ATMEGA169PV-8MCHR - AVR 8-bit MCU, 8MHz, LCD | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA169PV-8MCHR β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.62 | $3.62 |
| 10 | $3.26 | $32.60 |
| 100 | $2.85 | $285.00 |
| 500 | $2.52 | $1,260.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.21 | $2,210.00 |
ATMEGA169PV-8MCHR Overview
An AVR ATmega microcontroller is a member of the 8-bit AVR enhanced RISC family - a Harvard-architecture voltage regulator of the embedded control world in the sense that it sits at the core of power management and display systems. The AVR executes most of its 131 powerful instructions in a single clock cycle, achieving up to 16 MIPS throughput, which classifies it among high-performance 8-bit MCUs within the broader microcontroller and embedded processor hierarchy.
Key features include a 16K x 16 organized FLASH (8K x 16 words), self-programming boot capability, an 8-channel 10-bit ADC, a JTAG interface for on-chip debugging and boundary scan, and a segment LCD driver capable of up to 4 commons x 25 segments. The ATMEGA169PV 'V' variant offers a wide 1.8V to 5.5V supply range, supporting battery-powered and LCD-display applications across the full industrial temperature range.
Architecturally, the device combines an advanced RISC CPU with 32 general-purpose working registers, fully static operation, two 8-bit timers, one 16-bit timer with PWM, a USI/UART-class serial interface, and an internal RC oscillator - minimizing external component count. The LCD controller, a hallmark of the ATmega169 family, drives glass directly, making it a classic choice for metering and appliance front panels.
Typical applications include utility meters, thermostats and HVAC controllers, handheld instruments, and any battery-operated product that requires an integrated segment-LCD display with low active and sleep current.
Design consideration: at 8MHz maximum clock, budget code size carefully - 16KB FLASH with 1KB SRAM is ample for LCD metering firmware but tight for protocol stacks; use the 512B EEPROM for calibration constants and wear-level writes.
This page synthesizes distributor availability data, drop-in same-family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA169PV-8MCHR β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
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Request AlternativesATMEGA169PV-8MCHR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | AVR 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory Size | 16KB (8K x 16) FLASH |
| Program Memory Type | In-System Programmable FLASH |
| RAM Size | 1KB |
| EEPROM Size | 512B |
| CPU Speed | 8MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.8V to 5.5V |
| Peripherals | LCD controller, Brown-out Detect/Reset, POR, PWM, WDT |
| LCD Driver | Up to 4 commons x 25 segments |
| ADC | 8-channel, 10-bit |
| Debug Interface | JTAG (on-chip debug, boundary scan) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Package | 64-QFN dual-row, 7x7 mm |
| Package Termination Finish | NiPdAu |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (T&R) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (lead-free NiPdAu finish) |
ATMEGA169PV-8MCHR nipdau Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATMEGA169PV-8MCHR (nipdau 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 ATMEGA169PV-8MCHR.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATMEGA169PV-8MCHR is suitable for 6 applications: Utility Metering (Electricity/Gas/Water), Thermostats and HVAC Controllers, Handheld Instruments and Test Devices, White Goods and Appliance Front Panels, Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, POS Terminals and Card Readers.
Utility Metering (Electricity/Gas/Water)
The ATMEGA169PV-8MCHR fits utility metering because the integrated LCD driver eliminates an external display controller while the 512B EEPROM holds calibration and billing data across power interruptions. The 8-channel 10-bit ADC samples shunt or divider sense inputs, and the wide 1.8V-5.5V supply tolerates sagging battery backup. Placed directly driving a 4x25 segment glass with internal biasing, the design saves board area and quiescent current compared with a discrete LCD driver, and the 16KB FLASH accommodates metrology and communication firmware with headroom to spare.
Recommended
Thermostats and HVAC Controllers
In thermostats, the ATMEGA169PV-8MCHR reads NTC sensors through its 10-bit ADC, drives the temperature/setpoint LCD directly, and sleeps in power-save mode between display updates to extend battery life for years on alkaline cells. The PV voltage rating allows operation from two cells down to 1.8V without a boost converter, and the LCD controller's internal bias generation removes external divider components. Firmware typically uses the 16-bit timer for relay switching schedules and the 512B EEPROM to persist user setpoints through battery replacement.
Recommended
Handheld Instruments and Test Devices
Handheld multimeters, level gauges, and portable testers benefit from the single-chip integration of the ATMEGA169PV-8MCHR: the LCD, ADC, timers, and JTAG debug all reside in one 7x7 mm QFN, minimizing PCB area in ergonomically constrained enclosures. JTAG on-chip debugging speeds field-firmware bring-up without sockets, and the industrial -40C to +85C rating survives workshop and vehicle environments. The 16KB FLASH with self-programming capability supports field firmware updates stored in a boot section, while 131 single-cycle instructions keep sampling loops deterministic.
Recommended
White Goods and Appliance Front Panels
Appliance control panels combine a segment LCD, buttons, and relay or triac outputs - exactly the ATMEGA169PV-8MCHR's profile. The LCD driver handles the wash-cycle display, the ADC reads NTC thermistors and user potentiometers, and 8MHz execution covers button debounce and safety supervision loops with large margin. The NiPdAu finish and industrial temperature rating suit humid, thermally cycling environments, and the 64-QFN dual-row package provides the I/O count (data pins plus LCD segments) that smaller QFN parts cannot offer on a single controller.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
For low-rate telemetry nodes, the ATMEGA169PV-8MCHR samples sensors via ADC or UART, wakes on timer, and displays local status on its LCD without waking the radio. The wide 1.8V supply floor allows direct coupling to a single lithium primary cell through an LDO or to two NiMH cells, and AVR power-down mode with watchdog wake keeps average current in the microamp range. Pairing with a sub-GHz or 2.4GHz radio module lets the MCU remain the local user interface, with the 16KB FLASH holding both application and lightweight protocol code.
Recommended
POS Terminals and Card Readers
Legacy point-of-sale and card reader hardware has historically used the ATmega169 LCD family for its combination of segment display drive, keypad I/O, and serial link to the payment module. The 64-QFN dual-row packaging provides the segment count and general-purpose I/O for a full keypad matrix plus display, while the JTAG boundary-scan chain supports manufacturing ICT. The 1KB SRAM is sufficient for transaction buffering, and the ATMEGA169PV-8MCHR remains procurable through Rochester Electronics for service-parts continuity in installed device fleets.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA169PV-8MCHR β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA169PV-8MCH | ATMEGA169PA-MU | ATMEGA329PV-8MCHR | ATMEGA649V-8MCHR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-QFN dual-row (7x7 mm) | 64-QFN dual-row (7x7 mm) - same | 64-QFN dual-row (7x7 mm) - same | 64-QFN dual-row (7x7 mm) - same | 64-QFN dual-row (7x7 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program FLASH | 16KB | 16KB | 16KB | 32KB | 64KB |
| SRAM | 1KB | 1KB | 1KB | 2KB | 4KB |
| EEPROM | 512B | 512B | 512B | 1KB | 2KB |
| LCD Controller | Yes (up to 4x25 segments) | Yes (up to 4x25 segments) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Power Technology | Standard AVR low-power (V-variant) | Standard AVR low-power (V-variant) | picoPower lower sleep current | Standard AVR low-power (V-variant) | Standard AVR low-power (V-variant) |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated segment LCD driver in the base memory configuration (vs ATMEGA168PA-MU)
- Smallest code footprint within the pin-compatible LCD family (vs ATMEGA329PV-8MCHR)
- Lower active power than the picoPower successor in cost-sensitive builds (vs ATMEGA169PA-MU)
Design Notes
Configure brown-out detection (BOD) before enabling EEPROM writes: at 1.8V minimum supply, a brown-out reset during an EEPROM write corrupts calibration constants. Select a BOD level appropriate to your supply rail - for battery designs ending near 1.8V, rely on the power-down sequencing in the datasheet rather than a high BOD threshold. The internal RC oscillator is optimized for very low power; if using an external crystal, respect the datasheet ESR recommendations for 9 pF and 6.5 pF crystals to guarantee startup across temperature.
The 64-QFN dual-row package places the power and ground pins in the interior rows; place at least one 100nF ceramic decoupling capacitor per VCC/GND pair within 2 mm of the pins, plus one 10uF bulk capacitor near the supply entry. The exposed die pad should be soldered to a grounded thermal island even though dissipation is low, because it also anchors the die mechanically for reflow reliability. Verify the dual-row QFN land pattern against the datasheet mechanical drawing - it differs from standard perimeter QFN-64 footprints.
Two frequent integration errors: (1) assuming this is a standard single-row QFN-64 - it is a dual-row QFN, so schematic symbol and footprint libraries for generic QFN-64 will mis-map LCD segment pins; always derive the symbol from the ATmega169P datasheet pin tables. (2) Exceeding the 8MHz rating while porting code from 16MHz/20MHz ATmega parts - delay loops, UART baud registers, and SPI clock dividers must be recalculated for the lower f_CPU or timing will fail silently in the field.
Estimated: even at worst-case 5.5V supply with all LCD segments and I/O active, an 8-bit AVR of this class dissipates well under 100 mW, so with a theta_JA typical for a 7x7 mm QFN on a standard four-layer board the junction temperature remains far below the 85C industrial limit in most environments. No heatsink or copper pour area beyond normal decoupling practice is required; focus thermal design effort on adjacent power components instead.
Compliance Information
NiPdAu termination finish per distributor data (FindIC/Jotrin), inherently lead-free. Formal REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals declarations not included in retrieved data - request CoC from Microchip.
