PIC16C64A-10/L - 8-Bit 10MHz OTP MCU 3.5KB 44-PLCC | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C64A-10/L ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8.5 | $8.50 |
| 10 | $7.65 | $76.50 |
| 100 | $6.8 | $680.00 |
| 500 | $6.1 | $3,050.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.5 | $5,500.00 |
PIC16C64A-10/L Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer containing a CPU, program memory (ROM/Flash/OTP), data memory (RAM), and programmable I/O peripherals. The PIC16C64A belongs to the 8-bit MCU category (bit-width: 8-bit), specifically the legacy OTP/EPROM-based sub-family, sitting within the broader taxonomy: 8-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor IC. The PIC16C6X family uses a Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses, enabling single-cycle instruction execution for most opcodes and deterministic timing for embedded control loops. The 35-instruction RISC instruction set minimizes code complexity and learning curve, while 14-bit-wide instructions improve code density over 12-bit PIC cores.
Key differentiating features include 33 I/O pins supporting direct LED or relay drive (each pin can source/sink up to 25 mA), two 8-bit and one 16-bit timer/counter modules, a synchronous/asynchronous serial port (USART/SCI), a parallel slave port (PSP) for external bus interfacing, and a 5-channel 8-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) on the PIC16C65A sibling (note: the PIC16C64A does not include ADC). The wide operating voltage (2.5V-6.0V) and low power consumption (15 uA typical at 5V/4 MHz, 1 uA typical at 3V/32 kHz) make this device suitable for both battery-powered and line-powered applications.
The PIC16C64A architecture uses CMOS EPROM technology with a fully-static design (clock can be stopped without losing state), brown-out reset protection, watchdog timer with on-chip RC oscillator for reliable operation, and a programmable code-protection mechanism for IP security. This mature mid-range PIC architecture has been deployed for decades in industrial control, automotive subsystems, and consumer appliances.
Typical applications include industrial control systems, motor control (low-side drive), sensor interfaces with USART communication, simple HMI panels, and legacy embedded products. The PIC16C64A is rated NRND (Not Recommended for New Designs); Microchip recommends the PIC16C65B or PIC16F877A for new designs, but the PIC16C64A remains widely available for maintenance of installed equipment.
When designing with this device, designers should note that the OTP memory cannot be reprogrammed in-circuit - programming must be done with a device programmer before insertion. The ceramic windowed package allows UV erasure for development cycles. Decoupling capacitors (0.1 uF ceramic) should be placed close to VDD/VSS pins, and the MCLR reset pin should be pulled high via a 10 kohm resistor for normal operation.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C64A-10/L — 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-10/L (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Data EEPROM, Timers, Mounting Type, Core.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C64A-04I/L
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C64A-10I/L
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C65A-10/L
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C65B-10/L
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C64A-04I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.61 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C64A-10/L Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | PIC16C6X |
| Core | 8-bit RISC |
| Architecture | Harvard, fully static |
| Instruction Set | 35 single-word instructions |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time Programmable) EPROM |
| Program Memory Size | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) |
| RAM | 128 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | Not present (0 bytes) |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 10 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 4 V to 6 V (typical 5 V) |
| I/O Pins | 33 |
| Timers | TMR0 (8-bit), TMR1 (16-bit), TMR2 (8-bit) |
| Communication | USART/SCI (AUSART), PSP parallel slave port |
| Package | 44-pin PLCC (windowed ceramic, J-lead) |
| Package Dimensions | 16.59 mm x 16.59 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Non-compliant (windowed ceramic, contains lead) |
PIC16C64A-10/L Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR — Master Clear (Reset) input, active low |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — Port A bit 0 / Analog input 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — Port A bit 1 / Analog input 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2 — Port A bit 2 / Analog input 2 |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF — Port A bit 3 / Analog input 3 / Voltage reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — Port A bit 4 / Timer 0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/SS/AN4 — Port A bit 5 / SPI Slave Select / Analog input 4 |
| Pin 8 | RE0/RD — Port E bit 0 / Parallel Slave Port Read strobe |
| Pin 9 | RE1/WR — Port E bit 1 / Parallel Slave Port Write strobe |
| Pin 10 | RE2/CS — Port E bit 2 / Parallel Slave Port Chip Select |
| Pin 11 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (+5V) |
| Pin 12 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 13 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 14 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator output / clock output |
| Pin 15 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — Port C bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 16 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — Port C bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 |
| Pin 17 | RC2/CCP1 — Port C bit 2 / Capture/Compare/PWM 1 |
| Pin 18 | RC3/SCK/SCL — Port C bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 19 | RC4/SDI/SDA — Port C bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 20 | RC5/SDO — Port C bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 21 | RC6/TX/CK — Port C bit 6 / USART transmit / USART clock |
| Pin 22 | RC7/RX/DT — Port C bit 7 / USART receive / USART data |
| Pin 23 | RB0/INT — Port B bit 0 / External interrupt |
| Pin 24 | RB1 — Port B bit 1 |
| Pin 25 | RB2 — Port B bit 2 |
| Pin 26 | RB3 — Port B bit 3 |
| Pin 27 | RB4 — Port B bit 4 |
| Pin 28 | RB5 — Port B bit 5 |
| Pin 29 | RB6/PGC — Port B bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 30 | RB7/PGD — Port B bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 31 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 32 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (+5V) |
| Pin 33 | RD0/PSP0 — Port D bit 0 / Parallel Slave Port data bit 0 |
| Pin 34 | RD1/PSP1 — Port D bit 1 / Parallel Slave Port data bit 1 |
| Pin 35 | RD2/PSP2 — Port D bit 2 / Parallel Slave Port data bit 2 |
| Pin 36 | RD3/PSP3 — Port D bit 3 / Parallel Slave Port data bit 3 |
| Pin 37 | RD4/PSP4 — Port D bit 4 / Parallel Slave Port data bit 4 |
| Pin 38 | RD5/PSP5 — Port D bit 5 / Parallel Slave Port data bit 5 |
| Pin 39 | RD6/PSP6 — Port D bit 6 / Parallel Slave Port data bit 6 |
| Pin 40 | RD7/PSP7 — Port D bit 7 / Parallel Slave Port data bit 7 |
| Pin 41 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 42 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (+5V) |
| Pin 43 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 44 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
PIC16C64A-10/L is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial Control Systems, Legacy Appliance Control, Motor Control (Low-Side Drive), Sensor Interface with Serial Output, Parallel Slave Port Expansion, Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes, Educational and Development Platforms.
Industrial Control Systems
The PIC16C64A-10/L's 33 I/O pins, three timer modules, and USART make it well suited for industrial PLC-style control. Each I/O pin can source or sink 25 mA, sufficient for direct relay coil drive and optocoupler LED input isolation. The 10 MHz clock (2.5 MIPS) provides deterministic timing for encoder counting via TMR0 and PWM generation via TMR2. The brown-out reset and watchdog timer with on-chip RC oscillator ensure reliable operation in electrically noisy factory environments where supply rails may dip during motor switching events.
Recommended
Legacy Appliance Control
The PIC16C64A's OTP memory and 8-bit architecture keep unit cost low for high-volume consumer appliances like washing machines, microwave ovens, and HVAC thermostats. The 128-byte RAM is sufficient for user interface state machines, sensor debounce counters, and timer-based cooking profiles. The 5V supply range matches legacy analog signal conditioning circuits, while the wide temperature grade handles appliance under-cabinet environments. Migration to PIC16F877A is recommended for new designs that need in-circuit firmware updates.
Recommended
Motor Control (Low-Side Drive)
The PIC16C64A-10/L's 25 mA I/O drive capability supports direct low-side MOSFET gate drive for small DC motors, fans, and solenoids. The 16-bit TMR1 timer captures quadrature encoder inputs for closed-loop position feedback, while the USART provides communication to a master controller. With 4V-6V supply, the part operates directly from rectified 5V motor supplies with bulk capacitor filtering. For higher-current motors, pair with a gate driver such as the TC4427 to switch MOSFET gates at high dV/dt.
Recommended
Sensor Interface with Serial Output
The PIC16C64A-10/L's integrated USART (AUSART) supports both asynchronous RS-232/RS-485 and synchronous SPI communication with external peripherals. The 33 I/O pins connect to multiple sensor types (digital switches, polled analog via external ADC, encoder feedback) and aggregate readings into a serial stream for a host controller. The 128-byte RAM buffers multiple sensor scans between transmissions. With brown-out reset, the device recovers cleanly from sensor supply glitches.
Recommended
Parallel Slave Port Expansion
The PIC16C64A-10/L's Parallel Slave Port (PSP) on PORTD enables the device to function as a peripheral to a host CPU, offloading I/O expansion tasks. A main processor writes/reads 8-bit data via PORTD while controlling via PORTE control lines (RE0-RE2 as CS, RD, WR). This architecture suits vending machine controllers, instrument panels, and modular industrial systems where the PIC handles local keypad/scanner logic while the host runs the application. The 128-byte RAM serves as a shared data buffer.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes
The PIC16C64A-10/L's low-power CMOS design consumes only 1 uA typical at 3V/32 kHz and 15 uA at 5V/4 MHz, enabling multi-year battery life in remote sensor applications. The fully-static core allows the oscillator to be stopped during sleep mode while retaining RAM state. Brown-out reset prevents corrupted operation on battery end-of-life. The 33 I/O pins support multiple sensor inputs and a low-power RF transmitter such as the nRF24L01+. Pair with a 3.6V LiSOCl2 battery for 10+ year deployment in metering or environmental monitoring.
Recommended
Educational and Development Platforms
The PIC16C64A-10/L's UV-erasable ceramic windowed package allows repeated reprogramming during engineering coursework, making it a teaching staple for 8-bit microcontroller labs. The 35-instruction RISC set can be fully covered in one semester, with visible register-level operation that helps students understand embedded fundamentals. Programming is supported by PICStart Plus and MPLAB development tools from Microchip. Universities pairing this part with PIC16C65A demonstrate memory-mapped peripheral expansion within the same instruction set.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C64A-10/L — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C64A-04I/L | PIC16C64A-10I/L | PIC16C65A-10/L | PIC16C65B-10/L | PIC16C64A-04I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 44-pin PLCC (windowed ceramic) | 44-pin PLCC (windowed ceramic) - same | 44-pin PLCC (windowed ceramic) - same | 44-pin PLCC - same footprint | 44-pin PLCC - same footprint | 44-pin TQFP - surface mount variant |
| Program Memory Size | 3.5 KB OTP | 3.5 KB OTP | 3.5 KB OTP | 7 KB OTP | 7 KB Flash | 3.5 KB OTP |
| RAM | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 192 bytes | 192 bytes | 128 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 10 MHz | 4 MHz | 10 MHz | 10 MHz | 10 MHz | 4 MHz |
| I/O Pins | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 |
| ADC | No | No | No | Yes (5-ch 8-bit) | Yes (5-ch 8-bit) | No |
| Memory Type | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | Flash (reprogrammable) | OTP EPROM |
| Lifecycle Status | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND | Active | NRND |
| Temperature Grade | Commercial (0C to +70C) | Industrial (-40C to +85C) | Industrial (-40C to +85C) | Commercial | Commercial | Industrial |
Key Differentiators
- Ceramic windowed package allows UV erasure during development (vs PIC16F877A-I/P (plastic Flash, not erasable via UV))
- NRND status with broad legacy installed base (vs PIC16C65B-10/L (active lifecycle))
- 10 MHz clock delivers 2.5 MIPS at typical 5V operation (vs PIC16C64A-04/L (4 MHz version))
Design Notes
The PIC16C64A-10/L operates from 4V to 6V (typical 5V). Place a 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as possible to each VDD/VSS pin pair (the device has multiple VDD pins: pins 11, 32, 42). Add a 10 uF bulk tantalum or aluminum electrolytic capacitor at the board power input to suppress voltage transients from inductive loads such as relays. The brown-out reset (BOR) module trips if VDD drops below approximately 4V, resetting the device to prevent code execution from corrupted memory.
Configuration word (located at program memory address 2007h) must be programmed correctly or the device will not execute code. Critical bits: WDTE (watchdog enable), PWRTE (power-up timer enable), FOSC (oscillator selection - HS/RC/XT/LP), CP (code protection). For 10 MHz operation, the HS oscillator mode must be selected with a crystal or resonator between OSC1 (pin 13) and OSC2 (pin 14). Using an RC oscillator with 10 MHz is outside the RC mode spec and will cause unreliable operation.
Place the crystal or resonator within 1 cm of the OSC1/OSC2 pins to minimize parasitic capacitance and EMI pickup. For HS mode at 10 MHz, add 15-33 pF loading capacitors from each OSC pin to ground (values depend on crystal specifications and are calculated as (CIN + COUT) where CIN/COUT are the crystal pin capacitances plus stray capacitance). Keep oscillator traces away from high-current switching traces such as relay driver outputs to avoid clock jitter from ground bounce.
The 44-pin PLCC (Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier) windowed ceramic package has J-leads on all four sides with 1.27 mm pitch. Use a PLCC-44 IC socket (e.g., 3M 8444-21B1-RK-T4 or equivalent) to allow UV erasure during development and easy replacement in production. The socket also protects the ceramic window from physical damage. For surface-mount production, migrate to PIC16C64A-04I/PT (TQFP-44) which uses standard SMT reflow profiles.
Compliance Information
PIC16C64A-10/L uses a windowed ceramic DIP/PLCC package containing lead (Pb) in the ceramic-glass seal, making it non-RoHS compliant. Microchip's lead-free RoHS-compliant equivalents are PIC16F877A-I/P and PIC16F877A-I/L (Flash, plastic package). REACH SVHC declarations available from Microchip product compliance page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified (automotive requires PIC16C65B automotive grade suffix /VAO or similar).
