Eight-Bit Flash MCUs Conserve Power

Consisting of five members, the ATmega family of 8-bit flash microcontrollers feature 1.8V operation and variety of low-power modes, such as a 100 nA power-down mode. The ATmega640, ATmega1280, and ATmega2560 come in 100-pin packages, while the ATmega1281 and ATmega2561 sport 64 pins. The devices provide 64 KB to 256 KB of flash program memory and 8 KB of RAM. Each member integrates an 8-MHz RC oscillator that users can calibrate to an accuracy of ±2%. he 100-pin MCUs include four UART channels, 16 a/d converter channels, and 16 PWM channels. Their 64-pin siblings integrate two UART channels, eight a/d converter channels, and 10 PWM channels. Additionally, each device specifies a maximum performance of 16 MIPS at 16 MHz. Prices range from $4.75 to $7.80 each/10,000. Development packages are also available ranging in price from $79 to $299. ATMEL CORP., San Jose, CA. (408) 441-0311.