ATMEGA88PB-MNR - 8KB AVR 20MHz MCU 32-VQFN | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA88PB-MNR ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.15 | $2.15 |
| 10 | $1.94 | $19.40 |
| 100 | $1.72 | $172.00 |
| 500 | $1.55 | $775.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.38 | $1,380.00 |
| 3,000 | $1.29 | $3,870.00 |
ATMEGA88PB-MNR Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory, data memory, and peripherals such as timers, serial interfaces, and analog-to-digital converters. Within the semiconductor taxonomy, the ATmega88PB sits at MCU -> 8-bit microcontroller -> embedded processor -> integrated circuit, and it belongs to the AVR ATmega family that has been a de-facto standard for low-power embedded control since the original ATmega8.
The device combines 8 KB of self-programmable Flash with read-while-write capability, 512 bytes of EEPROM for non-volatile parameter storage, and 1 KB of SRAM, all accessible through a single-cycle RISC core that executes most instructions in one clock cycle. Microchip's picoPower technology keeps active current low and enables sub-microamp sleep modes, which is why the part is widely used in battery-powered and always-on sensing products. Three flexible 16-bit timer/counters with compare and PWM modes, a USART with wake-up on start of transmission, SPI, and a byte-oriented two-wire serial interface cover the majority of embedded communication needs without external glue logic.
The -MNR orderable code denotes tape-and-reel packaging, the 32-pad VFQFN (5x5 mm) body, and the extended 105 C temperature grade, making the device suitable for industrial and automotive-adjacent designs that must survive elevated ambient temperatures. The exposed-pad QFN construction provides a low thermal path to the PCB ground plane, so the part can dissipate its own heat without a heatsink in most applications.
Typical applications include motor control front ends, sensor nodes, small appliance control boards, LED lighting drivers, battery chargers, and industrial I/O modules. The 27 I/O lines and 32 general-purpose working registers give firmware authors enough headroom to implement state machines, PID loops, and communication stacks in a single 8-bit core.
When designing with the ATMEGA88PB-MNR, decouple every VCC pin with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within a few millimetres of the pin, and connect the exposed pad to a solid ground plane with multiple vias. The internal calibrated oscillator removes the need for an external crystal in many designs, but an external 16 MHz crystal is recommended when precise UART baud rates or timer accuracy are required.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes that are not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet, giving engineers a single reference for selection, sourcing, and layout decisions.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA88PB-MNR — 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 ATMEGA88PB-MNR (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, Packaging, ADC, Serial Interfaces.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA88PB-ANR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA168PB-MNR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA88PA-MUR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.71 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA88PA-AUR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.82 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA88A-AU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.52 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA88PA-ANR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA88PB-MNR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | AVR 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory Size | 8 KB (4K x 16) Flash |
| Program Memory Type | Flash (ISP, read-while-write) |
| EEPROM | 512 B |
| SRAM | 1 KB |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| Number of I/O Lines | 27 |
| General Purpose Working Registers | 32 |
| Timer/Counters | 3 (two 8-bit, one 16-bit) with compare modes |
| Connectivity | I2C, SPI, UART/USART |
| Peripherals | Brown-out Detect/Reset, POR, PWM, WDT |
| Package | 32-VFQFN (5x5 mm) exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +105 C |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (MNR suffix) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (GREEN) |
| Functional Safety | Functional Safety (FuSa) capable |
ATMEGA88PB-MNR Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PD3 — Port D, bit 3 (also INT1, OC2B) |
| Pin 2 | PD4 — Port D, bit 4 (also T0, XCK) |
| Pin 3 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 4 | VCC — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 5 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 6 | VCC — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 7 | PB6 — Port B, bit 6 (also XTAL1/TOSC1) |
| Pin 8 | PB7 — Port B, bit 7 (also XTAL2/TOSC2) |
| Pin 9 | PD5 — Port D, bit 5 (also T1, OC0B) |
| Pin 10 | PD6 — Port D, bit 6 (also AIN0, OC0A) |
| Pin 11 | PD7 — Port D, bit 7 (also AIN1) |
| Pin 12 | PB0 — Port B, bit 0 (also ICP1, CLKO) |
| Pin 13 | PB1 — Port B, bit 1 (also OC1A) |
| Pin 14 | PB2 — Port B, bit 2 (also OC1B, SS) |
| Pin 15 | PB3 — Port B, bit 3 (also MOSI, OC2A) |
| Pin 16 | PB4 — Port B, bit 4 (also MISO) |
| Pin 17 | PB5 — Port B, bit 5 (also SCK) |
| Pin 18 | AVCC — Analog supply voltage for ADC |
| Pin 19 | ADC6 — Analog-to-digital converter input 6 |
| Pin 20 | AREF — Analog reference voltage for ADC |
| Pin 21 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 22 | ADC7 — Analog-to-digital converter input 7 |
| Pin 23 | PC0 — Port C, bit 0 (also ADC0) |
| Pin 24 | PC1 — Port C, bit 1 (also ADC1) |
| Pin 25 | PC2 — Port C, bit 2 (also ADC2) |
| Pin 26 | PC3 — Port C, bit 3 (also ADC3) |
| Pin 27 | PC4 — Port C, bit 4 (also ADC4, SDA) |
| Pin 28 | PC5 — Port C, bit 5 (also ADC5, SCL) |
| Pin 29 | PC6 — Port C, bit 6 (also RESET) |
| Pin 30 | PD0 — Port D, bit 0 (also RXD) |
| Pin 31 | PD1 — Port D, bit 1 (also TXD) |
| Pin 32 | PD2 — Port D, bit 2 (also INT0) |
| Pin 33 | EPAD — Exposed thermal pad, connect to ground plane |
Typical Applications
ATMEGA88PB-MNR is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes, Industrial Motor Control, Small Appliance Control Boards, LED Lighting Drivers, Portable Medical Monitors, Industrial I/O Modules.
Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes
The ATMEGA88PB-MNR fits battery-powered sensor nodes because its picoPower technology supports sub-microamp sleep modes and the device operates down to 1.8 V, allowing direct drive from a single Li-ion or two alkaline cells. In a typical node the MCU wakes on a timer interrupt, samples an analog sensor through the internal ADC, filters the reading in firmware, and transmits over UART or SPI before returning to power-down mode. The 8 KB Flash holds the sampling state machine and protocol stack, while the 512 B EEPROM stores calibration coefficients that must survive battery replacement. The trade-off is that the 8-bit AVR core limits heavy signal processing, so designers should keep on-node computation to averaging and threshold detection and push FFT or machine-learning work to a host.
Recommended
Industrial Motor Control
The ATMEGA88PB-MNR is used in industrial motor control front ends where three timer/counters with PWM and compare modes generate the gate-drive waveforms for small brushed and stepper motors. The 27 I/O lines are enough to read limit switches, drive status LEDs, and interface an encoder, while the 20 MHz core executes the commutation state machine with deterministic timing. The 105 C temperature rating and exposed-pad VQFN package allow the device to sit close to the power stage without a heatsink, provided the pad is soldered to a ground plane with thermal vias. Designers should note that the 8-bit core cannot run field-oriented control for high-performance drives, so this part suits open-loop or simple closed-loop applications rather than servo-grade control.
Recommended
Small Appliance Control Boards
The ATMEGA88PB-MNR is a common choice for small appliance control boards such as coffee makers, air purifiers, and washing-machine interfaces because it integrates the timers, PWM outputs, and serial interfaces needed to drive relays, triacs, and display drivers without external logic. The 8 KB Flash holds the user-interface state machine and safety interlocks, and the brown-out detect/reset and watchdog timer protect against supply glitches on the mains-derived rail. The 32-pin VQFN package keeps the board compact, and the 105 C rating covers the elevated internal temperatures of enclosed appliances. A practical consideration is that the ADC inputs must be protected against mains transients, so add series resistors and clamp diodes on any sensor line that leaves the low-voltage domain.
Recommended
LED Lighting Drivers
The ATMEGA88PB-MNR drives LED lighting systems where its PWM outputs and 20 MHz core implement dimming curves, color mixing, and DALI or DMX-style serial protocols. The three timer/counters generate independent PWM channels for red, green, and blue strings, and the USART handles the control-bus traffic, so a single 8-bit MCU replaces both a PWM controller and a protocol decoder. The 1.8 V to 5.5 V supply range lets the part run from the same rail as the LED driver logic, simplifying the power tree. Because the device is rated to 105 C, it can be placed on the LED board itself rather than on a separate control PCB, but the exposed pad must be connected to a copper area large enough to keep the junction below the thermal limit.
Recommended
Portable Medical Monitors
The ATMEGA88PB-MNR appears in portable medical monitors such as pulse oximeters and glucose meters because its low operating voltage, low sleep current, and integrated ADC support battery-powered measurement with long shelf life. The 512 B EEPROM stores patient calibration data and device serial numbers, and the watchdog timer plus brown-out detector provide the supervisory functions required for basic safety compliance. The 8 KB Flash is sufficient for a measurement state machine, a small LCD driver, and a UART link to a host or wireless module. Designers should keep analog and digital grounds separated under the QFN and place the ADC reference decoupling capacitor directly at the AREF pin to preserve measurement accuracy in the presence of the switching supplies used in these products.
Recommended
Industrial I/O Modules
The ATMEGA88PB-MNR is used in industrial I/O modules that aggregate discrete inputs and relay outputs onto a fieldbus, where the 27 I/O lines and three timers provide enough channels for a compact slice. The USART and SPI interfaces connect to a fieldbus controller or an isolated transceiver, and the 105 C rating allows the module to operate inside a cabinet without forced air. The exposed-pad VQFN package gives a short thermal path to the PCB, which matters when the module is mounted next to heat-generating relays. A key design consideration is galvanic isolation: the MCU side must be separated from the field side by digital isolators, and the QFN ground pad should be tied to the logic ground, not the field ground, to avoid injecting transient noise into the core.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA88PB-MNR — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA88PB-ANR | ATMEGA168PB-MNR | ATMEGA88PA-MUR | ATMEGA88PA-AUR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 32-VFQFN (5x5 mm) | 32-TQFP | 32-VFQFN (5x5 mm) - same | 32-VQFN (5x5 mm) - same | 32-TQFP |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 8 KB (4K x 16) | 8 KB | 16 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB |
| SRAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB |
| EEPROM | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B |
| Maximum Frequency | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Lines | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +105 C | -40 C to +105 C | -40 C to +105 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C |
| Functional Safety (FuSa) | Supported | Supported | Supported | Not documented | Not documented |
Key Differentiators
- Extended 105 C temperature rating in a 5x5 mm VQFN (vs ATMEGA88PA-MUR)
- Functional Safety (FuSa) documentation support (vs ATMEGA88PA-AUR)
- Pin-compatible Flash upgrade path (vs ATMEGA168PB-MNR)
- Tape-and-reel packaging for automated assembly (vs ATMEGA88PB-MN)
Design Notes
Decouple every VCC and AVCC pin with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within a few millimetres of the pin, and add a 10 uF bulk capacitor at the board entry. The AVCC pin supplies the ADC and must be filtered with a separate 100 nF plus a 10 uH ferrite bead from the digital VCC rail to keep switching noise out of the analog domain. Estimated: at 20 MHz and 5 V the core draws roughly 10 mA, so a 10 uF bulk capacitor provides ample charge reservoir for the transient current spikes of the AVR core.
Connect the exposed thermal pad (pin 33) to a solid ground plane using a 3x3 array of thermal vias. The pad is the primary heat path for the 32-pin VQFN package, and a poor pad connection will raise the junction temperature well above the 105 C ambient rating. Keep the crystal, if used, within 10 mm of the XTAL1/XTAL2 pins and guard it with a ground ring; route the load capacitors directly to the ground plane rather than daisy-chaining them to the MCU ground pin.
Do not leave the RESET pin floating; the ATmega88PB has an internal pull-up, but adding an external 10 kOhm pull-up and a 100 nF capacitor to ground improves noise immunity in industrial environments. Also verify that the programming interface (MOSI, MISO, SCK, RESET) is not loaded by external circuitry during in-system programming, because the SPI pins are shared with port B and any low-impedance load can corrupt the programming waveform.
Estimated: with a 5 V supply and 10 mA core current the device dissipates about 50 mW, which produces a junction rise of roughly 3 C above ambient for a theta_JA near 60 C/W in a well-vented QFN layout. The 105 C ambient rating therefore leaves substantial margin, but if the MCU is placed next to a power stage, recalculate the rise using the actual board thermal resistance and derate the maximum ambient accordingly.
Compliance Information
Distributor listings describe the ATMEGA88PB-MNR as GREEN and RoHS compliant. The device is not AEC-Q100 qualified; the 105 C rating is an industrial temperature grade, not an automotive qualification.
