PIC16LC63A-04/SO - 8-Bit 4MHz MCU 7KB OTP 28-SOIC | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LC63A-04/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.2 | $7.20 |
| 10 | $6.48 | $64.80 |
| 100 | $5.76 | $576.00 |
| 500 | $5.18 | $2,590.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.61 | $4,610.00 |
PIC16LC63A-04/SO Overview
A mid-range 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a small, single-chip computer built around an 8-bit data path and a RISC-like instruction set, integrating CPU core, non-volatile program memory (ROM/OTP/Flash), working RAM, peripherals and I/O on one die. The PIC16C family sits between 8-bit baseline parts and 16-bit dsPIC/PIC24 devices, offering a balance of code density, deterministic timing, and peripheral integration for motor control, instrumentation, and human-interface designs.
Key features of the PIC16LC63A-04/SO include 35 single-word instructions, all single-cycle except program branches (two cycles), an external oscillator interface, and integrated peripherals such as a USART, MSSP (SPI/I2C), 8-bit ADC, and timers. The OTP program memory allows one-time factory or in-circuit programming using a Microchip device programmer, which historically made the PIC16LC63A attractive for low-volume production.
The device uses a Harvard architecture with separated program and data buses, a 14-bit instruction word, and a 2-stage pipeline, enabling predictable instruction timing critical for interrupt-driven and real-time control loops. Internal peripherals are mapped to a common SFR bank to keep interrupt latencies short.
Typical applications include industrial control, sensor signal conditioning, motor drive controllers, building automation, and consumer appliances. The commercial 0C to +70C operating range suits indoor enclosures and white-goods environments.
Designers should verify the 4 MHz CPU clock headroom against worst-case interrupt service routines and place decoupling capacitors near the VDD pins. Migrating from OTP to the pin-compatible PIC16F63A Flash variant simplifies field firmware updates without changing PCB layout.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LC63A-04/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 PIC16LC63A-04/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Program Memory Size, Package, RAM Size, Program Memory Type, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LC63A-04I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LC63-04/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LC63-04I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LC62B-04I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LC620A-04/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.15 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LC63A-04/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16C mid-range 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time-Programmable) |
| Program Memory Size | 7 KB (4K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 192 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 4 MHz |
| Instruction Word Width | 14 bits |
| Instruction Set Size | 35 instructions (single-word) |
| Instruction Cycle Time | 1 cycle (4 cycles for branches) |
| Supply Voltage (Vdd) | 3.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 22 |
| Package | 28-pin SOIC (SO) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +70 C (Commercial) |
| Oscillator Type | External |
| Lifecycle Status | Active |
PIC16LC63A-04/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP — Master Clear (reset) input / programming voltage |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / analog input 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / analog input 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2 — PORTA bit 2 / analog input 2 |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF — PORTA bit 3 / analog input 3 / ADC voltage reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/SS/AN4 — PORTA bit 5 / SPI slave select / analog input 4 |
| Pin 8 | RE0/RD/AN5 — PORTE bit 0 / read control / analog input 5 |
| Pin 9 | RE1/WR/AN6 — PORTE bit 1 / write control / analog input 6 |
| Pin 10 | RE2/CS/AN7 — PORTE bit 2 / chip select / analog input 7 |
| Pin 11 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (3.0 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 12 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 13 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 14 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator output / clock output |
| Pin 15 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 16 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 I/O |
| Pin 17 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / CCP1 PWM output |
| Pin 18 | RC3/SCK/SCL — PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 19 | RC4/SDI/SDA — PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 20 | RC5/SDO — PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 21 | RC6/TX/CK — PORTC bit 6 / USART TX / USART clock |
| Pin 22 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / USART RX / USART data |
| Pin 23 | RB0/INT — PORTB bit 0 / external interrupt |
| Pin 24 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 25 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 26 | RB3/PGM — PORTB bit 3 / low-voltage programming |
| Pin 27 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 28 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 |
Typical Applications
PIC16LC63A-04/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Conditioning, Motor Speed Control, Building Automation HVAC Controllers, Consumer Appliance Control Boards, Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety), Educational and Hobbyist Projects.
Industrial Sensor Conditioning
The PIC16LC63A-04/SO fits industrial 4-20 mA loop sensor signal conditioning because its 8-bit ADC, 4 MHz CPU, and 22 I/O lines handle multiplexed analog inputs while the LC voltage range (3.0-5.5 V) tolerates loosely regulated 24V-to-5V rails. The 7 KB OTP accommodates calibration tables and Modbus RTU framing routines. Compared with baseline PIC16C5X parts, the mid-range core adds hardware USART for RS-485 half-duplex links without a bit-banged software UART. Designers should budget interrupt latency for the ADC conversion-complete event and use the MSSP peripheral in I2C mode to read external temperature sensors. At 4 MHz CPU, instruction throughput stays above 1 MIPS, leaving enough headroom for digital filtering of noisy transducer signals. The 28-SOIC footprint eases hand-rework during prototyping and supports automated pick-and-place in volume.
Recommended
Motor Speed Control
The PIC16LC63A-04/SO suits low-cost BLDC or brushed-DC motor speed controllers because the Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) module generates accurate PWM at 4 MHz while the 8-bit ADC samples current-sense shunt signals. The 192-byte RAM and 7 KB OTP handle PI loop math, ramp tables, and fault-detection logic in a single chip. Designers pair the MCU with a gate driver such as the Microchip TC4427 and back-EMF sensing diodes to build a complete 24 V drive. The LC voltage rating tolerates 5 V regulator noise, and the 28-SOIC thermal envelope handles modest dissipation. Compared with baseline PICs, the mid-range core adds hardware timers for precise commutation and the MSSP peripheral for digital potentiometer feedback. Watch the 8-bit ADC bandwidth when sampling high-speed current transients.
Recommended
Building Automation HVAC Controllers
Building automation HVAC controllers leverage the PIC16LC63A-04/SO's USART for BACnet MS/TP or Modbus fieldbus, MSSP for I2C sensor hubs, and ADC for thermistor temperature sensing. The wide 3.0-5.5 V supply lets the MCU share a regulated 5 V rail with relays, while the 0-70C commercial operating range covers indoor mechanical rooms. The 7 KB OTP accommodates scheduling logic, setpoint menus, and self-test diagnostics. Designers often pair the MCU with a Microchip MCP2301 GPIO expander to drive triac outputs for damper and valve actuators. The 28-SOIC footprint simplifies UL-compliant PCB assembly because SOIC packages tolerate standard wave-solder profiles. The 4 MHz instruction rate keeps HVAC state machines deterministic even with multiple interrupt sources.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control Boards
Consumer appliances such as washing machines, microwave ovens, and dishwashers use the PIC16LC63A-04/SO for keypad scan, LED or 7-segment display multiplexing, and relay sequencing. The 22 I/O pins directly drive multiplexed displays without external logic, while the 4 MHz CPU executes user-interface state machines in real time. The 7 KB OTP holds appliance-specific firmware with no need for field updates. The commercial 0-70C range suits indoor appliance enclosures. Designers commonly use the MSSP peripheral to drive character LCD modules and the USART to interface with motor inverter boards. Compared with baseline PICs, the mid-range core provides hardware interrupts on port-B change, simplifying keypad de-bounce routines.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety)
Although the PIC16LC63A-04/SO is the commercial-grade 0-70C variant, its sibling PIC16LC63A-04I/SO (industrial -40 to +85C) drops into the same 28-SOIC footprint for non-safety automotive body modules such as interior lighting, seat heaters, and mirror adjusters. The USART interfaces to LIN or K-Line body networks, the ADC monitors battery voltage, and the OTP memory stores trim values. Watch the lack of AEC-Q100 qualification - use AEC-Q100 parts such as PIC16F883A-I/SO for safety-critical or under-hood environments. Designers should add reverse-battery and load-dump protection external to the MCU. The 4 MHz clock is fast enough for LIN 19.2 kbps at 1 instruction per bit.
Recommended
Educational and Hobbyist Projects
Educational labs and hobbyist electronics choose the PIC16LC63A-04/SO for its 28-SOIC through-hole-friendly footprint (hand-solderable) and the wide Microchip toolchain support including MPLAB X IDE, XC8 compiler, and PICkit programmers. The OTP memory encourages lean firmware design, while the rich peripheral set (USART, MSSP, ADC, CCP) lets students learn UART, I2C, SPI, PWM, and analog sampling on a single chip. At 4 MHz the instruction set is deterministic, simplifying lab exercises on timing and interrupts. The PIC16C63A family has decades of application notes, lab manuals, and university course materials. Budget boards pair the MCU with character LCDs, keypads, and sensor breakout boards. The LC voltage range tolerates USB 5 V supply rails.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LC63A-04/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LC63A-04I/SO | PIC16LC63-04/SO | PIC16LC63-04I/SO | PIC16LC62B-04I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SOIC (SO) | 28-SOIC (SO) | 28-SOIC (SO) | 28-SOIC (SO) | 28-SOIC (SO) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz |
| Program Memory | 7 KB OTP | 7 KB OTP | 7 KB OTP | 7 KB OTP | 7 KB OTP |
| RAM | 192 bytes | 192 bytes | 192 bytes | 192 bytes | 192 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Supply Voltage | 3.0 V to 5.5 V | 3.0 V to 5.5 V | 3.0 V to 5.5 V | 3.0 V to 5.5 V | 3.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +70 C | -40 C to +85 C | 0 C to +70 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C |
| Silicon Revision | A | A | Pre-A | Pre-A | B |
| USART Peripheral | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (no USART) |
Key Differentiators
- Wider 3.0-5.5 V supply range than standard PIC16C63A (4.5-5.5 V) (vs PIC16C63A-04/SO)
- Active production status vs older PIC16C63 pre-A silicon (vs PIC16LC63-04/SO)
- Commercial-grade pricing for high-Mix products (vs PIC16LC63A-04I/SO)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 11) and a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic at the board-level supply rail. The PIC16LC63A-04/SO can draw up to 25 mA peak during flash programming surges, so verify that the 5 V regulator has at least 20% headroom above the MCU's continuous consumption. Use a ferrite bead on VDD if the supply rail is shared with a relay or motor driver.
Choose the XT or HS oscillator mode in the configuration register to match the crystal's load capacitance. For 4 MHz operation, a 22 pF load capacitor with a fundamental-mode AT-cut crystal is typical. Layout the crystal traces short and symmetric to avoid parasitic capacitance, and guard them with a ground pour to reduce EMI. Avoid routing signal traces beneath the crystal area.
OTP memory cannot be reprogrammed; once the PIC16LC63A-04/SO is programmed and code-verified, any firmware bug requires a new MCU. Always program production units with verified firmware and run a checksum verify at programmer time. For low-volume prototypes, choose the Flash-based PIC16F63A-I/SO instead, which is pin-compatible in the same 28-SOIC footprint.
Estimated: at maximum ambient 70 C with 4 MHz clock and all 22 I/O toggling simultaneously, the SOIC-28 package dissipates roughly 100 mW (theta_JA of ~80 C/W on a 1 oz copper 4-layer board), keeping junction temperature rise under 8 C. No external heatsink is required. For higher-power I/O loads, share the dissipation budget with the connected peripherals rather than the MCU.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance per Microchip product page; OTP parts generally lead-free. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this is the commercial-grade variant; for AEC-Q100, choose the PIC16F883A-I/SO or another qualified Flash MCU.
