PIC16LC72A-04/SS - 8-Bit 4MHz MCU 3.5KB OTP 28-SSOP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LC72A-04/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.92 | $4.92 |
| 10 | $4.41 | $44.10 |
| 100 | $3.86 | $386.00 |
| 500 | $3.32 | $1,660.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.94 | $2,940.00 |
PIC16LC72A-04/SS Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that combines a CPU, program memory, RAM, non-volatile data memory, and configurable peripheral blocks such as timers, capture/compare/PWM modules, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), serial communication interfaces, and general-purpose I/O. Within the broader semiconductor hierarchy, a microcontroller belongs to the digital logic IC family under the embedded processing umbrella; the PIC16C series from Microchip uses a RISC Harvard-architecture core with 35 single-word instructions, separating program and data buses to enable simultaneous fetch and operand access for deterministic interrupt latency.
Key feature differentiators include the OTP program memory (which supports prototyping and small/medium production runs at lower mask-charge cost than masked-ROM parts), a 10-bit successive-approximation ADC, a USART module, an I2C/SPI synchronous serial port, capture/compare/PWM (CCP) peripherals, and a watchdog timer with on-chip RC oscillator for code-flow protection. Brown-out reset (BOR), power-on reset (POR), and an analog comparator are also integrated to reduce external bill-of-materials count. The 28-SSOP footprint provides ~0.65 mm lead pitch, allowing the device to fit compact hand-held and panel-mount designs where 28-pin PDIP or SOIC variants would be too tall.
Typical applications include industrial automation control loops, consumer appliance keypad and display controllers, sensor signal conditioning front-ends, low-speed serial-bridge nodes, and small-form-factor battery-powered handheld instruments. The 2.5 V minimum supply also enables direct Li-ion or two-AA-cell operation without boost regulators.
When designing with the PIC16LC72A-04/SS, confirm oscillator selection (crystal vs resonator vs RC) and verify the OTP programming window using MPLAB development tools. The OTP array cannot be erased, so production yields depend on robust in-system test and verification prior to programming.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LC72A-04/SS — 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 PIC16LC72A-04/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature Range, Program Memory Size, Program Memory Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LC72A-04I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LC72-04/SS
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PIC16LC72-04I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$2.72 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F72-I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$2.19 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F73-I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
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View Datasheet →PIC16LC72A-04/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | PIC16C |
| Core Architecture | 8-bit RISC Harvard |
| CPU Clock Speed | 4 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle | 200 ns |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time Programmable) |
| Program Memory Size | 3.5 KB (2K x 14 words) |
| RAM | 128 bytes |
| Number of I/O Pins | 22 |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | 0 C to +70 C |
| Package | 28-SSOP |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| ADC | 10-bit successive approximation |
| Communication Interfaces | USART, I2C/SPI synchronous serial port |
| Peripherals | CCP, WDT, BOR, POR, analog comparator |
| Speed Grade | 04 (4 MHz) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LC72A-04/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/Vpp — Master clear reset input / programming voltage |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / analog input channel 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / analog input channel 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/Vref- — PORTA bit 2 / analog input channel 2 / ADC Vref- |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/Vref+ — PORTA bit 3 / analog input channel 3 / ADC Vref+ |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input (open-drain) |
| Pin 7 | RA5/SS/AN4 — PORTA bit 5 / slave select for SPI / analog input channel 4 |
| Pin 8 | Vss — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator crystal input / external clock input |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator crystal output / clock output |
| Pin 11 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 12 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 I/O |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / CCP1 I/O |
| Pin 14 | RC3/SCK/SCL — PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 15 | RB0/INT — PORTB bit 0 / external interrupt input |
| Pin 16 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 17 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 18 | RB3/PGM — PORTB bit 3 / low-voltage programming enable |
| Pin 19 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 20 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 21 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 22 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data |
| 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 TX / clock line |
| Pin 26 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / USART RX / data line |
| Pin 27 | Vss — Ground reference |
| Pin 28 | Vdd — Positive supply (2.5 V to 5.5 V) |
Typical Applications
PIC16LC72A-04/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation Control Module, Consumer Appliance Keypad & Display Controller, Sensor Signal Conditioning Front-End, Battery-Powered Handheld Instrument, Low-Speed Serial Bridge Node, LED Lighting & Signage Driver.
Industrial Automation Control Module
The PIC16LC72A-04/SS fits industrial automation control modules where 5 V tolerant inputs and outputs are needed alongside a 10-bit ADC for sensor readout. Its 22 I/O pins handle keypad scanning, discrete output drive, and indicator LED multiplexing, while the CCP peripherals deliver PWM for valve and motor-speed control loops. Compared with discrete logic, integrating the comparator, WDT, BOR, and USART on-die reduces BOM count and improves reliability in 24/7 plant environments.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Keypad & Display Controller
The PIC16LC72A-04/SS is ideal for consumer appliance keypad and display controllers in microwave ovens, washing machines, and induction cookers. Its 22 I/O drive multiplex 7-segment LED or LCD character panels directly, while the 2.5 V to 5.5 V supply lets the same part work from a regulated 3.3 V rail or a 5 V rectified bus. The internal watchdog timer (WDT) and brown-out reset (BOR) protect the appliance against voltage sags during motor inrush events.
Recommended
Sensor Signal Conditioning Front-End
For sensor signal conditioning front-ends, the PIC16LC72A-04/SS supplies an on-chip 10-bit ADC, an analog comparator, and the ability to drive an external op-amp gain stage. Its 22 I/O read multiple sensor channels in rotation, and the USART forwards averaged readings to a higher-level host. The PIC16LC72A-04/SS drops straight into temperature, humidity, gas, or pressure sensor nodes where the 2.5 V minimum Vdd simplifies battery or energy-harvesting power trees.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Handheld Instrument
The PIC16LC72A-04/SS supports battery-powered handheld instruments because of its 2.5 V minimum supply and low CMOS standby current. Two AA cells or a single Li-ion cell feed the part without a boost regulator, and its 4 MHz clock is fast enough to debounce keypads, drive an LCD, and perform sensor math in real time. Sleep-mode current stays in the microamp range, extending battery life during idle intervals in portable meters and barcode scanners.
Recommended
Low-Speed Serial Bridge Node
The PIC16LC72A-04/SS fits low-speed serial bridge nodes that translate between RS-232, RS-485, I2C, and SPI domains in mixed-protocol industrial networks. Its on-chip USART and synchronous serial port run concurrently, and its 22 I/O provide enough lines for handshake and direction-control signals. The 28-SSOP footprint lets the bridge fit inside small inline-enclosure housings used in instrumentation back-planes.
Recommended
LED Lighting & Signage Driver
The PIC16LC72A-04/SS drives LED lighting and signage controllers that require multiple PWM channels for color and intensity mixing. Its CCP module and timer resources provide the timing resolution needed for high-frequency dimming, and the 22 I/O handle row/column multiplexing of large dot-matrix displays. Brown-out reset prevents erratic LED behavior during warm-up, while the 0 C to +70 C window suits indoor commercial signage installations.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LC72A-04/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LC72A-04I/SS | PIC16LC72-04/SS | PIC16LC72-04I/SS | PIC16F72-I/SS | PIC16F73-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SSOP | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (3.5 KB) | OTP (3.5 KB) | OTP (3.5 KB) | OTP (3.5 KB) | Flash (3.5 KB) | Flash (4 KB) |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| 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 | -40 C to +85 C |
| Supply Voltage | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| RAM | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 192 bytes |
| Number of I/O Pins | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Unit Price (qty-1) | $4.92 | $5.10 (est) | $4.85 (est) | $5.00 (est) | $4.30 (est) | $4.75 (est) |
Key Differentiators
- Low-voltage CMOS process variant (vs PIC16C72A-04/SS)
- Industrial-grade drop-in upgrade (vs PIC16LC72A-04I/SS)
- Flash migration path (vs PIC16F72-I/SS)
Design Notes
The PIC16LC72A-04/SS operates from 2.5 V to 5.5 V and benefits from decoupling capacitors as close as possible to Vdd (pin 28) and Vss (pin 27 and pin 8). Place a 100 nF ceramic plus a 10 uF tantalum or aluminum polymer bulk cap on the rail to suppress switching transients from the CCP PWM outputs and USART drivers. Estimated: at 4 MHz system clock and full I/O drive, the IC draws approximately 2 mA active and under 1 uA in sleep mode.
OTP program memory cannot be erased after programming - verify firmware thoroughly before committing to production programming. A single bit-flip in OTP requires scrapping the part. Always run the OTP verification routine and check sums after the burn, and consider keeping the PIC16F72-I/SS flash equivalent in the BOM as a fallback for engineering builds.
Keep the OSC1/OSC2 traces short to avoid stray capacitance, or use a four-pin ceramic resonator with built-in caps. Place MCLR/Vpp (pin 1) below a 10 kohm pull-up to Vdd and a 100 nF cap to Vss for clean resets during Vdd rise. The analog inputs AN0-AN4 share PORT pins; route analog traces away from RB/RC digital switching to preserve ADC accuracy.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance verified per Microchip product page; this 28-SSOP part ships in lead-free matte-tin finish from authorized distributors. The PIC16LC72A-04/SS is not AEC-Q100 qualified; PIC16LC72A-04I/SS is the industrial variant. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in distributor materials.
