PIC17C44-16I/PQ - 8-bit 16MHz 16KB OTP MCU | Microchip PIC17C44
MPN: PIC17C44-16I/PQ ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $24.5 | $24.50 |
| 10 | $21.75 | $217.50 |
| 100 | $19.2 | $1,920.00 |
| 500 | $17 | $8,500.00 |
| 1,000 | $15.5 | $15,500.00 |
PIC17C44-16I/PQ Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer built around an 8-bit data path, integrating a CPU core, program memory, data RAM, and peripherals (timers, I/O, serial, ADC) into one package. The PIC17C44 belongs to the broader MCU hierarchy: PIC17C family -> PIC16/PIC17 high-end 8-bit -> 8-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor. The "16" suffix in the part number denotes 16 MHz maximum clock, and the "I" denotes the industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C).
Key features include the PIC17 RISC architecture with only 58 single-word instructions, a hardware multiply and divide engine (rare in 8-bit MCUs), 4 analog comparators, 3 timer/counters, a 16-bit watchdog timer, and synchronous/asynchronous serial port (USART) capability. Brown-out reset and power-on reset are integrated, simplifying field deployments. The 44-MQFP package and 5V-only operation suit industrial control boards with established power-rail designs.
This device uses Microchip's EPROM/ROM-based CMOS process with an OTP windowless program memory option, and its 16-bit instruction word plus hardware multiplier distinguish it from the smaller-footprint PIC16 family. The PIC17C architecture closes the performance gap between classic 8-bit MCUs and early 16-bit controllers in real-time control loops.
Typical applications include industrial motor control, HVAC controls, and consumer appliance control boards. According to the manufacturer product page, the recommended modern replacement is the PIC18F442. Because the PIC17C44 has been discontinued, design reuse across existing 17C44-based PCBs is supported by several PIC17C family speed and temperature variants in the same 44-MQFP footprint.
When designing with this part, note that the OTP memory cannot be reprogrammed in-circuit; a windowed ceramic package is required for prototype erasing. The industrial temperature grade from -40C to +85C supports harsh-environment deployment but excludes automotive AEC-Q100 qualification.
This page synthesizes distributor availability, drop-in 44-MQFP alternatives, lifecycle status, and practical design notes for engineers evaluating this legacy MCU for new designs or sustaining existing production.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC17C44-16I/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 PIC17C44-16I/PQ (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Maximum Clock Frequency, Program Memory Size, Mounting Type, RAM Size.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC17C44-16/PQ
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC17C44-25I/PQ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC17C44-33I/PQ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$8.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC17C44T-16I/PQ
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC17C44T-16/PQ
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$5.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC17C42A-16I/PQ
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC17C43-16I/PQ
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$4.82 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC17C44-16I/PQ Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Architecture | PIC17C 8-bit RISC |
| Core | 8-bit PIC17C |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 16 MHz |
| Performance | 8.25 MIPS (121 ns instruction execution) |
| Program Memory | 16 KB OTP (8K x 16 words) |
| RAM | 454 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 33 |
| Supply Voltage | 5 V nominal |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Instruction Set | 58 single-word instructions |
| Hardware Multiply/Divide | Yes |
| Timers | 3 x 16-bit Timer/Counter |
| Watchdog Timer | 16-bit with on-chip RC oscillator |
| Comparators | 4 analog comparators |
| USART | 1 x AUSART (SCI/SPI) |
| Brown-out Reset / POR | Yes |
| Memory Type | OTP (One-Time Programmable), CMOS EPROM/ROM |
| Package | 44-MQFP (10x10 mm) - PQ |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete (per Microchip product page) |
| Recommended Modern Replacement | PIC18F442 |
PIC17C44-16I/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 — PORTA bit 4 |
| Pin 6 | RA5 — PORTA bit 5 |
| Pin 7 | RA6 — PORTA bit 6 |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — PORTA bit 7 |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator input / external clock in |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator output / clock out (FOSC/4) |
| Pin 11 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 12 | VDD — Positive supply (5 V nominal) |
| Pin 13 | RB0/INT — PORTB bit 0 / external interrupt |
| Pin 14 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 15 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 16 | RB3 — PORTB bit 3 |
| Pin 17 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 18 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 19 | RB6 — PORTB bit 6 |
| Pin 20 | RB7 — PORTB bit 7 |
| 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 — PORTC bit 6 |
| Pin 28 | RC7 — PORTC bit 7 |
| Pin 29 | MCLR/VPP — Master clear reset / programming voltage input |
| 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 | VDD — Positive supply (5 V nominal) |
| Pin 40 | T0CKI — Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 41 | RX/DT — USART receive / synchronous data |
| Pin 42 | TX/CK — USART transmit / synchronous clock |
| Pin 43 | CCP1 — Capture/Compare/PWM 1 |
| Pin 44 | CCP2 — Capture/Compare/PWM 2 |
Typical Applications
PIC17C44-16I/PQ is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Motor Control, HVAC Control Systems, Consumer Appliance Control, Real-Time Process Control, Legacy Embedded Industrial Boards, Educational and Prototyping Platforms.
Industrial Motor Control
The PIC17C44-16I/PQ fits industrial motor-control boards that need deterministic 8.25 MIPS throughput and an on-chip hardware multiplier for closed-loop PI math. With 16 KB OTP and 454 bytes RAM, it can host a sensorless or sensored BLDC/PMSM commutation routine while leaving headroom for housekeeping tasks. The 4 analog comparators enable low-latency back-EMF zero-crossing detection typically required for trapezoidal commutation. Its 5 V supply simplifies integration with classic IGBT-driver stage designs, and the 44-MQFP footprint supports hand-soldered prototypes or reflow production. The hardware multiply is a real benefit for Park/Clarke transforms, where a software multiply would otherwise consume hundreds of instruction cycles. Industrial temperature grade from -40C to +85C supports both factory-floor and outdoor cabinet installations.
Recommended
HVAC Control Systems
The PIC17C44-16I/PQ is well-matched to commercial HVAC control boards that drive relays and triacs for fan/blower speed control and compressor staging. Its 33 I/O pins accommodate multiple thermostat inputs (setpoint, mode, fan, schedule) plus triac-fire outputs and an AUSART link to indoor-air-quality sensors. The -40C to +85C industrial temperature grade supports unconditioned equipment closets where ambient temperatures swing widely. Brown-out reset and the 16-bit watchdog timer are critical for unattended HVAC installations, allowing the controller to recover from brown-outs, latched relay faults, or software lock-ups. Because the program memory is OTP, deployed firmware is rugged against inadvertent erasure in fielded units, a property valued by manufacturers servicing long-life equipment.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control
The PIC17C44-16I/PQ suits washing machines, dishwashers, and microwave-oven control boards where a single 5 V MCU consolidates user-panel scanning, motor sequencing, and sensor readout. With 16 KB OTP it holds dispatch logic, fault LED patterns, and ADC-free sensor compensation tables, while the 4 analog comparators handle current-sensing for motor stall detection without external op-amps. The 3 timers generate PWM for proportional valve control and time-slice scheduling of parallel loads. Stable OTP code prevents field tampering with appliance firmware, and the 44-MQFP package is hand-solderable for low-volume SKUs. Replacing legacy 8051 designs with PIC17C44 cuts instruction count and execution time, accelerating response to door-switch interlocks.
Recommended
Real-Time Process Control
The PIC17C44-16I/PQ is a fit for process-control instrumentation needing deterministic 121 ns instruction cycles, hardware multiply, and 16-bit timers for pulse-count flowmeters or PWM-actuated valves. Its USART ties into RS-485 networks for SCADA integration, while 33 I/O lines accept digital limit switches and analog 4-20 mA signals through external signal conditioning. The 16-bit watchdog timer serves as a fault-timeout watchdog for unattended chemical-process skids where a stalled controller could trigger a hazardous condition. Because the PIC17C architecture features a single-cycle 16-bit instruction fetch, interrupt response is deterministic and predictable - a property engineers rely on for hard-real-time control loops in flow-control skids.
Recommended
Legacy Embedded Industrial Boards
The PIC17C44-16I/PQ is primarily used as a sustaining-engineering part for industrial control boards already deployed in factories, where redesign cost outweighs the cost of a legacy-MCU re-order. The 44-MQFP (PQ) footprint matches PIC17C42A, PIC17C43, and other PIC17C44 speed-grade siblings, so warehouses typically already stock pin-compatible alternates for recovery actions. Industrial-grade temperature rating (-40C to +85C) handles factory-floor environments with high ambient temperatures and electrical noise from welders and motor drives. Drop-in alternatives such as PIC17C44T-16I/PQ (tape-and-reel) and PIC17C44-25I/PQ (25 MHz clock) further extend supply-chain options for sustaining production. Because OTP code cannot be overwritten, deployed firmware remains intact against accidental electrical disturbance.
Recommended
Educational and Prototyping Platforms
The PIC17C44-16I/PQ is found in legacy university curricula and aftermarket development boards because its 8.25 MIPS throughput combined with a 58-instruction RISC set taught assembly-language embedded programming for nearly two decades. Students learn interrupt-driven control, timer scheduling, and serial communication using PIC17C44 reference designs that predate the flash-memory era. Its 33 I/O lines interface with classic 7-segment displays, keypads, character LCDs, and stepper-motor driver boards that populate electronics labs. Because the part is OTP, instructors can hand out pre-programmed samples without risk of accidental erasure, supporting both classroom demonstrations and take-home projects. Although new designs use PIC18F/K devices, thousands of academic installations continue exercising PIC17C44 code paths.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC17C44-16I/PQ — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC17C44-16/PQ | PIC17C44-25I/PQ | PIC17C44-33I/PQ | PIC17C44T-16I/PQ | PIC17C42A-16I/PQ | PIC17C43-16I/PQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 44-MQFP (PQ) 10x10 mm | 44-MQFP (PQ) - same | 44-MQFP (PQ) - same | 44-MQFP (PQ) - same | 44-MQFP (PQ) - same | 44-MQFP (PQ) - same | 44-MQFP (PQ) - same |
| Maximum Clock | 16 MHz | 16 MHz | 25 MHz | 33 MHz | 16 MHz | 16 MHz | 16 MHz |
| Program Memory | 16 KB OTP | 16 KB OTP | 16 KB OTP | 16 KB OTP | 16 KB OTP | 4 KB OTP | 8 KB OTP |
| RAM | 454 bytes | 454 bytes | 454 bytes | 454 bytes | 454 bytes | 232 bytes | 454 bytes |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial -40C to +85C | Commercial 0C to +70C | Industrial -40C to +85C | Industrial -40C to +85C | Industrial -40C to +85C | Industrial -40C to +85C | Industrial -40C to +85C |
| I/O Pins | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 |
| Memory Technology | OTP (EPROM/ROM-based) | OTP | OTP | OTP | OTP | OTP | OTP |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial temperature grade plus 33 I/O pins at lowest price point (vs PIC17C44-16/PQ)
- On-chip hardware multiplier reduces algorithm cycle count (vs PIC16F877)
- Faster 16-bit instruction fetch simplifies assembly programming (vs PIC17C42A)
Design Notes
The PIC17C44-16I/PQ requires a stable 5 V supply; add a 100 nF decoupling capacitor close to VDD and a 10 uF bulk capacitor on the board's 5 V rail. Brown-out reset is integrated but its threshold (~4.0 V typical) should be verified against your worst-case supply droop during inrush. For high-noise motor-control boards, place a ferrite bead or LC pi-filter upstream of the MCU's VDD to keep switching noise from corrupting program execution.
Route the quartz oscillator traces symmetrically with short, parallel traces to keep the oscillator stable; place load capacitors within a few millimeters of OSC1/OSC2. Keep the MCLR/VPP pin pulled high through a 10 kohm resistor with a 100 nF to ground for filtered reset, and ensure the trace is short to avoid spurious resets. Avoid routing I/O traces under the 44-MQFP's exposed die paddle if a thermal pad exists under the package - this prevents ground-loop injection of I/O switching noise.
Because the PIC17C44-16I/PQ uses OTP memory, code errors cannot be fixed by re-programming - a windowed (JW) package is required to erase and re-program the die. For prototypes, request PIC17C44-16/JW or PIC17C44T-16I/PQ tape-and-reel variants. Estimated: the OTP programming time per device is typically 2-5 seconds using a standard PIC17C programmer; budget for this in production throughput. Also note that 'PQ' is the 44-MQFP package code while 'PT' denotes 44-TQFP - the two are not pin-compatible (different lead pitch).
The PIC17C44-16I/PQ's 16 MHz / 8.25 MIPS throughput requires careful interrupt-latency budgeting. With 121 ns instruction cycle, the worst-case interrupt latency is roughly 6 cycles (~726 ns) including context save. For hard-real-time control loops running above 5 kHz, vectored interrupts should be used; polling loops above this rate risk missed samples. Place critical state-machine flags in atomic read-modify-write-safe registers to avoid race conditions between interrupt and background tasks.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free per Microchip product markings. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this part is industrial-grade, not automotive. JEDEC MSL classification not specified in provided data.
