Any AVR microcontroller is an 8-bit computer in a chip designed and manufactured by ATMEL Corporation. It has some RAM and ROM (Flash) as well. There is also an EEPROM memory. Including AVR core CPU, all these are more than enough to say that it is a small computer where you can execute programs stored in Flash memory, run them while operating data in SRAM, and store some constant values in EEPROM. Compared to the actual computer that sits on your table, you can say that AVR core is a CPU like AMD or Pentium. Flash memory would be your hard drive where programs are stored; RAM is RAM nothing to add there. EEPROM can probably be compared to some media devices like CDRW. Anyway, this is only similitude in a different scale.
AVR microcontrollers aren’t limited with core CPU and memory. The main thing that makes them valuable (and any other type of microcontroller) – they are rich in peripherals inside the chip. In most cases, you will find USART, I2C, SPI, ADC, Timers/Counters, and a bunch of I/O pins. The single chip alone can already to do massive work. I believe there is no need to go more in detail about more specific information of AVR microcontrollers, as these can be found in datasheets.
If you go to the Atmel site, you will find that there are several types of AVR microcontrollers. Simply there are tinyAVR series that are small in size and are perfect for smaller applications. These are tight on memory, so sometimes it is better to program them in assembly language to unleash the power in compactness. Next would be the megaAVR family. They are much more abundant in memory and peripherals and can perform more complex tasks. If not enough, there is a higher level – AVR XMEGA which shifts to 16-bit technology with 8-bit capability. Here you can find a few more advanced peripherals like DMA, and DAC. The great thing is that they are still compatible with lower families sharing the same AVR core. And, of course, AVR32 finishes the AVR line. These are 32-bit AVRs that can deliver high performance and DSP functionality. In this tutorial, we will stick with tiny and mega AVR for a while as these are most common, cheap, and easy to deal.
What AVR microcontroller are present today (updated)?
The Microchip is a leading manufacturer of microcontrollers and offers a wide range of 8-bit AVR microcontrollers for various applications. The AVR microcontroller family has been around for over two decades and has been continuously improved and expanded upon. Some of the standard 8-bit AVR microcontrollers currently produced by Microchip include:
- AVR Mega Family: This family of microcontrollers is designed for high-performance and memory-intensive applications. The AVR Mega microcontrollers have up to 256 KB of Flash memory and 16 KB of SRAM. They also have various peripheral features, including timers, PWM channels, and communication interfaces.
- AVR Tiny Family: The AVR Tiny family is designed for low-power and cost-sensitive applications. These microcontrollers have up to 8 KB of Flash memory and 512 bytes of SRAM. They are also highly integrated, with built-in peripherals such as timers, PWM channels, and communication interfaces.
- AVR XMEGA Family: The AVR XMEGA family is designed for real-time and high-performance applications. These microcontrollers have up to 384 KB of Flash memory and 32 KB of SRAM. They also have advanced peripherals such as a DMA controller, AES encryption, and a USB interface.
- AVR DA Family: The AVR DA family is designed for high-speed and high-precision analog-to-digital conversion applications. These microcontrollers have up to 256 KB of Flash memory and 32 KB of SRAM. They also have advanced analog features such as a 12-bit ADC, a differential ADC, and a programmable gain amplifier.
- AVR DB Family: The AVR DB family is designed for applications requiring advanced security features. These microcontrollers have up to 256 KB of Flash memory and 32 KB of SRAM. They also have built-in security features such as a hardware encryption engine, tamper detection, and secure boot.
- AVR DA Family: The AVR DA family is designed for high-speed and high-precision analog-to-digital conversion applications. These microcontrollers have up to 256 KB of Flash memory and 32 KB of SRAM. They also have advanced analog features such as a 12-bit ADC, a differential ADC, and a programmable gain amplifier.
All of these AVR microcontroller families are based on the same AVR architecture that has been successful for many years. However, each family has unique features and capabilities that make them suitable for different applications. For example, the AVR Mega family is designed for high-performance and memory-intensive applications, while the AVR Tiny family is designed for low-power and cost-sensitive applications.
In conclusion
Microchip offers a wide range of 8-bit AVR microcontrollers for various applications. Each microcontroller family has its unique set of features and capabilities that make them suitable for different applications. The AVR microcontroller family has been around for over two decades and has been continuously improved and expanded upon, making it a reliable and popular choice for embedded systems design.
