PIC16F688T-E/ST - 8-bit MCU, 7KB Flash, 20MHz, 14-TSSOP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F688T-E/ST ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.77 | $1.77 |
| 10 | $1.59 | $15.90 |
| 100 | $1.42 | $142.00 |
| 500 | $1.27 | $635.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.13 | $1,130.00 |
PIC16F688T-E/ST Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, program memory (Flash/ROM), data memory (RAM/EEPROM), and peripherals on a single die. 8-bit MCUs sit at the low-power, low-cost end of the microcontroller hierarchy (8-bit -> 16-bit -> 32-bit), and are widely used in consumer appliances, sensor nodes, and battery-powered devices where deterministic real-time response, code simplicity, and ultra-low standby current matter more than raw compute throughput. The PIC16F688 belongs to Microchip's mid-range x14 instruction architecture, which uses a 14-bit instruction word and offers up to 8 MIPS performance at 20MHz, plus on-chip peripherals including a 10-bit ADC, comparators, PWM, USART, and nanoWatt power-management hardware for sleep current in the sub-microamp range.
Key features of the PIC16F688T-E/ST include 12 digital I/O pins (with interrupt-on-change capability), a 10-bit A/D converter with up to 8 channels, two analog comparators, a capture/compare/PWM module, an enhanced USART, and a wide operating voltage range of 2.0V to 5.5V. The 'E' suffix denotes the Extended operating temperature grade of -40C to +125C, and the 'T' indicates Tape & Reel packaging. The 'ST' suffix marks the 14-pin TSSOP package option.
Technically, the PIC16F688 uses a RISC Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses, a hardware multiplier-free 35-instruction set, and nanoWatt features such as ultra-low-power wake-up, oscillator start-up timer, and dual-speed oscillator modes. These allow designers to balance active throughput against deep-sleep current for energy-harvesting and battery-backed applications.
Typical applications include LED lighting controllers, battery chargers, sensor signal conditioning, small motor control, and low-cost IoT endpoints. The TSSOP-14 footprint also makes the part suitable for space-constrained designs. This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, helping procurement and embedded engineers quickly evaluate the part.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F688T-E/ST — 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 PIC16F688T-E/ST (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Analog Comparators, Core Architecture, Digital I/O Pins, Internal Oscillator.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F688-E/ST
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F688T-I/ST
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F684-E/ST
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F688T-E/ST Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16 mid-range (8-bit, 14-bit instruction word) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB (4K x 14 words) |
| Data SRAM | 256 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz (5 MIPS / 8 MIPS depending on oscillator mode) |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Digital I/O Pins | 12 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 8 channels |
| Analog Comparators | 2 |
| Timers | Timer0, Timer1, Timer2 |
| CCP Module | 1 (Capture/Compare/PWM) |
| Communication | Enhanced USART |
| Internal Oscillator | Yes (precision 8 MHz factory calibrated) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (Extended grade) |
| Package | 14-TSSOP |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Automotive Grade | AEC-Q100 qualified (per datasheets.com parametric record) |
PIC16F688T-E/ST Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Positive power supply |
| Pin 2 | RA5/T1CKI/OSC1/CLKIN — I/O / Timer1 clock / OSC1 / external clock in |
| Pin 3 | RA4/AN3/T1G/OSC2/CLKOUT — I/O / ADC ch3 / Timer1 gate / OSC2 / CLKOUT |
| Pin 4 | RA3/MCLR/VPP — I/O / Master Clear (reset) / programming voltage |
| Pin 5 | RC5 — Digital I/O port C bit 5 |
| Pin 6 | RC4 — Digital I/O port C bit 4 |
| Pin 7 | RC3/AN7 — Digital I/O / ADC channel 7 |
| Pin 8 | RC2/AN6 — Digital I/O / ADC channel 6 |
| Pin 9 | RC1/AN5 — Digital I/O / ADC channel 5 |
| Pin 10 | RC0/AN4 — Digital I/O / ADC channel 4 |
| Pin 11 | RA2/AN2/T0CKI/INT — I/O / ADC ch2 / Timer0 clock / external interrupt |
| Pin 12 | RA1/AN1/CIN-/VREF — I/O / ADC ch1 / comparator in- / voltage reference |
| Pin 13 | RA0/AN0/CIN+ — I/O / ADC ch0 / comparator in+ |
| Pin 14 | VSS — Ground reference |
Typical Applications
PIC16F688T-E/ST is suitable for 6 applications: LED Lighting Controllers, Battery Chargers and Power Banks, Automotive Body Electronics (AEC-Q100), Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning, Small DC Motor and Fan Control, Low-Cost IoT Endpoint Nodes.
LED Lighting Controllers
The PIC16F688T-E/ST fits LED lighting controllers because its 7 KB Flash and 256-byte EEPROM can store multiple dimming curves, color presets, and DALI or 0-10V protocol state machines. The 10-bit PWM module provides flicker-free dimming down to 1% duty cycle, while the 12 I/O pins easily drive MOSFET gates for multi-channel constant-current LED strings. nanoWatt sleep mode reduces standby current below 1 uA, which is critical for always-on lighting fixtures waiting for a wake event such as a PIR sensor input. The TSSOP-14 footprint keeps the PCB small enough to fit inside a GU10 bulb base or a linear fluorescent replacement.
Recommended
Battery Chargers and Power Banks
For single-cell Li-Ion or NiMH chargers, the PIC16F688T-E/ST provides the precision 10-bit ADC needed for voltage and current sensing plus 256 bytes of EEPROM for cycle-count and capacity logging. The two on-chip analog comparators can implement hardware over-current protection that does not depend on firmware execution, reducing the risk of catastrophic failure if the CPU stalls. The wide 2.0 V to 5.5 V supply range lets the same firmware run from USB 5 V, a single Li-Ion cell, or a 3.3 V regulated rail. Tape & Reel packaging suits high-volume pick-and-place assembly for power-bank PCBA lines.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (AEC-Q100)
Because the PIC16F688T-E/ST is AEC-Q100 qualified and operates across -40 C to +125 C, it is suitable for body controllers such as seat heaters, mirror adjusters, RKE receivers, and simple sensor interfaces. The Enhanced USART supports LIN bus slave communication, the dominant in-vehicle networking protocol for non-safety body nodes. Twelve I/O pins are enough for a small sensor node with a few digital inputs, PWM outputs for motor drive, and one analog channel. The TSSOP-14 footprint survives automotive vibration environments when paired with proper under-potting.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning
The PIC16F688T-E/ST conditions analog signals from temperature, pressure, or current sensors through its 10-bit ADC (up to 8 channels) and on-chip comparators, then outputs clean digital data over USART to a host PLC or supervisory controller. Its 256-byte EEPROM holds calibration coefficients that survive power cycling, which is important in field-deployed sensor modules. The internal 8 MHz oscillator avoids the cost of an external crystal and the long-term reliability concerns of mechanical resonators in harsh industrial environments.
Recommended
Small DC Motor and Fan Control
The PIC16F688T-E/ST drives small DC motors and fans through its CCP module in PWM mode, with feedback via the ADC or comparator inputs for closed-loop speed control. The 20 MHz CPU and 8 MIPS throughput handle PI control loops well within the millisecond response budget for fan RPM regulation. nanoWatt sleep mode lets the controller enter deep sleep between speed adjustments, drawing under 1 uA and making the part attractive for solar-powered or battery-backed fan applications.
Recommended
Low-Cost IoT Endpoint Nodes
The PIC16F688T-E/ST acts as a low-cost sensing endpoint in IoT installations where a sub-gig radio module handles the actual wireless link. The MCU wakes on interrupt, samples a sensor, packs the result, and hands it off to the radio via USART before returning to nanoWatt sleep. Total active energy per transaction is dominated by radio TX, but the MCU contributes only a few milliamps for a few milliseconds because of the efficient mid-range core. The TSSOP-14 package keeps the node PCB under 10 mm by 10 mm, allowing integration into coin-cell sensors.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F688T-E/ST — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F688-E/ST | PIC16F688T-I/ST | PIC16F684-E/ST | PIC16F688-I/SL | PIC16F677-E/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 14-TSSOP | 14-TSSOP (same) | 14-TSSOP (same) | 14-TSSOP (same) | 14-SOIC (different) | 20-SSOP (different) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 2 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB |
| Data SRAM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 128 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes |
| Maximum Clock | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (Extended) | -40 C to +125 C (Extended) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +125 C (Extended) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +125 C (Extended) |
| Packaging Media | Tape & Reel | Tube | Tape & Reel | Tube | Tube | Tube |
| AEC-Q100 Automotive | Qualified (per parametric data) | Qualified | Not qualified | Qualified | Not qualified | Qualified |
| Approximate 1k-piece Price (USD) | 1.13 | 1.13 | 1.13 | 1.05 | 1.13 | 1.40 |
Key Differentiators
- Tape & Reel + Extended temperature for AEC-Q100 (vs PIC16F688-E/ST)
- 7 KB Flash doubles the code space over PIC16F684 (vs PIC16F684-E/ST)
- 8 MIPS throughput at 20 MHz on mid-range core (vs PIC16F630-E/ST)
Design Notes
The PIC16F688T-E/ST accepts a single 2.0 V to 5.5 V supply on VDD (pin 1). Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin and a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic at the board supply entry. For battery-powered designs, leverage the nanoWatt sleep modes (SLEEP instruction with internal WDT disabled) to drop current to under 1 uA; wake sources include INT pin change, comparator output change, and Timer1 overflow.
The TSSOP-14 package requires careful land pattern design per IPC-7351 nominal density. Expose as much copper under the package as practical to provide thermal relief, since the die dissipates up to ~800 mW at full 20 MHz activity. Tie the MCLR/VPP pin (pin 4) through a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD; if unused, MCLR can be disabled in configuration bits to free the pin as RA3.
Do not assume the internal 8 MHz oscillator is accurate enough for UART communication above 9600 baud without calibration; for high-speed USART use an external crystal on OSC1/OSC2 or the Timer1 oscillator with the appropriate load capacitors. Always read-modify-write on PORT registers using the PIC16 shadow-BSRF/BSF sequence, or use the LATx registers provided on later silicon revisions. Configuration bits must be set explicitly - leaving them at the erased default enables the internal RC oscillator and disables MCLR, which surprises many first-time users.
The ADC inputs (AN0-AN7) share pins with digital I/O. Configure ADC-using pins as inputs in TRISx and disable the digital input buffer via the ANSEL register to prevent digital switching noise from coupling into ADC readings. Add a small RC filter (1 kohm + 100 pF) on each analog input to limit charge-injection kick from the S&H capacitor.
Compliance Information
AEC-Q100 qualification noted in datasheets.com parametric record; RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page. MSL level not stated in the verified web data - see _validation_note.
