PIC17C42A-16E/PQ
PIC17C42A-16E/PQ - 16MHz 8-bit OTP MCU, 44-MQFP | Microchip
The Microchip Technology PIC17C42A-16E/PQ is a high-performance 8-bit CMOS OTP microcontroller from the PIC17C family, delivering 8.25 MIPS (121 ns instruction execution) through a 16 MHz external oscillator in a 44-pin MQFP (10x10) surface-mount package. It integrates 4KB (2K x 16) of One-Time-Programmable (OTP) program memory, 232 bytes of RAM, and 33 digital I/O pins, providing a powerful yet easy-to-program platform with only 58 single-word instructions. The 'E' suffix indicates an industrial-grade operating temperature range, while the PIC17C42A is one of Microchip's first PIC17-family parts offering 16-bit program word width and a Harvard architecture optimized for compute-intensive embedded control.
A microcontroller is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, RAM, non-volatile program memory (ROM/Flash/OTP), and peripheral I/O into one package. Within the broader taxonomy of semiconductor devices, microcontrollers sit under microprocessors (which lack on-chip memory and peripherals) and above generic logic ICs in integration level. PIC microcontrollers (Peripheral Interface Controllers) use a modified Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses, enabling single-cycle instruction fetch and deterministic interrupt response favored in real-time control. The PIC17C42A, as a member of the discontinued PIC17C family, sits between the legacy PIC16C and the modern PIC18 in capability and is supported by Microchip's MPLAB IDE toolchain via legacy device support packages.
Key features of the PIC17C42A-16E/PQ include four 8-bit I/O ports (PORTA-PORTD with 33 lines total), a 16-bit timer/counter (TMR0) with 8-bit prescaler, an 11-channel 8-bit ADC, two analog comparators, a Universal Synchronous/Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter (USART), and a watchdog timer with on-chip RC oscillator for reliable operation. The device supports external, crystal, or RC oscillator modes, and provides a programmable code-protection bit to lock OTP contents against unauthorized read-back, valuable for embedded intellectual-property protection.
Architecturally, the PIC17C42A uses an enhanced Harvard bus with a 16-bit instruction word and 8-bit data path, an 8-level deep hardware stack, and direct register-mapped I/O for deterministic cycle timing. The 16 MHz clock yields 121 ns instruction cycle and 8.25 MIPS throughput, with most instructions executing in a single cycle except for branches (2 cycles). The OTP EPROM cell supports in-circuit programming via the ICSP interface using RB6 (clock) and RB7 (data) pins, enabling field firmware updates on a one-time basis.
Typical applications include industrial automation controllers, automotive body and accessory modules, motor control subsystems, and consumer-electronics appliances where deterministic real-time response is critical. The PIC17C42A is also used in legacy medical instrumentation, security alarm panels, and high-end remote-control products that were originally designed in the late 1990s and require form-fit-function replacement parts. Note that Microchip's product page recommends migrating to the PIC18F4220 for new designs, as the PIC17C42A is on a last-time-buy/EOL track.
When designing with this part, ensure your supply rail stays within the 4.5V-6V range and that decoupling capacitors (0.1 uF ceramic) are placed adjacent to VDD/VSS pairs. The /MCLR reset pin must be pulled high through a 10k resistor and a 100 nF cap to ground for proper power-on-reset behavior. The 44-MQFP package has a 0.8 mm lead pitch, requiring precise reflow profile and aperture design for reliable production soldering.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives (PIC17C42A-16I/PQ, PIC17C42A-16/PQ, etc.), lifecycle status (last-time-buy), and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
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