ATSAM4LC4CA-AUR - 48MHz Cortex-M4 MCU 256KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4LC4CA-AUR ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.51 | $6.51 |
| 10 | $5.9 | $59.00 |
| 100 | $4.85 | $485.00 |
| 500 | $3.6 | $1,800.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.71 | $2,710.00 |
ATSAM4LC4CA-AUR Overview
A microcontroller unit (MCU) is a single-chip computer integrating a processor core, memory, and peripherals on one die. The ATSAM4LC4CA belongs to the SAM4L family, which sits within the ARM Cortex-M class of 32-bit MCUs - the dominant architecture for embedded, low-power, and IoT designs. MCUs of this type replace multi-chip solutions, reducing board area, bill-of-materials cost, and system power consumption.
Key differentiating features include the Cortex-M4 core with DSP instructions, a hardware AES/DES cryptographic engine for secure applications, and the ultra-low-power peripheral event system that lets peripherals communicate without CPU intervention. The SAM4L power architecture supports multiple sleep modes with the Backup mode consuming the least, and programmable features such as a built-in buck converter on certain family members improve energy efficiency in battery-powered designs.
The SAM4L architecture pairs the 48 MHz Cortex-M4 with a multi-layer bus matrix and DMA controller, sustaining high peripheral throughput while the CPU sleeps. Flash memory with ECC protects against bit errors, and a rich peripheral set - USART, SPI, I2C (TWI), USB, ADC, DAC, PWM timers, and capacitive touch support (Peripheral Touch Controller) - enables single-chip designs for HMI, metering, and connectivity nodes. The PIC-style flexibility of clock sources (RCSYS, OSC0, DFLL, PLLs) allows dynamic frequency scaling to trade performance against current draw.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes, industrial control panels, consumer appliances, smart metering front ends, and touch-enabled user interfaces. The industrial temperature range of -40C to +85C and cryptographic acceleration suit metering and secure IoT endpoints, while low sleep current suits energy-harvesting and coin-cell products.
When designing with the ATSAM4LC4CA-AUR, budget the 100-TQFP thermal and decoupling requirements carefully: place 0.1 uF ceramic capacitors at every VDD/VDDIO pin pair and use solid ground planes. The R suffix indicates tape-and-reel packaging for automated assembly.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing from ten sources, drop-in SAM4L-family alternatives, pinout guidance, and design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4LC4CA-AUR — 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-AUR (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Supply Voltage, Package, Packaging, RoHS Status, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4LC8CA-AUR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$6.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4LC2CA-AUR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$3.61 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4LS4CA-AU
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4LS2CA-AU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4LC4CA-AU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4LC4CA-AUR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Core Size | 32-bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB (256K x 8) |
| Supply Voltage | 1.62 V to 3.6 V (1.8V/2.5V/3.3V operation) |
| Active Mode Current | 90 uA/MHz |
| Sleep Mode Current | 1.5 uA |
| Wake-up Time | down to 1.5 us |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Package | 100-TQFP (14x14 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Security Features | AES, DES hardware cryptography |
| Communication Interfaces | USART, SPI, I2C (TWI), USB |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (R suffix) |
ATSAM4LC4CA-AUR 100-tqfp (14x14 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4LC4CA-AUR (100-tqfp (14x14 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-AUR.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4LC4CA-AUR is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Smart Metering Front Ends, Capacitive Touch User Interfaces, Industrial Control and Automation Panels, Consumer Appliance Control Boards, Wearable and Portable Medical Devices.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The ATSAM4LC4CA-AUR fits battery-powered sensor nodes because its 90 uA/MHz active current and 1.5 uA sleep current directly translate into multi-year coin-cell life. A node sampling a temperature sensor once per minute keeps the Cortex-M4 asleep 99% of the time; the 1.5 us wake-up means the CPU can service each event with no latency penalty, and the Peripheral Event System routes sensor interrupts to the ADC or timers without waking the core at all. Operating down to 1.62V allows direct connection to a lithium coin cell without a boost converter, removing a major efficiency loss. The integrated AES engine secures wireless payloads at negligible energy cost.
Recommended
Smart Metering Front Ends
Metering designs select the ATSAM4LC4CA-AUR for its combination of industrial temperature rating (-40C to +85C), hardware AES/DES cryptographic engine, and low standby current - three requirements the utility meter environment imposes simultaneously. The 12-bit ADC samples voltage and current channels for energy calculations, while the 256 KB Flash stores tariff tables and calibration data. The crypto engine accelerates DLMS/COSEM message encryption without CPU overhead, and the long battery-backed operation from the 1.5 uA sleep mode keeps the RTC and tamper log alive during power outages. The 100-pin package supplies enough GPIO for relay control, LCD driving, and communication peripherals.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch User Interfaces
The ATSAM4LC4CA-AUR integrates a Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) that autonomously scans capacitive touch sensors while the CPU sleeps, making it a natural single-chip solution for touch buttons, sliders, and wheels on appliances and control panels. Because the PTC hardware handles charge-transfer measurement, wake-up from deep sleep occurs only when a genuine touch is detected, preserving the 1.5 uA standby figure in idle panels. The 100-pin TQFP exposes ample GPIO for LED feedback, buzzer drive, and serial links to a host. Firmware is accelerated by Microchip QTouch Library support, and the 48 MHz Cortex-M4 leaves headroom for gesture decoding and host communication concurrently.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Automation Panels
In industrial control panels, the ATSAM4LC4CA-AUR provides deterministic Cortex-M4 processing at 48 MHz with the peripheral richness needed for machine I/O: multiple USARTs for Modbus RTU, SPI/TWI for isolated sensor interfaces, PWM timers for actuator control, and a DMA controller that moves data without CPU intervention. The industrial -40C to +85C rating covers unconditioned factory-floor enclosures, and the 256 KB Flash with ECC protects program memory against bit corruption in electrically noisy environments. The wake-up latency of 1.5 us allows aggressive duty-cycling of panels that are only intermittently active, reducing average power draw of always-on auxiliary systems.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control Boards
Consumer appliances such as coffee machines, air conditioners, and dishwashers use the ATSAM4LC4CA-AUR to combine touch HMI, motor control, and connectivity in one MCU. The PTC eliminates a separate touch chip, the PWM timers drive BLDC or brushed motor stages, and the 256 KB Flash accommodates menus, localization strings, and communication stacks (e.g., UART-to-Wi-Fi module protocols). The 1.8V/2.5V/3.3V operation flexibility simplifies power-tree design from a single mains-derived rail, and the 90 uA/MHz efficiency matters for standby power regulations such as ErP. The green, RoHS-conscious TQFP package supports lead-free reflow assembly used in volume consumer manufacturing.
Recommended
Wearable and Portable Medical Devices
Portable medical instruments - glucose meters, pulse oximeters, and vitals patches - choose the ATSAM4LC4CA-AUR for its favorable energy-per-operation: at 90 uA/MHz the Cortex-M4 executes signal-processing routines (IIR/FIR filtering, SpO2 algorithms) faster than 8-bit parts, spending less total energy per measurement. The 12-bit ADC and DAC support analog front-end sampling directly, and the fast 1.5 us wake-up supports event-driven sampling synchronized to patient activity. The hardware crypto engine helps satisfy data-protection expectations for stored patient records, while the 1.62V minimum supply allows operation from single lithium or dual alkaline cells. The 100-pin footprint leaves routing room for isolation and analog sections.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4LC4CA-AUR — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4LC8CA-AUR | ATSAM4LC2CA-AUR | ATSAM4LS4CA-AU | ATSAM4LS2CA-AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-TQFP (14x14 mm) | 100-TQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-TQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-TQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-TQFP (14x14 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology (Atmel legacy) | Microchip Technology (Atmel legacy) |
| Core / Frequency | 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 | 256 KB | 512 KB | 128 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB |
| Hardware Crypto Engine | AES, DES | AES, DES | AES, DES | No (lower static power focus) | No (lower static power focus) |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.62 V to 3.6 V | 1.62 V to 3.6 V | 1.62 V to 3.6 V | 1.62 V to 3.6 V | 1.62 V to 3.6 V |
Key Differentiators
- Industry-leading low power for Cortex-M4 (vs ATSAM4LC8CA-AUR)
- Integrated AES/DES hardware cryptography (vs ATSAM4LS4CA-AU)
- Balanced memory tiering within one footprint (vs ATSAM4LC2CA-AUR)
Design Notes
Decouple every VDD/VDDIO pin pair with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 2 mm of the pin, and add 10 uF bulk capacitance near the supply entry. The SAM4L supports 1.8V/2.5V/3.3V operation; if the design must survive battery brown-out, verify the 1.62V minimum supply and configure the brown-out detector (BOD) and supply-fail reset accordingly. Estimated: a node spending 10 ms at 48 MHz (4.3 mA) and 990 ms asleep (1.5 uA) draws an average of roughly 44 uA, giving about 5300 hours on a 240 mAh CR2032 cell.
The 100-TQFP (0.5 mm pitch) requires careful pad geometry per IPC-SM-782-style land patterns; use a 0.5 mm pitch stencil with 0.25x1.5 mm apertures to avoid bridging. Route the VDDCORE supply per the datasheet recommendation, keep analog (ADC/DAC) ground returns on a quiet region of the ground plane away from switching loads, and place the USB/USART series termination resistors close to the MCU. Under the exposed die region no thermal pad is present on TQFP, so thermal relief is handled entirely through the leads - adequate for the SAM4L low-power budget.
Do not migrate firmware from LC8/LS parts to the ATSAM4LC4CA without checking linker Flash and SRAM limits - the 256 KB Flash boundary fails silently at link time only if the map is reviewed. The clock system defaults to the internal RCSYS oscillator after reset; projects assuming an external crystal or PLL must explicitly configure OSC0/DFLL/PLL startup and failure detection, otherwise timing-sensitive peripherals (USART baud, USB) will malfunction. Finally, the crypto engine key registers are write-only - back up keys externally before any debug erase.
Compliance Information
Mouser listing describes the package as Green, indicating Microchip's lead-free/halogen-free green packaging program, but explicit RoHS/REACH certificates were not present in the provided data - verify via the Microchip product page Environmental data.
