ATMEGA1280-16CUR - 8-Bit AVR MCU 16MHz 128KB CBGA | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA1280-16CUR β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $9.2 | $9.20 |
| 10 | $8.35 | $83.50 |
| 100 | $7.45 | $745.00 |
| 500 | $6.8 | $3,400.00 |
| 1,000 | $6.25 | $6,250.00 |
ATMEGA1280-16CUR Overview
A microcontroller unit (MCU) integrates a processor core, memory, and programmable peripherals on a single die, sitting at the top of the embedded control hierarchy: semiconductor -> integrated circuit -> microcontroller -> 8-bit AVR family. The AVR architecture uses Harvard addressing with most of its 133 instructions executing in a single clock cycle, delivering roughly 1 MIPS per MHz.
Key features include 86 general-purpose I/O lines, six flexible timer/counters with compare modes and PWM, four programmable USARTs, a 16-channel 10-bit ADC, master/slave SPI, a byte-oriented 2-wire (I2C-compatible) serial interface, programmable watchdog timer with separate on-chip oscillator, on-chip analog comparator, and interrupt and wake-up on pin change. The 32 general-purpose working registers are directly connected to the ALU, enabling efficient C-compiled code execution.
The 100-ball CBGA package provides high I/O density in a 9x9 mm footprint suited to dense industrial control boards. The AVR core executes out of 128 KB of in-system-programmable FLASH, self-programmable through the SPI interface or via boot-loader firmware, and the 4 KB EEPROM retains calibration and configuration data through power cycles.
Typical applications include industrial automation controllers, Arduino Mega-class prototyping platforms, motor control, building automation, and instrumentation requiring multiple UART channels and many GPIO.
Design consideration: at 16 MHz the device requires a 4.5V to 5.5V supply; below 8 MHz it can run down to 2.7V, so confirm the supply domain before locking the clock source.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA1280-16CUR β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA1280-16CU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$12.9 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA2560-16CU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$11.75 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA640-16CUR
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA640-16CU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA640V-8CUR
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA1280-16CUR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | AVR 8-bit RISC |
| Core Size | 8-bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 16 MHz |
| Program Memory Size | 128 KB (64K x 16) FLASH |
| Program Memory Type | ISP FLASH |
| SRAM Size | 8 KB |
| EEPROM Size | 4 KB |
| Number of I/O | 86 |
| Operating Supply Voltage | 2.7 V to 5.5 V |
| Supply Voltage at 16 MHz | 4.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Instructions | 133 instructions, most single-cycle |
| Timers/Counters | Six flexible timer/counters with compare modes, PWM |
| USART | Four programmable serial USART |
| ADC | 16-channel, 10-bit |
| Serial Interfaces | SPI (master/slave), 2-wire serial interface, analog comparator |
| Package | 100-CBGA (9x9 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Watchdog Timer | Programmable, separate on-chip oscillator |
| Life Cycle Stage | ACTIVE |
ATMEGA1280-16CUR 100-cbga (9x9 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATMEGA1280-16CUR (100-cbga (9x9 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 ATMEGA1280-16CUR.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATMEGA1280-16CUR is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation Controllers, Arduino Mega-Class Prototyping, Multi-Channel Motor Control, Building Automation and HVAC, Instrumentation and Data Loggers, Embedded Communication Gateways.
Industrial Automation Controllers
The ATMEGA1280-16CUR fits industrial automation controller designs because it combines 86 GPIO lines, four independent USARTs for PLC-style fieldbus and HMI links, and a 16-channel 10-bit ADC for sensor aggregation, all in one 16 MHz AVR core. In a typical controller, the MCU runs the scan loop out of 128 KB FLASH while timers generate PWM for actuator drive and the 2-wire interface reads remote I/O expanders. Because it is a single-chip solution with an internal watchdog on a separate oscillator, fail-safe resets are handled without external supervisor components, improving uptime in continuously powered factory equipment.
Recommended
Arduino Mega-Class Prototyping
The original Arduino Mega board is built on the ATmega1280, and DFRobot's DFRduino Mega1280 documentation confirms 54 digital I/O, 16 analog inputs, four hardware serial ports, and a 16 MHz crystal - exactly the resource set of the ATMEGA1280-16CUR. Using the CBGA-packaged CUR variant in a custom Mega-compatible board gives a compact 9x9 mm footprint versus the through-hole TQFP approach, enabling small, dense shields. The open-source MegaCore Arduino hardware package supports ATmega1280 firmware builds, so prototyping code ported to production CBGA assemblies requires no framework change, shortening time from breadboard to product.
Recommended
Multi-Channel Motor Control
With six flexible timer/counters providing compare-mode PWM channels and 86 GPIO, the ATMEGA1280-16CUR can independently control multiple motors or high-side drivers while monitoring current through the 16-channel 10-bit ADC. A typical layout assigns timer-generated PWM to gate drivers, reserves one USART for a supervisory link, and uses the ADC to sample shunt-resistor feedback for overcurrent detection in software. The 16 MHz core delivers roughly 16 MIPS of single-cycle instruction throughput, sufficient for multi-axis closed-loop update rates in the kilohertz range for small motor systems such as printers, robotics, and conveyors.
Recommended
Building Automation and HVAC
Building automation nodes benefit from the ATMEGA1280-16CUR's four USARTs (RS-485 Modbus, panel bus, service port), 2-wire interface for environmental sensors, and 4 KB EEPROM that retains setpoints and calibration across power cycles. The 128 KB FLASH accommodates large protocol stacks plus a boot-loader for field firmware updates over the serial bus, while the programmable watchdog provides autonomous recovery from brownout-induced lockups common in unconditioned electrical rooms. Its wide 2.7V to 5.5V supply tolerance (at reduced clock) allows battery-backed or 24V-derived supply architectures without an extra regulator stage.
Recommended
Instrumentation and Data Loggers
Standalone data loggers use the ATMEGA1280-16CUR's 16-channel 10-bit ADC to multiplex many analog sensors through internal channel selection, and its 8 KB SRAM buffers sampled data before writing to external storage over SPI (SD cards) or 2-wire bus (EEPROM/FRAM). Six timer/counters support precise sampling intervals and timestamping via the real-time counter with a 32 kHz crystal. The 86 GPIO directly drive displays, keypad matrices, and relay banks, making the single chip the entire logger front end. AVR power-down modes with pin-change wake-up extend battery life in duty-cycled field deployments.
Recommended
Embedded Communication Gateways
The four hardware USARTs of the ATMEGA1280-16CUR make it a natural protocol gateway, bridging device-level serial buses to upstream Ethernet or wireless modules handled over SPI. 128 KB FLASH holds multiple protocol stacks concurrently, and 32 directly-ALU-connected working registers keep interrupt service routines short, preserving UART latency budgets at 16 MHz. Typical gateways translate legacy RS-232/RS-485 equipment to modern networks; SPI-connected modules add connectivity while the 86 GPIO handle local digital I/O for status and control. Boot-loader-based field updates over any UART keep deployed gateways serviceable.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA1280-16CUR β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA1280-16CU | ATMEGA2560-16CU | ATMEGA640-16CUR | ATMEGA640V-8CUR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-CBGA (9x9 mm) | 100-CBGA (9x9 mm) - same | 100-CBGA (9x9 mm) - same | 100-CBGA (9x9 mm) - same | TFBGA-100 (9x9 mm) - same footprint |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program FLASH | 128 KB | 128 KB | 256 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB |
| SRAM | 8 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB |
| Max Clock Frequency | 16 MHz | 16 MHz | 16 MHz | 16 MHz | 8 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | 2.7 V to 5.5 V | Low-voltage V-grade |
| USART Count | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Key Differentiators
- Balanced 128 KB FLASH size (vs ATMEGA2560-16CU)
- Double the code space of the cost-down variant (vs ATMEGA640-16CUR)
- Full 16 MHz speed vs low-voltage variant (vs ATMEGA640V-8CUR)
Design Notes
The speed-versus-voltage boundary is the most common design error with this family: 16 MHz operation requires a 4.5 V to 5.5 V supply, while a 3.3 V rail limits the safe clock to about 8 MHz. Design the regulator and clock source together. Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor at each VCC/AVCC ball pair plus a 10 uF bulk capacitor per supply domain, and keep AVCC within 0.3 V of VCC per the family datasheet to protect the ADC and analog comparator.
For the 100-CBGA (9x9 mm) footprint, escape the 1.0 mm-pitch ball grid with via-in-pad or dog-bone fanout on the inner rows; verify your fab supports the drill/via tenting stackup before layout freeze. Provide solid VCC/GND planes beneath the die area to reduce ground bounce across the 86 GPIO when many outputs switch simultaneously. Define the RESET and programming (SPI) nets to accessible test points for in-system programming and debug during production.
Do not assume the CBGA ball map matches the TQFP ATMEGA1280-16AU pinout - they differ; always build the footprint from the CBGA package drawing in the ATmega640/1280/2560 family datasheet. Program fuse settings (clock source, JTAGEN, boot size) before final production programming, since an incorrect clock fuse can brick boards in the field. Enable the programmable watchdog (separate on-chip oscillator) in firmware to recover from brownout-induced stalls, and reserve one UART with a boot-loader for field firmware updates.
Compliance Information
Compliance documents for this exact CBGA variant were not present in the provided web data; verify RoHS/REACH certificates on the Microchip product page before contractual use. Lifecycle stage listed as ACTIVE (digchip).
