ATMEGA6490-16AUR - 8-bit AVR MCU 64KB Flash 16MHz LCD | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA6490-16AUR β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $11.7 | $11.70 |
| 10 | $10.8 | $108.00 |
| 100 | $9.95 | $995.00 |
| 500 | $9.1 | $4,550.00 |
| 1,000 | $8.45 | $8,450.00 |
ATMEGA6490-16AUR Overview
An 8-bit AVR microcontroller is a single-chip embedded processor built on the AVR enhanced RISC architecture, in which most of the 130 instructions execute in a single clock cycle. Within the system hierarchy, it spans microcontroller -> embedded processor -> integrated circuit, combining program memory, data memory, peripherals, and CPU on one die. The ATmega6490 belongs to the LCD AVR family, which adds a segment LCD driver to the standard ATmega peripheral set.
Key features include 64KB (32K x 16) self-programming Flash with read-while-write capability, 54/69 general purpose I/O lines, a 4 x 40 segment LCD controller, an 8-channel 10-bit ADC, and a JTAG interface for boundary-scan and on-chip debugging. The 16MHz rating at 4.5-5.5V delivers up to 16 MIPS throughput, while picoPower technology minimizes consumption in sleep modes for battery-backed designs.
Technically, the AVR core uses 32 general purpose working registers directly connected to the ALU, giving single-cycle execution and high code density. ISP (in-system programmable) Flash allows firmware updates on the assembled board, and the EEPROM retains calibration data through power cycles.
Typical applications include utility metering with LCD displays, industrial control panels, battery-powered instrumentation, and building automation front ends where an integrated segment LCD driver eliminates an external LCD controller IC.
Design-wise, decouple VCC/AVCC with 100nF ceramics per supply pin and route LCD segment lines away from the analog front end to protect ADC accuracy.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA6490-16AUR 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 ATMEGA6490-16AUR (same form factor and footprint) β differing in RoHS Status, Supply Voltage Range, LCD Controller, Operating Temperature, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA6450-16AUR
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$5.66 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA3290P-20AUR
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Contact for price
View Datasheet βATMEGA3290PA-AUR
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$2.95 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA3290V-8AUR
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$2.3 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA6450V-8AU
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$2.31 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA3290-16AI
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$4.14 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA645-16AI
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$6.45 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA6490-16AUR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit AVR RISC |
| Flash Program Memory | 64 KB (32K x 16) ISP, read-while-write |
| EEPROM | 2 KB |
| SRAM | 4 KB |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 16 MHz |
| General Purpose I/O | 54 / 69 lines |
| Working Registers | 32 general purpose registers |
| LCD Controller | Integrated segment LCD driver |
| ADC | 8-channel 10-bit |
| Debug / Boundary Scan | JTAG interface |
| Supply Voltage | 4.5 V to 5.5 V (16 MHz grade) |
| Low Power Technology | picoPower |
| Package | 100-TQFP (14 x 14 mm) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (R suffix) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (GREEN, per FindIC data) |
| Instructions | 130 instructions, mostly single-cycle |
ATMEGA6490-16AUR 100-tqfp (14 x 14 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATMEGA6490-16AUR (100-tqfp (14 x 14 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 ATMEGA6490-16AUR.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATMEGA6490-16AUR is suitable for 6 applications: Utility and Energy Metering, Industrial Control Panels and HMI, Battery-Powered Portable Instrumentation, Building Automation Sensors and Thermostats, Consumer Appliance Displays, POS and Payment Terminal Displays.
Utility and Energy Metering
Electricity, water, and gas meters benefit directly from the ATMEGA6490-16AUR's combination of 64KB ISP Flash, an 8-channel 10-bit ADC for load-current sampling, and an integrated segment LCD driver that renders consumption digits without an external display controller. The picoPower sleep modes keep average current low between measurement bursts, extending battery life in tamper-detection and outage-logging scenarios. Firmware stored in read-while-write Flash can be updated in the field via ISP, allowing tariff or calibration changes after deployment. The 16MHz core at 5V provides sufficient headroom for CRC-checked communication stacks, and the 4KB SRAM holds framing buffers for protocol handling. Result: lower BOM cost and longer service intervals than discrete LCD-controller designs.
Recommended
Industrial Control Panels and HMI
Machine and process control front panels need reliable push-button input, status indication, and a numeric or bar-graph LCD - exactly the peripheral mix of the ATMEGA6490-16AUR. The 54/69 general purpose I/O lines interface relays, optocouplers, and rotary encoders without port expanders, while the LCD controller drives up to 4 x 40 segments for setpoint and alarm displays. The industrial -40C to +85C temperature range suits panels mounted in electrical cabinets with wide ambient swings. JTAG boundary scan supports production test of the dense 100-TQFP board, and the 10-bit ADC reads potentiometer setpoints or thermistor-based temperature supervision. Firmware stored in 64KB Flash leaves generous margin for protocol changes and feature updates over the product lifetime.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Portable Instrumentation
Handheld measuring instruments - multimeters, environmental loggers, field testers - demand low standby drain and a readable display. The ATMEGA6490-16AUR addresses both: picoPower sleep modes reduce quiescent draw between samples, and the segment LCD consumes far less than a dot-matrix module. The 10-bit ADC digitizes sensor bridges directly, and 2KB EEPROM stores calibration constants that survive battery replacement. The 16MHz 5V grade suits instruments powered by 4xAA or 9V supplies with an onboard regulator; for 2-cell designs, the same-footprint V-variants (e.g., ATMEGA6450V-8AU) extend operation down to 1.8V. JTAG enables in-cabinet firmware service, and 64KB Flash supports data-logging tables and multilingual UI strings.
Recommended
Building Automation Sensors and Thermostats
Wall thermostats, occupancy sensors, and zone controllers use the ATMEGA6490-16AUR to combine schedule storage, sensor acquisition, and LCD user interface in one chip. The 10-bit ADC reads NTC temperature sensors with reasonable resolution after software averaging, while 2KB EEPROM retains setpoint schedules across power outages. The LCD controller shows time, temperature, and mode icons, and multiple wake sources from picoPower sleep keep average draw compatible with bus-powered or long-life-battery installations. Communication to a building bus (RS-485, Modus-style protocols) is handled by USARTs in firmware, with the 16MHz core leaving cycle margin for CRC and scheduling. The industrial temperature rating covers unconditioned mechanical rooms.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Displays
Ovens, washing machines, and climate appliances traditionally pair an MCU with a custom segment LCD; the ATMEGA6490-16AUR integrates both, cutting one IC and its interconnect from the board. The 4 x 40 segment capacity renders digit sets plus dedicated icons (heating, rinse, door-locked), and LCD contrast is adjusted in firmware for viewing angle. The 5V, 16MHz grade tolerates the electrically noisy appliance environment, with brown-out detection and watchdog protection guarding against mains disturbances. The 64KB Flash accommodates multi-language message tables and self-test diagnostics, and ISP programming allows last-stage firmware customization at the appliance factory. JTAG boundary scan speeds production test of the display PCB.
Recommended
POS and Payment Terminal Displays
Point-of-sale terminals, price displays, and access-control keypads use the ATMEGA6490-16AUR's LCD driver for customer-facing numeric displays and its GPIO matrix for keypad scanning. The 10-bit ADC can supervise supply voltage and battery backup status, while EEPROM keeps transaction counters or configuration blocks. The AVR core executes the polling and multiplexing loops with ample margin at 16MHz, and deep sleep between keystrokes conserves energy in portable terminals. For payment-grade security additions, the spare 64KB Flash hosts libraries without a memory upgrade cycle. The 100-pin TQFP provides enough I/O to drive printer control lines and status LEDs alongside the display, consolidating the terminal's supervisory electronics.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA6490-16AUR β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA6450-16AUR | ATMEGA3290P-20AUR | ATMEGA6450V-8AU | ATMEGA3290V-8AUR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-TQFP (14x14 mm) | 100-TQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-TQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-TQFP (14x14 mm) - same | 100-TQFP (14x14 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 64 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB |
| Max Clock Speed | 16 MHz | 16 MHz | 20 MHz | 8 MHz | 8 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 4.5 V to 5.5 V (16 MHz grade) | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| LCD Controller | Yes, integrated segment LCD | Yes (reduced segments) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Low Power Technology | picoPower | Standard AVR | picoPower (P) | Standard AVR | Standard AVR |
Key Differentiators
- Maximum 64KB Flash in the LCD AVR family footprint (vs ATMEGA3290P-20AUR)
- Larger integrated LCD segment drive (vs ATMEGA6450-16AUR)
- 16MHz at 5V throughput vs low-voltage variants (vs ATMEGA6450V-8AU)
Design Notes
Supply the 16MHz grade at 4.5V-5.5V; below 4.5V the clock must be derated per the frequency-vs-voltage curve in the Microchip datasheet. Fit a 100nF ceramic at every VCC pin plus bulk 10uF at the regulator output, and feed AVCC from VCC through an LC or RC filter (e.g., 10 ohm + 1uF) when using the ADC. Enable the brown-out detector at an appropriate threshold so ISP Flash writes never occur during undervoltage, which could corrupt program memory.
Route LCD segment and backplane traces as a tightly grouped bus with consistent spacing; capacitive imbalance between segment lines causes ghosting on inactive segments. Keep the LCD bus away from the crystal and ADC inputs by at least 3x trace width. Use a solid ground plane under the 100-TQFP and place the 100nF decoupling caps within 2mm of their supply pins. Provide JTAG header access even in production builds - boundary scan aids board test and the header enables field firmware service.
Do not select V-variants (1.8V-5.5V parts) as replacements on a 5V, 16MHz design without re-timing firmware - they are limited to 8MHz and timing loops will run at half speed. Verify LCD segment mapping in firmware after substituting ATmega6450 for ATmega6490, since segment configurations differ. Note the digchip listing flags a newer ATmega6490A variant; check errata and availability before new layouts.
Compliance Information
GREEN/RoHS per FindIC comparison data for the ATMEGA6490-16AUR part status. AEC-Q100 qualification not stated in provided data; REACH and conflict-minerals status unknown.
