ATMEGA8515L-8AUR - 8KB AVR MCU 8MHz TQFP-44 | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA8515L-8AUR β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.95 | $2.95 |
| 10 | $2.7 | $27.00 |
| 100 | $2.45 | $245.00 |
| 500 | $2.2 | $1,100.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.98 | $1,980.00 |
ATMEGA8515L-8AUR Overview
An AVR microcontroller is a Harvard-architecture, 8-bit RISC device in which most of its 130 instructions execute in a single clock cycle, so one megahertz of clock yields roughly one million instructions per second. In the broader system hierarchy it sits as the central processing element of an embedded control system, part of the Microchip ATmega family that spans from small ATmega8-class parts to large ATmega1280-class devices, and it belongs to the general class of microcontroller units (MCUs) within semiconductor integrated circuits.
Key features include an external memory interface, which is rare in this size class and allows expansion to 64 KB of external SRAM; two flexible Timer/Counters with compare modes; a programmable serial USART; a programmable Watchdog Timer with on-chip oscillator; and 35 programmable I/O lines. The ATMEGA8515L speed grade is 0-8 MHz at 2.7-5.5 V, delivering about 8 MIPS of throughput.
Technically, the device provides three power-saving sleep modes (Idle, Power-down, and Standby), on-chip debug via JTAG-compatible programming through SPI, and in-system programmability with read-while-write Flash support, allowing firmware updates in the field without removing the chip from the PCB.
Typical applications include industrial automation controllers, instrumentation and data loggers, and legacy-drop-in repairs of 8051-era designs using the external memory interface; its 35 I/O lines and external bus make it a fit where peripheral expansion is needed.
Design consideration: the L-suffix speed grade tops out at 8 MHz, so designs requiring 16 MIPS should use the ATMEGA8515-16AUR variant at 4.5-5.5 V.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, pin-compatibility notes, and design guidance not found on the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA8515L-8AUR 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 ATMEGA8515L-8AUR (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, Maximum Clock Frequency, Throughput, Core Architecture, EEPROM.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA8515L-8AI
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2.05 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA8515-16AUR
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2.35 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA8515-16AI
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA16L-8AUR
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA8515L-8AUR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit AVR RISC |
| Flash Memory | 8 KB (4K x 16) In-System Programmable |
| EEPROM | 512 B |
| Internal SRAM | 512 B |
| External SRAM Support | Up to 64 KB |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 8 MHz |
| Throughput | Approx. 8 MIPS at 8 MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.7 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| General Purpose I/O | 35 programmable I/O lines |
| Instructions | 130 powerful instructions, most single-cycle |
| Working Registers | 32 general purpose registers |
| Timers | Two Timer/Counters with compare modes |
| Serial Interfaces | Serial Programmable USART |
| Watchdog Timer | Programmable with on-chip oscillator |
| Sleep Modes | Idle, Power-down, Standby |
| Package | 44-lead TQFP, 10x10 mm, 0.8 mm pitch |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (T&R) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (GREEN per FindIC listing) |
ATMEGA8515L-8AUR 44-lead tqfp, 10x10 mm, 0.8 mm pitch Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATMEGA8515L-8AUR (44-lead tqfp, 10x10 mm, 0.8 mm pitch 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 ATMEGA8515L-8AUR.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATMEGA8515L-8AUR is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation Controllers, Instrumentation and Data Loggers, Legacy 8051 System Migration and Repair, Embedded Communication Nodes, Motor and Actuator Control, Consumer Appliance Control Panels.
Industrial Automation Controllers
The ATMEGA8515L-8AUR fits industrial control boards because its 35 programmable I/O lines let a single chip drive relays, read limit switches, and manage operator buttons without port expanders. Its external memory interface supports up to 64 KB of external SRAM, which is valuable for PLC-style logic engines that buffer event histories or motion profiles larger than the 512 B internal SRAM. Operating from 2.7 V to 5.5 V allows deployment on legacy 5 V industrial rails, and the -40C to +85C industrial temperature grade covers unconditioned cabinets. Placed with a 7.3728 MHz crystal, the USART reaches error-free standard baud rates for Modbus-RTU style RS-485 communication, while the watchdog timer guards against firmware lockups in continuous-duty environments.
Recommended
Instrumentation and Data Loggers
In benchtop and portable instrumentation, the ATMEGA8515L-8AUR provides deterministic single-cycle instruction execution for precise timing loops, with two Timer/Counters supporting compare modes for accurate sample scheduling. The 512 B EEPROM stores calibration constants that survive power cycles, while the external memory interface allows adding serial or parallel SRAM to log thousands of samples beyond the internal 512 B. Its Idle, Power-down, and Standby sleep modes cut quiescent consumption in battery-powered loggers, and the 2.7 V floor permits operation from two-series alkaline cells with a simple regulator. Firmware loads in-system through SPI, so field calibration and feature updates do not require socketed parts, reducing service cost in deployed instruments.
Recommended
Legacy 8051 System Migration and Repair
Boards designed around 8051-class external-bus microcontrollers migrate cleanly to the ATMEGA8515L-8AUR because it retains a parallel external memory interface with up to 64 KB addressing, replicating the classic multiplexed bus topology of devices such as the AT90S8515, its direct predecessor. Service shops repairing discontinued AT90S8515 or mature 8051 systems can drop the TQFP-44 ATmega8515 onto an adapter footprint and retain existing external RAM, latches, and peripheral maps, changing only firmware. The 0-8 MHz speed grade matches typical legacy oscillator values, so existing crystals and timing budgets carry over. This makes the part a standard substitution device in end-of-life repair and obsolescence management programs across industrial install bases.
Recommended
Embedded Communication Nodes
The ATMEGA8515L-8AUR serves as a low-cost controller in RS-232/RS-485 communication nodes, where its serial programmable USART handles protocol framing and the 8 MIPS instruction budget runs CRC checks and buffering efficiently. When clocked at 7.3728 MHz, UART divisors produce 0% error at all standard baud rates from 9600 to 115200, which matters for long-frame industrial links. The external interrupt sources support wake-on-message behavior from Power-down sleep, dropping node standby current dramatically in duty-cycled sensor networks. Its 5 V tolerance across the 2.7-5.5 V range interfaces directly with classic 5 V transceivers without level shifting, simplifying BOM cost on legacy-compatible fieldbus hardware deployed in buildings and factories.
Recommended
Motor and Actuator Control
With two Timer/Counters offering compare modes and PWM-capable outputs on the port pins, the ATMEGA8515L-8AUR generates the gating waveforms for DC motor drivers, stepper sequencers, and actuator position loops. The external memory interface can hold a lookup table for trapezoidal commutation profiles in external SRAM when 512 B internal space is exhausted. Its wide 2.7-5.5 V supply tolerates sagging 5 V rails common near power drivers, and the watchdog timer recovers the controller if electrical noise from the motor corrupts program flow. Dedicated interrupt sources handle encoder quadrature capture with microsecond latency, making closed-loop control practical at the 8 MIPS instruction throughput available at maximum clock.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control Panels
In appliance front-panel and user-interface controllers, the ATMEGA8515L-8AUR combines enough I/O for multiplexed 7-segment displays, keypads, and buzzer outputs with the EEPROM needed to persist user settings such as cook times or temperature setpoints. The Power-down sleep mode keeps standby consumption minimal to meet modern appliance energy limits, while wake-up on external interrupt returns the panel to active display within microseconds of a key press. RoHS-compliant, lead-free TQFP-44 construction supports lead-free reflow assembly lines used in high-volume appliance manufacturing, and the tape-and-reel format feeds automated pick-and-place equipment directly, keeping per-unit assembly cost low at production volumes.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA8515L-8AUR β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA8515L-8AI | ATMEGA8515-16AUR | ATMEGA8515-16AI | ATMEGA16L-8AUR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 44-TQFP (10x10 mm) | 44-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 44-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 44-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 44-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Max Clock Frequency | 8 MHz | 8 MHz | 16 MHz | 16 MHz | 8 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 8 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB |
| Internal SRAM | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 1 KB |
| External Memory Interface | Up to 64 KB external SRAM | Up to 64 KB external SRAM | Up to 64 KB external SRAM | Up to 64 KB external SRAM | No external memory interface |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V |
| On-chip ADC | No | No | No | No | Yes (8-channel 10-bit) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
Key Differentiators
- External memory interface up to 64 KB (vs ATMEGA16L-8AUR)
- Wide 2.7-5.5 V supply at full 8 MHz speed (vs ATMEGA8515-16AUR)
- Direct predecessor compatibility with AT90S8515 (vs ATMEGA8515L-8AI)
Design Notes
Do not exceed 8 MHz with the ATMEGA8515L-8AUR. The L suffix defines a 0-8 MHz speed grade across the full 2.7-5.5 V range; crystals above 8 MHz will run outside specification and may cause intermittent failures at cold temperature. If the design needs 12 MHz or 16 MHz, switch to ATMEGA8515-16AUR on the same PCB footprint, but verify the supply rail is within 4.5-5.5 V. When using the external memory interface, enable the XMEM configuration fuse and account for the reduced Port A and Port C I/O availability during external bus cycles.
The 2.7 V minimum supply floor makes this part usable on two-cell battery packs, but Brown-Out Detection behavior must be set via fuse for reliable Flash writes at low battery. Estimated: EEPROM programming requires a stable supply above the minimum write voltage; if the system can brown out during a write, enable BOD Level fuse 2.7 V or add an RC-supervised reset (e.g., external supervisor) so the watchdog and reset circuit hold the core inactive until VCC is stable. Decouple VCC with 100 nF ceramic at each supply pin plus 10 uF bulk near the regulator.
For in-system programming, route the SPI signals (MOSI, MISO, SCK, RESET) to a standard 2x3 or 2x5 ISP header, keeping traces short and away from the external memory bus lines to prevent programming glitches. On the 44-TQFP footprint, use a solid ground plane and place the 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 2 mm of the VCC/GND pin pair. If the external SRAM interface is used, keep AD bus traces under 50 mm and consider series termination of 22-33 ohm on clocked latch signals to limit ringing at 8 MHz bus speeds.
Compliance Information
Listed as GREEN package (RoHS/halogen-free) per FindIC specification summary. REACH and conflict-minerals declarations should be requested from Microchip for this exact ordering code.
