Key Facts:
  • With 32 KB Flash, ATtiny3217 and ATtiny3216 offer the tinyAVR® family’s largest memory
  • Integrated safety features with 5V operating voltage and temperature up to 125°C
  • Dual ADCs enable simultaneous touch control and other analogue measurements
  • Hardware-based Event System reduces latency to ensure faster system response

Microchip Technology Inc. announces the expansion of its tinyAVR® MCU series with two new devices whch offer advanced analogue features and the largest memory variants in the family. Designed for reliable operation in harsh environments, the ATtiny3217 and ATtiny3216 offer built-in safety functions to help designers to create robust and safe systems.
 
AVR® microcontrollers (MCUs) have long been used to create highly responsive sensor nodes because of their cost-effectiveness and ease of implementation. To enhance the capability and responsiveness of sensor applications, including capacitive touch interfaces, the ATtiny3217 and ATtiny3216 bring the benefit of two Analogue-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) that enable systems to implement touch control simultaneously with other analogue measurements. One ADC can be used with the Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) for touch signal acquisition, while the second one monitors other inputs such as thermistors and pressure sensors, or both ADCs can be used for faster sampling of different types of sensors. Additional benefits of the ATtiny3217 and ATtiny3216 MCUs include:
 
  • Improved real-time performance and accuracy: The dual ADC can be used for synchronous sampling of analogue signals, such as voltage and current, thus improving the overall system real-time performance and accuracy. Additionally, the devices feature a hardware-based Event System that enables inter-peripheral communication without CPU involvement, reducing latency and ensuring faster system response. 
 
  • Robust and reliable performance: Both devices come with built-in safety functions to help designers to detect and respond to voltage supply variations or drops, including Power On Reset (POR), programmable Brownout Detect (BOD), Voltage Level Monitor (VLM) and Windowed Watchdog Timer (WWDT).