ATSAM4S4BB-MNR - 120MHz Cortex-M4 MCU 256KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4S4BB-MNR ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.86 | $1.86 |
| 10 | $1.76 | $17.60 |
| 100 | $1.61 | $161.00 |
| 500 | $1.48 | $740.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.38 | $1,380.00 |
ATSAM4S4BB-MNR Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip embedded processor that integrates a CPU core, program memory, data memory, and peripherals on one die, forming the lowest tier of the embedded-computing hierarchy (MCU -> embedded processor -> system-on-chip). The SAM4S family is part of Microchip's ARM-based SAM portfolio, positioned for general-purpose mid-range embedded control applications.
Key features of the ATSAM4S4B include the ARM Cortex-M4 core with Memory Protection Unit (MPU), DSP instructions, and the Thumb-2 instruction set; 256 Kbytes of embedded Flash with ECC, Security Bit and Lock Bits; 64 Kbytes of SRAM; and dual-bank Flash enabling safe in-application firmware updates. Supply voltage spans 1.62V to 3.6V, supporting both coin-cell and USB-powered designs.
Architecturally, the Cortex-M4 pipeline with DSP extensions accelerates filter and control-loop math, while the dual-bank Flash plus ECC improves field-update robustness and data integrity in noise-prone industrial environments. According to the Microchip SAM4S family datasheet (document 60001419B), the SAM4S series offers pin-to-pin compatibility with SAM4N, SAM3S, SAM3N and SAM7S devices, simplifying migration within the portfolio.
Typical applications include industrial control and automation nodes, consumer and portable devices, and USB-connected sensor bridges where the full-speed USB Device port and 120 MHz compute headroom reduce bill-of-material complexity.
Design consideration: keep VDDIN within the 1.62V to 3.6V range and decouple VDDCORE/VDDOUT per the SAM4S datasheet power-tree; the 9x9 mm QFN requires an exposed-pad ground connection for thermal and signal-integrity performance.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, family drop-in alternatives, and practical design guidance not consolidated on the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4S4BB-MNR — 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-MNR (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, RoHS Status, SRAM, Flash Features.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4S2BB-MNR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$3.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAM4S4BB-MNR 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 |
| Memory Protection Unit | Yes (MPU) |
| DSP Instructions | Yes |
| Instruction Set | Thumb-2 |
| Flash Features | Dual-bank, ECC, Security Bit, Lock Bits |
| USB | Full-speed USB Device port |
| Package | 64-QFN (9x9 mm), HVQCCN |
| Number of Terminals | 64 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial |
| Package Shape | Square, No-Lead |
| Pin Compatibility | SAM4S / SAM4N / SAM3S / SAM3N / SAM7S series (per Microchip datasheet 60001419B) |
ATSAM4S4BB-MNR square, no-lead Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATSAM4S4BB-MNR (square, no-lead 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-MNR.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATSAM4S4BB-MNR is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control and Automation, USB-Connected Sensor Bridges, Portable and Battery-Powered Devices, Motor Control and Digital Power, Consumer and IoT Edge Nodes, Medical and Diagnostic Instrumentation.
Industrial Control and Automation
The ATSAM4S4BB-MNR fits industrial control nodes where deterministic 120 MHz Cortex-M4 execution and 64 KB of SRAM support control loops, protocol stacks, and local decision logic. The Memory Protection Unit partitions firmware tasks, while the DSP instructions accelerate PID filtering and FFT-based condition monitoring. The 1.62V to 3.6V supply range tolerates industrial rail fluctuation after regulation. Used as the main controller on a 3.3V rail with UART/CAN-class peripheral interfacing and SPI-attached I/O expanders, it consolidates logic that would otherwise need a separate DSP. Dual-bank Flash with ECC enables field firmware updates without bricking remote nodes, a decisive benefit in installed industrial bases where physical access is costly.
Recommended
USB-Connected Sensor Bridges
With its embedded full-speed USB Device port, the ATSAM4S4BB-MNR excels as a USB sensor bridge that packages analog or digital sensor data into CDC/HID streams for host PCs. The 120 MHz core services USB interrupts while concurrently running ADC sampling and DSP post-processing (averaging, windowing) in the 64 KB SRAM buffer pool. Placed directly on the 3.3V USB-derived supply with VBUS sensing, it eliminates an external USB interface chip. The Security Bit and Lock Bits protect vendor calibration data, and ECC on Flash maintains data integrity across frequent host-initiated reconfiguration cycles in laboratory and test-bench environments.
Recommended
Portable and Battery-Powered Devices
The ATSAM4S4BB-MNR suits portable designs through its 1.62V to 3.6V single-supply operation, which runs directly from a single lithium cell via an LDO, and the 64-pin 9x9 mm QFN that conserves board area. Dual-bank Flash allows a field updater to stage new firmware while preserving the user's configuration. Typical usage places the MCU in a low-power standby between user interactions, waking on interrupts to run 120 MHz burst processing - audio cues, display refresh, sensor fusion - then returning to sleep. Estimated power budgeting should use datasheet power-consumption tables rather than assumptions, as current draw depends strongly on clock gating discipline.
Recommended
Motor Control and Digital Power
The Cortex-M4 DSP instruction set and single-cycle MAC make the ATSAM4S4BB-MNR effective for digital power and small motor control: FOC (field-oriented control) inner loops at 120 MHz leave timing margin for PWM updates and protection routines. The 64 KB SRAM accommodates current-loop histories, control-law state, and communication buffers simultaneously. Firmware typically runs the control ISR at 10-20 kHz from Flash with wait-state tuning, while the MPU isolates safety-critical control code from the user interface task. Dual-bank Flash lets field units receive revised control firmware safely, and ECC guards against bit-flips in high-EMI inverter environments.
Recommended
Consumer and IoT Edge Nodes
For consumer IoT edge nodes, the ATSAM4S4BB-MNR provides compute headroom for sensor aggregation plus lightweight encryption routines on a single 3.3V rail, keeping the BOM to one main IC plus a radio module. The 256 KB Flash holds application firmware, a bootloader, and over-the-air update staging in the second bank; 64 KB SRAM buffers network payloads and sensor histories. A typical node couples this MCU with a Wi-Fi or BLE module over UART/SPI, samples environmental sensors on ADC/timers, and sleeps between reporting intervals. The Security Bit and Lock Bits add firmware IP protection relevant to branded consumer products against cloning.
Recommended
Medical and Diagnostic Instrumentation
In benchtop and portable medical diagnostics, the ATSAM4S4BB-MNR processes sensor front-end data using Cortex-M4 DSP instructions (FIR filters, calibration math) while its 64 KB SRAM holds acquisition records before upload over the full-speed USB Device port. The MPU supports partitioning of measurement firmware from UI tasks, aiding structured software validation workflows. ECC-protected Flash and Lock Bits protect both data integrity and embedded calibration/algorithms. Designs typically clock the MCU at a moderate frequency to manage radiated emissions in clinical settings, using the wide 1.62V to 3.6V input range behind a precision LDO for analog supply cleanliness.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4S4BB-MNR — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4S2BB-MNR |
|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-QFN (9x9 mm) | 64-QFN (9x9 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core / Max Frequency | ARM Cortex-M4, 120 MHz | ARM Cortex-M4, 120 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB (dual-bank, ECC) | 128 KB (dual-bank, ECC) |
| Supply Voltage | 1.62 V to 3.6 V | 1.62 V to 3.6 V |
| USB Device Port | Full-speed USB Device | Full-speed USB Device |
Key Differentiators
- 256 KB dual-bank Flash with ECC (vs ATSAM4S2BB-MNR)
- Cortex-M4 with DSP instructions and MPU (vs ATSAM4S2BB-MNR)
- Portfolio migration path (vs ATSAM4S2BB-MNR)
Design Notes
The 64-pin 9x9 mm QFN has an exposed thermal/electrical pad that must be soldered to a ground array of vias on the PCB. Connect all VDDIO, VDDCORE, and GND pins per the SAM4S datasheet power tree; place 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitors within 2 mm of each supply pin and a bulk 10 uF capacitor near VDDIN. For the VDDOUT (core regulator output) pin, fit the datasheet-specified output capacitor - omitting it can cause core supply instability during 120 MHz flash-write operations.
The ATSAM4S4BB-MNR operates from a single 1.62V to 3.6V supply, but performance and flash timing are specified across that whole window only within the operating frequency derating rules of the SAM4S datasheet. If running at the full 120 MHz, verify the datasheet's VDDCORE configuration and use the internal regulator mode rather than driving VDDCORE externally unless the datasheet external-supply mode is followed exactly. Brown-out should be enabled so dual-bank Flash writes never occur during a sagging supply.
Do not assume all SAM4S package suffixes share one footprint: -MNR is 64-QFN (9x9 mm) while -ANR is the LQFP-64 variant - they are electrically equivalent but require different land patterns. Also, the SAM4S family datasheet (60001419B) covers SAM4S2 through SAM4SD32; always filter memory maps and pin functions for the 64-pin QFN variant before finalizing the pin assignment table, since higher pin-count members expose additional peripheral functions on ports that this part ties off.
Compliance Information
Matte-tin lead-free finish implied by -MNR suffix per Microchip package nomenclature; industrial temperature grade per Partstack attribute data. Formal RoHS/REACH certificate should be confirmed via Microchip Material Declaration.
