Microchip Technology ATSAMA5D24C-CU

Overview

ATSAMA5D24C-CU from Microchip Technology is an ultra-low-power Arm® Cortex®-A5 microprocessor unit (MPU) operating at up to 500 MHz, integrating a 128-Kbyte L2 cache, TrustZone® security, AES/SHA/TRNG crypto accelerators, and dual CAN-FD controllers. It supports DDR3L/LPDDR3 memory, 10/100 Ethernet with AVB and IEEE 1588 PTP, and is qualified for industrial temperature range (−40°C to +105°C). It serves as the main application processor in secure IoT gateways and industrial HMIs.

For engineers reviewing the ATSAMA5D24C-CU datasheet, ATSAMA5D24C-CU pinout, ATSAMA5D24C-CU application, or ATSAMA5D24C-CU equivalent, key selection criteria include its dual MCAN support with SRAM-based mailboxes, on-the-fly AES encryption for DDR/QSPI, 12-channel 12-bit ADC with resistive touchscreen capability, and 128 I/Os with eight peripheral multiplexing per pin - all critical for secure, low-power edge computing designs.

Technical Context

The ATSAMA5D24C-CU implements an Armv7-A architecture Cortex-A5 core with NEON™ SIMD engine and VFPv4 floating-point unit, enabling real-time multimedia and signal processing. Its multilayer bus architecture integrates two 16-channel XDMAC controllers and dedicated peripheral DMAs to sustain high-bandwidth data flows without CPU intervention.

Security is enforced via hardware-isolated TrustZone® regions, 5-Kbyte scrambled SRAM (1-Kbyte tamper-erasable), Integrity Check Monitor (ICM) with SHA256, and secure bootloader execution from masked ROM. Power management includes three software-selectable low-power modes - Idle, Ultra-Low-Power (ULP0/ULP1), and Backup - with partial asynchronous wake-up and DDR self-refresh support.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

ATSAMA5D24C-CU is housed in a 289-ball Low-Profile Fine-Pitch Ball Grid Array (LFBGA) package measuring 14 mm × 14 mm with 0.8 mm ball pitch and 1.4 mm thickness. The package supports 128 general-purpose I/Os, each configurable for up to eight peripheral functions including UART, SPI, TWI, CAN, QSPI, SDMMC, PWM, and ADC.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar Arm Cortex-A5-based MPU applications.

Compared with ATSAMA5D24C-CU, the ATSAMA5D27C-CU reduces package size and peripheral count but sacrifices dual CAN-FD and camera interface; i.MX6ULL offers higher clock speed but lacks integrated tamper detection, on-the-fly memory encryption, and industrial-grade low-power modes - making ATSAMA5D24C-CU uniquely suited for secure, battery-backed, fieldbus-rich edge nodes.

Availability

ATSAMA5D24C-CU is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial IoT gateways, secure point-of-sale terminals, and human-machine interfaces requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle support, and guaranteed industrial temperature operation.

Supply support for ATSAMA5D24C-CU includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Microchip Technology is a global semiconductor company delivering smart, connected, and secure embedded control solutions, with leadership in microcontrollers, analog, FPGA, and security ICs.

The SAMA5D2 product line is designed for secure, ultra-low-power Linux-capable applications in industrial automation, IoT edge nodes, and trusted embedded systems - combining Arm Cortex-A performance with hardware-enforced security and intelligent power management.

FAQ

What is the maximum operating frequency of the ATSAMA5D24C-CU?

The ATSAMA5D24C-CU operates at up to 500 MHz on its Arm Cortex-A5 core. This frequency is achievable under typical conditions with appropriate voltage scaling and thermal management. The device also includes a 600–1200 MHz system PLL and a dedicated 480 MHz USB PLL, both configurable via the PMC register set. ATSAMA5D24C-CU's performance is validated across the full industrial temperature range (−40°C to +105°C).

Does the ATSAMA5D24C-CU support CAN FD, and what are its limitations?

Yes, the ATSAMA5D24C-CU integrates two MCAN controllers supporting CAN FD with SRAM-based mailboxes and time/event-triggered transmission. However, it implements the non-ISO CAN FD frame format and does not pass the ISO 16845-1:2016 conformance test. ATSAMA5D24C-CU is intended for proprietary or vendor-specific CAN FD networks where strict ISO compliance is not required.

How does the ATSAMA5D24C-CU implement hardware security for secure boot?

The ATSAMA5D24C-CU executes a secure bootloader from a 64-Kbyte scrambled and maskable ROM, verified by the Integrity Check Monitor (ICM) using SHA256. Tamper detection triggers immediate erasure of 1-Kbyte nonerasable and 4-Kbyte erasable secure SRAM. ATSAMA5D24C-CU also enforces TrustZone®-based memory isolation and supports on-the-fly AES decryption of boot code stored in QSPI or DDR memory.

What memory types does the ATSAMA5D24C-CU support, and how is DDR voltage configured?

The ATSAMA5D24C-CU supports DDR2, DDR3, DDR3L, LPDDR1, LPDDR2, and LPDDR3 via its 32-bit DDR controller. DDR I/O voltage (VDDIODDR) is externally supplied and must match the selected memory type: 1.8 V for DDR2/LPDDR2, 1.35 V for DDR3L, or 1.2 V for LPDDR3. ATSAMA5D24C-CU references this voltage directly and requires proper sequencing - typically managed by recommended PMICs like MCP16502AA.

Is the ATSAMA5D24C-CU pin-compatible with other SAMA5D2 variants?

No, ATSAMA5D24C-CU is not pin-compatible with other SAMA5D2 family members. It uses the 289-ball LFBGA package, whereas SAMA5D22/27 use 256-ball TFBGA and SAMA5D21/23 use 196-ball TFBGA. Pin assignments differ across packages, and peripheral availability (e.g., dual CAN-FD, ISC, PTC channel count) varies by variant. ATSAMA5D24C-CU's pinout is unique to its LFBGA289 configuration and must be laid out using its specific signal mapping.