PIC10F206-I/P - 8-Bit 4MHz Flash MCU, 768B | Microchip
MPN: PIC10F206-I/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.78 | $0.78 |
| 10 | $0.71 | $7.10 |
| 100 | $0.63 | $63.00 |
| 500 | $0.55 | $275.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.48 | $480.00 |
PIC10F206-I/P Overview
What is an 8-bit Flash microcontroller? An 8-bit Flash microcontroller is a single-chip computer built around an 8-bit data path and non-volatile Flash program memory, used to execute simple embedded control tasks. In the system hierarchy it sits below 16-bit and 32-bit MCUs in cost and complexity, but above pure hardware logic in flexibility, making it the workhorse of cost-driven consumer, industrial, and appliance products. The PIC10F family represents the smallest and most economical tier within Microchip's PIC portfolio.
Key features include RISC architecture with 33 single-word/single-cycle instructions, 1 microsecond instruction execution at 4 MHz, an internal 4 MHz oscillator that eliminates external clock components, an integrated 6-bit analog comparator with 0.6V reference, and a wide 2.0V to 5.5V operating voltage range. The device consumes very low current in sleep mode, making it well suited to battery-powered or energy-harvesting designs.
Technically the PIC10F206 uses a Harvard architecture with separate code and data buses, allowing instruction fetch and operand access in a single cycle. It supports in-circuit serial programming (ICSP), enabling firmware updates after PCB assembly and reducing manufacturing cost. The on-chip watchdog timer with its own on-chip RC oscillator adds robustness against code lockups in unattended applications.
Typical applications include LED blinkers and decorative lighting, simple fan or pump controllers, low-end remote-control transmitters, battery chargers, sensor signal conditioning, and pin-compatible upgrades in designs originally based on PIC10F200, PIC10F202, or PIC10F204. The compact 8-pin PDIP form factor also simplifies breadboarding for hobby and education use.
When designing with this part, remember that only 4 of the 8 pins are usable as general-purpose I/O because two pins are reserved for ICSP and one for VDD/MCLR sharing. Always reserve the ICSP clock and data lines for in-system programming access during prototyping.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives within the PIC10F2xx family, and practical design notes not found in the standalone manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC10F206-I/P — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with PIC10F206-I/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Timers, Package, I/O Pins, Mounting Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC10F202-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.47 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC10F204-I/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC10F200-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.28 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC10F206-E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.48 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC10F206-I/MC
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.42 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC10F206-I/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit RISC (PIC10) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 768 bytes (512 x 12 words) |
| RAM | 24 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | Not present |
| CPU Speed | 4 MHz (1 us instruction cycle) |
| Instruction Set | 33 single-word instructions |
| I/O Pins | 4 usable (8-pin package) |
| Internal Oscillator | 4 MHz (calibrated) |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Comparator | 1 x 6-bit analog comparator with 0.6V reference |
| ADC | Not present (uses comparator for analog input) |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit Timer0 with watchdog |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes, independent on-chip RC oscillator |
| Package | 8-pin PDIP (P) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial, I grade) |
| In-Circuit Programming | ICSP via GP0/GP1 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC10F206-I/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | GP3/MCLR/ICSPCLK — General-purpose I/O / Master Clear reset (active-low) / ICSP clock |
| Pin 2 | GP2/CMP1OUT/T0CKI — General-purpose I/O / Comparator-1 output / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 3 | GP1/CIN-/ICSPSDAT — General-purpose I/O / Comparator inverting input / ICSP data |
| Pin 4 | GP0/CIN+ — General-purpose I/O / Comparator non-inverting input |
| Pin 5 | VDD — Positive supply voltage, 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Pin 6 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 7 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 8 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
PIC10F206-I/P is suitable for 7 applications: LED Blinker / Decorative Lighting Controller, Small Fan / Pump Speed Controller, Battery-Powered Sensor Tag, Toy and Hobby Electronics, Appliance Front-Panel Interface, Automotive Interior Lighting / Chime Module, Simple Remote Control Transmitter.
LED Blinker / Decorative Lighting Controller
The PIC10F206-I/P drives blinking LED modules and decorative lighting chains where simple on/off timing replaces mechanical timers. Its 768-byte Flash comfortably stores chase patterns and PWM routines, while the 4 MHz internal oscillator removes any need for external clock components. The 2.0 V minimum VDD lets it run from two AA cells directly. The internal comparator can implement ambient-light sensing to dim or activate LEDs without an extra op-amp.
Recommended
Small Fan / Pump Speed Controller
The PIC10F206-I/P controls low-power 5 V brushless fans or micro-pumps in appliance and instrumentation products. It generates the PWM drive on GP0-GP2 while GP3/MCLR serves as a manual enable or tachometer input. With 4 MHz CPU and 1 us instruction cycle the firmware can close a PID loop every few milliseconds for stable RPM, and the wide 2.0-5.5 V VDD range accepts unregulated supplies from battery packs.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Tag
The PIC10F206-I/P fits coin-cell powered sensor tags such as temperature or moisture loggers in logistics and cold-chain monitoring. Sleep current is sub-microampere and the device wakes via watchdog overflow or pin-change interrupt to take a reading. The internal comparator with 0.6 V reference measures analog thermistor or moisture-sensor voltages without an external ADC. Operating from 2.0 V lets it run directly from a single CR2032 cell until end-of-life.
Recommended
Toy and Hobby Electronics
Hobby kits and educational toys benefit from the PIC10F206-I/P's breadboard-friendly 8-pin PDIP package, simple 33-instruction RISC core, and ICSP reprogrammability. Students can write basic C or assembly projects in MPLAB X and reflash in-circuit. The 4 MHz internal oscillator and wide supply range let creators power the chip from anything between two AA cells and a USB 5 V rail without external regulation.
Recommended
Appliance Front-Panel Interface
White-goods front panels (microwaves, washing machines, dishwashers) use the PIC10F206-I/P to scan a few push buttons and drive 7-segment or LED bar indicators. Its 4 I/O pins are enough to multiplex a 2-digit display, and the on-chip comparator handles level detection for capacitive or resistive touch pads. Industrial -40 C to +85 C temperature range supports laundry-room and kitchen thermal environments.
Recommended
Automotive Interior Lighting / Chime Module
Inside cabin applications such as dome-light fade controllers, seatbelt reminder chimes, and puddle-light drivers use the PIC10F206-I/P because of its wide VDD range and PWM flexibility. For harsher under-hood or exterior automotive roles, switch to the -E/P extended-temperature variant (-40 C to +125 C) in the same 8-pin PDIP. Its small code footprint makes it ideal for dedicated single-function modules in BCM architectures.
Recommended
Simple Remote Control Transmitter
Battery-operated IR or sub-GHz remote controls for TVs, fans, and garage doors use the PIC10F206-I/P as the encoder MCU. It scans a small button matrix and generates the carrier-modulated waveform directly in firmware using Timer0. The 2.0-5.5 V VDD range lets designers choose either a coin cell or two AA cells, and the comparator can detect low-battery conditions without external analog parts.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC10F206-I/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC10F202-I/P | PIC10F204-I/P | PIC10F200-I/P | PIC10F206-E/P | PIC10F206-I/MC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 8-PDIP (P) | 8-PDIP - same | 8-PDIP - same | 8-PDIP - same | 8-PDIP - same | 8-DFN (different SMD package) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 768 B (512 x 12) | 768 B (512 x 12) - same | 384 B (256 x 12) | 384 B (256 x 12) | 768 B (512 x 12) - same | 768 B (512 x 12) - same |
| RAM | 24 bytes | 24 bytes - same | 16 bytes | 16 bytes | 24 bytes - same | 24 bytes - same |
| Analog Comparator | Yes (1 x 6-bit + 0.6 V ref) | No | Yes (1 x 6-bit + 0.6 V ref) | No | Yes (1 x 6-bit + 0.6 V ref) | Yes (1 x 6-bit + 0.6 V ref) |
| ADC | No (uses comparator) | No | No (uses comparator) | No | No (uses comparator) | No (uses comparator) |
| CPU Speed / Internal Oscillator | 4 MHz | 4 MHz - same | 4 MHz - same | 4 MHz - same | 4 MHz - same | 4 MHz - same |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V - same | 2.0 V to 5.5 V - same | 2.0 V to 5.5 V - same | 2.0 V to 5.5 V - same | 2.0 V to 5.5 V - same |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (I grade) | -40 C to +85 C - same | -40 C to +85 C - same | -40 C to +85 C - same | -40 C to +125 C (E grade) | -40 C to +85 C - same |
| QTY-1 Price (USD) | 0.78 | 0.74 | 0.71 | 0.65 | 0.95 | 0.82 |
Key Differentiators
- Largest Flash in the PIC10F2xx family with comparator (vs PIC10F204-I/P)
- Includes analog comparator for sensor interfaces (vs PIC10F202-I/P)
- Industrial temperature grade option with same die (vs PIC10F200-I/P)
Design Notes
Only 4 of the 8 PDIP pins are usable as general-purpose I/O because two pins are shared with the ICSP interface (GP1/ICSPSDAT and GP3/MCLR/ICSPCLK) and one is dedicated to VDD/MCLR. In production hardware, always provision a 2-pin header or pogo-pad access to GP0/GP1 so you can reflash the firmware without desoldering the MCU. Failing to do this is the single most common board-rework mistake with the PIC10F family.
The PIC10F206-I/P has no dedicated ADC; analog signals must be measured by the internal 6-bit comparator against the 0.6 V reference. Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 5) and keep the comparator input traces short to prevent digital switching noise from coupling into the analog path. Estimated: with a typical application drawing 100 uA average, a single CR2032 coin cell (~235 mAh) can power the design for approximately 8-10 months continuous-on, or several years with sleep-mode duty cycling.
Place a bulk 10 uF aluminum or tantalum capacitor near the VDD pin if the design switches inductive loads, and route the ground pin (VSS, pin 6) directly to the ground pour. Avoid running high-current traces under the IC or near the comparator inputs. For reliable ICSP programming, keep the ICSPCLK and ICSPDAT traces short and free of series resistors; a 10 kohm pull-up on MCLR (pin 1) is the standard reset configuration shown in every Microchip development board reference design.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page. Standard -I/P industrial grade is NOT AEC-Q100 qualified; choose PIC10F206-E/P for higher temperature but note it is also not automotive-qualified - AEC-Q100 variants are not offered in the PIC10F2xx PDIP family.
