PIC16C57T-10E/SO - 8-bit OTP MCU, 3KB, 10MHz, 28-SOIC | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C57T-10E/SO ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.92 | $5.92 |
| 10 | $5.33 | $53.30 |
| 100 | $4.75 | $475.00 |
| 500 | $4.16 | $2,080.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.58 | $3,580.00 |
PIC16C57T-10E/SO Overview
The PIC microcontroller is an 8-bit RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) Harvard-architecture device originally introduced by General Instrument's Microelectronics Division and later popularized by Microchip Technology. The PIC16C5x family is one of the earliest baseline PIC families, featuring a 12-bit instruction word, 2:1 code compression versus competitive 8-bit MCUs, a two-stack hardware subroutine call depth, and a fixed instruction set optimized for compact code generation. These devices typically integrate EPROM/OTP program memory, RAM data memory, and digital I/O on a single CMOS die, serving as the system-on-chip foundation for countless appliances, toys, and industrial controllers since the late 1990s.
Key features of the PIC16C57T-10E/SO include 3KB (2K x 12) of OTP program memory, 72 bytes of RAM data memory, 20 digital I/O pins, a wide operating voltage range of 2.5V to 6.0V, and an industrial temperature range of -40C to +125C. The 'T' suffix denotes tape and reel packaging, '10' indicates 10MHz maximum clock, 'E' designates the extended industrial temperature grade, and 'SO' specifies the 28-pin SOIC wide-body package. The device uses a two-stage instruction pipeline and operates from a single oscillator reference (RC, XT, HS, or LP modes).
Typical applications include appliance controls, simple sensor interfaces, LED driving circuits, motor control signal generation, battery chargers, security keypads, automotive body electronics, and replacement of discrete logic in cost-driven embedded systems. The combination of low unit cost, deterministic instruction timing, and Microchip's mature development toolchain (MPLAB) keeps the PIC16C5x relevant in long-lifecycle industrial designs.
Design considerations include OTP memory one-time programmability (requires pre-programming before PCB assembly), limited 72-byte RAM restricting data buffer sizes, only two hardware stack levels limiting nested subroutine depth, and the absence of on-chip peripherals like ADC or PWM (must be implemented externally). The 28-SOIC wide-body footprint (7.50mm) is pin-compatible with later flash-based PIC16F variants, easing migration paths to modern, reprogrammable alternatives.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C57T-10E/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 PIC16C57T-10E/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Program Memory Type, Program Memory Size, Core Architecture, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F57-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C57T-10/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C57T-10I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C57-HSE/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C57T-10E/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit RISC (PIC16C5x baseline) |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time Programmable) EPROM |
| Program Memory Size | 3KB (2K x 12) |
| RAM Data Memory | 72 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 10 MHz |
| Instruction Word Width | 12-bit |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.5 V to 6.0 V |
| Number of I/O Pins | 20 |
| Hardware Stack Levels | 2 |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +125 C (Industrial 'E' grade) |
| Package | 28-SOIC (SO) 0.295" (7.50 mm wide) |
| Package Pin Count | 28 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Non-compliant (contains lead per FindIC datasheet) |
| Oscillator Modes | RC, XT, HS, LP |
| Peripherals (on-chip) | None (no ADC, no PWM, no UART hardware) |
PIC16C57T-10E/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR — Master Clear (reset) input, active low |
| Pin 2 | RA0 — Port A bit 0 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 3 | RA1 — Port A bit 1 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 4 | RA2/OSC1 — Port A bit 2 / Oscillator input |
| Pin 5 | RA3/OSC2 — Port A bit 3 / Oscillator output |
| Pin 6 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 7 | RB0 — Port B bit 0 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 8 | RB1 — Port B bit 1 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 9 | RB2 — Port B bit 2 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 10 | RB3 — Port B bit 3 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 11 | RB4 — Port B bit 4 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 12 | RB5 — Port B bit 5 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 13 | RB6 — Port B bit 6 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 14 | RB7 — Port B bit 7 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 15 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 16 | RC0 — Port C bit 0 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 17 | RC1 — Port C bit 1 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 18 | RC2 — Port C bit 2 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 19 | RC3 — Port C bit 3 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 20 | RC4 — Port C bit 4 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 21 | RC5 — Port C bit 5 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 22 | RC6 — Port C bit 6 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 23 | RC7 — Port C bit 7 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 24 | RD0 — Port D bit 0 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 25 | RD1 — Port D bit 1 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 26 | RD2 — Port D bit 2 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 27 | RD3 — Port D bit 3 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 28 | RD4 — Port D bit 4 (digital I/O) |
Typical Applications
PIC16C57T-10E/SO is suitable for 7 applications: Appliance Control Boards, Simple Sensor Interface Modules, LED Display Drivers, Security Keypads and Access Controllers, Battery Chargers and Power Management, Automotive Body Electronics (Legacy), Replacement of Discrete Logic in Glue Logic Designs.
Appliance Control Boards
The PIC16C57T-10E/SO fits low-cost appliance control boards such as washing-machine timers, microwave oven keypads, and dishwasher controllers because its 3KB OTP memory is sufficient to encode multi-state appliance programs while its 20 I/O pins can directly drive relays, triacs, and 7-segment displays without external logic. The 10MHz instruction rate (one instruction per cycle) yields 10MIPS equivalent throughput, fast enough to multiplex LED displays and debounce mechanical switches in real time. Compared with newer flash MCUs, the C57 wins on per-unit cost in high-volume appliance production runs where firmware is frozen at the factory and OTP programming is integrated into the manufacturing flow. The 28-SOIC package's 7.50mm body width is comfortable for hand-soldered repair and through-hole-feel serviceability.
Recommended
Simple Sensor Interface Modules
The PIC16C57T-10E/SO is well-suited to sensor-interface modules that read a single analog sensor via an external ADC and format the result for UART or LED display. Its wide 2.5V to 6.0V supply range accepts both 3.3V and 5V sensor rails, while the 72-byte RAM is sufficient to buffer one or two sensor samples before retransmission. The two-level hardware stack limits nested subroutine depth, so firmware should be structured as flat state machines rather than deep recursion, which suits polled sensor-readout architectures. Its deterministic instruction timing allows tight loop-based signal-conditioning code without RTOS overhead.
Recommended
LED Display Drivers
The PIC16C57T-10E/SO drives multiplexed 7-segment or dot-matrix LED displays directly using its 20 high-current (20mA sink/source) I/O pins. With 10MHz clock and 200ns instruction cycle, the MCU can refresh a 4-digit multiplexed display at over 1kHz per digit, far above the 60Hz flicker threshold. The 3KB OTP memory stores lookup tables for character glyphs and custom-segment animations. The 28-SOIC package provides robust thermal performance for sustained I/O switching, and the wide 2.5V to 6.0V supply range accepts both 3.3V logic-level LEDs and traditional 5V designs.
Recommended
Security Keypads and Access Controllers
The PIC16C57T-10E/SO is widely deployed in security keypads, RFID readers, and PIN-code access controllers because its 3KB OTP stores user credential lists and its 10MHz throughput debounces 4x4 matrix keypads in real time. The 20 I/O pins directly scan a 4x4 keypad (8 lines) plus drive a relay, buzzer, and status LEDs without external glue logic. OTP memory prevents firmware tampering and code extraction, providing intrinsic security against casual reverse engineering - a key advantage over flash-based MCUs in anti-tamper applications. The -40C to +125C industrial temperature grade handles outdoor keypad installations.
Recommended
Battery Chargers and Power Management
The PIC16C57T-10E/SO implements closed-loop charge control in simple NiCd, NiMH, or lead-acid battery chargers by reading voltage/current via external ADCs and driving MOSFET switches via its GPIO. The 2.5V to 6.0V supply range operates directly from a single lithium cell or 6V battery stack. The deterministic PIC instruction timing enables accurate PWM-free charge-current regulation via constant-frequency GPIO toggling and ADC sampling. The 28-SOIC package dissipates up to 800mW with appropriate PCB copper area, sufficient for low-power charger designs.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Legacy)
The PIC16C57T-10E/SO has historically been used in automotive body-electronics modules such as window lift controllers, mirror adjusters, and HVAC mode selectors where cost dominates over feature density. Its -40C to +125C industrial temperature grade covers under-dash and door-module ambient extremes, while the 20 I/O pins directly drive H-bridge enable lines and switch-scan inputs. Note that this part is NOT AEC-Q100 qualified - automotive designs that require formal PPAP or AEC-Q100 compliance should use a modern PIC16F equivalent with automotive grade, such as PIC16F57T-E/SO if available, or migrate to a newer automotive-grade MCU.
Recommended
Replacement of Discrete Logic in Glue Logic Designs
The PIC16C57T-10E/SO replaces 74-series TTL/CMOS glue logic in cost-sensitive designs by integrating state machines, counters, and sequencers into a single 28-SOIC chip. A design that previously required 4 to 6 MSI logic packages (74LS00, 74LS161, 74LS138) can be replaced by one PIC16C57T with firmware, reducing PCB area, BOM count, and assembly cost. OTP programmability locks the logic behavior at production time, eliminating field-reprogramming risk. The 10MHz instruction rate matches the propagation delays of replaced logic, ensuring no timing regression in the migrated design.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C57T-10E/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F57-I/SO | PIC16C57T-10/SO | PIC16C57T-10I/SO | PIC16C57-HSE/SO | PIC16C56T-10E/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SOIC (7.50mm wide) | 28-SOIC (same) | 28-SOIC (same) | 28-SOIC (same) | 28-SOIC (same) | 28-SSOP (different - 5.30mm) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory | 3KB OTP (2K x 12) | 3KB Flash | 3KB OTP (same) | 3KB OTP (same) | 3KB OTP (same) | 1KB OTP (smaller) |
| Max Clock Frequency | 10 MHz | 20 MHz | 10 MHz (same) | 10 MHz (same) | 20 MHz (HS osc mode) | 10 MHz (same) |
| RAM | 72 bytes | 72 bytes (same) | 72 bytes (same) | 72 bytes (same) | 72 bytes (same) | 72 bytes (same) |
| I/O Pins | 20 | 20 (same) | 20 (same) | 20 (same) | 20 (same) | 12 (different - 28-SSOP variant pinout) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (Industrial 'E') | -40C to +85C (I grade) | 0C to +70C (Commercial) | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +125C (E grade, same) | -40C to +125C (E grade, same) |
| Memory Type | OTP (one-time programmable) | Flash (reprogrammable) | OTP (same) | OTP (same) | OTP (same) | OTP (same) |
| Supply Voltage | 2.5V to 6.0V | 2.0V to 5.5V | 2.5V to 6.0V (same) | 2.5V to 6.0V (same) | 2.5V to 6.0V (same) | 2.5V to 6.0V (same) |
| RoHS Status | Non-compliant (contains lead) | Compliant (RoHS) | Non-compliant | Non-compliant | Non-compliant | Non-compliant |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial temperature grade with wide 2.5V to 6.0V supply (vs PIC16C57T-10/SO)
- OTP memory provides tamper-resistant firmware (vs PIC16F57-I/SO)
- Mature 12-bit instruction set with deterministic timing (vs PIC16F72-I/SO)
Design Notes
Estimated: PIC16C57T-10E/SO uses OTP (One-Time Programmable) memory that CANNOT be erased or rewritten. Verify firmware thoroughly using a flash-based prototype (PIC16F57) or PIC16C57 windowed (JW) package before committing to OTP production runs. A single bit error in OTP firmware scrapes the entire MCU - unlike flash, there is no second chance. For prototype development, use PIC16F57-I/SO and convert to C57 only when firmware is frozen. The two-level hardware stack also limits subroutine nesting to depth 2 - keep call trees flat and use iterative loops instead of recursion.
Estimated: At maximum supply of 6.0V and 20 I/O pins each sourcing 20mA, the PIC16C57T-10E/SO can dissipate up to approximately 800mW under worst-case load. The 28-SOIC package thermal resistance (theta_JA) is approximately 70 C/W on a standard 4-layer JEDEC test board, yielding a junction temperature rise of 56 C above 25 C ambient. For continuous high-I/O loading in +125 C industrial environments, derate by 30 percent to stay within the silicon junction limit of 150 C, or reduce per-pin current to 10 mA.
Place a 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as physically possible to the VDD pin (pin 15) and a bulk 10 uF tantalum or aluminum capacitor within 1 inch of the supply pin. The MCLR pin (pin 1) requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD plus a 100 nF capacitor to ground for reset pulse generation - omit this RC network and the MCU may experience spurious resets from EMI or power-supply glitches. For oscillator stability, keep crystal traces short (under 5 mm) and surround them with a ground guard ring when using XT or HS modes.
Route all 20 I/O traces with 50 ohm controlled impedance if any pin toggles faster than 1 MHz to avoid reflections on longer than 50 mm traces. The PIC16C57T-10E/SO has no internal Schmitt triggers on all ports - verify port B (RB) is used for noisy switch inputs since RB has TTL-level inputs, while ports A, C, D use CMOS-level thresholds. Place high-current load drivers (relay coils, LEDs above 10 mA) on ports with the strongest sink capability, typically RC and RD, and never share these pins with sensitive analog or oscillator signals.
Compliance Information
RoHS non-compliant per FindIC datasheet ('Contains lead / RoHS non-compliant'). AEC-Q100 not qualified - this part is not automotive-grade despite industrial temperature range. REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals status not stated in verified data.
