PIC16C72A-20I/SS - 8-Bit 20MHz 3.5KB OTP MCU 28-SSOP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C72A-20I/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.6 | $4.60 |
| 10 | $4.14 | $41.40 |
| 100 | $3.59 | $359.00 |
| 500 | $3.14 | $1,570.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.79 | $2,790.00 |
PIC16C72A-20I/SS Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer containing a CPU core, non-volatile program memory, working RAM, and a set of programmable peripheral interfaces. The 8-bit class of microcontrollers dominates cost-sensitive embedded control tasks, where deterministic instruction timing and low power are valued more than raw throughput. PIC microcontrollers, originally pioneered by General Instrument and popularized by Microchip Technology, use a Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses and a reduced instruction set, allowing most instructions to execute in a single instruction cycle.
The PIC16C72A executes instructions in 200 ns at 20 MHz, and its core features an 8-level deep hardware stack, direct/indirect/relative addressing modes, and a programmable code protection bit. The five 8-bit ADC channels with input multiplexing support sensor acquisition without external analog components, while the 8-bit/16-bit Timer0/Timer1/Timer2 blocks and CCP module support PWM-driven motor, lighting and switching applications.
Operating from 2.5 V to 5.5 V (industry-standard 5 V), the PIC16C72A includes brown-out reset, power-on reset, watchdog timer with its own on-chip RC oscillator, and an in-circuit serial programming interface. The 28-SSOP package (209 mil body) provides 22 digital I/O lines with high-current sink/source capability. The OTP memory is one-time programmable, requiring factory or field programming before deployment.
Typical applications include appliance control, automotive body and chassis subsystems, HVAC fan and damper control, smart-card readers, battery chargers, and small-form-factor sensor interface boards. The wide operating temperature range of -40 °C to +85 °C (industrial grade, denoted by the I suffix) supports harsh environments.
When designing with this device, ensure adequate decoupling (100 nF ceramic at VDD) and reserve an MCLR pull-up since the master-clear pin is used for in-circuit programming. The OTP memory restricts firmware iteration in production; consider the PIC16F72 flash variant for development.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternative MPNs, and practical design guidance not consolidated on the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C72A-20I/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 PIC16C72A-20I/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Timers, ADC, Core Architecture, MSL Level, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C72A-20I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.79 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C72A-20I/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$3.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C72-20I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C72-20/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$3.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C72-20E/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$4.04 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F72-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C72A-20I/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16C (8-bit RISC, Harvard) |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time-Programmable) EPROM |
| Program Memory Size | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) |
| Data RAM Size | 128 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz (200 ns instruction cycle) |
| Instruction Set Size | 35 single-word instructions |
| Digital I/O Pins | 22 |
| ADC | 5 channels, 8-bit resolution |
| Timers | 3 (Timer0 8-bit, Timer1 16-bit, Timer2 8-bit) |
| CCP Modules | 1 (Capture/Compare/PWM) |
| Serial Interface | USART (SCI) |
| Supply Voltage | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +85 °C (Industrial) |
| Package | 28-SSOP (209 mil) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes, with dedicated on-chip RC oscillator |
| Brown-out Reset | Yes |
| In-Circuit Programming | Yes (ICSP via MCLR/RB6/RB7) |
PIC16C72A-20I/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP — Master Clear (reset) input / programming voltage input |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — Port A bit 0 / Analog input channel 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — Port A bit 1 / Analog input channel 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2 — Port A bit 2 / Analog input channel 2 |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF — Port A bit 3 / Analog input channel 3 / ADC voltage reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — Port A bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS — Port A bit 5 / Analog input channel 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator crystal input / external clock input |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator crystal output / clock output |
| Pin 11 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — Port C bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 12 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — Port C bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / 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 TX / USART clock |
| Pin 18 | RC7/RX/DT — Port C bit 7 / USART RX / USART data |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 21 | RB0/INT — Port B bit 0 / External interrupt input |
| Pin 22 | RB1 — Port B bit 1 |
| Pin 23 | RB2 — Port B bit 2 |
| Pin 24 | RB3/PGM — Port B bit 3 / LVP programming input |
| 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
PIC16C72A-20I/SS is suitable for 6 applications: White-Goods Appliance Control, Automotive Body Electronics, HVAC Fan and Damper Control, Battery Chargers and Power Management, Smart Sensor Interface Boards, Industrial Timer and Counter Modules.
White-Goods Appliance Control
The PIC16C72A-20I/SS is well suited to washing-machine, dishwasher, and microwave-oven control boards. Its 20 MHz PIC16 RISC core and 200 ns instruction cycle handle user-interface scanning, motor PWM drive via the CCP module, and relay sequencing with deterministic timing. The 5-channel 8-bit ADC reads water level, temperature, and humidity sensors directly, eliminating external analog components. OTP memory locks the firmware at production cost, while the 28-SSOP package withstands the thermal environment of an enclosed appliance chassis. Compared with newer Cortex-M0 parts, the PIC16C72A trades software flexibility for sub-$3 unit cost at volume.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics
Inside cabin and body-control modules, the PIC16C72A-20I/SS drives seat-position motors, mirror adjusters, and interior lighting via its CCP/PWM block and 22 digital I/O lines. The USART links to a body-control network, while the 5-channel 8-bit ADC reads switch positions and thermistor inputs. Operating from -40 °C to +85 °C industrial range, the part tolerates the cabin thermal envelope. For under-hood deployment, designers should select an AEC-Q100 qualified sibling such as PIC16F72-E/SS. The 28-SSOP footprint supports standard SMT lines already qualified for automotive Tier-1 contract manufacturers.
Recommended
HVAC Fan and Damper Control
Fan-speed regulators, zone dampers, and thermostat actuators use the PIC16C72A-20I/SS because of its three timers and dedicated CCP/PWM module, which together generate the variable-duty drive signals for triac-gated AC motors. The 5-channel 8-bit ADC reads NTC room sensors and humidity transducers simultaneously, while the USART provides a Modbus or simple UART link to a central HVAC controller. Brown-out reset and watchdog timer with a dedicated on-chip RC oscillator protect the design against supply droop common to long motor wiring.
Recommended
Battery Chargers and Power Management
Lead-acid and lithium-ion charger designs use the PIC16C72A-20I/SS to implement CC/CV charge profiles. The 8-bit ADC monitors battery voltage and charge current with 5 mV resolution (5 V reference / 1024), while the PWM output drives a buck converter at up to 20 MHz instruction rate. The watchdog timer resets the charger if firmware hangs, and brown-out reset protects against partial brown-out during solar or generator input. Operating from 2.5 V to 5.5 V, the MCU runs directly from a 3.3 V regulator for single-cell Li-ion packs.
Recommended
Smart Sensor Interface Boards
Sensor hubs aggregating temperature, pressure, and flow transmitters leverage the PIC16C72A-20I/SS's 5-channel 8-bit ADC, three timers, and USART to build compact multi-transmitter boards. The 20 MHz core executes linearization and basic compensation algorithms within 200 ns per instruction, supporting 10 kHz sample rates across all channels. The 28-SSOP package mounts on standard industrial sensor PCBs and survives -40 °C to +85 °C industrial environments. The OTP memory locks calibration coefficients, reducing field-tampering risk.
Recommended
Industrial Timer and Counter Modules
Programmable logic controllers, conveyor sequencers, and industrial counter modules use the PIC16C72A-20I/SS to combine the 16-bit Timer1, the 8-bit Timer0 and Timer2, and the CCP module into precise event counters and PWM outputs. The USART supports RS-232 or RS-485 comms to a master PLC, while the 22 digital I/O lines interface to optocouplers and 24 V industrial signals via external drivers. The hardware stack of 8 levels handles nested interrupt-driven routines without software stack overflow.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C72A-20I/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C72-20I/SS | PIC16C72-20/SS | PIC16C72-20E/SS | PIC16F72-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SSOP | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same |
| Program Memory Type | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | Flash (reprogrammable) |
| Program Memory Size | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Data RAM Size | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes |
| ADC Channels | 5 x 8-bit | 5 x 8-bit | 5 x 8-bit | 5 x 8-bit | 5 x 8-bit |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +85 °C (Industrial) | -40 °C to +85 °C (Industrial) | 0 °C to +70 °C (Commercial) | -40 °C to +125 °C (Extended) | -40 °C to +85 °C (Industrial) |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial temperature range in 28-SSOP for cost-sensitive production (vs PIC16C72-20/SS)
- Flash-programmable drop-in alternative available (vs PIC16F72-I/SS)
- Compact QFN option for height-constrained designs (vs PIC16C72A-20I/ML)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of each VDD pin (pins 9 and 20) and a bulk 10 µF tantalum or aluminium-polymer capacitor at the board supply input. The PIC16C72A-20I/SS contains an internal power-on reset and brown-out reset; the brown-out trip voltage is programmable but the firmware-default 4.0 V threshold suits most 5 V systems. Estimated: with VDD = 5 V and I_DD = 2 mA at 20 MHz, each decoupling cap dissipates negligible power, but traces should be short to limit switching transients on adjacent ADC channels.
Route the OSC1/OSC2 traces short and symmetric, guarding them with a ground ring on both sides when using a high-speed crystal (>16 MHz). Place the crystal within 5 mm of the MCU and avoid running digital signal traces parallel to the oscillator traces. The MCLR pin must have a 10 kΩ pull-up to VDD and a 100 nF cap to ground for in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) and reliable reset. Use the SSOP-28 land pattern with thermal relief spokes to ease hand-rework without cold joints.
Avoid powering the PIC16C72A-20I/SS below 2.5 V - the ADC and brown-out reset lose accuracy. Do not leave the MCLR pin floating; a floating MCLR causes intermittent resets. The OTP memory is one-time programmable, so commit firmware only after full validation on a PIC16F72-I/SS Flash prototype - migrating back from C72A to F72 requires no PCB changes. Estimated: programming the OTP on a factory line requires 13 V VPP on MCLR for 100 ms via the Microchip MPLAB PM3, so provision an ICSP header for factory programming even if no field updates are planned.
Compliance Information
Per Microchip product page and DigiKey listing. Industrial -40 to +85 °C temperature grade only; the I suffix denotes industrial range. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - select PIC16F72-E/SS for automotive.
