PIC16C57-RC/SO - 4MHz 8-Bit OTP MCU, 3KB EPROM | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C57-RC/SO ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.2 | $7.20 |
| 10 | $6.5 | $65.00 |
| 100 | $5.65 | $565.00 |
| 500 | $5.1 | $2,550.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.75 | $4,750.00 |
PIC16C57-RC/SO Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, memory, and I/O peripherals on one die. The PIC16C5x architecture is a classic Harvard-design baseline family; it executes one instruction per instruction cycle (4 clock cycles) at up to 4MHz, achieving 1 MIPS throughput. The PIC16C57-RC/SO uses a 12-bit wide instruction word and an 8-bit data path, offering 2:1 code compression over typical 8-bit CISC microcontrollers, which reduces program-memory consumption for arithmetic and bit-manipulation heavy code.
Key specifications include 72 bytes of general-purpose RAM, 20 digital I/O pins, an 8-bit timer/counter (TMR0) with an 8-bit prescaler, a watchdog timer for unattended operation, and a two-level deep hardware stack. The 'RC' suffix in the part number denotes the integrated RC oscillator option; the 'SO' suffix indicates the 28-pin Small-Outline IC package supplied in anti-static tubes. Power-saving features include the SLEEP mode with wake-up on I/O change.
The architecture's seven or eight special-function hardware registers, combined with direct, indirect, and relative addressing modes, deliver predictable, deterministic response times suitable for real-time control. OTP EPROM program memory allows fast prototyping and small-to-medium volume production without mask charges, making it ideal for designs transitioning from PIC16C5x prototypes to higher-density PICmicro derivatives.
Typical applications include appliance controls, simple sensor interfaces, low-end automotive body electronics, LED driver controllers, battery chargers, and remote-control transmitters. The 20 I/O pins support direct LED drive and matrix keypad scanning, while the TMR0 peripheral handles pulse-width measurement and timing events without CPU intervention. The integrated RC oscillator further reduces external component count, saving PCB area and BOM cost.
When designing with this part, engineers should note that the two-level hardware stack limits subroutine nesting depth; complex interrupt-driven or deeply-nested code must be flattened. Programming requires an EPROM programmer compatible with the PIC16C5x family (e.g., MPLAB PM3), and OTP windows cannot be erased.
This page synthesizes real-time distributor pricing, parametric alternatives, and engineering design notes not aggregated on any single manufacturer or distributor page, helping procurement engineers source a long-lifecycle baseline MCU.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C57-RC/SO — 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 PIC16C57-RC/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Program Memory Size, Program Memory Type, Instruction Cycle Time, Package, Watchdog Timer.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C57-HSI/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C57-HSE/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$5.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C57T-RC/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C57CT-20I/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$4.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C57CT-04E/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$4.37 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C57-XTI/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C57-RC/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | 8-bit Microcontroller (MCU) |
| Core Architecture | PIC16C5x baseline RISC |
| Program Memory Type | OTP EPROM |
| Program Memory Size | 3KB (2K x 12) |
| RAM Size | 72 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 4 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle Time | 1 us @ 4 MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 3.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Number of I/O Pins | 20 |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit (TMR0) |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes |
| Hardware Stack Depth | 2 levels |
| Oscillator Type | Internal RC (RC suffix) |
| Package | 28-pin SOIC (SO) |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +70C (commercial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16C57-RC/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP — Master Clear (reset) input / programming voltage |
| Pin 2 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator input or external clock input (RC mode: RC timing input) |
| Pin 3 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator output / clock output (RC mode: RC timing output) |
| Pin 4 | RA0 — Port A bit 0 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 5 | RA1 — Port A bit 1 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 6 | RA2 — Port A bit 2 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 7 | RA3 — Port A bit 3 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 8 | RB0 — Port B bit 0 (digital I/O, interrupt on change) |
| Pin 9 | RB1 — Port B bit 1 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 10 | RB2 — Port B bit 2 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 11 | RB3 — Port B bit 3 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 12 | RB4 — Port B bit 4 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 13 | RB5 — Port B bit 5 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 14 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 15 | T0CKI — TMR0 external clock input |
| Pin 16 | RB6 — Port B bit 6 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 17 | RB7 — Port B bit 7 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 18 | RC0 — Port C bit 0 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 19 | RC1 — Port C bit 1 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 20 | RC2 — Port C bit 2 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 21 | RC3 — Port C bit 3 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 22 | RC4 — Port C bit 4 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 23 | RC5 — Port C bit 5 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 24 | RC6 — Port C bit 6 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 25 | RC7 — Port C bit 7 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 26 | RD0 — Port D bit 0 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 27 | RD1 — Port D bit 1 (digital I/O) |
| Pin 28 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (3.0V to 5.5V) |
Typical Applications
PIC16C57-RC/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Appliance Control Boards, Remote Control Transmitters, Battery Chargers, LED Display Drivers, Simple Sensor Interfaces, Low-End Automotive Body Electronics.
Appliance Control Boards
The PIC16C57-RC/SO fits appliance control boards such as microwave oven keypads, washing-machine timers, and rice-cooker thermal controllers because its 20 GPIO pins directly drive LED indicators and 4x4 matrix keypads without external logic. Its 4MHz RC oscillator provides deterministic 1us instruction timing sufficient for relay debouncing and TRIAC phase-angle control. With 3KB OTP EPROM it accommodates typical appliance state machines (less than 2000 instructions). Integrated watchdog timer improves field reliability by recovering from firmware lockup. The 28-SOIC package reflow-solders onto standard FR4 boards.
Recommended
Remote Control Transmitters
The PIC16C57-RC/SO is well suited to IR/RF remote control transmitters because its integrated RC oscillator eliminates the external crystal, shrinking PCB area and BOM cost for disposable consumer designs. Its SLEEP mode with wake-up on I/O change reduces average current draw below 1 microamp, extending battery life on coin-cell powered remotes. The TMR0 peripheral generates accurate carrier frequencies for IR protocols (typically 38kHz to 56kHz). OTP EPROM prevents firmware reverse engineering, protecting proprietary command codes.
Recommended
Battery Chargers
The PIC16C57-RC/SO works in low-end NiCd and NiMH battery chargers because its TMR0 captures charge-time intervals with 1ms resolution, and the 20 GPIO pins drive individual cell LEDs and relay-based charge-path switching. Its 3KB OTP holds the charge-state machine (pre-charge, fast-charge, top-off, terminate) plus temperature-compensation lookup tables. The integrated RC oscillator keeps external parts count low, which matters in cost-sensitive consumer charger products. Brown-out and watchdog features protect against firmware corruption during noisy AC-line events.
Recommended
LED Display Drivers
The PIC16C57-RC/SO controls multiplexed 7-segment or dot-matrix LED displays because it can refresh 8 to 12 digits within a 5ms visual persistence window using software-driven multiplexing on its 20 GPIO pins. The 4MHz RC oscillator provides 1us per instruction, fast enough for high-brightness PWM dimming on each digit. OTP EPROM stores custom character fonts and animation sequences. SLEEP mode between display updates reduces average current draw, making it suitable for battery-powered scoreboards and signage.
Recommended
Simple Sensor Interfaces
The PIC16C57-RC/SO reads analog sensors via an external ADC (such as a 12-bit serial ADC) because the PIC16C5x baseline core lacks an integrated ADC. The 20 GPIO pins provide ample SPI or I2C bus master capability plus discrete GPIO for sensor enable lines. Its deterministic instruction timing simplifies the implementation of custom sensor calibration routines stored in 3KB OTP EPROM. Watchdog timer recovers the firmware from sensor-bus stalls, critical in unattended industrial sensor nodes.
Recommended
Low-End Automotive Body Electronics
The PIC16C57-RC/SO operates window-lift controllers, mirror-adjust switches, and simple interior lighting timers in entry-level automotive body modules because its 20 GPIO pins handle multi-channel switch inputs and relay outputs directly. The integrated watchdog timer and brown-out reset improve field reliability in harsh 12V automotive electrical environments. OTP EPROM stores vehicle-specific configuration (pulse widths, debounce counts) without external memory. The industrial-temperature -40C to +85C variant (PIC16C57CT-20I/SO) is suitable for under-dash installations.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C57-RC/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C57-HSI/SO | PIC16C57-HSE/SO | PIC16C57T-RC/SO | PIC16C57CT-20I/SO | PIC16C57CT-04E/SO | PIC16C57-XTI/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SOIC | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 4 MHz (RC) | 20 MHz (HSI internal) | 20 MHz (HSE crystal) | 4 MHz (RC) | 20 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz (XT crystal industrial) |
| Program Memory | 3KB OTP EPROM | 3KB OTP EPROM | 3KB OTP EPROM | 3KB OTP EPROM | 3KB OTP EPROM | 3KB OTP EPROM | 3KB OTP EPROM |
| RAM | 72 bytes | 72 bytes | 72 bytes | 72 bytes | 72 bytes | 72 bytes | 72 bytes |
| Oscillator Type | Internal RC | High-speed internal | High-speed external crystal | Internal RC | Configurable (RC/HS/XT/LP) | Configurable (RC/HS/XT/LP) | External crystal industrial |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +70C (commercial) | 0C to +70C | 0C to +70C | 0C to +70C | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +125C (extended) | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete | Obsolete |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated internal RC oscillator (vs PIC16C57-XTI/SO)
- Lowest-cost baseline PIC16C5x variant (vs PIC16C57CT-20I/SO)
- Obsolete lifecycle status drives pin-compatible migration (vs PIC16F57-I/SO)
Design Notes
The PIC16C57-RC/SO baseline PIC16C5x core has only a two-level hardware stack, which restricts nested CALL depth to two. Engineers porting code from mid-range PIC16F parts must manually flatten any deeper subroutine nesting, otherwise the return address will silently corrupt. Use iterative coding patterns or in-line state machines rather than deep subroutines. Additionally, OTP EPROM cannot be erased after programming, so always verify firmware with a windowed PIC16C57-JW before committing to OTP volume programming.
The internal RC oscillator draws approximately 1mA typical at 5V and 4MHz. For battery-powered applications, use the PIC16C57-LP variant (low-power RC, ~30kHz to 200kHz range) to reduce active current to under 100uA. Place a 0.1uF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (28) with the ground return to VSS (pin 14); a 10uF bulk capacitor at the supply input is also recommended. The MCLR pin (1) requires a 10kohm pull-up to VDD and a 100nF cap to ground for proper reset, unless disabled in configuration.
For designs that may migrate to the PIC16F57 flash successor, lay out the PCB with both pin-compatible footprints if possible, since the PIC16C57-RC/SO and PIC16F57 share identical 28-SOIC pinouts. Keep the RC oscillator component area (pin 2 OSC1, pin 3 OSC2) clear of noisy traces; for sensitive analog signals, route them on the opposite side of the board with a ground guard trace. The 20 GPIO pins have limited sink/source capability (typically 25mA per pin, 100mA total), so use external drivers (ULN2003, transistors) for relays or high-current LEDs.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free per Microchip product documentation. Halogen-free status not explicitly documented in verified sources. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - automotive designs should consider PIC16C57CT-20I/SO industrial-temperature variant or migrate to PIC16F57 with full automotive-grade documentation.
