PIC16C73BT-20I/SO - 8-Bit 20MHz 7KB OTP MCU 28-SOIC | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C73BT-20I/SO β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.95 | $4.95 |
| 10 | $4.46 | $44.60 |
| 100 | $3.97 | $397.00 |
| 500 | $3.57 | $1,785.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.18 | $3,180.00 |
PIC16C73BT-20I/SO Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, non-volatile program memory, working RAM, and peripheral interfaces onto one die. The PIC16C73B belongs to the mid-range PIC16 family, which sits below the PIC18 enhanced family and above the PIC12/PIC14 baseline families. The OTP variant contrasts with UV-erasable CERDIP parts and Flash-based PIC16F successors, making this part suited to volume production where code is fixed at the time of manufacture rather than re-programmed in the field.
Key features include a 20 MHz maximum clock rate, 192 bytes of RAM, 22 digital I/O pins, an integrated 8-channel 8-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), a USART, an SPI/I2C compatible synchronous serial port, two Capture/Compare/PWM modules, a watchdog timer, and a 5 V supply range of 4.0 V to 5.5 V. Brown-out Reset and Power-on Reset provide robust startup behavior in noisy industrial environments. The wide-body 28-SOIC footprint simplifies hand-soldering and inspection during prototyping while remaining compatible with automated SMT lines.
Architecturally, the device uses a Harvard-style memory bus with separate program and data paths, which is what allows most instructions to complete in one oscillator cycle. Peripheral integration eliminates the external ADC and UART chips a discrete 8051 design would require, shrinking both BOM count and PCB area in cost-sensitive embedded products.
Typical applications include industrial control panels, appliance motor controllers, simple sensor signal conditioning, automotive body electronics (non-safety), HVAC thermostats, and consumer remote-control hosts. Industrial grade (-40C to +85C) and OTP memory make the part appropriate when firmware is finalized before tooling and the end environment is electrically harsh but thermally moderate.
Design consideration: place a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor close to VDD and a bulk 10 uF tantalum or aluminum electrolytic capacitor near the supply pin. The MCLR reset pin requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD; in noisy environments add a 100 nF cap from MCLR to ground for glitch immunity. Program memory is one-time-programmable - choose the Flash PIC16F73 for prototypes or field-updatable deployments.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C73BT-20I/SO 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 PIC16C73BT-20I/SO (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, Program Memory Type, I/O Pins, ADC, Communication Peripherals.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C73B-20I/SO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C73B-20/SO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F73-I/SO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C74B-20I/SO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C73AT-20I/SO
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$5.75 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16C73BT-20I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit PIC RISC (Harvard) |
| Family | PIC16CXX mid-range (PIC16C73B) |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time Programmable) EPROM, 7 KB (4K x 14) |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 20 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 4.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 22 |
| RAM | 192 bytes |
| ADC | 8-channel, 8-bit |
| Timers | Timer0, Timer1, Timer2 |
| CCP Modules | 2 (Capture/Compare/PWM) |
| Serial Interfaces | USART + SPI/I2C synchronous port |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes (on-chip) |
| Brown-out Reset | Yes |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial, "I") |
| Package | 28-pin SOIC Wide Body (SO), Tape and Reel ("T") |
| Pin Count | 28 |
| Instruction Set | 35 single-word instructions |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
PIC16C73BT-20I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP β Master Clear (active low reset) / Programming voltage input |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 β PORTA bit 0 / Analog input 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 β PORTA bit 1 / Analog input 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2 β PORTA bit 2 / Analog input 2 |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF β PORTA bit 3 / Analog input 3 / External ADC reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI β PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/SS/AN4 β PORTA bit 5 / SPI Slave Select / Analog input 4 |
| Pin 8 | RE0/RD/AN5 β PORTE bit 0 / Read control for parallel slave port / Analog input 5 |
| Pin 9 | RE1/WR/AN6 β PORTE bit 1 / Write control for parallel slave port / Analog input 6 |
| Pin 10 | RE2/CS/AN7 β PORTE bit 2 / Chip select for parallel slave port / Analog input 7 |
| Pin 11 | VDD β Positive supply voltage (4.0 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 12 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 13 | OSC1/CLKIN β Crystal oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 14 | OSC2/CLKOUT β Crystal oscillator output / clock output |
| Pin 15 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI β PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 16 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 β PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 I/O |
| Pin 17 | RC2/CCP1 β PORTC bit 2 / CCP1 (Capture/Compare/PWM) I/O |
| Pin 18 | RC3/SCK/SCL β PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 19 | RC4/SDI/SDA β PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 20 | RC5/SDO β PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 21 | RC6/TX/CK β PORTC bit 6 / USART transmit / USART clock |
| Pin 22 | RC7/RX/DT β PORTC bit 7 / USART receive / USART data |
| Pin 23 | RB0/INT β PORTB bit 0 / External interrupt input |
| Pin 24 | RB1 β PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 25 | RB2 β PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 26 | RB3/PGM β PORTB bit 3 / Low-voltage programming input |
| Pin 27 | RB4 β PORTB bit 4 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 28 | RB5 β PORTB bit 5 (interrupt-on-change) |
Typical Applications
PIC16C73BT-20I/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Panels, Appliance Motor Control, HVAC Thermostats, Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety), Consumer Remote Controls / IR Hosts, Simple Sensor Signal Conditioning.
Industrial Control Panels
The PIC16C73BT-20I/SO fits industrial control panels because its industrial -40C to +85C temperature range, on-chip 8-channel 8-bit ADC, two CCP/PWM modules, and integrated USART eliminate the need for external signal-conditioning ICs. With 22 GPIO pins it can scan a 4x4 matrix keypad, drive a 16x2 character LCD via the parallel interface, and read multiple analog sensors including thermistors and pressure transducers in parallel. The 20 MHz core runs the standard mid-range instruction set at 200 ns per cycle, giving ample headroom for debounce, menu logic, and Modbus-RTU packet assembly. Brown-out Reset and the watchdog timer keep the controller reliable on factory floors with long cable runs and switching noise.
Recommended
Appliance Motor Control
The PIC16C73BT-20I/SO is well-suited to appliance motor-control boards because its two Capture/Compare/PWM modules can drive separate half-bridges for brushed DC or small universal motors, while the 20 MHz instruction rate delivers deterministic commutation loops under 50 us. Brown-out Reset and the watchdog timer help the firmware recover from inductive kickback and brown-out events during motor start-up. With 7 KB of OTP memory the controller can hold state-machine code plus lookup tables for soft-start profiles, and the 192 bytes of RAM are sufficient for ADCs, timers, and a small control loop buffer. The 28-SOIC package drops onto hand-solder-friendly footprints during service-repair board builds.
Recommended
HVAC Thermostats
Wall-mount HVAC thermostats benefit from the PIC16C73BT-20I/SO because the 8-channel 8-bit ADC can read indoor temperature (NTC thermistor), outdoor remote sensor, humidity chip, and setpoint potentiometer without external multiplexer ICs. The 22 I/O pins handle triac trigger outputs for the compressor contactor, fan relay, and heat-call stage, plus button matrix and LCD backlight PWM. Industrial -40C to +85C operation covers uninsulated wall cavities that swing from cold attics in winter to hot ceilings in summer. The OTP memory locks the calibration constants and prevents casual reverse-engineering of OEM-specific tuning tables.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety)
Non-safety body modules such as interior lighting controllers, window lifts, and seat positioners commonly use the PIC16C73BT-20I/SO thanks to its automotive-friendly 5 V supply tolerance and the 22 GPIO count that can drive multiple relays and H-bridge outputs. The integrated USART talks to other body ECUs over LIN or K-Line transceivers, while the SPI port links to a digital potentiometer or LED driver. The industrial -40C to +85C range covers cabin environments; for under-hood duty above +85C the AEC-Q100 qualified PIC16F73T-I/SO is required. Brown-out Reset keeps the controller predictable during cranking voltage drops to 6 V on a 12 V system.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Controls / IR Hosts
Universal remote controllers and IR host boards can use the PIC16C73BT-20I/SO because its 20 MHz core runs carrier-generation timing for 38 kHz / 40 kHz / 56 kHz IR protocols without CPU loading, and the CCP module generates the PWM carrier directly in hardware. With 7 KB of OTP memory the device can store a comprehensive code database for multiple appliance brands. The 22 I/O pins accommodate a 5x5 button matrix, status LEDs, and an IR receiver input on the interrupt-on-change pin. The industrial temperature range ensures reliable operation in living rooms with poor HVAC control.
Recommended
Simple Sensor Signal Conditioning
Standalone sensor transmitter modules for strain gauge, thermistor, or process-voltage inputs are a strong fit for the PIC16C73BT-20I/SO because the 8-channel 8-bit ADC handles multiple transducer signals, and the integrated USART provides an RS-232 / RS-485 output to the host PLC. With 7 KB OTP the firmware can hold linearization curves for several sensor types. The 20 MHz clock runs a 10 ms update rate easily, leaving spare cycles for diagnostics, checksum generation, and watchdog refresh. Industrial temperature rating and brown-out reset ensure stable operation in factory-floor enclosures.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C73BT-20I/SO β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C73B-20I/SO | PIC16F73-I/SO | PIC16C74B-20I/SO | PIC16C73AT-20I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SOIC wide-body | 28-SOIC wide-body (same) | 28-SOIC wide-body (same) | 28-SOIC wide-body (same) | 28-SOIC wide-body (same) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology (same) | Microchip Technology (same) | Microchip Technology (same) | Microchip Technology (same) |
| Program Memory | 7 KB OTP (4K x 14) | 7 KB OTP | 7 KB Flash | 4 KB OTP | 4 KB OTP (A-silicon) |
| Memory Type | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | Flash (reprogrammable) | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM |
| Maximum Clock | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| I/O Pins | 22 | 22 | 22 | 33 | 22 |
| ADC | 8-ch, 8-bit | 8-ch, 8-bit | 8-ch, 8-bit | 8-ch, 8-bit | 8-ch, 8-bit |
| Supply Voltage | 4.0 V to 5.5 V | 4.0 V to 5.5 V | 4.0 V to 5.5 V | 4.0 V to 5.5 V | 4.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Packaging Format | Tape and Reel | Tube | Tube / T&R | Tube / T&R | Tape and Reel |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial -40C to +85C operating range in Tape and Reel format (vs PIC16C73B-20/SO)
- Same-package drop-in for Flash-based PIC16F73-I/SO when re-programmability is needed (vs PIC16F73-I/SO)
- Same mid-range PIC16 core with 7 KB OTP vs 4 KB in PIC16C73AT (vs PIC16C73AT-20I/SO)
Design Notes
Place a 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin (pin 11) and a bulk 10 uF tantalum or aluminum electrolytic capacitor on the same supply trace. The PIC16C73B draws up to 20 mA peak when the oscillator and ADC are active; the bulk cap holds VDD above 4.0 V during high-current transients. Add a series ferrite bead between the bulk cap and the digital supply rail if the board shares a 5 V rail with relays or motors.
The MCLR reset pin (pin 1) is active-low and requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD. In electrically noisy environments (motor boards, automotive body modules), add a 100 nF capacitor from MCLR to ground and route the pin away from switching signals. Without this filter, random resets can corrupt the OTP-programmed firmware state. Also: the OTP program memory is one-time-programmable - a bad code image will permanently brick the part. Always validate firmware on the Flash PIC16F73-I/SO equivalent before committing to OTP volume.
Route the crystal traces (pins 13/14 OSC1/OSC2) as short as possible, both within 5 mm of the IC, and guard them with a ground pour on each side. Place crystal load capacitors (typically 15-22 pF for a 20 MHz crystal) directly at the oscillator pins with their ground ends terminating to the same ground as the VSS pin (pin 12). Avoid routing digital signal traces under the crystal or its capacitors - capacitive coupling can shift the oscillation frequency and introduce EMI.
For 28-SOIC wide-body hand-soldering, expose a small copper fill under the SOIC pads and add thermal relief spokes so the pad can be heated with a 2 mm chisel tip without disturbing the ground plane. During reflow, the wide-body package uses a standard JEDEC J-STD-020 profile with peak temperature of 250C for 20-30 seconds. For production volumes, the Tape and Reel format is compatible with most automated pick-and-place lines; the standard reel quantity is 1000 pieces per 13-inch reel.
Compliance Information
RoHS/REACH/lead-free/halogen-free status not stated in verified web data and marked as unknown; do not assume compliance without checking the manufacturer declaration. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this part is industrial-grade, not automotive-grade.
