PIC16C63A-04I/SS - 8-Bit 4MHz 7KB OTP MCU, SSOP-28 | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C63A-04I/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8.5 | $8.50 |
| 10 | $7.8 | $78.00 |
| 100 | $6.95 | $695.00 |
| 500 | $6.2 | $3,100.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.55 | $5,550.00 |
PIC16C63A-04I/SS Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates an 8-bit CPU, program memory, data RAM, peripherals, and I/O on one die. Within the broader taxonomy it sits under microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor device. The PIC16C family uses an advanced RISC architecture that exposes 35 single-word instructions, with all instructions completing in one cycle except program branches (two cycles) - this gives the PIC16C63A deterministic execution timing and excellent code density for embedded control tasks. Program memory is implemented in EPROM (erasable PROM, OTP) while data memory uses static RAM.
Key features include 192 bytes of data RAM, 22 digital I/O pins, three 8-bit timer/counters, a USART for asynchronous/synchronous serial communication, an SSP module for SPI/I2C, a 5-channel 8-bit ADC, and a programmable watchdog timer with on-chip RC. The PIC16C63A also integrates power-on reset, brown-out reset, and a wide operating voltage range up to 6.0 V, plus low-power consumption (15 µA typical at 5 V / 4 MHz and 1 µA typical at 3 V / 32 kHz) per the PIC16C63A/65B/73B/74B datasheet.
Typical applications include industrial control panels, motor control front-ends, smart sensor interfaces, white-goods and appliance controllers, automotive body electronics subsystems, and embedded serial-communication master/slave nodes. The combination of OTP memory, USART, ADC, and 22 I/O makes it a versatile general-purpose MCU for cost-sensitive designs.
When designing with the PIC16C63A-04I/SS, ensure the OTP windowless package is acceptable for production volumes (OTP means one-time-only programming - no field firmware updates). Provide a stable decoupling network (0.1 µF + 10 µF) near VDD/VDD2 pins, and respect MCLR/Vpp timing during in-circuit programming via ICSP. Use the PICmicro mid-range reference manual and MPLAB PM3 programmer for development.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C63A-04I/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 PIC16C63A-04I/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Communication, Data EEPROM, Maximum CPU Clock, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
No drop-in alternatives available for this product.
Request AlternativesPIC16C63A-04I/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | 8-bit PIC16C mid-range RISC |
| Instruction Set | 35 single-word instructions |
| Program Memory | 7 KB (4K x 14) OTP EPROM |
| Data RAM | 192 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | Not present (OTP only) |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 4 MHz (04 speed grade) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 4.0 V to 5.5 V (Industrial) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +85 °C (Industrial, 'I' suffix) |
| I/O Pins | 22 |
| Timers | 3 x 8-bit Timer/Counter |
| ADC | 5-channel, 8-bit |
| Communication | USART (SCI) + SSP (SPI / I²C) |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes, programmable with on-chip RC |
| Brown-out Reset | Yes |
| Power-on Reset | Yes |
| Typical Current (5 V, 4 MHz) | 15 µA typical |
| Low-Power Current (3 V, 32 kHz) | 1 µA typical |
| Package | SSOP-28 (5.30 mm body width, 0.65 mm pitch) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16C63A-04I/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — Port A bit 2 / analog channel 2 / VREF- |
| Pin 2 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Port A bit 3 / analog channel 3 / VREF+ |
| Pin 3 | RA4/T0CKI — Port A bit 4 / Timer 0 clock input |
| Pin 4 | RA5/AN4/SS — Port A bit 5 / analog channel 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RB0/INT — Port B bit 0 / external interrupt |
| Pin 7 | RB1 — Port B bit 1 |
| Pin 8 | RB2 — Port B bit 2 |
| Pin 9 | RB3/PGM — Port B bit 3 / low-voltage programming |
| Pin 10 | RB4 — Port B bit 4 |
| Pin 11 | RB5 — Port B bit 5 |
| Pin 12 | RB6/PGC — Port B bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 13 | RB7/PGD — Port B bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 14 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 15 | OSC1/CLKIN — Crystal oscillator input / external clock |
| Pin 16 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Crystal oscillator output |
| Pin 17 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — Port C bit 0 / Timer 1 oscillator out / clock in |
| Pin 18 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — Port C bit 1 / Timer 1 oscillator in / CCP2 |
| Pin 19 | RC2/CCP1 — Port C bit 2 / CCP1 |
| Pin 20 | RC3/SCK/SCL — Port C bit 3 / SPI clock / I²C clock |
| Pin 21 | RC4/SDI/SDA — Port C bit 4 / SPI data in / I²C data |
| Pin 22 | RC5/SDO — Port C bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 23 | RC6/TX/CK — Port C bit 6 / USART TX / clock |
| Pin 24 | RC7/RX/DT — Port C bit 7 / USART RX / data |
| Pin 25 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 26 | MCLR/VPP — Master clear reset / programming voltage |
| Pin 27 | RA0/AN0 — Port A bit 0 / analog channel 0 |
| Pin 28 | RA1/AN1 — Port A bit 1 / analog channel 1 |
Typical Applications
PIC16C63A-04I/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Panels, White-Goods and Appliance Controllers, Automotive Body Electronics, Smart Sensor Interface Nodes, Serial Communication Bridges, Embedded Control and Hobbyist Projects.
Industrial Control Panels
The PIC16C63A-04I/SS fits industrial control panel designs thanks to its 22 digital I/O, three 8-bit timers, USART, and -40 °C to +85 °C industrial temperature grade. It reliably drives relays, reads panel pushbuttons and rotary encoders, and runs supervisory logic at 4 MHz CPU clock with deterministic single-cycle instruction execution. The 5-channel 8-bit ADC scans analog panel sensors (temperature, current, pressure) while the USART bridges to a host PLC or HMI. Low 15 µA typical current at 5 V/4 MHz simplifies thermal design in sealed enclosures. The OTP EPROM is acceptable for high-volume panel runs where firmware is locked at programming time. Add a 0.1 µF + 10 µF decoupling network and route MCLR/Vpp for ICSP programming.
Recommended
White-Goods and Appliance Controllers
The PIC16C63A-04I/SS is well suited for white-goods appliance controllers (washing machines, dishwashers, microwave ovens) where cost-optimized OTP and a 4 MHz mid-range CPU are sufficient. Its 22 I/O directly drive triac/SCR optocouplers, valve solenoids, and LED indicators, while the three timers handle motor speed detection and zero-crossing interrupts. The USART connects to an inverter display or user-interface board. Industrial temperature grade tolerates the warm enclosed cabinet environment. Wide 4.0-5.5 V supply simplifies operation from a rectified 5 V rail. Designers pair it with a robust brown-out reset and watchdog to survive motor inrush transients per Microchip mid-range application notes.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics
Automotive body modules (interior lighting, seat controllers, mirror adjusters, climate sensors) historically used the PIC16C63A-04I/SS for its industrial temperature range and simple RISC core. The 22 I/O control LEDs, switches, and small DC loads via MOSFET drivers, while the 8-bit ADC reads thermistors and current-sense resistors. USART links the module to a CAN-capable master or body controller. The OTP memory ensures locked firmware for safety-critical functions. For modern designs, however, AEC-Q100-qualified parts (e.g., PIC16F1938-I/SS or dsPIC33) are required - the PIC16C63A-04I/SS is NOT AEC-Q100 qualified and is being phased out of new automotive programs.
Recommended
Smart Sensor Interface Nodes
As a sensor-interface front-end, the PIC16C63A-04I/SS reads 5 analog sensors via its 8-bit ADC, linearizes them, and transmits the result via USART (RS-232/RS-485) or SSP (SPI/I²C) to a master controller. The 4 MHz CPU executes linearization tables and digital filtering with deterministic single-cycle timing. The 22 I/O handle discrete sensor enable lines and alarm flags. Low 1 µA typical current at 3 V/32 kHz supports battery-backed sensor nodes that spend most of the time in sleep. Industrial temperature grade tolerates outdoor sensor enclosures. Pair with external SPI temperature/pressure sensors for environmental monitoring per the verified PIC16C63A datasheet typical applications.
Recommended
Serial Communication Bridges
The PIC16C63A-04I/SS is well suited for protocol-bridge applications (RS-232 to SPI, SPI to I²C, UART-to-parallel) thanks to its integrated USART plus SSP module supporting both SPI and I²C. With 22 I/O and 192 bytes of RAM, it can buffer small protocol frames while translating between physical layers. The 4 MHz CPU and deterministic instruction timing keep bridge latency predictable. OTP memory locks the protocol firmware once validated, ideal for OEM bridge modules. Industrial -40 °C to +85 °C operation supports industrial cabinet environments. Pair with MAX232 or MAX485 line drivers for wired bridges.
Recommended
Embedded Control and Hobbyist Projects
The PIC16C63A-04I/SS is a capable choice for embedded control projects and mid-range hobbyist designs where its 22 I/O, 7 KB OTP, and USART provide ample connectivity for LEDs, buttons, sensors, and serial communication to a host PC. Programming via ICSP using MPLAB PM3 or PICKit2/3 is straightforward, and the PIC16C mid-range instruction set is one of the simplest to learn (35 single-word instructions). The 4 MHz CPU clock is sufficient for serial-monitor-style debug prints and slow real-time control loops. For hobbyist builds that may need firmware updates, prefer the flash-based PIC16F family for reprogrammability.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C63A-04I/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C63A-04I/SO | PIC16C63A-04/SP | PIC16C63A-04I/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | SSOP-28 (5.30 mm) | SOIC-28 (7.50 mm) | SPDIP-28 (through-hole) | SPDIP-28 (through-hole) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core / Architecture | 8-bit PIC16C mid-range RISC | 8-bit PIC16C mid-range RISC | 8-bit PIC16C mid-range RISC | 8-bit PIC16C mid-range RISC |
| Program Memory | 7 KB OTP EPROM | 7 KB OTP EPROM | 7 KB OTP EPROM | 7 KB OTP EPROM |
| Data RAM | 192 bytes | 192 bytes | 192 bytes | 192 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz |
| I/O Pins | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +85 °C (Industrial) | -40 °C to +85 °C (Industrial) | 0 °C to +70 °C (Commercial) | -40 °C to +85 °C (Industrial) |
Key Differentiators
- Same die in compact SSOP-28 for space-constrained designs (vs PIC16C63A-04I/SO)
- Industrial temperature grade for harsh environments (vs PIC16C63A-04/SP)
- OTP memory locks firmware for cost-sensitive volume production (vs PIC16F716-I/SO)
Design Notes
Place a 0.1 µF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 25) and a bulk 10 µF tantalum or ceramic on the same rail. For battery-backed designs, leverage the 1 µA typical sleep current at 3 V/32 kHz to extend battery life - configure the watchdog timer to wake the CPU periodically per the PIC16C63A datasheet.
Route the ICSP signals (PGC=RB6, PGD=RB7, MCLR/VPP) to a 5-pin header for in-circuit programming. Keep the MCLR/VPP trace short and add a 10 kΩ pull-up to VDD with a 100 nF cap to ground to filter noise. For the 28-SSOP (5.30 mm body, 0.65 mm pitch), follow JEDEC J-STD-020 reflow profile (260 °C peak for lead-free).
OTP memory is ONE-TIME PROGRAMMABLE - once you program a bit from 1 to 0, you cannot change it. Verify your firmware with a flash-based PIC16F equivalent (e.g., PIC16F873A-I/SS) before committing to OTP production. Ensure brown-out reset is enabled and configured for the supply voltage range to prevent code corruption during power dips.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page and DigiKey listing. Supplied in lead-free SSOP-28 with matte-tin finish. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - not recommended for new automotive designs.
