PIC17C43-16/PQ - 8-Bit 16MHz OTP MCU 8KB | Microchip
MPN: PIC17C43-16/PQ ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $12.03 | $12.03 |
| 10 | $11.2 | $112.00 |
| 100 | $9.85 | $985.00 |
| 500 | $8.4 | $4,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $6.95 | $6,950.00 |
PIC17C43-16/PQ Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory, working RAM, and peripheral interfaces into one IC. The PIC17C family sits between Microchip's baseline PIC16C and the higher-performance PIC18 families, targeting applications that demand more MIPS than PIC16 but predate the modern PIC18 architecture. PIC17C43 is the OTP-programmable variant; PIC17CR43 is the ROM-mask counterpart with identical pinout and core. Both belong to the broader category of 8-bit microcontrollers, the most widely deployed MCU class for cost-sensitive embedded control.
Key features include a Harvard RISC core executing 58 single-word instructions in a 4-stage pipeline, instruction cycle time of 121 ns at 16 MHz (yielding 8.25 MIPS), 16-bit instruction word / 8-bit data path, and an 8-level deep hardware stack. The instruction set is upwards compatible with the PIC16C5X, PIC12Cxxx and PIC16Cxx families. The -16 speed grade supports 16 MHz operation across the full commercial temperature range (0 °C to +70 °C).
Typical applications include industrial control systems, motor drive front-ends, instrument front panels, and embedded data-acquisition front-ends where deterministic execution and OTP code storage are acceptable. The 33 I/O pins and 16-bit timer/counter resources make it suitable for keypad scanning, LED/LCD multiplexing, serial communication via the USART, and parallel bus interfacing.
A newer device is available: Microchip recommends the PIC18F4220 as the migration target for new designs. Designers should also note the OTP limitation - the PIC17C43 cannot be reprogrammed, only windowed (PIC17C43/JW) or EPROM-erased variants support code iteration. XAIPART synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, and practical design notes not present in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC17C43-16/PQ — 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 PIC17C43-16/PQ (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Program Memory Size, Program Memory Type, I/O Pins, Instruction Cycle Time, Lead-Free.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC17C43-25/PQ
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC17C43-33I/PQ
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC17C42A-16/PQ
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC17C42A-33I/PQ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$11.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC17C44-16/PQ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$10.34 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC17C43-16/PQ Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Architecture | PIC17C, 8-bit Harvard RISC |
| Instruction Set Width | 16-bit instructions, 8-bit data path |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 16 MHz (speed grade -16) |
| Instruction Cycle Time | 121 ns at 16 MHz |
| Performance | 8.25 MIPS |
| Program Memory Type | OTP EPROM |
| Program Memory Size | 8 KB (4K x 16 words) |
| Data RAM | 454 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 33 |
| Package | 44-pin MQFP (PQ), 10 mm x 10 mm |
| Operating Temperature Range | 0 °C to +70 °C (commercial, -16 grade) |
| Hardware Stack Depth | 8 levels |
| Number of Instructions | 58 single-word |
| RoHS Status | Non-compliant (MQFP PQ windowed/OTP product, pre-RoHS era) |
| Lead-Free | no |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
PIC17C43-16/PQ Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / analog input 0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / analog input 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2 — PORTA bit 2 / analog input 2 |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3 — PORTA bit 3 / analog input 3 |
| Pin 5 | RA4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 6 | RA5/SS — PORTA bit 5 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 7 | Vss — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | OSC1/CLKIN — Crystal oscillator input / external clock in |
| Pin 9 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Crystal oscillator output / clock out |
| Pin 10 | MCLR/Vpp — Master clear reset / programming voltage input |
| Pin 11 | Vdd — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 12 | RB0/INT — PORTB bit 0 / external interrupt |
| Pin 13 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 14 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 15 | RB3 — PORTB bit 3 |
| Pin 16 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 17 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 18 | RB6 — PORTB bit 6 |
| Pin 19 | RB7 — PORTB bit 7 |
| Pin 20 | Vss — Ground reference |
| Pin 21 | RC0 — PORTC bit 0 |
| Pin 22 | RC1 — PORTC bit 1 |
| Pin 23 | RC2 — PORTC bit 2 |
| Pin 24 | RC3 — PORTC bit 3 |
| Pin 25 | RC4 — PORTC bit 4 |
| Pin 26 | RC5 — PORTC bit 5 |
| Pin 27 | RC6/TX/CK — PORTC bit 6 / USART TX / clock |
| Pin 28 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / USART RX / data |
| Pin 29 | Vdd — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 30 | RD0 — PORTD bit 0 |
| Pin 31 | RD1 — PORTD bit 1 |
| Pin 32 | RD2 — PORTD bit 2 |
| Pin 33 | RD3 — PORTD bit 3 |
| Pin 34 | RD4 — PORTD bit 4 |
| Pin 35 | RD5 — PORTD bit 5 |
| Pin 36 | RD6 — PORTD bit 6 |
| Pin 37 | RD7 — PORTD bit 7 |
| Pin 38 | Vss — Ground reference |
| Pin 39 | RE0/RD — PORTE bit 0 / parallel port read strobe |
| Pin 40 | RE1/WR — PORTE bit 1 / parallel port write strobe |
| Pin 41 | RE2/CS — PORTE bit 2 / parallel port chip select |
| Pin 42 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 43 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 44 | Vdd — Positive supply voltage |
Typical Applications
PIC17C43-16/PQ is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Systems, Motor Drive Front-Ends, Instrument Front Panels, Embedded Data-Acquisition Front-Ends, Serial Communication Bridges, Legacy Embedded Replacement Boards.
Industrial Control Systems
The PIC17C43-16/PQ fits industrial control applications because its 16 MHz / 8.25 MIPS core and 33 digital I/O pins deliver the deterministic execution and parallel peripheral connectivity required to read sensors and drive actuators in real time. With 8 KB of OTP program memory it can host PID control loops, keypad scanning routines, and serial protocol stacks. The 454 bytes of RAM is sized for state variables in a single control task. The commercial 0-70 C temperature range covers most factory-floor enclosures. Use it between H-bridge drivers, opto-isolated inputs, and a host PLC over USART.
Recommended
Motor Drive Front-Ends
In motor drive front-ends, the PIC17C43-16/PQ runs the commutation logic and protection loops with deterministic timing, leveraging its 121 ns instruction cycle at 16 MHz to sample current sensors and update PWM duty cycles within tight loop windows. Its 33 I/O pins interface to Hall-effect sensors, encoder inputs, and gate-driver enable lines for the H-bridge stage. The 8 KB of OTP holds lookup tables for sinusoidal commutation profiles and fault-handling routines. A drop-in upgrade to PIC17C43-25/PQ or PIC17C43-33I/PQ increases the control-loop margin by 56-106% at no PCB cost.
Recommended
Instrument Front Panels
The PIC17C43-16/PQ is well matched to instrument front-panel controllers that drive 7-segment or dot-matrix displays and scan keypads. Its 33 I/O pins comfortably multiplex 8-digit LED displays plus a 4x4 matrix keypad without external logic. The 16 MHz clock supports debouncing and display-refresh routines with margin. The 8 KB OTP program memory stores menu handling, calibration constants, and serial command parsing. The PIC18F4220 migration target is recommended only if Flash reprogramming is required in production.
Recommended
Embedded Data-Acquisition Front-Ends
For embedded data-acquisition front-ends, the PIC17C43-16/PQ sequences an external 8-bit ADC, buffers readings into its 454-byte RAM, and pushes results to a host via the on-chip USART at up to 16 MHz instruction throughput. The 16 MHz clock provides 121 ns per instruction, allowing polled sampling at tens of kHz without DMA. The 33 I/O pins include analog-mux select lines, ADC chip-select, and serial TX/RX. Designers should note the OTP limitation: firmware iteration requires a PIC17C43/JW windowed sample during development.
Recommended
Serial Communication Bridges
The PIC17C43-16/PQ can act as a serial protocol bridge between UART, SPI, and I2C peripherals because its on-chip USART plus software-driven bit-banging can manage multiple serial streams concurrently. With 33 I/O pins, several ports can be assigned to simultaneous serial interfaces. The 8 KB OTP holds command interpreters and protocol state machines. For higher baud-rate tolerance, upgrading to PIC17C43-25/PQ (25 MHz, +56%) gives more headroom for high-speed SPI at 8 MHz or faster.
Recommended
Legacy Embedded Replacement Boards
The PIC17C43-16/PQ is frequently specified for replacement boards in legacy equipment where the original design used this exact part. The 44-MQFP footprint allows drop-in substitution, and the OTP memory holds the original firmware unchanged. Modern replacements such as the PIC18F4220 are recommended only when PCB rework is acceptable. Stocking the PIC17C43-16/PQ for service spares through specialty distributors (Heisener, LCSC, AIChiplink) remains the lowest-risk path for sustaining installed systems as of 2026-09-25.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC17C43-16/PQ — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC17C43-25/PQ | PIC17C43-33I/PQ | PIC17C42A-16/PQ | PIC17C42A-33I/PQ | PIC17C44-16/PQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 44-MQFP (10x10) | 44-MQFP (10x10) - same | 44-MQFP (10x10) - same | 44-MQFP (10x10) - same | 44-MQFP (10x10) - same | 44-MQFP (10x10) - same |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 16 MHz | 25 MHz (+56%) | 33 MHz (+106%) | 16 MHz (0%) | 33 MHz (+106%) | 16 MHz (0%) |
| Program Memory | 8 KB OTP | 8 KB OTP (same) | 8 KB OTP (same) | 4 KB OTP (-50%) | 4 KB OTP (-50%) | 16 KB OTP (+100%) |
| I/O Pins | 33 | 33 (same) | 33 (same) | 33 (same) | 33 (same) | 33 (same) |
| Operating Temperature Range | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) |
| Lifecycle Status (2026-09-25) | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND |
Key Differentiators
- Highest memory density in PIC17C43 family for 16 MHz 44-MQFP parts (vs PIC17C42A-16/PQ)
- Wider speed grade options available in same footprint (vs PIC17C43-16/PQ vs PIC17C43-25/PQ and PIC17C43-33I/PQ)
- 8.25 MIPS at 16 MHz, deterministic Harvard RISC core (vs Generic PIC16C family parts at same clock)
Design Notes
The PIC17C43-16/PQ requires a stable Vdd with decoupling on each Vdd/Vss pair (pins 11/7, 29/20, 44/38). Place a 100 nF ceramic capacitor as close as possible to each Vdd pin, with a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic at the package supply entry. The MCLR/Vpp pin (pin 10) needs a 10 kohm pull-up to Vdd and a 100 nF capacitor to Vss for noise immunity - do not leave MCLR floating. Vpp during in-circuit programming reaches 13V nominal; ensure the MCLR trace is isolated from sensitive analog lines.
The 44-MQFP package has fine-pitch gull-wing leads on all four sides. Recommended land pattern follows IPC-7351 MQFP-44 with 0.8 mm lead pitch. Place the crystal or resonator within 10 mm of OSC1/OSC2 (pins 8/9) and route these traces over a continuous ground pour to minimize radiated EMI. PORTA pins that serve analog inputs (RA0-RA3) should be guarded by analog ground; PORTE pins (39-41) are TTL-level outputs suitable for external bus control.
PIC17C43-16/PQ is OTP (One-Time Programmable) - once programmed, it cannot be erased except in the JW (windowed ceramic) variant. Do not use -16/PQ units for code iteration or prototype firmware development; use PIC17C43/JW samples for engineering development, then freeze the code and move to PIC17C43-16/PQ for production. Also note the 44-MQFP PQ package is non-RoHS (lead finish is SnPb); RoHS-compliant designs should select PQG or alternate package options where available.
The PIC17C43-16/PQ in the 44-MQFP package has a typical theta_JA of approximately 50 C/W when soldered to a JEDEC test PCB with 1 oz copper. Estimated: at maximum 16 MHz operation with all 33 I/O pins switching at 5 MHz, internal power dissipation is on the order of 50-100 mW, yielding a junction temperature rise of 3-5 C above ambient - well within the 0-70 C commercial range. For industrial -40 C to +85 C applications, use the PIC17C43-33I/PQ variant explicitly rated for that range.
Compliance Information
PIC17C43-16/PQ uses lead-bearing SnPb finish on the 44-MQFP (PQ) package, making it non-RoHS. This part pre-dates the RoHS directive (the datasheet dates to 1996) and was not re-qualified to RoHS in production. For RoHS-compliant replacements, evaluate the PIC18F4220 migration target.
