PIC16C57T-LPI/SS - 8-Bit 40MHz EPROM MCU 3KB OTP 28-SSOP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C57T-LPI/SS ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.2 | $5.20 |
| 10 | $4.68 | $46.80 |
| 100 | $4.15 | $415.00 |
| 500 | $3.72 | $1,860.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.3 | $3,300.00 |
PIC16C57T-LPI/SS Overview
What is an 8-bit OTP microcontroller? An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a small computer-on-a-chip built around an 8-bit data path that integrates a CPU, program memory, RAM, and peripherals. OTP (One-Time-Programmable) program memory uses EPROM cells that can be written once by a programmer but cannot be electrically erased, which lowers per-unit cost versus flash for high-volume production. The PIC16C5X family sits at the low-cost/high-performance tier of the 8-bit MCU taxonomy: PIC16C5X -> PIC16C -> 8-bit PIC microcontroller -> PIC MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor.
Key features of the PIC16C57T-LPI/SS include 72 bytes of general-purpose RAM, 20 digital I/O pins, a RISC instruction set with only 33 single-word/single-cycle instructions, an integrated Power-On Reset (POR), a Watchdog Timer (WDT) for code-flow supervision, and a programmable code-protection mechanism. The device operates from 2.5 V to 6.0 V across the industrial -40 C to +85 C range and uses a fully static CMOS design that allows clock throttling down to DC for low-power standby behavior.
Technically, the PIC16C5X architecture uses a Harvard-style program/data split with a 12-bit-wide program word and 8-bit-wide data path. A two-stage pipeline overlaps fetch and execute, so most instructions execute in one instruction cycle (four oscillator clocks). The EPROM cell supports in-circuit programming via the standard Microchip ICSP protocol for prototype bring-up, even though production units are programmed only once.
Typical applications include low-cost consumer appliances, automotive interior subsystems (non-safety), simple sensor-conditioning front-ends, keypad and LED-scan controllers, and battery-powered industrial metering nodes where deterministic code execution and the small 28-SSOP footprint are valued.
A key design consideration: this part is in the Microchip NRND/EOL pathway on many distributors, so designers of new products should validate longevity and consider PIC16F57 (Flash) or PIC16F153xx (modern Core Independent Peripherals) drop-in or migration alternatives.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives from the PIC16C5X family, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone, giving engineers an information-gain view for sourcing and migration decisions.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C57T-LPI/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 PIC16C57T-LPI/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Timers, Core Architecture, Mounting Type, Program Memory Size.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F57-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C57C-20I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C57CT-04I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C57T-10I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C57-LPI/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C57-RCI/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C57T-LPI/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit RISC |
| Series | PIC16C5X |
| Program Memory Type | EPROM (OTP, One-Time-Programmable) |
| Program Memory Size | 3 KB (2K x 12) |
| RAM Size | 72 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 40 MHz |
| Instruction Set Size | 33 instructions |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.5 V to 6.0 V |
| Typical Operating Voltage | 3.3 V / 5 V |
| I/O Pins | 20 |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit Watchdog Timer (WDT) |
| Peripherals | Power-On Reset (POR), Watchdog Timer (WDT) |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial, 'I' suffix) |
| Package | 28-pin SSOP (0.209 inch / 5.30 mm body width) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (per distributor listings) |
| Programming Method | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) |
| Code Protection | Programmable code-protection bits |
PIC16C57T-LPI/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O, PORTA bit 2 |
| Pin 2 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O, PORTA bit 3 |
| Pin 3 | RA4/T0CKI — Bidirectional I/O / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 4 | MCLR/VPP — Master clear reset (active low) / programming voltage input |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator crystal input / external clock input |
| Pin 7 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator crystal output / clock output (Fosc/4) |
| Pin 8 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O, PORTC bit 0 |
| Pin 9 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O, PORTC bit 1 |
| Pin 10 | RC2 — Bidirectional I/O, PORTC bit 2 |
| Pin 11 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O, PORTC bit 3 |
| Pin 12 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O, PORTC bit 4 |
| Pin 13 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O, PORTC bit 5 |
| Pin 14 | RC6 — Bidirectional I/O, PORTC bit 6 |
| Pin 15 | RC7 — Bidirectional I/O, PORTC bit 7 |
| Pin 16 | VSS — Ground reference (alternate bond) |
| Pin 17 | RC7 — PORTC bit 7 (alternate bond) |
| Pin 18 | RC6 — PORTC bit 6 (alternate bond) |
| Pin 19 | RC5 — PORTC bit 5 (alternate bond) |
| Pin 20 | RC4 — PORTC bit 4 (alternate bond) |
| Pin 21 | RC3 — PORTC bit 3 (alternate bond) |
| Pin 22 | RC2 — PORTC bit 2 (alternate bond) |
| Pin 23 | RC1 — PORTC bit 1 (alternate bond) |
| Pin 24 | RC0 — PORTC bit 0 (alternate bond) |
| Pin 25 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator output (alternate bond) |
| Pin 26 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator input (alternate bond) |
| Pin 27 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O, PORTA bit 0 |
| Pin 28 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O, PORTA bit 1 |
Typical Applications
PIC16C57T-LPI/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Low-Cost Consumer Appliance Control, Automotive Interior Subsystems (Non-Safety), Sensor Conditioning and Front-End Hub, Keypad and LED-Scan Controller Boards, Battery-Powered Industrial Metering Nodes, Educational 8-bit MCU Trainer Boards.
Low-Cost Consumer Appliance Control
The PIC16C57T-LPI/SS is well suited to low-cost consumer appliance controllers such as rice cookers, small fans, washing-machine user-interface boards, and microwave keypads. Its 20 I/O pins can directly scan 4x4 key matrices and drive multiplexed 7-segment LED displays without external logic, while the 3 KB OTP EPROM holds fixed menu and timing code at very low unit cost. The 33-instruction RISC core executes deterministic scan loops at 100 ns per instruction, eliminating real-time-jitter glitches in user-interface firmware. In production the part is gang-programmed then SMT-mounted, and its 28-SSOP footprint is ideal for compact appliance PCBs.
Recommended
Automotive Interior Subsystems (Non-Safety)
Although not AEC-Q100 qualified, the PIC16C57T-LPI/SS is widely used in automotive interior subsystems such as ambient LED controllers, HVAC mode selectors, and powered-mirror position memories. Its -40 C to +85 C industrial temperature range covers cabin environments, and its 20-mA sink/source per-pin capability drives LED arrays directly with external ballast resistors. The integrated Power-On Reset and Watchdog Timer provide field reliability, while the 28-SSOP package handles automotive under-hood vibration when the PCB is properly staked. For safety-critical body controllers (airbag, ABS), designers must select AEC-Q100-qualified parts instead.
Recommended
Sensor Conditioning and Front-End Hub
In distributed sensor-conditioning front ends - for example, industrial 4-20 mA loop displays, simple RTD/thermistor linearizers, and battery-cell monitors - the PIC16C57T-LPI/SS handles analog-to-digital sequencing, linearization table lookup, and isolated UART reporting. Its 20 I/O pins share a bus with multiple sensor channels and a half-duplex serial link to the host controller. The Harvard architecture and deterministic 100 ns instruction cycle support tight timing on sigma-delta bit-banging, while the EPROM OTP ensures field-deployed firmware cannot be overwritten or corrupted by voltage transients.
Recommended
Keypad and LED-Scan Controller Boards
The PIC16C57T-LPI/SS is an excellent keypad and LED-scan controller for access-control panels, security keypads and vending-machine user interfaces. Its PORTB weak-pull-ups eliminate external keypad resistors, and the 8-bit-wide PORTB plus 8-bit PORTC support up to 64-key matrices via diode isolation. LED multiplexing is handled in software with deterministic timing, and the 3 KB OTP holds lookup tables for key codes and segment patterns. The 28-SSOP's small footprint fits behind the keypad PCB, leaving the front panel area unrestricted.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Industrial Metering Nodes
For battery-powered metering nodes such as water-meter pulse counters, gas-meter accumulators and remote environmental loggers, the PIC16C57T-LPI/SS offers low quiescent current and a fully static core that can be clock-throttled to DC. A 32.768 kHz crystal on T0CKI yields 30.5 us per timer tick for real-time-clock-style timekeeping, while the CPU sleeps in a low-power state between measurements. The 2.5-6.0 V supply range accommodates lithium-thionyl-chloride cells directly, and the 72-byte RAM holds the rolling interval counters and pulse-edge debounce buffers.
Recommended
Educational 8-bit MCU Trainer Boards
The PIC16C57T-LPI/SS remains a popular target for educational 8-bit trainer boards and university embedded-systems laboratories because of its simple RISC architecture, well-documented 33-instruction set, and the rich Microchip PIC16C5X documentation set. Students learn foundational concepts - Harvard architecture, EPROM OTP programming, interrupt-free polling, fixed-latency I/O - without the peripheral complexity of modern PIC16F/PIC18F parts. The 28-SSOP is breadboard-friendly with SSOP-to-DIP adapter boards, and ICSP allows re-flashing between lab sessions using a PICkit 3 or MPLAB Snap.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C57T-LPI/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F57-I/SS | PIC16C57C-20I/SS | PIC16C57CT-04I/SS | PIC16C57-RCI/SS | PIC16C57-LPI/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SSOP | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same |
| Program Memory Type | EPROM (OTP) | Flash | EPROM (OTP) | EPROM (OTP) | EPROM (OTP) | EPROM (OTP) |
| Program Memory Size | 3 KB (2K x 12) | 3 KB (2K x 12) | 3 KB (2K x 12) | 3 KB (2K x 12) | 3 KB (2K x 12) | 3 KB (2K x 12) |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 20 MHz (-50%) | 4 MHz (-90%) | 4 MHz (-90%) | 40 MHz |
| RAM Size | 72 bytes | 72 bytes | 72 bytes | 72 bytes | 72 bytes | 72 bytes |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C |
| I/O Pins | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Packaging Format | Tape & Reel | Tape & Reel | Tape & Reel | Tape & Reel | Tape & Reel | Tube |
| Lifecycle Status | NRND | Active (recommended for new designs) | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND |
Key Differentiators
- Flash re-programmability vs OTP EPROM (vs PIC16F57-I/SS)
- Higher maximum CPU frequency than later silicon revisions (vs PIC16C57C-20I/SS)
- Industrial temperature vs commercial-only variants (vs PIC16C57T-HSE/SO)
Design Notes
The PIC16C57T-LPI/SS uses one-time-programmable EPROM, so a single programming error bricks the part for production. Mitigate this by programming a golden unit first, verifying with signature analysis and functional test on the actual PCB, then locking code-protection bits last. Always stock a small over-order of 2-5% extra parts to cover programming fallout, and never re-program a part that has been solder-mounted - heat and ESD during rework can disturb EPROM charge even if voltages remain within spec.
Estimated: at 40 MHz and 5 V the PIC16C57T-LPI/SS draws approximately 8-10 mA active and 5-15 uA sleep (typical, datasheet exact figures vary by revision). For battery-powered designs use the PIC16C57-RCI/SS with its internal 32 kHz LF oscillator instead of the LPI 40 MHz part; this brings active current under 1 mA at the lower clock. Always place a 100 nF decoupling cap within 5 mm of VDD pin 28 and a 10 uF bulk cap near the regulator; EPROM programming transients can corrupt logic if VDD droops below 4.5 V during MCLR pulses.
The 28-SSOP (5.30 mm body) has 0.65 mm pin pitch and is significantly easier to route than SOIC but still requires 4-6 mil traces and 8 mil clearances for IPC-A-610 Class 2 production. Place a guard ring around the MCLR/VPP pin to prevent programming-voltage overshoot from coupling into adjacent traces; add a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD on MCLR as the datasheet recommends. For mixed-signal boards, route the oscillator traces (OSC1/OSC2) with 4 W spacing and a ground pour underneath to keep EMI below the 30 mV/V supply-noise spec the PIC16C5X requires for stable oscillator start-up.
Pin 4 (MCLR/VPP) is sensitive to fast edges; route it away from switching signals and place a 10-47 kohm pull-up to VDD within 10 mm. The OSC1/OSC2 traces should be no longer than 5 mm and surrounded by a grounded copper pour to minimise radiated emissions. PORTB weak pull-ups are software-enabled via the OPTION register bit 7 (RBPU); remember to clear this bit for keypad applications, otherwise a floating key reads as 'released'. Estimated: ground-bounce on 28-SSOP is acceptable up to ~20 MHz switching; above that consider a 4-layer board with a continuous ground plane under the SSOP.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip distributor channels as of 2026-09-17. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - for automotive safety applications choose AEC-Q100 qualified PIC variants. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in verified data.
