ATMEGA1608-AU - 8-bit AVR MCU 20MHz 16KB Flash TQFP-32 | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA1608-AU β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.35 | $1.35 |
| 10 | $1.21 | $12.10 |
| 100 | $1.05 | $105.00 |
| 500 | $0.94 | $470.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.86 | $860.00 |
ATMEGA1608-AU Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a complete computing system integrated on a single chip, combining a processor core, program memory, data memory, and peripherals. The megaAVR 0-series sits in the mid-range of Microchip's 8-bit AVR hierarchy, above the tinyAVR line and below the 48 KB flagship ATmega4809, targeting general-purpose embedded control.
Key features include a 3-stage pipelined AVR core executing most instructions in a single cycle, an advanced Flexible Peripheral Multiplexer (PORTMUX) that routes peripherals to any compatible pin, and dual analog comparators. The device integrates USART, SPI, and TWI (I2C) serial interfaces, plus 10-bit ADC with up to 16 input channels and an 8-bit DAC for waveform generation.
Technical depth comes from the latest AVR core architecture: the hardware multiplier executes 8x8 multiply in one cycle, and the Event System allows peripherals to communicate without CPU intervention, reducing latency and power. Sleep modes down to sub-uA levels, a windowed watchdog timer, and a Programmable Custom Logic (PCL) block extend design flexibility. Functional Safety (FuSa) documentation support simplifies IEC 61508-oriented designs.
Typical applications include industrial automation nodes, home appliances, IoT sensor endpoints, and motor control interfaces where 5V noise immunity and low BOM cost matter.
For design, note the 1.8V to 5.5V supply range allows direct 5V or 3.3V operation, but maximum clock frequency scales with VDD; at 5V the full 20 MHz is available, while lower voltages require derating.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in family alternatives, pinout data, and practical design notes not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet. Pricing shown is as of 2026-09-16.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA1608-AU 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 ATMEGA1608-AU (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Core Processor, Package, Peripherals, Series, Packaging.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA1608-AFR
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$0.81 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA3208-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$1.59 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA4808-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA808-AU
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA1608-AN
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA1608-AU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | AVR (8-bit, hardware multiplier) |
| Core Size | 8-bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB (16K x 8) |
| SRAM | 2 KB |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C |
| Package | 32-TQFP (7x7 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Peripherals | WDT, POR/BOD, Event System, Custom Logic, DAC |
| Communication Interfaces | USART, SPI, TWI (I2C) |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit |
| DAC Resolution | 8-bit |
| Series | megaAVR 0, Functional Safety (FuSa) |
| Product Status | Active |
| Packaging | Tray |
ATMEGA1608-AU Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD β Power supply (1.8 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 2 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 3 | PA0 β GPIO / UPDI (also used for Unified Programming Debug Interface) |
| Pin 4 | PA1 β GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 5 | PA2 β GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 6 | PA3 β GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 7 | PA4 β GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 8 | PA5 β GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 9 | PA6 β GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 10 | PA7 β GPIO / analog input / RESET (configurable) |
| Pin 11 | PB0 β GPIO |
| Pin 12 | PB1 β GPIO |
| Pin 13 | PB2 β GPIO |
| Pin 14 | PB3 β GPIO |
| Pin 15 | PB4 β GPIO |
| Pin 16 | PB5 β GPIO |
| Pin 17 | PC0 β GPIO |
| Pin 18 | PC1 β GPIO |
| Pin 19 | PC2 β GPIO |
| Pin 20 | PC3 β GPIO |
| Pin 21 | PC4 β GPIO |
| Pin 22 | PC5 β GPIO |
| Pin 23 | PC6 β GPIO |
| Pin 24 | PD0 β GPIO |
| Pin 25 | PD1 β GPIO |
| Pin 26 | PD2 β GPIO |
| Pin 27 | PD3 β GPIO |
| Pin 28 | PD4 β GPIO |
| Pin 29 | PD5 β GPIO |
| Pin 30 | PD6 β GPIO |
| Pin 31 | PD7 β GPIO |
| Pin 32 | RESET β Reset input (dedicated pin) |
Typical Applications
ATMEGA1608-AU is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation Nodes, IoT Sensor Endpoints, Home Appliances, Motor Control Interfaces, Consumer Electronics Controllers, Test and Measurement Fixtures.
Industrial Automation Nodes
The ATMEGA1608-AU fits industrial control nodes because it combines a 20 MHz AVR core with 5.5V-tolerant, 1.8V to 5.5V operation and an industrial -40C to +85C temperature rating, providing noise immunity on 24V-backed 5V logic rails. Its Event System routes ADC results or comparator events to timers and communication peripherals without CPU cycles, so a node can service a sensor and maintain a Modbus-over-USRA link concurrently. The 16 KB Flash typically holds protocol stacks and calibration tables while 2 KB SRAM buffers data frames. The Functional Safety (FuSa) documentation support simplifies qualification in machinery adhering to functional-safety-oriented design processes.
Recommended
IoT Sensor Endpoints
For battery-backed or line-powered IoT sensor endpoints, the ATMEGA1608-AU offers multiple sleep modes with low wake-up latency from the megaAVR 0-series core, letting a node sleep between sampling intervals and wake on a comparator, timer, or pin event. The 10-bit ADC with up to 16 input channels digitizes analog sensors directly, while the USART and SPI link to wireless modules such as BLE or LoRa radios. 16 KB Flash accommodates a lightweight firmware with sensor compensation algorithms, and the 256-byte EEPROM stores device calibration and network credentials across power cycles. At 5V operation, noise margins remain robust in electrically noisy environments.
Recommended
Home Appliances
White goods and small appliances benefit from the ATMEGA1608-AU's combination of low cost, 5V noise immunity, and robust peripherals. The 10-bit ADC reads user controls and NTC temperature sensors, the 8-bit DAC can generate reference tones or bias levels, and Programmable Custom Logic implements simple state machines in hardware, offloading critical sequencing such as relay actuation from software. The windowed watchdog timer with early warning interrupts prevents lockups in devices that must never hang mid-cycle. The TQFP-32 7x7 mm footprint suits cost-optimized two-layer appliance PCBs, and the -40C to +85C rating covers kitchen and laundry environments.
Recommended
Motor Control Interfaces
While the megaAVR 0-series targets small motor applications, the ATMEGA1608-AU manages brushed DC and stepper motor interfaces well: its hardware multiplier accelerates PID loop math at 20 MHz, and Event System routes PWM timer outputs through Custom Logic to build complementary drive signals with dead time. The 10-bit ADC monitors current sense shunts and back-EMF, and a USART links to a higher-level controller. Designers should pair the MCU with a gate driver or integrated bridge for the power stage. The 5V I/O directly drives many gate-driver inputs, reducing level-shifting components in 24V motor systems.
Recommended
Consumer Electronics Controllers
The ATMEGA1608-AU serves as the main controller in low-cost consumer products such as small displays, chargers, and handheld devices. The Flexible Peripheral Multiplexer lets hardware designers place connectors without constraining firmware, since USART, SPI, TWI, and PWM functions route to alternate GPIO through register configuration. 16 KB Flash handles UI firmware including button debouncing, LED or LCD drive, and buzzer tone generation via the 8-bit DAC. Single-cycle I/O access makes bit-banged protocols responsive, and the hardware multiplier accelerates audio sample generation. Its tray packaging suits mid-volume consumer SMT assembly lines without reel constraints.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Fixtures
Bench fixtures and production test jigs use the ATMEGA1608-AU as an inexpensive sequencing and measurement engine. The 20 MHz core with single-cycle execution reads DUT responses over SPI or TWI while the 10-bit ADC verifies analog thresholds; the Event System timestamps external triggers with hardware precision independent of software jitter. 2 KB SRAM buffers captured waveforms for pass/fail analysis, and 16 KB Flash holds multiple test scripts selected at runtime. USB-to-UART bridging through a companion chip exposes the fixture to PC control software. The TQFP-32's 0.8 mm pitch is compatible with standard assembly processes for custom test boards.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA1608-AU β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA1608-AFR | ATMEGA3208-AU | ATMEGA4808-AU | ATMEGA808-AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 32-TQFP (7x7 mm) | 32-TQFP (7x7 mm) - same | 32-TQFP (7x7 mm) - same | 32-TQFP (7x7 mm) - same | 32-TQFP (7x7 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB | 48 KB | 8 KB |
| SRAM | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 6 KB | 1 KB |
| Max Clock Frequency | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Core | AVR 8-bit (megaAVR 0-series) | AVR 8-bit (megaAVR 0-series) | AVR 8-bit (megaAVR 0-series) | AVR 8-bit (megaAVR 0-series) | AVR 8-bit (megaAVR 0-series) |
| Supply 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 |
| Lifecycle Status | Active | Active | Active | Active | Active |
Key Differentiators
- Cost-optimal 16 KB point of the 32-pin megaAVR 0-series (vs ATMEGA3208-AU)
- Upgrade headroom without PCB change (vs ATMEGA4808-AU)
- Extended-temperature variant available (vs ATMEGA1608-AFR)
Design Notes
The ATMEGA1608-AU accepts 1.8V to 5.5V, but the maximum 20 MHz clock is only guaranteed at higher VDD; at lower supply voltages the internal frequency must be derated per the datasheet operating-frequency-vs-VDD curve. If you power the device at 3.3V, verify your intended clock speed against the derating table before locking the design. Add a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor close to each VDD pin plus a bulk 4.7 uF capacitor, and enable the internal BOD (brown-out detector) at a threshold appropriate to your rail to prevent corrupted Flash writes during supply dips.
Route the UPDI programming pin (PA0) to a 3-pin or Tag-Connect footprint on every production PCB, since UPDI is the only programming/debug interface on megaAVR 0-series parts - unlike classic AVRs there is no ISP header option. Keep the RESET trace short and add an optional external pull-up; the dedicated RESET pin on the TQFP-32 can be avoided only if the datasheet's pin-configurable RESET option is used, which sacrifices a GPIO. The exposed-clock crystal circuit, if used, must sit within a few millimeters of the relevant pins with short ground returns.
Firmware written for classic ATmega328P-style parts will not compile unchanged: megaAVR 0-series uses a new register map, port naming (PORTA-PORTD with VPORT fast aliases), and a reworked ADC. Plan a migration budget if porting legacy AVR code. Also remember the Peripheral Multiplexer defaults - peripherals are not on fixed pins, so a forgotten PORTMUX register write leaves your UART on the wrong physical pin. MegaCoreX provides Arduino framework support for ATmega1608 if rapid prototyping is needed. Finally, EEPROM writes require the CPU clock to be above a minimum frequency per datasheet - check this in low-power clocked designs.
Compliance Information
RoHS/lead-free status per Microchip standard green packaging for megaAVR 0-series; verify REACH and halogen-free certificates on Microchip's product page environmental documentation.
