ATMEGA164PA-CUR - AVR 8-Bit MCU 20MHz 16KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA164PA-CUR β Active| 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 |
ATMEGA164PA-CUR Overview
An 8-bit AVR microcontroller is a single-chip computer integrating a RISC CPU core, program flash, SRAM, EEPROM, and peripheral functions such as timers, USARTs, and ADCs on one die. Within the power-management and embedded-processing hierarchy, the ATmega family sits under the AVR MCU line from Atmel, now Microchip Technology, and targets cost- and power-sensitive embedded control.
Key features include 16 KB of in-system programmable flash with read-while-write capability, 512 B EEPROM, 32 general purpose I/O lines, and 32 general purpose working registers. The AVR core executes most of its 133 powerful instructions in a single clock cycle, achieving throughput approaching 1 MIPS per MHz so designers can optimize power consumption versus processing speed.
Technical depth comes from the picoPower technology platform, which provides multiple sleep modes and a real-time counter for ultra-low standby current. Connectivity peripherals include two USARTs, a byte-oriented Two-Wire serial interface (I2C-compatible), an SPI port, and an 8-channel 10-bit ADC, all clocked from an internal or external source up to 20 MHz.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes, portable consumer devices, and industrial control boards where the compact 5x5 mm VFBGA footprint minimizes board area and the picoPower modes extend battery life.
A key design consideration: the -CU/-CUR VFBGA option sacrifices some through-hole accessibility versus TQFP parts, so plan test points and programming pads during layout.
This page synthesizes distributor availability, same-family drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA164PA-CUR β 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 ATMEGA164PA-CUR (same form factor and footprint) β differing in ADC, Flash Memory, SRAM, Timers/Counters.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA324PA-CUR
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA324PA-CU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA644PA-CUR
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA1284P-CUR
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA164PA-CUR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | AVR |
| Core Size | 8-Bit |
| Speed | 20 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB (8K x 16) |
| EEPROM | 512 B |
| SRAM | 1 KB (1K x 8) |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| Number of I/O | 32 general purpose I/O lines |
| Timers/Counters | Three flexible timer/counters with compare modes and PWM |
| Connectivity | I2C (Two-Wire), SPI, UART/USART (two USARTs) |
| ADC | 8-channel, 10-bit |
| Package | 49-VFBGA (5x5 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Data Converter Resolution | 10-bit |
| Series | AVR ATmega picoPower |
| Oscillator Type | Internal |
ATMEGA164PA-CUR 49-vfbga (5x5 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATMEGA164PA-CUR (49-vfbga (5x5 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 ATMEGA164PA-CUR.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATMEGA164PA-CUR is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes, Industrial Control Boards, Portable Consumer Devices, Embedded Networking and Communication Nodes, Motor Control and PWM Actuation, Medical and Diagnostic Accessories.
Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes
The ATMEGA164PA-CUR fits battery-powered sensor nodes because its picoPower technology, 1.8 V minimum supply, and real-time counter allow the MCU to spend most of its life in sleep while waking on timer or pin events. A node sampling an external sensor through the 8-channel 10-bit ADC at low duty cycle benefits from the AVR core's near 1 MIPS/MHz efficiency, letting firmware finish acquisition and radio or USART packet transmission quickly before re-entering sleep. With 16 KB flash there is room for a full protocol stack plus calibration routines, while the 512 B EEPROM stores device identity and trimming data across power cycles. The compact 49-VFBGA (5x5 mm) package keeps the PCB below coin-cell form-factor limits, and running at reduced clock from a single-cell supply directly reduces active-mode energy per measurement.
Recommended
Industrial Control Boards
In industrial control, the ATMEGA164PA-CUR serves as a compact logic controller where the 1.8 V to 5.5 V supply range tolerates noisy 5 V rails and the two USARTs link PLC backplanes, Modbus RTU gateways, or operator panels. Three timer/counters with compare modes and PWM drive relays, valve drivers, or LED indicators directly, while the 8-channel 10-bit ADC reads potentiometers, current-shunt amplifiers, and temperature inputs without external conversion silicon. The 32 GPIO lines switch discrete I/O modules, and the byte-oriented Two-Wire interface manages EEPROM or RTC companions on the board. The 49-VFBGA (5x5 mm) footprint lets designers integrate control logic onto dense mixed-signal carrier boards, and the active lifecycle status from Microchip supports long-run industrial production programs with multi-year sourcing.
Recommended
Portable Consumer Devices
Portable consumer products gain from the ATMEGA164PA-CUR's combination of small 5x5 mm VFBGA area, low sleep current, and rich connectivity in one die. Two USARTs handle accessory and charger-IC links, the SPI port drives displays or external flash for graphics assets, and the Two-Wire interface reads capacitive touch or fuel-gauge controllers. The 20 MHz AVR core executes the 133-instruction RISC set mostly in single cycles, so user-interface latency stays low even at conservative clock settings that preserve battery runtime. The 16 KB flash accommodates HID firmware, menu logic, and OTA-style bootloaders, while the 1 KB SRAM buffers display frames and communication packets. Surface-mount BGA assembly supports the thin, dense stacked boards typical of handheld and wearable product mechanical designs.
Recommended
Embedded Networking and Communication Nodes
Communication nodes use the ATMEGA164PA-CUR where its two independent USARTs let one channel talk to a host while a second services a modem, RS-485 transceiver, or wireless module simultaneously. The hardware SPI streams configuration bytes to RF front-ends at multi-MHz rates, and the Two-Wire interface reads MAC or calibration data from serial EEPROM at boot. With near 1 MIPS/MHz throughput, the core can run checksum and framing in firmware while servicing interrupt-driven serial traffic without dropping bytes. The 16 KB flash fits protocol stacks such as Modbus or custom mesh firmware with bootloader space reserved, and the 10-bit ADC supervises supply and antenna VSWR-style analog health monitors. The 49-VFBGA package minimizes the controller's footprint beneath shield cans on compact radio boards.
Recommended
Motor Control and PWM Actuation
The ATMEGA164PA-CUR suits small motor-control tasks because three flexible timer/counters generate complementary PWM with compare modes for DC motor speed control, servo positioning, and fan drive. The 10-bit ADC reads back current-sense amplifiers and position potentiometers for closed-loop firmware, while external interrupts on the 32 GPIO lines capture quadrature encoder edges. At 20 MHz, the AVR core executes control-loop arithmetic in single cycles per instruction, supporting kHz-rate PID loops with comfortable margin. The 1.8 V to 5.5 V supply range allows direct operation from the same rail as low-voltage motor drivers, and picoPower sleep modes keep standby consumption low when the actuator is idle between commands. The 49-VFBGA package places the controller directly under or beside driver circuitry on dense actuator PCBs.
Recommended
Medical and Diagnostic Accessories
Low-cost medical accessories such as glucose meters, thermometry probes, and home-monitoring peripherals leverage the ATMEGA164PA-CUR's 10-bit ADC for front-end measurement, its EEPROM for calibration coefficients required across replacement of the disposable portion, and its two USARTs for docking-station or BLE-bridge communication. PicoPower sleep modes extend coin-cell or AAA runtime between charges, an important usability factor in home healthcare, while the 1.8 V floor supports single-cell chemistries. The 49-VFBGA (5x5 mm) package enables slim, ergonomically curved PCB stacks inside handheld enclosures, and the deterministic single-cycle AVR instruction set simplifies safety review of measurement timing firmware. Designers should pair the MCU with precision analog front-ends and follow the manufacturer datasheet guidelines for analog reference decoupling to protect measurement repeatability.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA164PA-CUR β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA324PA-CUR | ATMEGA324PA-CU | ATMEGA644PA-CUR | ATMEGA1284P-CUR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 49-VFBGA (5x5 mm) | 49-VFBGA (5x5 mm) - same | 49-VFBGA (5x5 mm) - same | 49-VFBGA (5x5 mm) - same | 49-VFBGA (5x5 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 64 KB | 128 KB |
| Core / Speed | AVR 8-bit, 20 MHz | AVR 8-bit, 20 MHz | AVR 8-bit, 20 MHz | AVR 8-bit, 20 MHz | AVR 8-bit, 20 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 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 |
| Connectivity | I2C, SPI, 2x USART | I2C, SPI, 2x USART | I2C, SPI, 2x USART | I2C, SPI, 2x USART | I2C, SPI, 2x USART |
| Packaging Suffix | R (Tape & Reel) | R (Tape & Reel) | Tray | R (Tape & Reel) | R (Tape & Reel) |
| Lifecycle Status | Active | Active | Active | Active | Active |
Key Differentiators
- Smallest memory tier minimizes cost in the pin-compatible family (vs ATMEGA324PA-CUR)
- picoPower platform with 1.8 V minimum supply (vs ATMEGA1284P-CUR)
- Tape & Reel packing for automated assembly (vs ATMEGA164PA-CU (tray))
Design Notes
The 49-VFBGA (5x5 mm) package requires a fine-pitch BGA land pattern with via-in-pad or dogbone fanout on inner balls. Verify the official ball map in the Microchip family datasheet before routing, because this page does not reproduce the ballout figure. Plan programming pads (ISP header or pogo pads for RESET, MOSI, MISO, SCK, VCC, GND) early - BGA balls are not probe-friendly during bring-up. Estimated: keep decoupling capacitors within 2 mm of each VCC/GND ball pair per standard AVR layout practice.
The 1.8 V to 5.5 V supply range means clock-speed capability is voltage dependent: the full 20 MHz rating applies only at the upper voltage region defined in the datasheet safe-operating figure. Running 20 MHz near 1.8 V is out of specification. Provide local 100 nF decoupling per supply ball plus bulk 4.7 uF, and use picoPower sleep modes between ADC conversions to cut average current in battery designs.
Do not confuse ordering suffixes: -CUR is Tape & Reel and -CU is Tray - identical die and footprint. When migrating firmware from ATMEGA164PA to ATMEGA324PA in the same footprint, recompile with the correct device selected; the shared family datasheet confirms pin compatibility but flash org tables differ. Avoid mixing the obsolete through-hole ATMEGA164PA-PU footprint assumptions with this BGA part.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance inferred from the standard Microchip -CUR (RoHS Tape & Reel) ordering code; REACH and halogen-free status should be confirmed via the Microchip product page compliance certificates.
