ATSAM4LS8AA-MU - ARM Cortex-M4 MCU 48MHz 512KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4LS8AA-MU ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
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| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
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| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
ATSAM4LS8AA-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 system hierarchy: MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> system-on-chip. The SAM4L family sits within Microchip's ATSAM ARM-based flash MCU portfolio and targets low-power, battery-operated and energy-harvesting designs.
Key features include industry-leading active-mode consumption of 90 uA/MHz, sleep mode current of just 1.5 uA, and wake-up times down to 1.5 us, which together rank among the lowest power figures of any Cortex-M4 device. The integrated USB device peripheral, peripheral event system, and the proprietary SleepWalking technology allow peripherals to operate autonomously while the CPU core and clock domains remain powered down, dramatically extending battery life.
Architecturally, the SAM4L combines the ARM Cortex-M4 core with Microchip's picoPower techniques, a multi-layer bus matrix, and a flexible peripheral set. The peripheral event system routes inter-peripheral signals without CPU intervention, reducing latency and active power. Embedded Flash supports the code base while SRAM retains data through deep-sleep states, supporting rapid context restoration on wake-up.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes and IoT end devices, portable medical and fitness monitors, and low-power industrial control and metering products where every microamp of average current directly extends field life.
For design, take advantage of the SleepWalking framework early in the software architecture: assign wake-up sources and event routes before finalizing the schematic, and decouple the VDDCORE and VDDIO domains with low-ESR ceramic capacitors placed close to the QFN pads.
This page synthesizes distributor availability data, same-family drop-in alternatives, and practical low-power design guidance not found in the manufacturer's product brief.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4LS8AA-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 ATSAM4LS8AA-MU (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Wake-up Time, Flash Memory, Packaging, Connectivity.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4LC8AA-MU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$5.39 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4LC4AA-MU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$4.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4LC2AA-MU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4LS4AA-MU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$3.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4LS2AA-MU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$3.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4LS8AA-MU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Core Size | 32-Bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory Size | 512 KB (512K x 8) |
| RAM Size | 64 KB |
| Active Mode Current | 90 uA/MHz |
| Sleep Mode Current | 1.5 uA |
| Wake-up Time | Down to 1.5 us |
| Connectivity | USB Device |
| Special Features | Peripheral Event System, SleepWalking |
| Package | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Number of Terminals | 48 |
| Package Code | HVQCCN (Square) |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial |
ATSAM4LS8AA-MU hvqccn (square) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4LS8AA-MU (hvqccn (square) 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 ATSAM4LS8AA-MU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4LS8AA-MU is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, USB-Powered Peripherals and HIDs, Portable Medical and Fitness Monitors, Low-Power Industrial Metering and Control, Energy Harvesting Systems, Embedded Control and Legacy MCU Migration.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The ATSAM4LS8AA-MU fits battery-powered sensor nodes because its 90 uA/MHz active current and 1.5 uA sleep current minimize average draw in duty-cycled sampling loops. The SleepWalking framework lets ADC, timers, and communication peripherals collect and buffer readings autonomously, waking the Cortex-M4 core for only brief processing bursts with 1.5 us wake-up latency. With 512 KB Flash, the node can host a full network stack plus an over-the-air update bootloader with dual-bank storage. A typical node sleeps at 1.5 uA for 99 percent of the cycle, giving multi-year coin-cell life; the trade-off is that any always-on external sensor current will dominate the power budget, so peripheral choices matter as much as the MCU itself.
Recommended
USB-Powered Peripherals and HIDs
The integrated USB device peripheral makes the ATSAM4LS8AA-MU a strong fit for human interface devices, dongles, and USB instrument front-ends. The USB device controller handles enumeration and endpoint traffic without CPU-heavy polling, and the 48 MHz Cortex-M4 with DSP instructions processes HID report formatting, sensor fusion, or CDC bridging with headroom. The 512 KB Flash accommodates a full USB stack plus application logic and a bootloader for field firmware updates over the same USB port. Because the part also sleeps at 1.5 uA, bus-powered designs can implement compliant suspend currents. Design consideration: budget the 3.3 V regulator for the 4.3 mA active core current plus USB transceiver load, and route the USB D+/D- pair as a controlled 90-ohm differential with series termination close to the QFN pads.
Recommended
Portable Medical and Fitness Monitors
Wearable medical and fitness monitors benefit from the ATSAM4LS8AA-MU's combination of low sleep current and DSP-capable Cortex-M4 math. Heart-rate and motion algorithms using filter and FFT routines exploit the core's DSP instructions at 48 MHz, while the 64 KB SRAM buffers multi-channel waveform samples between radio transmissions. The peripheral event system chains an analog front-end to DMA-style event routing without waking the CPU, cutting average current in continuous-monitoring modes. The industrial temperature grade suits skin-adjacent operation. Trade-off: for clinical-grade isolation and AEC or medical certification paths, the surrounding analog and power circuitry, not the MCU, usually sets the certification scope, so plan isolation barriers around the MCU from the start.
Recommended
Low-Power Industrial Metering and Control
In industrial metering and low-power control nodes, the ATSAM4LS8AA-MU provides the compute for energy-accumulation algorithms while its 1.5 uA sleep current suits battery-backed or energy-harvesting installations. The peripheral event system links comparators, ADC, and timers so that pulse counting and threshold detection continue through SleepWalking even with the core asleep, and 512 KB Flash stores tamper logs and calibration tables. The industrial temperature grade matches panel-mounted environments. Design tip: use the QFN exposed pad as a solid ground connection to reduce ground bounce on the metering analog front-end, and separate the analog supply rail with an RC filter or a small LDO since metering accuracy depends heavily on supply-noise rejection at the ADC reference.
Recommended
Energy Harvesting Systems
Energy-harvesting designs - solar, thermoelectric, or RF-powered - need an MCU that can operate on microwatt budgets, and the ATSAM4LS8AA-MU's 1.5 uA sleep plus 1.5 us wake-up make it a core candidate. The system strategy is to accumulate energy in a reservoir, wake the Cortex-M4 in short bursts, process or transmit, then return to sleep; a 4.3 mA active draw at 48 MHz for 10 ms every minute averages only microamps. The peripheral event system performs sensor qualification autonomously so the MCU only wakes on valid events. The key trade-off is startup energy: brown-out thresholds and power-on-reset behavior must be tuned so the MCU does not restart endlessly on a marginal harvested supply - configure the supply supervisor before deploying in the field.
Recommended
Embedded Control and Legacy MCU Migration
For general embedded control boards migrating from 8-bit or older 16/32-bit MCUs, the ATSAM4LS8AA-MU offers a modern Cortex-M4 software ecosystem (CMSIS, Microchip Studio/Atmel Studio toolchain) with a 512 KB Flash envelope that absorbs legacy code plus new features. The same-family pin-compatible variants (ATSAM4LS2AA-MU through ATSAM4LC8AA-MU) let one PCB serve multiple product SKUs by populating different memory densities. The 48 MHz core with DSP instructions handles motor commutation assistance, protocol conversion, and closed-loop sensing that older 8-bit parts could not. Migration consideration: pin multiplexing on the 48-QFN differs from legacy DIP parts, so re-verify each peripheral's pin assignment in the SAM4L multiplexing table rather than assuming port-equivalent mapping from the legacy design.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4LS8AA-MU — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4LC8AA-MU | ATSAM4LC4AA-MU | ATSAM4LC2AA-MU | ATSAM4LS4AA-MU | ATSAM4LS2AA-MU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) - same | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) - same | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) - same | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) - same | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | 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 | ARM Cortex-M4, 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 512 KB | 512 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB |
| Active Current | 90 uA/MHz | 90 uA/MHz | 90 uA/MHz | 90 uA/MHz | 90 uA/MHz | 90 uA/MHz |
| Sleep Current | 1.5 uA | 1.5 uA | 1.5 uA | 1.5 uA | 1.5 uA | 1.5 uA |
| USB Device | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Full memory density within the 48-QFN family (vs ATSAM4LC4AA-MU)
- Lowest-power Cortex-M4 platform (vs ATSAM4LC8AA-MU)
- SleepWalking autonomous peripherals (vs ATSAM4LS2AA-MU)
Design Notes
Budget the power supply around a worst-case active draw of roughly 4.3 mA at 48 MHz (90 uA/MHz x 48 MHz) plus I/O and USB transceiver current, against a 1.5 uA sleep floor. The 5000x spread between active and sleep means your regulator's quiescent current, not the MCU, often dominates average battery drain: choose an LDO or buck with Iq well below the sleep current target. Decouple VDDCORE and VDDIO separately with 100 nF ceramics at each QFN supply pin plus one bulk 4.7-10 uF cap per rail. Estimated: a node sleeping 99 percent of the time at 1.5 uA and active 6 s/hour at 5 mA averages about 8.3 uA plus regulator Iq.
Solder the QFN-48 exposed pad to a grounded thermal array of 4-6 vias; this is the primary ground return and any floating pad causes ground bounce and ADC noise. Route the 0.5 mm pitch QFN fanout with via-in-pad or dog-bone escapes and keep the crystal and USB D+/D- pairs short. The 7x7 mm footprint is large enough for a two-layer design but a four-layer stack with dedicated ground plane significantly improves signal integrity for the USB device port. Follow Microchip SAM4L evaluation-kit layouts where possible, since Microchip's reference designs are validated for USB eye-diagram compliance.
Verify every GPIO against the SAM4L pin-multiplexing table for the 48-pin package before locking the schematic - many pins serve several peripheral functions and the 48-QFN exposes fewer alternatives than 64/100-pin siblings, so a peripheral conflict discovered at layout costs a respin. Second, tune the brown-out detector and supply supervisor for energy-harvesting or battery designs; default reset thresholds can cause restart loops on slowly rising supplies. Third, plan the Flash usage: at 512 KB, allocate a dual-bank OTA region early, because the flash controller's bank geometry constrains how firmware updates can be staged.
Compliance Information
Distributor listings reference a QFN GREEN package variant (per Mouser listing title), suggesting lead-free/RoHS-compliant packaging, but formal RoHS/REACH declarations were not present in the provided data - verify against Microchip's environmental page.
