PIC12C672/JW - 8-Bit 10MHz MCU, 3.5KB EPROM, UV Windowed CDIP-8
MPN: PIC12C672/JW ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18.5 | $18.50 |
| 10 | $16.8 | $168.00 |
| 100 | $14.95 | $1,495.00 |
| 500 | $13.2 | $6,600.00 |
| 1,000 | $11.75 | $11,750.00 |
PIC12C672/JW Overview
What is an 8-bit microcontroller? An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, non-volatile program memory, volatile data memory, and peripherals onto one piece of silicon. The PIC12C family occupies the low-pin-count, low-cost tier of Microchip's PIC product line and is widely used in legacy, prototyping, and cost-sensitive embedded applications where a small footprint and minimal I/O are sufficient.
Key features include a 10 MHz maximum clock rate, 3.3 V to 5.5 V single-supply operation, four-channel 8-bit ADC, watchdog timer with on-chip RC oscillator, power-on reset, internal/external oscillator options, and in-circuit serial programming. The /JW suffix specifically designates the ceramic-windowed package - the package lid is a fused quartz window that allows UV erasure of the EPROM, making the device reusable during development and educational workflows.
The PIC12C672 uses a 14-bit wide instruction word architecture with single-word/single-cycle execution for most opcodes, providing deterministic throughput at 100 ns per instruction at 10 MHz. Its Harvard architecture separates program and data buses, and the 8-level deep hardware stack plus 32-byte register file make it well suited for small control loops in motor control, sensor interfacing, and timing applications.
Typical applications include hobbyist electronics, university embedded-systems training, prototype development of legacy products, low-cost appliance control, and firmware development where UV-erase/reprogram cycles are required. The windowed package makes it ideal for educational environments that need to erase and reprogram the same physical part many times.
When designing with this part, note that the ceramic windowed CDIP-8 package is intended primarily for prototyping and development, not for high-volume production - the /P, /SO, or /SM plastic package variants are preferred for manufactured products. Because the part is reported as obsolete by multiple distributors, lead-time risk should be assessed for new designs.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, datasheet references, drop-in windowed and OTP alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, giving engineers a single source for evaluating the PIC12C672/JW for both legacy maintenance and new educational designs.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC12C672/JW — 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 PIC12C672/JW (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Program Memory Size, Mounting Type, I/O Pins, Program Memory Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC12C671/JW
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$7.58 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12C509A/JW
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12C671-10E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12C671-04I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12C671T-10E/SM
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.16 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12C671T-10/SM
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.19 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12C672/JW Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC (8-bit RISC, 14-bit instruction word) |
| Core Processor | PIC |
| Core Size | 8-Bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 10 MHz |
| Program Memory Type | EPROM (UV-erasable in JW package) |
| Program Memory Size | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) |
| RAM Size | 128 bytes |
| EEPROM Data Memory | Not present on this variant (family feature) |
| I/O Pins | 6 |
| ADC | 8-bit, 4 channels |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V / 5 V (3.0 V to 5.5 V) |
| Package | 8-CDIP (ceramic DIP with UV window, JW) |
| Peripherals | POR, WDT |
| Oscillator Type | Internal or external |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
PIC12C672/JW Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (3.0 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 2 | GP5/T1OSO/OSC2 — GPIO5 / Timer1 oscillator output / crystal oscillator output |
| Pin 3 | GP4/T1OSI/OSC1/CLKIN — GPIO4 / Timer1 oscillator input / crystal oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 4 | GP3/MCLR/VPP — GPIO3 / Master Clear reset (active low) / programming voltage input |
| Pin 5 | GP2/AN2/INT/COUT — GPIO2 / analog input 2 / external interrupt / comparator output |
| Pin 6 | GP1/AN1/CIN-/VREF — GPIO1 / analog input 1 / comparator inverting input / voltage reference |
| Pin 7 | GP0/AN0/CIN+ — GPIO0 / analog input 0 / comparator non-inverting input |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
Typical Applications
PIC12C672/JW is suitable for 7 applications: Embedded Systems Education and Training, Legacy Product Maintenance and Repair, Prototype Development of Cost-Sensitive Controls, Sensor Interface Modules with Onboard ADC, Low-Speed Motor and Solenoid Control, Hobby Electronics and Maker Projects, Industrial Timing and Pulse Generation.
Embedded Systems Education and Training
The PIC12C672/JW is widely used in university embedded systems courses because the UV window lets students erase and reprogram the same chip dozens of times. Its 8-pin DIP form factor is friendly to solderless breadboards, and the 14-bit PIC instruction set introduces RISC concepts such as single-cycle execution and a Harvard architecture. With 3.5 KB of program memory it accommodates introductory labs on GPIO, timer interrupts, ADC sampling, and watchdog configuration, while the 10 MHz clock rate exercises real-time control concepts within classroom timing tolerances.
Recommended
Legacy Product Maintenance and Repair
Many legacy industrial controllers, scientific instruments, and consumer appliances shipped in the late 1990s and early 2000s with PIC12C672/JW or compatible windowed parts. The JW package allows field engineers to read original firmware with a standard EPROM programmer, modify it for bug fixes, and re-burn the same chip. Its ceramic package provides long-term data retention measured in decades, and the 6 GPIO with 4-channel ADC cover typical sensor interface requirements found in legacy thermostats, alarm panels, and metering devices still in service today.
Recommended
Prototype Development of Cost-Sensitive Controls
During prototype development, the PIC12C672/JW lets engineers iterate firmware quickly by erasing with UV light and reprogramming in seconds with the MPLAB PM3. Its small 8-CDIP package suits through-hole prototype boards, and the 8-bit ADC with 4 input channels handles temperature, light, and voltage sensing directly. Once the firmware is stable, designers migrate to a one-time-programmable plastic-DIP or SOIC variant for production, reusing the same hex file and development toolchain. This workflow minimizes engineering risk on cost-sensitive appliance and consumer products.
Recommended
Sensor Interface Modules with Onboard ADC
The PIC12C672/JW integrates a 4-channel 8-bit ADC that allows direct connection of analog sensors without an external converter, and its 6 GPIO provide sufficient headroom for digital sensors, status LEDs, and a serial communication bit-banged interface. The 14-bit instruction set keeps code density high, so the 3.5 KB EPROM holds a complete sensor-conditioning loop with averaging and threshold logic. The 3.0 to 5.5 V supply range matches both 3.3 V and 5 V sensor rails common in industrial telemetry.
Recommended
Low-Speed Motor and Solenoid Control
With its 10 MHz instruction rate the PIC12C672/JW drives small DC motors, stepper coils, and solenoids through PWM generated on GPIO pins. Its 6 I/O are sufficient for H-bridge direction/enable signals on a bipolar stepper or for a brushed DC motor with brake and direction control. The internal watchdog timer provides failsafe motor shutdown if firmware locks up, which is critical in safety-relevant applications such as valve actuation. The ceramic DIP package also tolerates higher thermal stress than plastic, extending life in enclosed motor housings.
Recommended
Hobby Electronics and Maker Projects
Hobbyists choose the PIC12C672/JW for projects where they want to learn assembly programming on a real RISC core and reuse the chip across multiple builds. The UV-erase cycle lets a single chip serve as the development platform for an entire project portfolio. With only 6 I/O the part is best suited to small standalone gadgets such as timing circuits, LED chasers, and basic robotics controllers, and its 8-pin DIP makes it easy to socket on a perfboard. Many vintage microcontroller tutorials online still target this exact part, providing abundant reference material.
Recommended
Industrial Timing and Pulse Generation
The PIC12C672/JW's 14-bit core and 10 MHz clock provide accurate pulse-width measurement and generation for industrial timing applications. The internal 8-bit Timer0 with prescaler handles periodic interrupts down to 100 microsecond resolution, while the watchdog timer can act as a secondary fail-safe clock. The 4-channel ADC samples up to four analog timing references such as thermistor networks or current shunts. The ceramic CDIP package tolerates factory-floor temperature swings, and the EPROM-based firmware is immune to bit-flips that occasionally disturb Flash on cheaper MCUs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC12C672/JW — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC12C671/JW | PIC12C509A/JW | PIC12C671-10E/P | PIC12C671T-10E/SM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 8-CDIP (JW, windowed) | 8-CDIP (JW, windowed) - same | 8-CDIP (JW, windowed) - same | 8-PDIP (plastic, OTP) - same DIP-8 footprint | 8-SOIC (surface-mount) - requires SOIC footprint |
| Program Memory | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) EPROM | 2 KB (1K x 14) EPROM | 1.5 KB (1K x 12) EPROM | 2 KB (1K x 14) EPROM | 2 KB (1K x 14) EPROM |
| Instruction Set Width | 14-bit | 14-bit | 12-bit | 14-bit | 14-bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 10 MHz | 10 MHz | 4 MHz | 10 MHz | 10 MHz |
| Memory Type | UV-erasable EPROM | UV-erasable EPROM | UV-erasable EPROM | One-Time-Programmable EPROM | One-Time-Programmable EPROM |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
| I/O Pins | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| ADC | 8-bit, 4 channels | 8-bit, 4 channels | None | 8-bit, 4 channels | 8-bit, 4 channels |
| Operating Voltage | 3.0 V to 5.5 V | 3.0 V to 5.5 V | 3.0 V to 5.5 V | 3.0 V to 5.5 V | 3.0 V to 5.5 V |
Key Differentiators
- Largest UV-reprogrammable EPROM in the 8-pin PIC12C family (vs PIC12C671/JW)
- 14-bit instruction set retains PIC mid-range code density (vs PIC12C509A/JW)
- Windowed ceramic package enables repeated erase/reprogram cycles (vs PIC12C671-10E/P)
Design Notes
The 8-CDIP package requires a standard 0.300 inch row spacing socket such as a 8-pin machined-pin DIP socket. Always socket the PIC12C672/JW during development so the chip can be removed for UV erasure without desoldering. Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor directly between VDD (pin 1) and VSS (pin 8), with traces shorter than 5 mm to minimize supply noise coupling into the ADC reference.
Do not assume the JW ceramic package is electrically identical to the plastic /P variant at extreme temperatures - the ceramic die attach changes thermal resistance and may shift ADC readings by 1 to 2 LSB between -40 C and +85 C. Also note that EPROM retention in windowed parts can degrade if the quartz window is contaminated with fingerprints; handle the window with a cotton glove and avoid prolonged exposure to fluorescent lighting, which contains UV-A that can slowly erase the array.
Route the MCLR/VPP pin (pin 4) directly to the ICSP header with no series resistance above 10 kOhm, otherwise in-circuit serial programming may fail intermittently. Place the programming header within 50 mm of the MCU and keep GP4/OSC1 traces short to avoid oscillator startup issues when using a ceramic resonator. For ADC accuracy, dedicate a star-ground connection from pin 8 to the analog ground plane and avoid running digital GPIO traces across the ADC input pins GP0-GP2.
Compliance Information
Compliance data was not present in the verified web data. Ceramic windowed CDIP packages historically contain lead in the die attach, so RoHS compliance is uncertain - check the manufacturer declaration before using in RoHS-restricted regions.
