ATSAM4LC4AA-MUR - 48MHz Cortex-M4 MCU 256KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4LC4AA-MUR β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.2 | $5.20 |
| 10 | $4.72 | $47.20 |
| 100 | $4.18 | $418.00 |
| 500 | $3.85 | $1,925.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.49 | $3,490.00 |
ATSAM4LC4AA-MUR Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip embedded computer that integrates a processor core, program memory, data memory, and peripherals on one die. Within the power/performance hierarchy, the SAM4L sits in the ultra-low-power ARM Cortex-M class, positioned above 8-bit MCUs and beside Cortex-M0+/M3 devices that trade efficiency for DSP throughput. The Cortex-M4 core adds hardware DSP instructions and single-cycle MAC, making the SAM4L suitable for signal-processing edge nodes.
Key features include the 90 uA/MHz active current and 1.5 uA sleep current that define battery-powered design budgets, hardware AES and a general-purpose crypto accelerator for secure IoT, a flexible event system that routes peripheral-to-peripheral triggers without CPU intervention, and 12-bit ADC/DAC plus analog comparators for measurement tasks. The SCIF (system control interface) provides multiple power-saving modes including backup mode for years-long coin-cell operation.
Architecturally, the SAM4L uses a Cortex-M4 core with MPU and NVIC, a multi-layer bus matrix (HMATRIX), and a Peripheral Event System (PEVC) that decouples low-latency sensor reactions from software latency. Flash uses a dual-bank, picoPower technology architecture supporting safe in-application programming. The integrated asynchronous and synchronous timers, USARTs, TWI (I2C), SPI, and USB device peripheral cover most embedded connectivity needs.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes and metering, portable medical and industrial data loggers, and low-power consumer devices requiring cryptographic authentication such as secure accessories and IoT endpoints. The 48 MHz DSP-capable core also fits vibration and acoustic sensing front ends.
Design consideration: minimize dynamic power by running from the internal RC oscillator at lower frequencies during idle periods and using the PEVC so peripherals wake the CPU only when data is ready; budget VDDCORE decoupling per the datasheet power application notes.
This page synthesizes verified distributor listings, ultra-low-power SAM4L design context, drop-in family alternatives, and practical design notes not consolidated on any single datasheet page.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4LC4AA-MUR 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 ATSAM4LC4AA-MUR (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, Flash Memory, Wake-up Time, Series, Connectivity.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4LC4AA-MU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$4.45 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4LC4BA-MU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$1 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4LC2AA-MU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4LS4AA-MU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$3.95 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4LC4BA-MUR
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4LC4AA-MUR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Core Size | 32-Bit |
| Max Clock Speed | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256KB (256K x 8) |
| RAM Size | 32K x 8 |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.68 V to 3.6 V |
| Active Mode Current | 90 uA/MHz |
| Sleep Mode Current | 1.5 uA |
| Wake-up Time | Down to 1.5 us |
| Peripherals | AES, Crypto, DMA, POR, PWM, WDT, ADC, DAC, Comparators |
| Connectivity | I2C, SPI, UART/USART, USB Device |
| Package | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (MRL A) |
| Green Status | Green / RoHS compliant (per Mouser listing) |
| Series | SAM4L (Atmel/Microchip) |
ATSAM4LC4AA-MUR 48-qfn (7x7 mm) with exposed pad Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4LC4AA-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 ATSAM4LC4AA-MUR.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4LC4AA-MUR is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Smart Metering and Data Logging, Portable Medical and Wellness Devices, Industrial Condition Monitoring, Secure Consumer Accessories and Authentication, Low-Power HMI and Touch Controls.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The ATSAM4LC4AA-MUR fits coin-cell and small-battery sensor nodes because its 90 uA/MHz active draw and 1.5 uA sleep current define an energy budget that supports multi-year deployment. The Peripheral Event System routes sensor interrupts to the 12-bit ADC and DMA without waking the Cortex-M4 core, so sampling runs at microsecond latency while the CPU stays asleep. Wake-up takes only 1.5 us, letting the node duty-cycle aggressively. Placed on a CR2032-powered node sampling every second, the SAM4L typically spends over 99% of its life in sleep, where the 1.5 uA floor dominates the energy profile. Hardware AES secures the RF module link without software overhead.
Recommended
Smart Metering and Data Logging
Utility and sub-metering products benefit from the ATSAM4LC4AA-MUR's combination of 256KB Flash for protocol stacks and logging, plus the backup mode that preserves calendar and counter state at minimal leakage current. The 1.68V to 3.6V supply range tolerates battery droop over a full service life without a regulator change. USART and TWI (I2C) interfaces connect to metering front ends, while the general-purpose crypto engine authenticates tamper events and protects billing data. Industrial temperature rating (-40C to +85C) covers outdoor and basement installations. A typical topology uses a front-end metering IC streaming via SPI into SAM4L SRAM, batched to EEPROM during sleep windows.
Recommended
Portable Medical and Wellness Devices
Wearable and portable medical instruments need low noise, small packages, and long battery life, all addressed by the ATSAM4LC4AA-MUR's 48-QFN (7x7 mm) footprint and 1.5 uA sleep current. The Cortex-M4's DSP instructions accelerate real-time filtering of ECG, PPG, or motion signals in fixed-point arithmetic, while the 12-bit ADC and DAC support stimulation or measurement loops. The Peripheral Event System synchronizes sensor sampling to timers with no CPU jitter, improving signal quality in digital filtering. Because the crypto engine is hardware-based, patient-data encryption adds negligible energy cost, supporting HIPAA-conscious designs in a 7x7 mm profile.
Recommended
Industrial Condition Monitoring
Vibration and acoustic condition monitoring exploits the ATSAM4LC4AA-MUR's Cortex-M4 single-cycle MAC and DSP instructions to run FFT analysis at the edge, classifying anomalies before transmitting over long-range radios. The 48 MHz clock is sufficient for 1024-point FFTs on buffered accelerometer data held in the 32KB SRAM. Industrial temperature qualification (-40C to +85C) and the exposed-pad 48-QFN package handle factory-floor thermal profiles. Between measurement bursts, the MCU sleeps at 1.5 uA, allowing permanently installed, battery-backed sensors on rotating equipment. DMA-driven SPI streams data from the accelerometer without CPU intervention, keeping deterministic latency for time-synchronized sampling.
Recommended
Secure Consumer Accessories and Authentication
Consumer accessories requiring cryptographic pairing benefit from the ATSAM4LC4AA-MUR's hardware AES and general-purpose crypto engine, which authenticate hosts and encrypt links at low energy cost. The USB device peripheral lets the accessory enumerate directly to PCs, phones with OTG, or chargers, while USART/SPI handle internal module communication. 256KB Flash stores USB stacks, BLE module firmware management, and product-specific application logic with headroom for updates. The 48-QFN (7x7 mm) package suits ergonomically small enclosures, and the 1.5 us wake-up gives instant-on user response from deep sleep. Duty-cycling at 90 uA/MHz active extends charge intervals in battery- or harvesting-powered designs.
Recommended
Low-Power HMI and Touch Controls
Capacitive-touch human-machine interfaces use the ATSAM4LC4AA-MUR's low sleep power to keep always-on panels responsive for years on wall power budgets or small supplies. The MCU scans touch channels via the Peripheral Event System with timer-triggered charge transfers, waking the Cortex-M4 only on detection, so standby power is dominated by the 1.5 uA sleep floor plus scan overhead. The 48 MHz core executes Microchip's PTC-based touch libraries with margin for simultaneous gesture decoding and backlight PWM. USART links the HMI to a main controller, and the industrial temperature range suits kitchen and building-automation environments. The 7x7 mm QFN fits behind thin fascia panels.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4LC4AA-MUR β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4LC4AA-MU | ATSAM4LC4BA-MU | ATSAM4LC2AA-MU | ATSAM4LS4AA-MU | ATSAM4LC4BA-MUR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) - same | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) - same | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) - same | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) - same | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | 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 | ARM Cortex-M4 @ 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4 @ 48 MHz |
| Flash | 256KB | 256KB | 256KB | 128KB | 256KB | 256KB |
| SRAM | 32KB | 32KB | 64KB | 16KB | 32KB | 64KB |
| Active Current | 90 uA/MHz | 90 uA/MHz | 90 uA/MHz | 90 uA/MHz | 90 uA/MHz | 90 uA/MHz |
| Crypto Features | AES + GP crypto engine | AES + GP crypto engine | AES + enhanced crypto | AES + GP crypto engine | AES + GP crypto engine | AES + enhanced crypto |
| Packing | Tape & Reel (MUR) | Tray | Tray | Tray | Tray | Tape & Reel |
Key Differentiators
- Class-leading active efficiency (vs STM32L476 (typical Cortex-M4 competitor))
- RAM expansion without PCB change (vs ATSAM4LC2AA-MU)
- Hardware crypto standard on the LC4A (vs ATSAM4LC2AA-MU)
- Trade-off: USB is device-only (vs ATSAM4LS4AA-MU)
Design Notes
The SAM4L requires separate decoupling for VDDCORE, VDDIN, and VDDIO rails. Estimated quiescent behavior: at 48 MHz active operation, 90 uA/MHz implies roughly 4.3 mA of CPU current before peripheral loads; sleep drops to 1.5 uA, so leakage paths through incorrectly biased GPIOs on battery-backed rails can dominate the sleep budget. Place 100 nF ceramic capacitors within 2 mm of each supply pin and one bulk 4.7 uF per rail. Follow the Microchip SAM4L power consumption application note for per-mode measurements and RCOSC calibration guidance.
The 48-QFN (7x7 mm) has an exposed pad that serves as the primary ground connection. Solder it to a ground array of 4-6 via-in-pad connections to the internal ground plane; relying on perimeter pins alone for ground increases ground bounce on the 12-bit ADC and degrades ESD robustness. For assembly, use a stencil aperture pattern (approximately 60-70% coverage) on the exposed pad to prevent tombstoning and voiding. Verify land pattern against Microchip's QFN-48 mechanical drawing in the datasheet before panel layout.
The MUR suffix is the tape-and-reel packing of the ATSAM4LC4AA; do not substitute tray parts in high-volume pick-and-place without confirming feeder compatibility. Firmware teams should verify the linker script memory map when dropping in ATSAM4LC2 (half Flash/RAM) or ATSAM4LC4B (double RAM) variants. Also note the Cortex-M4 debug port is SWD-only on this family; route SWDIO/SWCLK test points before enclosure sealing, and reserve UART0 for the ROM bootloader as a production programming fallback.
When running the USB device peripheral, provide a clean 3.3V rail with a ferrite bead between VDDIO and the USB VBUS-derived supply, and route D+/D- as a 90-ohm differential pair with series 22-ohm termination options near the connector. Estimated: the 48 MHz RC/crystal system clock harmonics can couple into USB signaling if the crystal is placed within 10 mm of the differential pair; keep at least 3x trace-width spacing and ground stitch between oscillator and USB routing.
Compliance Information
Mouser listing identifies the part as QFN, GREEN, IND TEMP, indicating RoHS/green (halogen-free, lead-free) status and industrial temperature grade. Not an automotive AEC-Q100 part. Formal REACH and conflict-minerals declarations should be obtained from Microchip's compliance portal.