Atmel announces its 128KB picoPower megaAVR microcontroller, targeting size-constrained, low-power applications such as wireless and ethernet nodes and home automation. The small 44-pin package makes the ATmega1284P ideal for applications such as wireless and ethernet nodes, home automation and other code-intensive battery or signal-line powered products, combined with its ultra-low-power consumption, 128 KB of flash and 16 KB of random access memory (RAM).
‘With 16 KB of SRAM, Atmel’s ATmega1284P now targets low-power applications that traditionally need external SRAM,’ said Ingar Fredriksen, AVR Product Marketing Director of Atmel Corporation. ‘By removing the external SRAM and address latch, the ATmega1284P significantly reduces the bill-of-material, manufacturing cost, complexity and development time for our designers to bring their products to market.’
The ATmega1284P is pin- and feature-compatible to the ATmega164PA, ATmega324PA, and ATmega644PA. The four devices provide a drop-in migration path from 16 to 128 KB of flash and 1 to 16 KB of RAM. The ATmega1284P consumes 100 nA in power-down mode, 700 nA in power-save mode and 0.45 mA in active mode at 1.8 V and 1 MHz.
The ATmega1284P is now available as a standalone product. The product is also available in Atmel’s RZRAVEN evaluation and starter kits and in wireless bundles.
RZRAVEN Evaluation and Starter Kit
The large flash and RAM, low pin count, and ultra-low power consumption makes the ATmega1284P a popular device for designers. The RZRAVEN kit enables development, debugging and demonstration of a wide range of low power wireless applications, including IEEE802.15.4, 6LoWPAN and ZigBee.
ATmega in Wireless Bundles
High RAM-to-flash ratios are normally associated with 32-bit microcontrollers. However, with picoPower technology and the efficient AVR central processing unit (CPU), the ATmega1284P designed for applications that require extremely low power consumption. These applications can range from ZigBee self-powered light switches, to ZigBee Smart Energy-compliant water and gas meters that are being deployed worldwide and demand several years of maintenance free operation on a single battery. The ATmega1284P is also an ideal companion for Atmel’s wireless AT86RF212, AT86RF230 and AT86RF231 transceivers for other wireless bundles.
Availability and Pricing
Samples of the ATmega1284P are available now. The device has a suggested retail price of $3.31 in 10K quantities.
ATmega1284, a non-picoPower version of the ATmega1284P, will be available in Q4 2009.