PIC16C54C-04I/SO - 8-Bit 4MHz OTP MCU 12 I/O SOIC-18 | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C54C-04I/SO β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.01 | $3.01 |
| 10 | $2.86 | $28.60 |
| 100 | $2.65 | $265.00 |
| 500 | $2.42 | $1,210.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.18 | $2,180.00 |
PIC16C54C-04I/SO Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer containing a CPU, program memory, working RAM, and peripheral I/O. The PIC16C5x family represents the foundational 8-bit baseline of Microchip's PIC product line, optimized for cost-sensitive embedded control where minimal code size and deterministic timing matter more than high memory or peripheral counts. Within the broader hierarchy, the PIC16C54C sits at: microcontroller -> 8-bit MCU -> PIC16C5x baseline family -> OTP-programmable variant. The two-level-deep hardware stack and RISC architecture minimize silicon cost while supporting interrupt-free or polled embedded loops.
Key features include 12-bit wide instructions with an 8-bit data path, seven special function hardware registers, a 8-bit real-time clock/counter (TMR0) with 8-bit programmable prescaler, watchdog timer for safe operation, power-on reset, and direct/indirect/relative addressing modes. Power supply operates from 3V to 5.5V (with the "I" industrial grade supporting -40C to +85C), enabling battery-friendly designs. The SOIC-18 package footprint matches the entire PIC16C5x 18-pin family for layout reuse across variants.
Typical applications include simple appliance control, LED drivers, remote controls, sensor interfaces, consumer white goods, and battery-powered devices where cost per unit is paramount. The 12 I/O pins drive LEDs directly, read switches, and interface low-speed peripherals without external logic. The OTP memory is one-time-programmable - suitable for high-volume production where firmware is fixed.
Design consideration: OTP memory cannot be reprogrammed in-circuit, so prototype verification with a windowed (JW) or flash-based PIC16F equivalent is recommended before committing to the PIC16C54C for production. Programming requires a Microchip PICkit or compatible device programmer.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C54C-04I/SO β 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 PIC16C54C-04I/SO (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, Program Memory Size, Program Memory Type, Operating Temperature, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C54C-04/SO
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16C54A-04I/SO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C56A-04I/SO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F54-I/SO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C54C-04E/SO
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C54C-04I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | PIC16C5x |
| Core | 8-bit RISC (PIC) |
| Architecture | OTP CMOS |
| Instruction Set | 12-bit wide, 33 instructions |
| Program Memory | 768 B (512 x 12), OTP |
| RAM | 25 B |
| Operating Frequency | 4 MHz |
| Instruction Execution Time | 200 ns (at 4 MHz) |
| I/O Pins | 12 |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit (TMR0) |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes |
| Hardware Stack | 2 levels |
| Supply Voltage | 3 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Package | 18-pin SOIC (SO) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16C54C-04I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2 β Bidirectional I/O pin; also analog/digital |
| Pin 2 | RA3 β Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 3 | RA4/T0CKI β Bidirectional I/O pin; TMR0 clock input (Schmitt trigger) |
| Pin 4 | MCLR β Master Clear (active-low reset); programming voltage input |
| Pin 5 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RB0/INT β Bidirectional I/O pin; external interrupt input |
| Pin 7 | RB1 β Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 8 | RB2 β Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 9 | RB3 β Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 10 | RB4 β Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 11 | RB5 β Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 12 | RB6 β Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 13 | RB7 β Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 14 | VDD β Positive supply voltage (3.0V to 5.5V) |
| Pin 15 | OSC2/CLKOUT β Oscillator output / clock output (Fosc/4) |
| Pin 16 | OSC1/CLKIN β Oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 17 | RA0 β Bidirectional I/O pin |
| Pin 18 | RA1 β Bidirectional I/O pin |
Typical Applications
PIC16C54C-04I/SO is suitable for 7 applications: Appliance Control, LED Lighting Controllers, Remote Control Transmitters, Sensor Interface Modules, Battery-Powered Consumer Devices, Automotive Accessory Modules, Simple Toys and Hobby Projects.
Appliance Control
The PIC16C54C-04I/SO is a strong fit for low-cost appliance control because its 12 I/O pins can directly drive indicator LEDs, read mechanical or capacitive switches, and pulse-control relays or triacs without external logic. With 768 bytes of OTP program memory and 33 instructions, a typical washing-machine timer, microwave keypad controller, or rice-cooker profile can be implemented in fewer than 500 instructions, leaving margin for state machines. The 4 MHz execution delivers 200 ns instruction cycles - sufficient for 60 Hz zero-cross detection and debounced switch polling. Industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C) handles kitchen and laundry environments. OTP memory locks firmware for production, preventing field tampering. Estimated: typical firmware size 400-700 instructions fits within 768 B.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controllers
The PIC16C54C-04I/SO suits addressable LED string drivers and decorative lighting controllers where cost-per-string is critical and firmware is fixed. Its 12 I/O can drive 4-6 Charlieplexed LED arrays or interface shift-register LED drivers like the 74HC595 over a 3-wire SPI-like protocol. The 8-bit TMR0 with programmable prescaler enables accurate PWM generation for dimming at typical 1-2 kHz rates without external timers. Low supply current at 4 MHz and 5V is suitable for inline-powered LED string controllers. OTP memory eliminates flash-memory field-update risk in installed fixtures. Estimated: a 16-LED chaser with 4 modes fits in under 400 instructions.
Recommended
Remote Control Transmitters
The PIC16C54C-04I/SO fits IR/RF remote-control transmitters where the 12 I/O can matrix-scan up to 64 keys via an 8x8 matrix (8 outputs + 4 inputs) while the remaining pins drive an IR LED or RF transmitter module. The TMR0 enables carrier-frequency generation (typically 38 kHz for IR or 315/433 MHz sub-carriers for RF). At 3V battery supply the MCU operates within the 3.0V-5.5V spec, extending battery life. With OTP firmware, the manufacturer locks in protocol and button mapping, preventing cloning. Industrial temp range supports automotive and outdoor remote environments. Estimated: a 32-key remote with rolling-code protocol fits within 600-700 instructions.
Recommended
Sensor Interface Modules
The PIC16C54C-04I/SO handles simple sensor signal-conditioning modules where it reads analog signals via a comparator and outputs digital results, or interfaces digital sensors over bit-banged protocols. The 12 I/O can be configured to read multiple digital sensors (Hall-effect, temperature switches, motion PIR) and drive status LEDs or relay outputs. The 8-bit TMR0 measures pulse widths from sensors like HC-SR04 ultrasonic rangefinders or PWM-output flow sensors. At 4 MHz the MCU provides 200 ns timing resolution, sufficient for sub-microsecond pulse measurements. Low component count (single chip + caps + resonator) keeps sensor module BOM cost minimal. Estimated: a multi-sensor alarm panel with 4 inputs and 4 outputs fits in 300-500 instructions.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Consumer Devices
The PIC16C54C-04I/SO is suitable for battery-powered devices such as electronic thermometers, digital timers, and small toys where 3.0V-5.5V operation matches two AA/AAA cells or a CR2032 with boost converter. The CMOS design keeps active current low, and the MCU can be put into sleep mode (typical 1 uA) waking on watchdog timer overflow to extend battery life to years. With 12 I/O available, the chip can drive LCD segments directly (via software multiplexing) or read thermistor bridges. OTP memory prevents field firmware tampering in cost-sensitive consumer products. Estimated: a kitchen timer with beep output and LCD fits within 500 instructions.
Recommended
Automotive Accessory Modules
The PIC16C54C-04I/SO works in non-safety automotive accessories like interior LED controllers, seat-heater timers, or auxiliary lighting drivers where the industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C) handles cabin environments. The 12 I/O can drive MOSFET gates for PWM dimming of accent LEDs or interface with body-control modules via simple LIN-like protocols bit-banged on a single pin. Watchdog timer prevents lockup in noisy automotive electrical environments. OTP firmware locks in vehicle-specific behavior. For safety-critical or under-hood applications (above +85C), designers should use the AEC-Q100 qualified PIC16F54 or higher-grade parts. Estimated: an LED accent-light controller with 4 zones fits in 400 instructions.
Recommended
Simple Toys and Hobby Projects
The PIC16C54C-04I/SO is a cost-effective choice for mass-produced toys and hobby electronics where single-digit-dollar MCU cost is essential. With 12 I/O, the chip can drive servo motors, read pushbuttons, control sound chips like the UM66 or speaker drivers, and animate LED eyes in a robotic toy. The simple 33-instruction RISC architecture is easy to teach in classrooms, making this an educational MCU for learning embedded programming. Hobbyists can prototype with PIC16F54-I/SO (flash) and migrate to PIC16C54C for production. OTP memory at 768 bytes fits small game logic and reaction-timing sequences. Estimated: a reaction-time game toy with 8 LEDs fits in 200-300 instructions.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C54C-04I/SO β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C54C-04/SO | PIC16C54A-04I/SO | PIC16C56A-04I/SO | PIC16F54-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | SOIC-18 | SOIC-18 - same | SOIC-18 - same | SOIC-18 - same | SOIC-18 - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory | 768 B OTP | 768 B OTP | 512 B OTP | 1.5 KB OTP | 768 B Flash |
| Operating Frequency | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 20 MHz (4 MHz also supported) |
| I/O Pins | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Memory Type | OTP | OTP | OTP | OTP | Flash (reprogrammable) |
| Supply Voltage | 3.0V to 5.5V | 3.0V to 5.5V | 3.0V to 5.5V | 3.0V to 5.5V | 2.0V to 5.5V |
| ICSP Support | No (OTP only) | No (OTP only) | No (OTP only) | No (OTP only) | Yes (In-Circuit Serial Programming) |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest cost PIC16C5x baseline variant (vs PIC16C56A-04I/SO)
- C revision adds RETURN instruction (vs PIC16C54A-04I/SO)
- Flash reprogrammability vs OTP (vs PIC16F54-I/SO)
Design Notes
The PIC16C54C-04I/SO operates from 3.0V to 5.5V; the 3.0V minimum is required because the brown-out detection and instruction timing assume this supply range. For 3.3V designs, ensure the supply stays above 3.0V under full load including battery droop. Add a 100 nF decoupling capacitor close to VDD (pin 14) and a bulk 10 uF electrolytic near the IC for noisy switching supplies. The MCU draws approximately 2 mA active at 4 MHz and 5V, dropping to under 5 uA in sleep mode.
Place the 4 MHz ceramic resonator or crystal as close to OSC1 (pin 16) and OSC2 (pin 15) as possible, with traces short and surrounded by ground pour. Add 22 pF load capacitors from each oscillator pin to VSS unless using a ceramic resonator with internal caps. Keep oscillator traces away from switching nodes or high-current traces to avoid injecting noise. The MCLR pin (pin 4) requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD; in noisy environments add a 100 nF cap from MCLR to VSS for filtering.
OTP memory means firmware cannot be field-updated - always validate with a flash-based prototype (PIC16F54-I/SO) before committing to PIC16C54C for production. The PIC16C5x family has only a 2-level hardware stack, so deeply nested subroutines will overflow - keep call depth to 1-2 levels. The watchdog timer must be explicitly disabled in software or it will reset the MCU periodically; use CLRWDT instruction in main loop. The MCLR pin must NOT be left floating or the MCU will randomly reset from noise.
The PIC16C54C's I/O pins have limited drive capability (typical 20 mA source/sink per pin, 100 mA total for the package). For driving LEDs directly, use a current-limiting resistor and stay within the absolute maximum ratings. For inductive loads like relays, add a flyback diode across the coil to protect the MCU pin from kickback voltage. The Schmitt-trigger input on RA4/T0CKI allows slow-edged signals from sensors without false triggering, but other RA pins are TTL-level and need clean edges.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - for automotive safety-critical applications, use AEC-Q100 qualified PIC16F54 or PIC18F variants. Lead-free matte tin plating on SOIC-18 package.
