PIC16LC64A-04/P - 8-Bit 4MHz OTP MCU 3.5KB | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LC64A-04/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.85 | $7.85 |
| 10 | $7.2 | $72.00 |
| 100 | $6.4 | $640.00 |
| 500 | $5.55 | $2,775.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.92 | $4,920.00 |
PIC16LC64A-04/P Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory, working RAM, and programmable I/O peripherals on one IC. The PIC16CXX family sits in the 8-bit MCU hierarchy (8-bit CPU -> RISC architecture -> Harvard architecture -> microcontroller -> embedded processor) and is engineered for low-cost, deterministic real-time control with only 35 single-word instructions. The PIC16LC64A-04/P is the low-power ('LC') CMOS variant, ideal for battery and energy-conscious designs.
Key features include 35 single-word RISC instructions, single-cycle execution except for two-cycle program branches, fully static design (DC to 4 MHz clock input at this speed grade), 128 bytes of data RAM, 33 digital I/O lines, and a wide operating voltage range. The device supports commercial, industrial, and extended temperature grades in the family, with the -04/P variant typically rated for 0C to +70C commercial range.
Architecturally, the PIC16C64A uses a Harvard bus topology with separate program and data paths, a 14-bit instruction word, and an 8-bit data path. The OTP program memory (EPROM-based, windowless) allows one-time field programming using standard device programmers, while the 128-byte RAM provides data scratch space for stack and variables. Watchdog timer, Power-on Reset, and brown-out protection peripherals are integrated on-chip.
Typical applications include industrial control logic, appliance controllers, automotive body electronics (non-safety), sensor signal conditioning front-ends, simple user-interface boards, and low-power embedded instrumentation. The 33 I/O count and 4 MHz throughput make it suitable for moderate-complexity tasks such as keypad scanning, LED multiplexing, and UART-based communication.
When designing with this MCU, account for the 4 MHz speed grade when calculating instruction cycle time (1 us per instruction at 4 MHz). Verify the erase window requirement if you migrate to the JW package variant, and ensure your programmer supports the PIC16C64A OTP device ID. The -04/P variant is the through-hole PDIP version - surface-mount alternatives exist in SOIC and PLCC packages within the same family.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, Microchip cross-reference alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LC64A-04/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 PIC16LC64A-04/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Architecture, Mounting Type, Operating Temperature, Package, Program Memory Size.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LC64A-04I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LC64A-04I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C64A-04/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$8.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LC64A-04/L
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.48 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LC64A-04E/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LC64AT-04/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LC64A-04/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit RISC (Harvard) |
| Family | PIC16C (PIC16C6X sub-family) |
| Program Memory Type | OTP EPROM |
| Program Memory Size | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) |
| Data RAM | 128 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 4 MHz |
| Instruction Set | 35 single-word instructions |
| Supply Voltage Range | 3.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 33 |
| Package | 40-pin PDIP (0.600 inch, 15.24 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +70C (commercial) |
| Technology | Low-power CMOS |
| Speed Grade Suffix | -04 (4 MHz max) |
PIC16LC64A-04/P 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 / Voltage reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / Timer 0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/SS/AN4 — PORTA bit 5 / Slave select / Analog input 4 |
| Pin 8 | RE0/RD — PORTE bit 0 / Read control for parallel slave port |
| Pin 9 | RE1/WR — PORTE bit 1 / Write control for parallel slave port |
| Pin 10 | RE2/CS — PORTE bit 2 / Chip select for parallel slave port |
| Pin 11 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (3.0V to 5.5V) |
| Pin 12 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 13 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator crystal input / External clock input |
| Pin 14 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator crystal output / Clock output |
| Pin 15 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — PORTC bit 0 / Timer 1 oscillator output / Timer 1 clock input |
| Pin 16 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP — PORTC bit 1 / Timer 1 oscillator input / Capture-Compare-PWM |
| Pin 17 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / Capture-Compare-PWM 1 |
| Pin 18 | RC3/SCK/SCL — PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 19 | RD0/PSP0 — PORTD bit 0 / Parallel slave port bit 0 |
| Pin 20 | RD1/PSP1 — PORTD bit 1 / Parallel slave port bit 1 |
| Pin 21 | RD2/PSP2 — PORTD bit 2 / Parallel slave port bit 2 |
| Pin 22 | RD3/PSP3 — PORTD bit 3 / Parallel slave port bit 3 |
| Pin 23 | RC4/SDI/SDA — PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 24 | RC5/SDO — PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 25 | RC6/TX/CK — PORTC bit 6 / USART transmit / USART clock |
| Pin 26 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / USART receive / USART data |
| Pin 27 | RD4/PSP4 — PORTD bit 4 / Parallel slave port bit 4 |
| Pin 28 | RD5/PSP5 — PORTD bit 5 / Parallel slave port bit 5 |
| Pin 29 | RD6/PSP6 — PORTD bit 6 / Parallel slave port bit 6 |
| Pin 30 | RD7/PSP7 — PORTD bit 7 / Parallel slave port bit 7 |
| Pin 31 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 32 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (3.0V to 5.5V) |
| Pin 33 | RB0/INT — PORTB bit 0 / External interrupt |
| Pin 34 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 35 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 36 | RB3 — PORTB bit 3 |
| Pin 37 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 38 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 39 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 40 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data |
Typical Applications
PIC16LC64A-04/P is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Logic Board, Home Appliance Controller, Sensor Signal Conditioning Front-End, Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety), User Interface Keypad Scanner Board, Low-Power Embedded Instrumentation.
Industrial Control Logic Board
The PIC16LC64A-04/P's 33 I/O pins and 4 MHz RISC core make it a fit for industrial control boards driving relays, contactors, and discrete indicator LEDs. Each of the 33 digital I/O lines can source/sink 20-25 mA, sufficient to drive optocouplers or small signal relays directly without buffer transistors. The 4 MHz instruction cycle (1 us/instruction) delivers deterministic response times for PLC-style ladder logic replacements, and the 3.0V-5.5V supply range tolerates 24V industrial rails after regulation. Use it for machine tool sequencing, conveyor interlocks, and HVAC damper controllers. The 128 bytes RAM limits it to small ladder programs of a few dozen rungs; firmware fits comfortably in the 3.5 KB OTP.
Recommended
Home Appliance Controller
The PIC16LC64A-04/P is well-suited to home appliance controllers (washing machines, dishwashers, microwave ovens, coffee makers) where cost dominates and code is frozen at OTP programming. Its 33 I/O lines interface directly with membrane keypads, 7-segment displays, buzzer drivers, and triac control pins for AC load switching. The wide 3.0V-5.5V supply range accommodates rectified 5V or 12V rails with simple linear regulation. Low-power CMOS ('LC') process keeps standby current under 1 uA, important for Energy Star standby budgets. The 35-instruction RISC core simplifies code review for safety-critical appliance firmware; the OTP memory prevents accidental field reprogramming of certified firmware images.
Recommended
Sensor Signal Conditioning Front-End
The PIC16LC64A-04/P works well as a sensor signal-conditioning and data-acquisition front-end, digitizing analog inputs via its 8-channel 8-bit ADC and pre-processing data before serial forwarding. The 4 MHz throughput runs ADC conversion, threshold detection, and UART framing fast enough for sample rates up to ~10 kHz with simple moving-average filtering. Its 128 bytes RAM buffers small data blocks between transmission bursts. The CMOS design rejects 50/60 Hz power-line interference in industrial environments when paired with proper PCB grounding and bypass capacitors. Use it for thermocouple cold-junction compensation, thermistor linearization, and load-cell excitation switching - all inside a single 40-PDIP chip with a small 7805 + 4 MHz crystal BOM.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety)
The PIC16LC64A-04/P and its industrial-grade sibling PIC16LC64A-04I/P serve automotive body electronics (window lifts, mirror adjusters, seat controllers, ambient lighting) where the wide industrial temp range (-40C to +85C) covers cabin conditions. The 33 I/O lines interface directly with H-bridge drivers, body-control modules' LIN-bus transceivers, and PWM-driven lamp drivers. The OTP memory prevents unauthorized firmware replacement in dealership service scenarios. Note: this part is NOT AEC-Q100 qualified, so reserve it for non-safety body modules and choose AEC-Q100-qualified parts like PIC16F1933-I/PT for safety-critical ECUs. The 5V supply aligns with conventional automotive 12V battery rails after regulator drop.
Recommended
User Interface Keypad Scanner Board
The PIC16LC64A-04/P excels at 4x4 to 8x8 matrix keypad scanning with debouncing, multi-key rollover detection, and host-interface (UART/SPI) reporting. Its 33 I/O pins accommodate up to 16-key (8x8 scan) or 32-key matrices with key-pressed LEDs without external mux chips. The 4 MHz instruction rate scans an 8x8 matrix in under 200 us, well under human perception thresholds. The 128 bytes RAM holds a 64-byte key buffer plus communication state, while the 3.5 KB OTP holds the debouncing and protocol stack. Use it for industrial keypads, access control PIN pads, and numeric entry pads in instrumentation front panels.
Recommended
Low-Power Embedded Instrumentation
The PIC16LC64A-04/P's 'LC' (low-power CMOS) variant delivers the low quiescent current needed for battery-powered instruments (handheld multimeters, portable data loggers, remote sensor nodes). Active current of 15 uA at 5V/4 MHz and standby current under 1 uA extend battery life by 3-5x versus the 'C' standard-CMOS PIC16C64A. The 33 I/O drive LCD segment drivers, EEPROM memories, and low-power radio modules for one-way telemetry. The 4 MHz clock supports UART-based serial output at 9600-38400 baud with hardware accuracy. Pair with a 3V lithium coin cell or two AA cells for multi-year deployment in remote sensing applications.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LC64A-04/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LC64A-04I/P | PIC16LC64A-04/L | PIC16C64A-04/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | PDIP-40 (0.600 inch) | PDIP-40 (0.600 inch) - same | CDIP-40 (windowed CERDIP) - same pin count | PDIP-40 (0.600 inch) - same |
| Program Memory | 3.5 KB OTP (2K x 14) | 3.5 KB OTP (2K x 14) | 3.5 KB EPROM (windowed) | 3.5 KB OTP (2K x 14) |
| Data RAM | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes |
| Maximum Clock | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz |
| 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 6.0 V |
| Process / Power | Low-power CMOS (LC) | Low-power CMOS (LC) | Low-power CMOS (LC) | Standard CMOS (C) |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +70C (commercial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | 0C to +70C (commercial) | 0C to +70C (commercial) |
| I/O Pins | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 |
Key Differentiators
- Low-power CMOS ('LC') process variant (vs PIC16C64A-04/P)
- OTP (one-time programmable) memory prevents field firmware tampering (vs PIC16F877A-I/P)
- Industrial temperature variant available in identical footprint (vs PIC16LC64A-04/P (commercial))
Design Notes
The PIC16LC64A-04/P has two VDD pins (11 and 32) and two VSS pins (12 and 31) that MUST both be connected. Skipping either supply pin causes unreliable operation under transient loads. Place 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitors as close as possible to BOTH VDD/VSS pin pairs, plus a 10 uF bulk capacitor at the board's power entry. The low-power CMOS 'LC' process gives 15 uA typical active current at 5V/4 MHz and under 1 uA in sleep - design power-rail RC filters to keep digital supply noise below 50 mVpp to avoid ADC reference corruption on analog-capable pins RA0-RA5.
Route the 4 MHz crystal traces between OSC1 (pin 13) and OSC2 (pin 14) as short and symmetric as possible, with the two 22 pF load capacitors returned to a quiet ground island separate from digital switching returns. Keep clock traces away from RB and RC port traces to minimize capacitive crosstalk. The MCLR pin (pin 1) requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD and a 100 nF decoupling cap to VSS for noisy industrial environments - never leave MCLR floating. For in-circuit programming, route the PGC (pin 39) and PGD (pin 40) lines to a dedicated ICSP header with no series resistors.
Three common PIC16LC64A-04/P pitfalls: (1) Confusing the 'LC' (low-power CMOS) variant with the 'C' (standard CMOS) PIC16C64A-04/P - the LC has lower current and narrower voltage range (3.0-5.5V vs 3.0-6.0V). (2) Choosing the wrong oscillator mode - the -04 suffix caps clock at 4 MHz; HS mode above 4 MHz will not function reliably. (3) OTP programming requires a 13V VPP on MCLR/VPP - standard 5V in-system programming is NOT supported on OTP variants, you need a high-voltage programmer. Always verify device ID 0x07A6 before programming.
Estimated: the PIC16LC64A-04/P in 40-PDIP package has theta_JA around 50 C/W (typical for plastic DIP at still air). At maximum active current 15 mA and 5V supply (75 mW dissipation), junction temperature rise is only ~3.75 C above ambient - thermal management is not a concern for this MCU. However, in sealed enclosures with no airflow and ambient approaching +70C commercial limit, derate operating frequency or reduce supply voltage to maintain junction below +125C absolute maximum. Industrial -40C to +85C variant (PIC16LC64A-04I/P) extends the safe ambient envelope.
Compliance Information
Compliance data not explicitly stated in verified web data; set to 'unknown' rather than assumed. This part is NOT AEC-Q100 qualified - for automotive safety applications use AEC-Q100-qualified PIC16F1933-I/PT or similar.
