PIC16F690-I/P - 8-bit 20MHz 7KB Flash MCU 20-PDIP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F690-I/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.95 | $2.95 |
| 10 | $2.66 | $26.60 |
| 100 | $2.36 | $236.00 |
| 500 | $2.12 | $1,060.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.89 | $1,890.00 |
PIC16F690-I/P Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (often called an MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, RAM, non-volatile program memory, and peripheral blocks such as timers, ADC, and communication interfaces on one die. Within the broader taxonomy, the PIC16F690 belongs to the mid-range 8-bit MCU category (8-bit -> microcontrollers -> microcomputer -> embedded processor -> semiconductor IC). It is engineered for low-pin-count, cost-sensitive embedded designs where deterministic real-time response, ease of programming, and long-term product lifecycle matter more than raw compute throughput.
Key features that differentiate this device include its nanoWatt technology for sub-microamp sleep currents (suitable for battery-powered sensors), the on-chip EEPROM data memory (eliminating an external memory chip), a wide 2.0 V to 5.5 V operating voltage range that supports both 3.3 V and 5 V system rails, and an internal oscillator that can remove the need for an external crystal. The integrated Enhanced Universal Synchronous Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (EUSART), MSSP (I2C/SPI), and 10-bit ADC with internal voltage reference provide substantial subsystem integration for sensor and communication nodes.
The PIC16F690 uses a 14-bit wide instruction word and a RISC-style 35-instruction core, allowing most instructions to execute in one instruction cycle (200 ns at 20 MHz). It supports in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) and in-circuit debugging (ICD) via dedicated PG/RB6 and PGC/RB7 pins, allowing firmware updates and debug without removing the part from the board. Hardware multiplier and Brown-Out Reset (BOR) are integrated.
Typical applications include home appliances and white goods, battery-powered sensor nodes, automotive interior accessories (after-market), industrial control and monitoring, LED driving and lighting control, and consumer remote controls. The wide voltage range, internal oscillator, and rich communication peripherals allow a single MCU to handle sensing, communication, and actuator control in compact designs.
When designing with this part, place decoupling capacitors (typically 100 nF plus a 1 uF bulk) close to VDD/VSS pairs, keep crystal traces short and symmetric if an external resonator is used, and reserve MCLR as an external reset only if in-circuit debugging is required. The wide 2.0-5.5 V range simplifies battery and USB-powered designs but verify the ADC reference and PGA gains for the chosen supply rail.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in replacement alternatives, parametric comparisons, and practical design guidance not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone, helping engineers shorten the BOM, sourcing, and bring-up cycle.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F690-I/P — 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 PIC16F690-I/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Timers, Operating Temperature, ADC, Communication.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F690-E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F690-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.41 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F689-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.82 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F688-I/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F677-I/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F685-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.32 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F628A-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F690-I/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC16 mid-range 8-bit (14-bit instruction) |
| Architecture | RISC (35 single-word instructions) |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Execution Time | 200 ns (1 cycle at 20 MHz) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB (4K x 14 words) |
| RAM | 256 bytes |
| EEPROM Data Memory | 256 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 18 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 12 channels |
| Comparators | 2 |
| PWM/CCP | 1 CCP + 1 ECCP module |
| Communication | EUSART, MSSP (I2C/SPI) |
| Power-Saving Mode | nanoWatt technology |
| Package | 20-pin PDIP (0.300 in) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial, 'I' suffix) |
| In-Circuit Programming/Debug | ICSP via MCLR/PG/RB6/PGC |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16F690-I/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.0 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 2 | RA5/T1CKI/SS/HLVDIN/C1OUT — Digital I/O / Timer1 clock input / SSP select / HLVD input / Comparator 1 output |
| Pin 3 | RA4/AN3/T1G/OSC2/CLKOUT — Digital I/O / ADC input / Timer1 gate / crystal output / Fosc/4 output |
| Pin 4 | RA3/MCLR/VPP — Digital I/O / Master Clear reset (active low) / programming voltage |
| Pin 5 | RA2/AN2/T0CKI/INT/COUT — Digital I/O / ADC input / Timer0 clock / external interrupt / comparator output |
| Pin 6 | RA1/AN1/C1IN-/ICSPCLK — Digital I/O / ADC input / comparator 1 inverting input / ICD clock |
| Pin 7 | RA0/AN0/C1IN+/ICSPDAT/ULPWU — Digital I/O / ADC input / comparator 1 non-inverting input / ICD data / ultra-low-power wake-up |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | RA7/OSC1/CLKI — Digital I/O / crystal input / external clock input |
| Pin 10 | RA6/OSC2/CLKO — Digital I/O / crystal output / clock output |
| Pin 11 | RC0/AN4/P1D — Digital I/O / ADC input / PWM1 output D |
| Pin 12 | RC1/AN5/P1C — Digital I/O / ADC input / PWM1 output C |
| Pin 13 | RC2/AN6/P1B — Digital I/O / ADC input / PWM1 output B |
| Pin 14 | RC3/AN7/P1A/SS — Digital I/O / ADC input / PWM1 output A / SSP slave select |
| Pin 15 | RC4/AN8/C2OUT/SDI/SDA — Digital I/O / ADC input / comparator 2 output / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 16 | RC5/AN9/SDO — Digital I/O / ADC input / SPI data out |
| Pin 17 | RC6/AN10/SS/TX/CK — Digital I/O / ADC input / SSP select / USART transmit / USART clock |
| Pin 18 | RC7/AN11/RX/DT — Digital I/O / ADC input / USART receive / USART data |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.0 V to 5.5 V) |
Typical Applications
PIC16F690-I/P is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes, Home Appliance Control (White Goods), LED Lighting and Dimming Controllers, Automotive Aftermarket Accessories, Industrial Control and Monitoring, Consumer Remote Controls and IR/RF Nodes.
Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes
The PIC16F690-I/P's nanoWatt technology and 2.0-5.5 V operating range make it ideal for battery-powered sensor nodes such as remote thermostats, smoke detectors, and irrigation sensors. Its 256 B EEPROM logs calibration data and last-known state across power cycles, while the 10-bit ADC handles up to 12 channels of analog sensor inputs (temperature, light, soil moisture). In a typical 2x AA battery design, sleep current in the nanoWatt mode is sub-microamp, extending multi-year battery life. Compared with switching regulators, the on-chip peripherals draw no switching noise; the integrated comparators and ADC handle thresholds and measurements without external op-amps. Companion components include low-quiescent LDO TPS7A02 for power conditioning and the MCP9700 analog temperature sensor for thermal inputs.
Recommended
Home Appliance Control (White Goods)
The PIC16F690-I/P is widely used in washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, microwave ovens, and rice cookers for keypad input, LED/LCD display driving, relay and triac actuation, and serial communication to other modules. Its 20 MHz core gives 200 ns instruction execution, fast enough for closed-loop temperature and motor-control algorithms. The ECCP module generates complementary PWM with programmable dead time, ideal for driving H-bridges and triac phases without external gate-driver chips. Eighteen I/O pins interface easily with 7-segment displays, keypads, and a sensor suite including NTC thermistors and water-level probes. Industrial -40C to +85C temperature range tolerates the high ambient of motor-compressor compartments. Companion parts include ULN2003 for relay driving and MCP1700 for 3.3 V power regulation.
Recommended
LED Lighting and Dimming Controllers
The PIC16F690-I/P's ECCP module, internal comparator, and 10-bit ADC support cost-effective LED drivers for dimmable bulbs, downlights, and architectural lighting. The ECCP generates PWM at up to 20 kHz with 10-bit resolution, above the audible band and with smooth dimming across 1000:1 dynamic range. The wide 2.0-5.5 V VDD accepts a rectified mains tap or a low-cost capacitive-drop supply. Internal comparators can implement zero-cross detection for triac dimmer emulation. Eighteen I/O pins connect to a rotary encoder or capacitive touch pad, while EUSART or MSSP enables DALI/0-10 V bridge or wireless control via an external module. Companion parts include the MCP16502 for efficient LED string and the system use of PIC16F677-I/P for smaller lighting nodes.
Recommended
Automotive Aftermarket Accessories
In automotive aftermarket accessories (interior lighting, alarm LED blinkers, tire-pressure display dongles), the PIC16F690-I/P provides the I/O count, ADC, and PWM needed in a single chip. Its industrial -40C to +85C grade tolerates cabin temperatures; for underhood applications use the PIC16F690-E/P extended -40C to +125C variant. The 20 MHz CPU performs CAN-bit-banging if the application does not require a dedicated CAN controller. On-chip EEPROM stores user settings and VIN-derived trim values across battery-disconnect events. Pair the MCU with the MCP2515 stand-alone CAN controller when full ISO 11898 compliance is needed, or use the MCP1700 for 5 V LDO from the 12 V battery.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Monitoring
The PIC16F690-I/P is a strong fit for industrial control and monitoring: PLC-style digital I/O blocks, machine-status displays, simple SCADA remote terminals, and conveyor/sorter logic. The wide 2.0-5.5 V supply tolerates 24 V industrial rails after a TPS7A02 LDO step-down, while 7 KB Flash hosts real-time control tables and serial-protocol state machines. The EUSART supports RS-232/RS-485 via an external transceiver (MAX485), and the MSSP drives SPI sensors such as the MCP3201 ADC for high-precision analog input alongside the internal 10-bit ADC. Industrial -40C to +85C rating covers most cabinet environments. Companion parts include MAX485 for RS-485 and ISO1540 for I2C isolation.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Controls and IR/RF Nodes
Consumer remote controls and IR/RF transceivers use the PIC16F690-I/P for keypad scanning, IR transmit/receive, and RF link handling. The 20 MHz core times carrier bursts precisely while the on-chip comparators decode 38 kHz IR sub-carrier amplitude-modulated signals without an external op-amp. NanoWatt sleep reduces standby current to sub-microamp, extending the AAA-cell battery life to multi-year horizons. The internal 8 MHz oscillator removes the external crystal and lets the MCU wake quickly via watchdog timer or external interrupt on RB0/INT. The 256 B EEPROM holds the last-channel memory. Companion parts include the TSOP38238 IR receiver and CC1101 sub-GHz RF transceiver for wireless links.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F690-I/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F690-E/P | PIC16F689-I/P | PIC16F688-I/P | PIC16F677-I/P | PIC16F685-I/P | PIC16F628A-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 20-pin PDIP | 20-pin PDIP | 20-pin PDIP | 20-pin PDIP | 20-pin PDIP | 20-pin PDIP | 20-pin PDIP |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Flash | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 3.5 KB |
| RAM | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 224 B |
| Maximum Clock | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| ECCP Module | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes (CCP only) |
| ADC Channels | 12 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 0 (no ADC) |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0-5.5 V | 2.0-5.5 V | 2.0-5.5 V | 2.0-5.5 V | 2.0-5.5 V | 2.0-5.5 V | 3.0-5.5 V |
| Temperature Grade | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) |
Key Differentiators
- Largest Flash memory in the 20-pin mid-range PIC16F lineup (vs PIC16F628A-I/P)
- Enhanced CCP (ECCP) with complementary PWM and programmable dead time (vs PIC16F689-I/P / PIC16F688-I/P)
- 12-channel 10-bit ADC versus 8 channels on most 20-pin siblings (vs PIC16F685-I/P / PIC16F688-I/P)
- nanoWatt technology with sub-microamp sleep current (vs PIC16F628A-I/P)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of each VDD/VSS pin pair and add a 1 uF to 10 uF bulk capacitor at the regulator output to handle digital switching transients. The PIC16F690-I/P draws average IDD in the low-mA range during active 20 MHz operation; sleep current in nanoWatt mode drops to sub-microamp. Tie MCLR high through a 10 kohm resistor for normal operation, or leave it as a programming/debug pin if in-circuit debugging is required.
Keep the crystal or resonator traces (when using external OSC) short, symmetric, and guarded with a ground trace to minimize stray capacitance and EMI pickup. Route the ICSP/ICD lines (PG/RB6 and PGC/RB7) with no series resistors to support Microchip programmers; add ESD protection such as PESD5V0L4UG on signal lines exposed to user touch panels. For mixed-signal designs, separate analog ADC traces from switching PWM traces to avoid digital noise coupling.
Do not assume that any 20-pin PIC16F pin-to-pin replacement is firmware-compatible. PIC16F690 has more ADC channels (12 vs 8) and an ECCP module that PIC16F689/PIC16F688 lack - referencing unmapped registers causes silent peripheral malfunction. Confirm the device ID at startup if your firmware could ship on multiple SKUs. Note that PIC16F628A lacks an ADC entirely; downgrading to PIC16F628A breaks any analog sensing code. Always compile firmware for the exact target device and verify in the CONFIG register that the oscillator, watchdog, brown-out, and code-protection bits match your design intent.
Estimated: at active 20 MHz and full I/O load, the PIC16F690-I/P core dissipation is well below 100 mW; no heatsink is required. With VDD = 5.5 V and IDD around 5-8 mA active, junction temperature rise above ambient is roughly 2-3 C using the standard JEDEC DIP-20 thermal resistance (about 60 C/W on a 4-layer board). For sealed enclosures with limited convection, derate ambient temperature by 10 C to maintain reliability headroom.
Compliance Information
Microchip PIC16F690 family is RoHS compliant per the product page. Industrial -40C to +85C temperature grade only; the -E variant provides -40C to +125C extended temperature. AEC-Q100 qualification is not standard on the PIC16F690; Microchip offers AEC-Q100-qualified automotive PIC16F variants separately.
