PIC12LC672-04/P - 8-Bit 4MHz OTP MCU 3.5KB | Microchip
MPN: PIC12LC672-04/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.48 | $1.48 |
| 10 | $1.35 | $13.50 |
| 100 | $1.18 | $118.00 |
| 500 | $1.05 | $525.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.92 | $920.00 |
PIC12LC672-04/P Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a small computer-on-a-chip containing a CPU, program memory, data RAM, and peripherals on a single silicon die. The PIC12LC672 belongs to the PIC (Peripheral Interface Controller) family of RISC microcontrollers, characterized by a Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses. Within the broader semiconductor taxonomy, this part sits in the hierarchy: microcontroller -> 8-bit MCU -> embedded controller -> integrated circuit -> semiconductor. PIC microcontrollers are widely used in simple control applications where deterministic execution, low pin count, and minimal external components are required.
Key features include an 8-bit real-time clock/counter (TMR0) with an 8-bit programmable prescaler, Power-On Reset (POR), Device Reset Timer (DRT), and a Watchdog Timer (WDT) with its own dedicated on-chip RC oscillator for reliable recovery from code lockups. The 6 GPIO pins are shared with on-chip analog and digital peripherals, and the LC suffix indicates a low-power CMOS variant optimized for battery-operated applications with extended operating voltage range down to 2.5 V.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor interfaces, simple appliance controls, low-cost consumer electronics, and replacement of discrete logic in compact designs. The 8-pin PDIP package makes the PIC12LC672-04/P well suited for through-hole prototyping, hobby projects, and legacy designs where a socketed or easily-replaceable MCU is desirable.
When designing with this part, note that the OTP program memory can be written only once, so production firmware must be fully validated before programming. For applications requiring field firmware updates, consider a Flash-based alternative such as the PIC12F675. The /P suffix designates the 8-pin PDIP package rated for the commercial temperature range (0C to +70C).
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in compatible alternatives, and practical design notes compiled from the Microchip datasheet family and current distributor listings - context not aggregated in any single manufacturer document.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC12LC672-04/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 PIC12LC672-04/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Timers, Package, Operating Temperature, Instruction Set, Program Memory Size.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC12C672-04/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12C672-10/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.99 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12CE673-04/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12C672-04E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.3 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12LC672-04I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.41 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12CE674-04/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12LC672-04/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit RISC (Harvard) |
| Series | PIC12C67x |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time-Programmable) |
| Program Memory Size | 3.5 KB (2K x 14 words) |
| RAM Size | 128 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 4 MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 6 |
| Timers | TMR0 (8-bit with 8-bit prescaler), WDT with on-chip RC oscillator |
| A/D Converter | Integrated (per family datasheet) |
| Package Type | 8-pin PDIP (Plastic DIP, 0.300 inch) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| Operating Temperature Range | 0C to +70C (commercial, /P suffix) |
| Power-On Reset | Yes (POR) |
| Device Reset Timer | Yes (DRT) |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes (WDT, dedicated on-chip RC) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC12LC672-04/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | GP5/OSC1/CLKIN — General-purpose I/O / Crystal oscillator input / External clock input |
| Pin 2 | GP4/OSC2/CLKOUT — General-purpose I/O / Crystal oscillator output / Clock output (Fosc/4) |
| Pin 3 | GP3/MCLR/VPP — General-purpose I/O (input only) / Master Clear reset (active low) / Programming voltage |
| Pin 4 | GP2/T0CKI/INT/COUT — General-purpose I/O / TMR0 clock input / External interrupt / Comparator output |
| Pin 5 | GP1/CIN-/ICSPCLK — General-purpose I/O / Comparator inverting input / In-Circuit Serial Programming clock |
| Pin 6 | GP0/CIN+/ICSPDAT — General-purpose I/O / Comparator non-inverting input / In-Circuit Serial Programming data |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.5 V to 5.5 V) |
Typical Applications
PIC12LC672-04/P is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered Sensor Interface, Simple Appliance Control, Replacement of Discrete Logic, Hobby and Educational Projects, Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning, LED Lighting Controllers, Remote Control and IR Receiver Decoders.
Battery-Powered Sensor Interface
The PIC12LC672-04/P's 2.5 V to 5.5 V wide supply range and low-power CMOS architecture make it well suited for battery-powered sensor interfaces running from two alkaline or NiMH cells. The 6 GPIO pins are sufficient to interface with a single sensor plus status LEDs, while the integrated A/D converter digitizes analog sensor outputs without an external ADC chip. The 128-byte RAM and 3.5 KB OTP program memory support moderate firmware complexity such as linearization, threshold detection, and sleep cycling. The TMR0 with prescaler enables precise interval timing for periodic wake-and-sample duty cycles, maximizing battery life in remote sensor nodes.
Recommended
Simple Appliance Control
White goods and small appliances benefit from the PIC12LC672-04/P's 8-pin PDIP package, low cost, and integrated peripherals. The 6 I/O pins can drive relay coils, triac interfaces, status indicators, and user buttons directly when buffered. The Watchdog Timer with dedicated on-chip RC oscillator protects against code lockups in unattended appliances, while Power-On Reset ensures deterministic startup. The OTP memory is acceptable for high-volume cost-sensitive appliances where firmware is fixed at production. Per Microchip's appliance reference designs, this MCU family is widely deployed in washing machines, microwave ovens, and HVAC controls.
Recommended
Replacement of Discrete Logic
The PIC12LC672-04/P can replace multiple 74-series TTL/CMOS logic chips with a single programmable device, reducing PCB area, BOM count, and assembly cost. Its 4 MHz clock and Harvard RISC architecture execute most instructions in a single cycle (250 ns at 4 MHz), providing timing performance competitive with discrete logic for glue-logic replacement. The 6 I/O pins, TMR0 counter, and 3.5 KB program memory are sufficient to implement state machines, sequencers, and custom decoding logic. Per Microchip's AN-585 application note, PIC microcontrollers are commonly used as single-chip logic replacements in industrial controls.
Recommended
Hobby and Educational Projects
The PIC12LC672-04/P's through-hole 8-pin PDIP package is ideal for breadboard prototyping and educational use, allowing easy insertion and removal in solderless breadboards. The PIC instruction set is well documented with extensive tutorials, book references, and community examples targeting the PIC12C67x family. The 4 MHz internal/external oscillator and minimal external component count (one bypass capacitor and optional resonator) simplify first-time MCU learning. According to Microchip's academic program, the PIC12C67x series is recommended for introductory embedded courses. Hobbyists can program the OTP memory using low-cost programmers such as the PICkit 1.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning
Industrial sensor modules use the PIC12LC672-04/P to digitize analog signals, apply digital filtering, and output conditioned measurements over a simple serial interface. The integrated A/D converter samples up to 4 channels (per PIC12C67x datasheet), while TMR0 provides deterministic sampling intervals. The Watchdog Timer and POR ensure reliable operation in electrically noisy industrial environments. The 0C to +70C commercial temperature range of the /P variant is acceptable for control cabinet installations. For harsher environments, the PIC12LC672-04I/P industrial variant extends coverage to -40C to +85C.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controllers
The PIC12LC672-04/P's 6 I/O pins and 4 MHz clock support multi-channel LED driving with PWM-like brightness control via software timing loops. The wide 2.5 V to 5.5 V supply range allows direct operation from 3.3 V or 5 V LED driver rails, simplifying power architecture. The 3.5 KB OTP program memory accommodates color-mixing algorithms, fade effects, and remote-control decoding for RGB or single-color LED fixtures. Per Microchip lighting reference designs, PIC microcontrollers are commonly deployed in architectural and decorative LED drivers where low cost and small footprint are priorities.
Recommended
Remote Control and IR Receiver Decoders
The PIC12LC672-04/P is well suited for decoding IR remote control protocols in consumer electronics such as TVs, set-top boxes, and audio equipment. TMR0 with its 8-bit prescaler captures the timing of incoming IR pulses, while the 6 GPIO pins handle IR receiver input, status LED, and user buttons. The 3.5 KB program memory supports common protocols such as RC5, NEC, and SIRC. Per Microchip's IR receiver application notes, the PIC12C67x family is widely used in low-cost remote-control receivers. The wide supply range supports operation directly from 3.3 V or 5 V rails.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC12LC672-04/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC12C672-04/P | PIC12C672-10/P | PIC12CE673-04/P | PIC12C672-04E/P | PIC12LC672-04I/P | PIC12CE674-04/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 8-pin PDIP | 8-pin PDIP - same | 8-pin PDIP - same | 8-pin PDIP - same | 8-pin PDIP - same | 8-pin PDIP - same | 8-pin PDIP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory | 3.5 KB OTP | 3.5 KB OTP | 3.5 KB OTP | 3.5 KB OTP | 3.5 KB OTP | 3.5 KB OTP | 3.5 KB OTP |
| RAM | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes |
| Max Clock Speed | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 10 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.5 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 | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 3.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Integrated EEPROM | No | No | No | Yes (16 bytes) | No | No | Yes (16 bytes) |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +70C (commercial) | 0C to +70C | 0C to +70C | 0C to +70C | -40C to +125C (extended) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | 0C to +70C |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest operating voltage in the PIC12C67x PDIP family (vs PIC12C672-04/P)
- Lower-cost 4 MHz option versus 10 MHz speed grade (vs PIC12C672-10/P)
- Commercial temperature grade at lower cost than industrial /E variant (vs PIC12C672-04E/P)
- No integrated EEPROM, lower cost than PIC12CE67x family (vs PIC12CE673-04/P)
Design Notes
Place a 0.1 microfarad decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 8) with the ground return to VSS (pin 7) using a short, direct trace. The PIC12LC672-04/P can operate from 2.5 V to 5.5 V; if the supply is derived from a switching regulator, add a 10 microfarad bulk capacitor in parallel to absorb switching transients. The /P suffix denotes the commercial temperature grade (0C to +70C), so verify ambient conditions stay within this range or upgrade to the /I (industrial) or /E (extended) suffix.
OTP (One-Time-Programmable) memory cannot be erased or rewritten - any firmware bug is permanent. Validate the complete firmware on a windowed (UV-erasable) PIC12C672 or a Flash-based PIC12F675-I/P before committing to OTP production units. Per the Microchip PIC12C67x programming specification, the OTP cells use a serial programming protocol with VPP applied to the MCLR/VPP pin during programming. Ensure your programmer supports the 14-bit PIC mid-range instruction set.
Route the MCLR/VPP pin (pin 3) with a short trace to a pull-up resistor (typically 10 kohm to VDD) and a capacitor to ground (typically 0.1 microfarad) for noise-free reset operation. Pins 5 and 6 (GP1/GP0) double as the ICSP programming interface - keep them accessible by leaving programming header pads or test points on the PCB. Avoid routing high-speed signals adjacent to the oscillator pins (GP4/OSC2 and GP5/OSC1) to minimize crosstalk into the clock circuit.
When using an external crystal or resonator across pins 1 and 2 (GP5/OSC1, GP4/OSC2), keep the resonator and load capacitors as close to the IC as possible to minimize stray capacitance. Per the Microchip PIC12C67x datasheet, use 15-33 pF load capacitors with HS (high-speed) crystals. If using the internal 4 MHz RC oscillator (per configuration word), GP5 and GP4 become general-purpose I/O - freeing two pins for application use.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per distributor listings. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this is a commercial-grade part. For automotive applications, contact Microchip for AEC-Q100 qualified alternatives. Lead-free PDIP as confirmed by Microchip packaging markings.
