ATMEGA164PA-AUR - 8-Bit AVR MCU 16KB Flash 20MHz | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA164PA-AUR β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.42 | $3.42 |
| 10 | $3.08 | $30.80 |
| 100 | $2.74 | $274.00 |
| 500 | $2.46 | $1,230.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.19 | $2,190.00 |
| 3,000 | $2.05 | $6,150.00 |
ATMEGA164PA-AUR Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, non-volatile program memory, data memory, and peripheral blocks such as timers, serial interfaces, and analog-to-digital converters. Within the semiconductor taxonomy, the ATmega164PA sits at 8-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> integrated circuit, and it is the 16 KB member of the pin-compatible ATmega164A/324A/644A/1284 family.
Key features include 16 KB Flash with read-while-write support, 512 B EEPROM for parameter storage, 1 KB SRAM, 32 general-purpose working registers, two USARTs, a byte-oriented Two-Wire serial interface (TWI/I2C), an 8-channel 10-bit ADC, three flexible timer/counters with compare modes and PWM, and a real-time counter with a separate oscillator. The picoPower architecture delivers near 1 MIPS per MHz throughput, allowing the designer to trade processing speed against power consumption.
The device uses the AVR enhanced RISC core with 131 instructions, most executing in a single clock cycle. In-system programming via SPI and JTAG (with the debugWIRE and JTAG ICE interfaces) supports field firmware updates and in-circuit debugging. The 44-pin TQFP footprint is shared across the ATmega164A/PA, 324A/PA, 644A/PA and 1284/1284P family, so a design can migrate to more Flash without changing the PCB.
Typical applications include industrial control and factory automation nodes, consumer appliance control boards, battery-powered portable instruments, motor control front ends, and legacy 8-bit designs migrating from the ATmega16/32. The wide 1.8 V to 5.5 V supply range and 32 I/O lines make it suitable for mixed 3.3 V and 5 V systems.
When designing with this device, decouple every VCC/AVCC pin with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed close to the pin, and keep the AREF and AVCC filtering separate from digital supply noise to preserve ADC accuracy. The AUR suffix denotes tape-and-reel packaging for automated assembly.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, giving engineers a single reference for selection, replacement, and layout decisions.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA164PA-AUR β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA164PA-AU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA324PA-AU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA644PA-AU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA1284P-AU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA164A-AU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA164PA-AUR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit AVR enhanced RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 16 KB (8K x 16) in-system programmable |
| EEPROM | 512 B |
| SRAM | 1 KB |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Throughput | Up to 20 MIPS at 20 MHz (1 MIPS/MHz) |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| General Purpose I/O Lines | 32 |
| General Purpose Working Registers | 32 |
| ADC | 8-channel, 10-bit successive approximation |
| Serial Interfaces | 2x USART, 1x TWI (I2C), 1x SPI |
| Timers | 2x 8-bit, 1x 16-bit with PWM and compare modes |
| Real-Time Counter | Yes, with separate oscillator |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| Package | 44-pin TQFP (10x10 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (AUR suffix) |
| Instruction Set | 131 powerful instructions, most single clock cycle |
| Programming Interfaces | SPI, JTAG (IEEE 1149.1), debugWIRE |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
ATMEGA164PA-AUR Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PB0 β Port B bit 0 / digital I/O (also XCK0, T0, PCINT8) |
| Pin 2 | PB1 β Port B bit 1 / digital I/O (also T1, CLKO, PCINT9) |
| Pin 3 | PB2 β Port B bit 2 / digital I/O (also INT2, AIN0, PCINT10) |
| Pin 4 | PB3 β Port B bit 3 / digital I/O (also AIN1, OC0A, PCINT11) |
| Pin 5 | PB4 β Port B bit 4 / digital I/O (also SS, OC0B, PCINT12) |
| Pin 6 | PB5 β Port B bit 5 / digital I/O (also MOSI, PCINT13) |
| Pin 7 | PB6 β Port B bit 6 / digital I/O (also MISO, PCINT14) |
| Pin 8 | PB7 β Port B bit 7 / digital I/O (also SCK, PCINT15) |
| Pin 9 | RESET β Reset input, active low |
| Pin 10 | VCC β Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 11 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 12 | XTAL2 β Crystal oscillator output / external clock input |
| Pin 13 | XTAL1 β Crystal oscillator input / internal clock |
| Pin 14 | PD0 β Port D bit 0 / digital I/O (also RXD0, PCINT16) |
| Pin 15 | PD1 β Port D bit 1 / digital I/O (also TXD0, PCINT17) |
| Pin 16 | PD2 β Port D bit 2 / digital I/O (also RXD1, INT0, PCINT18) |
| Pin 17 | PD3 β Port D bit 3 / digital I/O (also TXD1, INT1, PCINT19) |
| Pin 18 | PD4 β Port D bit 4 / digital I/O (also OC1B, PCINT20) |
| Pin 19 | PD5 β Port D bit 5 / digital I/O (also OC1A, PCINT21) |
| Pin 20 | PD6 β Port D bit 6 / digital I/O (also OC2B, PCINT22) |
| Pin 21 | PD7 β Port D bit 7 / digital I/O (also OC2A, PCINT23) |
| Pin 22 | PC0 β Port C bit 0 / digital I/O (also SCL, PCINT8) |
| Pin 23 | PC1 β Port C bit 1 / digital I/O (also SDA, PCINT9) |
| Pin 24 | PC2 β Port C bit 2 / digital I/O (also TCK, PCINT10) |
| Pin 25 | PC3 β Port C bit 3 / digital I/O (also TMS, PCINT11) |
| Pin 26 | PC4 β Port C bit 4 / digital I/O (also TDO, PCINT12) |
| Pin 27 | PC5 β Port C bit 5 / digital I/O (also TDI, PCINT13) |
| Pin 28 | PC6 β Port C bit 6 / digital I/O (also TOSC1, PCINT14) |
| Pin 29 | PC7 β Port C bit 7 / digital I/O (also TOSC2, PCINT15) |
| Pin 30 | AVCC β Analog supply voltage for ADC and port A |
| Pin 31 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 32 | AREF β Analog reference voltage for ADC |
| Pin 33 | PA7 β Port A bit 7 / ADC7 input |
| Pin 34 | PA6 β Port A bit 6 / ADC6 input |
| Pin 35 | PA5 β Port A bit 5 / ADC5 input |
| Pin 36 | PA4 β Port A bit 4 / ADC4 input |
| Pin 37 | PA3 β Port A bit 3 / ADC3 input |
| Pin 38 | PA2 β Port A bit 2 / ADC2 input |
| Pin 39 | PA1 β Port A bit 1 / ADC1 input |
| Pin 40 | PA0 β Port A bit 0 / ADC0 input |
| Pin 41 | VCC β Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 42 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 43 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 44 | GND β Ground |
Typical Applications
ATMEGA164PA-AUR is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control and Factory Automation, Battery-Powered Portable Instruments, Consumer Appliance Control Boards, Motor Control Front Ends, Legacy 8-Bit Design Migration, Embedded Sensor Nodes and Data Loggers.
Industrial Control and Factory Automation
The ATMEGA164PA-AUR fits industrial control nodes because its 32 general-purpose I/O lines, two USARTs, and 8-channel 10-bit ADC can directly interface sensors, relays, and RS-232/RS-485 transceivers without external glue logic. Operating from 1.8 V to 5.5 V and rated -40 C to +85 C, it tolerates the supply variation and temperature swings of factory-floor equipment. A typical node runs a 16 MHz crystal, samples analog process signals through the ADC, and reports over a USART to a PLC or gateway. The 16 KB Flash holds the control loop and Modbus stack, while the 512 B EEPROM stores calibration constants that survive power cycles. The trade-off is that 1 KB SRAM limits large buffer queues, so designs needing deep buffering should migrate to the pin-compatible ATMEGA1284P-AU.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Portable Instruments
The picoPower architecture of the ATMEGA164PA-AUR makes it well suited to battery-powered instruments, where active current and sleep-mode leakage directly determine runtime. The device supports multiple sleep modes down to power-down, and its real-time counter with a separate oscillator can wake the MCU periodically while the main clock is stopped. Running at 8 MHz from the internal RC oscillator at 3.3 V, a handheld meter can sample a sensor, update an LCD, and return to sleep, extending two AA-cell life to months. The 1.8 V minimum supply allows direct operation from a single Li-ion cell without a boost converter. The design trade-off is that the 10-bit ADC reference must be filtered carefully, since supply noise in a compact handheld enclosure can degrade measurement accuracy.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control Boards
White-goods and small-appliance control boards commonly use the ATMEGA164PA-AUR because it integrates the timers, PWM channels, and I/O needed to drive motors, heaters, and user-interface panels on one chip. Three timer/counters with compare and PWM modes can generate motor drive waveforms and backlight dimming simultaneously, while the 32 I/O lines scan buttons and drive LEDs. The 5.5 V maximum supply allows direct connection to 5 V peripherals, and the 16 KB Flash holds the appliance state machine and safety interlocks. In a typical washing-machine controller, the MCU reads a tachometer through a timer capture input and adjusts a triac firing angle. The limitation is that 1 KB SRAM constrains complex user menus, so premium appliances with graphical displays may need the 1284P variant.
Recommended
Motor Control Front Ends
The ATMEGA164PA-AUR can serve as a motor control front end for brushed DC and stepper motors, using its 16-bit timer with PWM to generate drive signals and its ADC to monitor current-sense shunts. At 20 MHz it delivers 20 MIPS, enough for a proportional-integral speed loop running at several kilohertz. The 32 I/O lines can drive a gate-driver IC directly or interface to an external H-bridge, and the two USARTs allow a host controller to send motion commands. The 10-bit ADC samples the shunt amplifier output for overcurrent protection, with the analog comparator providing a fast hardware trip. The trade-off is that the AVR core lacks a dedicated motor-control PWM peripheral, so high-performance field-oriented control of a three-phase motor is better served by a dedicated motor-control MCU.
Recommended
Legacy 8-Bit Design Migration
The ATMEGA164PA-AUR is a common migration target for designs originally built on the ATmega16 or ATmega32, because it offers the same 40/44-pin class footprint, 32 I/O lines, and AVR instruction-set compatibility while adding picoPower low-power modes and in-system programming. Firmware written for the older devices usually recompiles with only device-definition and fuse changes, and the 44-pin TQFP land pattern is widely supported. The 16 KB Flash matches the ATmega16, so code size is preserved. Engineers migrating should verify that any register-level code accounts for the PA revision's changed power-reduction register behavior. The main limitation is that legacy 5 V-only peripherals must be checked against the 1.8 V minimum supply, though the 5.5 V maximum keeps 5 V compatibility.
Recommended
Embedded Sensor Nodes and Data Loggers
The ATMEGA164PA-AUR works well as the controller in embedded sensor nodes and data loggers, where its 8-channel 10-bit ADC, TWI interface, and EEPROM make it easy to acquire and store measurements. A typical logger connects an I2C temperature or pressure sensor on the TWI bus, samples an analog channel through the ADC, timestamps readings with the real-time counter, and writes records to an external SPI Flash or EEPROM. The 512 B on-chip EEPROM stores configuration and calibration data, and the two USARTs allow either a host link or a wireless module connection. Sleep modes between samples keep average current low for long deployment. The 1 KB SRAM limits record buffering, so high-rate logging requires external memory or the pin-compatible ATMEGA1284P-AU.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA164PA-AUR β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA164PA-AU | ATMEGA324PA-AU | ATMEGA644PA-AU | ATMEGA1284P-AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 44-pin TQFP (10x10 mm) | 44-pin TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 44-pin TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 44-pin TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 44-pin TQFP (10x10 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB | 64 KB | 128 KB |
| SRAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 2 KB | 4 KB | 16 KB |
| EEPROM | 512 B | 512 B | 1 KB | 2 KB | 4 KB |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| General Purpose I/O Lines | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
| ADC Channels / Resolution | 8-channel, 10-bit | 8-channel, 10-bit | 8-channel, 10-bit | 8-channel, 10-bit | 8-channel, 10-bit |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (AUR) | Tray | Tray | Tray | Tray |
Key Differentiators
- picoPower low-power architecture (vs ATMEGA164A-AU)
- Pin-compatible memory scaling within one family (vs ATMEGA1284P-AU)
- Tape-and-reel packaging for automated assembly (vs ATMEGA164PA-AU)
- Wide 1.8 V to 5.5 V supply range (vs ATMEGA324PA-AU)
Design Notes
Decouple every VCC and AVCC pin with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed as close to the pin as possible, and add a 10 uF bulk capacitor near the package. The AVCC pin supplies the ADC and port A, so route it through a separate ferrite bead or RC filter from the digital VCC rail to keep switching noise out of the analog reference. Keep AREF decoupled with a 100 nF capacitor to GND. Estimated: at 20 MHz and 5 V, core current is on the order of 10 mA, so a 10 uF bulk capacitor provides ample transient reserve for typical I/O switching.
Use a solid ground plane under the 44-pin TQFP and connect the four GND pins (11, 31, 42, 43, 44) with short, wide traces to that plane. Place the crystal and its two load capacitors as close as possible to XTAL1/XTAL2, keep the crystal traces short and guarded by ground, and avoid routing high-speed signals beneath the crystal. For the ADC, keep analog input traces away from digital switching nodes and reference them to a quiet analog ground region.
Do not exceed the 5.5 V absolute maximum supply, and remember that the 20 MHz maximum clock requires at least 4.5 V - running 20 MHz at 3.3 V is outside the datasheet speed grade. Ensure the RESET pin is not left floating; use a 10 kOhm pull-up to VCC and a 100 nF capacitor to GND for reliable power-on reset. When migrating from the non-PA ATmega164P, review the power-reduction register and clock-prescaler behavior, since the PA revision changes low-power defaults.
Keep the ISP/JTAG programming header traces short and route them away from the crystal and ADC inputs. If debugWIRE is used, the RESET pin doubles as the debug interface, so any external reset circuitry must not load the debugWIRE line excessively. Provide test points on VCC, GND, RESET, and the programming signals to simplify production programming and field debugging.
Compliance Information
The ATMEGA164PA-AUR is RoHS compliant and lead-free per Microchip product documentation. It is not AEC-Q100 qualified and is rated for the industrial temperature range of -40 C to +85 C. Halogen-free status was not confirmed in the retrieved data.
