ATMEGA162L-8MC - 8-Bit AVR MCU 16KB Flash 44VQFN | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA162L-8MC ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
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| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
ATMEGA162L-8MC Overview
An 8-bit AVR microcontroller is a single-chip computer built around the AVR enhanced RISC architecture, which executes most of its powerful instructions in a single clock cycle. Within the power-management and processing hierarchy, the ATmega162 family sits in the general-purpose mid-range MCU class: it combines a CPU core, program memory (Flash), data memory (SRAM), non-volatile EEPROM, and peripheral controllers (USART, SPI, timers, JTAG) on one die, replacing multi-chip solutions in embedded control systems.
Key features include the advanced RISC architecture with 131-133 powerful instructions, most executed in a single clock cycle; eight general-purpose working registers; fully static operation with near 1 MIPS per MHz efficiency; JTAG interface for on-chip debugging and boundary scan; and optional boot code section with independent lock bits supporting true read-while-write self-programming. Flash endurance is rated at 1,000 write/erase cycles, EEPROM at 100,000 cycles.
The architecture achieves up to 16 MIPS at 16 MHz for the broader ATmega162 family; the -8MC grade here is speed-limited to 8 MHz, which permits the low-voltage 2.7V-5.5V operating range (faster 16 MHz grades require 4.5V-5.5V). Two USARTs, an SPI interface, and a JTAG debug channel make the part well suited for dual-serial-port designs without external UART expansion.
Typical applications include industrial control nodes, dual-UART communication gateways, embedded instrumentation, and legacy AVR system maintenance where the 44-VQFN footprint must be preserved.
A key design consideration is clock-to-voltage compliance: at VCC below 4.5V the maximum safe clock is 8 MHz, so speed-grades and supply rails must be co-designed.
This page synthesizes distributor availability data, drop-in alternative analysis, and practical AVR design guidance not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA162L-8MC — 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 ATMEGA162L-8MC (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Core Architecture, EEPROM, SRAM, Supply Voltage Range.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA162V-8MC
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA162-16MC
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$2.19 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA16-16MQR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$1.32 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA162L-8MC Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | AVR 8-bit RISC |
| Data Bus Width | 8 bit |
| Program Memory Size | 16 KB Flash |
| Flash Endurance | 1,000 Write/Erase Cycles |
| EEPROM Size | 512 Bytes |
| EEPROM Endurance | 100,000 Write/Erase Cycles |
| SRAM Size | 1 KB |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 8 MHz |
| Maximum Throughput | 8 MIPS (at 8 MHz) |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.7 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Ports | 53 (family datasheet specification) |
| Instructions | 131-133 powerful instructions, most single-cycle |
| JTAG Interface | Yes (on-chip debug and boundary scan) |
| Boot Code Section | Optional, with independent lock bits, read-while-write |
| Package | 44-VFQFN Exposed Pad (44-VQFN) |
| Package Dimensions | 14 x 14 mm, 1 mm height (TQFP/MLF family reference) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Lifecycle Stage | Active |
ATMEGA162L-8MC 14 x 14 mm, 1 mm height (tqfp/mlf family reference) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATMEGA162L-8MC (14 x 14 mm, 1 mm height (tqfp/mlf family reference) package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for ATMEGA162L-8MC.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATMEGA162L-8MC is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Nodes, Dual-UART Communication Gateways, Embedded Instrumentation, Legacy AVR System Maintenance, Battery-Powered Portable Devices, In-System Programmable Firmware Products.
Industrial Control Nodes
The ATMEGA162L-8MC fits industrial control nodes where a mid-range 8-bit controller must handle sensing, relay driving, and a serial link to a supervisory PLC. Its AVR RISC core delivers roughly 1 MIPS per MHz, so the 8 MHz grade provides about 8 MIPS - sufficient for PID loops and discrete sequencing. The 2.7V-5.5V supply range tolerates noisy industrial rails, and the 44-VQFN exposed-pad package gives low-inductance ground return for EMC-critical panels. With 16KB Flash and an optional boot section supporting read-while-write self-programming, firmware can be updated in the field over UART without removing the board. The industrial operating profile and dual-UART option also allow a local HMI link plus a backhaul channel on one chip.
Recommended
Dual-UART Communication Gateways
The defining advantage of the ATmega162 family is its two on-chip USARTs, making the ATMEGA162L-8MC a natural fit for protocol converters and serial gateways that bridge two asynchronous channels - for example RS-232 field devices to RS-485 backhaul, or a barcode scanner to a host controller. At 8 MHz the core provides enough headroom for interrupt-driven double-buffered UART service on both ports simultaneously. The 1KB SRAM accommodates framing buffers, while the 16KB Flash holds two protocol stacks. Because the JTAG interface is integrated, gateway firmware can be debugged live with both UARTs active - a significant productivity gain over socket-emulator methods. No external UART IC is needed, reducing BOM cost and board area in the compact 44-VQFN footprint.
Recommended
Embedded Instrumentation
Bench and portable instruments benefit from the ATMEGA162L-8MC's combination of JTAG on-chip debug, an SPI interface for ADC/DAC connectivity, and EEPROM for calibration storage. The 512-byte EEPROM, rated for 100,000 write/erase cycles, stores calibration constants and user settings that survive power cycling, while 16KB Flash holds measurement firmware with menu logic. The 2.7V-5.5V operating range permits both battery (3xAA or single Li-ion via LDO) and wall-adapter operation in one design. The 44-VQFN exposed pad provides a solid thermal and ground anchor for mixed analog-digital layouts, and the 53-port-capable I/O structure of the family supports keypad scanning and display driving alongside the measurement front end without port expanders.
Recommended
Legacy AVR System Maintenance
Many installed AVR systems from the early 2000s were built on the ATmega16/ATmega162 generation, and the ATMEGA162L-8MC is the correct spare part for maintaining such systems when the original board layout must not change. Because it preserves the exact 44-VQFN footprint, 8 MHz timing, and ATmega162 instruction set of the original design, replacement introduces zero firmware or layout risk. The active lifecycle status confirms continued manufacturing support by Microchip after the Atmel acquisition. When the L-grade is unavailable, the ATMEGA162-16MC is a pin-compatible substitute for 5V boards, and the ATMEGA162V-8MC covers wider-voltage variants, giving maintenance teams a complete substitution ladder within one package outline.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Portable Devices
The 2.7V-5.5V supply range of the ATMEGA162L-8MC allows direct operation from three alkaline cells (nominally 4.5V, dropping toward 2.7V at end of discharge) without a switching regulator, simplifying portable product power design. The AVR core's fully static operation means clock frequency can be reduced - or the internal RC oscillator selected - to trade throughput for current, extending battery life in standby-dominated profiles. The 8 MHz ceiling is not a penalty in user-interface applications such as remote controls, meters, and handheld testers, where a few MIPS is ample. The compact 44-VQFN package conserves PCB area, and the EEPROM retains user settings through battery replacement with its 100,000-cycle endurance.
Recommended
In-System Programmable Firmware Products
Products that ship with field-updatable firmware exploit the ATMEGA162L-8MC's optional boot code section with independent lock bits and true read-while-write operation. The boot loader - typically a few hundred bytes of the 16KB Flash - receives new application images over either USART, erases the application section, and reprograms it while the boot section continues executing, so a failed update cannot brick the device if lock bits are configured correctly. The 1,000-cycle Flash endurance supports a realistic service life of dozens to hundreds of updates. The JTAG boundary-scan capability additionally supports manufacturing-line programming and board-level interconnect testing, and the 44-VQFN's exposed pad keeps the programming UART routing short and clean.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA162L-8MC — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA162V-8MC | ATMEGA162-16MC | ATMEGA16-16MQR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 44-VFQFN Exposed Pad | 44-VQFN - same | 44-VQFN - same | 44-VQFN - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 16 MHz | 16 MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.7 V - 5.5 V | 1.8 V - 5.5 V | 4.5 V - 5.5 V | 4.5 V - 5.5 V |
| USART Count | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| SRAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB |
| Drop-in Compatibility | Baseline (44-VQFN) | Pin-to-pin, no PCB change | Pin-to-pin, no PCB change (5V only) | Same family pinout; verify peripheral mapping |
Key Differentiators
- Dual USART on chip (vs ATMEGA16-16MQR)
- Wide low-voltage supply range (vs ATMEGA162-16MC)
- Lower minimum voltage variant available (vs ATMEGA162V-8MC)
- Trade-off: lower clock ceiling (vs ATMEGA162-16MC)
Design Notes
Respect the clock-versus-voltage derating of the AVR family: the -8MC grade is qualified for 8 MHz only because it must operate down to 2.7V. Never clock the ATMEGA162L-8MC above 8 MHz at 3.3V, even briefly - the 16 MHz grades require 4.5V-5.5V per the datasheet operating envelope. If a design needs more speed at low voltage, migrate to the ATmega162V/16 family combination is not sufficient; a redesign to a faster AVR generation (megaAVR 0-series such as ATMEGA1608) is the supported path. Decouple VCC and AVCC separately with 100 nF ceramics placed within 5 mm of each pin.
The 44-VQFN exposed pad is the primary ground connection, not an option: solder it to a ground-array of at least 9 (3x3) via daughts to the internal ground plane. An unsoldered thermal pad leaves the die floating on the pin-ring ground only, degrading EMC and resetting reliability under UART traffic. Keep the JTAG header traces (TCK, TMS, TDO, TDI) short or bring them to a standard 2x5 tag-connect footprint during development - the on-chip debug capability is one of this part's main advantages and is difficult to access after layout.
Two pitfalls recur in ATmega162 designs. First, the dual USARTs share interrupt vectors but have separate control registers - copying single-USART ATmega16 code verbatim causes the second port to remain silent; verify UCSR1A/UCSR1B initialization. Second, when using the boot loader, misconfigured lock bits (leaving boot lock bits 00/unprogrammed) permit external readback of proprietary firmware; set BLB1 per the datasheet lock-bit table before production. Finally, the 1,000-cycle Flash endurance is far lower than the 100,000-cycle EEPROM endurance - never use Flash as a data-logging store.
Compliance Information
Compliance status not stated in the provided verified web data. Modern Microchip AVR parts are typically RoHS-compliant, but per data authenticity rules this must be confirmed on the official Microchip product page before use.
