ATMEGA16L-8MJ - 8-bit AVR MCU, 16KB Flash 8MHz | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA16L-8MJ β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.85 | $2.85 |
| 10 | $2.56 | $25.60 |
| 100 | $2.28 | $228.00 |
| 500 | $2.05 | $1,025.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.86 | $1,860.00 |
ATMEGA16L-8MJ Overview
Key features include the low-voltage L-suffix rating, operating from 2.7V to 5.5V at up to 8MHz, an 8-channel 10-bit ADC, a JTAG interface for on-chip debug (JTAG OCD emulation and boundary scan), and self-programming Flash for field firmware updates. Peripheral set includes two 8-bit timers, one 16-bit timer, four PWM channels, SPI, TWI (I2C-compatible), and a programmable serial USART.
Technically, the device uses the AVR enhanced RISC Harvard architecture with separate instruction and data buses, achieving near-one-MIPS-per-MHz efficiency while remaining low-power. Brown-out detection, an internal RC oscillator, and six sleep modes (including Power-down and Power-save with RTC) support battery-operated designs.
Typical applications include industrial automation control, sensor data acquisition using the 8-channel 10-bit ADC, battery-powered instrumentation, HVAC and motor control panels, and consumer appliances. The 44-VQFN 7x7 mm footprint saves board area versus the 44-TQFP variant while retaining full I/O access.
Design considerations: verify oscillator selection against the 8MHz L-grade speed limit and enable Brown-Out Detection for supply-dip immunity. This page synthesizes distributor inventory, drop-in alternatives, pinout data, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA16L-8MJ 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 ATMEGA16L-8MJ (same form factor and footprint) β differing in EEPROM Size, Instructions.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA16L-8MU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$6.13 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA16A-MU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA32L-8MJ
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$4.11 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA32A-MU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA8535L-8MJ
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA16L-8MJ Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | AVR |
| Core Size | 8-Bit |
| Speed | 8 MHz |
| Flash Memory Size | 16 KB (8K x 16) |
| SRAM Size | 1 KB |
| EEPROM Size | 512 Bytes |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.7 V to 5.5 V |
| MIPS Throughput | Up to 8 MIPS at 8 MHz |
| Instructions | 131 powerful instructions |
| ADC | 8-channel 10-bit |
| Timers | Two 8-bit, one 16-bit |
| PWM Channels | 4 |
| Communication Interfaces | SPI, TWI (I2C), USART |
| JTAG Interface | Yes (on-chip debug and boundary scan) |
| Package | 44-VQFN (7x7 mm) Exposed Pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Oscillator Type | Internal |
ATMEGA16L-8MJ Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PB4 (SS) β Port B bit 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 2 | PB5 (MOSI) β Port B bit 5 / SPI master output |
| Pin 3 | PB6 (MISO) β Port B bit 6 / SPI master input |
| Pin 4 | PB7 (SCK/OC2) β Port B bit 7 / SPI clock / Timer2 output compare |
| Pin 5 | RESET β Active-low reset input |
| Pin 6 | VCC β Digital supply voltage (2.7V-5.5V) |
| Pin 7 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 8 | XTAL2 β Oscillator output / clock output |
| Pin 9 | XTAL1 β Oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 10 | PD0 (RXD) β Port D bit 0 / USART receive |
| Pin 11 | PD1 (TXD) β Port D bit 1 / USART transmit |
| Pin 12 | PD2 (INT0) β Port D bit 2 / external interrupt 0 |
| Pin 13 | PD3 (INT1) β Port D bit 3 / external interrupt 1 |
| Pin 14 | PD4 (OC1B) β Port D bit 4 / Timer1 output compare B |
| Pin 15 | PD5 (OC1A) β Port D bit 5 / Timer1 output compare A |
| Pin 16 | PD6 (ICP1) β Port D bit 6 / Timer1 input capture |
| Pin 17 | PD7 (OC2) β Port D bit 7 / Timer2 output compare |
| Pin 18 | VCC β Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 19 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 20 | PC0 (SCL) β Port C bit 0 / TWI clock / JTAG TCK |
| Pin 21 | PC1 (SDA) β Port C bit 1 / TWI data / JTAG TMS |
| Pin 22 | PC2 (TCK) β Port C bit 2 / JTAG test clock |
| Pin 23 | PC3 (TMS) β Port C bit 3 / JTAG test mode select |
| Pin 24 | PC4 (TDO) β Port C bit 4 / JTAG test data out / Timer2 TOSC1 |
| Pin 25 | PC5 (TDI) β Port C bit 5 / JTAG test data in / Timer2 TOSC2 |
| Pin 26 | PC6 (TOSC1) β Port C bit 6 / Timer2 oscillator input |
| Pin 27 | PC7 (TOSC2) β Port C bit 7 / Timer2 oscillator output |
| Pin 28 | AVCC β Analog supply voltage for ADC |
| Pin 29 | GND β Analog ground |
| Pin 30 | AREF β ADC analog reference input |
| Pin 31 | PA7 (ADC7) β Port A bit 7 / ADC channel 7 |
| Pin 32 | PA6 (ADC6) β Port A bit 6 / ADC channel 6 |
| Pin 33 | PA5 (ADC5) β Port A bit 5 / ADC channel 5 |
| Pin 34 | PA4 (ADC4) β Port A bit 4 / ADC channel 4 |
| Pin 35 | PA3 (ADC3) β Port A bit 3 / ADC channel 3 |
| Pin 36 | PA2 (ADC2) β Port A bit 2 / ADC channel 2 |
| Pin 37 | PA1 (ADC1) β Port A bit 1 / ADC channel 1 |
| Pin 38 | PA0 (ADC0) β Port A bit 0 / ADC channel 0 |
| Pin 39 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 40 | VCC β Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 41 | PB0 (XCK/T0) β Port B bit 0 / USART external clock / Timer0 external input |
| Pin 42 | PB1 (T1) β Port B bit 1 / Timer1 external counter input |
| Pin 43 | PB2 (AIN0/INT2) β Port B bit 2 / comparator input 0 / external interrupt 2 |
| Pin 44 | PB3 (AIN1/OC0) β Port B bit 3 / comparator input 1 / Timer0 output compare |
Typical Applications
ATMEGA16L-8MJ is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation and Control, Sensor Data Acquisition Systems, Battery-Powered Portable Instruments, Motor Control and PWM Systems, Embedded Communication Nodes, Consumer Appliances and HVAC Control.
Industrial Automation and Control
The ATMEGA16L-8MJ fits industrial control panels and automation nodes because its 2.7V to 5.5V supply tolerance rides through noisy 5V industrial rails, its 32 GPIO lines drive relays, optocouplers, and indicator banks directly, and the 16KB ISP Flash holds typical ladder-equivalent control logic with room for field updates via self-programming. The JTAG on-chip-debug interface shortens commissioning by allowing breakpoints and register inspection in the target cabinet. In a typical deployment, the MCU scans buttons and sensors on ports B/C, drives contactors through port D PWM and GPIO, and reports status over the USART or TWI bus to a supervisory PLC. The industrial temperature rating and green RoHS packaging support long-lifetime panel builds.
Recommended
Sensor Data Acquisition Systems
The built-in 8-channel 10-bit ADC is the headline fit for data acquisition: eight analog inputs on port A can be scanned under timer control at up to 15 kSPS-class rates, with the internal bandgap reference or the external AREF pin providing conversion references. The 1KB SRAM buffers sample blocks before pushing them over SPI to storage or over USART to a host, while the 16-bit timer time-stamps events. The ATMEGA16L-8MJ operates from 2.7V so it shares a 3.3V sensor rail directly, and its 44-VQFN 7x7 mm exposed-pad package keeps the analog front end compact with short trace lengths to the sensor connector, improving noise performance on low-level signals.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Portable Instruments
Battery instruments benefit from the L-grade 2.7V-5.5V operating range, which lets a two-cell alkaline or single lithium cell power the MCU without a regulator, and from the AVR sleep-mode architecture: Power-down and Power-save modes cut consumption to microamp levels while external interrupts or a watchdog wake the core on demand. The internal RC oscillator removes the cost and quiescent drain of an external crystal in coarse-timing designs. Typical products include handheld meters, portable loggers, and wireless sensor tags using the USART or SPI to a radio module. Designers should enable Brown-Out Detection so the device does not miswrite EEPROM as the battery decays, a documented pitfall in AVR low-power designs.
Recommended
Motor Control and PWM Systems
With four PWM channels generated by the two 8-bit timers and the 16-bit timer, the ATMEGA16L-8MJ directly controls DC motor drivers, servo positions, and LED dimming stages. The OC1A/OC1B outputs on PD5/PD4 provide hardware PWM independent of software timing, and the input-capture unit measures motor tachometer periods for closed-loop speed regulation. A typical circuit pairs the MCU with an H-bridge or MOSFET driver on port D, using the ADC to read current-sense shunts and the comparator for fast overcurrent trips. Operating from 5V gives gate-drive headroom for logic-level MOSFETs, and the 44-VQFN exposed pad sinks heat from the driver stage on shared two-layer boards.
Recommended
Embedded Communication Nodes
The USART, SPI, and TWI (I2C-compatible) interfaces make the ATMEGA16L-8MJ a natural protocol bridge and communication node: it converts RS-232/RS-485 serial traffic to SPI sensor buses, or acts as a TWI master coordinating RTC, EEPROM, and display slaves. The USART supports baud rates up to 500 kbps-class at 8MHz with the U2X doubling option, and TWI allows multi-drop networks with only two wires. The 16KB self-programming Flash permits field firmware updates delivered over the serial link, an important logistics benefit for deployed nodes. The JTAG boundary-scan capability also assists board-level test of assembled communication backplanes during production, reducing ICT fixture cost.
Recommended
Consumer Appliances and HVAC Control
Appliance and HVAC controllers value the ATMEGA16L-8MJ combination of an internal oscillator (eliminating crystals in cost-sensitive boards), brown-out detection for supply-dip immunity, 512B EEPROM for storing user settings and calibration data across power cycles, and 32 I/O lines for keypads, displays, and triac drives. The four PWM channels dim heaters and fans, while the 10-bit ADC reads NTC thermistors on multiple zones. Its 5V operation matches legacy appliance supply rails, and the green RoHS MLF package meets modern environmental requirements. The JTAG interface enables production diagnostics, and the mature AVR toolchain (AVR GCC, Microchip Studio) lowers firmware development cost for appliance OEMs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA16L-8MJ β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA16L-8MU | ATMEGA16A-MU | ATMEGA32L-8MJ | ATMEGA8535L-8MJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 44-VQFN (7x7 mm) Exposed Pad | 44-VQFN (7x7 mm) - same | 44-VQFN (7x7 mm) - same | 44-VQFN (7x7 mm) - same | 44-VQFN (7x7 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB (8K x 16) | 16 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB | 8 KB |
| SRAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 2 KB | 512 B |
| EEPROM | 512 Bytes | 512 Bytes | 512 Bytes | 1 KB | 512 Bytes |
| Max Speed | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 8 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V |
| JTAG On-Chip Debug | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ADC | 8-channel 10-bit | 8-channel 10-bit | 8-channel 10-bit | 8-channel 10-bit | 8-channel 10-bit |
Key Differentiators
- Same-footprint in-stock substitute available (vs ATMEGA16L-8MU)
- JTAG on-chip debug retained (vs ATMEGA8535L-8MJ)
- Cost/memory trade-off vs ATMEGA32L-8MJ (vs ATMEGA32L-8MJ)
Design Notes
Decouple both VCC pads and AVCC with 100 nF ceramic capacitors placed within 2-3 mm of the pads, plus a 4.7-10 uF bulk capacitor per supply domain. AVCC must be connected to VCC even if the ADC is unused (per the ATmega16L datasheet requirement) and should be filtered through an LC network when ADC accuracy matters. Enable the Brown-Out Detection fuse (typically 2.7V threshold for the L-grade) so the MCU halts cleanly before EEPROM corruption during brown-out events.
The 44-VQFN (7x7 mm) exposed pad must be soldered to a grounded thermal land with an array of thermal vias; a floating exposed pad degrades both thermal performance and ground integrity. Use a slightly enlarged paste aperture (approximately 80-90% coverage) to avoid voiding under the leadless package during reflow. Route the ADC analog ground as a quiet island connected to the main ground at one point near pin 29, and keep AREF traces short with a dedicated 100 nF bypass to ground.
Three frequent mistakes with this part: (1) clocking the L-grade above 8MHz - the 8MJ is limited to 8MHz across 2.7-5.5V; use the 16MHz standard grade if more speed is needed. (2) Leaving JTAGEN fused on and losing PC2-PC5 as I/O - clear the fuse if those pins are needed. (3) Selecting TOSC on PC6/PC7 while also using them as GPIO - the 32.768 kHz Timer2 oscillator takes precedence. Always verify fuse settings in Microchip Studio before programming production units.
Estimated: an ATmega16L-8MJ at 5V, 8MHz, driving 20 loads of 10 mA each dissipates roughly 5V x 20 mA (core) + 5V x 200 mA (I/O) = about 1.1 W worst case; the exposed-pad VQFN with a solid ground pour keeps the junction well within the industrial rating, but designs driving maximum I/O current on all 32 pins should verify the package thermal data in the Microchip package drawing rather than assuming headroom.
Compliance Information
FindIC records the ATMEGA16L-8MJ as IND TEMP, GREEN; green designation indicates RoHS/lead-free compliance. REACH and halogen-free declarations not found in the provided data - request certificate of conformance from Microchip.