ATTINY13A-SSU - 8-Bit AVR MCU, 1KB Flash, 20MHz | Microchip
MPN: ATTINY13A-SSU ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.99 | $0.99 |
| 10 | $0.89 | $8.90 |
| 100 | $0.79 | $79.00 |
| 500 | $0.72 | $360.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.65 | $650.00 |
ATTINY13A-SSU Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, non-volatile memory (Flash/ROM), volatile working memory (SRAM), and a configurable set of peripherals such as timers, ADCs, and digital I/O onto one IC. MCUs form the lowest tier of embedded computing, sitting beneath microprocessors (MPUs) and application processors in capability but above fixed-function logic ICs in flexibility. The AVR family places a RISC-style load/store CPU core next to tightly-coupled peripherals, and the tinyAVR sub-family scales this architecture into the smallest 8-pin parts for cost- and space-sensitive designs.
Key features include hardware multipliers-free single-cycle execution, a debugWIRE on-chip debug interface, an analog comparator, a programmable watchdog timer with separate on-chip oscillator, and two PWM-capable 8-bit timers plus one high-speed timer. The picoPower technology extends battery life through multiple sleep modes that drop active current to the microamp range. Six general-purpose I/O lines are available on the SO-8 footprint, with PB5 serving as the reset pin and supporting in-circuit serial programming.
Architecturally, the ATTINY13A-SSU fuses an enhanced RISC core (90+ instructions, most single-cycle) with a Harvard-style memory layout that lets the CPU fetch instructions from Flash while data accesses hit SRAM in the same cycle. The peripheral set is selected for analog and digital mixed-signal chores: a 10-bit successive-approximation ADC with four input channels, a programmable analog comparator, and dedicated timer/counter blocks with PWM output match units for switching tasks.
Typical applications include LED drivers, battery chargers, small motor controls, remote control transmitters, simple sensor nodes, and wearable accessories where board area and quiescent current are constrained. The wide 1.8 V to 5.5 V range lets a single design migrate between single-cell lithium and 3.3 V or 5 V system rails without hardware changes.
When laying out a board, place the decoupling capacitor (typically 100 nF) within a few millimetres of the VCC pin and route a low-impedance GND pour under the exposed copper area to keep digital switching noise out of the ADC inputs. Ensure the RESET pin (PB5) is pulled high through 10 kohm and accessible to the ISP header so in-circuit programming and debugWIRE debug sessions can be performed without removing the part.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and engineering design notes that complement the manufacturer datasheet to accelerate part selection and PCB bring-up.
Drop-in alternatives for ATTINY13A-SSU — 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 ATTINY13A-SSU (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Maximum Clock Frequency, Supply Voltage Range.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATTINY13A-SSUR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATTINY13-20SSU
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATTINY13A-SU
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATTINY25-20SU
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATTINY45-20SU
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATTINY13A-SSU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | AVR enhanced RISC 8-bit |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 1 KB (512 x 16) |
| EEPROM | 64 bytes |
| SRAM | 64 bytes |
| Register File | 32 x 8-bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Throughput | Up to 20 MIPS (1 MIPS/MHz) |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 6 (general-purpose) |
| ADC | 4-channel, 10-bit |
| Analog Comparator | 1 (on-chip) |
| Timers/Counters | 1 x 8-bit, 1 x 8-bit high-speed |
| PWM Channels | 2 |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes (separate on-chip oscillator) |
| Debug Interface | debugWIRE (1-wire on-chip debug) |
| Programming Interface | In-system serial programming (ISP) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| Package | 8-pin SOIC (SO-8, 150 mil) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
ATTINY13A-SSU Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PCINT5/RESET/ADC0/PB5 — Reset (active low) or general-purpose I/O / ADC0 |
| Pin 2 | PCINT3/CLKI/ADC3/PB3 — External clock input or general-purpose I/O / ADC3 |
| Pin 3 | PCINT4/ADC2/PB4 — General-purpose I/O or ADC2 |
| Pin 4 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 5 | MOSI/DO/AIN0/PB0 — SPI MOSI / analog comparator positive input |
| Pin 6 | MISO/DI/AIN1/PB1 — SPI MISO / analog comparator negative input |
| Pin 7 | SCK/OC1A/AREF/ADC1/PB2 — SPI SCK / PWM output / ADC reference / ADC1 |
| Pin 8 | VCC — Positive supply (1.8 V to 5.5 V) |
Typical Applications
ATTINY13A-SSU is suitable for 8 applications: LED Driver and Light Dimming, Battery Charger Control for Small Cells, Remote Control Transmitter (IR/RF), Sensor Hub and Signal Conditioning, Small Brushed DC Motor Speed Controller, Wearable / Wrist-band Controller, Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning, Smart Home / IoT Edge Node.
LED Driver and Light Dimming
The ATTINY13A-SSU fits LED driver and dimming boards because its 1 KB Flash and 2 hardware PWM channels are enough to implement logarithmic dimming curves, fade transitions, and temperature-compensated current control. With a 10-bit ADC and 1.1 V internal bandgap reference, the part monitors thermistor or photodiode inputs and adjusts PWM duty cycle on the fly to maintain constant brightness. The picoPower sleep modes drop quiescent consumption below 1 uA in standby so battery-powered accent lighting can run years on a single coin cell. Placed between the battery and a MOSFET gate driver, the ATTINY13A-SSU replaces a discrete 555-timer and analog reference with one AVR, shrinking the BOM and enabling firmware-driven dim profiles.
Recommended
Battery Charger Control for Small Cells
The ATTINY13A-SSU is well suited to single-cell Li-ion / LiFePO4 charger controllers thanks to its 4-channel 10-bit ADC for Vbat sensing, charge current shunt monitoring, and NTC temperature input, plus a hardware analog comparator for end-of-charge detection. With 1.8 V to 5.5 V operation, it can be powered directly from a 5 V USB rail while delivering PWM to a switching pass element. The 2 PWM outputs drive a buck or linear regulator stage while the 32-byte register file keeps real-time Coulomb tracking within reach. Compared with a pure analog charger IC, the ATTINY13A-SSU adds customizable CC/CV curves and USB-C current-limit negotiation in firmware, while keeping standby current in the picoPower range for shelf life.
Recommended
Remote Control Transmitter (IR/RF)
The ATTINY13A-SSU handles small remote control transmitters (key fobs, IR learning remotes, simple RF keypads) using one timer for carrier generation and the others for button debounce and protocol encoding. Its 20 MHz throughput easily generates 38 kHz IR carriers or 315/433 MHz OOK modulation with deterministic latency. Six I/O pins support up to 6-button keypads or matrix scanning. The picoPower sleep mode keeps the part in nanoamp-range idle between button presses, dramatically extending battery life in wall-mounted or keychain remotes. The part replaces discrete encoder ICs like PT2262 with flexible firmware that can mix protocols (RC5, NEC, custom) and update timing without PCB rework.
Recommended
Sensor Hub and Signal Conditioning
The ATTINY13A-SSU serves as a low-cost analog front-end and protocol translator for small sensor nodes, digitizing analog sensors and re-encoding the data into PWM, UART-like bit-banged streams, or simple I2C slave responses. Its 10-bit ADC with internal reference is accurate enough for thermistor, photodiode, and resistive sensor conversion, while the 6 GPIO lines provide interrupts and enable signals to upstream MCUs. Operating from 1.8 V allows direct connection to single-cell battery stacks without boost converters. The integrated analog comparator enables zero-crossing detection for AC mains-coupled sensors. Combined with Pico Power sleep, a sensor hub built on the ATTINY13A-SSU can run years on a CR2032 cell.
Recommended
Small Brushed DC Motor Speed Controller
The ATTINY13A-SSU drives small brushed DC motors in toys, fans, and appliance trim by generating complementary PWM and direction signals through its timer blocks. The 20 MIPS throughput supports closed-loop PI control with feedback from a back-EMF ADC channel, allowing constant-RPM fans or gentle soft-start ramps. The hardware analog comparator can be used for current limiting via a shunt resistor, protecting the H-bridge from stall currents. With 6 I/O, two GPIOs switch an H-bridge directly while the other four monitor tach, fault lines, and buttons. Compared to dedicated motor-driver ICs, the AVR adds field-upgradeable speed profiles and USB diagnostic capability.
Recommended
Wearable / Wrist-band Controller
The ATTINY13A-SSU is appropriate for wearable wristbands and clip-on sensors thanks to its 8-pin SOIC, sub-1 uA sleep current, and ability to source RTC tick timing from the internal calibrated oscillator. It can wake on GPIO interrupt (button press, capacitive touch via analog comparator), take a sensor reading with the 10-bit ADC, store it in 64 bytes of SRAM, and return to sleep - all without external components. USB-charged wearables can directly run from a 3.7 V Li-ion cell through the chip's 1.8-5.5 V input range. Combined with the boot loader section and 1 KB Flash, the part delivers just enough code space for gesture recognition in sub-second windows while leaving room for OTA-style firmware stub.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning
The ATTINY13A-SSU provides industrial sensor signal conditioning for 4-20 mA loops, RTD interfaces, and bridge sensors in space-constrained modules. Its 10-bit ADC with programmable gain stage (via analog comparator + op-amp external) and 1.1 V internal reference support accurate ratiometric measurements. The 1.8-5.5 V supply range integrates with 3.3 V industrial sensor buses and 5 V PLC backplanes alike. Six GPIO lines route fault outputs, watchdog triggers, and one-wire diagnostic interfaces. Compared with a fully analog signal-conditioning chain, the ATTINY13A-SSU adds linearization, calibration coefficients, and HART-like bit-bang support without raising BOM cost.
Recommended
Smart Home / IoT Edge Node
The ATTINY13A-SSU functions as the smallest member of an IoT edge node, waking up on a GPIO interrupt to read a digital sensor, transmit via a UART-attached radio module, and return to picoPower sleep within a few milliseconds. Its 6 I/O lines support a button, an LED, an I2C sensor bus, and a UART to an ESP-style network co-processor. The 64-byte SRAM is small but adequate for message buffers when the heavy network stack runs elsewhere. The chip's robust -40 C to +85 C industrial temperature rating handles outdoor and basement environments, while the 1.8 V minimum VCC supports direct battery operation without boost converters.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATTINY13A-SSU — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATTINY13A-SSUR | ATTINY13-20SSU | ATTINY13A-SU | ATTINY25-20SU | ATTINY45-20SU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 8-SOIC (150 mil) | 8-SOIC (150 mil) | 8-SOIC (150 mil) | 8-SOIC (150 mil) | 8-SOIC (150 mil) | 8-SOIC (150 mil) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 2 KB | 4 KB |
| SRAM | 64 B | 64 B | 64 B | 64 B | 128 B | 256 B |
| EEPROM | 64 B | 64 B | 64 B | 64 B | 128 B | 256 B |
| Maximum Clock | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 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 |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +125 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C |
| PWM Channels | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| ADC | 4-ch, 10-bit | 4-ch, 10-bit | 4-ch, 10-bit | 4-ch, 10-bit | 4-ch, 10-bit | 4-ch, 10-bit |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest-cost entry to AVR programming tools and tutorials (vs ATTINY25-20SU)
- Industrial -40 C to +85 C rating with RoHS SO-8 (vs ATTINY13A-SSUR)
- Simple ISP programming with debugWIRE on-chip debug (vs ATTINY13A-PU)
Design Notes
Estimated: With VCC=3.3 V and the internal RC oscillator enabled at 9.6 MHz, the ATTINY13A-SSU draws approximately 5-10 mA active and falls to <1 uA in power-down mode with watchdog disabled. To minimize sleep current, ensure all unused I/O pins are configured as inputs with internal pull-ups enabled or as outputs driven to a defined logic level - floating inputs can leak several microamps. Adding a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of pin 8 is critical for stable ADC readings and ISP programming.
The 8-pin SOIC footprint has a fairly narrow 0.050 inch lead pitch - use 0.025 inch via land pads and route traces between pins to escape power and ground. Tie pin 4 (GND) to a continuous ground pour and keep pin 8 (VCC) trace short to the decoupling capacitor. For ISP programming, expose PB0, PB1, and RESET (pin 5, 6, 1) on a 2x3 or 1x6 header with 10 kohm pull-up on RESET to enable repeated in-circuit programming without disturbing the MCU.
Do not forget to disable the RESET function (RSTDISBL fuse) if PB5 is required as a general-purpose I/O - this is a one-time programmable change and the chip cannot be ISP-programmed after the fuse is set unless debugWIRE or high-voltage parallel programming is retained. Run the ADC below 200 kHz clock for full 10-bit resolution per datasheet; running at higher ADC clock rates will sacrifice bit-accuracy. Always place the decoupling capacitor as close to VCC/GND pins as possible to suppress the digital switching noise that can alias into ADC readings.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. The ATTINY13A-SSU is not AEC-Q100 qualified; use ATTINY13A-SSUR for automotive applications requiring extended temperature rating. Halogen-free and conflict-mineral declarations available from Microchip upon request.
