ATSAM4LS4AA-MU - 48MHz Cortex-M4 256KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4LS4AA-MU ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.9 | $5.90 |
| 10 | $5.31 | $53.10 |
| 100 | $4.72 | $472.00 |
| 500 | $4.25 | $2,125.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.95 | $3,950.00 |
ATSAM4LS4AA-MU Overview
A microcontroller unit (MCU) is a single integrated circuit that combines a processor core, memory, and programmable peripherals into one chip, forming the lowest layer of the embedded systems hierarchy: MCU -> embedded processor -> microprocessor-based system. MCUs execute deterministic control and sensing tasks in devices where power budget, cost, and integration matter more than raw throughput.
Key features of the ATSAM4LS4AA-MU include the ARM Cortex-M4 core with 32-bit instruction set at up to 48 MHz, 256 KB (256K x 8) of embedded Flash for code storage, an integrated USB device controller, a peripheral event system that routes signals between peripherals without CPU intervention, and the SleepWalking feature that lets peripherals wake the device based on events while RAM and peripheral state are retained.
Technically, the SAM4L architecture pairs the Cortex-M4 pipeline with a low-leakage process and a flexible power management scheme with multiple sleep modes. The peripheral event system and SleepWalking offload the CPU, so the core can stay in deep sleep while peripherals such as ADC, timers, and communication blocks continue operating, dramatically reducing average system current in duty-cycled designs.
Typical applications include battery-powered portable instruments, sensor nodes and IoT endpoints, and consumer or industrial devices requiring USB connectivity with long battery life. The 48 MHz Cortex-M4 with DSP instructions also handles modest digital filtering and control loops efficiently.
For design, minimize active-mode time by exploiting sleep modes and the event system, and verify the exact pinout and peripheral multiplexing from the Microchip SAM4L datasheet before layout, since QFN packages require careful thermal pad soldering.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4LS4AA-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 ATSAM4LS4AA-MU (same form factor and footprint) — differing in RoHS Status, Package, Packaging, Flash Memory, Series.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4LS4AA-AUR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.98 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4LS2AA-MU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4LC8BA-UUR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM3N4AA-MU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM3N4BA-MU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.48 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4LS4AA-MU 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) |
| Active Mode Current | 90 uA/MHz |
| Sleep Mode Current | 1.5 uA |
| Wake-up Time | down to 1.5 us |
| USB | USB device |
| Peripheral Features | Peripheral event system, SleepWalking |
| Package | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial |
| Series | SAM4L |
ATSAM4LS4AA-MU 48-qfn (7x7 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4LS4AA-MU (48-qfn (7x7 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 ATSAM4LS4AA-MU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4LS4AA-MU is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Portable Instruments, IoT Sensor Nodes and Endpoints, USB Peripherals and HID Devices, Industrial Control and Automation Nodes, Wearable and Health Monitoring Devices, Consumer Appliances with USB Interface.
Battery-Powered Portable Instruments
The ATSAM4LS4AA-MU fits portable instruments because its 90 uA/MHz active current and 1.5 uA sleep current directly translate into longer battery runtimes than standard Cortex-M4 MCUs. In a handheld meter, the Cortex-M4 core executes measurement algorithms and DSP filtering at 48 MHz only during short active windows, then enters sleep where the SAM4L draws just 1.5 uA. The 1.5 us wake-up time means button presses or sensor events are serviced with no perceptible latency, so designers do not have to trade responsiveness for battery life. With 256 KB of Flash, calibration tables, GUI assets, and a bootloader fit without external memory. Placed on a coin-cell or single-cell Li-ion design with a low-Iq LDO, the MCU becomes the dominant load only during measurements, enabling multi-year service intervals. Source: Microchip SAM4L product data.
Recommended
IoT Sensor Nodes and Endpoints
For IoT sensor nodes, the ATSAM4LS4AA-MU offers the SleepWalking feature and peripheral event system, which let ADC conversions, timer captures, and communication framing proceed while the Cortex-M4 core remains asleep at approximately 1.5 uA. A node can sample a sensor on a timer event, threshold-compare it in a peripheral, and wake the CPU only for radio transmission, cutting average current from milliamps to microamps. The 256 KB Flash accommodates a full TCP/IP or LoRaWAN-style stack plus OTA update double-banking. The integrated USB device port provides factory programming and diagnostics without an external interface chip. Combined with a sub-GHz or BLE radio module and a low-leakage regulator, the SAM4L's 1.5 us wake-up ensures the radio scheduling stays precise while energy harvesters or small cells keep the node alive for years.
Recommended
USB Peripherals and HID Devices
The ATSAM4LS4AA-MU integrates a USB device controller, making it a strong fit for HID devices, sensor dongles, and USB-powered instruments that must enumerate as a peripheral on a PC. Because the controller is on-chip, no external USB interface IC is required, saving board area and BOM cost in the 7x7 mm QFN footprint. The 48 MHz Cortex-M4 provides enough headroom to service USB interrupts, run application logic, and process endpoint data concurrently, while the 256 KB Flash hosts descriptors, class drivers, and the application. In bus-powered designs, the SAM4L's low sleep current keeps standby draw within USB suspend budget limits, and the 1.5 us wake-up allows rapid recovery from suspend when host traffic resumes. Firmware upgrade over USB (bootloader in Flash) simplifies field updates. Source: Microchip ATSAM4LS4A product page.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Automation Nodes
In industrial automation nodes, the ATSAM4LS4AA-MU provides a 32-bit Cortex-M4 with DSP-capable arithmetic at 48 MHz for control loops such as PID regulation of motors, valves, and actuators, while its industrial temperature grade suits cabinets and field enclosures. The peripheral event system routes timer and comparator events to peripherals without CPU intervention, giving deterministic response to fast faults even if the firmware is servicing slower communication tasks. The 256 KB Flash holds protocol stacks such as Modbus alongside the control application. SleepWalking supports periodically waking sensor-polling nodes from deep sleep, reducing cable-powered system energy budgets in battery-backup scenarios. Designers should implement robust ESD and transient protection on field-wired I/O and verify the SAM4L peripheral multiplexing from the datasheet pinout tables before committing the PCB.
Recommended
Wearable and Health Monitoring Devices
Wearable health monitors benefit directly from the ATSAM4LS4AA-MU's power profile: 90 uA/MHz active, 1.5 uA sleep, and 1.5 us wake-up allow continuous low-rate physiological sampling with the CPU asleep between samples. The Cortex-M4's DSP instructions accelerate heart-rate or motion algorithms when bursts of processing are needed at 48 MHz, and the peripheral event system can pre-filter sensor streams in hardware. The 256 KB Flash accommodates signal-processing libraries and BLE-stack companions in a small code footprint. The 48-QFN 7x7 mm package suits compact, low-profile wearable PCBs, and the industrial temperature range covers body-worn environmental extremes. Pairing the MCU with ultra-low-power analog front ends and a small Li-Po cell yields multi-day battery life, and the USB device port enables charging-and-sync docking without additional controllers.
Recommended
Consumer Appliances with USB Interface
Consumer appliances that need a control MCU plus USB connectivity - coffee machines, chargers, small displays, accessories - can use the ATSAM4LS4AA-MU as a single-chip solution. The integrated USB device controller handles PC or charger enumeration, while the 48 MHz Cortex-M4 runs the appliance state machine, user interface timing, and safety supervision. The 256 KB Flash is ample for menu-driven UIs, fonts, and firmware-update bootloaders, avoiding external memory. Because consumer products spend most of their life in standby, the SAM4L's 1.5 uA sleep current supports low standby-power regulatory targets, and the 1.5 us wake-up keeps button and touch response instant. Designers should decouple the USB VBUS line properly and confirm QFN thermal-pad soldering for reliability. Source: Microchip SAM4L family data.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4LS4AA-MU — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4LS4AA-AUR | ATSAM4LS2AA-MU | ATSAM4LC8BA-UUR | ATSAM3N4AA-MU | ATSAM3N4BA-MU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) - same | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) - same | 48-UQFN (7x7 mm) - near-same | 48-QFN - same class | 48-QFN - same class |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core / Series | ARM Cortex-M4 (SAM4L) | ARM Cortex-M4 (SAM4L) | ARM Cortex-M4 (SAM4L) | ARM Cortex-M4 (SAM4L, LC variant) | ARM Cortex-M3 (SAM3N) | ARM Cortex-M3 (SAM3N) |
| Max Clock Speed | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz |
| SleepWalking / Event System | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| USB Device | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (SAM3N has no USB) | No (SAM3N has no USB) |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial | Automotive / extended | Industrial | Industrial | Industrial | Industrial |
Key Differentiators
- Class-leading low power in a Cortex-M4 (vs ATSAM3N4AA-MU)
- Double the Flash of the cost-optimized sibling (vs ATSAM4LS2AA-MU)
- Integrated USB device controller (vs ATSAM3N4BA-MU)
- Automotive-qualified drop-in option (vs ATSAM4LS4AA-AUR)
Design Notes
Exploit the SAM4L low-power architecture to its full extent: schedule work so the Cortex-M4 core runs at 48 MHz in short bursts (at 90 uA/MHz) and sleeps at 1.5 uA the rest of the time. Use the SleepWalking feature so peripherals wake on events without core involvement, and route simple signal routing through the peripheral event system instead of CPU interrupts. Estimated: a node that is active 1% of the time at ~4.3 mA (48 MHz) and sleeping at 1.5 uA yields an average current near 45 uA - multi-year life on a 1000 mAh cell. Always measure your actual firmware, since peripheral leakage dominates in deep sleep.
The 48-QFN (7x7 mm) package has a small pitch and an exposed pad; design the land pattern per the Microchip SAM4L datasheet and provide a via-fanout array under the exposed pad to ground for both thermal and electrical performance. Place 100 nF decoupling capacitors within 2-3 mm of each supply pin, one bulk capacitor per rail, and keep the USB D+/D- differential pair 90 ohm matched if the USB device port is used. Confirm the peripheral-to-pin multiplexing for your exact configuration in the datasheet pinout tables before routing, because SAM4L functions are heavily multiplexed across the 48 pins.
Do not assume firmware compatibility across SAM generations: the SAM3N alternatives (ATSAM3N4AA-MU / ATSAM3N4BA-MU) are Cortex-M3 parts without the SAM4L event system, SleepWalking, or USB device, so code ported to them will lose low-power and USB behavior. When substituting ATSAM4LS2AA-MU, verify the compiled image plus bootloader fits in 128 KB Flash with margin for OTA double-banking. Also confirm exact ordering-code suffixes (-MU industrial vs -AUR extended temperature) match your environmental requirements, and validate supply voltage against the current datasheet revision rather than legacy Atmel documents.
Compliance Information
Mouser listing references GREEN,IND TEMP,MRL A packaging for this device; formal RoHS/REACH declarations were not present in the provided data - consult the Microchip product page for current environmental certificates.
