PIC16C54AT-10/SO - 8-Bit 10MHz OTP MCU 18-SOIC | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C54AT-10/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.2 | $4.20 |
| 10 | $3.78 | $37.80 |
| 100 | $3.36 | $336.00 |
| 500 | $2.94 | $1,470.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.52 | $2,520.00 |
PIC16C54AT-10/SO Overview
An 8-bit OTP microcontroller is a single-chip CMOS processor that combines CPU core, non-volatile OTP program memory, working RAM, and peripheral I/O on one die, intended for low-cost embedded control. Within the semiconductor hierarchy, the PIC16C5X sits at the bottom of the Microchip 8-bit PIC portfolio: OTP/EPROM 8-bit MCU -> PIC16C5X family -> PIC16C54A sub-family -> the PIC16C54AT-10/SO. This bottom-tier positioning historically served high-volume cost-sensitive applications where a one-time programmable, low-pin-count, RISC core delivered deterministic 200 ns instruction cycles.
Key features of this part include 33 single-word instructions, single-cycle execution except for program branches (which take two cycles, 400 ns), a hardware 8-bit timer/counter (TMR0) with an 8-bit prescaler, a 12-bit instruction word enabling 2:1 code compression versus competing 8-bit CISC architectures, and DC-20 MHz oscillator support. Per the Microchip datasheet, the PIC16C5X delivers an order-of-magnitude higher performance than competing 8-bit MCUs in the same price class.
The architecture is fully static CMOS with a Harvard-style bus, supporting DC to 20 MHz operation and 200 ns instruction cycles. Power-down (SLEEP) mode drops quiescent current below 1 µA typical, and the integrated Power-on Reset (POR) and Watchdog Timer (WDT) eliminate external reset circuitry in many designs.
Typical applications include appliance controllers, automotive subsystems (non-safety), HVAC damper/valve control, simple sensor signal conditioning, security keypads, and low-end consumer electronics. The wide supply range and robust ESD performance also suit industrial-grade sensor interfaces. The 18-SOIC footprint is footprint-compatible with the PIC16C55/56/57 family for upward migration without PCB rework.
When designing with this part, ensure the chosen programmer (e.g., PICSTART Plus, MPLAB PM3, or a third-party gang programmer) supports OTP and that code-protection fuse is configured before volume production. Because OTP memory is one-time programmable, firmware revisions require a new device - budget accordingly.
This page synthesizes distributor stock, drop-in same-package alternatives, and engineering design notes not available on a single manufacturer datasheet page.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C54AT-10/SO — 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 PIC16C54AT-10/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Architecture, I/O Pins, Package, Program Memory Size, Program Memory Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C54A-10/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54A-10I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C55-10/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.49 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C57-10/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C54AT-10/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit RISC (Harvard, fully static CMOS) |
| Family | PIC16C5X (PIC16C54A sub-family) |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time Programmable) EPROM |
| Program Memory Size | 768 B (512 x 12-bit words) |
| RAM Size | 25 B (25 x 8-bit) |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 10 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle | 200 ns (single-cycle), 400 ns (branch) |
| Number of Instructions | 33 single-word instructions |
| I/O Pins | 12 (PORTA 6 + PORTB 6) |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit (TMR0) with 8-bit prescaler |
| Supply Voltage | 3.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) |
| Package | 18-SOIC (SO, 7.50 mm body width, gull-wing) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes (integrated, dedicated RC oscillator) |
| Power-on Reset | Yes (integrated) |
| SLEEP / Power-down Mode | Yes (<1 uA typical quiescent) |
| Code Protection | Yes (fuse selectable) |
PIC16C54AT-10/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (3.0 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 2 | RA0 — PORTA bit 0 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 3 | RA1 — PORTA bit 1 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — PORTA bit 2 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 5 | RA3 — PORTA bit 3 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 6 | RA4 — PORTA bit 4 (bidirectional digital I/O, also TOCKI) |
| Pin 7 | RA5 — PORTA bit 5 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 8 | RB0 — PORTB bit 0 (bidirectional digital I/O, INT) |
| Pin 9 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 10 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 11 | RB3 — PORTB bit 3 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 12 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 13 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 14 | RB6 — PORTB bit 6 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 15 | RB7 — PORTB bit 7 (bidirectional digital I/O) |
| Pin 16 | OSC2 — Oscillator output (crystal/RC/HS mode) |
| Pin 17 | OSC1 — Oscillator input (crystal/RC/HS mode) |
| Pin 18 | VSS — Ground reference |
Typical Applications
PIC16C54AT-10/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Appliance Control Board, Security Keypad & Door Controller, HVAC Damper and Valve Actuator, Low-End Consumer Electronics Remote, Automotive Non-Safety Subsystem, Simple Sensor Signal Conditioner.
Appliance Control Board
The PIC16C54AT-10/SO suits appliance control boards - washing-machine timer logic, dishwasher cycle controllers, microwave oven keypads, and refrigerator defrost schedulers - because its 768 B OTP accommodates fixed-cycle state machines while the integrated Watchdog Timer and Power-on Reset eliminate external supervisor circuitry. With 10 MHz clock and 200 ns instruction cycle it executes scan loops and debounce routines fast enough for 60 Hz mains-synchronous timing, and the 12 I/O pins directly drive multiplexed 7-segment displays or relay driver arrays. The commercial 0 C to +70 C temperature grade fits enclosed appliance interiors, and the 18-SOIC footprint reflow-solders cleanly onto a single-layer FR2 board for sub-$5 BOM targets.
Recommended
Security Keypad & Door Controller
For PIN-entry keypads and magnetic-lock controllers, the PIC16C54AT-10/SO delivers the code-protection fuse critical for sealing authentication logic against reverse engineering. 768 B OTP holds a 6-digit PIN plus a 200-event audit buffer using BCD-packed encoding, and the 25-byte RAM is enough for debounce state and timer ticks. The integrated Watchdog Timer latches the door in safe state if firmware stalls, and the SLEEP mode dropping quiescent current below 1 uA extends battery-backed RTC life. The 18-SOIC footprint reflows onto compact lock-controller PCBs alongside the keypad matrix and a low-side relay driver.
Recommended
HVAC Damper and Valve Actuator
Zone-damper and valve-actuator control boards benefit from the PIC16C54AT-10/SO's deterministic 200 ns instruction cycle, which provides jitter-free PWM generation for proportional damper motors without needing a hardware PWM peripheral. The single 8-bit TMR0 with 8-bit prescaler covers the 100 ms to 10 s timing scales typical of valve actuation sequences. Industrial-grade variants like PIC16C54A-10I/SO extend the same 18-SOIC drop-in footprint into -40 C plant-room environments. The 3.0-5.5 V supply range accepts 24 VAC half-wave rectified and zener-regulated rails common in HVAC control loops.
Recommended
Low-End Consumer Electronics Remote
Universal remote controllers, toy controllers, and simple IR/RF transmitters are classic PIC16C54AT-10/SO use cases - the 768 B OTP easily encodes RC5/RC6 or proprietary IR protocols, while the 12 I/O pins directly drive a 3x4 matrix keypad and the IR LED without external logic. The integrated Watchdog Timer and the SLEEP mode dropping quiescent current below 1 uA preserve battery life across years of standby. The 18-SOIC footprint enables single-side PCB assembly for sub-$2 BOM cost targets common in mass-market consumer products.
Recommended
Automotive Non-Safety Subsystem
For non-safety automotive subsystems - interior lighting controllers, dashboard dimmers, accessory delay-timers - the PIC16C54AT-10/SO provides deterministic RISC execution at automotive 12 V battery rails regulated down to 5 V. The 12 I/O pins directly drive logic-level MOSFETs for PWM dimming and the 10 MHz clock delivers sub-millisecond PWM resolution. The code-protection fuse prevents firmware cloning of accessory modules. Industrial-temp PIC16C54A-10I/SO is recommended instead when the design operates in the -40 C cold-soak condition (engine bay or exterior lighting).
Recommended
Simple Sensor Signal Conditioner
Threshold-detection sensor interfaces - liquid-level switches, thermistor bridges, optical interrupters - pair naturally with the PIC16C54AT-10/SO: the 12 I/O pins read multiple sensors directly while the 8-bit TMR0 builds the timing basis for repetitive sampling. The integrated Watchdog Timer resets the controller if the sensor-scan loop stalls, and the code-protection fuse seals calibration constants in OTP. The 18-SOIC footprint and 3.0-5.5 V supply integrate cleanly with 3.3 V sensor front-ends, while the commercial 0 C to +70 C grade suits indoor industrial sensor packages.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C54AT-10/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C54A-10/SO | PIC16C54A-10I/SO | PIC16C55-10/SO | PIC16C57-10/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 18-SOIC | 18-SOIC - same | 18-SOIC - same | 18-SOIC - same | 18-SOIC - same |
| Program Memory | 768 B OTP | 768 B OTP | 768 B OTP | 2 KB OTP (+167%) | 2 KB OTP (+167%) |
| RAM Size | 25 B | 25 B | 25 B | 80 B (+220%) | 72 B (+188%) |
| I/O Pins | 12 | 12 | 12 | 20 (+67%) | 20 (+67%) |
| Max Clock Frequency | 10 MHz | 10 MHz | 10 MHz | 10 MHz | 10 MHz |
| Supply 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 |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial (0 C to +70 C) | Commercial | Industrial (-40 C to +85 C) | Commercial | Commercial |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Packaging Format | Tape & Reel (T suffix) | Tube | Tube | Tube | Tube |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest-cost Microchip 8-bit MCU in 18-SOIC with code protection (vs PIC16F84A-04/SO)
- Upward code-size migration without PCB rework (vs PIC16C54A-10I/SO)
- Single supply operation down to 3.0 V for portable designs (vs PIC16F506-I/SL)
Design Notes
Estimated: OTP memory on PIC16C54AT-10/SO is one-time programmable; once a location is written it cannot be erased. Plan firmware versioning carefully and use PIC16F54-I/SO for development cycles where you need Flash reprogrammability on the same 18-SOIC footprint. Always confirm code-protection fuse setting before sealing the EPROM window; an unprotected OTP image is readable by any third-party programmer.
Place a 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 1) with a short trace to VSS (pin 18). For designs switching high-current relays off the same 5 V rail, add a 10 uF bulk electrolytic at the regulator output. The PIC16C54A internal POR relies on a clean VDD ramp; if the supply rises too slowly, supplement with an external RC on /MCLR.
The 18-SOIC land pattern follows JEDEC SO-18 (7.50 mm body width) with 1.27 mm pitch. Route the oscillator traces (OSC1, OSC2) symmetrically and keep them short to avoid stray capacitance derating the crystal. Avoid routing PORTA lines directly under switching regulator inductors; the PIC16C5X has no Schmitt-trigger hysteresis on most ports and is susceptible to false triggers above 30 mV noise coupling.
Compliance Information
Compliance flags (RoHS, REACH, lead-free, halogen-free, conflict minerals) not present in the verified distributor data reviewed; all are marked [DATA_NEEDED]. AEC-Q100 is not_applicable because PIC16C54AT-10/SO is not qualified to that automotive standard. Verify RoHS/REACH status via Microchip's product environmental compliance declaration before placing into RoHS-bound designs.
