PIC16C64A-04/P - 8-Bit 4MHz OTP MCU, 3.5KB, 40-PDIP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C64A-04/P β End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $11.2 | $11.20 |
| 10 | $10.45 | $104.50 |
| 100 | $9.6 | $960.00 |
| 500 | $8.85 | $4,425.00 |
| 1,000 | $8.05 | $8,050.00 |
PIC16C64A-04/P Overview
A PIC microcontroller (Programmable Interface Controller) is a family of 8-, 16-, and 32-bit RISC-based microcontrollers originally developed by Microchip Technology. Within the PIC taxonomy, the PIC16C64A belongs to the mid-range (14-bit instruction word) PIC16C sub-family, which sits between the baseline PIC10/12/16 family and the high-performance PIC17C/PIC18C series. PIC MCUs are categorized as 8-bit microcontrollers (data path), Harvard architecture (separate program and data buses), and are widely used in embedded control due to their deterministic instruction timing, low cost, and ease of programming.
Key features of the PIC16C64A-04/P include a fully static CMOS design, wide operating voltage range up to 6.0 V, and very low power consumption β typically 15 uA at 5 V / 4 MHz and as low as 1 uA at 3 V / 32 kHz, making it well suited for battery-backed applications. The device supports both commercial and industrial temperature ranges, includes an integrated Watchdog Timer with its own on-chip RC oscillator, and offers programmable code protection. Peripheral highlights include a Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) module, a synchronous serial port (SSP) configurable for SPI or I2C, an 8-bit timer/counter (TMR0) with an 8-bit prescaler, a 16-bit timer/counter (TMR1), and an 8-bit timer/counter (TMR2) with period register.
Architecturally, the PIC16C64A uses a 14-bit instruction word with a two-stage pipeline, providing single-cycle instruction execution except for program branches which take two cycles. Its Harvard architecture separates the program bus (14 bits wide) from the data bus (8 bits wide), enabling simultaneous instruction fetch and operand read. The Brown-out Reset (BOR) circuit holds the MCU in reset when VDD falls below a programmable threshold, protecting Flash/OTP integrity. An in-circuit debugger (ICD) is supported via the RB6/RB7 pins on most PIC16C6X parts.
Typical applications include industrial control panels, automotive body electronics (non-safety), appliance control boards, security system panels, and low-end sensor hubs. The 33 I/O pins comfortably drive multiplexed LED displays, keypads, and relay drivers.
When designing with the PIC16C64A-04/P, note that the OTP memory cannot be erased or rewritten β use the PIC16F64 or PIC16C65B flash-based equivalent for prototypes. Also ensure your programmer is set to the enhanced PIC16C6XA configuration; the legacy PIC16C64 settings will not program this device correctly.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives from the PIC16C6X family, and practical design notes not found in the standalone manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C64A-04/P 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 PIC16C64A-04/P (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Core Architecture, Package, Program Memory Type, Timers, Instruction Cycle Time.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C65B-04/P
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$6.72 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16C64A-04I/P
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$6.1 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16C64A-20/P
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$10.1 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16C64A-04E/P
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F64-I/P
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C64A-04/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit RISC (Harvard, 14-bit instruction word) |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time Programmable) EPROM |
| Program Memory Size | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) |
| RAM | 128 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | Not present |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 4 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle Time | 200 ns at 4 MHz (single cycle) |
| Number of I/O Pins | 33 |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.5 V to 6.0 V |
| Supply Current (5V, 4 MHz) | 15 uA typical |
| Supply Current (3V, 32 kHz) | 1 uA typical |
| Timers | TMR0 (8-bit), TMR1 (16-bit), TMR2 (8-bit) |
| Capture/Compare/PWM | 1 CCP module |
| Serial Interfaces | SSP (SPI / I2C) + USART/SCI |
| A/D Converter | None |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes (with dedicated on-chip RC oscillator) |
| Brown-out Reset | Yes |
| In-Circuit Debug | Yes (via RB6/RB7) |
| Package | 40-pin PDIP (0.600 in / 15.24 mm) |
| Operating Temperature | Commercial 0C to +70C (this part) |
PIC16C64A-04/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP β Master Clear (active low reset) / programming voltage input |
| Pin 2 | RA0 β PORTA bit 0 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 3 | RA1 β PORTA bit 1 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 4 | RA2 β PORTA bit 2 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 5 | RA3 β PORTA bit 3 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 6 | RA4 β PORTA bit 4 (digital I/O, open-drain option) |
| Pin 7 | RA5 β PORTA bit 5 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 8 | OSC1/CLKIN β Oscillator crystal input / external clock in |
| Pin 9 | OSC2/CLKOUT β Oscillator crystal output / clock out (Fosc/4) |
| Pin 10 | RC0 β PORTC bit 0 (digital I/O / TMR1OSO) |
| Pin 11 | RC1 β PORTC bit 1 (digital I/O / TMR1OSI) |
| Pin 12 | RC2 β PORTC bit 2 (digital I/O / CCP1) |
| Pin 13 | RC3 β PORTC bit 3 (digital I/O / SCL) |
| Pin 14 | RC4 β PORTC bit 4 (digital I/O / SDI) |
| Pin 15 | RC5 β PORTC bit 5 (digital I/O / SDO) |
| Pin 16 | RC6 β PORTC bit 6 (digital I/O / TX) |
| Pin 17 | RC7 β PORTC bit 7 (digital I/O / RX) |
| Pin 18 | RD0 β PORTD bit 0 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 19 | RD1 β PORTD bit 1 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 20 | RD2 β PORTD bit 2 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 21 | RD3 β PORTD bit 3 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 22 | RD4 β PORTD bit 4 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 23 | RD5 β PORTD bit 5 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 24 | RD6 β PORTD bit 6 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 25 | RD7 β PORTD bit 7 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 26 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 27 | VDD β Positive supply (2.5 V to 6.0 V) |
| Pin 28 | RB0 β PORTB bit 0 (digital I/O / external interrupt) |
| Pin 29 | RB1 β PORTB bit 1 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 30 | RB2 β PORTB bit 2 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 31 | RB3 β PORTB bit 3 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 32 | RB4 β PORTB bit 4 (digital I/O / interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 33 | RB5 β PORTB bit 5 (digital I/O / interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 34 | RB6 β PORTB bit 6 (digital I/O / ICSCLK / ICD) |
| Pin 35 | RB7 β PORTB bit 7 (digital I/O / ICSDAT / ICD) |
| Pin 36 | RE0 β PORTE bit 0 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 37 | RE1 β PORTE bit 1 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 38 | RE2 β PORTE bit 2 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 39 | VDD β Positive supply (second VDD pin) |
| Pin 40 | VSS β Ground reference (second VSS pin) |
Typical Applications
PIC16C64A-04/P is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Panels, Appliance Control Boards, Security System Panels, Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety), Low-Cost Sensor Hubs and Data Loggers, Educational and Hobby Embedded Projects.
Industrial Control Panels
The PIC16C64A-04/P fits industrial control panels thanks to its 33 digital I/O pins (PORTA/B/C/D/E), integrated Watchdog Timer with a dedicated on-chip RC oscillator, and Brown-out Reset that protects OTP integrity against noisy 24 V industrial rails stepped down to 5 V. Its PIC16C6X mid-range RISC core executes 35 single-word instructions in a single 200 ns cycle at 4 MHz, providing deterministic response for keypad scanning, multiplexed 7-segment LED driving, and relay or SSR control loops. Compared with a CPLD-based controller, the PIC16C64A-04/P adds UART and SSP (SPI/I2C) peripherals for connecting to sensor front-ends and operator HMIs while consuming only 15 uA typical at 5 V / 4 MHz.
Recommended
Appliance Control Boards
In washing machines, dishwashers, and microwave ovens, the PIC16C64A-04/P drives brushed-motor triac control, user keypads, and rotary encoder inputs via its 33 I/O and 8-bit TMR0 prescaler. The Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) module generates phase-angle control signals for AC zero-cross dimming and heater regulation, while the SSP block talks to EEPROM or LED driver peripherals over I2C. Its 2.5 V to 6.0 V supply range accommodates unregulated 5 V rails common in white goods, and the 15 uA active / 1 uA sleep current profile keeps standby power within Energy Star limits for idle modes.
Recommended
Security System Panels
The PIC16C64A-04/P serves as the central controller in PIR motion detectors, glass-break sensors, and small alarm panels because its USART/SCI block enables direct communication with central-station modems or wireless transceivers, while the 33 I/O scan up to 8 zone loops and a 4x4 matrix keypad with debounce handled in TMR0 interrupts. OTP memory offers tamper resistance, and the Watchdog Timer with its own on-chip RC oscillator recovers the panel if firmware ever enters an invalid state β important for unattended security installations. The fully static CMOS core also operates reliably across the wide temperature swings encountered in unheated garages or outdoor enclosures.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety)
Inside non-safety body modules such as seat controllers, mirror adjusters, and interior lighting drivers, the PIC16C64A-04/P offers 33 I/O to manage brushed DC motors via H-bridges, multiplexed LED clusters, and LIN-bus slaves through its USART. The PIC16C6X family's 14-bit RISC core runs deterministic control loops for current chopping, while the Brown-out Reset prevents OTP corruption during cranking-voltage dips down to 6 V on a 12 V automotive rail. For under-hood or outdoor deployments, designers should select the PIC16C64A-04E/P variant with its -40C to +125C extended temperature range instead of the commercial-grade -04/P.
Recommended
Low-Cost Sensor Hubs and Data Loggers
The PIC16C64A-04/P is well matched to low-cost environmental sensor hubs that aggregate temperature, humidity, and contact-closure data over SPI/I2C and forward results over a UART link. Its SSP block supports both SPI (for high-speed ADC front-ends) and I2C (for sensor breakouts), while 128 bytes of RAM buffer up to 64 12-bit samples before flush. At 1 uA typical in sleep with the Watchdog Timer running, the part can duty-cycle wake on a 32 kHz TMR1 source for years on a single CR2032 coin cell in remote telemetry applications. The 40-pin PDIP package also makes hand-solderable prototype builds accessible to hobbyists and field engineers.
Recommended
Educational and Hobby Embedded Projects
Universities, makerspaces, and robotics clubs favor the PIC16C64A-04/P for teaching embedded systems because the 40-pin PDIP package drops into any breadboard, and the PIC16C6X instruction set of only 35 single-word mnemonics can be mastered in a single lab session. With 33 I/O, students can simultaneously drive LEDs, read push buttons, talk to a serial LCD over SPI, and PWM a hobby servo from the same chip. The 200 ns instruction cycle at 4 MHz is slow enough for students to step through assembly with a logic analyzer, yet fast enough for line-following robots and small autonomous vehicles.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C64A-04/P β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C65B-04/P | PIC16C64A-04I/P | PIC16C64A-20/P | PIC16C64A-04E/P | PIC16F64-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 40-pin PDIP (0.600 in) | 40-pin PDIP (same) | 40-pin PDIP (same) | 40-pin PDIP (same) | 40-pin PDIP (same) | 40-pin PDIP (same) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 4 MHz | 4 MHz (10/20 MHz grades available) | 4 MHz | 20 MHz | 4 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Program Memory Type | 3.5 KB OTP | 7 KB OTP | 3.5 KB OTP | 3.5 KB OTP | 3.5 KB OTP | 3.5 KB Flash |
| RAM | 128 bytes | 192 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes |
| Number of I/O Pins | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +70C (commercial) | 0C to +70C (commercial grade shown) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | 0C to +70C (commercial) | -40C to +125C (extended) | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| CCP Modules | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest-cost 4 MHz OTP option in the PIC16C6X 40-PDIP family (vs PIC16C65B-04/P)
- Standard commercial temperature range at lowest tier price (vs PIC16C64A-04I/P)
- Drop-in identical silicon with 5x faster clock grade available (vs PIC16C64A-20/P)
Design Notes
Decouple both VDD pins (27 and 39) and both VSS pins (26 and 40) of the PIC16C64A-04/P with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of each pin pair. The dual-VDD/VSS pinout of the 40-PDIP package is intentional β it provides redundant supply paths for noisy digital switching on PORTB/PORTC. For battery-powered designs, place a 10 uF bulk capacitor at the regulator output to hold VDD above the Brown-out Reset threshold during motor inrush events.
Route the OSC1/OSC2 traces as a short, symmetric differential pair and keep them away from PORTB and PORTD switching lines to avoid coupling noise into the 4 MHz crystal reference. If using an external CMOS clock into OSC1, leave OSC2 floating (it becomes CLKOUT = Fosc/4 = 1 MHz). For EMI-sensitive applications, place a 4-layer ground plane directly under the IC and stitch VSS pins with multiple vias to reduce loop inductance.
The PIC16C64A is the 'A' silicon revision of the PIC16C64 β programming it with legacy PIC16C64 configuration bits (especially the oscillator mode and Watchdog Timer enable bits) will result in a non-functional device. Always select the PIC16C6XA device ID in MPLAB or your programmer before loading the HEX file. Also note that the OTP memory cannot be erased; verify your firmware in a PIC16F64 (Flash equivalent) before committing to the OTP variant for production.
Compliance Information
RoHS, REACH, lead-free, halogen-free and conflict-minerals status were not present in the verified web data for PIC16C64A-04/P; placeholders above reflect the data gap and are flagged for engineering review. The PIC16C64A predates the universal RoHS transition and many OTP variants are not lead-free β verify against the specific lot's material declaration before use in RoHS-restricted markets.
