PIC16C620AT-20E/SO - 8-Bit OTP MCU 20MHz 896B | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C620AT-20E/SO ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.95 | $1.95 |
| 10 | $1.74 | $17.40 |
| 100 | $1.52 | $152.00 |
| 500 | $1.33 | $665.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.18 | $1,180.00 |
PIC16C620AT-20E/SO Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, memory, and peripherals around an 8-bit data bus. The PIC16C series is Microchip's classic mid-range OTP family, sitting in the microcontroller -> RISC MCU -> embedded controller taxonomy. The '16C' OTP variant is intended for low-cost, fixed-code production runs where the firmware is finalized before mask programming, distinguishing it from the flash-based PIC16F family used in prototype and field-updatable designs.
Key features include a Harvard RISC core with single-cycle instructions except for branches, an integrated 8-bit timer/counter with prescaler, 13 digital I/O lines with individual direction control, a watchdog timer with on-chip RC oscillator, power-on reset, and brown-out detection. The 'A' revision adds improved brown-out reset thresholds and lower power consumption relative to the original PIC16C620. Operating voltage spans 2.5V to 5.5V, with on-chip POR and BOR circuitry for reliable start-up across the automotive temperature range.
The PIC16C620A architecture implements a 14-bit instruction word with a two-stage pipeline, allowing most instructions to execute in one oscillator cycle (200ns at 20MHz). The chip includes an internal 4MHz RC oscillator option, reducing external component count for cost-sensitive designs. Comparators, capture/compare/PWM peripherals, and an 8-bit A/D-style reference are part of the mid-range feature set, although this specific 18-pin variant offers a streamlined peripheral set optimized for I/O-dense control applications.
Typical applications include automotive body controllers, sensor signal conditioning, simple closed-loop fan or motor control, appliance user interfaces, and low-cost consumer electronics. The OTP memory suits high-volume production where firmware is stable, and the extended temperature grade enables under-hood and industrial deployments.
Designers should budget adequate decoupling (100nF ceramic plus bulk) directly at the VDD pin, route MCLR with proper rise-time control, and select the oscillator configuration (RC, XT, HS) appropriate to the crystal speed. The OTP windowed variants and PIC16F equivalents should be considered for development and field-updatable use cases.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, parametric comparison, and engineering alternatives not found in the standalone manufacturer datasheet, with all specs verified against the Microchip PIC16C620A datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C620AT-20E/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 PIC16C620AT-20E/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Program Memory Size, RAM Size, Operating Temperature, Package, Packaging.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16C620A-20E/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.12 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C620A-04E/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C620AT-20/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C620AT-20E/SO-028
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C620AT-20E/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC16C 8-bit RISC |
| Architecture | Harvard, 14-bit instruction word |
| Program Memory Type | OTP (One-Time Programmable) |
| Program Memory Size | 896 B (512 x 14) |
| RAM | 96 B |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 20 MHz |
| I/O Pins | 13 |
| Supply Voltage | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (Automotive / E grade) |
| Package | 18-SOIC (0.295 inch / 7.50 mm body width) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Peripherals | Watchdog Timer, Power-On Reset, Brown-Out Reset |
| Oscillator | Internal 4 MHz RC + external crystal/RC support |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (T) |
PIC16C620AT-20E/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2 — PORTA I/O bit 2 |
| Pin 2 | RA3 — PORTA I/O bit 3 |
| Pin 3 | RA4/T0CKI — PORTA I/O bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 4 | MCLR — Master Clear reset input (active low) |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RB0/INT — PORTB I/O bit 0 / external interrupt |
| Pin 7 | RB1 — PORTB I/O bit 1 |
| Pin 8 | RB2 — PORTB I/O bit 2 |
| Pin 9 | RB3 — PORTB I/O bit 3 |
| Pin 10 | RB4 — PORTB I/O bit 4 |
| Pin 11 | RB5 — PORTB I/O bit 5 |
| Pin 12 | RB6 — PORTB I/O bit 6 |
| Pin 13 | RB7 — PORTB I/O bit 7 |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 15 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator output / clock out |
| Pin 16 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator input / clock in |
| Pin 17 | RA0 — PORTA I/O bit 0 |
| Pin 18 | RA1 — PORTA I/O bit 1 |
Typical Applications
PIC16C620AT-20E/SO is suitable for 7 applications: Automotive Body Controller, Sensor Signal Conditioning Hub, Low-Cost Consumer Appliance Control, Industrial Control Panel I/O Expander, Lighting and LED Driver Sequencer, Hobbyist and Educational Embedded Platform, Security and Accessory Peripheral.
Automotive Body Controller
The PIC16C620AT-20E/SO suits automotive body modules where -40C to +125C operation and OTP cost optimization matter more than field-updatable firmware. Its 13 GPIO pins directly drive body-control loads such as door-lock actuators, mirror position motors, and lighting FETs through discrete drivers. The on-chip watchdog timer and brown-out reset satisfy OEM reliability requirements, while the 20MHz core delivers 5 MIPS to handle CAN-style bit-banging or LIN slave comms when the design predates integrated transceivers. Engineers choose the extended 'E' grade to pass AEC-Q100-like thermal profiles during PPAP without paying for flash memory they will not use in a high-volume mask-stable build.
Recommended
Sensor Signal Conditioning Hub
Industrial and appliance sensor interfaces use the PIC16C620AT-20E/SO to read thermistor, hall-effect, or reed-switch inputs and translate them into clean logic outputs. The 13 I/O lines multiplex multiple analog channels through external resistor bridges and the internal comparator thresholds, while the 96-byte RAM buffers debounced switch events. At 5V supply the part directly interfaces 5V sensors without level shifters, simplifying the BOM. The extended temperature grade supports under-hood engine-bay sensors and outdoor HVAC equipment. Designers typically pair this MCU with a low-dropout regulator and use the internal 4MHz RC oscillator to keep the analog front-end free of crystal noise.
Recommended
Low-Cost Consumer Appliance Control
White-goods controllers for coffee machines, microwave keypads, and small kitchen appliances use the PIC16C620AT-20E/SO as a low-cost OTP main controller. Its 512 x 14 OTP word count fits state-machine firmware for relay sequencing, buzzer patterns, and 7-segment multiplexing. The wide 2.5V-5.5V supply tolerance allows direct operation from rectified mains through a capacitive dropper or small switcher. Engineers favor OTP over flash because high-volume appliance runs lock firmware at production, and OTP die cost is meaningfully lower than flash. The 13 GPIO lines handle a 4x4 keypad plus several indicator LEDs without an I/O expander.
Recommended
Industrial Control Panel I/O Expander
In industrial control panels, the PIC16C620AT-20E/SO serves as a dedicated I/O expander and button-debounce processor when the main controller lacks GPIO headroom. It scans up to 13 keys or status LEDs and reports state changes over a UART bit-bang or SPI slave link using the 20MHz core. The extended temperature grade supports control cabinet environments with -40C cold-start and +85C continuous operation. On-chip brown-out reset prevents erratic behavior during DC bus sags. Using OTP keeps the bill of materials low and eliminates the need for in-circuit programming infrastructure on the production line.
Recommended
Lighting and LED Driver Sequencer
Architectural and decorative lighting fixtures use the PIC16C620AT-20E/SO to generate chase patterns, dim curves, and color-mix sequences for LED strips. Its 5 MIPS core is enough to bit-bang WS2812 or similar addressable LED protocols over a single GPIO, while the remaining 12 I/O lines drive direct MOSFET low-side switches for higher-power strings. The 96-byte RAM holds a small frame buffer of current LED states. The wide supply range lets the MCU run directly from a 24V bus through a small LDO. OTP memory locks the lighting choreography once tuned, preventing accidental reprogramming in the field.
Recommended
Hobbyist and Educational Embedded Platform
The PIC16C620AT-20E/SO appears in education kits and retro hobby projects teaching 8-bit RISC programming. Its 14-bit instruction set, 35 single-word instructions, and PIC16 mid-range peripherals make it an accessible teaching vehicle before moving to PIC16F or PIC18 families. The 18-SOIC package is hand-solderable on breakout boards, and the OTP requires students to commit code via UV-erase window on sibling parts (JW package) or via flash equivalents. The wide 2.5V-5.5V supply lets beginners power the board from USB, a 9V battery with regulator, or a bench supply without damage. The 20MHz speed grade is fast enough for simple DSP exercises.
Recommended
Security and Accessory Peripheral
Alarm panels, garage-door openers, and small access-control peripherals use the PIC16C620AT-20E/SO as a low-cost co-processor for keypad scanning, reed-switch monitoring, and piezo buzzer control. The 13 I/O lines accept a 3x4 matrix keypad plus a status LED chain, while the 20MHz core handles rolling-code timing for fixed-code remote protocols. OTP memory prevents reverse engineering of the access algorithm. The extended temperature grade supports outdoor enclosures. Brown-out reset ensures reliable behavior when battery voltage sags during a transmit burst.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C620AT-20E/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16C620A-20E/SO | PIC16C620A-04E/SO | PIC16C620AT-20/SO | PIC16C620A-20E/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 18-SOIC (0.295 inch) | 18-SOIC - same | 18-SOIC - same | 18-SOIC - same | 20-SSOP - different package |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Maximum Clock | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 4 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Program Memory | 896 B (512 x 14) OTP | 896 B OTP | 896 B OTP | 896 B OTP | 896 B OTP |
| RAM | 96 B | 96 B | 96 B | 96 B | 96 B |
| I/O Pins | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
| Supply Voltage | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Temperature Grade | -40 C to +125 C (E / Automotive) | -40 C to +125 C (E) | -40 C to +125 C (E) | 0 C to +70 C (commercial) | -40 C to +125 C (E) |
| Lifecycle Status | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND | NRND |
Key Differentiators
- Extended automotive temperature grade in same 18-SOIC footprint (vs PIC16C620AT-20/SO)
- Faster 20MHz speed grade for time-critical firmware (vs PIC16C620A-04E/SO)
- Tape-and-reel factory packaging for high-volume SMT (vs PIC16C620A-20E/SO (non-T))
Design Notes
Place a 100nF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 14) on the 18-SOIC, plus a bulk electrolytic or tantalum capacitor (1uF to 10uF) on the same rail. The PIC16C620A brown-out reset triggers at roughly 4.0V on a 5V system; ensure the regulator is sized to keep VDD above the BOR threshold during peak GPIO load transients. Estimated: at 20MHz and 5V, the core draws roughly 5mA plus I/O sink current.
Choose the oscillator configuration bits in the __CONFIG word carefully: RC mode for low-cost 4MHz internal operation, XT for low-frequency crystals up to 4MHz, and HS for high-speed crystals up to 20MHz. The PIC16C620AT-20E/SO is characterized at 20MHz so the HS mode is mandatory at that speed. Add a 1M ohm parallel resistor across the crystal to guarantee start-up under cold automotive conditions, and route OSC1/OSC2 traces short and away from switching nodes.
Do not leave MCLR floating. Tie MCLR to VDD through a 10k ohm resistor and add a 100nF cap to ground only if a manual reset button is desired. The PORTB weak pull-ups are disabled by default; enable them in firmware when using RB0-RB7 as inputs to save external resistors. OTP memory cannot be reprogrammed - verify the firmware on a JW (windowed) sample or PIC16F equivalent before committing to OTP mass programming.
Route the oscillator traces (OSC1/OSC2) on the top layer with a continuous ground pour on the opposite layer and keep them shorter than 10mm to avoid EMI radiation. Keep digital switching traces away from analog-sensitive inputs (RA0-RA4 when used as analog comparators). Provide a single-point ground via near VSS (pin 5) and avoid daisy-chained ground returns from high-current loads through the MCU ground pin.
Compliance Information
RoHS, REACH, lead-free and halogen-free status not explicitly listed in verified web data; conflict-mineral compliance per Microchip corporate policy. PIC16C620A series was originally released before AEC-Q100 automotive qualification became standard for PIC mid-range, so the 'E' temperature grade is not equivalent to AEC-Q100.