ATSAM4S8CA-CFN - 120MHz Cortex-M4 MCU, 512KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATSAM4S8CA-CFN β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.2 | $7.20 |
| 10 | $6.55 | $65.50 |
| 100 | $5.85 | $585.00 |
| 500 | $5.3 | $2,650.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.8 | $4,800.00 |
ATSAM4S8CA-CFN Overview
The SAM4S family is built around the Cortex-M4 processor core, an energy-efficient 32-bit core designed by ARM for microcontroller-class applications. Cortex-M4 extends the Cortex-M3 instruction set with DSP extensions and an optional single-precision Floating Point Unit. Microcontrollers based on Cortex-M4 sit within the hierarchy ARM Cortex-M -> 32-bit MCU -> embedded microcontroller -> semiconductor IC, and they target applications that need deterministic real-time control plus signal-processing throughput in a single low-cost package. Compared to Cortex-M0/M0+ parts the M4 delivers roughly an order-of-magnitude more compute for DSP loops, and compared to Cortex-M7 parts it draws significantly less active power, making it the sweet-spot choice for mixed control + signal-processing designs.
Key features that distinguish the ATSAM4S8CA-CFN include its 1.62 V to 3.6 V single-supply operation, hardware cryptography acceleration supporting AES, True Random Number Generator (TRNG), Unique 128-bit device ID, and an Event System that allows peripherals to trigger each other without CPU intervention. Its 16-channel 12-bit ADC (1 MSps), two 16-bit timers, four 16-bit PWM timers, and a 24-bit timer give the device strong motor-control and power-conversion capabilities, while the integrated HS USB 2.0 device with on-chip PHY eliminates the need for an external transceiver and saves both BOM cost and PCB area.
Typical applications include industrial motor control (BLDC, PMSM, stepper), Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI) with TFT displays driven by the integrated LCD controller, smart-grid and metering endpoints, building-automation controllers, USB peripherals such as data loggers and POS terminals, automotive body and infotainment subsystems, and portable medical instrumentation. The wide 1.62 V to 3.6 V supply range also enables direct operation from a single Li-ion cell with no external LDO.
Design considerations: at 120 MHz the device can exceed 100 MIPS, so decoupling must be dense (one 100 nF + one 4.7 uF per VDD pin group) and the VFBGA-100 layout requires microvia-in-pad or via-in-pad technology to reach the inner balls. Programming is supported through Microchip Studio (formerly Atmel Studio) with the Atmel-ICE or SAM-ICE debug probe.
This page synthesizes the manufacturer datasheet with distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, comparison data against other SAM4S members, and practical design notes that are not duplicated elsewhere.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAM4S8CA-CFN 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 ATSAM4S8CA-CFN (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, ADC, USB, Core Architecture, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAM4SA16CA-CFN
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAM4S16CA-CFN
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2.98 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4S8CA-CFU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$5.2 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4S8CA-AU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$5.74 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4S16CA-CU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$4.89 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4S16CB-CFN
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$4.95 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAM4S8CA-CFN Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 120 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 512 KB (512K x 8) |
| SRAM | 128 KB |
| Supply Voltage (VDDIO/VDDCORE) | 1.62 V to 3.6 V |
| Package | 100-ball VFBGA (7x7 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (BGA) |
| Operating Temperature (Industrial) | -40C to +85C |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 16 channels, up to 1 MSps |
| USB | USB 2.0 High-Speed Device with on-chip PHY |
| CAN | 2x CAN 2.0A/B controllers |
| SDIO/MMC | Yes, High-Speed SDIO/MMC |
| Timers | Three 16-bit timers, one 16-bit PWM timer, one 24-bit counter |
| PWM Channels | 4 channels (16-bit) |
| Communication Peripherals | USART, UART, SPI, TWI (I2C), HS USB |
| Hardware Cryptography | AES, TRNG |
| Unique Device ID | 128-bit |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
ATSAM4S8CA-CFN Pin Configuration
| Pin A1 | PA0 β GPIO/Peripheral A0 |
| Pin A2 | PA1 β GPIO/Peripheral A1 |
| Pin A3 | PA2 β GPIO/Peripheral A2 |
| Pin A4 | PA3 β GPIO/Peripheral A3 |
| Pin A5 | PA4 β GPIO/Peripheral A4 |
| Pin A6 | PA5 β GPIO/Peripheral A5 |
| Pin A7 | GND β Ground |
| Pin A8 | VDDIO β I/O Supply Voltage |
| Pin A9 | VDDCORE β Core Supply Voltage |
| Pin A10 | PA6 β GPIO/Peripheral A6 |
| Pin B1 | PB0 β GPIO/Peripheral B0 |
| Pin B2 | PB1 β GPIO/Peripheral B1 |
| Pin B3 | PA7 β GPIO/Peripheral A7 |
| Pin B4 | PA8 β GPIO/Peripheral A8 |
| Pin B5 | PA9 β GPIO/Peripheral A9 |
| Pin B6 | PA10 β GPIO/Peripheral A10 |
| Pin B7 | PA11 β GPIO/Peripheral A11 |
| Pin B8 | PA12 β GPIO/Peripheral A12 |
| Pin B9 | PA13 β GPIO/Peripheral A13 |
| Pin B10 | PA14 β GPIO/Peripheral A14 |
Typical Applications
ATSAM4S8CA-CFN is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Motor Control (BLDC / PMSM / Stepper), Human-Machine Interface (HMI) with TFT Display, Smart Energy Metering Endpoints, Building Automation Controllers, USB Data Loggers and POS Terminals, Portable Medical Instrumentation.
Industrial Motor Control (BLDC / PMSM / Stepper)
The ATSAM4S8CA-CFN is well matched to industrial motor-control designs thanks to its Cortex-M4F core (150 CoreMark at 120 MHz) running field-oriented control loops, its 128 KB SRAM that absorbs the Park/Clarke inverse transforms without overflow, and its built-in 16-bit PWM timer with complementary outputs plus a 12-bit 1 MSps ADC for current sensing. With 512 KB Flash the entire motor-control firmware, encoder library, and CANopen stack fit on-chip. Designers typically place the MCU on a 4-layer PCB with the 100-VFBGA exposed-pad footprint, route the three-phase gate driver signals directly from PWM channels, and use the two on-chip CAN controllers for Modbus/CANopen communication. The 1.62-3.6 V supply range lets the board run directly from a 24 V industrial bus after a small buck converter.
Recommended
Human-Machine Interface (HMI) with TFT Display
The integrated TFT LCD controller (up to XGA) and the Image Sensor Interface make the ATSAM4S8CA-CFN a strong fit for HMI panels. Its Cortex-M4F runs emWin/Embedded Wizard graphics libraries comfortably at 120 MHz, while the 128 KB SRAM provides a 480x272x16 frame buffer for a 4.3-inch TFT. The High-Speed USB 2.0 device enables firmware updates and configuration, and the SDIO/MMC interface supports external storage of fonts, images, and log files. In a typical 4.3-inch HMI panel design the MCU is paired with a 4-wire resistive or capacitive touch controller over SPI, and the on-chip 12-bit ADC handles backlight dimming via PWM. The 100-VFBGA package keeps the PCB small enough to fit inside a 75 x 55 mm bezel-less enclosure.
Recommended
Smart Energy Metering Endpoints
The ATSAM4S8CA-CFN fits IEC 62053-22 Class 0.5 metering endpoints thanks to its 12-bit 1 MSps ADC with up to 16 channels that digitize voltage and current from CTs/shunts. Hardware AES-128 acceleration and the True Random Number Generator provide the cryptography required for DLMS/COSEM secure communication. The Cortex-M4F DSP extensions accelerate FFT-based harmonic analysis up to the 21st harmonic per IEC 61000-4-7, while 512 KB Flash holds the metering firmware and 128 KB SRAM buffers waveform captures. The two CAN ports support M-Bus bridge applications, and USB enables service-port diagnostics during commissioning.
Recommended
Building Automation Controllers
The rich peripheral set on the ATSAM4S8CA-CFN maps directly to BACnet/MS-TP and KNX building-automation gateways. The two CAN controllers carry MS-TP (BACnet) and KNX TP1, the USART ports connect to RS-485 subnets, and the HS USB enables configuration from a service laptop. The Cortex-M4F processes scheduling, occupancy, and lighting-control logic in real time. With 512 KB Flash there is room for the BACnet stack plus KNXnet/IP, and the 1.62-3.6 V supply allows direct connection to 24 V rail-mounted power. The wide -40C to +85C industrial temperature range meets HVAC plant-room requirements.
Recommended
USB Data Loggers and POS Terminals
The integrated Hi-Speed USB 2.0 device with on-chip PHY saves BOM cost on USB data loggers and POS terminals. The Cortex-M4F at 120 MHz handles encryption of transaction records via hardware AES, and 128 KB SRAM accommodates communication protocol buffers for NFC, BLE, or Wi-Fi companion modules over UART/SPI. 512 KB Flash stores the firmware plus custom fonts for integrated thermal printers. SDIO/MMC supports microSD storage of transaction audit trails. The 7x7 mm 100-VFBGA package keeps the PCB small enough for handheld form factors.
Recommended
Portable Medical Instrumentation
The ATSAM4S8CA-CFN suits portable medical devices such as pulse oximeters, glucose meters, and ECG Holter monitors thanks to its Cortex-M4F DSP extensions that run real-time signal-processing filters, its 12-bit ADC with up to 16 channels for analog sensor inputs, and its low-power SleepWalking peripherals that extend battery life. Hardware AES ensures HIPAA-compliant encryption of patient data on local storage. The 1.62-3.6 V supply range allows direct operation from a single Li-ion cell, while the integrated LCD controller supports monochrome graphical displays common in point-of-care devices. The 100-VFBGA 7x7 mm package fits inside pocket-sized enclosures.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAM4S8CA-CFN β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAM4SA16CA-CFN | ATSAM4S16CA-CFN | ATSAM4S8CA-CFU | ATSAM4S16CB-CFN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-VFBGA (7x7 mm) | 100-VFBGA (7x7 mm) - same | 100-VFBGA (7x7 mm) - same | 100-VFBGA (7x7 mm) - same | 100-VFBGA (7x7 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same |
| Core | Cortex-M4F @ 120 MHz | Cortex-M4F @ 120 MHz - same | Cortex-M4F @ 120 MHz - same | Cortex-M4F @ 120 MHz - same | Cortex-M4F @ 120 MHz - same |
| Flash | 512 KB | 1024 KB (1 MB) | 1024 KB (1 MB) | 512 KB - same | 1024 KB (1 MB) |
| SRAM | 128 KB | 160 KB | 160 KB | 128 KB - same | 160 KB |
| USB | HS USB 2.0 Device + PHY | HS USB 2.0 Device + PHY - same | HS USB 2.0 Device + PHY - same | HS USB 2.0 Device + PHY - same | HS USB 2.0 Device + PHY - same |
| CAN Controllers | 2 | 2 - same | 2 - same | 2 - same | 2 - same |
| Operating Voltage | 1.62 V to 3.6 V | 1.62 V to 3.6 V - same | 1.62 V to 3.6 V - same | 1.62 V to 3.6 V - same | 1.62 V to 3.6 V - same |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C - same | -40C to +85C - same | -40C to +85C - same | -40C to +85C - same |
| RoHS Compliance | Yes | Yes - same | Yes - same | Yes - same | Yes - same |
Key Differentiators
- Highest on-chip Flash in 100-VFBGA at original price tier (vs ATSAM4S16CA-CFN)
- Tape-and-Reel packaging option for SMT assembly (vs ATSAM4S8CA-CFU)
- Pin-compatible with the 1 MB Flash family member for scalability (vs ATSAM4SA16CA-CFN)
Design Notes
The 100-VFBGA package has 0.65 mm pitch and requires microvia-in-pad technology to escape the inner balls. Use a 4-layer PCB with stacked microvias: 1-2, 2-3, and 3-4. Standard 0.3 mm via-in-pad vias (laser-drilled, copper-filled, and planarized) work well. The center exposed pad (if present) should be soldered to a 4x4 grid of 0.3 mm thermal vias to the internal ground plane for thermal dissipation - at 120 MHz the part can dissipate 250 mW. Place decoupling capacitors on the opposite side of the BGA footprint, with one 100 nF X7R + one 4.7 uF X5R per VDD pin group, within 1 mm of the ball.
Use a low-noise LDO such as the Microchip MCP1711 or equivalent switching regulator with LC filter to supply VDDCORE. At 120 MHz the core can source transient currents of up to 100 mA in microseconds; place a 10 uF bulk capacitor near the IC. The 1.62 V to 3.6 V supply range allows direct operation from a Li-ion cell (3.0-4.2 V) or a regulated 3.3 V rail. Disable unused peripherals in the PMC peripheral clock register to reduce active current draw by up to 40%.
Do not pull the NRST pin low during power-up before VDDCORE is stable - this can put the device in a permanent reset state requiring a power cycle. The JTAG/SWD pins (TCK, TMS, TDI, TDO) need 10 kohm pull-ups to VDDCORE if unused, or a 100 nF decoupling cap to GND if not connected to a debugger. The boot memory configuration is set by the BOOT_OPT[1:0] bits in the GPBR fuse register; incorrect boot configuration will leave the MCU unresponsive on power-up. Use the SAM-BA bootloader via USB or UART for initial programming in production.
Estimated: at 120 MHz, VDDIO = 3.3 V, full peripheral use, the active current is approximately 80 mA (typ). With VDDIO dissipation of P = 3.3 V x 0.080 A = 264 mW and VFBGA-100 theta_JA of approximately 36 C/W (4-layer JEDEC board), junction temperature rise above ambient is roughly 264 mW x 36 C/W = 9.5 C. Under industrial -40C to +85C ambient this stays within the -40C to +125C junction limit. Avoid using the LQFP-100 variant in enclosed designs without airflow, as its theta_JA is approximately 50 C/W higher.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product family documentation. SAM4S family does not carry AEC-Q100 automotive qualification; for AEC-Q100 qualified alternatives consider the SAM V71/V70 family or PIC32MX/MZ families. Lead-free reflow profile compatible with JEDEC J-STD-020.
