Microchip ATTINY202-SSNR: A Comprehensive Datasheet Overview and Application Guide

The Microchip ATTINY202-SSNR represents a powerful yet minimalist approach to embedded control, packing a remarkable set of features into a compact 8-pin package. As a member of the modern AVR® DB family, this microcontroller (MCU) is engineered for cost-sensitive, space-constrained, and power-conscious applications, offering a significant performance upgrade over older ATtiny generations.

Core Architecture and Performance

At its heart, the ATTINY202 utilizes the high-performance AVR® processor with a hardware multiplier, running at speeds up to 20 MHz. This core executes instructions in a single clock cycle, providing a computational throughput that far exceeds older 8-bit architectures. This efficiency makes it capable of handling more than just simple logic; it can manage real-time sensor processing, communication protocols, and control algorithms with ease.

Key Memory and Peripheral Features

The MCU is equipped with 2KB of Flash memory, 128B of SRAM, and 64B of EEPROM, providing ample resources for a wide array of compact designs. Its integrated peripherals are a standout feature, designed to minimize external component count and system cost:

Event System (EVSYS): This allows peripherals to communicate and trigger actions directly without CPU intervention, enabling ultra-low power operation and vastly improved response times.

Configurable Custom Logic (CCL): This peripheral enables the creation of simple combinatorial or sequential logic functions directly in hardware, offloading tasks like gate functions or pulse generation from the software.

16-bit Timer/Counter Type A (TCA) and 16-bit Timer/Counter Type B (TCB): These offer flexible PWM generation, input capture, and timing operations.

USART with SPI, I2C, and LIN support: A versatile serial communication interface that can be configured for multiple protocols, making it easy to connect to sensors, displays, and other ICs.

10-bit ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter): Essential for reading analog sensors like potentiometers, thermistors, or light sensors.

Voltage-Level Monitor (VLM): A built-in feature to monitor the supply voltage, which can be used to trigger brown-out detection or safe shutdown procedures.

Power Efficiency and Packaging

The ATTINY202-SSNR is designed for ultra-low power consumption, featuring multiple sleep modes (Idle, Standby, Power-Down) that draw minimal current, extending battery life in portable applications. The "SSNR" suffix denotes an 8-pin SOIC package, which is easy to prototype with and suitable for automated assembly processes.

Application Guide

This MCU's blend of processing power, intelligent peripherals, and low power consumption makes it ideal for a vast range of applications:

Consumer Electronics: Remote controls, toys, smart home accessories (e.g., temperature sensors, light switches).

Industrial: Sensor nodes, actuator control, fan controllers, and simple human-machine interfaces (HMI) with button sensing.

Automotive: Non-critical subsystems like interior lighting control, LIN bus slave nodes.

Internet of Things (IoT): Simple edge devices that collect sensor data and communicate via serial protocols to a larger host controller or wireless module.

When designing with the ATTINY202, developers should leverage Microchip's MPLAB® X IDE and the MCC (MPLAB Code Configurator). This graphical tool simplifies the setup of the microcontroller's clock, peripherals, and pins, dramatically reducing initial configuration time and potential errors.

ICGOODFIND: The Microchip ATTINY202-SSNR is a quintessential example of modern MCU design, proving that immense capability can reside in a minimal footprint. Its combination of a high-performance core, advanced independent peripherals like the Event System and CCL, and exceptional power efficiency makes it an outstanding choice for engineers looking to optimize for cost, size, and battery life without compromising on functionality.

Keywords: ATTINY202, Ultra-Low Power, Event System, Configurable Custom Logic (CCL), AVR Microcontroller.