ATMEGA168PA-CCU - 16KB Flash 20MHz AVR MCU 32-UFBGA | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA168PA-CCU ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.71 | $1.71 |
| 10 | $1.62 | $16.20 |
| 100 | $1.49 | $149.00 |
| 500 | $1.38 | $690.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.29 | $1,290.00 |
ATMEGA168PA-CCU Overview
A microcontroller unit (MCU) is a single integrated circuit that combines a processor core, memory, and programmable peripherals into one chip, forming the lowest tier of the embedded computing hierarchy: MCU -> embedded processor -> system-on-chip -> computing system. The AVR family pioneered single-cycle RISC execution, and the ATmega168PA belongs to the ATmega 8-bit flash MCU family alongside the ATmega88PA and ATmega328P.
Key features include 131 powerful instructions with mostly single-clock-cycle execution, 32 x 8 general purpose working registers, fully static operation, 23 general purpose I/O lines, and an 8-channel 10-bit ADC. Connectivity spans I2C (TWI), SPI, and UART/USART interfaces, supporting common embedded communication buses without external controllers.
The picoPower technology platform provides multiple sleep modes and low-power consumption characteristics suited to battery-operated designs. The 16 KB flash supports read-while-write operation and In-System Self-Programming, while the In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) interface uses two I/O pins plus reset for debugging and programming, enabling rapid prototyping with tools such as the AVR debuggers.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes, industrial control panels, consumer appliance controllers, and space-constrained portable devices where the compact 4x4 mm UFBGA footprint saves board area compared to TQFP alternatives.
Designers should note that the UFBGA package requires reflow soldering and careful PCB fan-out; it cannot be hand-soldered or socketed like DIP variants. Verify supply-voltage range against the datasheet for the intended operating speed grade.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA168PA-CCU — 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 ATMEGA168PA-CCU (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Working Registers, Mounting Type, Package, Supply Voltage Range, Connectivity.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA168PA-CCUR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.58 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA168A-CCU
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$1.84 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA168A-CCUR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$1.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA88PA-CCU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA168PA-CCU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit AVR RISC |
| Flash Program Memory | 16 KB ISP (read-while-write) |
| SRAM | 1 KB |
| EEPROM | 512 B |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz |
| General Purpose I/O | 23 lines |
| Working Registers | 32 x 8 |
| Instruction Set | 131 instructions, most single-cycle |
| ADC | 8-channel 10-bit |
| Communication Interfaces | I2C (TWI), SPI, UART/USART |
| Low Power Technology | picoPower |
| Supply Voltage (per FindIC listing) | 2.5 V / 3.3 V / 5 V |
| Package | 32-UFBGA (4x4 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Programming / Debug | ICSP (2 I/O pins + reset), In-System Self-Programming |
ATMEGA168PA-CCU 32-ufbga (4x4 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATMEGA168PA-CCU (32-ufbga (4x4 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 ATMEGA168PA-CCU.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATMEGA168PA-CCU is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes, Industrial Control Panels, Consumer Appliance Controllers, Space-Constrained Portable Devices, Educational and Prototyping Platforms, Remote Monitoring and Telemetry Units.
Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes
The ATMEGA168PA-CCU is well suited to battery-powered sensor nodes because Microchip's picoPower technology minimizes consumption in sleep states, which dominate the duty cycle of intermittently sampling nodes. The 8-channel 10-bit ADC digitizes analog sensors such as thermistors and light detectors directly, while the 16 KB flash accommodates full sensor-fusion and communication firmware without external memory. The compact 4x4 mm 32-UFBGA package allows tight enclosures typical of wearables and asset trackers. In practice the node sleeps in a low-power AVR sleep mode, wakes on timer or pin interrupt, samples the ADC, and transmits over UART or SPI to a radio module; the trade-off versus a dedicated sensor ASIC is added firmware effort, offset by full protocol flexibility and in-field reprogrammability via ICSP.
Recommended
Industrial Control Panels
In industrial control panels, the ATMEGA168PA-CCU provides a robust 8-bit control core with 23 GPIO lines for driving relays, reading switches, and interfacing HMI elements. The UART/USART links to RS-485 transceivers for fieldbus communication, SPI connects isolated ADCs for current monitoring, and TWI (I2C) manages EEPROM configuration storage or RTC modules. The 20 MHz single-cycle RISC core executes 131 mostly single-cycle instructions, giving deterministic timing for sequencing and interlock logic. Unlike TQFP parts, the 4x4 mm UFBGA requires reflow assembly, so panel builders with through-hole-oriented processes should instead consider the AU/PU variants; where board area and vibration resistance matter, the ball-grid package improves solder-joint mechanical reliability relative to fine-pitch leaded packages.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Controllers
Consumer appliances such as coffee makers, fans, and small heating devices use the ATMEGA168PA-CCU to implement user interfaces (buttons, LEDs, seven-segment or LCD drivers via GPIO), temperature control through the 10-bit ADC reading an NTC sensor, and PWM outputs for motor or heater drive. The 16 KB flash holds control state machines plus safety routines such as brown-out handling and watchdog supervision built into the AVR core. The picoPower die helps appliances meet standby-power regulations since the controller can sleep between button presses. The UFBGA package suits cost-driven high-volume assembly on reflow lines. Designers must budget supply-voltage regulation (the listing supports 2.5V/3.3V/5V operating points) and verify the exact operating range in the manufacturer datasheet for the chosen clock speed.
Recommended
Space-Constrained Portable Devices
For space-constrained portable products, the defining advantage of the ATMEGA168PA-CCU is its 32-UFBGA 4x4 mm footprint, roughly a quarter of the area of a 32-TQFP and far smaller than DIP options, enabling dense two-sided PCB stacking in handheld and wearable form factors. The device supplies 23 GPIO plus SPI/I2C/UART, enough to drive OLED displays, capacitive touch controllers, and vibration motors simultaneously. The 20 MHz core handles UI responsiveness while picoPower sleep modes extend battery runtime between charges. Because UFBGA cannot be reworked by hand, production partners need proper X-ray or inspection capability for first-article qualification. Estimated: a 4x4 mm ball grid array saves on the order of 60-70% board area versus a 10x10 mm TQFP, assuming the same 32-signal fan-out on four PCB layers.
Recommended
Educational and Prototyping Platforms
The ATmega168 family is a mainstream entry point for embedded education: the 131-instruction AVR RISC core with 32 general purpose registers is simple to learn in assembly or C, and the In-Circuit Serial Programming interface uses just two I/O pins plus reset for debugging and flashing, as described on the Microchip product page. Hobbyist and student boards built on this die benefit from the extensive Arduino-compatible toolchain heritage. The CCU (UFBGA) variant itself is rarely hand-assembled, so prototypers typically develop on DIP/TQFP siblings and only convert to the CCU for the final miniaturized PCB, since firmware and peripherals are identical across packages. This two-stage flow gives learners an approachable start while still shipping a compact production unit.
Recommended
Remote Monitoring and Telemetry Units
Remote telemetry units use the ATMEGA168PA-CCU to acquire analog channels through the 8-channel 10-bit ADC, timestamp events, and forward data over UART to cellular or LoRa modems. The 16 KB flash accommodates communication stacks and buffering logic, while the 512 B EEPROM stores calibration constants and unit configuration that must survive power loss. PicoPower sleep operation matters for solar- or battery-powered installations where average current, not peak performance, determines service intervals. The SPI bus connects to precision converters such as external delta-sigma ADCs when 10-bit resolution is insufficient. Design consideration: the UFBGA package requires conformal coating attention on the ball array in outdoor enclosures, and designers should confirm the exact supply range and temperature grade in the manufacturer datasheet.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA168PA-CCU — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA168PA-CCUR | ATMEGA168A-CCU | ATMEGA168A-CCUR | ATMEGA88PA-CCU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 32-UFBGA (4x4 mm) | 32-UFBGA (4x4 mm) - same | 32-UFBGA (4x4 mm) - same | 32-UFBGA (4x4 mm) - same | 32-UFBGA (4x4 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB ISP | 16 KB ISP | 16 KB ISP | 16 KB ISP | 8 KB |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Low Power Technology | picoPower (PA die) | picoPower (PA die) | standard A die | standard A die | picoPower (PA die) |
Key Differentiators
- picoPower die revision for battery designs (vs ATMEGA168A-CCU)
- Double the program memory of the smaller UFBGA sibling (vs ATMEGA88PA-CCU)
- Ball-grid package for dense, vibration-tolerant assemblies (vs ATMEGA168PA-AU (TQFP))
Design Notes
The 32-UFBGA (4x4 mm) package demands reflow soldering and controlled PCB fan-out; plan a minimum 4-layer stack-up or dense 2-layer escape routing with via-in-pad or dog-bone escapes on 0.5 mm or finer ball pitch (verify exact pitch in the datasheet). Unlike TQFP or DIP variants, UFBGA balls cannot be inspected or reworked by hand, so define X-ray or acoustic inspection for first articles and qualify your assembler before volume production.
Distributor listings indicate operation at 2.5V, 3.3V, or 5V supply points; confirm the full operating voltage versus frequency envelope in the manufacturer datasheet before fixing the clock plan, since maximum safe clock speed derates at reduced supply voltage. Place 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitors at each supply ball pair with short, wide traces, and add bulk 4.7-10 uF capacitance near the IC. Reserve the ICSP pins (two I/O plus reset) with series isolation so external SPI peripherals do not fight the programmer.
A frequent migration error is reusing a TQFP schematic symbol or ball map for the CCU package - the UFBGA ball assignment differs from leaded-package pin numbering, so regenerate the symbol from the datasheet ball diagram. Firmware compiled for the ATMEGA88PA-CCU (8 KB flash) will not fit when 16 KB-class code is required, and the ATMEGA168A-CCU (non-picoPower die) has different sleep-current figures than the PA, so re-verify power budgets when substituting.
Compliance Information
Jotrin describes the part as 'Green', which commonly indicates lead-free/RoHS-compliant manufacture, but no explicit RoHS/REACH declaration was captured in the verified data as of 2026-09-16. Verify on the Microchip product page or via distributor certificate of conformance.
