ATMEGA162L-8PI - 8MHz AVR 16KB Flash MCU DIP-40 | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA162L-8PI ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.95 | $4.95 |
| 10 | $4.46 | $44.60 |
| 100 | $3.92 | $392.00 |
| 500 | $3.48 | $1,740.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.1 | $3,100.00 |
ATMEGA162L-8PI Overview
An 8-bit AVR microcontroller is a reduced-instruction-set (RISC) computing device that executes most instructions in a single clock cycle; within the power-management IC hierarchy it functions as the central embedded controller, combining CPU, program memory, data memory, timers, communication interfaces and general-purpose I/O in a single chip. The AVR ATmega family sits in the broader microcontroller taxonomy alongside ARM Cortex-M, PIC, 8051 and MSP430 architectures.
Key features include the Advanced RISC architecture with 133 powerful instructions, most executing in a single clock cycle; 32 x 8-bit general-purpose working registers; two hardware USARTs for dual serial channels; a JTAG (IEEE 1149.1 compliant, per family documentation) on-chip debug and boundary-scan interface; and a wide supply voltage range of 2.7 V to 5.5 V, which is what the L suffix in the part number denotes. The PI suffix indicates the industrial temperature grade (-40 C to +85 C) in the plastic DIP package, making the part suitable for uncontrolled-environment deployments.
Technically, the ATmega162 pairs its AVR core with a two-stage pipeline, hardware multiply, and a rich peripheral set including 8-bit and 16-bit timers with PWM outputs, an 8-channel 10-bit ADC in the family, and an external memory interface. In-system programmable Flash with a boot-loader section allows firmware updates over UART without removing the device from the board.
Typical applications include legacy industrial control equipment, through-hole prototyping and education platforms, dual-UART communication nodes, and motor or lighting control systems where 5 V logic compatibility matters.
A key design consideration: the ATmega162L is limited to 8 MHz, so designs needing 16 MHz performance should select the ATMEGA162-16PI, which shares the same DIP-40 footprint.
This page synthesizes verified distributor data, drop-in alternatives and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA162L-8PI — 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-8PI (same form factor and footprint) — differing in EEPROM, Flash Program Memory, Instruction Set, Maximum Clock Frequency, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA162-16PI
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA162-16PC
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA162L-8PC
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA161L-4PI
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.35 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA16-16PI
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$3.72 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA162L-8PU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA162L-8PI Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | AVR 8-bit RISC |
| Core Size | 8-bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 8 MHz |
| Flash Program Memory | 16 KB (8K x 16) |
| SRAM Data Memory | 1 KB |
| EEPROM | 512 x 8 bytes |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.7 V to 5.5 V |
| Instruction Set | 133 powerful instructions, most single-cycle |
| Working Registers | 32 x 8-bit general purpose |
| Package Type | 40-PDIP (0.600 in, 15.24 mm) |
| Mounting Style | Through Hole |
| Operating Temperature Grade | I = Industrial (-40C to +85C) |
| Data Bus Width | 8 bit |
| Communication Interfaces | 2x USART (dual UART), SPI, TWI |
| Timers | 8-bit and 16-bit timers with PWM |
| Program Memory Type | Flash (in-system self-programmable) |
| Life Cycle Stage | Active |
ATMEGA162L-8PI 40-pdip (0.600 in, 15.24 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATMEGA162L-8PI (40-pdip (0.600 in, 15.24 mm) 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-8PI.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATMEGA162L-8PI is suitable for 6 applications: Legacy Industrial Control Equipment, Through-Hole Prototyping and Education, Dual-UART Communication Nodes, Motor and Lighting Control, Battery-Powered Embedded Systems, External-Memory and Data-Logging Systems.
Legacy Industrial Control Equipment
The ATMEGA162L-8PI fits industrial control retrofits because its 2.7 V to 5.5 V supply tolerance rides through unregulated 24 V-derived rails that sag during motor inrush, while the industrial -40C to +85C grade matches control-cabinet environments. Its 16 KB Flash accommodates state-machine and PID control code compiled with avr-gcc, and the 512 B EEPROM stores setpoints and calibration constants across power cycles. The dual hardware USARTs allow a Modbus RTU fieldbus link and a service diagnostic port simultaneously without software UART overhead. In these boards the MCU typically scans digital inputs at 1 ms rates, drives relay outputs via 8-bit timer PWM, and reports status over RS-485, with the 8 MHz clock providing ample margin for single-cycle RISC execution of control math.
Recommended
Through-Hole Prototyping and Education
The 40-pin 0.600-inch PDIP package makes the ATMEGA162L-8PI a natural fit for breadboards, ZIF sockets and student lab boards: no hot-air rework, easy replacement after wiring mistakes, and visible pin mapping that aids instruction. The 5 V logic matches bench supplies, op-amp modules and hobby peripherals, while the 2.7 V floor allows battery experiments. The in-system programmable Flash works with a simple SPI ISP header and free AVRDude tooling, and the dual USARTs let one channel feed a PC terminal while the other drives an LCD or sensor module - an effective way to teach serial protocols. The 32 general-purpose registers and single-cycle instruction execution give predictable, teachable timing behavior for assembly-language courses.
Recommended
Dual-UART Communication Nodes
The ATmega162 is one of the few ATmega devices with two complete hardware USARTs, making the ATMEGA162L-8PI ideal for protocol-translation and gateway nodes - for example bridging RS-232 field devices to RS-485 networks or forwarding modem data to a local display. Each USART supports synchronous and asynchronous modes with independent baud-rate generators, so 9600-baud device links and 115200-baud backhaul channels run concurrently in hardware with zero bit-bang CPU load. At 8 MHz with single-cycle RISC execution, the core sustains both full-duplex channels plus framing and checksum processing with margin to spare. Buffer management uses the 1 KB SRAM for ring buffers, and the boot-loader Flash section permits field firmware updates over either UART without removing the chip.
Recommended
Motor and Lighting Control
The ATMEGA162L-8PI drives DC motor and lighting loads through its 8-bit and 16-bit timers with PWM outputs: the 16-bit timer generates precise phase-correct PWM for motor speed control while an 8-bit timer handles auxiliary LED dimming or fan speed. The external memory interface frees SRAM expansion for complex motion profiles, and the ADC (in family configuration) reads potentiometers and current-shunt feedback for closed-loop operation. The industrial temperature grade and 5 V noise immunity suit electrically noisy environments near motor drivers. Because PWM edges are generated in hardware, firmware jitter is eliminated - critical for audible-noise control in lighting dimmers - while the 8 MHz core executes PI loop math in microseconds, supporting kilohertz-range control bandwidths typical of embedded motor applications.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Embedded Systems
The L-grade 2.7 V to 5.5 V operating range lets the ATMEGA162L-8PI run directly from a 3 V lithium cell or a 2.7 V-cutoff boost converter without a regulator, and AVR power-management modes (idle, power-down, power-save) extend battery life by halting the core between tasks. A typical node sleeps in power-down drawing only microamp-level family-typical current, wakes on USART edge or external interrupt, samples sensors, transmits over a UART radio module, and returns to sleep - duty cycles measured in percent. The 512 B EEPROM retains configuration across battery swaps. Designers should note the 8 MHz maximum limits computation-heavy tasks; for radio-stack-heavy designs, budget execution time during early firmware profiling to confirm the sleep/wake schedule meets telemetry deadlines.
Recommended
External-Memory and Data-Logging Systems
The ATmega162's external memory interface distinguishes it from smaller ATmega parts: it addresses external SRAM or memory-mapped peripherals directly, expanding beyond the internal 1 KB SRAM for applications such as serial-port loggers that must queue kilobytes of records between flash-write bursts. Data-logging designs pair the MCU's dual USARTs - one capturing a device stream, the other offloading to a host - while the 512 B EEPROM stores rotation counters and configuration. The 8 MHz clock sustains sustained 115200-baud capture with CRC computation in firmware. For capacity, designers add a standard 32 KB SRAM on the external bus; the interface reduces effective access speed via wait states, so throughput-critical code should keep hot data internal and use external memory for buffered records.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA162L-8PI — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA162-16PI | ATMEGA162-16PC | ATMEGA161L-4PI | ATMEGA16-16PI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 40-PDIP (0.600 in, 15.24 mm) | 40-PDIP - same | 40-PDIP - same | 40-PDIP - same | 40-PDIP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) |
| Max Clock Frequency | 8 MHz | 16 MHz | 16 MHz | 4 MHz | 16 MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Flash Program Memory | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB |
| SRAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB |
| Hardware USARTs | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | 0C to +70C (commercial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Lifecycle Status | Active | Active | Active | Active (legacy) | Active |
Key Differentiators
- Dual hardware USARTs (vs ATMEGA16-16PI)
- Wide 2.7 V to 5.5 V supply range (vs ATMEGA162-16PI)
- External memory interface (vs ATMEGA161L-4PI)
Design Notes
Decouple VCC (pin 10) and AVCC with 100 nF ceramic capacitors placed within 5 mm of the pins, plus a 10 uF bulk capacitor near the socket. The L-grade 2.7 V floor means brownout detection must be configured for the correct threshold via the fuse bits - set BODEN and BODLEVEL so the device resets cleanly before the 2.7 V minimum rather than running out of spec. On 5 V boards shared with relays or motors, add a series ferrite between the noisy rail and VCC to keep the analog supply clean.
Clock selection is fuse-programmed, not code-programmed: a factory-fresh ATmega162L ships on the internal 1 MHz RC oscillator, so forgetting to set the CKOPT/CKSEL fuses for the external 8 MHz crystal is the most common 'chip runs slow' support issue. Also note the L-grade parts must not be fused for 16 MHz operation - that exceeds the L-grade speed-voltage envelope. When substituting ATMEGA162-16PI for the L part in a running design, verify the brownout fuse level matches the new 4.5 V minimum.
On through-hole boards, route the XTAL1/XTAL2 crystal traces short and symmetric with ground guards on both sides to suppress spurious oscillation, especially for crystals above 4 MHz. Keep the two USART TX/RX pairs away from relay and PWM return paths to avoid crosstalk glitches. If using the external memory interface, add 22-33 ohm series resistors on AD0-AD7 and ALE to dampen ringing on longer ribbon or socket-bus runs.
Compliance Information
Compliance status not stated in the provided verified web data. Confirm RoHS/REACH/lead-free status on the official Microchip ATMEGA162L-8PI product page or request a certificate of compliance from Microchip for the specific date code.
