ATSAM4LC4BA-MU - 48MHz Cortex-M4 MCU, 256KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4LC4BA-MU β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1 | $1.00 |
| 10 | $1 | $10.00 |
| 100 | $1 | $100.00 |
| 500 | $1 | $500.00 |
| 1,000 | $1 | $1,000.00 |
ATSAM4LC4BA-MU Overview
A microcontroller unit (MCU) integrates a processor core, memory, and peripherals on a single silicon die, forming the heart of an embedded system. The SAM4L family sits within Microchip's (formerly Atmel) SAM ARM-based MCU portfolio, which spans Cortex-M0+, Cortex-M4, and higher tiers of the ARM processor hierarchy for low-power embedded applications.
The defining feature of the ATSAM4LC4B is its class-leading power efficiency: 90 uA/MHz in active mode, 1.5 uA in sleep mode, and wake-up times down to 1.5 us, which Microchip states are the lowest power and shortest wake-up figures in any Cortex-M4-based flash microcontroller. This makes the device well suited to battery-powered designs where the MCU spends most of its life asleep.
Architecture-wise, the Cortex-M4 core provides single-cycle DSP instructions and hardware FLOPS-free fixed-point math, paired with the SAM4L's peripheral event system that allows peripherals to interact without CPU intervention, further reducing active current. Mouser listings also flag an integrated CRYPTO engine, indicating hardware acceleration for AES-class cryptographic operations.
Typical applications include battery-powered industrial sensors, low-power data loggers, portable medical devices, and secure connected nodes requiring the on-chip crypto engine.
Design consideration: as a 3.3V CMOS device in a no-lead QFN-EP package, the exposed pad must be soldered to a ground plane for both thermal dissipation and signal integrity; verify the industrial temperature rating against your enclosure environment.
This page synthesizes verified distributor data, drop-in family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4LC4BA-MU 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 ATSAM4LC4BA-MU (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, Flash Memory, Wake-up Time, Operating Temperature, Packaging.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4LC4BA-AUR
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$3.25 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4LC8BA-MU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$3.65 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4LC4CA-MU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4LC2BA-MU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4LC4BA-MU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Core Size | 32-bit |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256KB (256K x 8) |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V |
| Active Mode Current | 90 uA/MHz |
| Sleep Mode Current | 1.5 uA |
| Wake-up Time | down to 1.5 us |
| Package | 64-QFN (9x9 mm) with Exposed Pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial |
| Crypto Engine | Yes (hardware CRYPTO per Mouser listing) |
| Series | SAM4L |
| Package Code (JEDEC-style) | HVQCCN, square |
| Number of Terminals | 64 |
| RoHS / Green Status | GREEN (per Mouser listing) |
ATSAM4LC4BA-MU hvqccn, square Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4LC4BA-MU (hvqccn, square 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 ATSAM4LC4BA-MU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4LC4BA-MU is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Industrial Sensor Nodes, Portable Medical and Health Monitoring Devices, Low-Power Data Loggers, Secure IoT Edge Nodes, Building Automation and Smart Home Controllers, Handheld Test and Measurement Instruments.
Battery-Powered Industrial Sensor Nodes
Industrial sensor nodes that run on primary lithium cells for years demand an MCU whose average current is dominated by sleep, not active time. The ATSAM4LC4BA-MU fits this profile exactly: 1.5 uA sleep current and 90 uA/MHz active current mean a node sampling once per minute spends nearly all its energy budget asleep, while the 1.5 us wake-up time lets the Cortex-M4 process a sample and return to sleep with negligible ramp energy. The 256KB Flash accommodates a full communication stack plus compensation firmware, and the hardware CRYPTO engine secures wireless uplinks to gateways. Placed between the sensor front end and the radio, the MCU duty-cycles both peripherals via its event system, avoiding full CPU supervision of routine transfers and extending battery life further.
Recommended
Portable Medical and Health Monitoring Devices
Portable medical devices such as glucose meters, pulse oximeters, and wearable monitors need an MCU that combines computational headroom with long battery life and low electromagnetic interference. The ATSAM4LC4BA-MU's Cortex-M4 core at 48 MHz handles digital filtering and FFT-based vital-sign algorithms, while 90 uA/MHz active draw keeps small cell batteries viable for months of intermittent monitoring. The 1.5 us wake-up latency ensures a button press or sensor event is serviced instantly, which matters for user-facing medical interactions. The 256KB Flash stores signal-processing libraries and calibration tables without external memory, and the industrial temperature grade covers storage and transport conditions. Its low sleep current preserves logged patient data between readings even under continuous real-time-clock operation.
Recommended
Low-Power Data Loggers
Standalone data loggers for environmental, energy, or cold-chain monitoring write samples to Flash on a schedule and sleep between events. The ATSAM4LC4BA-MU is well matched: its 1.5 uA sleep current lets a coin-cell or small Li-SOCl2 battery power years of hourly logging, while the 48 MHz Cortex-M4 compresses and timestamps bursts of high-rate samples when triggered. The 256KB Flash stores firmware plus buffering, and the event system can move ADC samples to memory without waking the CPU. Industrial temperature rating ensures operation inside outdoor enclosures, and the hardware CRYPTO engine protects logged data integrity in regulated cold-chain or audit applications. Short wake-up time keeps timestamp accuracy tight even under aggressive duty cycling.
Recommended
Secure IoT Edge Nodes
IoT edge nodes that authenticate to cloud services benefit directly from the SAM4L hardware CRYPTO engine flagged in the ATSAM4LC4BA-MU distributor listings. AES-class encryption runs in hardware, cutting both latency and per-byte energy versus software crypto on the Cortex-M4 core, which preserves the 90 uA/MHz efficiency for application code. The 1.5 us wake-up suits interrupt-driven mesh protocols where the radio may wake the MCU at any moment, and 256KB Flash holds the protocol stack, certificates, and OTA bootloader with room to spare. In star or mesh sensor networks, the MCU sleeps at 1.5 uA between beacon windows, so battery life scales with network duty cycle rather than processor speed.
Recommended
Building Automation and Smart Home Controllers
Mains-powered but energy-rated building devices - occupancy sensors, thermostat controllers, damper actuators - increasingly must meet standby-power limits. The ATSAM4LC4BA-MU contributes here with 1.5 uA sleep current for portions of the system that remain battery-backed, while the 48 MHz Cortex-M4 runs PID loops for HVAC control with ample DSP headroom. The industrial temperature grade suits ceiling- and wall-mounted enclosures that see wide seasonal swings, and the 9x9 mm QFN footprint fits compact wall-plate form factors. The event system offloads periodic sensor polling from the CPU, and the hardware CRYPTO engine supports secure commissioning against smart-building hubs without adding an external security IC.
Recommended
Handheld Test and Measurement Instruments
Handheld multimeters, environmental meters, and portable testers pair a responsive human interface with aggressive battery budgets - a combination where the ATSAM4LC4BA-MU performs well. Its 48 MHz Cortex-M4 processes ADC streams, applies calibration math, and drives a segmented or graphical display, while the 1.5 us wake-up makes power-button and probe events feel instantaneous even after long idle periods at 1.5 uA sleep. The 256KB Flash holds measurement algorithms, compensation tables, and USB or BLE bridge firmware, and the industrial temperature rating covers hot dashboard or cold field conditions. Because active current scales at 90 uA/MHz, firmware can clock the core down between measurements to stretch battery life further without code changes.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4LC4BA-MU β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4LC4BA-AUR | ATSAM4LC8BA-MU | ATSAM4LC4CA-MU | ATSAM4LC2BA-MU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-QFN (9x9 mm) EP | 64-QFN (9x9 mm) EP - same | 64-QFN (9x9 mm) EP - same | 64-QFN (9x9 mm) EP - same | 64-QFN (9x9 mm) EP - same |
| Brand | 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 |
| Flash Memory | 256KB | 256KB | 512KB | 256KB | 128KB |
| Active Current | 90 uA/MHz | 90 uA/MHz | 90 uA/MHz | 90 uA/MHz | 90 uA/MHz |
| Sleep Current | 1.5 uA | 1.5 uA | 1.5 uA | 1.5 uA | 1.5 uA |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial | Automotive/extended range | Industrial | Industrial | Industrial |
| Crypto Engine | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest active power in the Cortex-M4 flash MCU class (vs Generic Cortex-M4 MCUs)
- Fastest wake-up among Cortex-M4 flash MCUs (vs ATSAM4LC2BA-MU and competitor Cortex-M4 devices)
- Seamless memory scaling within the same footprint (vs ATSAM4LC8BA-MU / ATSAM4LC2BA-MU)
- Integrated hardware CRYPTO engine (vs Cortex-M4 MCUs without crypto acceleration)
Design Notes
The 64-pin QFN (9x9 mm) has an exposed pad that must be connected to a solid ground plane through an array of thermal vias (typically 5x5, 0.3 mm drill, filled and capped). This pad is the primary ground return for the 48 MHz Cortex-M4 core and the thermal path for the die. Under-fill or excessive solder paste can cause the package to float during reflow - use a patterned paste stencil (approximately 50-70% coverage) to control solder volume and inspect with X-ray or AOI after assembly.
To actually realize the advertised 1.5 uA sleep current, all unused GPIOs must be configured as outputs driven low or as inputs with pull-downs disabled, and unused peripheral clocks must be gated off before entering sleep. Floating I/O pins can each leak microamps, quickly overwhelming the sleep budget. Also verify the 3.3V rail truly shuts down auxiliary circuitry (sensors, level shifters) in sleep, since downstream leakage is often larger than the MCU's own 1.5 uA figure.
When migrating firmware between SAM4LC variants (LC2B to LC4B to LC8B), the Flash and SRAM linker regions must be re-checked: code built for the 256KB LC4B links fine on the 512KB LC8B, but a design intended to later drop to the 128KB LC2B must keep the image and its constant pools under 128KB from day one. Plan the memory map with the smallest variant you may ever ship, and reserve a bootloader region at a fixed offset compatible across the family.
For designs using the hardware CRYPTO engine near a radio, decouple the VDDIO/VDDCORE pins individually with 100 nF ceramics placed within 2 mm of each pin pair, plus one bulk 4.7-10 uF per supply domain. Crypto bursts create fast core-current transients at 48 MHz clock rates; local decoupling prevents supply ripple from modulating a co-located RF front end or creating conducted emissions on the 3.3V rail.
Compliance Information
Mouser listing identifies the part as GREEN (RoHS-compliant, lead-free). No REACH or conflict-minerals statements appear in the verified data. For automotive AEC-Q100 qualification, use the ATSAM4LC4BA-AUR variant.
