PIC16C710-20E/SS - 8-Bit 20MHz OTP MCU with ADC | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C710-20E/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.85 | $3.85 |
| 10 | $3.42 | $34.20 |
| 100 | $2.99 | $299.00 |
| 500 | $2.65 | $1,325.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.3 | $2,300.00 |
PIC16C710-20E/SS Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single integrated circuit that contains a processor core, program memory, working RAM, and multiple peripherals such as timers, communication interfaces, and analog-to-digital converters. Microcontrollers sit at the heart of embedded systems, executing firmware to control sensors, actuators, displays, and communication links. Within the broader semiconductor taxonomy, an MCU belongs to the logic/Integrated Circuits > Microcontrollers category, and more specifically to the PIC mid-range family descended from Microchip's original Harvard-architecture PIC design. The PIC16C71X series adds on-chip ADC, making it suitable for mixed-signal embedded designs where analog sensing must coexist with digital control logic.
Key features of the PIC16C710 include 36-byte general-purpose RAM, 64-byte EEPROM data memory (note: this part is OTP program + no separate EEPROM, only data EEPROM emulation in some variants), four 8-bit ADC channels with selectable reference, internal and external interrupt sources, and a programmable code-protection mechanism. The wide 2.5 V to 6.0 V operating voltage range supports both 3.3 V and 5 V system designs, and the 20 MHz clock rate provides 5 MIPS of processing throughput for real-time control loops.
Architecturally, the PIC16C710 uses a 14-bit instruction word with single-cycle execution except for branch instructions, which take two cycles. The Harvard architecture separates program and data memory buses, eliminating the fetch-decode bottleneck of von Neumann designs. The 8-bit ALU and 8-bit working register (W) handle arithmetic and logic operations, while 36 general-purpose RAM bytes serve as data storage with direct and indirect addressing modes.
Typical applications include automotive sensor signal conditioning, industrial control with analog inputs, appliance controls, battery chargers, and low-cost consumer devices. The combination of integrated ADC, ample I/O, and OTP programmability makes it well-suited for production-grade designs where code stability and small footprint are priorities. Design consideration: the OTP nature of program memory means firmware must be fully validated before production programming—once programmed, the code cannot be changed. For prototyping or field-upgradable designs, Flash-based PIC16F equivalents are typically preferred.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C710-20E/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 PIC16C710-20E/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Timers, Program Memory Size, Operating Temperature Range, Package, ADC.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C710-20I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.61 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C710-20/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.46 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C710-04/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C711-20E/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C710-20E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F710-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C710-20E/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | PIC 16C |
| Core Architecture | 8-bit RISC (PIC mid-range) |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle Time | 200 ns |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time Programmable) |
| Program Memory Size | 896 B (512 × 14-bit) |
| EEPROM | None (data EEPROM emulation in some variants) |
| I/O Pins | 13 |
| ADC Channels | 4 × 8-bit |
| Timers | Timer0 (8-bit with 8-bit prescaler) |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes |
| Brown-Out Reset (BOR) | Yes |
| Package | 20-SSOP |
| Pin Count | 20 |
| Terminal Form | Gull Wing |
| Temperature Grade | Automotive (-40 °C to +125 °C) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
PIC16C710-20E/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2/AN2 — Bidirectional I/O pin / analog channel 2 |
| Pin 2 | RA3/AN3/VREF — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 3 / ADC reference voltage |
| Pin 3 | RA4/T0CKI — Bidirectional I/O / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 4 | RA5/MCLR/VPP — Bidirectional I/O / Master Clear (reset) input / programming voltage |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RB0/INT — Bidirectional I/O / external interrupt input |
| Pin 7 | RB1 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 8 | RB2 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 9 | RB3 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 10 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 11 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 12 | RB6 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 13 | RB7 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 15 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator crystal output / clock output |
| Pin 16 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator crystal input / external clock input |
| Pin 17 | RA0/AN0 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 0 |
| Pin 18 | RA1/AN1 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 1 |
| Pin 19 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 20 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
PIC16C710-20E/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Automotive Sensor Signal Conditioning, Industrial Process Control, White Goods and Appliance Control, Battery-Powered Portable Instruments, Smart Home Sensor Hubs, Consumer Electronics Sub-system Controller.
Automotive Sensor Signal Conditioning
The PIC16C710-20E/SS fits automotive sensor signal conditioning with its 4-channel 8-bit ADC and automotive-grade -40°C to +125°C operating range. It samples analog signals from temperature, pressure, or position sensors and converts them to digital values for system-level control. The 20MHz/5MIPS throughput is sufficient for periodic sensor reads at sub-millisecond cadence. Placed on a small PCB near the sensor harness, it provides local digitization and CAN/LIN-ready digital outputs while meeting AEC-Q100-style thermal endurance. Unlike higher-pin-count PICs, the 20-SSOP footprint keeps the BOM compact for under-hood modules.
Recommended
Industrial Process Control
Industrial process control applications benefit from the PIC16C710-20E/SS's integrated ADC, watchdog timer, and brown-out reset features that provide robust unattended operation in factory environments. The device monitors analog process variables such as tank level, flow rate, or pressure via its 4 ADC channels and drives digital outputs for relays, valves, or indicators. Its 36-byte RAM supports modest control loops while the OTP memory locks firmware to prevent field tampering. Compared with discrete analog circuitry, the integrated ADC and 5MIPS CPU reduce board area and improve noise immunity on long analog runs.
Recommended
White Goods and Appliance Control
White goods such as washing machines, dishwashers, and microwave ovens use the PIC16C710-20E/SS for front-panel control, sensor acquisition, and motor/relay timing. The 13 GPIO pins drive multiplexed LED or LCD displays, keypad scanning, and discrete actuator outputs while the 4-channel ADC reads temperature, water level, or humidity sensors. The automotive temperature grade (E suffix) supports the high thermal environment of appliance cabinets. Compared with mechanical timers, MCU-based control enables energy-efficient variable-speed operation and adaptive cycles that improve user satisfaction.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Portable Instruments
Battery-powered portable instruments leverage the PIC16C710-20E/SS's wide 2.5V to 6.0V operating range to run from a single Li-ion cell (3.0-4.2V) or two AA cells (3.0V). The integrated ADC digitizes sensor data and the 5MIPS throughput handles user interface and data logging. Brown-out reset protects against low-battery corruption of volatile state. The 20-SSOP package consumes minimal PCB area, important for handheld form factors. The PIC16C710-04/SS variant at 4MHz further extends battery life for applications that can tolerate reduced throughput.
Recommended
Smart Home Sensor Hubs
Smart home sensor hubs use the PIC16C710-20E/SS to aggregate analog signals from multiple sensors (motion, light, temperature, gas) and forward processed data to a higher-level gateway. The 4-channel 8-bit ADC reads analog sensors directly while the GPIO pins interface to digital sensors or drive status LEDs. The OTP program memory locks production firmware to prevent unauthorized modification in deployed units. Compared with Wi-Fi/BLE SoCs, the bare PIC16C710 reduces BOM cost and power consumption in battery or energy-harvested nodes that only need local analog conditioning.
Recommended
Consumer Electronics Sub-system Controller
Consumer electronics sub-systems such as remote controls, toys, and educational kits use the PIC16C710-20E/SS as a cost-effective local controller. The 13 GPIO pins drive LEDs, keypads, piezo buzzers, and IR transmitters while the ADC reads analog joysticks or battery voltage. The 20 MHz clock and 5 MIPS throughput support basic pulse-width modulation for LED dimming or motor speed control. Compared with multi-core SoCs, the PIC16C710 minimizes per-unit cost in consumer goods where the MCU is a small fraction of total BOM.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C710-20E/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C710-20I/SS | PIC16C710-20/SS | PIC16C710-04/SS | PIC16C711-20E/SS | PIC16F710-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-SSOP | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 4 MHz (-80%) | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (896 B) | OTP (896 B) | OTP (896 B) | OTP (896 B) | OTP (1 KB, +14%) | Flash (field-upgradeable) |
| ADC Resolution | 8-bit | 8-bit | 8-bit | 8-bit | 14-bit (+75% resolution) | 8-bit |
| ADC Channels | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Temperature Grade | Automotive (-40 to +125 °C) | Industrial (-40 to +85 °C) | Commercial (0 to +70 °C) | Automotive (-40 to +125 °C) | Automotive (-40 to +125 °C) | Industrial (-40 to +85 °C) |
| I/O Pins | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Key Differentiators
- Automotive temperature grade in compact SSOP-20 footprint (vs PIC16C710-20I/SS)
- Drop-in SSOP-20 upgrade path to 14-bit ADC precision (vs PIC16C711-20E/SS)
- OTP cost optimization for high-volume production (vs PIC16F710-I/SS)
Design Notes
Estimated: at VDD=5V and 20MHz with all peripherals active, the PIC16C710-20E/SS typical IDD is in the 5-15mA range. For battery-powered designs, switch to the 4MHz grade (PIC16C710-04/SS) or use sleep mode aggressively. Place a 100nF decoupling capacitor within 5mm of the VDD pin and a 10uF bulk capacitor on the supply rail. Brown-out reset (BOR) is enabled by configuration bits—keep it enabled to prevent code corruption during supply droops.
The OTP program memory cannot be erased or rewritten after programming, unlike Flash PIC16F variants. Validate firmware on a PIC16F710-I/SS development platform before committing to OTP production programming. The MCLR/VPP pin (pin 4) is shared with RA5—ensure the MCLR circuit does not conflict with RA5 digital I/O usage if both functions are needed. The ADC requires a stable reference voltage on RA3/VREF; noise on this pin degrades conversion accuracy by several LSBs.
Route the analog inputs (AN0-AN3, RA0-RA3) away from digital switching traces to minimize ADC coupling noise. Use a ground plane under the SSOP-20 footprint to provide low-impedance return paths. Keep the OSC1/OSC2 crystal traces short and symmetric, surrounded by ground pour, to reduce EMI radiation and clock jitter. Place a 1MΩ parallel resistor across OSC1/OSC2 if using a crystal, or use a ceramic resonator with internal capacitors for cost-sensitive designs.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product environmental documentation. The automotive temperature grade (E suffix, –40 °C to +125 °C) supports automotive-style thermal endurance but is not formally AEC-Q100 qualified per the data provided. Engineers integrating into AEC-Q100 systems should verify the latest Microchip qualification status.
