PIC16C924-04I/L - 8-bit CMOS MCU with LCD Driver, 4MHz | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C924-04I/L β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.07 | $4.07 |
| 10 | $3.78 | $37.80 |
| 100 | $3.45 | $345.00 |
| 500 | $3.1 | $1,550.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.85 | $2,850.00 |
PIC16C924-04I/L Overview
What is an 8-bit microcontroller with LCD driver? An 8-bit MCU with integrated LCD driver is a single-chip computer that combines a CPU, non-volatile program memory, RAM, peripherals, and a segment/common LCD controller on one die, eliminating the need for an external LCD driver IC in segment-display products. Within the broader taxonomy, the PIC16C924 belongs to the PIC16C series of OTP/EPROM-based microcontrollers, which is itself a sub-family of Microchip's PIC16 mid-range architecture, which is itself a sub-family of 8-bit Harvard-architecture microcontrollers, which fall under the category of microcontrollers (MCUs), which are a class of embedded computing semiconductor.
Key features include an integrated LCD driver capable of 32 segments x 4 commons (128 segments total), a 5-channel 8-bit ADC, an SSP configurable as 3-wire SPI or 2-wire I2C, two 8-bit timers plus one 16-bit timer, a Watchdog Timer with its own on-chip RC oscillator, Power-On Reset, Brown-Out Reset, Power-Saving Sleep mode, and In-Circuit Serial Programming via two pins. The 35-instruction RISC core executes all single-cycle instructions in 500 ns (at 8 MHz oscillator) except program branches which take two cycles, and the device supports up to 8 MHz clock input.
Architecturally, the PIC16C924 uses a Harvard-class RISC core with separate program (14-bit wide EPROM) and data (8-bit wide SRAM) buses, plus an 8-level deep hardware stack, allowing deterministic interrupt latency. The on-chip LCD waveform generator handles static, 1/2, 1/3, and 1/4 multiplexed glass with type-A and type-B waveforms, freeing the CPU from refresh overhead. Industrial (-40C to +85C) operating range and CMOS low-power design (typical <2 mA active, <20 uA standby) suit battery and line-powered instrument panels.
Typical applications include appliance control panels (washing machines, microwaves, HVAC thermostats), instrumentation meters (multimeters, panel gauges), medical device displays (glucose meters, infusion pumps), point-of-sale terminals, and industrial operator interfaces requiring alphanumeric segment LCDs.
Design tip: EPROM devices require a quartz windowed package or one-time-programmed (OTP) plastic package. For prototyping, prefer the JW windowed variant; for production, the L (PLCC) plastic OTP variant is recommended.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, pin-compatible drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the original Microchip datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C924-04I/L β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C924T-04I/L
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$7.95 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16C924-04/L
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C924-04I/L Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit PIC16C mid-range RISC (Harvard) |
| Program Memory Type | EPROM (One-Time-Programmable in plastic PLCC) |
| Program Memory Size | 4K x 14-bit (4096 instructions) |
| Data RAM | 176 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | None (EPROM-based MCU) |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 8 MHz (200 ns instruction cycle at 20 MHz / -04 = 4 MHz osc, 500 ns cycle) |
| Instruction Set Size | 35 single-word instructions |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 4.5 V to 6.0 V |
| Digital I/O Pins | 52 |
| ADC | 5 channels x 8-bit |
| Timers | 2 x 8-bit + 1 x 16-bit (TMR0, TMR1, TMR2) |
| LCD Driver | 32 segments x 4 commons (128-segment total) |
| Serial Interface | SSP (configurable as SPI or I2C) |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes (with dedicated on-chip RC oscillator) |
| Brown-Out Reset | Yes |
| Power-On Reset | Yes |
| In-Circuit Serial Programming | Yes (2-pin ICSP) |
| Package | 68-pin PLCC (L) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial, 'I' grade) |
| RoHS Status | Non-compliant (contains lead - EPROM windowed/OTP variant) |
PIC16C924-04I/L 68-pin plcc (l) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for PIC16C924-04I/L (68-pin plcc (l) package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for PIC16C924-04I/L.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
PIC16C924-04I/L is suitable for 6 applications: Appliance Control Panels, Instrumentation Meters (DMMs, Panel Gauges), Medical Device Displays, Point-of-Sale Terminals, Industrial Operator Interfaces, Automotive Dashboard Clusters (cabin applications).
Appliance Control Panels
The PIC16C924-04I/L is purpose-built for appliance control panels such as washing machines, microwave ovens, dishwashers, and HVAC thermostats, where an alphanumeric or 7-segment LCD must be driven directly by the MCU. Its on-chip 32-segment x 4-common LCD controller eliminates the need for an external driver IC like the PCF8576 or HT1621, reducing BOM cost by ~USD 1.20 per unit. The 52 digital I/O lines handle keypad scanning (up to 8x8 matrix), relay drivers, triac zero-cross control, and sensor inputs, while the 5-channel 8-bit ADC reads NTC temperature sensors, water level probes, and humidity sensors. Industrial -40C to +85C temperature rating supports garage and outdoor-cabinet installations.
Recommended
Instrumentation Meters (DMMs, Panel Gauges)
Digital multimeters, clamp meters, panel-mount process gauges, and weighing scales leverage the PIC16C924-04I/L's integrated LCD driver to display measured values on 3.5- or 4.5-digit 7-segment LCDs without external hardware. The 5-channel 8-bit ADC with internal sample-and-hold supports voltage, current, and resistance measurement signal chains (after external op-amp conditioning), while the 16-bit TMR1 enables accurate frequency measurement for RPM and Hz displays. EPROM program memory provides permanent code storage in field-deployed instruments where firmware updates are infrequent and code protection is desired.
Recommended
Medical Device Displays
Medical devices such as blood-glucose meters, ambulatory infusion pumps, patient thermometers, and portable spirometers use the PIC16C924-04I/L for its low-power CMOS design (typical 2 mA active, <20 uA standby in LCD mode) and integrated segment LCD. Battery-powered medical products benefit from the PIC16C924's sleep mode with LCD-off current under 1 uA, extending coin-cell or 2xAA battery life to 1-2 years of standby. The 14-bit EPROM instruction width provides ample code space for calibration routines, lookup-table linearization of NTC sensors, and AES-light data integrity checks. The industrial temperature range is critical for cold-storage pharmaceutical environments.
Recommended
Point-of-Sale Terminals
Point-of-sale (POS) terminals, fuel pump displays, and handheld barcode scanners employ the PIC16C924-04I/L where an integrated 128-segment LCD suffices for transaction amount, item count, and status icons. The SSP peripheral configurable as I2C connects to external EEPROM for transaction-log storage, while SPI connects to a magnetic-stripe reader or NFC frontend. The 52 I/O lines accommodate a 4x4 keypad matrix, multi-tone buzzer, RS-232 level shifter, and printer interface. Industrial temperature grade suits outdoor gas-pump and parking-meter kiosks.
Recommended
Industrial Operator Interfaces
Industrial operator interfaces, machine-control HMIs, variable-frequency drive status panels, and PLC text displays leverage the PIC16C924-04I/L's industrial -40C to +85C rating, robust ESD performance, and integrated segment LCD. The Brown-Out Reset and Watchdog Timer with dedicated on-chip RC oscillator protect against supply transients common in motor-drive cabinets and factory-floor power systems. SPI or I2C master connectivity enables communication with host PLCs, while the 16-bit TMR1 captures pulse-width measurement from encoder feedback. EPROM-based code is advantageous in hazardous-location equipment where firmware field-update is intentionally restricted for safety certification reasons.
Recommended
Automotive Dashboard Clusters (cabin applications)
Within cabin-only automotive applications (not under-hood), the PIC16C924-04I/L supports gauge clusters, climate-control heads, infotainment secondary displays, and tire-pressure-monitoring telltale displays. Its 32-segment x 4-common LCD drives 14-segment alphanumeric characters or 7-segment numeric digits with no flicker. The 5-channel ADC reads cabin temperature sensors and battery voltage monitor, while SPI connects to main body-control modules. Note: the PIC16C924 is industrial-grade (-40C to +85C), which is appropriate for cabin but NOT for under-hood or AEC-Q100 automotive applications; for AEC-Q100 requirements, migrate to PIC16F1939-I/L or similar automotive-qualified PIC16F parts.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C924-04I/L β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C924T-04I/L | PIC16C924-04/L | PIC16C924-04I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | PLCC-68 (L) | PLCC-68 (L) - same | PLCC-68 (L) - same | TQFP-64 - cross-package |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory | 4K x 14-bit EPROM | 4K x 14-bit EPROM | 4K x 14-bit EPROM | 4K x 14-bit EPROM |
| Data RAM | 176 bytes | 176 bytes | 176 bytes | 176 bytes |
| Max Clock Frequency | 8 MHz (-04 = 4 MHz osc) | 8 MHz (-04 = 4 MHz osc) | 8 MHz (-04 = 4 MHz osc) | 8 MHz (-04 = 4 MHz osc) |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial -40C to +85C | Industrial -40C to +85C | Commercial 0C to +70C | Industrial -40C to +85C |
| LCD Driver | 32 seg x 4 com (128 total) | 32 seg x 4 com (128 total) | 32 seg x 4 com (128 total) | 32 seg x 4 com (128 total) |
| Packaging Form | Tube (L) | Tape and Reel (T) | Tube | Tray (PT) |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C) in standard PLCC-68 (vs PIC16C924-04/L)
- Tube packaging for prototype and small-batch production (vs PIC16C924T-04I/L)
- Same PLCC-68 footprint across the PIC16C924 family (vs PIC16C924-04I/PT (TQFP-64))
Design Notes
Place a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor within 6 mm of each VDD/VDD2 pin pair and a 10 uF bulk tantalum or ceramic capacitor adjacent to the package. The PIC16C924 has separate analog (AVDD) and digital (VDD) supply pins; both must be bypassed independently to prevent ADC noise coupling into the LCD segment waveforms. Maintain a ground ring around the 68-pin PLCC land pattern with at least 8 vias stitching the inner ground plane to suppress radiated emissions from the 8 MHz oscillator.
The PIC16C924-04I/L is an EPROM device; once programmed in a plastic PLCC package, it cannot be erased or reprogrammed. For development, use the PIC16C924-04I/JW ceramic windowed package (DIP-68 or CLCC-68 windowed) and erase under UV light for ~20 minutes. Do not exceed the absolute maximum VDD of 7.0 V or the I/O pin voltage beyond VDD+0.3 V; the older EPROM process has less ESD margin than Flash PIC16F parts. Programming voltage VPP of 13.5 V must be applied only during ICSP programming, not during normal operation.
Estimated: at VDD = 5.0 V, fOSC = 4 MHz, all peripherals active, the PIC16C924-04I/L draws approximately 2-3 mA. Adding the LCD driver with all 32 segments active at 1/4 duty and type-B waveform adds approximately 0.5 mA. Sleep mode with LCD-off reduces current to <1 uA; with LCD-on in sleep (using TMR1 LP oscillator), current is typically 15-25 uA. For battery-powered designs, enable Sleep aggressively and wake via Watchdog Timer (WDT) every 1-2 seconds for button polling or sensor sampling.
Compliance Information
PIC16C924-04I/L contains lead in the PLCC package finish and is NOT RoHS compliant per Microchip legacy product status. Industrial temperature grade but NOT AEC-Q100 qualified. For RoHS-compliant or AEC-Q100 automotive applications, use the PIC16F927-I/L (RoHS, industrial) or PIC16F1939-I/L (AEC-Q100) respectively.
