ATSAM4S2CA-AU - 120MHz Cortex-M4 MCU, 128KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4S2CA-AU β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.84 | $4.84 |
| 10 | $4.36 | $43.60 |
| 100 | $3.9 | $390.00 |
| 500 | $3.5 | $1,750.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.14 | $3,140.00 |
ATSAM4S2CA-AU Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) integrates a processor core, memory, and peripherals onto a single chip, forming the heart of an embedded system. Within the power management hierarchy of embedded design, MCUs such as the SAM4S sit above discrete logic and below application processors, offering real-time deterministic control. The SAM4S series belongs to Microchip's (formerly Atmel) SMART ARM-based MCU portfolio, positioned for industrial and consumer embedded applications.
Key features include the ARM Cortex-M4 RISC core with DSP extension instructions and hardware FPA, full-speed USB Device port, EBI/EMI external bus interface, and connectivity peripherals spanning I2C, SPI, UART/USART, IrDA, SSC, and memory-card interfaces. On-chip peripherals include DMA, PWM, brown-out detect/reset, power-on reset, and a watchdog timer, with 79 general-purpose I/O pins.
The Cortex-M4 architecture at 120 MHz delivers approximately 1.25 DMIPS/MHz core performance, enabling single-cycle MAC and saturating arithmetic for digital filtering and control loops. According to the Microchip SAM4S family datasheet, the series offers pin-to-pin compatibility with SAM4N, SAM3S, SAM3N, and SAM7S devices, facilitating migration across memory densities.
Typical applications include industrial control and factory automation, consumer appliances, USB-connected devices, and motor control systems where DSP capability and rich connectivity are required.
Design consideration: ensure the 1.62V-3.6V supply rail is well decoupled, and confirm that 128 KB Flash / 64 KB SRAM capacity covers firmware growth before finalizing the footprint; pin-compatible higher-density SAM4S parts allow later upgrades.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, comparison data, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4S2CA-AU β 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 ATSAM4S2CA-AU (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Core Processor, Package, Connectivity, RoHS Status, Series.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4S2DA-AU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4S2CB-AU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4S8CA-AU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$5.74 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4S16CA-AU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$5.55 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM3N2CA-AU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$5.6 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4S2CA-AU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Core Size | 32-Bit |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 120 MHz |
| Program Memory Size | 128 KB (128K x 8) |
| Program Memory Type | FLASH |
| RAM Size | 64 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 1.2 V / 3.3 V |
| Number of I/O | 79 |
| Connectivity | EBI/EMI, I2C, IrDA, Memory Card, SPI, SSC, UART/USART, USB |
| Peripherals | Brown-out Detect/Reset, DMA, POR, PWM, WDT |
| Package | 100-LQFP (14 x 14 mm) |
| Mounting Style | SMD (Surface Mount) |
| Packaging | Tray |
| Core Performance | 1.25 DMIPS/MHz (Cortex-M4 class) |
ATSAM4S2CA-AU 100-lqfp (14 x 14 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4S2CA-AU (100-lqfp (14 x 14 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 ATSAM4S2CA-AU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4S2CA-AU is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control and Factory Automation, USB-Connected Devices, Motor Control, Consumer Appliances, Data Acquisition and Logging Systems, IoT Sensor Nodes and Edge Devices.
Industrial Control and Factory Automation
The ATSAM4S2CA-AU fits industrial control nodes because its 120 MHz Cortex-M4 core with DSP instructions executes PID and filtering loops deterministically, while 128 KB Flash and 64 KB SRAM accommodate protocol stacks for Modbus and CAN-adjacent gateways. The 79 GPIOs, PWM channels with DMA, EBI/EMI external bus, and UART/SPI/I2C connectivity let one MCU drive I/O expansion, HMI panels, and sensor acquisition simultaneously. A watchdog timer, brown-out reset, and power-on reset support unattended 24/7 operation; the pin-compatible SAM4S family lets one PCB scale memory across product tiers without redesign.
Recommended
USB-Connected Devices
With an embedded-transceiver full-speed USB Device port, the ATSAM4S2CA-AU implements CDC virtual COM, HID, audio, and mass-storage class devices without an external USB PHY, reducing BOM cost. The 120 MHz core services 12 Mbps USB traffic with margin for application code, and DMA moves endpoint data to 64 KB SRAM without CPU intervention. Typical products include USB instruments, data loggers, and programming pods. Because the port is Device-only, hosts and OTG designs should step up to higher SAM4 family members; device-only designs benefit from the low 1.62V-3.6V single-supply operation.
Recommended
Motor Control
Motor drives benefit from the Cortex-M4 single-cycle MAC, saturating arithmetic, and DSP extensions that accelerate field-oriented control (FOC) and SVPWM generation at 120 MHz. PWM peripherals with DMA offload waveform generation, while the SSC and timers handle encoder or resolver feedback. The 128 KB Flash holds sensorless estimation code with headroom, and 79 I/O pins interface gate drivers, current-shunt amplifiers, and protection circuits. Brown-out detect and watchdog ensure safe shutdown under fault conditions, and the SAM4S family pin compatibility allows motor-control firmware to migrate across memory tiers on one PCB.
Recommended
Consumer Appliances
Appliance controllers use the ATSAM4S2CA-AU for user-interface (buttons, LED/LCD segments via the 79 GPIOs), motor and heater PWM control, and sensor polling, all within a single 100-pin LQFP. The 120 MHz core leaves performance margin for touch decoding and display refresh, while the low-power modes reduce standby consumption - a key appliance energy requirement. Memory-card connectivity supports SD-card logging for smart appliances. The wide 1.62V-3.6V supply tolerance and on-chip brown-out protection give robust behavior on noisy mains-derived supplies, and pin-compatible family parts simplify platform cost-down variants.
Recommended
Data Acquisition and Logging Systems
The ATSAM4S2CA-AU serves data-acquisition front ends by combining 12-bit-class converter peripherals (per SAM4S family datasheet) with DMA-driven sample buffering into 64 KB SRAM and serial links (SPI, USART, SSC) for offload. The EBI/EMI interface attaches parallel SRAM, NAND/NOR flash, or external ADCs when channel count exceeds on-chip resources. SD-memory-card connectivity writes logs locally, while the USB Device port streams data to a PC during commissioning. DSP instructions apply in-line digital filtering (IIR/FIR) at sample rates unattainable on Cortex-M0-class MCUs, improving signal fidelity without host involvement.
Recommended
IoT Sensor Nodes and Edge Devices
For wired IoT edge nodes, the ATSAM4S2CA-AU balances cost and capability: the 120 MHz Cortex-M4 handles TLS-lite, protocol framing, and sensor fusion, while 128 KB Flash fits application plus lightweight connectivity stacks driving external Wi-Fi or Ethernet modules over SPI/UART. Multiple low-power modes extend battery life in duty-cycled nodes, and 79 GPIOs accommodate rich local sensing. The pin-compatible SAM4S portfolio lets one carrier board span connectivity tiers, and SEGGER tooling plus Microchip MPLAB ecosystem shorten development cycles compared with proprietary-core alternatives in this segment.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4S2CA-AU β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4S2DA-AU | ATSAM4S2CB-AU | ATSAM4S8CA-AU | ATSAM4S16CA-AU | ATSAM3N2CA-AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-LQFP (14x14) | 100-LQFP (14x14) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14) - same | 100-LQFP (14x14) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core / Clock | Cortex-M4 / 120 MHz | Cortex-M4 / 120 MHz | Cortex-M4 / 120 MHz | Cortex-M4 / 120 MHz | Cortex-M4 / 120 MHz | Cortex-M3 / 96 MHz |
| Flash | 128 KB | 128 KB (dual-bank/cache option) | 256 KB | 512 KB | 1 MB | 128 KB |
| USB Device Port | Yes (full-speed) | Yes (full-speed) | Yes (full-speed) | Yes (full-speed) | Yes (full-speed) | No |
| DSP/FPU Instructions | Yes (Cortex-M4 DSP) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (Cortex-M3) |
Key Differentiators
- Cortex-M4 DSP core at 120 MHz (vs ATSAM3N2CA-AU)
- Lowest Flash in pin-compatible family (vs ATSAM4S2CB-AU)
- Cost-effective entry to SAM4S platform (vs ATSAM4S16CA-AU)
Design Notes
Power the ATSAM4S2CA-AU from a clean 3.3 V rail (per FindIC data the device operates at 1.2V core/3.3V I/O supply domains). Decouple every VDD/VDDIO pair with 100 nF ceramics placed within 2 mm of the pins, plus one bulk 10 uF per supply domain. The on-chip regulator for the 1.2 V core requires its specified external capacitor on the VDDCORE pin - omitting it causes instability at 120 MHz. Verify brown-out threshold settings match your supply ramp; the integrated BOD and POR simplify sequencing but do not remove the need for a monotonic 3.3 V ramp.
The 100-pin LQFP (0.5 mm pitch, 14 x 14 mm) requires a solder-mask-defined land pattern per the package outline in the SAM4S datasheet; use non-solder-mask-defined pads only after stencil simulation. Route the USB D+/D- pair as 90-ohm differential, matched within 0.15 mm, and keep the pair away from the 12 MHz crystal (or chosen oscillator) and switching regulators. Provide a solid ground plane under the MCU and connect all VDDIO/GND pairs - do not share a single via pair for multiple ground pins.
Three recurring issues: (1) Flash size - 128 KB fills quickly with USB stacks and RTOS; design the board with the pin-compatible ATSAM4S8CA-AU as a documented alternative before layout freeze. (2) The USB port is Device-only - do not specify this part for host or OTG designs. (3) SAM3N drop-in (ATSAM3N2CA-AU) shares the footprint but lacks USB and Cortex-M4 DSP/FPU instructions - code using those features will not port. Also confirm operating-temperature suffix requirements for your environment when ordering.
Compliance Information
Mouser listing describes the part as GRN (green) MRL-compliant packaging (ALQFP GRN IND), indicating green/RoHS-type packaging, but formal RoHS/REACH declarations were not provided in the verified data - confirm via Microchip product page.