ATMEGA162-16PI - 16MHz AVR MCU, 16KB Flash, 40-PDIP | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA162-16PI β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.2 | $5.20 |
| 10 | $4.75 | $47.50 |
| 100 | $4.25 | $425.00 |
| 500 | $3.9 | $1,950.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.55 | $3,550.00 |
ATMEGA162-16PI Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller is a single-chip computer that integrates a processor core, program memory, data memory, and peripherals such as UARTs, timers, and GPIO ports on one die. Within the product hierarchy, the ATmega162 belongs to the AVR ATmega family of flash-based MCUs, which sit under the broader categories of RISC microcontrollers and embedded processors. The AVR architecture executes most of its 131 instructions in a single clock cycle, achieving roughly 1 MIPS per MHz and letting designers trade processing speed directly against power consumption.
Key differentiating features include the dual USART peripherals (rare in this class), JTAG boundary-scan and on-chip-debug support, the 16 KB self-programming flash enabling bootloader-based field updates, and an industrial temperature rating of -40C to +85C indicated by the 'I' suffix. The device also provides two 8-bit timers, one 16-bit timer, four PWM channels, and an 8-channel 10-bit ADC.
Architecturally, the ATmega162 uses an advanced Harvard-structure AVR core with 32 general-purpose working registers fully connected to the ALU, allowing one-cycle execution of register-to-register operations. Fully static operation permits clocking down to DC for ultra-low-power stop modes without register loss.
Typical applications include dual-serial-port industrial controllers, legacy embedded systems where a through-hole 40-pin DIP simplifies prototyping and repair, battery-powered instruments exploiting the low-power idle and power-down modes, and educational platforms.
A key design consideration is clock source selection: the 16 MHz speed grade (16PI) requires a suitable crystal or external clock within fuse-programmed range, and full-speed operation at 16 MHz at -40C to +85C must respect the datasheet derating curve.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing context, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA162-16PI 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 ATMEGA162-16PI (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Operating Temperature, Instruction Set, Maximum Clock Frequency, Debug Interface, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA162-16PC
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$1.95 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA162-16PU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$3.1 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA16-16PI
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$3.72 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA161L-4PI
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$6.35 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA162-16PI Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | 8-bit AVR RISC |
| Program Memory Size | 16 KB Flash (8K x 16) |
| SRAM Size | 1 KB |
| EEPROM Size | 512 B |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 16 MHz |
| Maximum Throughput | 16 MIPS at 16 MHz |
| Operating Supply Voltage | 4.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial, 'I' suffix) |
| Package | 40-PDIP (0.600 in, 15.24 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Through Hole |
| USART Peripherals | 2 |
| Timers | 2 x 8-bit, 1 x 16-bit |
| PWM Channels | 4 |
| ADC Channels | 8-channel 10-bit |
| JTAG Interface | Yes (on-chip debug and boundary scan) |
| Instruction Set | 131 instructions, most single-cycle |
| In-System Programmable | Yes (self-programming Flash) |
ATMEGA162-16PI 40-pdip (0.600 in, 15.24 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATMEGA162-16PI (40-pdip (0.600 in, 15.24 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 ATMEGA162-16PI.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATMEGA162-16PI is suitable for 6 applications: Dual-UART Industrial Controllers, Legacy Through-Hole Embedded Systems, Battery-Powered Measurement Instruments, Embedded Education and Prototyping, Motor Control and PWM Systems, Building Automation and Smart Home Nodes.
Dual-UART Industrial Controllers
The ATMEGA162-16PI is one of the few 8-bit AVR MCUs with two independent hardware USARTs, making it a natural fit for controllers that must bridge two serial networks - for example translating between a Modbus RTU field bus and a device-level RS-232 link. Running at 16 MHz, it sustains 16 MIPS, ample headroom for buffered UART handling at 115200 baud on both ports simultaneously. The industrial -40C to +85C temperature rating and 5 V logic tolerance match typical factory-floor electrical environments. Placed between two RS-485 transceivers with the 10-bit ADC monitoring analog setpoints, the part provides a complete single-chip gateway; its self-programming Flash permits field firmware updates over the serial link without a programmer.
Recommended
Legacy Through-Hole Embedded Systems
The 40-pin 0.600-inch PDIP package of the ATMEGA162-16PI makes it ideal for maintaining and repairing legacy equipment designed when through-hole assembly was standard. The 0.635 mm-pitch leads are hand-solderable and socketable, letting service technicians swap a failed MCU in minutes without hot-air rework. With 16 KB Flash, 1 KB SRAM, JTAG on-chip debugging, and a 16 MHz clock, the part comfortably runs the firmware of mid-1990s to 2000s controllers while offering spare headroom. Its availability in current distribution stock (over 12,000 pieces at Heisener as of September 2026) means long-life industrial machines can keep the original BOM rather than redesigning around a modern SMD MCU.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Measurement Instruments
The AVR core's fully static operation lets the ATMEGA162-16PI run from DC up to 16 MHz, and its power-down and idle sleep modes reduce average current dramatically in battery instruments such as handheld data loggers and portable meters. Wake-up from power-down via external interrupt or watchdog allows months of standby life, with bursts of full-speed 16 MIPS computation only during measurement cycles. The integrated 8-channel 10-bit ADC digitizes up to eight sensor inputs directly, removing an external converter from the BOM. Designers should note the 4.5 V to 5.5 V supply requirement; a boost converter or four-cell alkaline stack suits this range, and the PWM channels can drive backlight or buzzer outputs.
Recommended
Embedded Education and Prototyping
Because the ATMEGA162-16PI is a genuine through-hole DIP device, it plugs directly into solderless breadboards and ZIF-socket development boards, making it a favorite for embedded-systems coursework and rapid prototyping. The AVR architecture - 131 mostly single-cycle instructions and 32 general-purpose registers - is straightforward to teach, while the JTAG on-chip-debug interface allows students to single-step code with professional tools rather than relying on printf-style debugging. Its dual USARTs enable labs on serial protocols without software UART bit-banging. ISP programming over a six-wire header keeps the programmer cost minimal, and the 16 KB Flash with self-programming support demonstrates bootloader concepts in a single chip.
Recommended
Motor Control and PWM Systems
The ATMEGA162-16PI provides four hardware PWM channels driven by its two 8-bit timers and one 16-bit timer, supporting DC motor speed control, servo positioning, and LED dimming at PWM frequencies high enough to avoid audible noise. At a 16 MHz clock the 8-bit timers can generate fast PWM up to roughly 62.5 kHz, and the 16-bit timer delivers fine duty resolution for precision applications. The 10-bit ADC reads feedback from potentiometers, shunt resistors via amplifiers, or temperature sensors to close control loops in firmware, while the industrial temperature rating permits use inside enclosures with elevated ambient temperatures. A gate driver IC should buffer the PWM outputs before driving power MOSFETs.
Recommended
Building Automation and Smart Home Nodes
For node-level control in building automation - relay switching, damper actuation, occupancy sensing - the ATMEGA162-16PI combines sufficient compute (16 MIPS), analog input (8-channel 10-bit ADC), and dual serial interfaces in one 5 V-tolerant chip. One USART can talk to a room controller over RS-485 while the second services a configuration console or a secondary sensor bus, eliminating software UART overhead. Its 512 B EEPROM stores calibration constants and device addresses that survive power loss and field reconfiguration, and the industrial -40C to +85C rating tolerates unconditioned spaces such as mechanical rooms. Sleep modes keep average consumption low for nodes that wake periodically on interrupts.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA162-16PI β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA162-16PC | ATMEGA162-16PU | ATMEGA16-16PI | ATMEGA161L-4PI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 40-PDIP (0.600 in) | 40-PDIP - same | 40-PDIP - same | 40-PDIP - same | 40-PDIP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology (Atmel) | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB |
| SRAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 512 B |
| Max Clock | 16 MHz | 16 MHz | 16 MHz | 16 MHz | 4 MHz |
| USART Count | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Temperature Range | -40C to +85C (industrial) | 0C to +70C (commercial) | Narrower than industrial | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| JTAG On-Chip Debug | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Key Differentiators
- Dual hardware USARTs (vs ATMEGA16-16PI)
- Full industrial temperature rating (vs ATMEGA162-16PC)
- JTAG on-chip debug support (vs ATMEGA161L-4PI)
- Trade-off: 5 V only operation (vs Modern 3.3 V MCUs)
Design Notes
The ATMEGA162-16PI requires 4.5 V to 5.5 V supply. Decouple VCC and AVCC separately with 100 nF ceramic capacitors placed within a few millimeters of each pin pair, plus a 10 uF bulk capacitor per board. If using the 10-bit ADC, connect AVCC to VCC through a low-pass LC filter (for example 10 uH + 100 nF) to keep ADC noise low. Brown-out detection should be enabled via fuses at approximately 4.0 V so Flash writes are not corrupted during supply droop.
Fuse configuration is the most common failure point when migrating between ATmega162 variants: wrong clock-source fuses can brick the device to external-clock-only, requiring a high-voltage parallel programmer to recover. Also remember the 16 MHz speed grade guarantees operation only within the specified voltage/temperature envelope; derate clock frequency when operating at reduced VCC. When substituting ATMEGA16-16PI, linkers and interrupt vector tables differ slightly from ATmega162 - recompile firmware rather than re-flashing existing binaries.
Although a through-hole DIP relaxes layout constraints, keep the crystal within 10 mm of XTAL1/XTAL2 with short ground returns for reliable 16 MHz start-up; load capacitors (typically 12-22 pF, per crystal specification) should sit directly at the pins. Route the JTAG header (TDI, TDO, TMS, TCK, plus VCC and GND) to a standard 2x5 header even in production boards - it preserves on-chip debug and boundary-scan access. Provide plated through-holes for all 40 pins; do not rely on press-fit sockets in vibrating environments.
Compliance Information
Compliance status not stated in the retrieved distributor snippets. Request Microchip's official environmental compliance documentation (RoHS/REACH declarations) for the specific purchase lot.
