PIC16F690-I/SO - 20MHz 8-Bit Flash MCU, 7KB | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F690-I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.92 | $2.92 |
| 10 | $2.62 | $26.20 |
| 100 | $2.21 | $221.00 |
| 500 | $1.85 | $925.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.62 | $1,620.00 |
PIC16F690-I/SO Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (microcontroller, microcontroller IC) is a single integrated processor core with on-chip flash, RAM, and peripherals designed to reduce BOM cost, simplify PCB, and free up engineering time. The PIC16F mid-range family uses a 14-bit instruction word and Harvard architecture; the PIC16F690 sits at the top of the 20-pin low pin-count sub-family alongside PIC16F685, PIC16F689, and PIC16F688, sharing standardized features for code and pin compatibility. Within the broader taxonomy it is an 8-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor IC -> integrated circuit.
Key features include the nanoWatt Technology power-saving modes (idle, sleep, low-power Timer1 gate), 12 channels of 10-bit ADC, one Enhanced USART, MSSP for I2C/SPI, two 8-bit timers plus one 16-bit timer, and an Enhanced Capture/Compare/PWM module. The device supports in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) and in-circuit debugger (ICD) over two pins. It also provides a wide operating voltage of 2.0V to 5.5V, on-chip EEPROM Data Memory, and brown-out reset with multiple trip points.
Architecturally the PIC16F690 uses the mid-range 14-bit core with a hardware multiplier and 8-level deep hardware stack. The Harvard bus keeps the instruction path separate from the data path, and a 35-instruction set keeps the C/assembly toolchain (MPLAB X, XC8, MPASM) simple. The wide analog and digital peripheral mix allows it to replace multiple external ICs in compact embedded designs.
Typical applications include home appliances and white goods, industrial control nodes, sensor conditioning, LED lighting controllers, battery-powered IoT sensor nodes, and small motor control. Designers choose it when 8 pins and 2 KB of flash are too small but a 28/40-pin MCU is unnecessary.
When designing with this part, allocate at least one ICSP pin pair for debug and reserve RA4/OSC2 configuration with care if using an external crystal. Always include decoupling of 100 nF near VDD and place VSS/VSS traces under the exposed SOIC pad region for stable ADC readings.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F690-I/SO — 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/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Operating Temperature, Timers, Internal Oscillator.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F690-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.89 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F690-E/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.28 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F689-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F688-I/SL
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.12 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F677-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F690-I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Architecture | 8-bit PIC16 mid-range (Harvard, 14-bit instruction word) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB (4K x 14) |
| Data Memory (SRAM) | 256 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| CPU Speed | 20 MHz (5 MIPS) |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 18 |
| ADC | 12 channels, 10-bit |
| Timers | 2 x 8-bit + 1 x 16-bit |
| Capture/Compare/PWM (ECCP) | 1 Enhanced CCP |
| Communication | 1 x EUSART, 1 x MSSP (I2C/SPI) |
| Power-Saving Modes | nanoWatt Technology (Idle, Sleep, Timer1 gate) |
| Package | 20-pin SOIC (SO) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| ICSP/ICD Debug | Yes (2-wire) |
| Brown-out Reset | Yes, programmable trip points |
PIC16F690-I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/DAC/AN0/C1IN+/ICSPCLK — PORTA bit 0 / DAC output / analog 0 / comparator / ICSP clock |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1/C12IN0-/ICSPCLK — PORTA bit 1 / analog 1 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2/VREF-/CVREF — PORTA bit 2 / analog 2 / DAC reference negative / comparator VREF |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3/VREF+/C1IN+ — PORTA bit 3 / analog 3 / DAC reference positive / comparator input |
| Pin 5 | RA4/T0CKI/C1OUT — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock / comparator 1 output |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN4/SS/HVCC/C2IN+ — PORTA bit 5 / analog 4 / SSP slave select / ICSP data |
| Pin 7 | RA6/OSC2/CLKOUT — PORTA bit 6 / crystal output / Fosc/4 clock output |
| Pin 8 | RA7/OSC1/CLKIN — PORTA bit 7 / crystal input / external clock input |
| Pin 9 | RB4/AN10/SDI/SDA — PORTB bit 4 / analog 10 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 10 | RB5/AN11/RX/DT — PORTB bit 5 / analog 11 / EUSART RX |
| Pin 11 | RB6/ICSPCLK/T1OSO/T1CKI — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock / Timer1 oscillator out / Timer1 clock |
| Pin 12 | RB7/ICSPDAT/T1OSI — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data / Timer1 oscillator in |
| Pin 13 | RC0/AN4/C2IN+ — PORTC bit 0 / analog 4 / comparator 2 input |
| Pin 14 | RC1/AN5/C12IN1- — PORTC bit 1 / analog 5 / comparator input |
| Pin 15 | RC2/AN6/P1D — PORTC bit 2 / analog 6 / PWM output |
| Pin 16 | RC3/AN7/P1C — PORTC bit 3 / analog 7 / PWM output |
| Pin 17 | RC4/AN8/P1B — PORTC bit 4 / analog 8 / PWM output |
| Pin 18 | RC5/AN9/P1A — PORTC bit 5 / analog 9 / PWM output |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply (2.0V to 5.5V) |
Typical Applications
PIC16F690-I/SO is suitable for 7 applications: Home Appliance Control, Industrial Sensor Conditioning, LED Lighting Controller, Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Small DC Motor Control, Automotive Interior/Body Electronics, Security & Access Control Panels.
Home Appliance Control
The PIC16F690-I/SO's 18 digital I/O and 12 ADC channels fit a typical washing-machine or microwave control board, driving relays, triacs, keypads and sensing temperature plus humidity. Its 2.0-5.5 V range tolerates rectified 5 V rails without regulation, while the 7 KB flash holds UI state machines plus a small safety monitor. The ECAP/ECCP module directly drives triac firing pulses for AC loads, eliminating an external timer IC.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Conditioning
Engineers use the PIC16F690-I/SO as a 4-20 mA loop conditioner for temperature, pressure, and flow sensors because its 12-channel 10-bit ADC handles up to twelve analog inputs from RTDs, thermocouples, and 4-20 mA shunts without an external mux. The 256-byte EEPROM stores calibration coefficients that survive power cycling, and the nanoWatt sleep mode drops quiescent to a few microamps for solar-powered nodes. The MSSP block talks to a remote HMI over I2C.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller
Architectural LED drivers based on the PIC16F690-I/SO leverage the Enhanced CCP PWM block to generate up to 10-bit resolution PWM on multiple channels for dimming RGBW fixtures. The EUSART receives DMX-512 lighting data directly, and the 20 MHz core computes CIE color mixing without offloading to a host. Low-cost SOIC-20 packaging suits a strip-light housing profile.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
Wireless sensor nodes running on coin cells or 2 x AA batteries use the PIC16F690-I/SO in sleep mode most of the time, waking on Timer1 to read an analog sensor and burst-transmit data over an attached radio. The 256-byte EEPROM saves measurement data, and the wide 2.0-3.6 V operating window tolerates the falling battery curve. The 5 MIPS core executes a sensor reading, filtering, and packet TX in milliseconds before returning to nanoWatt sleep.
Recommended
Small DC Motor Control
Small brushed DC motor and micro-pump controllers use the PIC16F690-I/SO for its 16-bit timer plus ECAP module that captures back-EMF zero-cross events, then commutates a half-bridge via PWM. The PIC16F690 hardware multiplier speeds PI current loop math at 5 MIPS without DSP overhead. Open-loop speed control can be implemented in <1 KB of flash, leaving ample room for safety features.
Recommended
Automotive Interior/Body Electronics
Interior lamps, door modules, and accessory controllers use the PIC16F690-I/SO because its wide 2.0-5.5 V supply tolerates load-dump and cranking transients when paired with an external TVS clamp. The 18 I/O drive LED matrix and switch inputs directly, while the EUSART links to a body control module. Industrial temperature (-40 C to +85 C) covers most cabin environments but not under-hood; for under-hood, step up to AEC-Q100 dsPIC33 family.
Recommended
Security & Access Control Panels
Door access and alarm panels use the PIC16F690-I/SO because its EEPROM holds user database fragments, and its 256-byte RAM handles event queueing. The MSSP runs a keypad matrix scanner, while the EUSART links to a central panel over RS-485. The wide 2.0-5.5 V supply accommodates back-up battery voltage swings during mains outages.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F690-I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F690-I/P | PIC16F690-E/SO | PIC16F689-I/SO | PIC16F688-I/SL | PIC16F677-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 20-pin SOIC (SO) | 20-pin PDIP (P) | 20-pin SOIC (SO) - same | 20-pin SOIC (SO) - same | 20-pin SOIC (SO) - same | 20-pin SOIC (SO) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB (4K x 14) | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 4 KB | 3.5 KB |
| RAM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 128 bytes |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes |
| CPU Speed | 20 MHz / 5 MIPS | 20 MHz / 5 MIPS | 20 MHz / 5 MIPS | 20 MHz / 5 MIPS | 20 MHz / 5 MIPS | 20 MHz / 5 MIPS |
| ADC Channels | 12 x 10-bit | 12 x 10-bit | 12 x 10-bit | 8 x 10-bit | 8 x 10-bit | 8 x 10-bit |
| 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 +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +125 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C |
| PWM Outputs | Enhanced CCP (up to 4 channels) | Enhanced CCP | Enhanced CCP | Enhanced CCP | CCP (1 output) | CCP (1 output) |
Key Differentiators
- Higher ADC channel count than family siblings (vs PIC16F689-I/SO)
- Larger flash program memory (vs PIC16F677-I/SO)
- Industrial temperature rating baseline (vs PIC16F690-E/SO)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF X7R decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of VDD (pin 20), with a 10 uF bulk cap on the same node. The 2.0-5.5 V supply tolerates a 3.3 V LDO output, so a TPS7-28 LDO and 22 uF cap will give clean ADC readings. For battery designs, switch to the nanoWatt sleep mode where current drops to ~100 nA with the Watchdog Timer enabled.
Reserve the ICSP pin pair (RB6/ICSPCLK and RB7/ICSPDAT) as no-connect in the production BOM or expose them on a 6-pin header for in-circuit debugging. Avoid routing sensitive analog traces under the VDD trace - the 20 MHz core can inject 100 mVpp noise that ADC readings will pick up. A ground pour on the top layer plus a star-ground VSS trace minimizes ground bounce.
Do not configure RA4 as a digital output without checking - it is an open-drain pin and requires an external pull-up. The MCLR function on pin 4 is enabled by default; if unused, tie it to VDD through a 10 k resistor to avoid spurious resets. When using the internal oscillator, calibrate the OSCTUNE register on first power-up; otherwise the UART baud rate may drift by 2-5% across temperature.
For ADC accuracy, use a low-impedance analog source (<= 10 kohm) and add a 100 nF cap at the analog input to filter high-frequency noise. The 12-bit effective ENOB drops fast at high source impedance due to the 10 kohm sample-and-hold switch. Use the dedicated VREF+ pin (RA3) and bypass it with 10 nF + 1 uF for best ADC linearity.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page; industrial temperature rating only (no AEC-Q100) - choose PIC16F690T-E/SO family variants for extended automotive use.
