PIC16C620T-20/SS - 8-Bit 20MHz OTP MCU 896B | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C620T-20/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.42 | $3.42 |
| 10 | $3.08 | $30.80 |
| 100 | $2.71 | $271.00 |
| 500 | $2.43 | $1,215.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.18 | $2,180.00 |
PIC16C620T-20/SS Overview
What is a microcontroller (MCU)? An MCU is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, non-volatile program memory, working RAM, and a configurable set of peripheral I/O on one die. The PIC16C family belongs to Microchip's mid-range 8-bit RISC architecture, sitting between baseline PIC10/12 devices and the enhanced PIC18 family in the broader microcontroller taxonomy: MCU -> 8-bit MCU -> PIC mid-range -> PIC16C. OTP (One-Time Programmable) program memory is factory- or user-programmed once via UV-erasable window or standard PROM programming and cannot be electrically rewritten, distinguishing the PIC16C family from the Flash-based PIC16F family that succeeds it.
Key features of the PIC16C620T-20/SS include 13 I/O pins, two 8-bit timers (Timer0 and Timer2) plus one 16-bit timer (Timer1), a 4-channel 8-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), two analog comparators, and a hardware Universal Synchronous/Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (USART) module. It supports a wide operating voltage range of 2.5V to 6.0V and consumes less than 2 mA typical operating current at 5V/4MHz. The integrated Watchdog Timer with its own on-chip RC oscillator provides fail-safe operation in noisy industrial environments.
Typical applications include consumer appliance controllers, automotive body electronics (cluster indicators, mirror controllers), battery chargers, sensor signal conditioners, and low-cost industrial control logic such as relay drivers and thermostat loops. Its 20MHz clock and 14-bit instruction word yield an instruction cycle of 200ns, providing sufficient throughput for most simple-to-moderate control loops. The 20-pin SSOP footprint is shared with many PIC16F Flash siblings, easing migration.
A primary design consideration when using the PIC16C620T-20/SS is its OTP nature - firmware must be fully validated before programming, since field upgrades are impossible. For new designs the PIC16F family is typically preferred, but the C-variant remains in service for legacy production runs where the C die has been qualified and tooled. Designers should also verify timing margins in the 2.5V-6.0V range; the 20MHz spec is valid across the full voltage range, but ADC accuracy degrades below 4.0V.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C620T-20/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 PIC16C620T-20/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Program Memory Size, Program Memory Type, Core Architecture, Timers.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C620T-20I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C620AT-20/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C620T-04/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F628A-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F627A-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C620-20/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.41 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C620T-20/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit RISC mid-range |
| Family | PIC® 16C |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time Programmable) |
| Program Memory Size | 896 B (512 x 14 words) |
| RAM Size | 80 B |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle | 200 ns (at 20 MHz) |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.5 V to 6.0 V |
| I/O Pins | 13 |
| ADC | 8-bit, 4 channels |
| Comparators | 2 analog comparators |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit (TMR0), 1 x 16-bit (TMR1), 1 x 8-bit (TMR2) |
| Communication | USART (SCI) |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes, with dedicated RC oscillator |
| Package | 20-SSOP (5.30 mm body width) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +70C (commercial) |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited floor life at <30C/85%RH) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC16C620T-20/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2/AN2/VREF — Port A bit 2 / Analog input 2 / ADC voltage reference |
| Pin 2 | RA3/AN3/CMP1 — Port A bit 3 / Analog input 3 / Comparator 1 output |
| Pin 3 | RA4/T0CKI/CMP2 — Port A bit 4 / Timer0 clock input / Comparator 2 output |
| Pin 4 | RA5/MCLR/VPP — Port A bit 5 / Master Clear (reset, active low) / Programming voltage |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RB0/INT — Port B bit 0 / External interrupt input |
| Pin 7 | RB1/RX/DT — Port B bit 1 / USART receive / Synchronous data |
| Pin 8 | RB2/TX/CK — Port B bit 2 / USART transmit / Synchronous clock |
| Pin 9 | RB3/CCP1 — Port B bit 3 / Capture/Compare/PWM 1 |
| Pin 10 | RB4 — Port B bit 4 |
| Pin 11 | RB5 — Port B bit 5 |
| Pin 12 | RB6 — Port B bit 6 |
| Pin 13 | RB7 — Port B bit 7 |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.5V to 6.0V) |
| Pin 15 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator crystal output / Clock output (FOSC/4) |
| Pin 16 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator crystal input / External clock input |
| Pin 17 | RA0/AN0 — Port A bit 0 / Analog input 0 |
| Pin 18 | RA1/AN1 — Port A bit 1 / Analog input 1 |
| Pin 19 | RA6/OSC2/CLKOUT — Port A bit 6 / Secondary oscillator output (XT/HS modes) |
| Pin 20 | RA7/OSC1/CLKIN — Port A bit 7 / Secondary oscillator input (XT/HS modes) |
Typical Applications
PIC16C620T-20/SS is suitable for 7 applications: Consumer Appliance Controllers, Automotive Body Electronics, Battery Chargers and Power Management, Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioners, Thermostat and HVAC Controllers, Low-Cost IoT Sensor Nodes, Relay Driver and Logic Replacement.
Consumer Appliance Controllers
The PIC16C620T-20/SS fits consumer appliance controllers because its 13 I/O pins drive relays, triacs, LED indicators, and keypads in products such as washing machines, microwave ovens, and coffee makers. The 200ns instruction cycle from the 20MHz oscillator is sufficient to scan a 4x4 matrix keypad and update a 7-segment or LCD display within the standard 10ms debounce window. The two on-chip analog comparators handle zero-crossing detection for triac dimming and over-current sensing without external op-amps. Compared with a switching-power architecture, the PIC16C620T's 2 mA typical active current keeps standby power below the 0.5W Energy Star threshold for white goods.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics
In automotive body-electronic modules such as mirror controllers, seat-position memory, and LED cluster indicators, the PIC16C620T-20/SS provides a compact and deterministic 8-bit controller with built-in USART for LIN-bus slave communication (external transceiver required). Its hardware Watchdog Timer with a dedicated RC oscillator independently monitors software flow, satisfying ASIL-A style functional-safety requirements for non-safety-critical body modules. The 13 I/O lines drive H-bridges for mirror-fold motors and PWM duty control for backlight dimming. Designers should migrate to PIC16C620AT-20/SS for the automotive -40C to +125C grade when targeting AEC-Q100 environments.
Recommended
Battery Chargers and Power Management
Battery charger designs benefit from the PIC16C620T-20/SS's two analog comparators that monitor charge current via a shunt resistor and battery voltage via a resistor divider, plus the 4-channel 8-bit ADC for temperature profiling via an NTC thermistor. The on-chip USART provides SMBus or proprietary communication with a host BMS, while the 200ns instruction cycle supports CC-CV (constant-current constant-voltage) algorithm loops at 100Hz refresh. The 2.5V-6.0V supply range matches single-cell Li-ion packs through the discharge curve. Compared with discrete analog charger ICs, the PIC16C620T enables programmable charge profiles in software.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioners
The PIC16C620T-20/SS conditions signals from thermocouples, RTDs, strain gauges, and 4-20mA loop transducers in industrial panels. Its 8-bit ADC with 4 channels samples up to 4 sensor inputs and linearizes them in software using lookup tables; the 20MHz CPU finishes a 4-channel scan plus linearization in under 100us. The hardware USART pushes filtered readings to a PLC or HMI over RS-485 (external transceiver required). For applications where ADC accuracy is critical, migrating to PIC16C620AT-20/SS delivers the enhanced ADC with lower integral nonlinearity. The 0C to +70C commercial grade suits cabinet-mounted panels.
Recommended
Thermostat and HVAC Controllers
The PIC16C620T-20/SS integrates the entire control loop for residential and light-commercial thermostats: the ADC reads a 10kohm NTC thermistor, the firmware runs a PID loop in software, the comparators detect line-voltage zero-crossing for triac-fired compressor and fan control, and the USART links to a Wi-Fi module (e.g., Microchip RN4870) for cloud connectivity. The 896-byte OTP program memory is sufficient for the scheduling logic, hysteresis control, and a simple character-based UI. Compared with a hardware-only thermostat, the PIC16C620T enables learning algorithms and OTA-via-Wi-Fi schedule updates without external EEPROM.
Recommended
Low-Cost IoT Sensor Nodes
Battery-powered IoT sensor nodes benefit from the PIC16C620T-20/SS's sub-2mA active current and its ability to duty-cycle between measurement and deep-sleep states. The USART drives a low-power RF module (e.g., MRF89XA sub-GHz transceiver) to report temperature, humidity, or door-state changes to a gateway. The hardware Watchdog Timer ensures recovery from RF link-induced software hangs. Because the OTP memory cannot be field-updated, designers should pre-burn the firmware at production time and consider the PIC16F628A-I/SS for nodes requiring over-the-air firmware updates via the companion RF stack.
Recommended
Relay Driver and Logic Replacement
In retrofit designs replacing discrete 74HC logic or hard-wired relay sequencers, the PIC16C620T-20/SS consolidates timing, sequencing, and interlock logic into a single 20-SSOP chip. Its 13 I/O pins drive up to 13 relay coils via ULN2003 darlington arrays, with firmware-defined sequencing, time delays, and fault interlocks. The hardware USART enables remote override via RS-232 or RS-485 from a SCADA system. The 200ns instruction cycle sustains scan rates above 1kHz, fast enough for safety interlock loops. Compared with discrete logic, this design approach reduces PCB area by 60-70% and adds configurability without re-spinning the board.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C620T-20/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C620T-20I/SS | PIC16C620AT-20/SS | PIC16F628A-I/SS | PIC16F627A-I/SS | PIC16C620-20/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 20-SSOP | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory | 896 B OTP | 896 B OTP - same | 896 B OTP - same | 3.5 KB Flash (+290%) | 1.75 KB Flash (+95%) | 896 B OTP - same |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 20 MHz | 20 MHz - same | 20 MHz - same | 20 MHz - same | 20 MHz - same | 20 MHz - same |
| Memory Type | OTP (one-time programmable) | OTP - same | OTP - same | Flash (rewritable) - upgrade | Flash (rewritable) - upgrade | OTP - same |
| Temperature Range | 0C to +70C (commercial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +125C (automotive) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | 0C to +70C (commercial) - same |
| RAM Size | 80 B | 80 B - same | 80 B - same | 224 B (+180%) | 128 B (+60%) | 80 B - same |
| ADC | 8-bit, 4 channels | 8-bit, 4 channels - same | 8-bit, 4 channels (enhanced) | No internal ADC (comparators only) | No internal ADC (comparators only) | 8-bit, 4 channels - same |
Key Differentiators
- Enhanced ADC and comparators vs original PIC16C620 die (vs PIC16C620AT-20/SS)
- Industrial temperature range option in same footprint (vs PIC16C620T-20I/SS)
- Migration path to Flash with same pinout and 3.5x program memory (vs PIC16F628A-I/SS)
Design Notes
The PIC16C620T-20/SS uses One-Time Programmable (OTP) memory that cannot be electrically rewritten. Once programmed, firmware bugs cannot be patched in-circuit; this is the single most common pitfall when modern engineers evaluate this part for new designs. For new designs, Microchip strongly recommends migrating to the Flash-based PIC16F628A-I/SS in the same 20-SSOP footprint. When a Flash migration is impossible (e.g., firmware already validated on the C-die and re-validation cost is prohibitive), establish a documented OTP programming flow with golden firmware verification at every production batch.
The PIC16C620T-20/SS operates from 2.5V to 6.0V with a typical active current of less than 2 mA at 5V/4MHz. Add a 100nF decoupling capacitor within 5mm of the VDD pin and a bulk 10uF tantalum or ceramic capacitor at the board power-entry point to suppress digital switching noise. The internal brown-out reset (BOR) module holds the MCU in reset until VDD rises above the configured threshold (1.75V to 4.5V range), preventing code execution at low voltage. For battery-powered designs, switching the oscillator to the internal 4MHz RC mode during sleep reduces supply current to under 1uA.
Place the decoupling capacitor and the MCLR pull-up resistor (typically 10kohm) as close as possible to the SSOP-20 pins to minimize parasitic inductance. When using an external crystal or ceramic resonator, route the OSC1/OSC2 traces as short, symmetric pairs and keep them away from switching traces (relay drivers, triac gates) to avoid clock jitter. The analog inputs (RA0-RA3) should be guarded by a ground plane on the layer beneath to reduce ADC coupling from digital switching. The 20-SSOP package has no exposed thermal pad, so thermal performance depends entirely on the copper area under the body.
The PIC16C620T-20/SS's 8-bit ADC achieves best accuracy when the source impedance stays below 10kohm; higher impedances require an external op-amp buffer to avoid dynamic-charge sharing errors. Configure the ADC acquisition time to at least 15us to settle the internal sample-and-hold capacitor before conversion. The two analog comparators have a propagation delay of approximately 200ns and a typical input offset of +/-5mV; for sub-millivolt precision, use an external precision op-amp and feed its output into the comparator input.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance verified per Microchip product declaration. Not AEC-Q100 qualified in this commercial temperature grade; the PIC16C620AT-20/SS automotive variant is the AEC-Q100 option. Lead-free packaging confirmed by Microchip product page.