PIC16C57C-20/SP - 8-bit OTP MCU, 3KB, 20MHz, 28-SPDIP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C57C-20/SP ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.47 | $3.47 |
| 10 | $3.12 | $31.20 |
| 100 | $2.78 | $278.00 |
| 500 | $2.45 | $1,225.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.18 | $2,180.00 |
PIC16C57C-20/SP Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, memory, and peripherals onto one die, intended for embedded control tasks. Within the taxonomy, MCUs sit under microcontrollers -> 8-bit microcontrollers -> general-purpose embedded controllers -> semiconductor ICs. The PIC16C5X family pioneered Microchip's RISC-style instruction set and remains popular for cost-sensitive, deterministic bit-manipulation applications where code density and low part count matter more than raw throughput.
Key features of the PIC16C57C-20/SP include a two-level deep hardware stack, direct/indirect/relative addressing modes for both data and instructions, an 8-bit real-time clock/counter (TMR0) with programmable prescaler, and a watchdog timer for unattended operation. Operating supply voltage spans 4.5 V to 5.5 V (commercial 0 C to +70 C range for the -20/SP speed grade), and I/O pins can source/sink 20 mA for direct LED or relay drive. The OTP memory allows one-time field programming, making this part well suited for low-to-medium volume production.
Typical applications include automotive body controllers, industrial appliance control, security panels, and remote sensor transmitters where the deterministic 100 ns instruction cycle and 33-instruction RISC core simplify firmware while keeping BOM cost minimal. The 28-pin SPDIP footprint is breadboard-friendly and supports hand-soldered prototyping as well as wave-soldered assembly.
When designing with this part, note that OTP precludes firmware upgrades; budget development effort for ROM emulator (ICE) verification or sample-window pre-production testing. For designs needing in-system reprogrammability, prefer the flash-based PIC16F57 successor or the PIC16F628A family which drop into similar footprints. This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C57C-20/SP — 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 PIC16C57C-20/SP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Program Memory Type, Timers, Program Memory Size, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C57-10I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C57C-20I/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$1.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C57C-20/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | PIC |
| Core Size | 8-bit |
| Program Memory Type | OTP |
| Program Memory Size | 3 KB (2K x 12) |
| Data RAM Size | 72 B |
| Number of I/O Pins | 20 |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Execution Time | 100 ns (at 20 MHz) |
| Number of Instructions | 33 single-word |
| Instruction Width | 12-bit |
| Data Bus Width | 8-bit |
| ADC | No |
| Operating Supply Voltage | 4.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +70 C |
| Package | 28-SPDIP (0.300 inch, 7.62 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Through Hole |
| Hardware Stack Depth | 2 levels |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit (TMR0 with prescaler) |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes |
| I/O Sink/Source | 20 mA per pin |
PIC16C57C-20/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0 — Bidirectional digital I/O / PORTA bit 0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1 — Bidirectional digital I/O / PORTA bit 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2 — Bidirectional digital I/O / PORTA bit 2 |
| Pin 4 | RA3 — Bidirectional digital I/O / PORTA bit 3 |
| Pin 5 | RA4 — Bidirectional digital I/O / PORTA bit 4 / T0CKI |
| Pin 6 | RA5 — Bidirectional digital I/O / PORTA bit 5 |
| Pin 7 | RA6 — Bidirectional digital I/O / PORTA bit 6 |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — Bidirectional digital I/O / PORTA bit 7 |
| Pin 9 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 10 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator crystal input / external clock input |
| Pin 11 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator crystal output / clock output |
| Pin 12 | RC0 — Bidirectional digital I/O / PORTB bit 0 |
| Pin 13 | RC1 — Bidirectional digital I/O / PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 14 | RC2 — Bidirectional digital I/O / PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 15 | RC3 — Bidirectional digital I/O / PORTB bit 3 |
| Pin 16 | RC4 — Bidirectional digital I/O / PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 17 | RC5 — Bidirectional digital I/O / PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 18 | RC6 — Bidirectional digital I/O / PORTB bit 6 |
| Pin 19 | RC7 — Bidirectional digital I/O / PORTB bit 7 |
| Pin 20 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 21 | RB0 — Bidirectional digital I/O / PORTC bit 0 |
| Pin 22 | RB1 — Bidirectional digital I/O / PORTC bit 1 |
| Pin 23 | RB2 — Bidirectional digital I/O / PORTC bit 2 |
| Pin 24 | RB3 — Bidirectional digital I/O / PORTC bit 3 |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — Bidirectional digital I/O / PORTC bit 4 |
| Pin 26 | RB5 — Bidirectional digital I/O / PORTC bit 5 |
| Pin 27 | VDD — Positive supply 4.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Pin 28 | RESET/VPP — Reset input / programming high voltage |
Typical Applications
PIC16C57C-20/SP is suitable for 7 applications: Automotive Body Electronics, Industrial Appliance Control, Security and Alarm Panels, Remote Sensor Transmitters, Hobby and Education Kits, LED Display and Sign Controllers, Toy and Game Electronics.
Automotive Body Electronics
The PIC16C57C-20/SP's 20 MHz deterministic 100 ns instruction cycle, 20 mA per-pin drive, and 4.5-5.5 V single-supply operation make it well suited to automotive body controllers for window lift, mirror adjust, and lighting modules. Its 33-instruction RISC core keeps firmware auditable for MISRA-style coding rules. The 28-SPDIP through-hole footprint is friendly to automotive Tier-1 harness assembly lines that prefer wave soldering over reflow.
Recommended
Industrial Appliance Control
White-goods controllers (washing machines, dishwashers, microwave ovens) benefit from the PIC16C57C-20/SP's low BOM cost, OTP security (firmware cannot be reverse-engineered and reflashed), and 20 digital I/O pins that handle keypads, relays, and seven-segment displays directly. The hardware watchdog timer and 100 ns interrupt latency suit safety-critical loops such as door-lock interlocks. Operating from a single 5 V rail simplifies the offline SMPS downstream of the mains rectifier.
Recommended
Security and Alarm Panels
The PIC16C57C-20/SP's OTP program memory is a security plus for alarm panels: code cannot be extracted and rewritten, blocking casual firmware cloning. Its 20 I/O drive zone LEDs, keypads, piezo buzzers, and relay outputs directly without external drivers. The 20 MHz core handles encrypted keyfob rolling-code decoding and the watchdog timer latches the panel into safe state on firmware hang. 5 V-only operation pairs cleanly with backup-battery UPS topologies.
Recommended
Remote Sensor Transmitters
Battery-powered wireless sensor nodes leverage the PIC16C57C-20/SP's 4.5-5.5 V supply and the deep-sleep-capable PIC16C5X architecture to duty-cycle an RF transmitter on for only milliseconds per measurement cycle. The 33-instruction core and 100 ns cycle let the MCU wake, sample a sensor bit-banged via I/O, and return to sleep within microseconds. 20 mA I/O directly keys an OOK/FSK transmitter module without an external buffer transistor.
Recommended
Hobby and Education Kits
The PIC16C57C-20/SP's 28-SPDIP through-hole package drops directly into breadboards and perfboard, making it a favorite for hobbyists and university embedded-systems labs. The 33 single-word instructions can be taught in a single lab session, and the 20 I/O pins are enough to drive LEDs, pushbuttons, and 7-segment displays. Its 20 MHz instruction cycle is fast enough to demonstrate polled versus interrupt-driven real-time concepts without overwhelming a beginner.
Recommended
LED Display and Sign Controllers
Multiplexed LED matrix controllers benefit from the PIC16C57C-20/SP's deterministic 100 ns instruction cycle, which supports software-PWM brightness control of common-anode or common-cathode arrays up to ~20 mA per row without flicker. The 20 I/O pins directly scan an 8x8 matrix or larger via external driver shift registers. The 5 V rail and 28-SPDIP through-hole construction are ideal for indoor commercial-sign installations where serviceability matters.
Recommended
Toy and Game Electronics
Cost-sensitive consumer toys use the PIC16C57C-20/SP for its sub-$3 price point at qty 1000, OTP code protection that prevents cloning by competitors, and 20 I/O pins to drive motors, speakers, and IR LEDs. The 5 V single-supply operation simplifies battery-pack designs with three alkaline cells. The PIC16C5X 33-instruction RISC architecture compiles to dense code, so multi-mode toy logic fits within the 3 KB OTP without bank-switching complexity.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C57C-20/SP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C57C-20/SO | PIC16C57C-04E/SS | PIC16C57C-04/SS | PIC16C57-10I/P | PIC16C57C-20I/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SPDIP (0.300 inch) | 28-SOIC (7.50 mm) | 28-SSOP (5.30 mm) | 28-SSOP (5.30 mm) | 28-PDIP (0.300 inch) | 28-SPDIP (0.300 inch) |
| Program Memory | 3 KB OTP | 3 KB OTP | 3 KB OTP | 3 KB OTP | 3 KB OTP | 3 KB OTP |
| Max Clock Frequency | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 10 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle | 100 ns | 100 ns | 1 us | 1 us | 200 ns | 100 ns |
| Data RAM | 72 B | 72 B | 72 B | 72 B | 72 B | 72 B |
| Number of I/O | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) | 0 C to +70 C | -40 C to +125 C (extended) | 0 C to +70 C | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| Supply Voltage | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V |
Key Differentiators
- Same-die option in SOIC-28 surface-mount for automated assembly (vs PIC16C57C-20/SO)
- Industrial-temperature drop-in for harsh environments (vs PIC16C57C-20I/SP)
- Lower-cost 4 MHz option for non-timing-critical designs (vs PIC16C57C-04/SS)
- Two-level hardware stack limits call depth (vs PIC16F57 (flash successor))
Design Notes
PIC16C57C-20/SP requires a stable 5 V +/-10% supply; the 4.5 V minimum is absolute and brownouts below this reset the part via the integrated POR. Add a 100 nF decoupling cap on VDD (pin 27) within 5 mm of the package, and a 10 uF bulk cap on the same rail to absorb relay or motor inrush that may sag the 5 V rail. For automotive 12 V input, use a 7805 or switching pre-regulator followed by the MCU rail.
OTP memory can be programmed only once; firmware bugs locked into OTP cannot be patched in the field. Always validate firmware on a ROM-emulator (ICE2000 or PICkit 3 with OTP emulator) or a windowed PIC16C57C JW sample before committing to volume. Estimated: a single OTP programming cycle takes ~2 ms per word using the high-voltage VPP pulse on the RESET/VPP pin (pin 28); design the programming fixture to apply 13 V VPP with proper timing.
Place the 28-SPDIP oscillator crystal or resonator as close as possible to pins 10-11 (OSC1/OSC2) to minimize PCB trace capacitance. Keep clock traces short and ground them with a continuous ground plane. Add a 10 kohm pull-up on RESET/VPP (pin 28) and a 100 nF cap to ground if hardware reset is not driven externally; omitting this leaves the pin floating and causes spurious resets from EMI.
Estimated: at 20 MHz clock and full I/O toggle, PIC16C57C-20/SP draws ~25 mA from VDD, dissipating roughly 125 mW at 5 V. The 28-SPDIP package theta-JA is approximately 70 C/W, so a junction rise of ~9 C above ambient is expected in still air. No heatsink is required, but ensure airflow or PCB copper pour around the package for sustained operation near 70 C ambient.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose PIC16C57C-20E/SP (extended temp) for harsh environments but verify automotive requirements separately. Lead-free reflow profile per JEDEC J-STD-020.
