PIC16F684T-I/SL - 8-Bit 20MHz 3.5KB Flash MCU 14-SOIC | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F684T-I/SL β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.79 | $1.79 |
| 10 | $1.62 | $16.20 |
| 100 | $1.32 | $132.00 |
| 500 | $1.18 | $590.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.05 | $1,050.00 |
PIC16F684T-I/SL Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a small computer-on-a-chip that integrates a CPU, non-volatile program memory (Flash), volatile data memory (RAM), non-volatile data memory (EEPROM), and configurable digital I/O on a single die. The PIC16 family sits within Microchip's mid-range 14-bit instruction architecture, hierarchy: PIC16F6xx -> mid-range PIC16 -> 8-bit PIC microcontroller -> microcontroller -> semiconductor. This category excels at deterministic real-time control with a small instruction set and shallow learning curve compared with 32-bit ARM Cortex-M0 parts.
Key features of the PIC16F684 include 128 bytes of RAM, 256 bytes of EEPROM data memory, a 10-bit A/D converter with up to 8 channels, enhanced PWM, comparator module, and on-board oscillator. The device supports In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) and In-Circuit Debugging (ICD) via two pins, eliminating the need for an external programmer socket. The NanoWatt Technology line provides multiple low-power modes (Run, Idle, Sleep) for battery-powered designs.
The architecture is built around a RISC-style 14-bit instruction word, 8-level deep hardware stack, and 200 ns instruction execution at 20 MHz. With 35 single-word instructions, code density is high and assembly programming is approachable for legacy designs. Internal oscillator options (8 MHz LFINTOSC, 31 kHz INTOSC) reduce external BOM cost in cost-sensitive applications.
Typical applications include LED lighting control, battery chargers, small appliance controls, security and sensor interfaces, automotive body electronics (non-safety), and consumer white-goods user interface panels. The wide 2.0-5.5V range allows direct operation from a single Li-ion cell or a regulated 5V rail.
When designing with this part, verify that your chosen debugger/programmer supports the PIC16F6xx family (e.g. PICkit 3, PICkit 4, MPLAB ICD 4) and that the ICSPDAT/ICSPCLK lines are not loaded by the application circuitry during programming. For low-power designs, gate unused peripherals to minimize Iq in Sleep mode (typically a few hundred nA).
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in SOIC-14 alternatives, and practical design notes that go beyond the manufacturer datasheet, organized for fast AEO/GEO citation.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F684T-I/SL 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 PIC16F684T-I/SL (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Internal Oscillator, Package, RoHS Status, ADC, Comparators.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F684-I/SL
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F684-E/SL
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$1.41 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F684T-I/SL Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit, 14-bit instruction word |
| Family | PIC16F6xx, Mid-Range |
| CPU | 8-bit RISC |
| Instruction Set Size | 35 instructions |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) |
| RAM | 128 bytes |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Execution Time | 200 ns @ 20 MHz |
| Operating Voltage (Vdd) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 12 |
| A/D Converter | 10-bit, up to 8 channels |
| PWM Channels | Enhanced PWM |
| Comparators | Yes (on-chip) |
| Timers | 8-bit and 16-bit timers |
| Internal Oscillator | 31 kHz and 8 MHz LFINTOSC |
| In-Circuit Programming | ICSP / ICD support |
| Operating Temperature (I grade) | -40C to +85C |
| Package | 14-SOIC (SL), 3.90 mm body, tape & reel |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (Pb-free) |
| MSL Level | MSL1 (per Microchip product page) |
| Peripherals Summary | ADC, PWM, Comparators, USART (AUSART), EUSART |
PIC16F684T-I/SL Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD β Positive supply voltage (2.0V to 5.5V) |
| Pin 2 | RA5/T1CKI/OSC1/CLKIN β I/O / Timer1 clock input / Crystal oscillator input / External clock input |
| Pin 3 | RA4/AN3/T1G/OSC2/CLKOUT β I/O / ADC input / Timer1 gate / Crystal oscillator output / Clock output |
| Pin 4 | RA3/MCLR/VPP β I/O / Master Clear reset (active low) / Programming voltage |
| Pin 5 | RC5 β I/O port C bit 5 |
| Pin 6 | RC4 β I/O port C bit 4 |
| Pin 7 | RC3 β I/O port C bit 3 |
| Pin 8 | RC2 β I/O port C bit 2 |
| Pin 9 | RC1 β I/O port C bit 1 |
| Pin 10 | RC0 β I/O port C bit 0 |
| Pin 11 | RA2 β I/O port A bit 2 |
| Pin 12 | RA1 β I/O port A bit 1 |
| Pin 13 | RA0 β I/O port A bit 0 |
| Pin 14 | VSS β Ground reference |
Typical Applications
PIC16F684T-I/SL is suitable for 6 applications: LED Lighting Control, Battery Charger / Power Management Front-End, Small Appliance and White Goods Control, Security and Sensor Interface Nodes, Consumer and Educational Electronics, Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety).
LED Lighting Control
The PIC16F684T-I/SL is well suited to LED driver and lighting control applications because its enhanced PWM module and 20 MHz clock can generate precise PWM frequencies up to 10 kHz without flicker, while the 10-bit ADC with up to 8 channels reads photodiode sensors and current-sense shunts for closed-loop brightness feedback. Operating from 2.0V to 5.5V lets the part share a 3.3V rail with low-power LEDs or run directly from a 5V regulated supply. The wide 2.0-5.5V Vdd range also allows the part to operate from a single-cell Li-ion battery or two AA cells without an additional regulator. Compact SOIC-14 footprint fits into MR16, GU10, and linear-strip form factors.
Recommended
Battery Charger / Power Management Front-End
The PIC16F684T-I/SL provides 12 I/O pins and a 10-bit ADC to monitor battery voltage, charge current, and temperature in single-cell Li-ion or NiMH chargers, while the on-chip comparators trigger over-voltage and over-current shutoff without external analog ICs. The 256-byte EEPROM stores charge profile parameters that survive power cycles. The 20 MHz CPU executes 200 ns instructions, allowing real-time coulomb counting at sample rates above 10 kHz. The 14-SOIC package is hand-solderable and fits in space-constrained charger bricks, and the 2.0V-5.5V Vdd range matches a single-cell Li-ion pack directly.
Recommended
Small Appliance and White Goods Control
In washing-machine control boards, microwave user interfaces, and induction-cooktop keypads, the PIC16F684T-I/SL handles matrix keypad scanning, triac phase-angle control via zero-cross interrupt, and LED or buzzer feedback with just its 12 I/O pins and on-chip timers. The mid-range PIC16 instruction set allows deterministic 1 ms control loops, satisfying IEC 60730 Class B safety firmware requirements when paired with self-test routines. Industrial -40C to +85C operating range covers the appliance environment, and the SOIC-14 footprint is a standard production-friendly package. The 256-byte EEPROM holds user settings between power cycles.
Recommended
Security and Sensor Interface Nodes
PIR motion sensors, door/window contacts, and smoke-detector front-ends use the PIC16F684T-I/SL to digitize analog sensor outputs with the 10-bit ADC and pulse outputs on alarm lines. The on-chip comparator wakes the MCU from Sleep on threshold events, while Sleep current of a few hundred nanoamps extends battery life in wireless sensor nodes to multiple years on a single CR2032 cell. The 128-byte RAM handles stack and small scratch buffers, and the 14-SOIC package fits inside miniature detector enclosures. The 2.0V-5.5V range allows direct connection to a 3V coin-cell or a 5V regulated supply.
Recommended
Consumer and Educational Electronics
The PIC16F684T-I/SL is a popular choice for hobby and educational boards because Microchip's MPLAB X IDE and free XC8 compiler have full support, the ICSP programming pins are exposed, and the 14-SOIC is breadboard-friendly with a SOIC-to-DIP adapter. The 35-instruction mid-range core is approachable for first-time embedded developers, and the 3.5 KB Flash fits typical demo programs (blink, UART echo, ADC read). Industrial -40C to +85C temperature range allows the same part to be used in both indoor consumer products and outdoor DIY projects. The 256-byte EEPROM stores user preferences without an external memory chip.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety)
Although not AEC-Q100 qualified, the PIC16F684T-I/SL is widely used in aftermarket and non-safety automotive body modules such as seat heaters, mirror adjusters, ambient lighting, and interior accent LEDs that operate from the 12V battery via an internal 5V regulator. The 2.0V-5.5V range survives load-dump transients when paired with proper TVS protection, and the 14-SOIC package is qualified for under-dash thermal environments in the I-grade variant. The 10-bit ADC reads potentiometer wiper voltages for trim adjustments, and PWM drives LED strings or DC motor drivers. A 256-byte EEPROM remembers last user settings across ignition cycles.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F684T-I/SL β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F684-I/SL | PIC16F684-E/SL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 14-SOIC (SL) | 14-SOIC (SL) - same | 14-SOIC (SL) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same |
| Flash Program Memory | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) | 3.5 KB - same | 3.5 KB - same |
| CPU Speed | 20 MHz | 20 MHz - same | 20 MHz - same |
| Temperature Range | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +85C - same | -40C to +125C (E grade) |
| Packaging Carrier | Tape & Reel (T) | Tube | Tube (E grade typical) |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0V to 5.5V | 2.0V to 5.5V - same | 2.0V to 5.5V - same |
| I/O Pins | 12 | 12 - same | 12 - same |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial temperature grade for harsh environments (vs PIC16F684T-I/ML (QFN package))
- Same-family drop-in with extended temperature (vs PIC16F684-E/SL)
- Tube vs tape-and-reel carrier options (vs PIC16F684-I/SL (tube))
Design Notes
Estimated power budget: at 20 MHz, Vdd=5V, the PIC16F684 core supply current is roughly 5-8 mA active, dropping to single-digit microamps in Sleep mode (per Microchip datasheet DC characteristics). For battery applications, use Sleep aggressively and wake via interrupt on the analog comparator or IOC pins to extend coin-cell life into the multi-year range. Brown-Out Reset (BOR) default is enabled; verify Vdd rise time meets the tBOR spec if using a slowly-rising supply.
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as physically possible to pins 1 (VDD) and 14 (VSS) of the 14-SOIC footprint - within 3 mm per Microchip analog design guidelines. For noisy environments add a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic on the same VDD trace. The /MCLR pin (pin 4) should pull up to VDD through a 10 kohm resistor, with the optional 100 nF capacitor to ground only if needed to limit ESD; do not place the cap unless required since it slows the rising edge and can interfere with ICSP.
Common pitfalls for first-time PIC16F684 designs: (1) leaving RA3/MCLR floating or pulled low prevents the part from running - must tie to VDD through a resistor; (2) ICSPDAT and ICSPCLK pins (typically RB6/RB7 equivalent on RA ports) must not be loaded down by external circuits during in-circuit programming - the Microchip ICD and PICkit tools cannot drive against heavy loads; (3) the internal oscillator calibration is factory-tuned but drifts up to 2-5% over temperature, so do not rely on it for tight UART baud timing - use a crystal for serial communications.
Estimated: at 20 MHz the PIC16F684 outputs roughly 200 ns rise/fall times, which produces 10 MHz harmonics on switching edges. For EMI-sensitive designs, place a 33 ohm series resistor at the clock output pin and keep switching traces short. If the application uses PWM to drive external FETs, route gate-drive traces as short as possible and add a 10 kohm gate-source pull-down to prevent accidental turn-on during MCU reset.
Compliance Information
RoHS / Pb-free compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; for AEC-Q100 automotive safety applications consult Microchip's PIC16F1xx automotive line.
