tinyAVR MCUs Increase System Throughput While Lowering Power Consumption in Embedded Applications

Microchip continues the expansion of the AVR product line with three new ATtiny MCUs that were introduced at the embedded world show in Nuremberg. The MCUs combine Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) with a larger 16 KB Flash memory. They allow intuitive graphical configuration of embedded software via the online Atmel START tool. The new ATtiny1617 series offers pin- and code-compatibility with ATtiny817 series and support peripheral communication without CPU overhead and capacitive touch.

Microchip announces further expansion of its AVR microcontroller (MCU) portfolio with the addition of three new devices to the tinyAVR MCU family. The new ATtiny1617 series of MCUs expands the range of AVR devices that feature Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs), which help to increase system throughput while lowering overall power consumption. The new devices extend the memory offering for these next-generation tinyAVR MCUs with new 16 KB Flash options, while remaining pin- and code-compatible with the recently released ATtiny817 series devices. Furthermore, all members of the family are supported by Atmel START, an online tool for intuitive graphical configuration of embedded software projects.

The new MCUs offer 16 KB Flash, 256 B EEPROM, and 2 KB RAM in 14-, 20-, and 24-pin packages. The devices contain key features of other tinyAVR MCUs including the Event System Controller, which allows peripherals to communicate without using the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and enables designers to customize the configuration of the MCU for their specific application. The on-chip Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) simplifies the development of capacitive touch systems. Other integrated features include: a 20 MHz internal oscillator, high-speed serial communication with USART, SPI, and I2C, configurable custom logic blocks, a 10-bit Analogue-to-Digital Converter (ADC) with internal voltage references, operating voltages ranging from 1.8 V to 5.5 V, and picoPower® technology for sleep currents as low as 100 nA.

 

Figure 1: New Generation of Tiny AVRs. Image courtesy of Microchip.

 

The new devices are fully supported by the Atmel Studio 7 Integrated Development Environment (IDE), the STK600 platform and Atmel START, a free online tool to configure peripherals and software for easy development.

The three new tinyAVR MCUs are available today for sampling and in volume production.

• ATtiny1617 is available in a QFN24 package
• ATtiny1616 is available in a QFN20 and SOIC20 package
• ATtiny1614 is available in a SOIC14 package.

 

About Microchip

Microchip Technology Inc. is a leading provider of smart, connected and secure embedded control solutions. Its easy-to-use development tools and comprehensive product portfolio enable customers to create optimal designs that reduce risk while lowering total system cost and time to market. The company’s solutions serve more than 120,000 customers across the industrial, automotive, consumer, aerospace and defense, communications and computing markets. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality.

 

This article originally appeared in the Bodo’s Power Systems magazine.