ATSAML11D15A-MFKPH - 32KB Flash Cortex-M23 MCU | Microchip
MPN: ATSAML11D15A-MFKPH ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.85 | $2.85 |
| 10 | $2.56 | $25.60 |
| 100 | $2.27 | $227.00 |
| 500 | $2.04 | $1,020.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.81 | $1,810.00 |
| 3,000 | $1.55 | $4,650.00 |
ATSAML11D15A-MFKPH Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (Flash), data memory (SRAM), and peripherals such as timers, communication controllers, and analog blocks. The SAM L11 family sits at the top of Microchip's low-power MCU hierarchy: Cortex-M23 -> ARMv8-M baseline architecture -> 32-bit microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor. It is designed for battery-powered and secure IoT endpoints where both energy budget and tamper resistance are critical.
Key features include ARM TrustZone for hardware-isolated secure/non-secure code regions, secure key storage, chip-level tamper resistance, an Enhanced Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) for capacitive touch, and integrated AES/SHA crypto accelerators. The 24-pin VQFN-24 package provides a compact 4x4 mm footprint suited for space-constrained sensor nodes and wearables. The MCU also includes a 12-bit ADC, multiple SERCOM interfaces configurable as UART/SPI/I2C, and a Self-Programming Flash controller for field updates.
The Cortex-M23 core implements the ARMv8-M baseline instruction set with TrustZone-M extensions and a single-cycle hardware multiply. Microchip's SAM L11 architecture partitions the bus matrix into secure and non-secure address spaces enforced by the IDAU (Implementation Defined Attribution Unit), enabling a small secure bootloader to gate access to cryptographic keys. This isolates provisioning secrets from the main application firmware, a configuration typically reserved for parts costing 2-3x more.
Typical applications include secure IoT sensor nodes, smart meters, medical wearable patches, industrial HMI with capacitive touch, secure payment terminals, and authenticated firmware-update dongles. The combination of TrustZone, hardware crypto, sub-100 nA sleep, and 32 KB Flash targets designs that need defense-in-depth without a discrete secure element.
When designing with the SAM L11, place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 2 mm of each VDD pin and a 4.7 uF bulk capacitor on the main supply rail. The Enhanced PTC requires careful PCB trace routing - keep touch electrodes on a dedicated layer with a ground hatch. Use Atmel START or MPLAB X with the Harmony 3 framework to configure TrustZone attribution and the CryptoCell accelerator properly, otherwise secure boot may fail silently.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives across the SAM L10/L11 family, and practical TrustZone configuration notes not found in a single datasheet chapter.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAML11D15A-MFKPH — 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 ATSAML11D15A-MFKPH (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, Communication Interfaces, Core, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAML11D16A-MFKPH
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAML11E15A-MFKPH
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAML11D15A-MFTKPH
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.72 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAML11D14A-MUT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAML10E16A-MF
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.21 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAML11D15A-MUKPH
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATSAML11D15A-MFKPH Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-M23 (ARMv8-M Baseline with TrustZone-M) |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 32 MHz |
| Program Flash | 32 KB (32K x 8) |
| SRAM | 8 KB |
| Operating Voltage | 1.62 V to 3.63 V |
| Package | 24-pin VQFN (4x4 mm) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C |
| Active Current | < 25 uA/MHz |
| Sleep Current | < 100 nA |
| Security | ARM TrustZone-M, secure key storage, tamper resistance |
| Crypto Accelerator | Hardware AES, SHA, TRNG |
| Touch Controller | Enhanced Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) |
| Communication Interfaces | SERCOM (configurable UART/SPI/I2C) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
ATSAML11D15A-MFKPH Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Digital supply voltage (1.62V-3.63V) |
| Pin 2 | PA02 — GPIO / ADC input |
| Pin 3 | PA03 — GPIO / ADC reference |
| Pin 4 | PA04 — GPIO / SERCOM0 |
| Pin 5 | PA05 — GPIO / SERCOM0 |
| Pin 6 | PA06 — GPIO / SERCOM0 |
| Pin 7 | PA07 — GPIO / SERCOM0 |
| Pin 8 | VDDIO — I/O supply voltage |
| Pin 9 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 10 | PA08 — GPIO / PTC Y-line |
| Pin 11 | PA09 — GPIO / PTC Y-line |
| Pin 12 | PA10 — GPIO / PTC X-line |
| Pin 13 | PA11 — GPIO / PTC X-line |
| Pin 14 | PA14 — GPIO / PTC X-line |
| Pin 15 | PA15 — GPIO / PTC X-line |
| Pin 16 | PA16 — GPIO / SERCOM1 I2C |
| Pin 17 | PA17 — GPIO / SERCOM1 I2C |
| Pin 18 | PA18 — GPIO / SERCOM1 |
| Pin 19 | PA19 — GPIO / SERCOM1 |
| Pin 20 | PA22 — GPIO / SERCOM2 |
| Pin 21 | PA23 — GPIO / SERCOM2 |
| Pin 22 | PA27 — GPIO |
| Pin 23 | RESET — Reset input (active low) |
| Pin 24 | SWDIO — Serial Wire Debug I/O |
| Pin 25 | SWCLK — Serial Wire Debug Clock |
| Pin 26 | EP — Exposed pad - thermal pad, must be soldered to ground plane |
Typical Applications
ATSAML11D15A-MFKPH is suitable for 6 applications: Secure IoT Sensor Node, Smart Meter with Tamper Detection, Medical Wearable Patch, Industrial HMI with Capacitive Touch, Authenticated Firmware Update Dongle, Secure Payment Terminal Accessory.
Secure IoT Sensor Node
The ATSAML11D15A-MFKPH's ARM TrustZone-M and integrated AES/SHA hardware crypto make it ideal for secure IoT sensor nodes that must authenticate to cloud gateways and resist physical tampering. The MCU consumes less than 25 uA/MHz in active mode and drops below 100 nA in sleep, extending coin-cell battery life to multi-year durations. Placed as the main application processor with a 32.768 kHz external crystal for RTC, it can encrypt sensor payloads via hardware AES before transmission over a paired radio module.
Recommended
Smart Meter with Tamper Detection
Smart electricity and water meters require chip-level tamper resistance combined with cryptographic authentication to prevent fraud. The ATSAML11D15A-MFKPH provides secure key storage in a tamper-resistant region, hardware-accelerated SHA-256 for signing meter readings, and ARM TrustZone to isolate the metrology firmware from the communications stack. The 32 KB Flash holds both the secure bootloader and the non-secure application. Operates from 1.62V-3.63V, directly compatible with battery-backed metering rails.
Recommended
Medical Wearable Patch
Medical wearable patches for continuous glucose monitoring or heart-rate telemetry demand ultra-low sleep current and secure data handling for HIPAA compliance. The ATSAML11D15A-MFKPH's sub-100 nA sleep current preserves the small LiPo battery over weeks of operation, while TrustZone isolates patient health data encryption from the main application. The 24-pin VQFN (4x4 mm) footprint fits within the compact form factor of disposable patches. The Enhanced PTC enables skin-contact capacitive touch for user activation.
Recommended
Industrial HMI with Capacitive Touch
Industrial human-machine interfaces (HMIs) increasingly rely on capacitive touch for sealed front panels that resist dust and moisture. The ATSAML11D15A-MFKPH integrates the Enhanced Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) supporting mutual capacitance and self-capacitance sensing with hardware noise cancellation. The 32 KB Flash holds both the touch algorithm and HMI logic, with TrustZone securing calibration parameters from field tampering. Operates from -40 C to +125 C for factory-floor environments.
Recommended
Authenticated Firmware Update Dongle
Secure firmware-update dongles attach to legacy industrial equipment via USB or serial and require cryptographic authentication to prevent unauthorized code injection. The ATSAML11D15A-MFKPH runs a TrustZone-isolated secure bootloader that verifies signed firmware images via hardware SHA-256 before allowing flash updates. The 32 KB Flash accommodates both the bootloader and a small staging area. Hardware TRNG supports cryptographic key generation for one-time-pad updates.
Recommended
Secure Payment Terminal Accessory
PIN-pad accessories and mobile payment terminals require PCI PTS-compliant key storage with hardware isolation. The ATSAML11D15A-MFKPH's TrustZone-M partitions the 32 KB Flash into a secure region for PIN handling and a non-secure region for application logic, eliminating software-only attack surfaces. The hardware AES accelerator encrypts transaction payloads in microseconds, minimizing user-perceived latency. Operates from 2.7V-3.63V typical for Li-ion powered handheld terminals.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAML11D15A-MFKPH — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAML11D16A-MFKPH | ATSAML11E15A-MFKPH | ATSAML11D15A-MFTKPH | ATSAML11D14A-MUT | ATSAML10E16A-MF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | VQFN-24 (4x4 mm) | VQFN-24 (4x4 mm) - same | VQFN-24 (4x4 mm) - same | VQFN-24 (4x4 mm) - same | VQFN-24 (4x4 mm) - same | VQFN-24 (4x4 mm) - same |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M23 with TrustZone-M | ARM Cortex-M23 with TrustZone-M | ARM Cortex-M23 with TrustZone-M | ARM Cortex-M23 with TrustZone-M | ARM Cortex-M23 with TrustZone-M | ARM Cortex-M23 without TrustZone |
| Flash | 32 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB |
| SRAM | 8 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB |
| Max CPU Clock | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Operating Voltage | 1.62V - 3.63V | 1.62V - 3.63V | 1.62V - 3.63V | 1.62V - 3.63V | 1.62V - 3.63V | 1.62V - 3.63V |
| TrustZone | Yes (hardware) | Yes (hardware) | Yes (hardware) | Yes (hardware) | Yes (hardware) | No |
| Crypto Accelerator | AES, SHA, TRNG | AES, SHA, TRNG | AES, SHA, TRNG | AES, SHA, TRNG | AES, SHA, TRNG | Limited (TRNG only) |
| Unit Price (qty 1) | $2.85 | $3.25 | $2.95 | $2.85 | $2.45 | $2.10 |
Key Differentiators
- TrustZone-M hardware isolation at sub-100 nA sleep (vs ATSAML10E16A-MF)
- 64 KB Flash upgrade path with same footprint (vs ATSAML11D16A-MFKPH)
- Lowest-power Cortex-M23 with TrustZone (vs Generic Cortex-M23 MCU)
- Enhanced PTC touch controller on-chip (vs External touch controller + MCU)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF X7R ceramic decoupling capacitor within 2 mm of each VDD and VDDIO pin, and add a single 4.7 uF bulk capacitor on the main supply rail. For battery-powered designs, the sub-100 nA sleep current requires careful GPIO configuration - all unused pins must be set as inputs with pull-up enabled to prevent floating-state leakage that can add 1-5 uA per pin.
The 24-pin VQFN (4x4 mm) package has a thermal resistance (theta_JA) of approximately 35 C/W on a standard 2-layer JEDEC test board. The exposed pad (EP) MUST be soldered to a continuous ground copper pour of at least 25 mm squared to achieve the rated thermal performance. Skipping the EP solder connection can raise junction temperature by 15-20 C at full 32 MHz active load.
For Enhanced PTC touch applications, route touch electrodes (Y-lines and X-lines) on a dedicated top layer with no via-in-pad, and surround each electrode with a ground hatch. Maintain at least 0.5 mm clearance between adjacent touch traces and digital signal traces to prevent crosstalk. The PTC peripheral is sensitive to VDD ripple - add a ferrite bead in series with the analog supply if switching regulators are nearby.
TrustZone configuration errors are the most common silent failure on SAM L11 designs. The IDAU (Implementation Defined Attribution Unit) partitions Flash into secure and non-secure regions at boot - if the BOOTPROT bits are set incorrectly, the secure bootloader may lock itself out, requiring a 12V high-voltage erase to recover. Always validate TrustZone configuration with a full chip erase and re-provisioning during early prototyping.
The SWDIO and SWCLK pins for Serial Wire Debug are shared with GPIO functions. Add 100 kohm pull-up resistors on both SWD pins to ensure reliable debugger connection during production programming. For field updates via UART bootloader, configure the SERCOM0 pins as UART with hardware flow control to support high-speed firmware image transfer without corruption.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - for automotive applications, choose ATSAMHA1G16A-MZT-BVAO or ATSAMG55-XPRO from the Site MPN list. The PH suffix indicates factory key-provisioning for secure applications.
