ATSAM4LC4BA-UUR - Cortex-M4 120MHz 256KB WLCSP-64 | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4LC4BA-UUR β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
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| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
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| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
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ATSAM4LC4BA-UUR Overview
A microcontroller unit (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a processor core, memory, and peripherals into one package, sitting within the broader hierarchy of semiconductor devices under embedded processors and system-on-chip families. The ATSAM4LC4BA-UUR belongs to the SAM4L family, Microchip's (formerly Atmel's) ultra-low-power Cortex-M4 MCU line, targeted at battery-powered and energy-harvesting systems where every microamp matters.
The headline feature of the SAM4L family is class-leading energy efficiency: 90 uA/MHz active-mode current, 1.5 uA in sleep mode, and wake-up times down to 1.5 us, figures cited by Microchip as the lowest power and shortest wake-up in any Cortex-M4-based device. Beyond raw power figures, the device integrates an LCD controller with up to 8x40 segment driving capability, hardware cryptography accelerators (AES, DES, Triple-DES, RSA, SHA, ECC via a dedicated crypto engine), a USB host/device controller, DMA with peripheral event system, and multiple serial interfaces (USART, SPI, TWI/I2C).
Architecturally, the Cortex-M4 core includes DSP instructions and single-cycle multiply-accumulate, enabling efficient signal processing. Microchip's peripheral event system allows peripherals to communicate without CPU intervention, dramatically reducing active duty cycle in sensor applications. A flexible power controller with multiple sleep modes, plus a built-in buck converter in some SAM4L power configurations, further extends battery life in wearables and metering products.
Typical applications include battery-powered metering, portable medical and wellness devices, smart sensors, industrial IoT nodes, and consumer electronics with segment LCD displays, where the combination of 256KB flash, LCD control, and cryptographic security in a compact 64-ball WLCSP footprint is a decisive fit.
A key design consideration is the WLCSP package itself: ball-grid soldering requires reflow processes and careful PCB land-pattern design, and the fine 0.4-0.5mm ball pitch demands attention to trace routing and underfill decisions; verify the exact ball map in the manufacturer datasheet before layout.
This page synthesizes distributor availability, drop-in family alternatives, practical design notes, and application guidance not found together in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4LC4BA-UUR 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-UUR (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Flash Memory, Package, Packaging, Supply Voltage Range, Wake-up Time.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4LC8BA-UUR
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$3.95 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4LC2BA-UUR
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4LC4CA-UUR
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4LC4BA-UUR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Core Size | 32-bit |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.62 V to 3.6 V (nominal 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-ball WLCSP (VFBGA) |
| Terminal Count | 64 |
| Terminal Form | Ball (BGA) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Peripherals | LCD controller, USB, DMA, crypto engine, PWM, WDT |
| Connectivity | USB host/device, USART, SPI, TWI (I2C) |
| Cryptographic Hardware | AES, DES, Triple-DES, RSA, SHA, ECC |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (T/R) |
ATSAM4LC4BA-UUR 64-ball wlcsp (vfbga) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4LC4BA-UUR (64-ball wlcsp (vfbga) 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-UUR.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4LC4BA-UUR is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Utility Metering, Wearables and Portable Health Devices, Industrial IoT Sensor Nodes, Consumer Appliances with Segment LCD, Secure USB Accessories, Energy Harvesting and Coin-Cell Systems.
Battery-Powered Utility Metering
Smart electricity, water, and gas meters demand decade-scale battery life with frequent wake-ups for measurement and communication. The ATSAM4LC4BA-UUR's 90 uA/MHz active current, 1.5 uA sleep current, and 1.5 us wake-up time directly address this budget: the MCU can sleep between metering intervals and service load-profile tasks with minimal average drain. The 256KB flash accommodates metering firmware, protocol stacks, and OTA update slots, while the hardware AES/SHA engines secure meter-to-headend communication without software crypto overhead. In a typical topology, the MCU wakes from a low-power sleep mode, samples the metering front end via the ADC and DMA, updates the segment LCD through the integrated LCD controller, and returns to sleep in microseconds, keeping average current in the low single-digit uA range.
Recommended
Wearables and Portable Health Devices
Fitness bands, medical patches, and portable diagnostics need maximum function in minimal board area and strict energy budgets. The 64-ball WLCSP package of the ATSAM4LC4BA-UUR minimizes footprint versus QFP equivalents, fitting curved or dense boards, while its Cortex-M4 with DSP instructions handles bio-signal filtering (ECG/PPG) efficiently. The peripheral event system lets a motion or heart-rate sensor trigger DMA transfers without CPU wake, cutting active duty cycles dramatically. The 1.62V to 3.6V supply range allows direct connection to a LiCoin cell via an LDO with modest headroom. With 256KB flash, BLE or protocol firmware coexists with signal-processing routines, and the crypto accelerator secures patient data at rest and in transit, supporting medical privacy requirements in wellness and clinical peripherals.
Recommended
Industrial IoT Sensor Nodes
Wireless sensor nodes in factory and building automation require secure, low-power processing between radio bursts. The ATSAM4LC4BA-UUR's sleep current of 1.5 uA keeps the node dormant between reporting intervals, and the 1.5 us wake-up latency supports event-driven operation from external interrupts. The 256KB flash holds a full sensor stack plus secure bootloader, while hardware AES/DES and the RSA/ECC/SHA accelerator implement certificate-based authentication required by industrial security standards. Multiple USART/SPI/TWI interfaces connect analog front ends and radios, and DMA offloads data movement to minimize CPU-on time. Because the node typically spends over 99% of its life asleep, the average current is dominated by sleep current, where the SAM4L family's figures rank among the best in the Cortex-M4 class.
Recommended
Consumer Appliances with Segment LCD
Thermostats, cooktop controls, and white-goods panels commonly pair a segment LCD with touch controls and network connectivity. The ATSAM4LC4BA-UUR integrates the LCD controller on-chip, eliminating an external LCD driver and its cost and board area; family configurations support up to 8x40 segments suitable for rich appliance UIs. The 256KB flash supports UI logic, protocol handling, and upgradeable firmware, while the crypto engine secures connectivity features. Its 90 uA/MHz efficiency and fast wake-up keep displays responsive while meeting standby-power regulations, since the MCU can duty-cycle between display refreshes in microseconds. Designers benefit from a single-chip solution that consolidates processing, display driving, USB field updates, and security in the compact WLCSP-64 footprint.
Recommended
Secure USB Accessories
Security tokens, encrypted storage controllers, and USB peripherals benefit from the ATSAM4LC4BA-UUR's integrated USB controller with host/device support and its hardware cryptographic accelerators. The USB stack and application firmware fit comfortably in 256KB flash, and the Cortex-M4's DSP capability accelerates cryptographic big-number arithmetic alongside the dedicated RSA/ECC engine for FIDO-class token workloads. Bus-powered operation is simplified by the 1.62V to 3.6V supply range and low active current, minimizing draw on the host port. Wake-up from a low-power state upon USB bus activity occurs within 1.5 us, so the device can idle aggressively between transactions while remaining responsive. The WLCSP-64 package suits compact token and dongle form factors.
Recommended
Energy Harvesting and Coin-Cell Systems
Photovoltaic, thermoelectric, and RF energy-harvesting nodes operate on micro-watt average budgets where every uA of sleep current and every us of wake latency count. The ATSAM4LC4BA-UUR's 1.5 uA sleep current and 1.5 us wake-up allow the system to harvest, wake briefly, process a measurement, transmit, and return to sleep within a tiny energy envelope, matching the SAM4L family's positioning as the lowest-power Cortex-M4 option. The 3.3V nominal supply accepts energy-harvesting regulator outputs, and DMA plus the peripheral event system minimize CPU participation in data paths. The 256KB flash permits sophisticated duty-cycle management and adaptive sampling algorithms, while hardware crypto enables authenticated reporting without expensive software routines that would inflate the energy budget.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4LC4BA-UUR β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4LC8BA-UUR | ATSAM4LC2BA-UUR | ATSAM4LC4CA-UUR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-ball WLCSP (VFBGA) | 64-ball WLCSP (VFBGA) - same | 64-ball WLCSP (VFBGA) - same | 64-ball WLCSP (VFBGA) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 512 KB | 128 KB | 256 KB |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4, 32-bit | ARM Cortex-M4, 32-bit | ARM Cortex-M4, 32-bit | ARM Cortex-M4, 32-bit |
| Active Mode Current | 90 uA/MHz | 90 uA/MHz | 90 uA/MHz | 90 uA/MHz |
| Sleep Mode Current | 1.5 uA | 1.5 uA | 1.5 uA | 1.5 uA |
| Hardware Cryptography | Yes (AES/DES/RSA/SHA/ECC) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| LCD Controller | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Class-leading power efficiency for Cortex-M4 (vs ATSAM4LC8BA-UUR)
- Integrated LCD controller plus hardware crypto (vs Generic Cortex-M4 MCUs)
- Ultra-fast wake-up (vs ATSAM4LC2BA-UUR)
Design Notes
The WLCSP (VFBGA) 64-ball package requires a precision land pattern per the manufacturer datasheet, typically with non-solder-mask-defined pads and via-in-pad or fanout vias at 0.4-0.5 mm pitch. Plan the fanout before routing: escape traces between ball rows usually require 75 um (3 mil) trace/space, so budget for a fine-pitch PCB process. Do not substitute the TQFP-64 (AUR) land pattern or infer the ball map from it - the WLCSP ball assignments differ from the QFP pinout.
To realize the advertised 1.5 uA sleep current, shut down or gate all peripheral clocks and pull unused I/O to defined levels; floating inputs or actively driven external pull-ups can each leak more than the MCU's entire sleep budget. Estimated: a single 100 kohm pull-up to 3.3V adds 33 uA when pulled low - over 20x the sleep-mode spec. Use the datasheet power-management section to select the deepest sleep mode compatible with your wake source, and verify measured sleep current on the first board spin.
When substituting within the SAM4LC family on the same WLCSP-64 footprint, confirm flash/SRAM sizing against the linker map: firmware built for the LC8BA (512KB flash) will not link into an LC4BA (256KB) or LC2BA (128KB). Also note PEmicro and other toolchains address all ATSAM4LC4B package variants (AU, MU, UUR) under the single device selector ATSAM4LC4B, so programming scripts transfer across packages, but the physical target must match the ordered suffix.
With 64 balls in a compact array, decouple the VDD/VDDIO ball pairs with 100 nF ceramics placed on the underside of the PCB directly beneath the die, one per power/ground pair, plus a single bulk capacitor per rail. Keep the USB DP/DM pair length-matched (within 1.5 mm) and route away from the LCD segment drive lines, which switch large capacitive loads and can couple noise into the full-speed USB signals.
Compliance Information
Compliance status not stated in the provided web data. The Mouser listing carries the note 'CRYPTO MRL A'; verify RoHS/REACH status on the official Microchip product page before ordering.
