ATMEGA162-16MJ - 8-bit AVR MCU 16KB Flash 16MHz 44-VQFN | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA162-16MJ ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.2 | $3.20 |
| 10 | $2.88 | $28.80 |
| 100 | $2.56 | $256.00 |
| 500 | $2.3 | $1,150.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.04 | $2,040.00 |
ATMEGA162-16MJ Overview
An 8-bit AVR ATmega microcontroller is a Harvard-architecture RISC processor that executes most of its 131 powerful instructions in a single clock cycle. Within the semiconductor hierarchy, it sits as an embedded microcontroller (MCU) under the integrated circuit family, part of the AVR ATmega product line from Microchip Technology. ATmega devices integrate program Flash, data SRAM, EEPROM, and peripheral functions such as timers, UARTs, SPI, and brown-out detection on a single die, making them self-contained embedded control solutions.
Key features of the ATMEGA162-16MJ include 16 KB (8K x 16) of programmable Flash supporting in-system and self-programming, a JTAG interface for on-chip debugging and boundary scan, and full static operation from 0 Hz to 16 MHz. The part integrates brown-out detection (BOD) and power-on reset (POR), PWM outputs, and a watchdog timer (WDT), reducing external component count. Per the Microchip product page, the architecture delivers approximately one MIPS per MHz, allowing designers to trade clock speed directly for power savings.
Technical depth comes from the advanced AVR RISC architecture: 32 general-purpose working registers are directly connected to the arithmetic logic unit, allowing two independent registers to be accessed in a single instruction executed in one clock cycle. The two-cycle on-chip multiplier and hardware-supported JTAG debug distinguish this family from simpler 8051-class MCUs.
Typical applications include dual-UART industrial communication nodes, motor control and PWM-driven actuators, and embedded control systems that benefit from the 44-pin VQFN footprint and industrial-grade reliability.
Design-wise, the exposed pad should be soldered to a grounded copper pour for thermal and signal-integrity benefits, and the 16 MHz speed grade requires a 4.5 V to 5.5 V supply. This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA162-16MJ — 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 ATMEGA162-16MJ (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Debug Interface, Flash Program Memory, Instruction Set, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA16-16MJ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.72 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA16-16MQR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.32 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA162-16MC
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.19 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA162-16MUR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.58 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA8535L-8MI
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA162-16MJ Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit AVR RISC |
| Flash Program Memory | 16 KB (8K x 16) |
| SRAM | 1 KB |
| EEPROM | 512 B |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 16 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Instruction Set | 131 instructions, most single-cycle |
| General Purpose Registers | 8 (32 GP working registers per AVR architecture) |
| Debug Interface | JTAG for on-chip debugging |
| Reset Supervision | Brown-out Detect/Reset, Power-on Reset |
| PWM | Yes |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes |
| Operating Voltage Range | 4.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Package | 44-VQFN (7x7 mm) Exposed Pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
ATMEGA162-16MJ 44-vqfn (7x7 mm) exposed pad Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATMEGA162-16MJ (44-vqfn (7x7 mm) exposed pad 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 ATMEGA162-16MJ.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATMEGA162-16MJ is suitable for 6 applications: Dual-UART Industrial Communication Gateways, PWM Motor Control, Embedded Sensor Acquisition Nodes, JTAG-Debugged Prototyping and Education Platforms, Building Automation and Access Control, Legacy 5V Embedded Control Retrofit.
Dual-UART Industrial Communication Gateways
The ATMEGA162-16MJ fits protocol-conversion nodes because it is one of the few 44-pin ATmega parts with two independent hardware USARTs, eliminating software UART overhead. Running at 16 MIPS, it has ample headroom to translate between, for example, a Modbus RTU RS-485 side and an RS-232 host side at 115200 baud with full framing and CRC checking in firmware. The watchdog timer and brown-out detector keep the gateway reliable across unregulated 5 V industrial rails. Use one UART for the field bus and the second for diagnostics or daisy-chained devices, with the JTAG interface left enabled during commissioning for breakpoint debugging of the protocol stack.
Recommended
PWM Motor Control
With hardware PWM outputs, a 16 MHz clock, and 131 mostly single-cycle instructions, the ATMEGA162-16MJ generates precise PWM waveforms for DC motor and stepper control. The 8-bit core responds to encoder interrupts within sub-microsecond bounds, enabling closed-loop speed regulation at kilohertz control-loop rates. The watchdog timer provides fail-safe shutdown if firmware hangs while the motor is energized. Design the power stage so the 5 V logic outputs drive MOSFET gate drivers rather than power FETs directly, and route PWM traces away from the JTAG and crystal lines on the 44-VQFN layout to keep switching noise out of the oscillator circuit.
Recommended
Embedded Sensor Acquisition Nodes
In distributed monitoring systems, the ATMEGA162-16MJ couples on-chip EEPROM (512 B) for calibration constants with 1 KB SRAM for sample buffering, streaming data over its UART to a host PLC or datalogger. The 16 KB self-programming Flash allows firmware updates in the field without a programmer on site, and the power-on reset plus brown-out detector guarantee clean startup from noisy shared supplies. Because most AVR instructions execute in one cycle at 16 MIPS, oversampling and digital filtering algorithms run comfortably in the main loop while the UART services telemetry continuously.
Recommended
JTAG-Debugged Prototyping and Education Platforms
The on-chip JTAG interface makes the ATMEGA162-16MJ a practical teaching and prototyping MCU: breakpoints, single-stepping, and memory inspection run through standard Atmel-ICE class tools without any monitor firmware. The 44-VQFN 7x7 mm exposed-pad package teaches fine-pitch reflow skills, while 16 KB Flash accommodates substantial C programs compiled with avr-gcc. The dual USART lets students run a debug console on one port and the target protocol on the other simultaneously. The 131-instruction AVR ISA remains one of the clearest architectures for teaching assembly fundamentals alongside C development.
Recommended
Building Automation and Access Control
Access panels and small building automation controllers benefit from the ATMEGA162-16MJ's combination of EEPROM credential storage, dual UARTs for reader and host links, and PWM-driven door actuation. The brown-out detector protects stored credentials and calibration data during utility power dips, and the watchdog timer guarantees the panel reboots into a known state after any firmware fault. With 16 MIPS of throughput, Wiegand decoding, keypad scanning, and host communication run concurrently in a simple foreground/background scheduler without an RTOS.
Recommended
Legacy 5V Embedded Control Retrofit
Many installed 5 V control boards still specify ATmega-class TQFP/MLF 44-pin parts, and the ATMEGA162-16MJ serves as a sustained-source retrofit device for those systems. It tolerates the 4.5 V to 5.5 V rail common on legacy industrial supplies, matches the original 16 MHz crystal timing, and reproduces the dual-UART behavior of the original ATMEGA162 designs. Because the 44-VQFN footprint is shared across the ATMEGA16/162 family, retrofits often need no PCB respin. Verify the JTAG fuse settings and lock bits against the original production programming file during transfer.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA162-16MJ — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA16-16MJ | ATMEGA162-16MC | ATMEGA162-16MUR | ATMEGA8535L-8MI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 44-VQFN (7x7 mm) Exposed Pad | 44-VQFN (7x7 mm) Exposed Pad - same | 44-VQFN (7x7 mm) Exposed Pad - same | 44-VQFN (7x7 mm) Exposed Pad - same | 44-VQFN (7x7 mm) Exposed Pad - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 8 KB |
| SRAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 512 B |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 16 MHz (16 MIPS) | 16 MHz (16 MIPS) | 16 MHz (16 MIPS) | 16 MHz (16 MIPS) | 8 MHz (8 MIPS) |
| Hardware USARTs | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| JTAG On-Chip Debug | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial (J suffix) | Industrial (J suffix) | Commercial (C suffix) | Industrial (same die, reel) | Industrial, low-voltage (L grade) |
Key Differentiators
- Dual hardware USARTs (vs ATMEGA16-16MJ)
- Industrial temperature grade in exposed-pad QFN (vs ATMEGA162-16MC)
- Double the flash and speed vs low-voltage same-footprint option (vs ATMEGA8535L-8MI)
Design Notes
Solder the 44-VQFN exposed pad to a grounded copper pour with an array of thermal vias. This pad is the primary ground connection for the die; leaving it unconnected causes floating-ground behavior, unreliable brown-out thresholds, and poor EMC performance. Use a 5x5 via pattern under the pad and a solder-paste stencil segmented to about 60 percent coverage to prevent part billow during reflow. Per standard Microchip QFN application guidance, inspect X-ray on first articles to verify pad wetting.
The -16 (16 MHz) speed grade requires a 4.5 V to 5.5 V supply; do not attempt 16 MHz operation at 3.3 V. Place a 100 nF ceramic capacitor at each VCC pin within 2 mm of the pad, plus 4.7 uF to 10 uF of bulk capacitance near the supply entry. Enable the brown-out detector with the 4.0 V threshold (BOD fuse) so Flash writes are inhibited during supply sag. Estimated: at 16 MHz and 5 V, active current is in the ~10-15 mA class per typical AVR figures - size the 5 V rail accordingly.
The JTAG pins are shared with port C general-purpose I/O. If your application uses all of port C, disable JTAG via the JTAGEN fuse (and confirm with the JTD bit in the MCUCSR register, which must be written twice within four cycles per datasheet). Also remember that the dual UARTs of the ATMEGA162 mean ATMEGA16 firmware is NOT binary compatible - UART1 register addresses differ, so audit any substitute decision against firmware source, not just the pinout.
Compliance Information
Compliance status not stated in the retrieved distributor data; verify against the official Microchip product page and the Microchip environmental compliance portal before procurement.
