ATSAM4LC2BA-AU - 48MHz Cortex-M4 MCU, 128KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4LC2BA-AU β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.42 | $5.42 |
| 10 | $4.95 | $49.50 |
| 100 | $4.48 | $448.00 |
| 500 | $4.1 | $2,050.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.8 | $3,800.00 |
ATSAM4LC2BA-AU Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip embedded computer that integrates a processor core, memory, and peripheral functions such as ADCs, timers, and serial interfaces onto one die. The ATSAM4LC2BA-AU belongs to the voltage-regulator-adjacent class of power management in the sense of system power budgets: within the MCU taxonomy it sits at ARM Cortex-M4 > SAM4L series > low-power flash microcontroller > embedded processor > semiconductor IC.
Key differentiating features include industry-leading low power: approximately 90 uA/MHz in active mode, 1.5 uA in sleep mode, and wake-up times down to 1.5 us, which Microchip identifies as the shortest wake-up time among Cortex-M4-based devices. The part integrates cryptographic acceleration (CRYPTO/AES) and offers 10-bit and 12-bit ADC options per distributor listings. The Cortex-M4 core includes a hardware FPU and DSP instructions, enabling efficient signal processing at only 48 MHz.
Architecturally, the SAM4L series uses a low-power design methodology that allows individual peripherals to be clock-gated and power-domained, so battery-operated systems spend the majority of time in low-leakage states while retaining fast responsiveness. The 128KB Flash with the flash accelerator achieves near-zero-wait-state execution for most code.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes, portable medical monitoring devices, smart metering, industrial sensor interfaces, and any battery life-critical IoT endpoint that still requires FPU/DSP-class computation.
Design consideration: the -AU suffix denotes the industrial-temperature, TQFP-64 (Green) variant; verify supply voltage and peripheral pin mapping against the official datasheet before PCB layout, as SAM4L peripheral multiplexing is flexible but pin-specific.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives within the SAM4L family, and practical design guidance not found in the manufacturer datasheet, giving engineers a single citable reference for the ATSAM4LC2BA-AU.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4LC2BA-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 ATSAM4LC2BA-AU (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, Series, Wake-up Time, Flash Memory, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4LC2CA-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet βATSAM4LC4BA-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$3.55 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4LC8BA-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4LC2BA-MU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4LC2BBA-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4LC2BA-AU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Core Size | 32-Bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 128KB (128K x 8) |
| SRAM | 32KB |
| Package | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Active Mode Current | 90 uA/MHz |
| Sleep Mode Current | 1.5 uA |
| Wake-up Time | down to 1.5 us |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit / 12-bit |
| Security Feature | Crypto/AES acceleration |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Series | SAM4L |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (Green package) |
ATSAM4LC2BA-AU 64-tqfp (10x10 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4LC2BA-AU (64-tqfp (10x10 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 ATSAM4LC2BA-AU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4LC2BA-AU is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Portable Medical Monitoring, Smart Metering, Industrial Sensor Interfaces, Consumer Wearables and Remote Controls, Embedded Security and Access Control.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The ATSAM4LC2BA-AU fits battery-powered IoT endpoints because of its 90 uA/MHz active current and 1.5 uA sleep current: a node sampling a sensor once per second can sleep between samples and wake in only 1.5 us, keeping average current in the microamp range and enabling multi-year life on a coin cell. In this role the MCU reads the 12-bit ADC, applies DSP filtering using the Cortex-M4 FPU, and pushes data over UART/I2C/SPI to a radio module. The integrated crypto/AES engine encrypts payloads without additional software overhead or energy cost. The trade-off is the 48 MHz ceiling, ample for sensing but not for heavy radio protocol stacks with high data rates.
Recommended
Portable Medical Monitoring
Portable medical monitors such as pulse oximeters and glucose meters benefit from the ATSAM4LC2BA-AU's combination of low power and signal processing capability. The 12-bit ADC digitizes analog front-end outputs, while the Cortex-M4 hardware FPU executes the digital filtering algorithms (IIR/FIR) these instruments require, all within a 1.5 uA sleep floor that preserves battery life between patient measurements. The 1.5 us wake-up ensures the device responds instantly to a button press or sensor event, an important user-experience factor in clinical wearables. Designers should budget the analog supply filtering carefully, as the ADC accuracy depends on clean reference and supply rails.
Recommended
Smart Metering
Electricity, water, and gas meters are duty-cycled by definition: they measure periodically, compute, and report infrequently. The ATSAM4LC2BA-AU's 90 uA/MHz active efficiency and 1.5 uA sleep make it ideal for this profile, and its crypto/AES acceleration supports authenticated firmware updates and encrypted AMI communication required by utility security standards. The 128KB Flash holds metrology firmware plus communication stacks, and the 64-pin TQFP provides enough I/O for LCD drivers, pulse inputs, and tamper switches. Wake-up latency of 1.5 us allows event-driven tamper detection without continuously polling, further reducing energy consumption in the field.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Interfaces
In industrial environments, sensor interface nodes must tolerate -40C to +85C temperatures, which the industrial-grade ATSAM4LC2BA-AU supports in its 64-pin TQFP Green package. The 12-bit ADC converts 4-20 mA loop or ratiometric sensor signals, the FPU performs linearization and calibration math, and multiple UART/SPI/I2C peripherals bridge legacy field buses to modern controllers. Low sleep current matters where nodes are loop-powered or energy-harvesting. Designers should add robust ESD/TVS protection on field-facing lines and verify the [DATA_NEEDED] supply voltage range against the datasheet before connecting to 24 V industrial systems through appropriate conditioning.
Recommended
Consumer Wearables and Remote Controls
Wearable accessories and advanced remote controls demand instant-on responsiveness with negligible idle drain, exactly matching the ATSAM4LC2BA-AU's 1.5 us wake-up and 1.5 uA sleep figures - the fastest wake-up Microchip cites for any Cortex-M4 device. Touch-sensor inputs, button matrices, LED feedback, and IR or BLE module control all fit within the 64-pin TQFP I/O budget, and the Cortex-M4 FPU supports gesture or audio-cue algorithms locally. Because these are cost-sensitive products, the roughly $3.80 per 1000-unit pricing as of 2026-09-20 keeps the BOM competitive, and the RoHS Green package simplifies consumer compliance certification.
Recommended
Embedded Security and Access Control
Access-control readers and secure tokens leverage the ATSAM4LC2BA-AU's integrated crypto/AES acceleration to authenticate cards and keys without a separate security IC, saving board space and cost. The 128KB Flash stores key tables and the AES engine performs session encryption at line rate with minimal energy, while the 1.5 uA sleep current suits battery-backed door hardware. The 12-bit ADC can read battery and tamper voltage monitors. When designing, follow Microchip's secure-key-storage guidance in the SAM4L documentation, as physical key protection depends on correct use of the device's security features and never storing plaintext keys in external Flash.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4LC2BA-AU β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4LC2CA-AU | ATSAM4LC4BA-AU | ATSAM4LC8BA-AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-TQFP (10x10) | 64-TQFP (10x10) - same | 64-TQFP (10x10) - same | 64-TQFP (10x10) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core / Clock | 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 |
| Active Current | 90 uA/MHz | 90 uA/MHz (same family) | 90 uA/MHz (same family) | 90 uA/MHz (same family) |
| Security | Crypto/AES | Crypto/AES | Crypto/AES | Crypto/AES |
| Drop-in Compatibility | Reference part | Pin-to-pin, 90% param match | Pin-to-pin Flash upgrade | Pin-to-pin Flash upgrade |
Key Differentiators
- Industry-lowest Cortex-M4 wake-up time (vs ATSAM4LC2CA-AU)
- Optimal Flash density for cost (vs ATSAM4LC4BA-AU)
- Integrated crypto/AES hardware (vs ATSAM4LC8BA-AU)
Design Notes
The SAM4L's low-power advantage depends entirely on correct power-mode usage. Schedule the firmware so the device spends the vast majority of time in the deepest applicable sleep state (1.5 uA) and only wakes on interrupts; with a 1.5 us wake-up, aggressive sleep is nearly free. Clock-gate unused peripherals before sleeping, and estimate average battery current as: I_avg = I_active x duty_cycle + 1.5 uA x (1 - duty_cycle). For a 1% duty cycle at 48 MHz, Estimated average current is roughly 0.9 mA active contribution plus ~1.5 uA baseline - the dominant term is active time, so optimize active bursts, not the sleep floor.
Use a solid ground plane under the 64-TQFP and place 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitors at each supply pin pair within 2 mm of the pin, plus one bulk capacitor (4.7-10 uF) near the regulator. Keep the ADC reference and analog supply routed away from switching traces. The TQFP-64 0.5 mm pitch requires solder-mask-defined pads per IPC guidance; verify the footprint against the manufacturer datasheet drawing before release to fabrication.
The -AU suffix encodes package and temperature: the 64-pin TQFP industrial variant. Do not substitute a different SAM4L pin-count or package suffix (e.g., -MU QFN-64) onto a TQFP footprint - they are not footprint-identical despite the same die. Additionally, confirm the exact supply voltage range and maximum ratings in the official SAM4L datasheet before finalizing the power tree, and check silicon-revision errata if mixing ATSAM4LC2BA (B-silicon) with C-series parts in one production build.
Compliance Information
Mouser listing identifies the package as 'TQFP, GREEN', indicating Microchip lead-free/halogen-free green packaging and RoHS compliance. REACH and conflict-minerals statements were not present in the provided data.
