ATSAM4LC2CA-CFU - ARM Cortex-M4 48MHz 128KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4LC2CA-CFU β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.2 | $5.20 |
| 10 | $4.72 | $47.20 |
| 100 | $4.25 | $425.00 |
| 500 | $3.85 | $1,925.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.48 | $3,480.00 |
ATSAM4LC2CA-CFU Overview
A 32-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a complete computing system on a single chip, combining a processor core, program memory, data memory, and a rich set of peripherals. Within the power-management hierarchy of an embedded system, an MCU such as the SAM4L sits at the control layer, orchestrating sensors, communication interfaces, displays, and actuators while managing its own power budget. The ARM Cortex-M4 core used here adds DSP instructions and single-cycle MAC for efficient signal processing.
Key features of the ATSAM4LC2CA-CFU include the ultra-low-power SAM4L platform architecture, supply operation from 1.68 V to 3.6 V (1.8 V, 2.5 V, or 3.3 V systems), and an integrated cryptography engine (the Mouser listing identifies this as CRYPTO variant). The SAM4L family is known for its low-power modes, sleepwalking peripherals, and energy-efficient peripheral event system that allows autonomous operation without CPU intervention.
Technically, the device executes the ARM Cortex-M4 RISC instruction set, providing 32-bit processing with deterministic interrupt handling suitable for real-time embedded applications. The 128 KB flash is in-system programmable, and the 32 KB SRAM supports demanding buffering and DSP workloads at the 48 MHz maximum clock frequency.
Typical applications include battery-powered IoT sensor nodes, portable medical monitoring devices, low-power industrial sensing, and secure connected products where the crypto engine accelerates authentication tasks.
When designing with this part, plan power distribution for the 1.68 V to 3.6 V supply range and account for the BGA package reflow requirements, since the 7 x 7 mm 100-ball array requires X-ray inspection capability for quality control.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the standard manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4LC2CA-CFU 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 ATSAM4LC2CA-CFU (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Core Size, Mounting Type, Package, Series, Flash Memory.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4LC2CA-CFUR
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$3.28 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4LC4CA-CFU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4LS2CA-CFU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$3.52 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4LS2CA-CFUR
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4LC2CA-CFU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Core Size | 32-Bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Program Memory Size | 128 KB (128K x 8) |
| Program Memory Type | FLASH |
| RAM Size | 32K x 8 |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.68 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Supply Voltage | 1.8 V / 2.5 V / 3.3 V |
| Series | SAM4L (ATSAM4LC2) |
| Special Features | Cryptography engine (CRYPTO variant) |
| Package | 100-VFBGA (7 x 7 mm) |
| Supplier Device Package | 100-VFBGA (7x7) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Pin Count | 100 |
| Packaging | Tray |
ATSAM4LC2CA-CFU 100-vfbga (7x7) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4LC2CA-CFU (100-vfbga (7x7) 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 ATSAM4LC2CA-CFU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4LC2CA-CFU is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Portable Medical Monitoring Devices, Low-Power Industrial Sensing and Condition Monitoring, Secure Connected Products and Access Control, Consumer Wearables and HMI Devices, Embedded Test and Measurement Instruments.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The ATSAM4LC2CA-CFU fits battery-powered IoT nodes because the SAM4L platform was architected for energy-efficient operation, running its Cortex-M4 core at up to 48 MHz from a 1.68 V to 3.6 V supply and offering deep sleep modes with sleepwalking peripherals that service sensor events without waking the CPU. In a typical node, the MCU samples sensors on a timed schedule, processes readings with the Cortex-M4 DSP instructions, and transmits via an external radio, spending most of its life in low-power sleep to extend battery life to years on a coin cell. The 128 KB flash accommodates a full sensor stack plus a secure bootloader, and the integrated crypto engine accelerates device authentication on the network, a key requirement for deployed IoT fleets. The compact 7 x 7 mm 100-VFBGA also suits space-constrained node designs.
Recommended
Portable Medical Monitoring Devices
Portable medical monitors benefit from the ATSAM4LC2CA-CFU's combination of 32-bit DSP-capable processing and low-power SAM4L architecture. Signal chains such as ECG, pulse-oximetry, and glucose monitoring require filtering and feature extraction that the Cortex-M4's single-cycle MAC executes efficiently at 48 MHz, while the 32 KB SRAM buffers waveform data between acquisition and wireless upload. Operation from 1.8 V to 3.3 V rails aligns directly with battery and analog-front-end voltages, reducing power-tree complexity. The cryptography engine supports patient-data encryption required by medical privacy regulations, executing authentication routines without significant wake-time penalty. The 100-VFBGA (7 x 7 mm) package enables compact wearable or handheld enclosures, and the industrial temperature rating supports device sterilization-adjacent environments. Firmware growth is de-risked by the pin-compatible 256 KB flash ATSAM4LC4CA-CFU upgrade path on the same PCB.
Recommended
Low-Power Industrial Sensing and Condition Monitoring
Industrial condition-monitoring endpoints use the ATSAM4LC2CA-CFU to acquire vibration, temperature, and current signatures while surviving wide ambient conditions within its industrial temperature range. The Cortex-M4 core performs FFT analysis on the fly using DSP instructions, so anomaly detection runs at the edge rather than streaming raw data, conserving network bandwidth. The SAM4L peripheral event system lets ADC conversions and timers operate autonomously through sleep states, cutting average power draw in duty-cycled monitoring stations. Operation from 3.3 V industrial rails is native, and the crypto engine authenticates sensor data for predictive-maintenance platforms that act on it. The tray-packaged 100-VFBGA suits medium-volume industrial builds, while the CFUR reel variant supports automated production lines. Layout of the 7 x 7 mm BGA requires standard 0.8 mm-pitch BGA routing practices and local decoupling for clean analog acquisitions.
Recommended
Secure Connected Products and Access Control
Products requiring authenticated communication, such as smart locks, payment accessories, and secure sensor hubs, exploit the ATSAM4LC2CA-CFU's integrated hardware cryptography engine. Symmetric and hashing operations needed for challenge-response authentication are accelerated in hardware, reducing both execution latency and the side-channel surface compared with software-only implementations on a generic Cortex-M4. The 128 KB flash holds application code, key handling routines, and a secure bootloader, while 32 KB SRAM supports buffering for encrypted communication sessions. The 1.68 V to 3.6 V supply range accommodates single-cell lithium and 3.3 V system designs common in battery-powered secure devices. With the 100-VFBGA footprint, designers can densify the PCB, placing the antenna and power sections close together in compact enclosures. Firmware can be field-updated securely using the crypto engine to validate signed images stored in flash.
Recommended
Consumer Wearables and HMI Devices
Wearable and human-interface products pair the ATSAM4LC2CA-CFU with touch sensors, small displays, and Bluetooth LE radios, leveraging the SAM4L's low-power sleep architecture to meet all-day battery targets. The 48 MHz Cortex-M4 handles UI rendering and sensor fusion, while the 32 KB SRAM supports display frame buffers for small OLED panels. Sleepwalking peripherals keep touch scanning and RTC functions alive in sleep, allowing instant wake on user interaction with minimal energy cost. The 7 x 7 mm 100-VFBGA is a natural fit for wrist-worn and handheld form factors where board area is the binding constraint, and its 0.8 mm ball pitch is compatible with standard consumer PCB fabrication. Supplying from a 3.3 V rail fed by a LiPo cell with a small buck converter keeps the power tree simple; the crypto engine additionally supports wearable pairing and data privacy features.
Recommended
Embedded Test and Measurement Instruments
Handheld and bench instruments, from data loggers to portable meters, use the ATSAM4LC2CA-CFU as the main controller where its 48 MHz Cortex-M4 delivers responsive user interfaces while DSP instructions post-process ADC results, applying calibration and averaging in real time. The 128 KB flash stores application, USB or UART command firmware, and calibration tables; 32 KB SRAM holds capture buffers adequate for many sampling scenarios. The SAM4L's ability to run peripherals in low-power states suits battery-operated field instruments that must idle for hours between measurements. Industrial temperature rating supports bench and field environments, and 1.8 V to 3.3 V operation integrates cleanly with precision analog front ends. Tray packaging suits low-to-medium-volume instrument production, with the CFUR variant available for reel-fed contract manufacturing. Layout attention to BGA decoupling preserves analog measurement accuracy.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4LC2CA-CFU β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4LC2CA-CFUR | ATSAM4LC4CA-CFU | ATSAM4LS2CA-CFU | ATSAM4LS2CA-CFUR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-VFBGA (7x7) | 100-VFBGA (7x7) - same | 100-VFBGA (7x7) - same | 100-VFBGA (7x7) - same | 100-VFBGA (7x7) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | 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 |
| RAM | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 1.68 V to 3.6 V | 1.68 V to 3.6 V | 1.68 V to 3.6 V | 1.68 V to 3.6 V | 1.68 V to 3.6 V |
| Packaging Format | Tray | Tape & Reel | Tray | Tray | Tape & Reel |
Key Differentiators
- Hardware cryptography engine included (vs ATSAM4LC4CA-CFU)
- Cost-optimal flash size for secured applications (vs ATSAM4LC4CA-CFU)
- Balanced power-performance positioning (vs ATSAM4LS2CA-CFU)
Design Notes
Design the power tree around the 1.68 V to 3.6 V supply window. For battery designs fed from a LiPo cell, use a small buck converter or LDO to generate a regulated 1.8 V, 2.5 V, or 3.3 V rail, matching the three nominal operating points listed in datasheet specifications. Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor at each VDD ball pair of the 100-VFBGA plus one bulk capacitor (4.7 uF to 10 uF) near the package, keeping traces short to minimize rail droop during wake transitions from low-power sleep modes.
The 100-VFBGA (7 x 7 mm) uses a 0.8 mm ball pitch requiring via-in-pad or dog-bone fanout on standard 4-layer PCBs; plan escape routing before placement. Because BGA joints cannot be visually inspected, specify X-ray or AOI inspection for production, and follow the manufacturer's recommended reflow profile from the datasheet to avoid head-in-pillow defects. Reserve the option to drop in the 256 KB flash ATSAM4LC4CA-CFU by keeping the footprint identical - it already is, so simply validate assembly with both variants if code size is uncertain.
Do not confuse sub-family behavior: the LC (ATSAM4LC2CA) and LS (ATSAM4LS2CA) parts share the 100-VFBGA footprint but differ in peripheral set and low-power profile, so firmware written for one may not port directly to the other without checking register-level differences. Also verify the crypto-engine enablement on your exact ordering code, since the CRYPTO capability is called out specifically for this part in distributor listings. When swapping between CFU (tray) and CFUR (tape-and-reel) variants, no firmware changes are needed - only feeder setup on the SMT line.
Compliance Information
Mouser listing identifies the part as BGA Green (RoHS-compliant green package), IND TEMP, CRYPTO, MRL A. Full REACH and conflict-minerals status should be confirmed via the official Microchip product page.
