ATSAM4S4AB-MN - 120MHz Cortex-M4 MCU 256KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4S4AB-MN ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.79 | $4.79 |
| 10 | $4.42 | $44.20 |
| 100 | $4.1 | $410.00 |
| 500 | $3.82 | $1,910.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.55 | $3,550.00 |
ATSAM4S4AB-MN Overview
A microcontroller unit (MCU) integrates a processor core, memory, and peripherals on a single chip, sitting at the device level of the embedded-systems hierarchy: integrated circuit -> microcontroller -> embedded control system. The SAM4S series belongs to Microchip's (formerly Atmel) SMART ARM-based MCU family, positioned for cost-sensitive, high-performance embedded control.
Key features include the ARM Cortex-M4 core with DSP instructions and a single-cycle hardware MAC, a full-speed USB 2.0 Device port with embedded transceiver, a 12-bit ADC, and pin-to-pin compatibility with the SAM7S, SAM3S, SAM3N, and SAM4N MCU families. The device operates from a single 1.62V to 3.6V supply and supports Microchip QTouch capacitive touch technology natively.
Technically, the SAM4S integrates a flash accelerator and optional cache to sustain near-zero-wait-state execution at 120 MHz, plus a rich peripheral set covering UART/USART, SPI, TWI (I2C), PWM timers, and a real-time clock, enabling connectivity, system control, and analog interfacing in one chip.
Typical applications include industrial automation nodes, consumer appliances, motor control, USB-enabled sensing devices, and capacitive-touch human-machine interfaces where 120 MHz headroom and flash density up to 256 KB are required.
Design consideration: the 48-QFN exposed pad must be soldered to a grounded copper pour for thermal dissipation and signal integrity; plan decoupling capacitors on all VDDIO/VDDCORE pairs per the datasheet power scheme.
This page synthesizes verified distributor pricing, drop-in SAM4S family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4S4AB-MN — 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 ATSAM4S4AB-MN (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, RoHS Status, Flash Memory, Packaging.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4S4AA-MU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$5.79 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4S2BB-MNR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$3.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4S2AB-MNR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$0.98 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4S2CB-CNR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$3.53 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4S2AB-ANR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$3.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4S4AB-MN Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| Core Size | 32-bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB (256K x 8) |
| SRAM | 64 KB |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.62 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +105C |
| Package | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) Exposed Pad |
| Number of I/O | 34 |
| ADC Resolution | 12-bit |
| USB | Full-speed USB 2.0 Device port |
| Connectivity | USB, UART/USART, SPI, TWI (I2C) |
| Pin Compatibility | SAM7S, SAM3S, SAM3N, SAM4N families |
| Touch Support | Microchip QTouch capacitive touch |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
ATSAM4S4AB-MN 48-qfn (7x7 mm) exposed pad Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4S4AB-MN (48-qfn (7x7 mm) 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 ATSAM4S4AB-MN.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4S4AB-MN is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation Nodes, USB-Connected Sensing Devices, Capacitive Touch HMI Panels, Motor Control Systems, Consumer Appliance Control, IoT Sensor Endpoints.
Industrial Automation Nodes
The ATSAM4S4AB-MN fits factory automation and industrial control nodes because its -40C to +105C operating range and 120 MHz Cortex-M4 core with hardware DSP/MAC handle real-time control loops and protocol processing concurrently. Its 256 KB flash accommodates larger protocol stacks (Modbus, CAN-adjacent bridges via USART/SPI) without external memory. Placed on a 3.3V industrial rail with a 12-bit ADC sampling sensor inputs, it closes PID loops deterministically while USB or UART handles field configuration. The extended-temperature QFN package tolerates cabinet environments where consumer-grade MCUs derate, and pin compatibility with SAM4N/SAM3S allows PCB reuse across product tiers.
Recommended
USB-Connected Sensing Devices
The embedded full-speed USB 2.0 Device transceiver makes the ATSAM4S4AB-MN ideal for sensors and data loggers that plug directly into a PC or host controller without an external USB PHY. At 120 MHz with 256 KB flash, the MCU streams ADC samples over USB CDC/HID classes while performing filtering in the Cortex-M4 DSP instructions. Operating from 1.62V to 3.6V, it can run from bus power or a single Li-ion cell via a regulator. Typical implementations use a 12-bit ADC channel for the measurement path and USB bulk endpoints for data upload, achieving deterministic throughput without adding a separate USB interface chip.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch HMI Panels
The ATSAM4S4AB-MN natively supports Microchip QTouch capacitive touch technology, enabling buttons, sliders, and wheels to be implemented on the same PCB copper as the MCU without a dedicated touch controller. The 120 MHz Cortex-M4 processes touch acquisition and host communication simultaneously, while 256 KB flash leaves room for graphics-lite menus, EEPROM emulation, and protocol stacks. The 12-bit ADC also supports light sensors or battery gauges common in touch HMI products. QFN exposed-pad grounding keeps touch-sense noise low when the part is placed on a grounded pour per QTouch layout guidelines in the Microchip touch application notes.
Recommended
Motor Control Systems
With a single-cycle hardware MAC, DSP instructions, PWM timers, and a 12-bit ADC, the ATSAM4S4AB-MN executes field-oriented control (FOC) and sensorless commutation algorithms for BLDC/PMSM motors at 120 MHz. The Cortex-M4's fast interrupt latency supports tight current-loop periods, and the extended -40C to +105C rating suits motor-adjacent mounting in industrial drives and appliances. The 48-QFN footprint keeps gate-drive signal routing short on dense boards. Firmware executed from flash with the SAM4S cache accelerator maintains loop determinism, while the 64 KB SRAM provides headroom for state observers and current-signal conditioning buffers.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control
The ATSAM4S4AB-MN suits appliance control boards that combine user interfaces, sensor feedback, and connectivity in one chip: 120 MHz performance covers cooking-profile algorithms, 256 KB flash stores multiple recipes/modes plus bootloader, and QTouch support provides modern capacitive button/slider panels. The 1.62V-3.6V single-supply operation simplifies power design from 3.3V rails common on appliance PCBs. RoHS-compliant GREEN packaging meets global consumer regulations, and the QFN-48 footprint is cost-effective for mid-volume assembly. Pin compatibility with cheaper SAM4S2 parts lets product families share one PCB and populate down for base models, cutting inventory cost.
Recommended
IoT Sensor Endpoints
For battery-powered or line-powered IoT endpoints, the ATSAM4S4AB-MN combines a 120 MHz Cortex-M4 for local data processing (edge filtering, simple inference via DSP instructions) with USART/SPI/TWI links to radios and sensors. The 256 KB flash stores TLS-capable stacks or OTA bootloader images with room to spare, and 64 KB SRAM buffers sample bursts between radio transmissions. The part runs from 1.62V, compatible with single-cell lithium supply rails through a low-dropout regulator, and sleep/peripheral-clock-gating modes in the SAM4S power architecture reduce average current for long field battery life in monitoring and tracking products.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4S4AB-MN — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4S4AA-MU | ATSAM4S2BB-MNR | ATSAM4S2AB-MNR | ATSAM4S2CB-CNR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) EP | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) EP - same | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) EP - same | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) EP - same | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) EP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core / Speed | ARM Cortex-M4, 120 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 120 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 120 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 120 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 1.62 V to 3.6 V | 1.62 V to 3.6 V | 1.62 V to 3.6 V | 1.62 V to 3.6 V | 1.62 V to 3.6 V |
| USB Device Port | Full-speed USB 2.0 Device (embedded) | Full-speed USB 2.0 Device | Full-speed USB 2.0 Device | Full-speed USB 2.0 Device | Full-speed USB 2.0 Device |
Key Differentiators
- Full 256 KB flash on the 48-QFN footprint (vs ATSAM4S2BB-MNR)
- Extended -40C to +105C temperature grade (vs ATSAM4S4AA-MU)
- Family pin compatibility enables cost-down migration (vs ATSAM4S2AB-MNR)
Design Notes
The 48-QFN exposed pad (EP) must be connected to a solid ground pour on the PCB. Recommended practice is a 3x3 or larger via array under the pad to the ground plane, which provides both the primary thermal path for the 120 MHz core and the low-inductance ground return needed for USB signal integrity. Keep the SWD debug traces (SWDIO/SWCLK) short and route away from the 12 MHz crystal and USB differential pair.
The SAM4S uses separate VDDIO and VDDCORE/VDDCPU supply pins on a single 1.62V-3.6V input. Place 100 nF ceramic decoupling on every supply pin, positioned within 2 mm of the pin, plus 4.7-10 uF bulk per rail. Follow the datasheet power-domain diagram for exact pin assignments; omitting a decoupling capacitor on VDDCORE is a common cause of brownout at 120 MHz operation. Estimated: worst-case core dissipation at 120 MHz remains well within the QFN-48 EP thermal capability with a grounded pour.
Flash capacity is the key trap when substituting: SAM4S2 drop-in variants provide only 128 KB versus 256 KB on the ATSAM4S4AB. Check the linker map against 128 KB (including bootloader reserve) before qualifying a substitution. Also, the -MN order code denotes the extended-temperature, GREEN QFN variant - do not confuse it with -AN/-AU package codes, which are different pinouts (64-pin) and NOT drop-in despite being the same silicon family.
Compliance Information
ROHS compliant per JLCPCB listing; GREEN QFN finish per Mouser. Abacus lists REACH compliant and DRC Conflict Free for the ATSAM4S4AB family.