PIC16C63AT-20E/SS - 8-Bit 20MHz OTP MCU, 7KB | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C63AT-20E/SS ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.85 | $6.85 |
| 10 | $6.15 | $61.50 |
| 100 | $5.45 | $545.00 |
| 500 | $4.78 | $2,390.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.15 | $4,150.00 |
PIC16C63AT-20E/SS Overview
An 8-bit OTP microcontroller (one-time programmable microcontroller) is a class of embedded controller that stores its program in non-volatile memory programmed once at production, retaining code without external storage and offering lower per-unit cost than flash-based equivalents for high-volume mature products. Within the broader taxonomy, the PIC16C63A sits at: PIC16C63A -> PIC16C6xx mid-range family -> PIC16 family -> 8-bit PIC microcontroller -> embedded microcontroller -> integrated circuit -> semiconductor. OTP parts sit alongside EPROM-windowed and flash variants in Microchip's classic PIC16C lineup.
Key differentiating features of the PIC16C63AT-20E/SS include its 20 MHz MIPS performance at 5V operation, integrated synchronous serial port (MSSP) supporting both SPI and I2C master/slave modes, an enhanced USART with autobaud detection, and the PIC mid-range 14-bit instruction set that delivers single-cycle execution except for branch instructions. The 28-SSOP package provides a compact 5.30 mm body width suitable for space-constrained industrial controller boards.
The PIC16C63A is built on a fully-static CMOS process, allowing the clock to be stopped without losing register state - a useful feature for low-power sleep/awake control loops. The OTP program memory and the absence of internal flash make this part best suited to high-volume production where firmware is final and one-time programming cost is acceptable, with field updates typically handled via board-level replacement or external bootloader memory.
Typical applications include industrial automation controllers, automotive body and chassis ECUs, consumer appliance control boards, and sensor interface modules where the PIC16 mid-range instruction set and 5V-tolerant I/O are required. The wide 4V-5.5V supply tolerance supports unregulated 5V rails common in industrial installations.
When designing with this part, ensure the OTP programming step is performed before final assembly or via on-board programming through the ICSP interface; field firmware updates are not possible on this device. Decoupling VDD/VSS with 100 nF ceramic capacitors placed within 5 mm of the pins is required for EMI suppression on the analog and digital rails.
This page synthesizes distributor inventory (DigiKey, Mouser, Heisener), parametric pin-compatible drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet, helping engineers evaluate the PIC16C63AT-20E/SS against the broader PIC16C6xx family and OTP-vs-Flash migration paths.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C63AT-20E/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 PIC16C63AT-20E/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Data EEPROM, Package, Timers, ADC.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C63A-20E/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.3 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C63A-04I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C63A-04E/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.12 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C63-20I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C63-10/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$7.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C63AT-20E/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit PIC mid-range (14-bit instruction) |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time Programmable) |
| Program Memory Size | 7 KB (4K x 14 words) |
| RAM | 192 bytes |
| EEPROM | None (data EEPROM not present) |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle Time | 200 ns (at 20 MHz) |
| Supply Voltage (Vdd) | 4 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 22 |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (Industrial 'E' grade) |
| Package Type | 28-SSOP (5.30 mm body width) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| ADC | 8 channels x 8-bit (where fitted on this die) |
| Communication Peripherals | USART, MSSP (SPI / I2C) |
| Timers | Timer0, Timer1, Timer2 (with CCP module) |
PIC16C63AT-20E/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP — Master Clear (active low) / Programming voltage input |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — Port A bit 0 / ADC input 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — Port A bit 1 / ADC input 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2 — Port A bit 2 / ADC input 2 |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF — Port A bit 3 / ADC input 3 / voltage reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — Port A bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS — Port A bit 5 / ADC input 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | VDD — Positive supply (4V-5.5V) |
| Pin 10 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator crystal input / external clock in |
| Pin 11 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — Port C bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator out / Timer1 clock in |
| Pin 12 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — Port C bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator in / CCP2 output |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 — Port C bit 2 / CCP1 PWM output |
| Pin 14 | RC3/SCK/SCL — Port C bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 15 | RC4/SDI/SDA — Port C bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 16 | RC5/SDO — Port C bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 17 | RC6/TX/CK — Port C bit 6 / USART transmit / USART clock |
| Pin 18 | RC7/RX/DT — Port C bit 7 / USART receive / USART data |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator crystal output / clock out |
| Pin 21 | RB0/INT — Port B bit 0 / external interrupt |
| Pin 22 | RB1 — Port B bit 1 |
| Pin 23 | RB2 — Port B bit 2 |
| Pin 24 | RB3 — Port B bit 3 |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — Port B bit 4 |
| Pin 26 | RB5 — Port B bit 5 |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC — Port B bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD — Port B bit 7 / ICSP data |
Typical Applications
PIC16C63AT-20E/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation Controllers, Automotive Body and Chassis ECUs, Consumer Appliance Control Boards, Sensor Interface Modules, HVAC and Building Automation, Point-of-Sale Terminals and Peripherals.
Industrial Automation Controllers
The PIC16C63AT-20E/SS fits industrial PLC and sensor-hub applications because its 20 MHz core, 7 KB OTP program memory, and 22 digital I/O pins provide enough headroom for closed-loop control loops at modest update rates. The extended -40C to +125C temperature grade and 4V-5.5V supply tolerance handle unregulated 24V-derived industrial rails. Place decoupling on VDD/VSS within 5 mm of pins and route the 20 MHz crystal trace symmetrically to OSC1/OSC2 to meet IEC 61000-4-2 EMI margins in factory-floor enclosures.
Recommended
Automotive Body and Chassis ECUs
The PIC16C63AT-20E/SS is well-suited to body control modules (window lifters, mirror controllers, simple lighting drivers) where its 8-bit PIC mid-range core, 192 bytes RAM, and 22 I/O can scan a switch matrix and drive relay/H-bridge outputs at deterministic rates. The MSSP peripheral supports I2C communication with sensor clusters and the USART provides LIN-bus-friendly asynchronous serial capability when paired with a LIN transceiver. Note that AEC-Q100 qualification status was not confirmed in the provided data - use the 'Q' automotive suffix variant if available.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control Boards
The PIC16C63AT-20E/SS is widely used in washing machine, dishwasher, and microwave control boards where its 7 KB OTP memory holds a fixed appliance state machine, 192 bytes RAM is enough for parameter buffers, and the 8-channel 8-bit ADC reads thermistor/timer inputs directly. The 'T' tape-and-reel packaging supports high-volume pick-and-place assembly. The 20 MHz instruction throughput handles key debounce, segment LCD multiplexing, and triac zero-crossing firing in real time without dropping cycles.
Recommended
Sensor Interface Modules
The PIC16C63AT-20E/SS fits 4-20 mA loop-powered and Modbus sensor transmitter designs because its USART and MSSP (SPI/I2C) cover both legacy 2-wire industrial protocols and modern digital sensor interfaces. The 8-channel ADC paired with the 20 MHz core can run digital filtering and linearization in firmware, eliminating external DSP. Use the 'E' extended temperature grade for outdoor or process-plant sensor housings, and route ADC AVss separately from digital Vss to preserve 8-bit conversion accuracy across the industrial temperature range.
Recommended
HVAC and Building Automation
The PIC16C63AT-20E/SS handles thermostat, damper actuator, and fan-coil-unit controllers where its 22 I/O can scan keypad input, drive LCD segments, and pulse-step relay outputs from a single chip. The 4-5.5V supply tolerance accepts rectified 24VAC wall transformers common in HVAC installations, and the -40C to +125C industrial grade supports unconditioned equipment-room mounting. The CCP/PWM module generates smooth TRIAC phase-angle control without software jitter when triggered from a hardware timer interrupt.
Recommended
Point-of-Sale Terminals and Peripherals
The PIC16C63AT-20E/SS suits POS scanner modules, magnetic-stripe readers, and thermal-printer controllers where deterministic 20 MHz execution handles serial scanner decoding and stepper-motor pulse streams. The 192-byte RAM is sufficient for buffer-based packet reassembly, and the MSSP I2C master interfaces to EEPROM and crypto-authentication ICs. Because the OTP memory locks firmware at production, this part is ideal for tamper-resistant financial peripherals where field code modification must be physically prevented.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C63AT-20E/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C63A-20E/SS | PIC16C63A-04I/SS | PIC16C63A-04E/SS | PIC16C63-20I/SO | PIC16C63-10/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SSOP (5.30 mm) | 28-SSOP (5.30 mm) - same | 28-SSOP (5.30 mm) - same | 28-SSOP (5.30 mm) - same | 28-SSOP (5.30 mm) - same | 28-SSOP (5.30 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 20 MHz | 10 MHz |
| Program Memory Size | 7 KB OTP | 7 KB OTP | 7 KB OTP | 7 KB OTP | 7 KB EPROM | 7 KB EPROM |
| RAM | 192 bytes | 192 bytes | 192 bytes | 192 bytes | 192 bytes | 192 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Temperature Grade | -40C to +125C (E grade) | -40C to +125C (E grade) | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +125C (E grade) | -40C to +85C (I grade) | 0C to +70C (commercial) |
| Packaging Form | Tape & Reel ('T' suffix) | Tube | Tube | Tube | Tube | Tube |
| USART (Autobaud) | Enhanced (autobaud supported) | Enhanced (autobaud) | Enhanced (autobaud) | Enhanced (autobaud) | Standard (no autobaud) | Standard (no autobaud) |
Key Differentiators
- Higher speed bin (20 MHz) with same pinout as 04 MHz variants (vs PIC16C63A-04I/SS)
- Enhanced USART with autobaud detection vs standard USART on legacy PIC16C63 (vs PIC16C63-20I/SO)
- Industrial -40C to +125C temperature grade in 28-SSOP (vs PIC16C63-10/SO)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF X7R ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin (pin 9) and a second 100 nF capacitor on the VSS pin (pin 19) to suppress switching noise on the digital supply rail. For ADC accuracy, add a 10 uF bulk capacitor and a separate analog AVss path if the application reads the 8-bit ADC channels - sharing digital and analog ground at a single point under the package reduces conversion noise by 1-2 LSB. The PIC16C63AT-20E/SS operates from 4V to 5.5V; do not exceed 5.5V absolute maximum or the OTP memory row may be corrupted during in-circuit programming.
Route the 20 MHz crystal (or ceramic resonator) symmetrically to OSC1 (pin 10) and OSC2 (pin 20) with trace lengths matched within 2 mm and surrounded by a ground pour on both sides of the trace pair. Keep crystal traces shorter than 10 mm to avoid EMI pickup and ensure clean clock edges. The MCLR/VPP pin (pin 1) requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD; do not leave it floating or the part may intermittently reset. For ICSP programming, expose the PGC (RB6) and PGD (RB7) pins on a 5-pin header per the Microchip ICSP specification.
Do not assume OTP program memory can be re-written in the field - once programmed, the PIC16C63AT-20E/SS cannot be erased, so any firmware bug requires physical replacement of the device. Verify firmware revision on prototypes using the JW (windowed) package first, then lock in the OTP/SS variant for production. The 'T' suffix on the part number denotes tape-and-reel packaging for pick-and-place assembly; do not confuse it with TBD-grade or a revision letter. Also note that the 04 MHz speed-bin parts share the same pinout but cannot be clocked above 4 MHz, so de-rate your instruction timing accordingly.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH status not confirmed in the provided distributor data. AEC-Q100 not applicable for this industrial-grade part - request the 'Q' automotive suffix variant if required. Lead-free assembly per Microchip product family policy. Conflict-minerals statement per Microchip corporate compliance.