ATMEGA168A-CCUR - 8-Bit AVR MCU 16KB Flash 20MHz | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA168A-CCUR ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.2 | $3.20 |
| 10 | $2.88 | $28.80 |
| 100 | $2.45 | $245.00 |
| 500 | $2.15 | $1,075.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.92 | $1,920.00 |
ATMEGA168A-CCUR Overview
A microcontroller unit (MCU) is a single integrated circuit that combines a processor core, program memory, data memory, and peripherals into one chip, forming the lowest level of the embedded-system hierarchy (MCU -> embedded processor -> microprocessor -> semiconductor device). The AVR family popularized single-cycle RISC execution, in which most of the 131 instructions complete in one clock cycle through 32 x 8 general-purpose working registers, delivering up to 20 MIPS at 20 MHz in fully static operation.
Key features of the ATMEGA168A-CCUR include read-while-write FLASH for safe in-application self-programming, in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) via two I/O pins plus reset, and three flexible timers. The AVR core's Harvard architecture separates program and data buses, sustaining deterministic single-cycle execution that suits real-time control loops.
Architecturally, the device belongs to the ATmega48/88/168 family, sharing a common pinout and register map across memory tiers. This lets designers scale FLASH from 4 KB to 16 KB without PCB redesign, and the ATmega168A is a low-power 'A' revision of the classic ATmega168.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes, consumer appliance control, LED lighting controllers, and small motor-control boards, where 16 KB of code space and 20 MHz throughput cover the majority of mid-range embedded tasks. The compact 4 x 4 mm UFBGA footprint suits space-constrained two- and four-layer boards.
A key design consideration is ball-grid rework: UFBGA packages require reflow soldering and X-ray or microsection inspection, so prototype iterations are slower than with QFP/QFN alternatives. Verify your assembly partner supports 0.5 mm-class BGA placement before committing to the CCU footprint.
This page synthesizes distributor availability data, drop-in family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, with pricing and lifecycle verified as of 2026-09-16.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA168A-CCUR — 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 ATMEGA168A-CCUR (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Timers, Working Registers.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA168PA-CCUR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$0.58 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA88A-CCUR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA48A-CCUR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA168A-CCU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.84 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA168A-CCUR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | AVR 8-bit RISC |
| Core Size | 8-bit |
| Program Memory Type | FLASH |
| Program Memory Size | 16 KB (8K x 16) |
| EEPROM Size | 512 B (512 x 8) |
| RAM Size | 1 KB (1K x 8) |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.7 V to 5.5 V |
| Number of I/O | 23 |
| Instructions | 131 instructions, most single-cycle |
| Working Registers | 32 x 8 general purpose |
| Timers | 3 flexible timers |
| In-System Programming | Yes (ISP / ICSP via SPI + reset) |
| Read-While-Write Flash | Yes |
| Package | 32-UFBGA (4 x 4 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
ATMEGA168A-CCUR 32-ufbga (4 x 4 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATMEGA168A-CCUR (32-ufbga (4 x 4 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 ATMEGA168A-CCUR.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATMEGA168A-CCUR is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes, Consumer Appliance Control, LED Lighting Controllers, Small Motor Control, IoT Edge Devices, Educational and Hobby Embedded Platforms.
Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes
The ATMEGA168A-CCUR fits battery-powered sensing nodes because its fully static AVR core supports clock scaling and sleep modes across a 2.7 V to 5.5 V supply range, while the 16 KB FLASH and 1 KB SRAM accommodate sensor drivers plus a lightweight protocol stack. In a typical node, the MCU wakes on timer or pin-change interrupt, reads an I2C or SPI sensor over the hardware TWI/USART peripherals, and transmits through an external radio. The picoPower ATMEGA168PA-CCUR variant, pin-identical in the same UFBGA, further reduces sleep current. Budget roughly 16 KB minus bootloader space for code and verify sleep-state figures in the datasheet electrical characteristics at your operating voltage.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control
Appliance control boards benefit from the ATMEGA168A-CCUR's 20 MHz single-cycle RISC throughput, 23 GPIO lines for relay, button, and LED control, and three flexible timers for PWM-based heater or fan regulation. The 512 B EEPROM retains calibration data and user settings across power cycles, while read-while-write FLASH permits field firmware updates through the self-programming bootloader. The compact 4 x 4 mm UFBGA footprint fits crowded single-board appliance layouts. Designers should plan for 2.7 V to 5.5 V supply tolerance against mains-derived supplies and reserve SPI pins for in-circuit serial programming during production test and end-of-line firmware flashing.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controllers
LED lighting control maps naturally onto the ATMEGA168A-CCUR: hardware timers generate multi-channel PWM for dimming and color mixing, while the 20 MHz core executes gamma-correction and communication code with headroom. The 23 I/O lines drive MOSFET gates or constant-current drivers directly, and the ADC (per family datasheet) reads potentiometers, thermistors, or current-sense feedback for closed-loop brightness regulation. Operation from a 5 V rail eliminates level shifting against 5 V-tolerant peripherals. The UFBGA package keeps the controller footprint small inside lamp housings; ensure your assembly process supports 0.5 mm-class BGA reflow before committing the CCU package to a lighting product.
Recommended
Small Motor Control
The ATMEGA168A-CCUR handles brushed-DC and stepper motor control using its three timers: two generate complementary or phase-shifted PWM while the third provides tachometer input capture. The 20 MHz single-cycle core sustains deterministic control-loop latency, and hardware SPI/USART connect external gate drivers or a bridge IC. With 16 KB FLASH, a sensorless startup routine plus PI speed loop and communication protocol coexist comfortably in 1 KB SRAM given disciplined buffering. Power MOSFETs sized from their SOA charts should interface through the MCU's GPIO; the ATmega168A family datasheet electrical characteristics define drive currents for direct gate driving, which are modest - use a gate driver IC for anything beyond small motors.
Recommended
IoT Edge Devices
For cost-sensitive IoT edge nodes, the ATMEGA168A-CCUR serves as the local control MCU paired with an external radio module over UART or SPI. The 16 KB FLASH holds sensor fusion, a lightweight messaging protocol, and an OTA-capable bootloader consuming part of the flash via read-while-write self-programming. The 2.7 V to 5.5 V range interfaces directly with lithium-cell rails through an LDO, and sleep modes between radio transactions keep average current low. The 4 x 4 mm UFBGA minimizes board area in coin-cell form factors. When firmware approaches the 16 KB limit, migrate to the pin-compatible-in-TQFP ATMEGA328P-AU family member, which doubles memory while preserving the AVR register map.
Recommended
Educational and Hobby Embedded Platforms
The ATmega168 family underpins classic educational platforms, including early Arduino boards built on the ATmega168, and community toolchains such as MiniCore extend Arduino IDE support to ATmega48/88/168/328 devices. Students prototype on DIP or TQFP siblings like the ATMEGA168-20AU, then transition to the UFBGA-CCUR for compact production hardware without firmware changes, since the register map is package-independent. The 131-instruction AVR ISA with 32 working registers is a widely documented teaching target, and in-circuit serial programming via two I/O pins plus reset makes lab bring-up simple. This cross-package firmware portability is a distinct educational advantage of the AVR architecture.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA168A-CCUR — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA168PA-CCUR | ATMEGA88A-CCUR | ATMEGA48A-CCUR | ATMEGA168A-CCU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 32-UFBGA (4 x 4 mm) | 32-UFBGA (4 x 4 mm) - same | 32-UFBGA (4 x 4 mm) - same | 32-UFBGA (4 x 4 mm) - same | 32-UFBGA (4 x 4 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB (8K x 16) | 16 KB | 8 KB | 4 KB | 16 KB |
| SRAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 512 B | 1 KB |
| EEPROM | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 256 B | 512 B |
| Max Clock | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V (picoPower) | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V |
| Low-Power Features | Standard ATmega168A power profile | picoPower technology (lower sleep currents) | Standard ATmega88A power profile | Standard ATmega48A power profile | Standard ATmega168A power profile |
| Packaging Suffix | Tape & Reel (R) | Tape & Reel | Tape & Reel | Tape & Reel | Tray |
Key Differentiators
- 16 KB FLASH in the family-max UFBGA footprint (vs ATMEGA88A-CCUR)
- Identical memory set with picoPower option (vs ATMEGA168PA-CCUR)
- 20 MHz single-cycle RISC throughput in 4 x 4 mm (vs ATMEGA48A-CCUR)
Design Notes
The 32-UFBGA (4 x 4 mm) ball grid array requires microvia or via-in-pad fanout on a typical 4-layer board; a 2-layer board is possible only with careful 0.5 mm-class routing. Specify NSMD (non-solder-mask-defined) pads and follow the Microchip package outline drawing for pad diameter and mask opening. Because BGA joints are invisible after reflow, plan X-ray inspection or at minimum boundary-scan/functional test for production. For prototype iterations, consider laying out a dual footprint with a TQFP-32 ATMEGA168A-AU option during bring-up.
Decouple each VCC ball with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within a few millimeters of the ball, plus one bulk 4.7 uF to 10 uF capacitor near the supply entry. AVR cores exhibit transient supply current spikes during single-cycle instruction execution; a solid ground return through the GND balls is essential for clean ADC and oscillator operation. If running from a switching supply, add an RC or ferrite filter before the MCU rail to keep ripple within the 2.7 V to 5.5 V specification including transients.
Confirm the voltage-frequency derating curve before clocking 20 MHz at low supply: AVR speed grades specify maximum frequency versus VCC, and overclocking below the required voltage causes marginal execution failures that appear only at temperature extremes. Also remember the RESET ball doubles as the ICSP programming pin infrastructure - series resistors or diode clamps used for high-voltage reset disabling can block in-circuit serial programming. Reserve ISP access on your test fixture, and verify fuses (clock source, BOD level, lock bits) as part of production programming.
Compliance Information
Compliance status not stated in the provided web data. Verify against the Microchip product page environmental data sheet before export or automotive use.
