PIC16C63A-20/SP - 8-bit 20MHz OTP MCU 7KB | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C63A-20/SP β End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.4437 | $7.44 |
| 10 | $6.7 | $67.00 |
| 100 | $6.1 | $610.00 |
| 500 | $5.55 | $2,775.00 |
| 1,000 | $5 | $5,000.00 |
PIC16C63A-20/SP Overview
An OTP (One-Time Programmable) microcontroller is a non-volatile memory class where the program memory is written once by the user via a device programmer (such as the MPLAB PM3) and cannot be erased or rewritten. OTP sits in the broader taxonomy as a subtype of ROM-based program memory, with siblings EPROM (erasable via UV), EEPROM (electrically byte-erasable), and Flash (electrically block-erasable). Within the PIC16 family hierarchy, the PIC16C63A belongs to the mid-range PIC16 line, which evolved into the PIC16F flash-based successors such as the PIC16F73 and PIC16F73A that share the same 28-pin footprint and peripherals.
Key features of the PIC16C63A-20/SP include a 200 ns instruction cycle, three timer modules (Timer0, Timer1, Timer2), two Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) modules, a Synchronous Serial Port (SSP) configurable for SPI or I2C, an addressable USART for asynchronous serial communication, and a 5-channel 8-bit analog-to-digital converter. The device operates from 4.0 V to 6.0 V supply and is specified over 0 C to +70 C commercial temperature range, with the 20 MHz speed suffix indicating the maximum oscillator frequency.
Typical applications for the PIC16C63A-20/SP include industrial control modules, sensor interface boards, low-cost motor control subsystems, and embedded communication bridges that require a deterministic 8-bit controller with hardware USART and SSP. The 22 I/O pins provide ample headroom for keypad, LED, and parallel LCD interfaces, while the integrated ADC removes the need for external analog conversion in measurement nodes.
When designing with this part, engineers should note that OTP memory requires device programmers (MPLAB PM3, PICSTART Plus) and cannot be field-upgraded. The 28-SPDIP package is through-hole and supports legacy designs, but for new designs, the Flash-based PIC16F73 or PIC16F73A in the same 28-pin SPDIP is recommended for development flexibility.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C63A-20/SP β 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-20/SP (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, Program Memory Type, Mounting Type, Program Memory Size, Timers.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F73-I/SP
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F73A-I/SP
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C63A-04/SP
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$5.81 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16C63A-20I/SP
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$5.38 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16C63A-20/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC16C 8-bit RISC |
| Instruction Set | 35 single-word instructions |
| Instruction Cycle | 200 ns (at 20 MHz) |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time Programmable) |
| Program Memory Size | 7 KB (4K x 14) |
| RAM | 192 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 0 bytes (not present) |
| I/O Pins | 22 |
| ADC | 5 channels x 8-bit |
| Timers | 3 (Timer0, Timer1, Timer2) |
| CCP Modules | 2 (Capture/Compare/PWM) |
| Serial Interfaces | SSP (SPI/I2C), Addressable USART |
| Supply Voltage | 4.0 V to 6.0 V |
| Maximum Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) |
| Package | 28-SPDIP (300 mil) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| MSL Level | 1 |
| RoHS Status | Non-compliant (contains Pb) |
PIC16C63A-20/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR β Master Clear (reset) input, active low |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 β PORTA bit 0 / ADC channel 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 β PORTA bit 1 / ADC channel 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2 β PORTA bit 2 / ADC channel 2 |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF β PORTA bit 3 / ADC channel 3 / VREF+ |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI β PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS β PORTA bit 5 / ADC channel 4 / SSP slave select |
| Pin 8 | OSC1/CLKIN β Oscillator input / external clock |
| Pin 9 | OSC2/CLKOUT β Oscillator output / clock out |
| Pin 10 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI β PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator out / Timer1 clock in |
| Pin 11 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 β PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator in / CCP2 |
| Pin 12 | RC2/CCP1 β PORTC bit 2 / CCP1 |
| Pin 13 | RC3/SCK/SCL β PORTC bit 3 / SSP clock (SPI/I2C) |
| Pin 14 | RC4/SDI/SDA β PORTC bit 4 / SSP data in (SPI) / I2C data |
| Pin 15 | RC5/SDO β PORTC bit 5 / SSP data out (SPI) |
| Pin 16 | RC6/TX/CK β PORTC bit 6 / USART TX / clock |
| Pin 17 | RC7/RX/DT β PORTC bit 7 / USART RX / data |
| Pin 18 | RB0/INT β PORTB bit 0 / external interrupt |
| Pin 19 | RB1 β PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 20 | RB2 β PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 21 | RB3 β PORTB bit 3 |
| Pin 22 | RB4 β PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 23 | RB5 β PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 24 | RB6 β PORTB bit 6 |
| Pin 25 | RB7 β PORTB bit 7 |
| Pin 26 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 27 | VDD β Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 28 | NC β Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
PIC16C63A-20/SP is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Module, Sensor Interface Board, Low-Cost Motor Control Subsystem, Embedded Communication Bridge, LED Display and Keypad Interface, Educational and Hobbyist 8-bit Platform.
Industrial Control Module
The PIC16C63A-20/SP suits legacy industrial control modules where the firmware is locked and OTP memory is acceptable. Its 20 MHz core and 200 ns instruction cycle deliver deterministic control loops for relay drivers and discrete I/O panels. With 22 I/O pins and 5 channels of 8-bit ADC, it can scan a small sensor array, drive indicator LEDs, and toggle power transistors without external logic. The PIC16C63A's USART enables RS-485 or RS-232 communication with a supervisory PLC or HMI, while the SSP module supports SPI or I2C expansion to additional sensors or displays. OTP memory is appropriate here because the firmware is finalized before volume production, eliminating field upgrade risk.
Recommended
Sensor Interface Board
The PIC16C63A-20/SP works well as a sensor interface board controller where multiple analog and digital signals must be aggregated and forwarded to a host. Its 5-channel 8-bit ADC digitizes temperature, light, or voltage sensor inputs with adequate resolution for environmental monitoring. The 22 digital I/Os handle switch inputs, alarm outputs, and chip-select signals to peripheral sensors. The SSP port connects to a digital sensor or external ADC over SPI or I2C, while the USART reports aggregated data to a host controller at standard baud rates. The 4.0-6.0 V supply range aligns with industrial 5 V rails.
Recommended
Low-Cost Motor Control Subsystem
The PIC16C63A-20/SP handles small motor control tasks using its two CCP (Capture/Compare/PWM) modules to generate PWM drive signals for DC motors, solenoids, or stepper drivers. At 20 MHz, the PWM frequency can be set high enough for smooth torque control while leaving CPU headroom for the control algorithm. The 22 I/O pins connect to H-bridge enable lines, current-sense amplifiers, and quadrature encoder feedback. The USART provides a tuning and parameter-reporting link to a host service tool. Designers should note that OTP memory requires pre-production firmware lock; for iterative tuning, the Flash-based PIC16F73-I/SP is preferred.
Recommended
Embedded Communication Bridge
The PIC16C63A-20/SP is suitable as an embedded communication bridge that translates between two serial protocols. With both SSP (SPI/I2C) and USART, the device can sit between an SPI sensor front-end and a UART-based host, handling framing, addressing, and protocol conversion in firmware. The 35-instruction RISC core simplifies firmware development, and 192 bytes of RAM is sufficient for small receive/transmit buffers. OTP memory locks the bridge protocol to prevent field tampering, which is desirable in industrial network gateways. The 28-SPDIP through-hole package supports legacy PCB assemblies and easy hand-prototyping.
Recommended
LED Display and Keypad Interface
The PIC16C63A-20/SP drives multiplexed LED displays and scans keypads using its 22 I/O pins, which can be partitioned as segment lines, digit select lines, and matrix keypad rows/columns. The hardware USART provides a remote configuration channel for setting display brightness or reading keypad status from a host. Timer0 can be used to generate multiplex refresh interrupts, while Timer1/Timer2 handle longer timing tasks. At 20 MHz the firmware has enough throughput to refresh 8-digit 7-segment displays without flicker. OTP memory ensures the keypad mapping and display layout cannot be altered in the field.
Recommended
Educational and Hobbyist 8-bit Platform
The PIC16C63A-20/SP remains in educational use as a teaching platform for 8-bit RISC architecture, assembly language, and embedded C. Its 35-instruction set and 200 ns cycle time make instruction timing predictable and easy to demonstrate. The on-chip peripherals (ADC, timers, CCP, SSP, USART) cover the standard microcontroller curriculum topics without external chips. The 28-SPDIP package fits in a breadboard or through-hole prototype board, and the device can be programmed with legacy tools such as the PICSTART Plus or MPLAB PM3. For modern courses that require re-programmable parts, the Flash-based PIC16F73-I/SP is the recommended substitute.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C63A-20/SP β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F73-I/SP | PIC16F73A-I/SP | PIC16C63A-04/SP | PIC16C63A-20I/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SPDIP | 28-SPDIP - same | 28-SPDIP - same | 28-SPDIP - same | 28-SPDIP - same |
| Program Memory Type | OTP | Flash | Flash | OTP | OTP |
| Program Memory Size | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB |
| Maximum Clock | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 4 MHz | 20 MHz |
| RAM | 192 B | 192 B | 192 B | 192 B | 192 B |
| ADC | 5 ch x 8-bit | 5 ch x 8-bit | 5 ch x 8-bit | 5 ch x 8-bit | 5 ch x 8-bit |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +70 C | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | 0 C to +70 C | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| Supply Voltage | 4.0 V to 6.0 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 4.0 V to 6.0 V | 4.0 V to 6.0 V |
Key Differentiators
- OTP memory locks firmware against field extraction (vs PIC16F73-I/SP)
- Higher 20 MHz speed grade available in same package (vs PIC16C63A-04/SP)
- Commercial temperature grade for cost-sensitive designs (vs PIC16C63A-20I/SP)
Design Notes
PIC16C63A-20/SP uses OTP (One-Time Programmable) memory. Each unit can be programmed exactly once; there is no in-system erase or rewrite capability. Before volume programming, fully validate the firmware on a Flash-based equivalent (PIC16F73-I/SP) and use a windowed JW package device for development. Programming requires Microchip MPLAB PM3, PICSTART Plus, or compatible device programmer with OTP support.
The PIC16C63A operates from 4.0 V to 6.0 V; connecting a 3.3 V rail will not work and may cause undefined I/O behavior. Place a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to VDD (pin 27) and a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic capacitor at the regulator output. For battery-powered designs, note that 4.0 V minimum precludes direct Li-ion (3.7 V nominal) operation without a boost converter.
The 28-SPDIP package requires through-hole pads on 0.1 inch (2.54 mm) pitch. Keep crystal traces (OSC1 pin 8, OSC2 pin 9) short, with the load capacitors within a few millimeters of the IC. The MCLR pin (pin 1) needs an external 10 kohm pull-up to VDD; if in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) is not used, a simple RC reset network is sufficient. Note that ICSP is not available on OTP parts - programming must occur before PCB assembly.
PORTA pins RA0-RA3 double as the ADC inputs and reference. Route analog traces away from the OSC1/OSC2 oscillator pins and any switching digital lines. Place the analog ground return on a separate trace back to the regulator ground to avoid digital current noise coupling into ADC measurements. The ADC reference voltage on RA3 should be bypassed with 0.1 uF if used in VREF mode.
Compliance Information
Through-hole SPDIP package contains Pb (lead) and is RoHS non-compliant (exemption 7a applies in some jurisdictions for lead in through-hole components). REACH SVHC declarations are maintained by Microchip. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this is a commercial/industrial-grade part.
