Ignoring maximum ratings can lead to immediate component failure. Here are the critical values:
Design Tip: Always derate output current when multiple channels are active. At 85°C ambient, reduce total power by 50%.
The A68064 datasheet is sometimes confused with similar models:
| Part Number | Output Type | Channels | Voltage | Current | Special Feature | |-------------|-------------|----------|---------|---------|------------------| | A6801 | Sink driver | 8 | 50V | 350 mA | Non-latched | | A6802 | Source driver | 8 | 50V | 500 mA | Latched, no serial | | A68064 | Source driver | 8 | 50V | 500 mA | Serial input, latched | | A6833 | Sink driver | 16 | 50V | 200 mA | Two 8-bit registers | a68064 datasheet
Choose the A68064 when you need I/O expansion with a 3-wire serial interface.
The A68064 is a high-performance mixed-signal microcontroller (MCU) family intended for embedded applications requiring low power, flexible I/O, and integrated analog peripherals. This article summarizes the device’s main features, typical electrical characteristics, functional blocks, and common application scenarios to help engineers evaluate suitability and accelerate design integration.
The A68064, being based on the 6502 design, has a straightforward architecture that was common for its time. It includes: Ignoring maximum ratings can lead to immediate component
The instruction set of the A68064 is based on the 6502, with 56 basic instructions that include:
Below is a simple Arduino sketch demonstrating how to control 8 outputs using three digital pins, as implied by the datasheet’s serial interface:
// A68064 Driver Example int dataPin = 2; int clockPin = 3; int strobePin = 4; int enablePin = 5;void setup() pinMode(dataPin, OUTPUT); pinMode(clockPin, OUTPUT); pinMode(strobePin, OUTPUT); pinMode(enablePin, OUTPUT); Design Tip : Always derate output current when
digitalWrite(enablePin, LOW); // Enable outputs digitalWrite(strobePin, LOW);
void writeA68064(byte data) // Shift out 8 bits, MSB first (output 1 = MSB) for (int i = 7; i >= 0; i--) digitalWrite(dataPin, (data >> i) & 1); digitalWrite(clockPin, HIGH); delayMicroseconds(1); digitalWrite(clockPin, LOW); // Latch the data digitalWrite(strobePin, HIGH); delayMicroseconds(1); digitalWrite(strobePin, LOW);
void loop() writeA68064(0b10101010); // Alternate outputs ON delay(1000); writeA68064(0b01010101); // Alternate outputs OFF delay(1000);
The A68064 operates as a simple SPI-like device without a dedicated chip select (instead using Output Enable). Here’s the standard workflow: