Microchip Technology ATSTK600-RC45

Overview

ATSTK600-RC45 from Microchip Technology (formerly Atmel) is a development kit designed to evaluate and prototype with the AT32UC3L064/032/016 family of 32-bit AVR UC microcontrollers. It supports full-speed debugging via JTAG and aWire, provides access to all 48 pins of the TQFP/QFN/TLLGA package, integrates on-board programming circuitry, and enables rapid validation of low-power operation, capacitive touch (QTouch/QMatrix), PWM-driven LCD backlighting, and real-time clock functionality using the AST + 32kHz crystal. It is used in embedded industrial HMI, battery-powered sensor nodes, and smart consumer control panels.

For engineers reviewing the ATSTK600-RC45 datasheet, ATSTK600-RC45 pinout, ATSTK600-RC45 application, or ATSTK600-RC45 equivalent, this page delivers verified hardware interface details, supported target MCU variants (AT32UC3L064/032/016), debug protocol compatibility (JTAG/Nexus Class 2+/aWire), power supply configuration (1.62–3.6 V), and functional validation scope-including peripheral event system, SleepWalking, and Capacitive Touch Module integration.

Technical Context

The ATSTK600-RC45 is a socketed evaluation platform built around the ATSTK600 base board architecture, specifically configured with the RC45 daughter card to support the AT32UC3L series' 48-pin TQFP/QFN/TLLGA footprint and its unique power domains (VDDCORE, VDDIO, VDDANA), oscillator options (DFLL, OSC0, OSC32K, RC120M), and debug interfaces (JTAG, aWire muxed on RESET_N). It routes all 36 GPIOs, five high-drive pins, and dedicated analog/touch/clock signals to accessible headers.

It implements hardware-level support for the AT32UC3L's picoPower® sleep modes-including retention of backup registers at 9nA leakage-and enables direct measurement of active current (e.g., 165µA/MHz) and real-time validation of Peripheral Event System-triggered wakeup, AST calendar mode, and PWMA-synchronized 36-channel PWM output without CPU intervention.

Key Specifications

Availability

ATSTK600-RC45 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for embedded HMI development, low-power IoT node validation, capacitive touch UI design, real-time sensor gateway prototyping, and industrial control firmware bring-up requiring stable component supply and long-term toolchain continuity.

Supply support for ATSTK600-RC45 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 Inc. is a global semiconductor company delivering microcontrollers, analog, FPGA, and connectivity solutions for industrial, automotive, consumer, and communications markets.

The ATSTK600-RC45 belongs to Microchip's ATSTK600 modular evaluation platform family, engineered to accelerate development for 32-bit AVR UC microcontrollers with emphasis on ultra-low-power operation, secure firmware execution, and human-interface subsystem validation.

FAQ

What MCU variants does the ATSTK600-RC45 support?

The ATSTK600-RC45 supports the full AT32UC3L016/032/064 family in 48-pin TQFP, QFN, and TLLGA packages. All share identical pinout, peripheral set, and debug interface mapping - enabling seamless migration between flash sizes (16KB–64KB) and SRAM configurations (8KB–16KB) without board changes. The ATSTK600-RC45 socket and signal routing are validated for all three variants per Atmel document 32099I–01/2012.

Does ATSTK600-RC45 support both JTAG and aWire debugging?

Yes, ATSTK600-RC45 fully supports both JTAG (Nexus Class 2+) and single-pin aWire debugging. The aWire interface shares the RESET_N pin, allowing full debug functionality - including non-intrusive trace via NanoTrace - while freeing all four standard JTAG pins (TCK/TMS/TDI/TDO) for GPIO or peripheral use. This dual-mode capability is confirmed in the AT32UC3L datasheet section 3.2.3 and 3.2.4.

Can ATSTK600-RC45 validate the AT32UC3L's SleepWalking and low-power modes?

Yes, ATSTK600-RC45 enables direct validation of SleepWalking and picoPower® modes. It provides independent control and monitoring of VDDCORE, VDDIO, and VDDANA rails, supports external wake-up sources (EXTINT[5:1], AST alarm, peripheral events), and allows measurement of leakage down to 9nA with backup register retention. Hardware-level power gating aligns with the AT32UC3L's PM controller behavior described in Section 1.1 of 32099I–01/2012.

How does ATSTK600-RC45 support capacitive touch development?

ATSTK600-RC45 exposes all CAT module signals - CSA[16:0], CSB[16:0], SMP, SYNC, DIS, and VDIVEN - to unpopulated headers, enabling direct connection to custom QTouch/QMatrix sensor layouts. It supports autonomous touch wakeup (no CPU involvement) and full library integration with Atmel QTouch Suite. Pin mappings match Table 3-1 and Figure 3-1 in the AT32UC3L datasheet.

Is the 32.768 kHz crystal on ATSTK600-RC45 connected to the correct MCU pins for AST operation?

Yes, the on-board 32.768 kHz crystal is directly connected to XIN32 (PA10) and XOUT32 (PA12) as specified in Table 3-5 of the AT32UC3L datasheet. This configuration enables AST calendar mode, precise DFLL tuning, and FREQM-based clock accuracy validation - all critical for real-time clock applications requiring ±2 ppm stability over temperature.