PIC16F687-E/SS
PIC16F687-E/SS - 20MHz 8-bit MCU 3.5KB Flash | Microchip
The Microchip Technology PIC16F687-E/SS is an 8-bit CMOS flash microcontroller built on the mid-range PIC16 x14 instruction architecture, offering 3.5KB (2K x 14 words) of program flash, 128 bytes of RAM and 256 bytes of EEPROM data memory in a 20-pin SSOP package. Operating from a 2.0V to 5.5V supply, the device runs up to 20 MHz instruction clock (200 ns instruction cycle) and exposes 18 digital I/O pins with nanoWatt power-management modes for low-power embedded designs. The PIC16F687 integrates a 10-bit ADC, two analog comparators, one Enhanced USART, an MSSP module supporting SPI and I2C (master/slave), three timers (Timer0, Timer1, Timer2) and 256 bytes of EEPROM, all inside a 20-pin SSOP with 0.209-inch (5.30 mm) body width.
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer containing a CPU, non-volatile program memory, working RAM, and peripheral interfaces such as timers, ADC, and communication blocks. The PIC16F687 belongs to the mid-range 8-bit MCU category, positioned between baseline PIC10/12/16 devices and enhanced mid-range PIC16F1xxx parts. Within the broader taxonomy, it sits under embedded controller -> microcontroller -> 8-bit MCU -> flash-based MCU -> nanoWatt technology family. The PIC16F687 is widely used where low pin count, integrated EEPROM, and nanoWatt sleep current (<1 µA typical) make it attractive for battery-powered and portable designs.
Key features include the nanoWatt low-power architecture that drops supply current below 1 µA in Sleep mode, internal 8 MHz oscillator with software-tunable calibration, and on-board In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) plus In-Circuit Debug (ICD) for development. The Enhanced USART block supports RS-232/RS-485 LIN master operation, while the MSSP port delivers SPI up to 5 MHz and I2C master/slave with 7-bit/10-bit addressing. The integrated 12-channel (8 external + internal) 10-bit ADC provides fast analog sampling for sensor interfaces, and the two analog comparators enable precise threshold detection without external components.
The device uses Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses, an 8-bit ALU and a hardware stack depth of 8 levels, and supports interrupts with context save/restore. The 35 single-word instruction set keeps firmware compact, and the C-compiler-friendly architecture allows efficient code generation with MPLAB XC8. The flash program memory supports up to 100,000 erase/write cycles and EEPROM supports 1,000,000 erase/write cycles, both retaining data for 40+ years.
Typical applications include consumer white-goods and appliance controls, industrial sensor nodes and data loggers, battery-powered remote controls and metering, automotive interior accessories (non-safety), low-cost HVAC fan and thermostat controls, and standalone 8-bit controller boards replacing discrete logic. The wide 2.0-5.5V operating range lets it ride directly on 2xAA alkaline, lithium coin-cell, or 3.3V/5V regulated rails.
When designing with this MCU, place 100 nF decoupling capacitors on every VDD pin as close to the package as possible and add a 10 µF bulk capacitor near the supply entry. The MCLR pin must be tied to VDD through a 10 kΩ resistor for normal operation, and unused I/O pins should be configured as outputs low to minimize sleep current. Programming is performed via ICSP using MPLAB X IDE and MPLAB XC8 compiler.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing as of 2026-09-21, drop-in same-package alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone, supporting faster vendor selection and PCB rework decisions.
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