PIC16C554-04/SS - 8-bit OTP MCU 896B EPROM 20SSOP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C554-04/SS ⚠ Last Time Buy| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.15 | $2.15 |
| 10 | $1.95 | $19.50 |
| 100 | $1.78 | $178.00 |
| 500 | $1.65 | $825.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.55 | $1,550.00 |
PIC16C554-04/SS Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, RAM, program memory, and I/O peripherals onto one silicon die. Within the semiconductor taxonomy, the PIC16C554 sits in the microcontroller (MCU) family, which itself belongs to integrated circuits (ICs), embedded controllers, and ultimately the broader semiconductor category. Microcontrollers are the workhorses of discrete digital control, replacing discrete logic and relays when firmware flexibility matters more than raw throughput.
Key features include 12 I/O pins with individual direction control, an 8-bit timer/counter (TMR0), a watchdog timer with on-chip RC oscillator for reliable recovery, power-on reset, brown-out detection, code protection, and an external interrupt pin. The Harvard RISC architecture separates program and data buses, and the 12-bit wide instruction word keeps the decoder logic compact.
Typical applications include appliance control, automotive body electronics, industrial sensor interfaces, low-cost consumer products, and battery-powered instrumentation where the OTP (one-time-programmable) program memory and small footprint minimize bill-of-materials cost. The 20-pin SSOP footprint is also friendly to hand-soldered prototypes and densely packed PCBs.
Designers should evaluate whether OTP memory is appropriate for the production volume (OTP is cheaper than flash for very high runs but cannot be reprogrammed), plan for in-circuit programming via the ICSP interface, and confirm that 896 bytes of program memory and 80 bytes of RAM are sufficient for the application. The SSOP package's fine 0.65 mm pitch demands careful PCB land pattern design and reflow profile control.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C554-04/SS — 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 PIC16C554-04/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Program Memory Type, Program Memory Size, Timers, Operating Temperature Range.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C554-04I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C554-04E/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.35 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C554T-04E/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F54-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C54C-04/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C54C-04I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$1.34 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C554-04/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16C5x 8-bit RISC (Harvard) |
| Instruction Set Size | 35 single-word instructions (12-bit wide) |
| Instruction Execution Time | 200 ns at 4 MHz oscillator |
| Program Memory Type | OTP EPROM |
| Program Memory Size | 896 bytes |
| Data RAM | 80 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 13 |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit (TMR0) |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes, with on-chip RC oscillator |
| Supply Voltage Range | 3.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Oscillator Frequency (max) | 4 MHz |
| Operating Temperature Range | 0 C to +70 C (commercial grade) |
| Package | 20-pin SSOP (5.30 mm body, 0.65 mm pitch) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited floor life) |
| ICSP / In-Circuit Programming | Yes |
| Code Protection | Yes |
| Brown-Out Reset | Yes |
PIC16C554-04/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O pin, Port A bit 2 |
| Pin 2 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O pin, Port A bit 3 |
| Pin 3 | RA4/T0CKI — Bidirectional I/O pin, alternate TMR0 clock input |
| Pin 4 | MCLR — Master Clear reset input (active low) |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RB0/INT — Bidirectional I/O pin, alternate external interrupt input |
| Pin 7 | RB1 — Bidirectional I/O pin, Port B bit 1 |
| Pin 8 | RB2 — Bidirectional I/O pin, Port B bit 2 |
| Pin 9 | RB3 — Bidirectional I/O pin, Port B bit 3 |
| Pin 10 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O pin, Port B bit 4 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 11 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O pin, Port B bit 5 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 12 | RB6 — Bidirectional I/O pin, Port B bit 6 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 13 | RB7 — Bidirectional I/O pin, Port B bit 7 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 14 | VSS — Ground reference (substrate) |
| Pin 15 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator output or clock output |
| Pin 16 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator input or external clock input |
| Pin 17 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O pin, Port A bit 0 |
| Pin 18 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O pin, Port A bit 1 |
| Pin 19 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (3.0 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (3.0 V to 5.5 V) |
Typical Applications
PIC16C554-04/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Appliance Control, Automotive Body Electronics, Industrial Sensor Interface, Low-Cost Consumer Electronics, Battery-Powered Instrumentation, LED Display and Lighting Controllers.
Appliance Control
The PIC16C554-04/SS is well suited for white-goods and small-appliance control boards such as coffee makers, toasters, and countertop ovens, where its 13 GPIO pins can drive relay coils, triac gates, and seven-segment LED indicators while the 8-bit TMR0 handles timing and debouncing. Its 200 ns instruction cycle is fast enough to multiplex LED displays and execute simple PWM routines for fan or heater modulation. The 896-byte OTP EPROM is sufficient for typical appliance state machines - power-on cycle, temperature ramp, timer countdown - and keeps per-unit cost low for high-volume production. Brown-out reset and watchdog timer ensure the MCU recovers gracefully from supply glitches and ESD events common on mains-coupled appliance boards.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics
The PIC16C554-04/SS powers cost-sensitive automotive body modules such as interior lighting controllers, seat-position switches, and HVAC damper drivers where the 13 GPIO pins can read multiplexed switch matrices and drive FET arrays or stepper motors. Its 3.0 V to 5.5 V operating range survives automotive load-dump transients when paired with appropriate TVS protection, and the hardware INT-on-change interrupt on Port B simplifies switch-matrix decoding. The extended-temperature PIC16C554-04E/SS variant handles under-dash ambient conditions of -40 C to +125 C. The 8-bit PIC16C5x core has decades of proven field reliability in two- and three-wheeler automotive ECUs.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Interface
In industrial sensor transmitters and process-control peripherals, the PIC16C554-04/SS acts as a low-cost front-end that reads analog signals via an external ADC, performs linearization and scaling in firmware, and drives a 4-20 mA current loop or RS-485 transceiver. Its 200 ns instruction execution handles 10 Hz update rates comfortably with ample headroom for digital filtering, while the 80-byte RAM accommodates 16-bit scaled values and a small lookup table. The watchdog timer protects remote sensor installations from firmware lockup, and code protection prevents IP theft of calibration algorithms. For galvanically isolated nodes, the PIC16C554-04I/SS industrial variant operates from -40 C to +85 C.
Recommended
Low-Cost Consumer Electronics
For high-volume consumer products such as remote-control toys, novelty gadgets, and small battery-powered devices, the PIC16C554-04/SS offers the minimum viable compute: enough GPIO for LED animation and button input, enough program memory for sound-effect playback tables, and a low-power CMOS core that draws only a few milliamps during active operation. The OTP EPROM keeps the unit cost well below flash-based equivalents when shipping millions of units per year, and the SSOP-20 footprint keeps the PCB under 10 mm x 15 mm. Brown-out reset prevents corruption when batteries reach end-of-life voltage.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Instrumentation
The PIC16C554-04/SS supports battery-powered instrumentation such as handheld thermometers, moisture meters, and simple data loggers where the CMOS core draws microamp-level idle current when the oscillator is stopped. Its 3.0 V minimum supply lets it run from two alkaline AA cells down to near end-of-life, and the brown-out reset prevents erroneous readings as voltage decays. The 8-bit TMR0 can be used as a low-power real-time tick source with the watchdog postscaler, and the 13 GPIO pins interface to LCD segment drivers or EEPROM storage. Choose the PIC16C554-04I/SS industrial variant for outdoor or refrigerated deployments.
Recommended
LED Display and Lighting Controllers
The PIC16C554-04/SS drives LED matrix panels, decorative lighting strings, and seven-segment or dot-matrix displays by multiplexing rows and columns using TMR0 interrupts while the main loop refreshes display RAM. Its 200 ns instruction cycle sustains multiplex rates well above 100 Hz, eliminating visible flicker, and the 13 GPIO pins can be time-multiplexed to control 8x8 or larger matrices via external driver shift registers. The wide 3.0-5.5 V supply range lets it run directly from USB-powered 5 V rails or from 3.3 V regulated supplies. The PIC16C554-04E/SS extended variant supports outdoor lighting installations in -40 C to +125 C conditions.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C554-04/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C554-04I/SS | PIC16C554-04E/SS | PIC16C554T-04E/SS | PIC16F54-I/SS | PIC16C54C-04/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-pin SSOP | 20-pin SSOP - same | 20-pin SSOP - same | 20-pin SSOP - same | 20-pin SSOP - same | 20-pin SSOP - same |
| Program Memory Type | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | Flash (reprogrammable) | OTP EPROM |
| Program Memory Size | 896 bytes | 896 bytes | 896 bytes | 896 bytes | 512 words (flash) | 512 words |
| RAM Size | 80 bytes | 80 bytes | 80 bytes | 80 bytes | 25 bytes | 25 bytes |
| Max Oscillator Frequency | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 20 MHz | 4 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +70 C | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | -40 C to +125 C (extended) | -40 C to +125 C (extended) | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | 0 C to +70 C |
| Instruction Execution | 200 ns at 4 MHz | 200 ns at 4 MHz | 200 ns at 4 MHz | 200 ns at 4 MHz | 200 ns at 20 MHz | 200 ns at 4 MHz |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial temperature grade option in same SSOP-20 footprint (vs PIC16C554-04I/SS)
- Flash reprogrammability vs OTP one-time programmability (vs PIC16F54-I/SS)
- Same-family smaller-memory alternative for cost reduction (vs PIC16C54C-04/SS)
Design Notes
The PIC16C554-04/SS uses one-time-programmable (OTP) EPROM and cannot be erased after programming - a single failed code lock bit or misconfigured oscillator setting bricks the device. Always prototype with the flash-based PIC16F54-I/SS first to verify firmware, then port the final hex file to PIC16C554-04/SS OTP units for production. This avoids burning hundreds of OTP parts during development.
The 20-pin SSOP has a fine 0.65 mm pin pitch and a 5.30 mm body width; follow the IPC-7351 SSOP-20 land pattern with 0.40 mm pad width and 0.85 mm pad length. Place a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of each VDD pin (pins 19 and 20 share VDD), and add a 10 uF bulk capacitor near the IC. For oscillator stability, keep the crystal or resonator traces short and shield them from digital switching lines to minimize jitter.
MCLR (pin 4) must be pulled high to VDD through a 10 kohm resistor for normal operation. For in-circuit serial programming (ICSP), route the VPP, ICSPCLK, and ICSPDAT signals to a programming header with no series components in line. Because the PIC16C5x core has no on-chip debug, use an ICSP header on every prototype board so firmware can be loaded without removing the OTP device - pair this with a flash-based PIC16F54-I/SS for development and switch to PIC16C554-04/SS for production runs.
Compliance Information
RoHS, REACH, lead-free, and halogen-free status not explicitly stated in the provided Verified Web Data; [DATA_NEEDED] markers retained in specs array. The PIC16C554 family is described as suitable for automotive applications per Microchip's product page, but AEC-Q100 qualification status for this specific "/SS" commercial variant is not confirmed - choose the "/E" extended-temperature variant for AEC-Q100 work.