ATSAM4S4BB-MN - 120MHz Cortex-M4 MCU 256KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4S4BB-MN ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.79 | $4.79 |
| 10 | $4.35 | $43.50 |
| 100 | $3.62 | $362.00 |
| 500 | $2.95 | $1,475.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.8 | $1,800.00 |
ATSAM4S4BB-MN Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a processor core, memory, and peripherals such as ADCs, timers, and communication interfaces on one die. Within the embedded systems hierarchy, the SAM4S family belongs to the 32-bit ARM Cortex-M class of MCUs, positioned above 8-bit PIC devices and below application processors, and is used wherever deterministic real-time control and moderate DSP capability are required.
Key differentiating features include the Cortex-M4 core with DSP instructions and Thumb-2 instruction set, a Memory Protection Unit (MPU) for robust software partitioning, dual-bank Flash enabling safe in-application programming and firmware updates, ECC (error-correcting code) on Flash, plus Security Bit and Lock Bits for IP protection. The wide 1.62 V to 3.6 V supply range simplifies battery and industrial power design.
Architecturally, the SAM4S4B builds on the high-performance Cortex-M4 pipeline, which pairs the 32-bit core with single-cycle MAC and SIMD DSP instructions, accelerating filtering and control-loop mathematics beyond what a Cortex-M3 delivers. According to the Microchip SAM4S family datasheet (document 60001419B), the series also offers pin-to-pin compatibility with SAM4N, SAM3S, SAM3N and SAM7S devices, enabling easy migration within the portfolio and across the XAIPART catalog.
Typical applications include industrial control and automation nodes, consumer and medical devices, and embedded systems requiring USB connectivity and 12-bit ADC plus 12-bit DAC conversion. The 64-QFN footprint suits compact, thermally demanding PCB layouts.
When designing with this part, budget the Flash across the dual banks to allow background firmware updates without external memory, and use the MPU to isolate safety-critical tasks.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4S4BB-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 ATSAM4S4BB-MN (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, RoHS Status, Flash Memory, SRAM.
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 →ATSAM4S8BB-MU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4S16BB-MU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4S4BB-MNR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4S4BB-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 |
| DSP Instructions | Yes (single-cycle MAC, SIMD) |
| Memory Protection Unit | Yes (MPU) |
| Flash Features | Dual-bank, ECC, Security Bit, Lock Bits |
| ADC Resolution | 12-bit |
| DAC Resolution | 12-bit |
| Instruction Set | Thumb-2 |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (extended/industrial) |
| Package | 64-VFQFN Exposed Pad, 9x9 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (GREEN package per Mouser) |
| Number of Terminals | 64 |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial (per Partstack) |
ATSAM4S4BB-MN 64-vfqfn exposed pad, 9x9 mm Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4S4BB-MN (64-vfqfn exposed pad, 9x9 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 ATSAM4S4BB-MN.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4S4BB-MN is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control and Automation, USB-Connected Embedded Devices, Medical and Portable Diagnostics, Consumer Appliances and Smart Devices, Data Acquisition and Sensor Nodes, Motor Control and Power Conversion.
Industrial Control and Automation
Factory automation nodes, PLC I/O modules, and motor-control interfaces benefit from the ATSAM4S4BB-MN's 120 MHz Cortex-M4 core, whose single-cycle MAC and SIMD DSP instructions accelerate PID loops, digital filtering, and sensor-fusion math. The industrial -40C to +85C temperature grade and 1.62 V to 3.6 V supply tolerance survive electrically noisy factory floors, while Flash ECC protects code integrity against perturbations near drives and switchgear. The 12-bit ADC digitizes analog sensor channels directly, and the Memory Protection Unit isolates the safety-critical control task from communication stacks. Typical designs run a CAN or UART fieldbus link on hardware controllers, keeping CPU load low; dual-bank Flash permits field firmware updates without stopping the line. Ground the exposed QFN pad with a solid via array to conduct heat and EMI into the PCB plane.
Recommended
USB-Connected Embedded Devices
Devices that enumerate as USB peripherals - data loggers, custom HID instruments, and firmware-updateable field units - fit the ATSAM4S4BB-MN's integrated USB device controller, removing the need for an external USB interface chip. The 120 MHz core sustains full-speed USB throughput while simultaneously running application control loops, and the 64 KB SRAM buffers endpoint traffic alongside application data. Dual-bank 256 KB Flash is the key architectural fit: firmware can execute from one bank while the loader reprograms the other, enabling failsafe USB in-field updates that consumers increasingly expect. The 12-bit ADC supports on-board sensing of current, temperature, or user controls, and the Security Bit plus Lock Bits prevent readout of proprietary code on consumer products. A crystal-stabilized clock and the exposed-pad QFN's low-inductance ground return aid signal integrity on the USB differential pair.
Recommended
Medical and Portable Diagnostics
Battery-powered medical monitors and portable diagnostic instruments exploit the SAM4S4B's wide 1.62 V to 3.6 V operating range, allowing direct operation from a single Li-ion cell or two alkaline cells with brown-out supervision. The 12-bit ADC acquires physiological sensor signals, and the Cortex-M4's DSP instructions execute the notch and FIR filtering that clean baseline wander and mains interference in real time. Low-power modes documented in the SAM4S datasheet stretch battery life between measurements, while the Memory Protection Unit supports the task isolation that medical software architectures require. The 64-QFN 9x9 mm footprint keeps handheld PCB area small, and its exposed pad simplifies thermal management in sealed enclosures with no airflow. Flash ECC and Lock Bits protect both data integrity and embedded firmware IP on devices that remain in the field for years.
Recommended
Consumer Appliances and Smart Devices
Appliance control boards, thermostats, and connected home devices choose the ATSAM4S4BB-MN when a cost-optimized 32-bit platform is needed at production volumes - pricing at 1,000 units was around $1.80 as of 2026-09-20. The 120 MHz Cortex-M4 comfortably runs a graphics-lite UI, touch sensing, and a communication stack concurrently; the Thumb-2 instruction set keeps code density high within the 256 KB Flash budget. The 12-bit DAC can generate audible alerts or control references, and the ADC reads user controls and load-current feedback for safety shutoff logic. The GREEN, halogen-aware package designation aligns with consumer environmental compliance programs, and the SAM4S pin-to-pin compatibility with SAM3S/SAM7S parts lets a product family span price points on one PCB. Dual-bank Flash enables in-home firmware updates over the appliance's existing communication link.
Recommended
Data Acquisition and Sensor Nodes
Distributed sensor nodes and compact DAQ modules use the ATSAM4S4BB-MN's 12-bit ADC as the conversion backbone, sampling process variables and environmental channels while the Cortex-M4 core performs scaling, linearization, and threshold detection locally. The 64 KB SRAM buffers burst acquisitions for later transmission over UART, SPI, or I2C links, and the DMA controllers move samples without CPU intervention, keeping latency deterministic at high sample rates. On-board 12-bit DAC output provides stimulus for self-test or closed-loop actuation. Flash ECC ensures stored calibration constants remain intact across years of operation, important for nodes that are difficult to service. The industrial temperature rating and wide supply range tolerate unconditioned field power, and the compact 64-QFN (9x9 mm) package fits the form factor of DIN-rail and IP67 enclosure electronics.
Recommended
Motor Control and Power Conversion
Small motor drives - BLDC fans, pumps, and servo auxiliaries - pair the ATSAM4S4BB-MN's fast Cortex-M4 with its 12-bit ADC current-sense sampling and DSP instructions for the Clarke/Park transforms and PI current loops executed at multi-kHz rates. Deterministic interrupt latency from the 120 MHz core keeps PWM update timing tight, and hardware timers generate the complementary PWM outputs (via the peripheral set documented in the SAM4S datasheet) that drive three-phase gate drivers. Flash ECC protects the control firmware from the electrically noisy environment near switching power stages, and the Memory Protection Unit isolates the control loop from supervisory tasks. The exposed-pad QFN conducts switching-related heat into the PCB copper, and the -40C to +85C grade covers sealed drive enclosures.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4S4BB-MN — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4S4AA-MU | ATSAM4S2BB-MNR | ATSAM4S8BB-MU | ATSAM4S16BB-MU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-QFN (9x9 mm, exposed pad) | 64-QFN (9x9 mm) - same | 64-QFN (9x9 mm) - same | 64-QFN (9x9 mm) - same | 64-QFN (9x9 mm) - 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 | 128 KB | 128 KB | 512 KB | 1 MB |
| Flash Features | Dual-bank, ECC, Security Bit, Lock Bits | Dual-bank, ECC, Security Bit, Lock Bits | Dual-bank, ECC, Security Bit, Lock Bits | Dual-bank, ECC, Security Bit, Lock Bits | Dual-bank, ECC, Security Bit, Lock Bits |
| 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 |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| Relative Cost | $4.79 (qty 1, as of 2026-09-20) | Lower (128 KB Flash) | Lower (128 KB Flash) | Higher (512 KB Flash) | Highest (1 MB Flash) |
Key Differentiators
- Double the Flash of the value tier at the same footprint (vs ATSAM4S2BB-MNR)
- Downgrade path without redesign (vs ATSAM4S4AA-MU)
- Flash integrity and IP protection built in (vs Generic Cortex-M competitors)
Design Notes
Design the supply for 3.3 V nominal within the 1.62 V to 3.6 V SAM4S range. Place a 100 nF ceramic capacitor at each VDD/VDDIO pin pair plus one 4.7-10 uF bulk capacitor near the part; the exposed pad of the 64-QFN is the primary ground return and must be solidly tied to the ground plane with a via array. Estimated: at 120 MHz the SAM4S core current is on the order of tens of mA per the datasheet power table - verify against the current-consumption chapter of document 60001419B for your exact clock and peripheral configuration before finalizing the regulator budget.
Use the dual-bank Flash architecture deliberately: place the bootloader in one bank and the application in the other, with bank-swap logic validated for power-loss during erase/program, and rely on Flash ECC detection plus the Security Bit and Lock Bits to prevent both corruption-based faults and code readout. Do not run VDDCORE below the datasheet minimum while increasing PLL frequency, and confirm the brown-out detector is enabled in production fuses - a reset during Flash programming without supervision can corrupt a bank.
For the 64-QFN 9x9 mm package, define the land pattern per the package drawing in the SAM4S family datasheet with slightly elongated pads for self-alignment during reflow, and fill the exposed-pad aperture with a 3x3 or larger via array to ground. Keep the 12-bit ADC analog supply and reference routed away from switching nodes, add a ferrite bead plus local decoupling on VDDA, and guard ADC input traces. This mirrors Microchip's SAM4S evaluation-board layout practice and preserves the ADC's effective number of bits.
Compliance Information
Mouser lists the part with a GREEN package designation (RoHS/lead-free per Microchip standard policy). REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals status not stated in the provided data - verify on the Microchip product page.
