Microchip Technology ATSTK600-RC101

Overview

ATSTK600-RC101 from Microchip Technology (formerly Atmel) is a routing card designed for the STK600 development system, enabling physical and signal adaptation between target AVR microcontroller socket cards and the STK600 base board. It features dual 80-pin and 100-pin Samtec FSI spring-loaded connectors, supports full MCU pin mapping (PA–PQ, AREF, XTAL, ISP/JTAG, USB, HV programming), and implements the STK600 ID system via BOARD_ID0–BOARD_ID7 pins for voltage-aware board recognition.

For engineers reviewing the ATSTK600-RC101 datasheet, ATSTK600-RC101 pinout, ATSTK600-RC101 application, or ATSTK600-RC101 equivalent, this routing card enables rapid prototyping of new AVR devices by decoupling socket design from base-board interface - critical when adapting to novel package pinouts, high-voltage programming requirements, or custom peripheral integration on expansion cards.

Technical Context

The ATSTK600-RC101 serves as an interposer layer in the STK600's three-tier stack (base board → routing card → socket card), providing 1:1 signal routing from STK600 headers (J201/J202) to socket card connectors while preserving all functional interfaces: ISP, JTAG, USB OTG (DP/DN/UID/UVCON/VBUST), HV parallel/serial programming (TGT_PDATA/TGT_PCTRL), and oscillator inputs (XTAL1/XTAL2/TOSC1/TOSC2). It does not include active components or power regulation.

Its mechanical design conforms strictly to STK600 specifications: 1.6 mm PCB thickness, clip-compatible mounting holes, and height-restricted zones avoiding interference with STK600 main-board components. Signal integrity relies on direct trace routing without buffering, decoupling, or fanout - power delivery and noise mitigation are delegated to the socket or expansion cards per Atmel's architecture.

Key Specifications

Availability

ATSTK600-RC101 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for AVR microcontroller evaluation, embedded firmware validation, hardware bring-up, and custom peripheral integration requiring stable component supply across industrial design cycles and academic lab deployments.

Supply support for ATSTK600-RC101 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Microchip Technology acquired Atmel in 2016 and maintains legacy STK600 ecosystem documentation, support, and part numbering. Atmel pioneered the AVR architecture and its associated development tools.

The ATSTK600-RC101 belongs to the STK600 routing card product line, engineered to simplify hardware adaptation for new AVR device packages and pinouts without redesigning the base STK600 platform - accelerating time-to-test for engineering teams.

FAQ

What is the primary function of the ATSTK600-RC101 in the STK600 system?

The ATSTK600-RC101 is a passive routing card that bridges signal and mechanical interfaces between the STK600 base board and AVR-specific socket cards. It routes all MCU pins-including I/O ports, programming signals (ISP/JTAG/HV), USB lines, and clock inputs-without modification or buffering. Its role is strictly interconnect adaptation, not signal conditioning or power management. The ATSTK600-RC101 enables reuse of the STK600 platform across diverse AVR packages by absorbing pinout differences at the routing layer.

Does the ATSTK600-RC101 include any active components or power regulation?

No. The ATSTK600-RC101 contains only copper traces, pads, and mounting features-no ICs, resistors, capacitors, or voltage regulators. Power delivery (VTG/GND), decoupling, and noise suppression are handled externally by the socket card or STK600 base board per Atmel's documented architecture. This passive design ensures minimal signal distortion but requires careful attention to power integrity on adjacent layers in custom implementations.

How does the ATSTK600-RC101 support the STK600 ID system?

The ATSTK600-RC101 provides dedicated BOARD_ID0–BOARD_ID3 input terminals for encoding its own identity (e.g., 0xCC for 3.3 V operation), while passing through BOARD_ID4–BOARD_ID7 from socket and expansion cards to the STK600 controller. This allows the STK600 to enforce voltage limits and validate compatible board stacks. The ATSTK600-RC101 itself does not generate ID logic-it hosts configurable jumper or resistor-based ID encoding per Application Note AVR600 Section 4.3.

Which AVR programming interfaces are accessible through the ATSTK600-RC101?

The ATSTK600-RC101 fully exposes all standard AVR programming interfaces: ISP (TGT_MOSI/TGT_MISO/TGT_SCK/TGT_RESET), JTAG (TDI/TDO/TMS/TCK), and High-Voltage Parallel/Serial Programming (TGT_PDATA0–7, TGT_PCTRL0–7). These signals are routed 1:1 from STK600 headers to the socket card, enabling firmware flashing, debugging, and fuse configuration for legacy and modern AVR devices supported by the STK600 platform.

Can the ATSTK600-RC101 be used with non-AVR microcontrollers?

No. The ATSTK600-RC101 is specifically designed for Atmel/Microchip AVR microcontrollers and maps signals according to AVR port naming (PA–PQ), peripheral functions (USB OTG, HV programming), and STK600-defined pinouts. Its connector layout, ID system implementation, and signal assignments do not align with ARM Cortex-M, PIC, or other architectures. Using it with non-AVR devices would require complete redesign of routing, ID encoding, and interface compatibility.