ATSAML11E15A-MFTKPH - 32KB Flash TrustZone Cortex-M23 MCU
MPN: ATSAML11E15A-MFTKPH ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.85 | $3.85 |
| 10 | $3.42 | $34.20 |
| 100 | $2.95 | $295.00 |
| 500 | $2.58 | $1,290.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.21 | $2,210.00 |
ATSAML11E15A-MFTKPH Overview
What is an ARM Cortex-M23 microcontroller? The Cortex-M23 is ARM's smallest and most energy-efficient processor implementing the ARMv8-M baseline architecture with optional TrustZone for Cortex-M. As a microcontroller, it sits at the hierarchy "microcontroller (MCU) -> embedded microcontroller -> 32-bit MCU -> ARM Cortex-M MCU -> Cortex-M23 MCU". The SAM L11 family adds hardware cryptography, secure boot, and TrustZone isolation on top of the base M23 core, targeting IoT endpoints that need root-of-trust security without a separate secure element.
Key differentiating features include ARM TrustZone for hardware-isolated secure/non-secure code execution, on-chip hardware crypto accelerators (AES, SHA, TRNG), 32 KB Flash, 8 KB SRAM, 32 MHz CPU, 12-bit ADC, enhanced PTC for capacitive touch, SERCOM peripherals, and a wide 1.62 V to 3.63 V operating voltage range. The 32-VQFN package with exposed thermal pad supports compact designs and improved thermal dissipation. The integrated Event System, SleepWalking, and intelligent power-domain gating keep active current below 25 uA/MHz and standby current under 100 nA, enabling years of operation from a single coin cell.
Typical applications include secure IoT end nodes, smart-home sensor hubs, electronic locks and access control, wireless sensor nodes (BLE/Zigbee companion MCUs), medical wearables, secure payment terminals, and industrial HMI with capacitive touch. The combination of TrustZone isolation and hardware crypto lets designers implement secure firmware update, secure boot, and authenticated peripherals without an external secure element.
For design, plan decoupling on every VDD pin with a 100 nF X7R placed within 2 mm of the pin, keep the 32.768 kHz crystal traces short and guarded, and follow Microchip's TrustZone implementation guide to partition secure vs non-secure code regions. The 32-VQFN exposed pad must be soldered to a continuous ground pour for thermal dissipation and electrical reference.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAML11E15A-MFTKPH — 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 ATSAML11E15A-MFTKPH (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature, Sleep Current, ADC.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
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View Datasheet →ATSAML11E15A-MFTKPH Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | ARM Cortex-M23 |
| Core Architecture | ARMv8-M Baseline with TrustZone |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 32 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 32 KB |
| SRAM | 8 KB |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.62 V to 3.63 V |
| Active Current | <25 uA/MHz |
| Sleep Current | <100 nA |
| Package | 32-VQFN (5x5 mm) with exposed thermal pad |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +125 C (extended grade, KPH suffix) |
| ADC | 12-bit |
| Peripheral Touch Controller | Enhanced PTC (capacitive touch) |
| Crypto Accelerators | AES, SHA, True Random Number Generator (TRNG) |
| Security Features | ARM TrustZone, secure boot, secure key storage, tamper resistance |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
ATSAML11E15A-MFTKPH Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PA00 — GPIO / SERCOM0 / ADC |
| Pin 2 | PA01 — GPIO / SERCOM0 / ADC |
| Pin 3 | PA02 — GPIO / SERCOM0 / ADC |
| Pin 4 | PA03 — GPIO / SERCOM0 / ADC / REF |
| Pin 5 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 6 | VDDIO — I/O supply voltage |
| Pin 7 | VDDANA — Analog supply voltage |
| Pin 8 | PA04 — GPIO / SERCOM0 / ADC |
| Pin 9 | PA05 — GPIO / SERCOM0 / ADC |
| Pin 10 | PA06 — GPIO / SERCOM0 / ADC |
| Pin 11 | PA07 — GPIO / SERCOM0 / ADC |
| Pin 12 | PA08 — GPIO / SERCOM0 / ADC |
| Pin 13 | PA09 — GPIO / SERCOM0 / ADC |
| Pin 14 | PA10 — GPIO / SERCOM0 / ADC |
| Pin 15 | PA11 — GPIO / SERCOM0 / ADC |
| Pin 16 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 17 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 18 | PA14 — GPIO / SERCOM2 |
| Pin 19 | PA15 — GPIO / SERCOM2 |
| Pin 20 | PA16 — GPIO / SERCOM1 / I2C |
| Pin 21 | PA17 — GPIO / SERCOM1 / I2C |
| Pin 22 | PA18 — GPIO / SERCOM1 |
| Pin 23 | PA19 — GPIO / SERCOM1 |
| Pin 24 | PA20 — GPIO / SERCOM3 |
| Pin 25 | PA21 — GPIO / SERCOM3 |
| Pin 26 | PA22 — GPIO / SERCOM3 |
| Pin 27 | PA23 — GPIO / SERCOM3 |
| Pin 28 | PA24 — GPIO / SERCOM5 / USB |
| Pin 29 | PA25 — GPIO / SERCOM5 / USB |
| Pin 30 | PA27 — GPIO / SERCOM5 / Bootloader |
| Pin 31 | RESET — Reset input, active low |
| Pin 32 | SWDIO — Debug data / GPIO |
Typical Applications
ATSAML11E15A-MFTKPH is suitable for 7 applications: Secure IoT End Nodes, Smart Home Sensor Hubs, Electronic Locks and Access Control, Medical Wearables and Patient Monitors, Industrial HMI with Capacitive Touch, Secure Payment Terminals and POS, Wireless Sensor Nodes (BLE/Zigbee Companion MCU).
Secure IoT End Nodes
The ATSAML11E15A-MFTKPH is engineered for secure IoT end nodes where TrustZone isolation and hardware crypto accelerators are mandatory. Its 32-bit ARM Cortex-M23 core at 32 MHz, integrated AES/SHA/TRNG, and secure boot path authenticate firmware and protect keys at rest. The 32 KB Flash supports partitioned secure/non-secure firmware layouts, while 8 KB SRAM buffers sensor payloads. With <25 uA/MHz active current and <100 nA sleep current plus SleepWalking peripherals, it enables years of coin-cell operation in connected sensors, smart locks, and authenticated asset trackers.
Recommended
Smart Home Sensor Hubs
In smart-home sensor hubs, the ATSAML11E15A-MFTKPH aggregates data from multiple environmental sensors while isolating security-sensitive keys in the TrustZone secure region. The 1.62-3.63 V supply range tolerates 2xAA alkaline packs and 3.3 V USB rails. SERCOM peripherals (UART, SPI, I2C) interface to temperature, humidity, and motion sensors; the 12-bit ADC samples analog signals directly. Combined with sub-100 nA sleep current and SleepWalking, the MCU wakes only on genuine sensor interrupts, preserving multi-year battery life.
Recommended
Electronic Locks and Access Control
The ATSAML11E15A-MFTKPH is a strong fit for electronic locks and access control where tamper resistance, secure key storage, and authenticated firmware are regulatory or contractual requirements. ARM TrustZone isolates credential storage from mainline code; AES/SHA/TRNG accelerate OATH/TOTP/HOTP and TLS-PSK handshakes. The enhanced Peripheral Touch Controller supports capacitive keypads and proximity wake. With extended -40 to +125 C operating range (KPH suffix), the part survives outdoor, automotive, and industrial enclosures without derating.
Recommended
Medical Wearables and Patient Monitors
In medical wearables and patient monitors, the ATSAML11E15A-MFTKPH provides HIPAA-grade secure firmware update, TrustZone isolation of patient data, and ultra-low power operation for body-worn form factors. The Cortex-M23 core drives BLE HCI command processing, accelerometer fusion, and SpO2 algorithm pre-processing at <25 uA/MHz. The 32-VQFN (5x5 mm) package fits watch and patch footprints, while the exposed thermal pad dissipates heat from continuous LED drivers. Extended -40 to +125 C supports autoclave-grade sterilization cycles.
Recommended
Industrial HMI with Capacitive Touch
The ATSAML11E15A-MFTKPH excels in industrial HMI front panels where the enhanced Peripheral Touch Controller drives robust capacitive buttons, sliders, and proximity wake through glass up to 5 mm thick. The Cortex-M23 at 32 MHz executes touch scanning, debounce, and gesture recognition with deterministic latency. TrustZone isolates HMI firmware update signatures from runtime UI code, blocking code-injection attacks on factory-floor panels. The -40 to +125 C extended grade handles factory ambient temperatures and outdoor enclosures.
Recommended
Secure Payment Terminals and POS
The ATSAML11E15A-MFTKPH suits secure payment terminals and Point-of-Sale peripherals requiring PCI-PTS-style hardware root-of-trust. ARM TrustZone isolates PIN handling, key storage, and cryptographic operations from the merchant-facing application code. On-chip AES, SHA, and TRNG accelerate EMV/TLS/DUKPT protocols without external accelerators, reducing BOM cost and PCB area. The 32-VQFN package enables ultra-slim card-reader form factors. Sub-100 nA sleep current keeps battery-backed terminals alive for years between charges.
Recommended
Wireless Sensor Nodes (BLE/Zigbee Companion MCU)
The ATSAML11E15A-MFTKPH pairs naturally with a discrete BLE or Zigbee transceiver as a secure application processor for wireless sensor nodes. While the radio handles physical-layer and link-layer tasks, the SAM L11 runs sensor acquisition, on-device AI inference, secure key storage, and authenticated firmware update. TrustZone keeps radio-pairing credentials isolated from user application code, blocking credential exfiltration by compromised firmware. The 32-VQFN footprint drops onto compact sensor-node PCBs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAML11E15A-MFTKPH — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAML11E15A-MFT | ATSAML11D16A-MFTKPH | ATSAML11E14A-MUT | ATSAML11E14A-AUT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 32-VQFN (5x5 mm) | 32-VQFN (5x5 mm) - same | 32-VQFN (5x5 mm) - same | 32-VQFN (5x5 mm) - same | 32-VQFN (5x5 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M23 | ARM Cortex-M23 | ARM Cortex-M23 | ARM Cortex-M23 | ARM Cortex-M23 |
| Flash Memory | 32 KB | 32 KB | 64 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB |
| SRAM | 8 KB | 8 KB | 16 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| TrustZone | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (KPH grade) | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) | -40 C to +125 C (KPH grade) | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | -40 C to +125 C (automotive) |
| Active Current | <25 uA/MHz | <25 uA/MHz | <25 uA/MHz | <25 uA/MHz | <25 uA/MHz |
Key Differentiators
- ARM TrustZone on a Cortex-M23 core (vs ATSAML10E16A-MUT)
- Extended -40 to +125 C operating temperature (vs ATSAML11E15A-MFT)
- Industry's lowest-power Cortex-M23 MCU (vs Generic Cortex-M0+ alternatives)
- Integrated hardware crypto accelerators (vs Software-only crypto on Cortex-M0+ MCUs)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF X7R ceramic decoupling capacitor within 2 mm of every VDD and VDDIO pin, plus a bulk 4.7 uF on the main VDD rail. The ATSAML11E15A-MFTKPH integrates an internal LDO; no external regulator is needed, but keep the supply trace short and use a star-ground topology to minimize digital switching noise coupling into the analog VDDANA rail. If the application draws >50 mA peak, add a 10 uF tantalum or ceramic on VDDANA to prevent droop during ADC conversions.
The 32-VQFN (5x5 mm) package exposes a thermal pad (pin 33 / EP) on the bottom that MUST be soldered to a continuous ground pour with at least 8 thermal vias (0.3 mm drill) to the inner ground plane. While the SAM L11 typically dissipates <50 mW, the thermal pad keeps junction temperature below 85 C at 25 C ambient and ensures Theta-JA remains in the datasheet range of approximately 38 C/W for the 32-VQFN. Skipping the thermal vias can elevate Theta-JA to over 80 C/W and trigger thermal shutdown during sustained CPU+ADC activity.
Route the 32.768 kHz crystal traces (XIN/XOUT) as short, symmetric pairs with a ground guard ring; keep them away from switching nodes and digital I/O. Estimated: for a 32.768 kHz crystal with 7 pF load capacitance, total trace length should stay under 5 mm to avoid excess gain loss. Place the crystal load capacitors (typically 4-12 pF) right at the MCU pins. For high-speed SERCOM SPI signals, route with 50 ohm characteristic impedance and keep stubs <3 mm.
Do NOT connect the SWDIO/SWDCLK pins to anything that could back-power the MCU during deep-sleep; the debug port has internal pull-ups that can leak several uA if left floating on a multi-drop bus. The PA27/BOOT pin must be left floating or pulled low for normal boot; do not tie it high unless entering the bootloader. When partitioning TrustZone regions, ensure the non-secure callable (NSC) entry points are aligned to 32-byte boundaries per the SAM L11 TRM or the linker will reject the image.
For capacitive touch sensing via the enhanced PTC, route the touch sensor traces on the top layer with a minimum 6 mil width and 6 mil clearance to adjacent ground pour. Guard the traces with a hatched ground fill to suppress ESD coupling. Avoid routing touch traces over or near noisy digital lines or under switching regulators; if unavoidable, place a ground shield layer between them. Calibrate the touch sensitivity using the QTouch Configurator after PCB assembly, since trace capacitance varies with solder mask and board stack-up.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Lead-free matte-tin finish, MSL rating per JEDEC J-STD-020 (consult datasheet for exact MSL level). Not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose ATSAML11E15A-AUT for automotive-grade applications. Halogen-free per Microchip environmental compliance statement.