ATMEGA8515-16JI - 8-Bit AVR MCU 16MHz 8KB Flash 44-PLCC | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA8515-16JI ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8.42 | $8.42 |
| 10 | $7.58 | $75.80 |
| 100 | $6.75 | $675.00 |
| 500 | $6.05 | $3,025.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.44 | $5,440.00 |
ATMEGA8515-16JI Overview
A microcontroller unit (MCU) integrates a processor core, program memory, data memory, and peripherals on a single silicon die, sitting at the center of the embedded-systems hierarchy between bare logic ICs and full application processors. The ATmega8515 belongs to Microchip's (formerly Atmel) AVR ATmega family of 8-bit RISC microcontrollers, which execute most of their 130 instructions in a single clock cycle.
Key features include the AVR enhanced RISC architecture with 32 general-purpose working registers, 35 programmable I/O lines, and a full external memory interface up to 64 KB. Peripherals include two flexible Timer/Counters with compare modes, a Serial Programmable USART, a Master/Slave SPI interface, and a programmable Watchdog Timer with on-chip oscillator. Special microcontroller features include In-System Programmable (ISP) Flash with Read-While-Write capability, debugWIRE-compatible on-chip debugging through ICE support, and power-saving Idle and Power-down modes.
The -16JI suffix defines the operating envelope: 4.5 V to 5.5 V supply, 0 to 16 MHz operation, and the industrial temperature range of -40C to +85C, making the device suitable for uncontrolled factory and outdoor environments. The self-programming Flash enables field firmware updates over UART or SPI without a parallel programmer.
Typical applications include industrial control panels, motor-control front ends, legacy process instrumentation, and communications interface boards that leverage the 44-PLCC through-hole-friendly footprint and 5 V noise immunity.
Design consideration: when using the external SRAM interface, reserve ports A and C for address and data buses, leaving only 3 free I/O lines - budget pin usage early.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA8515-16JI — 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 ATMEGA8515-16JI (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Architecture, Instructions, Package, Communication Interfaces, I/O Lines.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA8515-16JC
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA8515L-8JU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA8515L-8JI
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →ATMEGA162-16JI
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA8515-16JI Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | AVR 8-bit RISC |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 16 MHz |
| Flash Program Memory | 8 KB (4K x 16) |
| SRAM | 512 bytes internal + up to 64 KB external |
| EEPROM | 512 bytes |
| I/O Lines | 35 |
| Supply Voltage Range | 4.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| MIPS Throughput | 16 MIPS at 16 MHz |
| Timers | Two Timer/Counters with compare modes |
| Communication Interfaces | USART, SPI, TWI |
| Watchdog Timer | Programmable, with on-chip oscillator |
| Package | 44-PLCC (16.6 x 16.6 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| In-System Programming | Yes, ISP with Read-While-Write |
| Instructions | 130, most single-cycle |
| External Memory Interface | Up to 64 KB SRAM |
ATMEGA8515-16JI 44-plcc (16.6 x 16.6 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATMEGA8515-16JI (44-plcc (16.6 x 16.6 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 ATMEGA8515-16JI.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATMEGA8515-16JI is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Panels, Legacy Instrumentation Upgrades, Serial Communication Gateways, Motor Control Front Ends, Data Loggers with External Memory, Building Automation and Security Nodes.
Industrial Control Panels
The ATMEGA8515-16JI fits industrial control panels because its -40C to +85C industrial temperature grade and 4.5 V to 5.5 V supply tolerate noisy factory power rails without extra regulation stages. Its 35 I/O lines drive relays, contactors, and status LEDs directly, while the USART links to HMI terminals and the SPI interface reads rotary encoders or ADC front ends. In a typical panel controller, the MCU polls digital inputs at a 1 kHz timer tick using Timer/Counter0 and executes a scan-cycle state machine at 16 MIPS, leaving ample headroom. The Watchdog Timer with its independent on-chip oscillator recovers the system from latch-ups, a mandatory feature for unattended equipment. The 44-PLCC package mates with widely available PLCC sockets, enabling field replacement without hot-air rework on the factory floor.
Recommended
Legacy Instrumentation Upgrades
The ATMEGA8515-16JI is a natural replacement CPU for aging 8051- and Z80-based bench instruments, because its external memory interface addresses up to 64 KB of SRAM - matching classic 8-bit bus architectures. Port A acts as the multiplexed data bus and port C as the address bus, with ALE latching the low address byte, so original static RAM chips can often be retained. The 16 MIPS single-cycle RISC core at 16 MHz outperforms a 12-clock-per-machine-cycle 8051 by an order of magnitude, letting engineers add features like USB-serial bridges or better filtering while keeping the original analog front end. According to Microchip documentation, 10,000-cycle Flash endurance supports repeated calibration firmware updates on service benches.
Recommended
Serial Communication Gateways
The ATMEGA8515-16JI serves protocol-gateway duties between RS-232/RS-485 field buses and SPI- or TWI-attached modules. The hardware USART with baud-rate generator reliably runs 115200 baud from a 16 MHz clock, while the Master/Slave SPI and TWI interfaces bridge to EEPROMs, RTCs, and sensor chips. A typical gateway uses the 512 bytes of internal SRAM for ring buffers and expands to external SRAM when framing multi-KB payloads, exploiting the 64 KB external memory interface unique in this MCU class. The industrial -40C to +85C rating and 5 V I/O tolerance suit rooftop antennas and unheated cabinets where 3.3 V controllers would need level shifting. Idle and Power-down modes cut consumption in poll-driven slave nodes.
Recommended
Motor Control Front Ends
The ATMEGA8515-16JI implements basic PWM motor control using its two Timer/Counters with compare modes, generating hardware PWM outputs for H-bridge or MOSFET driver stages without CPU load. At 16 MHz, an 8-bit PWM reaches roughly 62.5 kHz carrier frequency - inaudible and suitable for small DC motors and fan controllers. The 35 I/O lines read limit switches, hall sensors, and encoder quadrature signals, while the Watchdog Timer guarantees safe shutdown if firmware hangs. Designers should add current-sense amplification into an external ADC over SPI, since this MCU lacks an internal ADC. The industrial temperature rating covers enclosed drive cabinets reaching +85C ambient, and the 5 V noise immunity keeps logic signals robust near switching power stages.
Recommended
Data Loggers with External Memory
The ATMEGA8515-16JI excels in data-logger designs that outgrow internal SRAM, because the external memory interface maps up to 64 KB of SRAM transparently into the data address space. Firmware simply reads and writes far addresses while the hardware handles ALE latching and bus timing, avoiding bit-banged overhead. The SPI interface additionally chains SPI flash or SD-card modules for gigabyte-scale logging, and the USART streams data to a PC for post-processing. With Timer/Counter interrupts timestamping sensor samples at 1 ms resolution, 16 MIPS leaves capacity for on-the-fly CRC calculation. The 512 bytes of EEPROM retain configuration and rolling event counters through power loss, and the industrial temperature grade suits loggers mounted in vehicles, pump stations, and outdoor enclosures.
Recommended
Building Automation and Security Nodes
The ATMEGA8515-16JI functions as a distributed control node in building automation: reading door contacts, PIR sensors, and tamper switches on its 35 I/O lines, and reporting over the USART to an RS-485 backbone. The programmable Watchdog Timer with its independent on-chip oscillator restarts a hung node without operator intervention - essential for unattended security devices. Power-down mode reduces standby current to microamp levels between scheduled wake-ups, extending backup-battery runtime during mains outages. The industrial -40C to +85C rating allows installation in unconditioned stairwells, gatehouses, and rooftop equipment rooms. Firmware is field-updatable in-system over the SPI ISP header or a USART bootloader, letting integrators patch logic without desoldering the 44-PLCC device from the PCB.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA8515-16JI — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA8515-16JC | ATMEGA8515L-8JU | ATMEGA162-16JI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 44-PLCC (16.6 x 16.6 mm) | 44-PLCC - same | 44-PLCC - same | 44-PLCC - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Max Clock Frequency | 16 MHz | 16 MHz | 8 MHz | 16 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 8 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB | 16 KB |
| SRAM | 512 bytes + up to 64 KB external | 512 bytes + external | 512 bytes + external | 1 KB + external |
| Supply Voltage | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Temperature Range | -40C to +85C | 0C to +70C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| USART Count | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Key Differentiators
- Full industrial temperature rating at full speed (vs ATMEGA8515-16JC)
- External memory interface up to 64 KB (vs ATMEGA8515L-8JU)
- Documented pin-compatible upgrade path (vs ATMEGA162-16JI)
Design Notes
Reserve ports A, C, and part of D before routing I/O if the external memory interface is used: port A is the multiplexed data bus and port C the address bus, leaving only 3 free GPIO lines. Lock this decision at schematic capture - retrofitting external SRAM onto a board that already allocated ports A and C to LEDs and switches is a respin. According to the Microchip ATmega8515 datasheet, ALE must latch the lower address byte, so include a 74x573 latch footprint even if the first build stays internal-SRAM-only.
Decouple VCC and AVCC independently: place 100 nF ceramic capacitors within 5 mm of each VCC pin and a separate 100 nF on AVCC with a 10 uH ferrite or LC filter, especially if the board shares a 5 V rail with relays or PWM motor drivers. The -16JI requires 4.5 V to 5.5 V to guarantee 16 MHz operation; brown-outs below this cause marginal execution. Enable the internal brown-out detector via fuse bits so the MCU holds reset during supply dips from inrush events.
For PLCC sockets in industrial panels, prefer screw-machined-pin sockets over stamped-pin types - contact resistance stability matters at 5 V logic levels across years of thermal cycling from -40C to +85C. The 16.6 x 16.6 mm PLCC footprint also allows hot-air rework without a stencil, but keep at least 1.5 mm clearance around all four lead rows for nozzle access, and avoid tall adjacent electrolytic capacitors that block vacuum pen placement.
Compliance Information
Compliance not explicitly stated in the provided web data. Verify RoHS/lead-free status per order code with the Microchip product page or distributor certificate of conformance, since this mature part exists in multiple manufacturing generations.
