMs; industrial temperature-grade silicon covers extended ambient ranges. The 128-bit AES engine authenticates messages to a PLC or gateway without adding a crypto coprocessor. With 90 uA/MHz active current, the MCU can run continuously on loop-powered (4-20 mA) budget when clocked down to a few MHz, since active current scales with frequency. SleepWalking allows a watchdog or comparator event to wake the core only on abnormal conditions. Estimated power at 8 MHz operation is roughly 0.72 mA, well within typical loop-headroom margins.
Recommended
Smart Home and IoT End Nodes
For smart-home battery devices - door sensors, IR remotes, environmental monitors - the ATSAM4LC2AA-MUR balances radio-module management with energy discipline. The MCU sleeps at 1.5 uA between radio events, wakes in 1.5 us to service the Zigbee/Thread/Z-Wave module over USART, and returns to sleep, so system current is dominated by the radio, not the MCU. The AES accelerator accelerates network-layer encryption, and 13 touch channels enable gesture buttons without mechanical switches that wear out. The Cortex-M4 core leaves headroom for OTA firmware decompression and JSON payload assembly that 8-bit MCUs cannot perform within radio latency windows. Designers should sequence the radio rail from a GPIO and exploit SleepWalking so sensor thresholds are polled by hardware, minimizing wake count and preserving battery lifetime targets of 2+ years on AA cells.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4LC2AA-MUR — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4LC2AA-AUR | ATSAM4LC2BA-MUR | ATSAM4LC2CA-MUR | ATSAM4LC2AA-MU | ATSAM4LS2AA-MUR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) EP | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) EP - same | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) EP - same | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) EP - same | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) EP - same | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) EP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4, 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 128KB | 128KB | 256KB | 512KB | 128KB | 128KB (LS family config) |
| Active Mode Current | 90 uA/MHz | 90 uA/MHz | 90 uA/MHz | 90 uA/MHz | 90 uA/MHz | Lower (LS optimized) |
| Sleep Mode Current | 1.5 uA | 1.5 uA | 1.5 uA | 1.5 uA | 1.5 uA | 1.5 uA |
| Wake-up Time | 1.5 us (min) | 1.5 us (min) | 1.5 us (min) | 1.5 us (min) | 1.5 us (min) | 1.5 us (min) |
| Packaging / Ordering | Tape & Reel (-MUR) | Ordering-code variant | Tape & Reel | Tape & Reel | Tray | Tape & Reel |
Key Differentiators
- Class-leading power profile with full Cortex-M4 performance (vs ATSAM3S8BA-MUR)
- Integrated hardware touch plus segment LCD (vs ATSAM4LC2BA-MUR)
- Flash headroom for growth on the same board (vs ATSAM4LC2AA-AUR)
- Trade-off: smaller memory than flagship SAM4L parts (vs ATSAM4SD32BA-MUR)
Design Notes
The 48-QFN (7x7 mm) exposed-pad package requires the thermal pad to be soldered to a grounded copper area with an array of via stitches (typically 4x4, 0.3 mm vias) connecting to internal ground planes. This is not only for heat but also because the exposed pad is the primary ground return for the die; omitting it degrades signal integrity on high-speed USB lines and increases noise on the analog front-end. Follow the SAM4L datasheet land-pattern recommendation and inspect for solder voiding under the pad with X-ray for production builds.
Decouple each VDD/VDDIO pin with 100 nF ceramic capacitors placed within 2 mm of the pin, plus one bulk 4.7-10 uF per supply domain. The SAM4L has separate analog and digital supply pins; isolate VDDANA with an RC or ferrite filter to preserve ADC and touch sensitivity. When running from a coin cell, add a bulk reservoir capacitor sized for the USB or radio transmit burst currents. Verify brown-out detector thresholds are enabled so the Flash controller never writes below the minimum operating voltage.
QTouch channel performance depends heavily on PCB layout: keep touch traces short (under 50 mm), route them away from switching regulators and LCD flex cables, and add guard channels around button groups per the Microchip QTouch design guide. Another frequent pitfall is underestimating wake-up latency through the Clock Generator when using slow startup sources - the 1.5 us figure applies to fast wake-up paths only. Confirm which sleep mode (Wait, Retention, Backup) achieves your measured sleep current; Backup mode trades RAM retention for the lowest figures.
Compliance Information
Compliance status not stated in the retrieved web data; standard production Microchip SAM4L parts are typically RoHS-compliant lead-free, but buyers must verify against the official Microchip product page/environmental datasheet before specifying.
