Microchip releases 32-bit MCUs that enable rapid IoT implementation

By Aalyia Shaukat, contributing writer

Microchip Technology Inc. recently released two IoT chips that are specifically designed to simplify product development while strengthening the security of IoT endpoints — a growing concern as the number of IoT devices increases rapidly. The SAM L10 and SAM L11 are 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs) with chip-level security so that product developers and design engineers can more readily implement security features protecting sensitive intellectual property and corporate information.

The SAM L10 and SAM L11 are based on the Arm Cortex-M23 core and feature extremely low power consumption with nearly negligible current (

For secure communications, the cryptographic modules support proven functions such as the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), Galois Counter Mode (GCM), and the Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA).

The security of IoT devices has been an ongoing concern since the inception of IoT, particularly for corporations that carry highly sensitive data. Hackers can get away with valuable information with minimal effort and negligible costs when compared to the consequences that a corporation faces. This requires companies to take efforts on multiple fronts to ensure the security of their devices.

The Arm TrustZone technology, in combination with the MCUs’ security features, protects the devices from both remote and physical attacks. The TrustZone technology essentially creates two different software environments that run simultaneously on a single core — one for the “trusted” processes and the other for the “non-trusted” processes. Any non-secured software is blocked from accessing the secure portion.

Both MCU series also include capacitive touch capabilities with excellent water tolerance and noise immunity, supporting Microchip’s latest-generation Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) for capacitive touch capabilities.

The devices are available in a variety of pin counts and package options in volume production. Pricing for the SAM L10 and SAM L11 series starts at $1.09 and $1.22 each, respectively, in 10,000-unit quantities. SAM L10 and SAM L11 Xplained Pro evaluation kits are available to jumpstart development and are priced at $58 each. Products can be purchased at microchipDIRECT .