ATSAM4LS2AA-MU - 48MHz Cortex-M4 MCU 128KB Flash QFN-48 | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4LS2AA-MU ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.5 | $5.50 |
| 10 | $4.95 | $49.50 |
| 100 | $4.4 | $440.00 |
| 500 | $3.95 | $1,975.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.55 | $3,550.00 |
ATSAM4LS2AA-MU Overview
A microcontroller unit (MCU) is a single-chip embedded processor that integrates a CPU core, program memory, data memory, and peripheral functions such as timers, communication interfaces, and analog blocks. The SAM4L family sits within Microchip's (formerly Atmel) 32-bit ARM-based MCU portfolio, which spans from the low-power SAM L and SAM D families up to high-performance SAM E parts with floating-point units. MCUs are the top-level building block of embedded systems, powering industrial control, consumer devices, and IoT nodes.
The defining feature of the ATSAM4LS2AA-MU is 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 identifies as the lowest power and fastest wake-up among Cortex-M4 devices. The SAM4L architecture adds a Peripheral Event System and SleepWalking, allowing peripherals to operate and respond autonomously while the CPU core remains in low-power sleep.
Peripherals include USB device, USART, TWI (I2C), SPI, 12-bit ADC, DAC, capacitive touch support (Peripheral Touch Controller), and an AES/DES cryptographic engine on some family members. The Cortex-M4 core delivers DSP-oriented instructions for efficient digital filtering and control-loop mathematics at 48 MHz.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes, portable medical instruments, low-power IoT endpoints, and touch-sensing human interface devices where sleep current and wake-up latency dominate battery life.
Design consideration: the 48-QFN exposed-pad package requires a solid ground connection through the PCB thermal pad; use via stitching to the ground plane for both thermal dissipation and signal-integrity during EMI testing.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives within the SAM4L family, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4LS2AA-MU — 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 ATSAM4LS2AA-MU (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, RoHS Status, Supply Voltage, Flash Memory, SRAM.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4LS4AA-MU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4LC2AA-MU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4LS2BA-MU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$3.79 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4LS4BA-MU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$1.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM3N4AA-MU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4LS2AA-MU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Core Size | 32-bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 128 KB (128K x 8) |
| SRAM | 32 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V nominal |
| Active Mode Current | 90 uA/MHz |
| Sleep Mode Current | 1.5 uA |
| Wake-up Time | down to 1.5 us |
| Package | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | Industrial temperature range |
| USB | USB device controller |
| Peripherals | Peripheral Event System, SleepWalking, capacitive touch support |
| Series | SAM4L |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (GREEN package per Mouser listing) |
| Packaging | Tray (MRL A per Mouser) |
ATSAM4LS2AA-MU 48-qfn (7x7 mm) with exposed pad Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4LS2AA-MU (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 ATSAM4LS2AA-MU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4LS2AA-MU is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Capacitive Touch User Interfaces, Portable Medical and Health Instruments, USB-Connected Industrial Sensors, Energy-Harvesting and Wearable Devices, Smart Metering and Building Automation.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The ATSAM4LS2AA-MU is a strong fit for battery-powered IoT endpoints because its 1.5 uA sleep current and 90 uA/MHz active efficiency directly translate into years of coin-cell life. A typical node sleeps in Wait mode at 1.5 uA while the SleepWalking peripheral event system monitors sensors via TWI or SPI; when a threshold is crossed, the Cortex-M4 core wakes in about 1.5 us to process data and transmit over an RF link. Unlike always-on solutions, the MCU spends over 99% of its lifetime in sleep, so average system current can stay in the low microamp range. Designers should budget for RF module sleep current too, since it often dominates the total budget.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch User Interfaces
The SAM4L family integrates a Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) that automates capacitive touch acquisition for buttons, sliders, and wheels without CPU intervention, making the ATSAM4LS2AA-MU ideal for touch-sensing HMI products. The PTC works with the SleepWalking architecture so the MCU can detect a touch while drawing minimal current, then wake the 48 MHz Cortex-M4 to run UI logic and respond over USB device or UART to a host. Microchip provides touch tuning libraries and reference designs for the SAM4L PTC. Because wake-up is only 1.5 us, perceived latency is imperceptible, and the 128 KB Flash comfortably holds touch tuning data plus application code.
Recommended
Portable Medical and Health Instruments
Portable medical instruments such as glucose meters, pulse oximeters, and patient-worn monitors benefit from the ATSAM4LS2AA-MU's combination of a DSP-capable Cortex-M4 core and microamp-level sleep. Signal-conditioning loops can use Cortex-M4 multiply-accumulate instructions to run digital filters at 48 MHz, then the device returns to 1.5 uA sleep between measurements, extending battery replacement intervals. The 12-bit ADC provides sufficient resolution for many physiological front-ends, and the Peripheral Event System can chain ADC samples to timers without CPU involvement, reducing jitter. Long product lifecycles and industrial temperature grade support the qualification demands of medical device platforms.
Recommended
USB-Connected Industrial Sensors
The integrated USB device controller makes the ATSAM4LS2AA-MU a natural choice for industrial sensors and dongles that report to PCs or PLC configuration tools over USB. Combined with the industrial temperature grade noted in the Mouser listing, the device tolerates cabinet and factory-floor environments. A typical design samples a sensor through the ADC or a SPI/TWI front-end, applies filtering with Cortex-M4 DSP instructions, and streams results over USB while the USB peripheral SleepWalks during idle intervals to hold current near 1.5 uA. The 48-QFN exposed-pad package must be well grounded to pass EMC testing on industrial machinery.
Recommended
Energy-Harvesting and Wearable Devices
Energy-harvesting systems, where available power is measured in microwatts, demand exactly the profile the ATSAM4LS2AA-MU delivers: 90 uA/MHz active operation to maximize work per harvested joule and 1.5 uA sleep to preserve stored charge. The 1.5 us wake-up allows the firmware to exploit short energy bursts opportunistically, executing measurement and processing tasks before the supply droops. Wearable devices gain the same benefit plus fast touch response via the PTC. Designers should size the storage capacitor so the 48 MHz active phase completes within the harvested energy envelope, and use the event system to minimize active time per duty cycle.
Recommended
Smart Metering and Building Automation
Smart meters and building automation nodes run for a decade or more on mains or battery backup, so the ATSAM4LS2AA-MU's 1.5 uA sleep and SleepWalking communication peripherals are decisive advantages. A metering node can keep the TWI or USART monitoring a measurement IC while the CPU sleeps, accumulating pulses or reading registers autonomously, then wake the Cortex-M4 to compute consumption, update the display, and publish over wired or RF links. The 128 KB Flash holds metrology firmware plus communication stacks, and the industrial temperature rating covers outdoor enclosures. Cryptographic capability in the SAM4L family supports authentication of metering data.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4LS2AA-MU — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4LS4AA-MU | ATSAM4LC2AA-MU | ATSAM3N4AA-MU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) - same | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) - same | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4 | ARM Cortex-M4 | ARM Cortex-M4 | ARM Cortex-M3 |
| Max Frequency | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 128 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB | 256 KB |
Key Differentiators
- Cortex-M4 DSP instructions at ultra-low power (vs ATSAM3N4AA-MU)
- Best power figure in its Flash class (vs ATSAM4LS4AA-MU)
- Balanced power/performance vs LC ultra-low-power line (vs ATSAM4LC2AA-MU)
Design Notes
The 48-QFN (7x7 mm) exposed-pad package requires the center thermal pad to be soldered to a well-designed ground island on the PCB. Use a 3x3 or 4x4 via array under the pad stitched to the internal ground plane to guarantee low-impedance ground return and acceptable thermal dissipation. Undersoldering the exposed pad is a common cause of intermittent USB communication and analog noise on SAM4L designs, because the pad is the primary ground connection for the die.
To actually realize the datasheet 1.5 uA sleep current, firmware must gate or disable unused peripherals and clocks before entering Wait mode; any remaining active clock (including USB or an oscillator left running) can raise sleep current by orders of magnitude. Follow the Microchip SAM4L low-power design application notes: configure the SleepWalking clock sources (OSC32K or RC32K) for the peripherals that must keep running, and verify measured sleep current on the bench with a precision ammeter, not just in simulation.
Flash programming and debug use the Cortex-M4 SWD interface; reserve the SWDIO/SWCLK pins and include a standard 2x5 Cortex debug connector even in production boards, since field firmware updates and fault diagnostics depend on it. Additionally, when migrating between SAM4L LS and LC variants, confirm the part-specific peripheral instance map in the device datasheet, as DMA channel assignment and USB clock source options differ slightly across family members.
Compliance Information
Mouser lists the part as QFN, GREEN, IND TEMP, MRL A; Microchip GREEN package designation indicates RoHS/halogen-free lead-free construction. Formal REACH and conflict-minerals declarations should be requested from Microchip environmental documentation.