ATMEGA168-15AT1 - 16MHz AVR 16KB Flash MCU 32-TQFP | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA168-15AT1 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.85 | $1.85 |
| 10 | $1.66 | $16.60 |
| 100 | $1.42 | $142.00 |
| 500 | $1.25 | $625.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.1 | $1,100.00 |
ATMEGA168-15AT1 Overview
An 8-bit AVR microcontroller is a single-chip computer integrating a RISC processor core, program memory (FLASH), data memory (SRAM and EEPROM), and peripherals on one die. Within the power-management and embedded-systems hierarchy, microcontrollers like the ATmega168 sit at the device-control layer, executing firmware that manages sensors, actuators, and communication in electronic products.
Key features include 16KB of self-programmable FLASH with read-while-write capability, 512B of EEPROM, 1KB of internal SRAM, and 23 general-purpose I/O lines. The advanced RISC architecture executes 133 powerful instructions, most in a single clock cycle, with 32 general-purpose working registers directly connected to the ALU.
Technical depth: the AVR enhanced RISC core achieves near-1 MIPS/MHz efficiency, letting designers trade clock speed directly for power savings. Peripherals include two 8-bit timers, one 16-bit timer, a 10-bit ADC with 8 channels, USI-capable serial interfaces (SPI and I2C-compatible TWI), a USART, analog comparator, and six PWM channels. In-circuit debugging and In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) are supported via the reset line and two device I/O pins.
Typical applications include automotive body-control and sensor nodes (leveraging the -15AT1 temperature grade and AEC-Q100 qualification), industrial control and instrumentation, and consumer embedded systems such as appliances, keyboards, and battery chargers.
Design consideration: decouple VCC and AVCC separately with 100nF ceramics placed close to pins 4/6 and 18, and keep the analog ground path clean to preserve ADC accuracy in mixed-signal layouts.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, pin-compatible drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA168-15AT1 — 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 ATMEGA168-15AT1 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, Instruction Set, Serial Interfaces, Program Memory Size.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA168PA-AU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$0.98 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA168A-AU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$1.42 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA328P-AU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$1.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA88-15AT1
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA48-15AT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA168-15AZ
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$2.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA168-15AT1 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | AVR |
| Core Size | 8-Bit |
| Speed | 16 MHz |
| Program Memory Size | 16 KB (8K x 16) FLASH |
| EEPROM Size | 512 B |
| RAM Size | 1 KB SRAM |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.7 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Count | 23 (product page); up to 53 I/O listed for family variants |
| Timers | Two 8-bit, one 16-bit |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit |
| PWM Channels | 6 |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +105C |
| Package | 32-TQFP (7x7 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Qualification | AEC-Q100 Qualified |
| Programming Interface | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) |
| Lifecycle Status | Active |
ATMEGA168-15AT1 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PD3 — Port D bit 3 / INT1 / OC2B / PCINT19 |
| Pin 2 | PD4 — Port D bit 4 / XCK / T0 / PCINT20 |
| Pin 3 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 4 | VCC — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 5 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 6 | VCC — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 7 | PB6 — Port B bit 6 / XTAL1 / TOSC1 |
| Pin 8 | PB7 — Port B bit 7 / XTAL2 / TOSC2 |
| Pin 9 | PD5 — Port D bit 5 / OC0B / T1 / PCINT21 |
| Pin 10 | PD6 — Port D bit 6 / OC0A / AIN0 / PCINT22 |
| Pin 11 | PD7 — Port D bit 7 / AIN1 / PCINT23 |
| Pin 12 | PB0 — Port B bit 0 / ICP1 / CLKO / PCINT0 |
| Pin 13 | PB1 — Port B bit 1 / OC1A / PCINT1 |
| Pin 14 | PB2 — Port B bit 2 / SS / OC1B / PCINT2 |
| Pin 15 | PB3 — Port B bit 3 / MOSI / OC2A / PCINT3 |
| Pin 16 | PB4 — Port B bit 4 / MISO / PCINT4 |
| Pin 17 | PB5 — Port B bit 5 / SCK / PCINT5 |
| Pin 18 | AVCC — ADC supply voltage |
| Pin 19 | ADC6 — ADC input channel 6 |
| Pin 20 | AREF — Analog reference voltage |
| Pin 21 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 22 | ADC7 — ADC input channel 7 |
| Pin 23 | PC0 — Port C bit 0 / ADC0 / PCINT8 |
| Pin 24 | PC1 — Port C bit 1 / ADC1 / PCINT9 |
| Pin 25 | PC2 — Port C bit 2 / ADC2 / PCINT10 |
| Pin 26 | PC3 — Port C bit 3 / ADC3 / PCINT11 |
| Pin 27 | PC4 — Port C bit 4 / ADC4 / SDA / PCINT12 |
| Pin 28 | PC5 — Port C bit 5 / ADC5 / SCL / PCINT13 |
| Pin 29 | PC6 — Port C bit 6 / RESET / PCINT14 |
| Pin 30 | PD0 — Port D bit 0 / RXD / PCINT16 |
| Pin 31 | PD1 — Port D bit 1 / TXD / PCINT17 |
| Pin 32 | PD2 — Port D bit 2 / INT0 / PCINT18 |
Typical Applications
ATMEGA168-15AT1 is suitable for 6 applications: Automotive Body and Sensor Nodes, Industrial Control and Instrumentation, Consumer Embedded Systems, Battery-Powered and Low-Power Devices, Motor Control and PWM Actuation, Hobby, Education, and Prototyping.
Automotive Body and Sensor Nodes
The ATMEGA168-15AT1 fits automotive body-control and sensor-node duties because it combines AEC-Q100 qualification with a -40C to +105C operating range, covering under-hood-adjacent and cabin environments. Its 16KB FLASH accommodates LIN-style polling firmware, while the 10-bit ADC digitizes resistive sensor inputs such as coolant level or position feedback with 1024-count resolution. The 2.7V to 5.5V supply tolerates automotive 5V regulated rails with margin. Used with the internal 8MHz RC oscillator, the MCU needs no external crystal for non-timing-critical nodes, reducing BOM cost. Developers should use brown-out detection enabled at ~2.7V to protect EEPROM integrity during crank transients.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Instrumentation
In industrial control panels and small instrumentation, the ATMEGA168-15AT1 provides deterministic single-cycle instruction execution approaching 1 MIPS per MHz, which simplifies timing analysis for control loops. The 10-bit ADC with 8 multiplexed channels and differential mode reads up to eight analog process signals, while six PWM channels drive actuators, heaters, or proportional valves. The USART links to RS-485 transceivers for Modbus RTU networks, and the I2C-compatible TWI interfaces EEPROM or RTC chips. The -15AT1 industrial temperature rating survives panel enclosures at +105C. Designers commonly pair it with optocoupler-isolated inputs to meet industrial isolation requirements.
Recommended
Consumer Embedded Systems
The ATMEGA168-15AT1 is a cost-effective controller for consumer appliances, keyboards, chargers, and small appliances where 16KB of FLASH covers full application firmware plus bootloaders. Its wide 2.7V to 5.5V supply supports two-cell battery operation and 5V USB-adjacent designs. Single-cycle RISC execution keeps interrupt latency predictable for button scanning and encoder inputs, and the pin-change interrupts on all port pins enable low-power wake-up. In production, ICSP allows firmware updates through a two-pin interface using the reset line, so unprogrammed devices can be flashed on the assembled board. The internal RC oscillator eliminates crystal cost for non-timing-critical consumer functions.
Recommended
Battery-Powered and Low-Power Devices
For battery-powered meters, remote controls, and dataloggers, the ATMEGA168-15AT1 offers multiple sleep modes including power-down, in which current drops to microamp levels while pin-change interrupts remain armed for wake-up. Running from 2.7V to 5.5V, it operates directly from two or three alkaline cells without a regulator in many designs. The internal 128kHz RC oscillator option supports low-speed, low-power processing tasks, while the ADC noise-canceler sleep mode improves analog measurement accuracy between conversions. Combining power-down sleep with watchdog-timed wake-ups yields multi-year battery life. Designers should disable unused peripheral clocks via the power-reduction registers to minimize average draw.
Recommended
Motor Control and PWM Actuation
The ATMEGA168-15AT1 drives small DC and stepper motors through its six PWM channels, including two high-speed 8-bit PWM outputs (OC0A/OC0B) and two 16-bit PWM outputs (OC1A/OC1B) suitable for servo and fan control with 16-bit duty resolution. The dead-time-capable timer1 outputs can drive half-bridge gate drivers for brushed-DC H-bridges. The analog comparator with internal bandgap reference enables overcurrent or stall detection without an external comparator. At 16MHz, PWM frequencies up to 62.5kHz are achievable on 8-bit timers, placing switching above audible range. Always pair the MCU with adequate freewheeling diodes and gate-driver ICs for inductive loads.
Recommended
Hobby, Education, and Prototyping
The ATmega168 family underpins the classic Arduino ecosystem, making the ATMEGA168-15AT1 attractive for educational platforms and hobby products derived from Arduino-compatible designs. ICSP programming works with the MPLAB Snap, AVRISP mkII, or USBasp programmers through the two-pin plus reset interface, and the 32 general-purpose working registers make assembly teaching straightforward. The 16MHz crystal-based reference gives consistent UART timing for serial debugging, while the 10-bit ADC supports analog sensor labs. Because the ATMEGA328P-AU is pin-compatible with double the memory, prototypes can migrate upward without PCB changes when firmware outgrows 16KB, protecting layout investment during course or product iteration.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA168-15AT1 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA168PA-AU | ATMEGA168A-AU | ATMEGA328P-AU | ATMEGA88-15AT1 | ATMEGA48-15AT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 32-TQFP (7x7 mm) | 32-TQFP (7x7 mm) - same | 32-TQFP (7x7 mm) - same | 32-TQFP (7x7 mm) - same | 32-TQFP (7x7 mm) - same | 32-TQFP (7x7 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology (Atmel) |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB | 8 KB | 4 KB |
| SRAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 2 KB | 1 KB | 512 B |
| Max Clock Speed | 16 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 16 MHz | 16 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 2.7 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 | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +105C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +105C | -40C to +105C |
Key Differentiators
- Extended +105C automotive temperature range (vs ATMEGA168A-AU)
- Pin-compatible upgrade to 32KB FLASH (vs ATMEGA328P-AU)
- Cost optimization path within same footprint (vs ATMEGA88-15AT1)
Design Notes
Connect VCC (pins 4, 6) and AVCC (pin 18) to the same 2.7V-5.5V rail, but decouple AVCC separately with a 100nF ceramic plus optional 10uH ferrite/inductor when ADC accuracy matters. AVCC must not lag VCC at power-up or the ADC port pins can latch up. Enable the 2.7V brown-out detector (BODLEVEL fuse) on automotive rails to protect EEPROM and FLASH during cold-crank voltage dips.
Place the 0.1uF decoupling capacitors within 2 mm of the VCC/GND pairs (pins 3-6) and route a solid ground plane under the TQFP-32. Keep the XTAL1/XTAL2 crystal (pins 7-8) traces under 10 mm with guard grounding, and keep the AREF node (pin 20) away from PWM and UART switching traces. Use the exposed-free TQFP 0.8 mm pitch land pattern per IPC-7351 but verify against the Microchip footprint before release.
PC6 (pin 29) is RESET by default - if it is reused as GPIO, ISP programming is disabled, a frequent lock-out mistake. Also note the 16MHz ceiling: ATmega168 cores are rated to 16MHz at 4.5-5.5V and lower speed at reduced VCC per the frequency-voltage curve; running 16MHz at 2.7V is out of spec. Check fuse settings (CLKDIV8, CKOUT) after programming - factory CKDIV8 halves the clock and confuses first-time bring-up.
Compliance Information
AEC-Q100 qualification and -40C to +105C rating confirmed via Microchip USA product listing. RoHS/REACH status for this specific ordering code was not stated in provided data; check the Microchip product page certificate of conformance.
