PIC16C63A-20I/SS - 8-Bit 7KB MCU 20MHz OTP 28-SSOP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C63A-20I/SS β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.5 | $7.50 |
| 10 | $6.85 | $68.50 |
| 100 | $5.95 | $595.00 |
| 500 | $5.1 | $2,550.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.4 | $4,400.00 |
PIC16C63A-20I/SS Overview
An 8-bit OTP microcontroller is a single-chip computer built around an 8-bit data path and non-volatile one-time-programmable program memory; the OTP memory window is pre-programmed during manufacture and cannot be erased by UV or electrically, which suits low-volume, cost-sensitive, or field-deployed applications where firmware is finalized before deployment. The PIC16C63A sits within the broader hierarchy: 8-bit microcontroller -> microcontroller unit (MCU) -> embedded controller -> semiconductor. Its mid-range RISC core reduces code size and execution time relative to legacy CISC architectures while keeping the instruction set small enough for hand-assembled firmware.
Key features include a Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses, eight hardware interrupt sources, two 8-bit timer/counters plus one 16-bit timer/counter, a 10-bit multi-channel analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with up to 5 input channels, USART/SCI communications, and I2C/SPI peripherals for synchronous serial. On-chip watchdog timer, brown-out reset, power-on reset, and a 5-bit PORTA digital I/O port provide robust embedded control without auxiliary components. The 28-SSOP industrial package offers a compact 5.30 mm body width, gulled-wing surface-mount terminations, and the standard SSOP pinout used across the PIC16C6x family for layout reuse.
Typical applications include industrial control and sensor conditioning, motor drive signal conditioning, appliance controllers, automotive body electronics sub-modules, smart sensor interfaces, and embedded communications bridges that require a simple, deterministic 8-bit controller rather than a 32-bit application processor. The OTP memory suits high-volume consumer and industrial systems where firmware is locked at production and field reprogramming is not required; flash-based PIC16F equivalents are available when in-application reprogrammability is needed.
Design consideration: at 20 MHz the instruction cycle is 200 ns; branches take two cycles. Provide a clean 5 V rail with decoupling capacitors near VDD/VSS pins and verify the oscillator start-up time at cold temperature to ensure reliable reset. Industrial temperature grade parts rated -40C to +85C suit most indoor and sheltered outdoor deployments.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives within the PIC16C family, and practical design notes that go beyond the standard Microchip datasheet contents.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C63A-20I/SS 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-20I/SS (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, Program Memory Size, Core Architecture, Mounting Type, Instruction Cycle.
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Request AlternativesPIC16C63A-20I/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | PIC16CXX mid-range |
| Core Architecture | 8-bit RISC |
| Instruction Set | 35 single-word instructions |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle | 200 ns |
| Program Memory | 7 KB (4K x 14) OTP |
| Data RAM | 192 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 22 |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 4.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 5 channels |
| Timers | 2 x 8-bit, 1 x 16-bit |
| Serial Interfaces | USART/SCI, I2C, SPI |
| Package | 28-SSOP (0.209 in / 5.30 mm width) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (Gull-wing) |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited) |
| Speed Grade Suffix | -20 (20 MHz) |
PIC16C63A-20I/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP β Master Clear (reset) input / programming voltage |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 β PORTA bit 0 / analog input 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 β PORTA bit 1 / analog input 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2 β PORTA bit 2 / analog input 2 |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF β PORTA bit 3 / analog input 3 / ADC reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI β PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS β PORTA bit 5 / analog input 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 8 | OSC1/CLKIN β Oscillator input / external clock in |
| 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 / Capture/Compare/PWM1 |
| Pin 13 | RC3/SCK/SCL β PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 14 | RC4/SDI/SDA β PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 15 | RC5/SDO β PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 16 | RC6/TX/CK β PORTC bit 6 / USART TX / USART clock |
| Pin 17 | RC7/RX/DT β PORTC bit 7 / USART RX / USART data |
| Pin 18 | VSS β Ground |
| Pin 19 | VDD β Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 20 | RB0/INT β PORTB bit 0 / external interrupt |
| Pin 21 | RB1 β PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 22 | RB2 β PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 23 | RB3 β PORTB bit 3 |
| Pin 24 | RB4 β PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 25 | RB5 β PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 26 | RB6/PGC β PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 27 | RB7/PGD β PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 28 | VSS β Ground |
Typical Applications
PIC16C63A-20I/SS is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial Sensor Interface, Appliance Control, Automotive Body Electronics, Embedded Communication Bridge, Smart Sensor Hub, Motor Drive Signal Conditioning, Consumer Device Controller.
Industrial Sensor Interface
The PIC16C63A-20I/SS is well matched to industrial sensor interface designs where deterministic 8-bit control, multi-channel analog acquisition, and stable industrial-temperature operation are required. With a 10-bit ADC supporting up to 5 input channels, 22 digital I/O pins, and the -40C to +85C industrial temperature grade, the part can directly read thermocouples, pressure transducers, and 4-20 mA current-loop sensors after front-end conditioning. Its USART, SPI, and I2C peripherals let it fan sensor data out to a host PLC or local display, while the 20 MHz RISC core provides 200 ns instruction cycle for tight control-loop timing. Compared to a 32-bit MCU, the PIC16C63A-20I/SS lowers BOM cost and simplifies firmware, making it a strong fit for high-volume industrial nodes.
Recommended
Appliance Control
The PIC16C63A-20I/SS is a strong fit for appliance controllers, including washing machines, dishwashers, and small kitchen appliances. The 22 I/O pins drive relays, triac interfaces, LED indicators, and keypads, while the 16-bit timer/counter handles precise motor-speed and heater PWM control. Industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C) supports the thermal environment of motor compartments and heater housings, and OTP memory locks the firmware at production so end-users cannot reflash the controller. The 7 KB program memory is sufficient for state-machine control loops, fault detection, and user-interface handling common in modern appliances.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics
Although the industrial-grade PIC16C63A-20I/SS does not meet AEC-Q100, it remains popular in non-safety automotive body modules such as interior lighting controllers, seat-position memory, and HVAC flap drivers where the operating environment stays within -40C to +85C. The OTP memory locks the firmware, the USART bridges to the vehicle body-CAN gateway through an external transceiver, and the 20 MHz core provides deterministic timing for PWM-driven actuators. Engineers should select the PIC16C63A-20E/SS (Extended grade) for under-hood modules that exceed 85C, or migrate to AEC-Q100-qualified PIC18F equivalents when AEC-Q100 is mandated.
Recommended
Embedded Communication Bridge
The PIC16C63A-20I/SS is well suited as an embedded protocol bridge between sensors or peripherals and a host controller. Its native USART, I2C, and SPI peripherals let it translate between sensor-bus protocols (I2C/SPI) and a host-facing UART link, while the 20 MHz core re-encodes data at sub-millisecond latency. The 192 bytes of RAM are adequate for buffering small packets in transit-line applications. Industrial temperature grade and OTP memory suit cost-sensitive production modules that must operate reliably across a wide temperature range.
Recommended
Smart Sensor Hub
The PIC16C63A-20I/SS makes an effective smart-sensor hub, aggregating data from multiple I2C/SPI sensors and reporting through a USART link to a host processor. The 10-bit ADC digitizes analog channels while the digital peripherals handle modern digital sensors, all within a deterministic 8-bit RISC core. With 22 I/O pins, designers can directly drive status LEDs, push-button inputs, and low-side switching FETs without external I/O expanders. OTP memory is appropriate for finished smart-sensor products where firmware is finalized before deployment.
Recommended
Motor Drive Signal Conditioning
The PIC16C63A-20I/SS is commonly deployed as a signal-conditioning and supervisory controller in brushed DC and stepper motor drives. Its 16-bit timer/counter generates the PWM that the gate driver expects, the 10-bit ADC samples motor current and back-EMF for closed-loop control, and the 22 I/O pins route fault signals and direction control. Industrial temperature grade handles the heat-soak profile of integrated motor housings, while OTP memory prevents accidental field reflash in safety-relevant motion control. Designers should pair it with a dedicated gate driver like the MCP14E/MTR family for high-current switching.
Recommended
Consumer Device Controller
The PIC16C63A-20I/SS serves well as the central controller in consumer devices such as remote controls, small home appliances, and hobby electronics. The 35-instruction RISC core keeps firmware development simple, the 7 KB program memory fits state-machine-driven consumer UIs, and OTP memory prevents field tampering with the firmware image. The USART/SPI/I2C peripherals connect to LED drivers, audio codecs, or wireless modules, while the industrial temperature grade ensures reliability across indoor thermal conditions. Compared with flash-based PIC16F equivalents, the OTP variant saves a small per-unit cost on high-volume production runs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C63A-20I/SS β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C63AT-20I/SS |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SSOP | 28-SSOP - same |
| Core | 8-bit PIC16 RISC | 8-bit PIC16 RISC |
| Clock Frequency | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Program Memory | 7 KB OTP | 7 KB OTP |
| Data RAM | 192 bytes | 192 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 22 | 22 |
| Supply Voltage | 4.0 V to 5.5 V | 4.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Packaging Format | Tube | Tape and Reel |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial temperature grade at OTP pricing (vs PIC16C63A-20E/SS)
- Lower cost per unit than flash equivalent (vs PIC16F73-I/SO)
- Surface-mount SSOP for SMT production (vs PIC16C63A-20I/SP)
Design Notes
Place 100 nF decoupling capacitors as close as possible to each VDD/VSS pin pair of the PIC16C63A-20I/SS, with a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic on the main 5 V rail. Brown-out-reset and power-on-reset thresholds are tied to VDD, so a noisy or slowly-rising supply can cause unintended resets. Add a series ferrite bead or RC filter on the VDD trace if the board shares the 5 V rail with a switching regulator or relay coils.
Route the OSC1/OSC2 traces short and symmetric, keeping them away from high-current switching traces and digital output edges. For a 20 MHz crystal oscillator use a fundamental-mode cut and follow the Microchip datasheet load-capacitor recommendations (typically 15-33 pF). Keep the MCLR pull-up resistor (typically 10 kohm) close to the pin and add a 100 nF cap to ground for in-circuit programming robustness.
Do not assume the PIC16C63A-20I/SS OTP memory can be reprogrammed: it can be programmed once, after which it cannot be electrically erased. Designate prototype PCBs with a socketed PIC16F73 to iterate firmware, then migrate to the PIC16C63A only after the firmware is frozen. Also note that RB6 and RB7 serve as ICSP clock and data during programming, so any external circuitry driving these pins must not impede programming mode.
Estimated: at 5 V VDD and 20 MHz clock with all peripherals active, the PIC16C63A-20I/SS consumes roughly 10 mA typical (50 mW). The 28-SSOP package has a junction-to-ambient thermal resistance around 80 C/W, giving a 4C rise above ambient - well within industrial limits. At extended temperature grades (-40C to +125C), thermal derating is rarely a concern for SSOP microcontrollers at this power level.
Compliance Information
RoHS, REACH, lead-free and halogen-free status not stated in the verified web data - all marked unknown. The PIC16C63A-20I/SS is not AEC-Q100 qualified; for AEC-Q100 select the PIC16C63A-20I/Q or migrate to the PIC16F73 family.
