ATMEGA163L-4PC - 8-bit AVR MCU 16KB 4MHz DIP-40 | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA163L-4PC ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
ATMEGA163L-4PC Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer integrating a processor core, program memory, data memory, and peripherals such as timers, UART, SPI, and ADC on one die. Within the power-management-of-systems hierarchy, an 8-bit MCU like the AVR ATmega family sits at the entry level of embedded control, ideal for deterministic, low-cost, low-power tasks where a 32-bit ARM core would be unnecessary.
Key features of the ATMEGA163L-4PC include the AVR enhanced RISC architecture with mostly single-cycle instruction execution, In-System Programmable (ISP) FLASH allowing firmware updates on the PCB, 512 bytes of non-volatile EEPROM for parameter storage, and the low-voltage "L" grade supporting operation down to approximately 2.7V. The 40-pin PDIP through-hole package makes it a favorite for prototyping, education, and repair of legacy equipment.
Technically, the device combines a Harvard-architecture AVR core with 32 general-purpose working registers directly connected to the ALU, giving it high code efficiency compared to other 8-bit MCUs. Program memory is organized as 8K x 16 bits, and the chip provides hardware peripherals typical of the ATmega series including an 8-bit timer, a 16-bit timer with PWM, a USART, SPI, and an ADC (per the Atmel ATmega163 datasheet).
Typical applications include legacy industrial control boards, laboratory instruments, educational/embedded training platforms, and replacement of obsolete MCU sockets in through-hole designs still in service.
Design consideration: the 4MHz speed grade limits compute headroom - verify interrupt latency and loop timing fit within the 4 MIPS ceiling before substituting a faster variant, and confirm the supply-voltage range matches your rail.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing channels, pin-compatible same-family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA163L-4PC — 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 ATMEGA163L-4PC (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Flash Program Memory, Timers, Mounting Type, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA16-16PC
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.48 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA16-16PI
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.72 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA162-16PC
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA162V-1PC
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA161L-4PI
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$6.35 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA163L-4PC Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit AVR RISC |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 4 MHz |
| FLASH Program Memory | 16 KB (8K x 16) |
| SRAM Data Memory | 1 KB |
| EEPROM | 512 bytes |
| Package | 40-PDIP (0.600 inch, 15.24 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Through Hole |
| Programmability | In-System Programmable (ISP) FLASH |
| Series | AVR ATmega (ATmega163) |
| Timers | 8-bit timer, 16-bit timer with PWM (per ATmega163 datasheet) |
| Communication Interfaces | USART, SPI (per ATmega163 datasheet) |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete / Not recommended for new designs |
ATMEGA163L-4PC Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PB0 (XCK/T0) — Port B bit 0 / USART external clock / Timer0 external clock |
| Pin 2 | PB1 (T1) — Port B bit 1 / Timer1 external clock |
| Pin 3 | PB2 (AIN0/INT2) — Port B bit 2 / analog comparator input 0 / external interrupt 2 |
| Pin 4 | PB3 (SS/AIN1) — Port B bit 3 / SPI slave select / analog comparator input 1 |
| Pin 5 | PB4 (MOSI) — Port B bit 4 / SPI master output slave input |
| Pin 6 | PB5 (MISO) — Port B bit 5 / SPI master input slave output |
| Pin 7 | PB6 (SCK) — Port B bit 6 / SPI serial clock |
| Pin 8 | PB7 (OC1A) — Port B bit 7 / Timer1 output compare A / PWM |
| Pin 9 | RESET — Reset input (active low); also used for ISP programming |
| Pin 10 | VCC — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 11 | GND — Digital ground |
| Pin 12 | XTAL2 — Oscillator amplifier output (crystal) |
| Pin 13 | XTAL1 — Oscillator amplifier input / external clock input |
| Pin 14 | PD0 (RXD) — Port D bit 0 / USART receive data |
| Pin 15 | PD1 (TXD) — Port D bit 1 / USART transmit data |
| Pin 16 | PD2 (INT0) — Port D bit 2 / external interrupt 0 |
| Pin 17 | PD3 (INT1) — Port D bit 3 / external interrupt 1 |
| Pin 18 | PD4 (OC1B) — Port D bit 4 / Timer1 output compare B / PWM |
| Pin 19 | PD5 (OC1A) — Port D bit 5 / Timer1 output compare A / PWM |
| Pin 20 | PD6 (ICP1) — Port D bit 6 / Timer1 input capture |
| Pin 21 | PD7 (OC2/PWM2) — Port D bit 7 / Timer2 output compare / PWM |
| Pin 22 | PC0 (SCL) — Port C bit 0 / TWI serial clock |
| Pin 23 | PC1 (SDA) — Port C bit 1 / TWI serial data |
| Pin 24 | PC2 (TCK) — Port C bit 2 / JTAG test clock (ATmega16 mapping) |
| Pin 25 | PC3 (TMS) — Port C bit 3 / JTAG test mode select (ATmega16 mapping) |
| Pin 26 | PC4 (TDO) — Port C bit 4 / JTAG test data output (ATmega16 mapping) |
| Pin 27 | PC5 (TDI) — Port C bit 5 / JTAG test data input (ATmega16 mapping) |
| Pin 28 | PC6 (TOSC1) — Port C bit 6 / Timer oscillator input |
| Pin 29 | PC7 (TOSC2) — Port C bit 7 / Timer oscillator output |
| Pin 30 | AVCC — Analog supply voltage for ADC |
| Pin 31 | GND — Analog ground |
| Pin 32 | AREF — ADC analog reference voltage |
| Pin 33 | PA0 (ADC0) — Port A bit 0 / ADC channel 0 |
| Pin 34 | PA1 (ADC1) — Port A bit 1 / ADC channel 1 |
| Pin 35 | PA2 (ADC2) — Port A bit 2 / ADC channel 2 |
| Pin 36 | PA3 (ADC3) — Port A bit 3 / ADC channel 3 |
| Pin 37 | PA4 (ADC4) — Port A bit 4 / ADC channel 4 |
| Pin 38 | PA5 (ADC5) — Port A bit 5 / ADC channel 5 |
| Pin 39 | PA6 (ADC6) — Port A bit 6 / ADC channel 6 |
| Pin 40 | PA7 (ADC7) — Port A bit 7 / ADC channel 7 |
Typical Applications
ATMEGA163L-4PC is suitable for 6 applications: Legacy Industrial Control Boards, Embedded Systems Education and Training, Laboratory and Test Instruments, Obsolete Socket Refurbishment and Reverse Logistics, Low-Power Battery-Operated Devices, Automotive and Machinery Retrofit Repairs.
Legacy Industrial Control Boards
The ATMEGA163L-4PC remains a workhorse for maintaining aging industrial controllers that were designed around the ATmega163 socket in the 1990s and 2000s. Its 16KB ISP FLASH and 512 bytes EEPROM cover the firmware and calibration-data footprints of typical relay-sequencing, sensor-polling, and motor-timing programs, while the 4MHz AVR core delivers deterministic 4 MIPS throughput sufficient for these control loops. Because the 40-pin PDIP is socketed on most legacy PCBs, field replacement takes minutes without desoldering equipment. The ISP interface lets technicians update firmware in place via the SPI header. When raw stock runs out, the pin-compatible ATMEGA16-16PC allows board-level substitution with a firmware recompile. Recommended companion parts include crystal oscillators in the 1-4MHz range and MAX232-type RS-232 transceivers for the USART link used by most legacy HMI panels.
Recommended
Embedded Systems Education and Training
The through-hole 40-PDIP package and AVR architecture make the ATMEGA163L-4PC ideal for university embedded-systems labs and vocational training on legacy equipment. Students can insert and remove the chip from a breadboard or ZIF socket without SMD tooling, and the In-System Programmable 16KB FLASH supports rapid compile-flash-debug cycles using simple SPI programmers. The mostly single-cycle AVR instruction set produces predictable assembly timing, which is pedagogically valuable for teaching interrupt latency and timer concepts at the 4MHz (4 MIPS) grade. Its 1KB SRAM and 512B EEPROM are large enough for meaningful C programs yet small enough to force efficient coding habits. Where new lab stock is needed, the same socket accepts the ATMEGA16-16PC, so training materials written for ATmega163 migrate with only minor recompilation, protecting curriculum investment.
Recommended
Laboratory and Test Instruments
Bench instruments built in the ATmega163 era - power supplies, thermocouple meters, and function-generator front ends - used this MCU for front-panel control and measurement sequencing. The ATMEGA163L-4PC provides the USART for PC communication, SPI for external ADCs, and hardware PWM suitable for heater or fan control, all within the 4MHz clock budget of quiet analog environments. The low-voltage L-grade suits designs sharing a 3.3-5V mixed rail with later-generation ADCs, while the 512-byte EEPROM retains calibration constants across power cycles without external NVRAM. Because the part is DIP-40 through-hole, instrument service departments can replace the MCU in minutes and reflash calibration firmware over ISP. For instruments requiring more measurement channels, the pin-compatible ATMEGA162-16PC adds a second USART for multi-port communication with only a firmware update.
Recommended
Obsolete Socket Refurbishment and Reverse Logistics
Electronic manufacturing services (EMS) and repair shops face recurring demand to refill ATmega163 sockets on customer boards that are otherwise healthy. The ATMEGA163L-4PC is the designated exact-fit device: same 40-PDIP outline, same ATmega163 register map, same 4MHz speed grade - so the original firmware binary can be flashed and returned to service without any code modification. Stocking strategy should combine new-old-stock ATmega163L for transparent swaps with pre-qualified ATMEGA16-16PC replacements for when NOS dries up. Since the ATmega16 accepts the same socket, the refurbishment workflow is: flash on ATmega163L when available; otherwise recompile source to ATmega16 targets. The In-System Programmable FLASH means no UV eraser or parallel programmer is needed - a standard SPI ISP cable handles all programming, even with the chip already seated on the customer board.
Recommended
Low-Power Battery-Operated Devices
The L-grade ATMEGA163L-4PC targets battery-powered and low-voltage designs that run from approximately 2.7V supplies, including portable meters, data loggers, and remote sensor nodes of its era. Operating the AVR core at 4MHz from a low-voltage rail keeps dynamic current low, and the AVR architecture's power-down idle modes (per the ATmega163 datasheet) allow duty-cycled sampling that stretches battery life. The 512-byte EEPROM stores logged thresholds or device serial numbers without external memory, and the USART streams data to a radio or serial link. Designers should confirm the exact voltage range and current-consumption figures in the datasheet electrical characteristics table, since the low-voltage grade derates maximum clock frequency. For new low-power designs, Microchip's megaAVR low-power successors preserve the 40-PDIP footprint while improving sleep-mode current by an order of magnitude.
Recommended
Automotive and Machinery Retrofit Repairs
Retrofit and remanufacturing programs for machinery, agricultural equipment, and vehicle test rigs frequently encounter ATmega163-based controller boards where replacement boards are discontinued. The ATMEGA163L-4PC fills that socket directly: 16KB ISP FLASH accommodates the original control firmware, the 16-bit timer generates servo or injector pulse-width modulation, and PORTC can drive multiplexed indicator displays. Working on the 4MHz grade keeps EMI low in noisy engine-bay environments and simplifies EMC compliance of the retrofit. Technicians value the socketed DIP-40 form factor because controller swaps occur at the customer site with a pocket programmer. For deployments in wide-temperature engine compartments, verify the C (commercial) temperature suffix against the application environment and consider the industrial-grade ATMEGA16-16PI pin-compatible substitute where -40C operation is required.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA163L-4PC — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA16-16PC | ATMEGA16-16PI | ATMEGA162-16PC | ATMEGA162V-1PC | ATMEGA161L-4PI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 40-PDIP (0.600 in) | 40-PDIP (0.600 in) - same | 40-PDIP (0.600 in) - same | 40-PDIP (0.600 in) - same | 40-PDIP (0.600 in) - same | 40-PDIP (0.600 in) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) |
| Max Clock Frequency | 4 MHz | 16 MHz | 16 MHz | 16 MHz | 1 MHz | 4 MHz |
| FLASH Memory | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB |
| SRAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB |
| EEPROM | 512 bytes | 512 bytes | 512 bytes | 512 bytes | 512 bytes | 512 bytes |
| USART Channels | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| JTAG Debug | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Active | Active | Active | Active | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- Only exact-fit device for ATmega163 sockets (vs ATMEGA16-16PC)
- Low-voltage L-grade operation (vs ATMEGA16-16PC)
- Cost of obsolescence (vs ATMEGA16-16PC)
Design Notes
The L-grade suffix indicates low-voltage operation - confirm the exact guaranteed range in the ATmega163L datasheet electrical characteristics before connecting the rail, and decouple VCC and AVCC separately: place 100nF ceramic capacitors within 5mm of pins 10 and 30, plus a 10uF bulk capacitor near the socket. AVCC (pin 30) must be connected even if the ADC is unused, and AREF (pin 32) should have a 100nF capacitor to ground when using the internal reference. Estimated: an ATmega163 at 4MHz from 3.3V draws single-digit mA active current per Atmel-era AVR figures, so a 100mA regulator has ample margin.
For socketed through-hole designs, keep the crystal (XTAL1/XTAL2, pins 13-12) within 15mm of the pins with load capacitors matched to the crystal specification (typically 12-22pF for ATmel-era crystals - verify with the crystal datasheet). Route the SPI ISP header (MOSI PB4, MISO PB5, SCK PB6, RESET pin 9) as a short 6-pin header; series 100-ohm resistors on SCK and MOSI reduce ringing on longer ribbon cables. Keep the RESET trace short and add a 10k pull-up to VCC to prevent spurious resets from noise in industrial environments.
Do not assume the ATMEGA163 is a binary-compatible drop for ATmega16 or vice versa: register maps, ADC configuration, and timer behavior differ between the two silicon generations, so original binaries must be recompiled when migrating. Also note this 'C' suffix part is commercial temperature range only - it is not suitable for -40C automotive applications without validating the actual range; choose the PI (industrial) suffix substitutes where wide temperature is required. Finally, because the part is obsolete, qualify a second-source strategy (pre-flashed ATMEGA16-16PC) before committing to new production.
Compliance Information
Compliance data not stated in the retrieved distributor listings for this obsolete part; verify with Microchip product archive.
