PIC16CR73-I/SO - 7KB ROM 8-Bit MCU 20MHz 28-SOIC | Microchip
MPN: PIC16CR73-I/SO β End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.1 | $7.10 |
| 10 | $6.45 | $64.50 |
| 100 | $5.8 | $580.00 |
| 500 | $5.2 | $2,600.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.7 | $4,700.00 |
PIC16CR73-I/SO Overview
An 8-bit ROM microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer with mask-programmed read-only memory, designed for cost-sensitive, high-volume embedded applications where the firmware is finalized at the time of order. It belongs to the hierarchy: microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor IC. Unlike flash-based parts such as the PIC16F73, the PIC16CR73 cannot be reprogrammed in-circuit, which reduces per-unit cost but eliminates field-upgrade flexibility. The mid-range PIC16 core executes most instructions in a single 200ns cycle at 20MHz and includes a hardware multiplier, interrupts, and a watchdog timer.
Key specifications include: 7KB (4K x 14) program ROM, 192 bytes of data RAM, 22 I/O pins with individual direction control, five 10-bit ADC channels, USART/SPI/I2C serial interfaces, two 8-bit timers and one 16-bit timer, 14-bit instruction word, 20MHz maximum clock, and an industrial -40C to +85C operating temperature range. Brown-out reset, power-on reset, watchdog timer with on-chip RC oscillator, and code protection are all integrated. The 28-SOIC (SO) package measures 7.50mm body width with 1.27mm pin pitch for hand-solder-friendly through-hole-compatible surface-mount assembly.
Typical applications include consumer appliance controls, industrial sensor interfaces, low-cost motor control, automotive body electronics, and embedded data acquisition where the firmware is stable and final. The PIC16CR73-I/SO is particularly useful in designs migrating from PIC16C73 to flash-based PIC16F73 while maintaining the same SOIC footprint and pinout, or in long-life products where field firmware updates are unnecessary. The part is supplied in tape-and-reel packaging for automated SMT assembly lines.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16CR73-I/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 PIC16CR73-I/SO (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Timers, Program Memory Size, ADC, Core Architecture, Instruction Cycle Time.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F73-I/SO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C73B-04I/SO
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$7.1 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16C73A-20I/SO
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$9.3 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F76-I/SO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F737-I/SO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA8A-AU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16CR73-I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Program Memory Size | 7 KB (4K x 14) ROM |
| RAM Size | 192 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | Not present (ROM-based device) |
| Number of I/O Pins | 22 |
| CPU Core | PIC16C mid-range, 8-bit, 14-bit instruction word |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle Time | 200 ns at 20 MHz |
| ADC | 10-bit, 5 channels |
| Operating Voltage (Vdd) | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Package | 28-pin SOIC (SO), 7.50 mm body width |
| Pin Pitch | 1.27 mm |
| Serial Communication | USART, SPI, I2C (MSSP) |
| Timers | 2 x 8-bit Timer0/Timer2, 1 x 16-bit Timer1 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited floor life) |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | Lead-free terminal finish (per Microchip marking); verify lot-level compliance |
| Memory Type | Mask ROM (factory-programmed) |
PIC16CR73-I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP β Master Clear (Reset) input / Programming voltage |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 β PORTA bit 0 / Analog input channel 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 β PORTA bit 1 / Analog input channel 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2 β PORTA bit 2 / Analog input channel 2 |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF β PORTA bit 3 / Analog input 3 / ADC voltage reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI β PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input (open-drain) |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS β PORTA bit 5 / Analog input 4 / SPI Slave Select |
| Pin 8 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKIN β Oscillator crystal input / External clock input |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKOUT β Oscillator crystal output / Clock output (Fosc/4) |
| Pin 11 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI β PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 12 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 β PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / Capture-Compare-PWM2 |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 β PORTC bit 2 / Capture-Compare-PWM1 |
| Pin 14 | RC3/SCK/SCL β PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 15 | RC4/SDI/SDA β PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 16 | RC5/SDO β PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 17 | RC6/TX/CK β PORTC bit 6 / USART transmit / USART clock |
| Pin 18 | RC7/RX/DT β PORTC bit 7 / USART receive / USART data |
| Pin 19 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD β Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 21 | RB0/INT β PORTB bit 0 / External interrupt input |
| Pin 22 | RB1 β PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 23 | RB2 β PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 24 | RB3/PGM β PORTB bit 3 / Low-voltage programming input |
| Pin 25 | RB4 β PORTB bit 4 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 26 | RB5 β PORTB bit 5 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC β PORTB bit 6 / In-circuit debugger clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD β PORTB bit 7 / In-circuit debugger data |
Typical Applications
PIC16CR73-I/SO is suitable for 7 applications: Consumer Appliance Control, Industrial Sensor Interface Module, Low-Cost Motor Speed Controller, Automotive Body Electronics (Cabin-Grade), Embedded Data Acquisition Front-End, Educational and Hobby Embedded Projects, Legacy Replacement for PIC16C73 Designs.
Consumer Appliance Control
Cost-optimized embedded control for white goods such as washing machines, microwave ovens, and coffee makers. The PIC16CR73-I/SO fits because its 7KB mask ROM holds the full appliance control state machine, the 22 I/O pins drive relays and LED indicators, and the 10-bit ADC reads temperature sensors and potentiometers. Compared to flash parts, the mask-ROM variant reduces per-unit cost by 15-25% in production volumes above 10K units, the typical threshold where appliance OEMs switch to ROM MCUs. The industrial -40 to +85C temperature range covers laundry-room and kitchen environments, and the 5-channel ADC simplifies multiplexed thermistor arrays. The 20 MHz clock also supports real-time user-interface tasks like seven-segment multiplexing at full refresh rate without CPU stall.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Interface Module
Front-end signal conditioning and digital conversion for 4-20 mA or 0-10V industrial sensors feeding a PLC. The PIC16CR73-I/SO suits this role because its 10-bit ADC with 5 input channels handles multi-sensor scanning at the typical 100 Hz industrial update rate. The USART peripheral streams converted values to a host PLC over RS-485 using an external transceiver. The 22 I/O pins also drive alarm LEDs, relay outputs, and a local 7-segment display for stand-alone monitoring. Industrial temperature rating and the proven PIC16C mid-range reliability make it suitable for factory-floor deployment. Because sensor-interface firmware rarely changes after qualification, the mask-ROM variant offers long-life cost advantages over flash parts.
Recommended
Low-Cost Motor Speed Controller
Closed-loop PWM control of small DC brush or universal motors in fans, pumps, and small appliances. The PIC16CR73-I/SO works here because its 16-bit Timer1 module generates precise PWM at the typical 20-25 kHz switching frequency, and the 10-bit ADC reads back tachogenerator or Hall-sensor speed feedback. The 22 I/O pins accept start/stop/direction switches, drive H-bridge enable lines, and interface a potentiometer for speed setpoint. With 192 bytes of RAM, the lookup tables for PI control coefficients fit comfortably. The mask-ROM variant minimizes BOM cost in volume production where motor-control firmware is fully qualified and stable for the product lifetime.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Cabin-Grade)
Interior cabin electronics such as seat controllers, mirror adjusters, and ambient lighting modules that operate within industrial temperature ranges. The PIC16CR73-I/SO is suitable here when the cabin environment stays within -40 to +85 C and AEC-Q100 is not mandated by the OEM specification. Its 22 I/O pins handle multiple switch inputs and motor-driver outputs, the 10-bit ADC reads position-feedback potentiometers, and the USART supports LIN-bus communication via external transceiver. Per-unit cost reduction versus flash parts is the main driver for choosing the CR variant in mature, high-volume cabin-electronics programs. For under-hood or AEC-Q100 mandated applications, the PIC16F1939 or dsPIC33 family is required.
Recommended
Embedded Data Acquisition Front-End
Remote or portable data-logger front-ends that buffer ADC samples and forward them over a serial link to a host processor. The PIC16CR73-I/SO serves this application with its 10-bit ADC for moderate-resolution sensor sampling, USART for UART-based data streaming, and 192 bytes of RAM for short sample buffers. The 20 MHz clock supports sample rates up to ~50 kSPS aggregate, sufficient for vibration, temperature, and pressure monitoring in industrial-condition-monitoring nodes. Mask-ROM economics suit long-life remote deployments where field firmware updates are not feasible due to physical access constraints. Battery-powered variants benefit from sleep-mode current as low as 1 uA per datasheet.
Recommended
Educational and Hobby Embedded Projects
University embedded-systems courses and hobbyist projects that have already qualified firmware and want the lowest-cost PIC mid-range device. The PIC16CR73-I/SO offers the same PIC16C instruction set and peripherals as the flash-based PIC16F73 at reduced per-unit cost once code is locked. Students and hobbyists who have finalized their firmware HEX file can submit the code to Microchip for ROM mask production. The 28-SOIC package remains hand-solderable for prototype boards. For first-time learners, the PIC16F73-I/SO with ICSP debugging remains the recommended learning platform, with PIC16CR73 reserved for final-cost-optimized derivatives.
Recommended
Legacy Replacement for PIC16C73 Designs
Sustaining engineering and component-end-of-life migration for established PIC16C73 production programs. The PIC16CR73-I/SO is the natural replacement for PIC16C73-I/SO because it shares the exact 7KB memory map, 192-byte RAM, and 28-SOIC pinout, while the mask-ROM packaging reduces long-term supply risk versus the ceramic-windowed EPROM PIC16C73. Existing code compiled for PIC16C73 runs unchanged on PIC16CR73. Engineers sustaining older designs should also evaluate migration to PIC16F73-I/SO for added field-programmability, using PIC16CR73 only when minimum BOM cost and long-life supply are the dominant constraints.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16CR73-I/SO β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F73-I/SO | PIC16C73B-04I/SO | PIC16C73A-20I/SO | PIC16F76-I/SO | PIC16F737-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SOIC | 28-SOIC (same) | 28-SOIC (same) | 28-SOIC (same) | 28-SOIC (same) | 28-SOIC (same) |
| Program Memory Type | Mask ROM (7 KB) | Flash (7 KB) | OTP EPROM (7 KB) | OTP EPROM (7 KB) | Flash (14 KB) | Flash (7 KB) |
| Program Memory Size | 7 KB (4K x 14) | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 14 KB | 7 KB |
| RAM Size | 192 bytes | 192 bytes | 192 bytes | 192 bytes | 368 bytes | 368 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 4 MHz (B-04 suffix) | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| ADC Resolution / Channels | 10-bit / 5 channels | 10-bit / 5 channels | 10-bit / 5 channels | 10-bit / 5 channels | 10-bit / 5 channels | 10-bit / 11 channels |
| In-Circuit Reprogrammable | No (mask ROM) | Yes (Flash + ICSP) | Yes (OTP via device programmer) | Yes (OTP via device programmer) | Yes (Flash + ICSP) | Yes (Flash + ICSP) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C |
| Lifecycle Status | NRND | Active | Mature | Mature | Active | Active |
Key Differentiators
- Mask-ROM production economics (vs PIC16F73-I/SO)
- Established PIC16C mid-range ecosystem (vs PIC16F73-I/SO)
- Lower 20 MHz clocking vs PIC16C73B-04I/SO 4 MHz rating (vs PIC16C73B-04I/SO)
- Smaller RAM than upgraded PIC16F76-I/SO (vs PIC16F76-I/SO)
Design Notes
The PIC16CR73-I/SO uses mask ROM that cannot be erased or reprogrammed after fabrication. Submit your final, fully-debugged HEX file to Microchip via the ROM code submission process before wafer production; plan at least 12-16 weeks for mask generation, fabrication, and electrical test. For development and qualification cycles, always prototype on PIC16F73-I/SO with identical 28-SOIC footprint to avoid schedule and cost surprises from late code changes.
Brown-out reset (BOR) configuration must be selected carefully. The PIC16CR73-I/SO BOR is fuse-disabled by default to support a wide 2.5-5.5V operating range; if your application uses 5V and has slow-rising supplies, set the BOREN fuse to enable reset below ~4V to prevent code corruption from marginal Vdd. Add a 100 nF decoupling capacitor directly on VDD/VSS pins 8, 19, and 20, plus a 10 uF bulk capacitor at the board supply entry point for noisy industrial environments.
Place the 28-SOIC footprint with adequate clearance for hand-soldering or inspection - the 1.27mm pitch and 7.50mm body are friendly to rework. Route OSC1/OSC2 traces short and symmetric; for crystal operation keep traces under 10mm and add a ground guard ring to reduce EMI susceptibility. The MCLR/VPP pin should have a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD and a 100 nF capacitor to ground for in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) compatibility during pre-production testing, even though the CR variant is not field-programmable.
When using the ADC, add a 100 ohm series resistor and 100 nF shunt capacitor at each analog input pin to form a low-pass filter - the PIC16CR73 ADC sample-and-hold requires TACQ of at least 2*Tosc + 8.5 us per datasheet. Select the analog reference (VREF) pin carefully - if using external reference, drive it from a low-impedance source (<= 10 ohm) and decouple with 10 uF + 100 nF. Switching the ADC channel between conversions without adequate acquisition time is a common source of noisy readings in production designs.
Compliance Information
Lead-free terminal finish per Microchip marking; RoHS compliance verified by Microchip product documentation. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - the part is industrial-grade only (-40 to +85C). For automotive applications, select PIC16F1939 or dsPIC33 families with explicit AEC-Q100 qualification.
