PIC16F631T-E/SS - 20-Pin Flash MCU, 1.75KB, nanoWatt | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F631T-E/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.45 | $2.45 |
| 10 | $2.18 | $21.80 |
| 100 | $1.92 | $192.00 |
| 500 | $1.7 | $850.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.52 | $1,520.00 |
PIC16F631T-E/SS Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that combines a CPU core, non-volatile program memory, working RAM, and configurable peripherals such as timers, ADC, communication interfaces, and GPIO into one IC. The PIC16 mid-range architecture (also called the x14 architecture) refers to Microchip's mid-tier 8-bit core family that sits between the baseline PIC10/12/16/17 series and the enhanced PIC18 family, providing an instruction-set balance of efficiency, code density, and peripheral integration. Within this hierarchy, the PIC16F631 belongs to the low-pin-count (20-pin) PIC16 sub-family optimized for compact, cost-sensitive embedded designs.
Key features include an extended operating temperature range (-40C to +125C), a wide supply voltage window of 2.0 V to 5.5 V, an internal oscillator option to reduce external component count, and nanoWatt technology that delivers dynamic power management through multiple Sleep modes and selectable clock sources. The integrated 64-byte EEPROM provides byte-erasable non-volatile storage for user parameters without consuming flash endurance, which is particularly useful for storing calibration constants or user preferences.
The internal architecture uses a Harvard-style RISC engine with a 14-bit instruction word, a hardware stack, and a deterministic interrupt controller. The 11 I/O pins are multiplexed with on-chip peripherals such as comparators, an ADC, timers, and the EUSART module, allowing flexible pin-function remapping. Brown-out reset (BOR), power-on reset (POR), and a watchdog timer (WDT) with its own on-chip low-power oscillator provide three layers of operational safety for unattended or battery-powered deployments.
Typical applications include low-cost consumer appliances, white goods control boards, battery chargers, sensor interface modules, LED lighting controllers, and small industrial automation accessories. The wide 2.0 V to 5.5 V supply window also makes the PIC16F631 well suited to two- or three-cell battery-powered products, including remote controls, toys, and personal-care devices.
When designing with this MCU, verify that the chosen debugger/programmer (such as PICkit 3, PICkit 4, MPLAB Snap, or ICD 4) supports the device, and respect the in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) pin assignments during PCB layout. Leave adequate guard traces around the analog inputs and provide bulk decoupling near the VDD pin to minimize digital switching noise on sensitive ADC channels.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the standalone manufacturer datasheet, including cross-package trade-offs and per-pin function summaries that accelerate schematic capture.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F631T-E/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 PIC16F631T-E/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, I/O Pins, ADC, Core Architecture, Internal Oscillator.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F631-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F631T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F631-E/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F631-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.28 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F631-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F631-E/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F631T-E/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Program Memory Type | Flash |
| Program Memory Size | 1.75 KB |
| CPU | 8-bit PIC16 mid-range (x14 architecture) |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz |
| RAM Size | 64 bytes |
| EEPROM Size | 64 bytes |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.0 V to 5.5 V (5V typical at 20 MHz) |
| I/O Pins | 11 |
| Package | 20-pin SSOP (5.30 mm body) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +125 C (Extended, "-E") |
| Technology | nanoWatt (low-power) CMOS |
| Internal Oscillator | Yes (calibrated, software-selectable) |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes (WDT with dedicated LF oscillator) |
| Brown-Out Reset / Power-On Reset | Yes |
| In-Circuit Debug | ICSP via PICKit / ICD / MPLAB Snap |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited floor life) |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC16F631T-E/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 2 | RA3 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 3 | RA4 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 4 | RA5 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 6 | RB4 — GPIO / ICSPDAT |
| Pin 7 | RB5 — GPIO / ICSPCLK |
| Pin 8 | RB6 — GPIO / PGC |
| Pin 9 | RB7 — GPIO / PGD |
| Pin 10 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 11 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 12 | RC0 — GPIO |
| Pin 13 | RC1 — GPIO |
| Pin 14 | RC2 — GPIO |
| Pin 15 | RC3 — GPIO |
| Pin 16 | RC4 — GPIO |
| Pin 17 | RC5 — GPIO |
| Pin 18 | RC6 — GPIO |
| Pin 19 | RC7 — GPIO |
| Pin 20 | RA0 — GPIO / analog input / MCLR shared (see datasheet) |
Typical Applications
PIC16F631T-E/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Remote Sensor Node, White-Goods Control Board, LED Lighting Controller, Consumer Remote Control, Industrial Sensor Interface Module, Toys and Personal-Care Devices.
Battery-Powered Remote Sensor Node
The PIC16F631T-E/SS is well suited for low-duty-cycle battery-powered sensor nodes thanks to its 2.0 V to 5.5 V supply window and nanoWatt Sleep modes that drop quiescent current to single-digit microamps. Place the device between two AAA alkaline cells or a single CR2032 lithium coin cell, configure the internal 31 kHz LF oscillator as the Sleep wake source, and use the watchdog timer to wake the MCU every few seconds to read a sensor and transmit. Compared to larger Cortex-M parts, the 14-bit PIC16 instruction word keeps code density high, fitting the entire application firmware within 1.75 KB of flash.
Recommended
White-Goods Control Board
The PIC16F631T-E/SS targets white-goods control boards (washing machines, dishwashers, microwave ovens) because its extended -40 C to +125 C temperature grade handles the thermal stress of motor-driven enclosures, while the 11 GPIO pins directly drive relays, triacs, and keypad matrixes. The internal oscillator eliminates an external crystal, reducing BOM cost, and the on-chip 64-byte EEPROM stores user setting presets across power cycles. Brown-out reset and the watchdog timer prevent latch-up if mains brownouts occur during motor startup.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller
The PIC16F631T-E/SS provides compact logic for entry-level LED drivers and decorative lighting controllers, where it can use on-chip timers to generate PWM dimming signals directly without external driver ICs. The 20 MHz CPU enables smooth fades and color-mixing transitions, while the 2.0 V minimum supply lets the device run from a single lithium cell when paired with a boost converter. The wide supply window also supports direct connection to 24 V LED strips through a small buck regulator.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Control
The PIC16F631T-E/SS is a common choice for IR/RF remote controls because its nanoWatt Sleep current extends coin-cell battery life to multi-year timescales, while 1.75 KB of flash holds a complete RC5/RC6 or proprietary IR protocol stack. The 11 GPIO scan a 4x4 keypad matrix directly without an external encoder, and the internal oscillator removes the external resonator. Brown-out reset ensures clean wake-up after a battery swap, and the small SSOP-20 footprint keeps the PCB slim inside a handheld enclosure.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Interface Module
The PIC16F631T-E/SS acts as a low-cost protocol converter in industrial sensor-interface modules, translating 4-20 mA analog signals into UART frames for a downstream PLC. Its extended temperature grade tolerates cabinet temperatures near motors and variable-frequency drives, while the on-chip comparators implement threshold detection without an external op-amp. The 64-byte EEPROM stores calibration constants, and the ICSP interface lets field technicians re-flash firmware without opening the enclosure.
Recommended
Toys and Personal-Care Devices
The PIC16F631T-E/SS fits toys, electric toothbrushes, and personal-care devices because of its small footprint, low power consumption, and ability to operate from a single AAA or AA cell. The MCU drives small vibration motors, LEDs, and piezo buzzers directly from its GPIO, and the on-chip 64-byte EEPROM retains user settings such as brushing-timer counters. Programming via ICSP lets manufacturers shorten the development cycle, while the extended temperature grade prevents field failures in bathroom or outdoor play environments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F631T-E/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F631-I/SS | PIC16F631T-I/SS | PIC16F631-E/SS | PIC16F631-I/SO | PIC16F631-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | SSOP-20 | SSOP-20 (same) | SSOP-20 (same) | SSOP-20 (same) | SOIC-20 | QFN-20 |
| Program Memory | 1.75 KB Flash | 1.75 KB Flash | 1.75 KB Flash | 1.75 KB Flash | 1.75 KB Flash | 1.75 KB Flash |
| Maximum Clock | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (Extended) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +125 C (Extended) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Packaging Form | Tape & Reel | Tube | Tape & Reel | Tube | Tube | Tray |
| Approx. 1k-piece price (USD) | 1.52 | 1.48 | 1.50 | 1.52 | 1.55 | 1.78 |
Key Differentiators
- Extended-temperature grade in tape-and-reel form (vs PIC16F631-I/SS)
- Smallest 20-pin PIC16 with on-chip EEPROM and nanoWatt Sleep (vs PIC16F690-I/SS)
- Lower price at high volume than QFN-20 cousin (vs PIC16F631-I/ML)
Design Notes
Estimated: when running the PIC16F631T-E/SS at 20 MHz from a 5 V supply with all GPIO unloaded, the typical active current is around 3 mA. Add a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin, and a 10 uF bulk capacitor near the supply entry point. For battery applications, use Sleep mode aggressively; the nanoWatt Sleep current is in the microamp range and the internal LF oscillator can wake the device via WDT without an external 32 kHz crystal.
Keep ICSP traces (ICSPCLK/ICSPDAT, MCLR) short and routed away from switching nodes to avoid programming glitches. Place a 10 kohm pull-up on MCLR/VPP and avoid long parallel runs between analog inputs (RA0-RA5) and high-frequency digital lines to prevent ADC crosstalk. The SSOP-20 thermal pad is not present; copper pour under the package is optional for thermal relief at high ambient temperatures.
Do not exceed 5.5 V on VDD or apply voltage to any pin before VDD is powered, as the PIC16F631 lacks clamping diodes on many GPIOs. Ensure the configuration bits select the correct oscillator mode (internal vs external) before first programming, otherwise the device may not start. When migrating from PIC16F630/PIC16F676 code, verify the interrupt vector mapping because the peripheral set is smaller on the PIC16F631.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free compliance per Microchip product page (2026-09-21). AEC-Q100 qualification is not applicable for this PIC16 mid-range family - PIC16F631 is not automotive-qualified.
