ATSAM4LC4CA-AU - 48MHz Cortex-M4 256KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4LC4CA-AU β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $9.29 | $9.29 |
| 10 | $8.6 | $86.00 |
| 100 | $7.9 | $790.00 |
| 500 | $7.2 | $3,600.00 |
| 1,000 | $6.65 | $6,650.00 |
ATSAM4LC4CA-AU Overview
A microcontroller is a single-chip computer that combines a processor core, memory, and peripherals such as ADCs, timers, and communication interfaces on one die. Within the embedded hierarchy, the ATSAM4LC4CA-AU belongs to the SAM4L family of ARM Cortex-M4-based MCUs, which sits in the broader categories of 32-bit microcontrollers and embedded processors used across power management, sensor processing, and human-interface applications.
The defining feature of this part is ultra-low power consumption: 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 figures for a Cortex-M4-based flash MCU in its class. This makes it well suited for battery-powered designs where CPU performance and energy budget must coexist.
Technically, the Cortex-M4 core provides DSP instructions and single-cycle MAC operations, enabling efficient digital filtering and sensor fusion. The integrated crypto accelerator offloads AES encryption from software. The supply range of 1.62 V to 3.6 V (nominal 1.8 V / 3.3 V operation) supports direct battery connection, and the green/RoHS-compliant TQFP package is moisture-sensitivity level managed for standard reflow assembly.
Typical applications include battery-powered IoT sensor nodes, industrial control panels, low-power data loggers, and portable medical instruments, where the 256 KB flash accommodates protocol stacks and the 48 MHz core handles real-time processing.
A key design consideration is power architecture: exploit the SAM4L sleep modes and fast wake-up by sleeping between events, since wake-up overhead is only microseconds. Avoid holding peripherals clocked during idle periods to preserve the 1.5 uA sleep figure.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, same-package drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, providing information gain for sourcing and selection decisions. Pricing shown reflects LCSC data from $9.2918 as of 2026-09-20.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4LC4CA-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 ATSAM4LC4CA-AU (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Flash Memory, Package, SRAM, Wake-up Time, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4LC8CA-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4LC2CA-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet βATSAM4LS4CA-AU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4SD32CA-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
STR736FV0T6
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4LC4CA-AU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Core Size | 32-bit |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB (256K x 8) |
| SRAM | 32 KB (32K x 8) |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.62 V to 3.6 V (nominal 1.8 V / 3.3 V) |
| Active Mode Current | 90 uA/MHz |
| Sleep Mode Current | 1.5 uA |
| Wake-up Time | 1.5 us |
| Package | 100-TQFP (14 x 14 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | Industrial temperature range (-40C to +85C) |
| Crypto Engine | Yes (AES) |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit and 12-bit |
| Series | SAM4L |
| RoHS Status | Green / RoHS compliant |
ATSAM4LC4CA-AU 100-tqfp (14 x 14 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4LC4CA-AU (100-tqfp (14 x 14 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 ATSAM4LC4CA-AU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4LC4CA-AU is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Industrial Control and Automation Panels, Portable Medical and Health Monitoring Devices, Low-Power Data Loggers, Human Interface and Touch Control Systems, Secure Embedded Systems and Access Control.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The ATSAM4LC4CA-AU fits battery-powered IoT nodes because its 90 uA/MHz active current, 1.5 uA sleep current, and 1.5 us wake-up let the node sleep between radio or sensor events at near-zero energy cost. The 48 MHz Cortex-M4 core processes sensor fusion and packet formatting locally, while the AES crypto engine secures wireless payloads without slowing the CPU. Operating from 1.62 V to 3.6 V, the MCU connects directly to a 3 V coin cell or two alkaline cells, eliminating a boost converter and its quiescent drain. With 256 KB of flash, a full wireless protocol stack plus OTA bootloader fits comfortably. Duty-cycled designs routinely reach multi-year battery life, provided peripherals are clock-gated during sleep intervals.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Automation Panels
In industrial control panels, the ATSAM4LC4CA-AU provides deterministic 48 MHz Cortex-M4 processing with the industrial temperature rating (-40C to +85C) demanded by factory-floor environments. The 12-bit ADC digitizes analog sensor inputs such as pressure and current-sense signals with adequate resolution for monitoring loops, and the 10-bit ADC can serve a secondary fast channel. Its 256 KB flash stores state machines, Modbus or CAN-style protocol handlers, and HMI logic, while 32 KB SRAM buffers telemetry. The AES engine supports secure firmware update and authentication schemes increasingly required in industrial networks. The fast 1.5 us wake-up ensures the CPU responds immediately to interrupt-driven events after sleeping, keeping average power low even in always-on panel designs.
Recommended
Portable Medical and Health Monitoring Devices
Portable medical instruments benefit from the ATSAM4LC4CA-AU's combination of low power and signal-processing capability. The 12-bit ADC samples physiological sensors such as ECG front ends or temperature probes, and the Cortex-M4 DSP instructions execute digital filters efficiently at 48 MHz, extending battery life in continuous-monitoring products. Sleep current of 1.5 uA supports always-on patient-worn devices that must record intermittently for weeks per charge. The 100-pin TQFP supplies enough GPIO to drive segmented LCD user interfaces, buttons, and buzzer outputs without external expanders. The AES crypto engine helps satisfy data-privacy requirements by encrypting stored patient records. Industrial temperature qualification also covers sterilization-adjacent thermal environments commonly encountered in clinical hardware.
Recommended
Low-Power Data Loggers
Stand-alone data loggers use the ATSAM4LC4CA-AU to sample sensors periodically, timestamp readings, and store results in flash or external memory while drawing microamp average current. The architecture matches this duty cycle exactly: wake from sleep in 1.5 us, run the 12-bit ADC conversion and math at 90 uA/MHz, write results, and return to the 1.5 uA sleep state. With 256 KB of internal flash, the MCU can hold calibration tables and a ring buffer of readings without external NVRAM in compact designs. The 1.62 V supply floor means the logger keeps operating as the battery discharges below 2 V, extracting nearly all usable cell capacity. 100-pin TQFP GPIO supports multiple analog input channels and communication interfaces simultaneously.
Recommended
Human Interface and Touch Control Systems
The ATSAM4LC4CA-AU serves HMI applications such as appliance control panels, thermostats, and industrial operator interfaces. The SAM4L peripheral set supports capacitive touch sensing, and the 100-pin TQFP provides ample GPIO for driving segments, LEDs, and relays directly. The Cortex-M4 core at 48 MHz executes touch-decision logic and display refresh concurrently without loading the CPU. Because an HMI is idle most of the time, the 1.5 uA sleep current and 1.5 us wake-up translate directly into energy compliance targets (standby power limits) for appliances. The 12-bit ADC reads potentiometers and NTC sensors for rotary or temperature-based user inputs, while the AES engine supports authenticated firmware updates delivered over field buses in commercial equipment.
Recommended
Secure Embedded Systems and Access Control
Security-oriented designs leverage the ATSAM4LC4CA-AU's hardware AES crypto engine to authenticate credentials and encrypt communications without software crypto overhead. In access-control terminals, RFID reader interfaces, and smart-metering front ends, the MCU pairs its 12-bit ADC and communication peripherals with the crypto block to implement challenge-response protocols. The 256 KB flash accommodates key storage structures, secure bootloaders, and application code in one chip, while the 48 MHz core handles real-time I/O. Low 1.5 uA sleep current supports battery-backup scenarios common in door controllers and metering equipment. The industrial temperature rating and RoHS-compliant green TQFP package suit both indoor infrastructure and outdoor cabinet installations where sustained reliability is required.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4LC4CA-AU β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4LC8CA-AU | ATSAM4LC2CA-AU | ATSAM4LS4CA-AU | STR736FV0T6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-TQFP (14x14) | 100-TQFP (14x14) - same | 100-TQFP (14x14) - same | 100-TQFP - same | 100-TQFP - same package, different pin map |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | STMicroelectronics |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4 @ 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4 @ 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4 @ 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4 @ 48 MHz | ARM7TDMI (older core) |
| Drop-in Capability | Reference | Pin-to-pin, firmware compatible | Pin-to-pin, firmware compatible | Pin-compatible, verify peripherals | Not pin-to-pin - rework required |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest-power Cortex-M4 in class (vs STR736FV0T6)
- Memory upgrade path without respin (vs ATSAM4LC2CA-AU)
- Hardware AES crypto engine (vs ATSAM4LS4CA-AU)
Design Notes
To realize the datasheet 1.5 uA sleep current, all unused GPIOs must be configured as outputs driven low or inputs with defined levels - floating pins leak through input buffers. Disable the BOD and debug interface in production sleep states, and select the deepest sleep mode compatible with your wake source. Estimated: a node sleeping 99% of the time at 1.5 uA and active 1% at 48 MHz (90 uA/MHz x 48 MHz = 4.3 mA) yields an average of about 58 uA before radio load, enabling multi-year coin-cell operation.
Decouple each VDD/VDDIO pair with 100 nF ceramic capacitors placed within 2 mm of the pins, plus one bulk 4.7 uF to 10 uF capacitor per supply domain. The SAM4L has separate VDDCORE and VDDIO domains - follow the SAM4L datasheet power diagram exactly, since the internal regulator requires its recommended output capacitance for stability under 48 MHz load transients. Keep the crystal load capacitors close to the OSC pins and route the 32 kHz crystal away from switching traces for accurate RTC operation.
Do not assume flash sizes are interchangeable at link time: firmware built for the 256 KB ATSAM4LC4C will not fit the 128 KB ATSAM4LC2C. The -AU suffix indicates the TQFP tray package; the -AR/-AUR reel variants of other SAM4L parts exist but confirm exact ordering code before release to manufacturing. Also, engineering-sample parts (ES suffix) have errata and must never ship in production units - verify the full ordering part number on received packaging.
Compliance Information
Mouser lists the part as 'TQFP, Green, IND TEMP, CRYPTO, MRL' indicating green (RoHS) package and industrial temperature grade. AEC-Q100 qualification not indicated in provided data.
