ATMEGA168PB-ANR - 8-bit AVR MCU 16KB Flash 20MHz TQFP-32 | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA168PB-ANR ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.1 | $1.10 |
| 10 | $0.99 | $9.90 |
| 100 | $0.86 | $86.00 |
| 500 | $0.78 | $390.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.72 | $720.00 |
ATMEGA168PB-ANR Overview
An 8-bit AVR microcontroller is a Harvard-architecture RISC processor that executes most instructions in a single clock cycle, placing it in the broader hierarchy of MCU -> embedded microcontroller -> semiconductor integrated circuit. AVR MCUs are widely used where low power, deterministic execution and simple single-supply design matter, from Arduino-compatible boards to industrial sensors.
Key features of the ATMEGA168PB include advanced RISC architecture with 131 instructions, 32 general-purpose 8-bit working registers, three flexible timer/counters (two 8-bit, one 16-bit), a 10-bit ADC, and picoPower technology for ultra-low sleep currents. The PB variant improves analog performance and adds extra pin-mapping flexibility versus the earlier ATmega168PA.
Technical depth: the device offers read-while-write FLASH for in-system programming, six sleep modes including power-down, USART, SPI and two-wire (I2C) serial interfaces, an on-chip oscillator option, and brown-out detection. Execution throughput reaches up to 20 MIPS at 20MHz, and the enriched feature set supports functional-safety-oriented designs.
Typical applications include industrial sensor nodes, consumer appliances, battery-powered meters, and hobbyist/Arduino-compatible boards where pin-compatible upgrades of ATmega48/88/168/328 sockets are needed.
Design consideration: keep AVCC connected to VCC through a low-pass network and never let the reset pin float; budget 20MHz timing only at 4.5V-5.5V or verify the voltage-frequency derating curve for 3.3V systems.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, pin-compatible alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA168PB-ANR — 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 ATMEGA168PB-ANR (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, EEPROM, Package, SRAM, Serial Interfaces.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA168PA-ANR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.44 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA168PA-MU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.72 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA168P-20AU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.91 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA168A-AU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.42 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA88PB-ANR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA328P-AU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA328PB-AU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.12 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA168PB-ANR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit AVR RISC |
| Flash Memory | 16KB (8K x 16) |
| EEPROM | 512B |
| SRAM | 1KB |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20MHz |
| General Purpose I/O | 27 lines |
| Timers/Counters | 2 x 8-bit, 1 x 16-bit |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit |
| Serial Interfaces | USART, SPI, 2-wire (I2C) |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| Low Power Technology | picoPower |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +105C |
| Package | 32-TQFP (7x7 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (ANR suffix) |
| Programming Interfaces | ISP, debugWIRE |
| Green Compliance | RoHS-compliant, halide-free (per Microchip ordering data) |
ATMEGA168PB-ANR Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PD3 (PCINT19/OC2B/INT1) — Port D bit 3, pin-change interrupt 19, Timer2 output compare B, external interrupt 1 |
| Pin 2 | PD4 (PCINT20/XCK/T0) — Port D bit 4, USART external clock, Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 3 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 4 | VCC — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 5 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 6 | VCC — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 7 | PB6 (PCINT6/XTAL1/TOSC1) — Port B bit 6, crystal oscillator input / timer oscillator |
| Pin 8 | PB7 (PCINT7/XTAL2/TOSC2) — Port B bit 7, crystal oscillator output |
| Pin 9 | PD5 (PCINT21/OC0B/T1) — Port D bit 5, Timer0 output compare B, Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 10 | PD6 (PCINT22/OC0A/AIN0) — Port D bit 6, Timer0 output compare A, analog comparator positive input |
| Pin 11 | PD7 (PCINT23/AIN1) — Port D bit 7, analog comparator negative input |
| Pin 12 | PB0 (PCINT0/CLKO/ICP1) — Port B bit 0, clock output, Timer1 input capture |
| Pin 13 | PB1 (PCINT1/OC1A) — Port B bit 1, Timer1 output compare A |
| Pin 14 | PB2 (PCINT2/SS/OC1B) — Port B bit 2, SPI slave select, Timer1 output compare B |
| Pin 15 | PB3 (PCINT3/OC2A/MOSI) — Port B bit 3, Timer2 output compare A, SPI master output |
| Pin 16 | PB4 (PCINT4/MISO) — Port B bit 4, SPI master input |
| Pin 17 | PB5 (PCINT5/SCK) — Port B bit 5, SPI clock |
| Pin 18 | AVCC — ADC supply voltage |
| Pin 19 | ADC6 — ADC input channel 6 |
| Pin 20 | AREF — Analog reference for ADC |
| Pin 21 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 22 | ADC7 — ADC input channel 7 |
| Pin 23 | PC0 (PCINT8/ADC0) — Port C bit 0, ADC channel 0 |
| Pin 24 | PC1 (PCINT9/ADC1) — Port C bit 1, ADC channel 1 |
| Pin 25 | PC2 (PCINT10/ADC2) — Port C bit 2, ADC channel 2 |
| Pin 26 | PC3 (PCINT11/ADC3) — Port C bit 3, ADC channel 3 |
| Pin 27 | PC4 (PCINT12/SDA/ADC4) — Port C bit 4, two-wire data line, ADC channel 4 |
| Pin 28 | PC5 (PCINT13/SCL/ADC5) — Port C bit 5, two-wire clock line, ADC channel 5 |
| Pin 29 | PC6 (PCINT14/RESET) — Reset input (active low), must be driven for ISP |
| Pin 30 | PD0 (PCINT16/RXD) — Port D bit 0, USART receive |
| Pin 31 | PD1 (PCINT17/TXD) — Port D bit 1, USART transmit |
| Pin 32 | PD2 (PCINT18/INT0) — Port D bit 2, external interrupt 0 |
Typical Applications
ATMEGA168PB-ANR is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Nodes, Battery-Powered Consumer Devices, Arduino-Compatible Hobby and Educational Boards, Home Appliance Control, Measurement and Instrumentation Front Ends, Automotive-Adjacent Body Electronics.
Industrial Sensor Nodes
The ATMEGA168PB-ANR fits industrial sensor nodes where a 1.8V-5.5V supply range, -40C to +105C temperature rating and picoPower sleep currents allow years of battery-assisted operation. Its 10-bit ADC digitizes bridge and analog sensor outputs directly, while SPI and two-wire interfaces connect digital sensors such as pressure or humidity ICs. The 16KB FLASH accommodates filtering, linearization and Modbus-style serial firmware with room for a bootloader. In a node powered from a 24V industrial rail via a regulator, the MCU spends most time in power-down mode, waking on pin-change or timer interrupts to sample and transmit over USART, keeping average current in the low-microamp range.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Consumer Devices
For battery-powered meters, remote controls and portable appliances, the ATMEGA168PB-ANR's picoPower technology delivers six sleep modes with sub-uA-class power-down current, which directly extends battery life. The on-chip brown-out detector and internal oscillator remove external components, shrinking BOM cost in high-volume products. The 27 GPIO lines drive keypads, LCD segments and LEDs without port expanders, while the 10-bit ADC reads battery voltage for state-of-charge indication. A typical design runs at 1MHz internal RC from two AA cells (3V), waking once per second via watchdog timer to sample and display, achieving multi-year operation from the same 16KB FLASH code budget that would otherwise demand a larger MCU.
Recommended
Arduino-Compatible Hobby and Educational Boards
The ATMEGA168PB-ANR is fully supported by community Arduino toolchains such as MiniCore and by Microchip's ATmega168PB Xplained Mini kit, making it a natural choice for educational and maker boards. With 16KB FLASH it runs the same bootloader-and-sketch model as the classic Arduino Uno (ATmega328P) while lowering unit cost, and the identical TQFP-32 footprint lets designers reuse Uno-derived layouts. The USART serves as the USB-serial programming channel; SPI and I2C connect shields for displays and sensors. At 16MHz from 5V it executes roughly 16 MIPS, adequate for robotics, instrumentation and IoT prototypes, and debugWIRE offers single-wire on-chip debugging through Microchip Studio during firmware development.
Recommended
Home Appliance Control
White goods and small appliances benefit from the ATMEGA168PB-ANR's combination of -40C to +105C ambient rating, 1.8V-5.5V single-supply operation and rich timer set for AC-load control. The two 8-bit timers generate PWM for TRIAC phase-angle or LED dimming control, and the 16-bit timer handles encoder input from knobs with hardware capture for precise timing. The 16KB FLASH stores touch-decision logic, buzzer tones and fault handling, while the 10-bit ADC reads NTC thermistors for over-temperature protection. Noise immunity on the AVR core plus the internal brown-out reset maintain deterministic behavior on the electrically noisy 220V environments typical of appliance control PCBs.
Recommended
Measurement and Instrumentation Front Ends
Handheld meters and simple instrumentation use the ATMEGA168PB-ANR's 10-bit ADC with differential input modes and programmable gain (1x/8x/20x/32x) to measure small sensor signals without an external amplifier stage. The internal 1.1V bandgap reference provides a stable ratiometric baseline; AVCC filtering plus the noise-reduction sleep mode before each conversion improves effective resolution. The 1KB SRAM buffers multi-point calibration tables, and 512B EEPROM stores factory trim values across power cycles. For higher-resolution needs, the SPI port clocks external delta-sigma ADCs such as the MCP342x family, keeping the design single-chip for logic while the AVR handles averaging, scaling and display driving on the same 16KB code budget.
Recommended
Automotive-Adjacent Body Electronics
The ATMEGA168PB-ANR serves cost-sensitive 12V automotive-adjacent subsystems such as seat controllers, lighting modules and sensor pods that sit outside strict AEC-Q100 mandates but still see wide temperature swings. Its -40C to +105C rating matches cabin-to-engine-bay boundary conditions, and the 5V operation pairs cleanly with automotive 12V rails through a 5V regulator. The 16-bit timer with input capture decodes LIN-style or PWM protocols, and the USART connects LIN transceivers for body-bus communication. PicoPower modes support ignition-off keep-alive tasks below 10uA. Designers needing certified automotive grade should move to Q-grade AVR variants, but for aftermarket and auxiliary modules the 168PB provides the same pin-compatible layout footprint.
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Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA168PB-ANR — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA168PA-ANR | ATMEGA88PB-ANR | ATMEGA328P-AU | ATMEGA328PB-AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | TQFP-32 (7x7 mm) | TQFP-32 (7x7 mm) - same | TQFP-32 (7x7 mm) - same | TQFP-32 (7x7 mm) - same | TQFP-32 (7x7 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 16KB | 16KB | 8KB | 32KB | 32KB |
| SRAM | 1KB | 1KB | 1KB | 2KB | 2KB |
| Max Clock | 20MHz | 20MHz | 20MHz | 20MHz | 20MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +105C | -40C to +105C | -40C to +105C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +105C |
| Low-Power Technology | picoPower (PB revision) | picoPower (PA revision) | picoPower (PB revision) | picoPower (P revision) | picoPower (PB revision) |
| Extra Peripherals | 2x 8-bit + 1x 16-bit timers, 1x USART | Same peripheral set | Same peripheral set, half flash | Same peripheral set, more memory | 2x USART, extra timer, 2x TWI/SPI masters |
Key Differentiators
- Extended -40C to +105C operating range (vs ATMEGA328P-AU)
- picoPower PB-die refinements (vs ATMEGA168P-20AU)
- Cost-efficient middle of the family (vs ATMEGA328PB-AU)
- Trade-off: smaller SRAM than 328-series (vs ATMEGA328P-AU)
Design Notes
Connect AVCC (pin 18) to VCC through an LC low-pass (e.g. 10uH inductor or ferrite bead with 100nF at AVCC) even when the ADC is unused - the datasheet requires AVCC within 0.3V of VCC for the device to function. Decouple both VCC pins (4, 6) with 100nF ceramics placed within 2mm of the pins. At 5V/20MHz, active current is roughly 5-6mA typical; in power-down with WDT off, expect sub-uA levels, so select regulator quiescent current (e.g. MCP1700-class, 1.6uA) to preserve sleep savings in battery designs.
Keep the crystal (if used) within 10mm of pins 7-8 with short ground return traces, and place 22pF-class load capacitors per the crystal datasheet. Route the RESET trace (pin 29) away from PWM/relay lines; a glitch here during ISP leaves the board unprogrammable. Reserve the 6-pin ISP header footprint (or test pads for MISO/MOSI/SCK/RESET/VCC/GND) in production layouts - retrofitting programming access after layout freeze is the most common AVR design pitfall.
Two VCC and two GND pins must both be connected - floating pin 4 or 6 produces intermittent resets that mimic software bugs. Do not omit the brown-out detector fuse when running from unregulated supplies; SRAM corruption below 1.8V otherwise bricks EEPROM contents. When migrating firmware from ATmega328P, note the 168PB has half the RAM (1KB vs 2KB), so stack-heavy sketches (String, large buffers) overflow silently - set a stack canary or reduce heap usage before porting.
Estimated: at 5V and 20MHz with all I/O sourcing 20mA, worst-case die dissipation stays below ~0.25W, giving junction rise under 15C over ambient with the TQFP-32 thermal resistance (typically ~100 C/W on a minimum-copper board). No heatsink is required for any realistic AVR workload; the practical thermal constraint is ambient ceiling: above +85C ambient, verify junction margin per the datasheet absolute maximum of 150C.
Compliance Information
Per Microchip ordering documentation (onlinedocs.microchip.com): Pb-free packaging complies with the European RoHS directive; also halide-free and fully Green. Not marketed as AEC-Q100 qualified - select a Q-grade AVR variant for certified automotive use.