ATSAM4S-WPIR-RD - SAM4S16 PIR Camera Reference Design | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4S-WPIR-RD ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $285 | $285.00 |
| 5 | $268 | $1,340.00 |
| 10 | $252 | $2,520.00 |
| 25 | $235 | $5,875.00 |
| 50 | $218 | $10,900.00 |
ATSAM4S-WPIR-RD Overview
The ATSAM4S-WPIR-RD belongs to the broader category of embedded MCU development boards and reference designs. An MCU (microcontroller unit) evaluation kit is a printed-circuit assembly combining a microcontroller, power supplies, clock sources, debug headers, and application-specific peripherals, used to validate firmware, architecture choices, and BOM feasibility before committing to a custom PCB. The SAM4S family sits in Microchip's 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4 lineup, balanced for industrial and consumer applications that need DSP capability, deterministic interrupt handling, and ultra-low-power sleep modes.
Key features of the ATSAM4S-WPIR-RD include the SAM4S16C Cortex-M4 core with 2 Kbytes of cache, a Memory Protection Unit (MPU), the DSP instruction set, and the Thumb-2 instruction set, all of which accelerate DSP-style image-processing routines. The board is pin-to-pin compatible with the SAM3N and SAM3S product families, which simplifies firmware migration and BOM reuse. On-board peripherals include a PIR sensor interface, an image sensor connector, 1 Mbyte SRAM, a ZigBee radio header, and an LCD interface for local status display.
The SAM4S architecture combines a multi-layer bus matrix with multi-channel DMA and distributed SRAM, sustaining high data-rate transfers between the image sensor, the external SRAM, and the wireless transceiver without CPU stalls. The Cortex-M4 core's single-cycle MAC and hardware divide accelerate the JPEG compression and motion-detection DSP kernels typical of PIR-camera firmware, while the integrated SleepWalking peripherals allow the MCU to remain in a deep-sleep state until the PIR sensor asserts an interrupt, extending battery life.
Typical applications include wireless PIR-triggered security cameras, low-power IoT imaging nodes, motion-detector still cameras with image capture and ZigBee transmission, battery-powered surveillance sensors, and home-automation alarm panels. The integrated ZigBee header makes the board a natural fit for mesh-networked security deployments. The on-board LCD provides immediate visual feedback for installers and field engineers.
When designing with this reference board, designers should pay attention to the PIR sensor's analog front-end filtering and to the image sensor's power-rail sequencing to minimize inrush currents during wake-up events. The ZigBee module connector simplifies swapping radios for Wi-Fi or sub-GHz modules, but each radio has unique regulatory and antenna-matching requirements.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes that are not found in the standalone manufacturer datasheet, providing additional context for engineering decisions.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4S-WPIR-RD — 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 ATSAM4S-WPIR-RD (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Target MCU, Core Architecture, Product Type, Series, Form Factor.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4S-EK2
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$260 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4CP16C-EK
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →ATSAMHA1G16A-XPRO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$73.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAML22-XPRO-B
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$75.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAME54-XPRO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$80.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4S-WPIR-RD Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | Reference Design / Evaluation Board |
| Target MCU | ATSAM4S16C (ARM Cortex-M4) |
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-M4 with Thumb-2 and DSP instruction set |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 120 MHz |
| Cache Memory | 2 Kbytes |
| Memory Protection Unit (MPU) | Yes |
| DSP Instruction Set | Yes |
| External SRAM | 1 Mbyte |
| Low-Frequency Crystal | 32.768 kHz |
| Main Oscillator | 12 MHz |
| On-Board LDO Regulator | Yes |
| Image Sensor Interface | Yes |
| PIR Sensor Interface | Yes |
| ZigBee Module Connector | Yes |
| LCD Interface | Yes |
| JTAG Debug Connector | Yes |
| Battery Holder | Yes |
| Pin-to-Pin Compatibility | SAM3N, SAM3S families |
| Series | AT91SAM |
ATSAM4S-WPIR-RD Interfaces & Connectors
No manufacturer-published interface list is available for ATSAM4S-WPIR-RD. Refer to the manufacturer documentation for connector and header details.
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4S-WPIR-RD is suitable for 6 applications: Wireless PIR-Triggered Security Camera, Battery-Powered IoT Imaging Node, Motion-Detector Still Camera with ZigBee Transmission, Home-Automation Alarm Panel, Low-Power Wireless Sensor Prototype, Industrial Motion-Triggered Imaging System.
Wireless PIR-Triggered Security Camera
The ATSAM4S-WPIR-RD is purpose-built as a wireless PIR-triggered security camera. The on-board PIR sensor asserts an interrupt that wakes the SAM4S16C Cortex-M4 from deep sleep, after which the MCU captures a still frame from the image sensor, JPEG-compresses it using the DSP instruction set, and transmits it via the ZigBee module. With SleepWalking peripherals the board draws microamps in standby and only milliamps during capture, making it ideal for years-long battery operation. Engineers can shorten prototype cycles from months to weeks because the BOM, layout, and firmware framework are pre-validated.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Imaging Node
The ATSAM4S-WPIR-RD's battery holder, integrated LDO, and ZigBee header make it a natural fit for battery-powered IoT imaging nodes that must operate for years on a single cell. The SAM4S SleepWalking peripherals keep the MCU in deep sleep until motion triggers capture, the 1 Mbyte external SRAM buffers full-resolution images, and the ZigBee module provides low-power mesh networking to a gateway. The reference design demonstrates the BOM and firmware patterns needed to achieve sub-50 microamp quiescent current, which is critical for solar- or coin-cell-powered deployments.
Recommended
Motion-Detector Still Camera with ZigBee Transmission
The ATSAM4S-WPIR-RD combines PIR motion detection, image capture, JPEG compression via the DSP instruction set, and ZigBee transmission in a single reference design. Engineers building a still-image motion camera can use the board's pre-integrated image sensor connector, 1 Mbyte SRAM for frame buffering, and ZigBee radio header to skip schematic capture entirely. The Cortex-M4's single-cycle MAC and hardware divide accelerate JPEG encode, allowing the system to wake, capture, compress, and transmit in well under one second per event.
Recommended
Home-Automation Alarm Panel
The ATSAM4S-WPIR-RD is well-suited to home-automation alarm panels because it integrates the PIR sensor, image sensor, ZigBee radio, LCD interface, and JTAG debug header required to prototype a self-contained security panel. The on-board LCD can display alarm status, the ZigBee mesh allows multiple panels to coordinate, and the JTAG connector simplifies firmware update cycles. Production migration to ATSAM4S-EK2 or bare ATSAM4S16C is straightforward thanks to the SAM3N/SAM3S pin-to-pin compatibility.
Recommended
Low-Power Wireless Sensor Prototype
For low-power wireless sensor prototyping, the ATSAM4S-WPIR-RD demonstrates the architectural pattern of interrupt-driven wake, capture, compress, and transmit. Engineers can use the board to characterize SleepWalking current consumption, validate the PIR analog front end, and benchmark ZigBee transmission latency without designing a custom PCB. The exposed JTAG header supports real-time power profiling with Segger J-Link, and the battery holder simplifies lifetime testing with standard AA cells.
Recommended
Industrial Motion-Triggered Imaging System
The ATSAM4S-WPIR-RD's industrial-grade SAM4S16C core, wide operating temperature range, and robust peripherals make it a strong reference for industrial motion-triggered imaging. Engineers can use it to prototype machine-vision interlocks, conveyor-belt inspection cameras, and entry-logging systems that capture an image whenever motion is detected. The 120 MHz Cortex-M4 with DSP extensions handles edge-detection and motion-vector analysis in firmware, while the integrated 1 Mbyte SRAM buffers full-resolution frames for transmission over ZigBee or wired JTAG-driven debug links.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4S-WPIR-RD — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4S-EK2 | ATSAM4CP16C-EK | ATSAMHA1G16A-XPRO | ATSAML22-XPRO-B | ATSAME54-XPRO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | Reference Design Board (PCB assembly) | Reference Design Board (PCB assembly) | Reference Design Board (PCB assembly) | Xplained Pro Board (PCB assembly) | Xplained Pro Board (PCB assembly) | Xplained Pro Board (PCB assembly) |
| Target MCU Family | SAM4S (Cortex-M4, 120 MHz) | SAM4S (Cortex-M4, 120 MHz) | SAM4CP (Cortex-M4) | SAM HA1 (Cortex-M0+) | SAML22 (Cortex-M0+) | SAME54 (Cortex-M4) |
| PIR Sensor Interface | Yes (integrated) | No | No | No | No | No |
| Image Sensor Connector | Yes (integrated) | No | No | No | No | No |
| ZigBee Module Connector | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| JTAG Debug Header | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Holder | Yes (integrated) | No | No | No | No | No |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated PIR sensor, image sensor connector, and ZigBee radio header on a single PCB (vs ATSAM4S-EK2)
- On-board battery holder enables true battery-lifetime characterization (vs ATSAME54-XPRO)
- Purpose-tuned PIR analog front end and image sensor connector pinout (vs ATSAML22-XPRO-B)
Design Notes
Estimated: at 3.3 V supply with the SAM4S16C in deep sleep (RTC running from 32.768 kHz crystal), the board draws roughly 1-5 microamps from the battery. During active image capture and ZigBee transmission, peak current can reach 80-150 mA. Use a low-ESR ceramic decoupling bank (10 uF + 100 nF) close to the SAM4S16C VDD pins and a separate ferrite bead between the digital and RF sections to prevent ZigBee TX bursts from corrupting the image sensor rail. The on-board LDO is sized for these transients, but adding bulk capacitance on the battery side extends battery life under pulsed loads.
Route the image sensor parallel data bus with matched-length traces and a ground reference plane to avoid skew-induced artifacts. Keep the ZigBee antenna clear of the image sensor connector and battery holder by at least 10 mm to prevent RF noise coupling into the analog video path. The PIR sensor's analog output is high-impedance - use a guard ring around the PCB traces and place the analog filter capacitors within 5 mm of the PIR sensor pins to minimize leakage and pickup.
Do not assume any other SAM4S evaluation kit is drop-in compatible with this reference design. The ATSAM4S-WPIR-RD has purpose-selected PIR and image sensor front-end component values that are NOT replicated on the ATSAM4S-EK2 or ATSAM4CP16C-EK. Migrating firmware between boards is straightforward thanks to SAM3N/SAM3S pin-to-pin compatibility, but migrating the schematic requires re-selecting the PIR, image sensor, and ZigBee connectors. Always characterize SleepWalking current with the actual production PIR sensor, not the development PIR, because analog front-end bias currents dominate standby consumption.
Compliance Information
RoHS, REACH, lead-free, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals compliance for the ATSAM4S-WPIR-RD reference design were not present in the verified web data and are marked unknown. AEC-Q100 is not applicable because this is a reference design, not an automotive-grade IC.