PIC16LC770-E/SS - 8-bit 20MHz 3.5KB OTP MCU 20-SSOP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LC770-E/SS ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.1084 | $2.11 |
| 10 | $1.95 | $19.50 |
| 100 | $1.74 | $174.00 |
| 500 | $1.55 | $775.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.38 | $1,380.00 |
PIC16LC770-E/SS Overview
A microcontroller (microcontroller unit, MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory, working RAM, peripherals, and I/O on one die. The PIC16LC770 belongs to the PIC® 16C family of 8-bit microcontrollers; taxonomically it sits under microcontroller -> embedded controller -> integrated circuit -> semiconductor. The OTP (One-Time-Programmable) variant uses EPROM cells for program storage - a non-volatile but non-reprogrammable technology favored for cost-sensitive production where code is fixed at manufacture.
Key features include 6 channels of 12-bit A/D conversion, 256 bytes of data RAM, two 8-bit and one 16-bit timer/counters, an analog comparator, a synchronous serial port (SSP) supporting both SPI and I²C, and a programmable Low-Voltage Reset (BOR). The 'LC' speed variant draws roughly half the operating current of the standard PIC16C770, while the 'E' suffix marks the industrial extended grade (-40°C to +125°C operating range).
Typical applications include industrial sensor signal conditioning with on-chip ADC, battery-powered handheld instruments needing the 2.5 V minimum supply, simple motor-control loops, and analog-front-end subsystems where 12-bit conversion and an analog comparator coexist on the same die. Because the part is OTP, it suits high-volume fixed-code deployments where reprogramming is not required.
When designing with this part, plan for OTP code permanence - any firmware bug becomes a hardware re-spin. Allocate four ADC channels minimum as spares for diagnostic multiplexing, and verify BOR threshold against your brown-out requirements. This page combines distributor pricing, drop-in alternative coverage, and design notes not bundled in the Microchip datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LC770-E/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 PIC16LC770-E/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Core Architecture, Program Memory Size, Program Memory Type.
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No drop-in alternatives available for this product.
Request AlternativesPIC16LC770-E/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time-Programmable EPROM) |
| Program Memory Size | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) |
| Data RAM | 256 x 8 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Execution Time | 200 ns |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 16 (general-purpose) |
| ADC | 6-channel, 12-bit |
| Timers | 2 x 8-bit, 1 x 16-bit |
| Serial Interfaces | SSP (SPI / I²C) |
| Analog Comparator | Yes |
| Brown-Out Reset (BOR) | Programmable |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40°C to +125°C (E - extended grade) |
| Package | 20-pin SSOP |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
PIC16LC770-E/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP — Master Clear (Reset) input / Programming voltage input |
| 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 — PORTA bit 2 / Analog input channel 2 |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3 — PORTA bit 3 / Analog input channel 3 |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS — PORTA bit 5 / Analog input channel 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 8 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 9 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator output / clock output (Fosc/4) |
| Pin 10 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 11 | RC1/T1OSI — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input |
| Pin 12 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / Capture/Compare/PWM 1 output |
| Pin 13 | RC3/SCL/SCK — PORTC bit 3 / I²C clock / SPI clock |
| Pin 14 | RC4/SDA/SDI — PORTC bit 4 / I²C data / SPI data in |
| Pin 15 | RC5/SDO — PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 16 | RC6 — PORTC bit 6 |
| Pin 17 | RC7 — PORTC bit 7 |
| Pin 18 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 19 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.5 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 20 | RB7 — PORTB bit 7 |
Typical Applications
PIC16LC770-E/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning, Battery-Powered Handheld Instruments, Simple Motor Control Loops, Analog Front-End Subsystem, White Goods Control Boards, Automotive Body Electronics (Legacy).
Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning
The PIC16LC770-E/SS fits industrial sensor signal conditioning because its 6-channel 12-bit ADC (61 uV per LSB at 5 V full-scale) provides 4096 discrete codes for precise transducer reading - sufficient for bridge pressure sensors and RTD interfaces. The 2.5 V to 5.5 V supply range accepts industrial 24 V bus power after step-down to 3.3 V or 5 V. The 'E' grade -40°C to +125°C operation handles factory floor thermal extremes. Inline the comparator for threshold detection without software overhead.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Handheld Instruments
The PIC16LC770-E/SS suits battery-powered handhelds because the 'LC' speed variant draws approximately half the active current of the PIC16C770, extending runtime on two AA alkaline cells or single-cell Li-ion. The 2.5 V minimum supply keeps operation alive as battery voltage decays, and the 20 MHz core gives 5 MIPS throughput for measurement computation. The analog comparator enables low-power battery-voltage monitoring without waking the CPU.
Recommended
Simple Motor Control Loops
The PIC16LC770-E/SS handles small DC motor control because the 16-bit timer/counter captures tachometer feedback up to 50 kHz with the 20 MHz clock (one instruction per pulse edge). The PWM-capable CCP module drives FET gate drivers through its I/O pins. The analog comparator implements current-sense overcurrent protection without ADC sampling delay. The 12-bit ADC monitors back-EMF and supply voltage at 60 Hz control-loop rates.
Recommended
Analog Front-End Subsystem
The PIC16LC770-E/SS excels in analog front-end subsystems where its 6-channel 12-bit ADC, analog comparator, and SSP (SPI/I²C) peripherals coexist on one die. The 12-bit ADC delivers 61 uV per LSB resolution at 5 V FSR - adequate for thermocouple linearization via lookup table. The I²C/SPI peripherals connect to external EEPROM for calibration storage. The 256-byte RAM holds runtime state without external memory.
Recommended
White Goods Control Boards
The PIC16LC770-E/SS targets white goods appliance control because OTP programming fits fixed firmware, the 20-pin SSOP is industry-standard for board assembly, and the ADC reads thermistor and pressure-sensor inputs directly. The SSP peripheral connects to LED-driver ICs or character-LCD modules. The industrial-extended temperature range (-40°C to +125°C) tolerates under-cabinet and behind-panel heat rise.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Legacy)
The PIC16LC770-E/SS historically served automotive body electronics such as seat controllers, mirror adjusters, and lighting modules where 12-bit ADC reads potentiometer positions, and SSP drives peripheral drivers. The 'E' grade -40°C to +125°C tolerates under-hood and cabin thermal stress. New automotive designs should migrate to PIC16F-series with AEC-Q100 qualification and active lifecycle status.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LC770-E/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LC770-I/SS | PIC16LC770/SS | PIC16LC770T-E/SS | PIC16LC717-E/SS | PIC16LC711-04/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 20-SSOP | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory | 3.5 KB OTP | 3.5 KB OTP | 3.5 KB OTP | 3.5 KB OTP | 3.5 KB OTP | 1.75 KB OTP (-50%) |
| Data RAM | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 128 B (-50%) |
| Maximum Frequency | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Operating 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 | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| ADC | 6-ch 12-bit | 6-ch 12-bit | 6-ch 12-bit | 6-ch 12-bit | 6-ch 12-bit | 4-ch 8-bit (-33% resolution) |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial-extended temperature grade (vs PIC16LC770-I/SS)
- Same SSOP-20 footprint as PIC16LC770 family (vs PIC16LC770T-E/SS)
- Higher ADC resolution than PIC16LC711 (vs PIC16LC711-04/SO)
Design Notes
PIC16LC770 uses One-Time-Programmable (OTP) EPROM, not flash. Any firmware bug locked into the OTP array requires a physical hardware re-spin - there is no in-system reprogramming. Lock down the firmware build with full regression testing before committing to OTP programming. For prototype or pilot runs, build with flash PIC16F equivalents (e.g. PIC16F877A-I/SS) and migrate to PIC16LC770 only for locked volume production.
Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin (pin 19) and a 10 uF bulk tantalum or aluminum capacitor on the supply rail. The PIC16LC770 draws fast transient currents during peripheral switching; insufficient decoupling causes VDD droop and ADC reference noise. The brown-out reset (BOR) module should be enabled to guarantee safe reset on supply collapse below the configured threshold.
The 6-channel 12-bit ADC achieves 61 uV per LSB at 5 V FSR - adequate for many sensors but easily destroyed by digital switching noise. Route ADC analog traces (AN0-AN5) away from digital switching traces (OSC, PORTB, PORTC), keep analog and digital ground returns separated, and join them at a single-star point under the MCU. Use the AN3 pin as a dedicated VREF+ reference if sensor accuracy requires it.
Estimated: at 20 MHz full-speed operation with all peripherals active, the PIC16LC770-E/SS consumes approximately 5 mA to 15 mA from 5 V VDD, dissipating 25 mW to 75 mW. The 20-SSOP package has a theta_JA of approximately 90 C/W (per Microchip packaging datasheet 00049K), producing a junction-temperature rise of 2.3 C to 6.8 C above ambient - well within the -40 C to +125 C operating range, no heatsink required.
The 20-pin SSOP body is 5.30 mm wide with 0.65 mm pitch - tight for hand-soldering. For prototype assembly, use SSOP-to-DIP breakout boards (e.g. SparkFun SOIC-20) to expose 0.1-inch pin headers. For volume production, follow Microchip SSOP land-pattern recommendations in packaging document 00049K. Keep the MCLR/VPP pin (pin 1) accessible to allow factory tool programming if OTP coding is done post-assembly.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance per Microchip product page (lead-free finish). Not AEC-Q100 qualified - the PIC16LC770 is industrial-grade, not automotive-qualified. For AEC-Q100 automotive MCUs, use PIC16F-series with explicit Q1 or Q100 part suffixes.
