PIC16C642-04E/SP - 8-Bit OTP MCU, 4MHz, 7KB EPROM, 28-SPDIP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16C642-04E/SP ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $9.1 | $9.10 |
| 10 | $8.05 | $80.50 |
| 100 | $7.1 | $710.00 |
| 500 | $6.3 | $3,150.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.65 | $5,650.00 |
PIC16C642-04E/SP Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, program memory (ROM/EPROM/Flash), data memory (RAM), and peripheral interfaces on one die. The PIC16C family uses Microchip's RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) Harvard architecture, which separates program and data buses for higher instruction throughput than von Neumann designs. The PIC16C642 specifically targets low-cost, high-volume embedded control in the PIC mid-range family, and was later superseded by the Flash-based PIC16F family for new designs while remaining available for legacy and automotive/extended-temperature sockets.
Key specifications include a wide operating voltage range of 2.5 V to 6.0 V, fully static operation (clock can be stopped), ultra-low power consumption of 15 µA typical at 5 V / 4 MHz and 1 µA typical at 3 V / 32 kHz, an integrated analog comparator, a 14-bit instruction word, and commercial / industrial / automotive temperature grade support. The 22 I/O pins can source/sink up to 25 mA per pin for direct LED drive. An 8-bit timer/counter and a watchdog timer are on-chip.
The architecture implements a 14-bit wide instruction set with 35 single-word single-cycle instructions (excluding branches, which are two-cycle), giving an effective throughput near 4 MIPS at 4 MHz. Two hardware addressable interrupt sources (external RB0/INT and peripheral) are supported. The integrated analog comparator plus 8-bit timer enable closed-loop control without external ICs.
Typical applications include automotive body and chassis subsystems, industrial control logic, sensor signal conditioning, LED lighting controllers, simple appliance controls, and remote-keyless-entry transmitters. The extended temperature grade and OTP memory make it well suited to volume production where firmware is finalized and in-field reprogramming is not required.
When designing with this part, note that OTP memory cannot be rewritten. For prototyping or in-field updates use the Flash-based PIC16F642 equivalent. Always include decoupling capacitors (100 nF + 10 µF) close to VDD/VSS pins, and respect the MCLR pin reset circuit requirements (typically 10 kΩ pull-up to VDD with optional 10 nF delay).
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives drawn from Microchip's 28-pin PICmidrange pin/code compatibility chart, and practical design notes that complement the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16C642-04E/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 PIC16C642-04E/SP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Program Memory Type, Core Architecture, Program Memory Size, Instruction Cycle Time.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F642-I/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C642-04/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C642-04E/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C622-04E/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16C622A-04I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C642-04/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.3 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16C642-04E/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | 8-Bit Microcontroller (MCU) |
| Series | PIC16C6x (PIC® mid-range, RISC) |
| Program Memory Type | OTP EPROM (One-Time Programmable) |
| Program Memory Size | 7 KB (4K x 14) words |
| RAM Size | 176 x 8 bytes |
| EEPROM Data Memory | None (not present on this part) |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 4 MHz |
| Instruction Set Width | 14 bits (35 single-word instructions) |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.5 V to 6.0 V |
| Number of I/O Pins | 22 |
| I/O Sink/Source Current | 25 mA per pin (max) |
| Timers | One 8-bit Timer/Counter plus Watchdog Timer (WDT) |
| Analog Comparator | Yes, on-chip |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 °C to +125 °C (Extended / Automotive grade) |
| Package | 28-pin SPDIP (Skinny Plastic DIP), 0.300 in / 7.62 mm body width |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16C642-04E/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP — Master Clear (reset) input / programming voltage |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — Port A bit 0 / analog input 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — Port A bit 1 / analog input 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2 — Port A bit 2 / analog input 2 |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF — Port A bit 3 / analog input 3 / voltage reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — Port A bit 4 / Timer 0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/SS/AN4 — Port A bit 5 / slave select / analog input 4 |
| Pin 8 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator input / external clock in |
| Pin 9 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator output / clock out |
| Pin 10 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — Port C bit 0 / Timer 1 oscillator output / clock in |
| Pin 11 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — Port C bit 1 / Timer 1 oscillator input / CCP2 |
| Pin 12 | RC2/CCP1 — Port C bit 2 / Capture-Compare-PWM 1 |
| Pin 13 | RC3 — Port C bit 3 |
| Pin 14 | RC4 — Port C bit 4 |
| Pin 15 | RC5 — Port C bit 5 |
| Pin 16 | RC6 — Port C bit 6 |
| Pin 17 | RC7 — Port C bit 7 |
| Pin 18 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 19 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 20 | RB0/INT — Port B bit 0 / external interrupt |
| Pin 21 | RB1 — Port B bit 1 |
| Pin 22 | RB2 — Port B bit 2 |
| Pin 23 | RB3 — Port B bit 3 |
| Pin 24 | RB4 — Port B bit 4 |
| Pin 25 | RB5 — Port B bit 5 |
| Pin 26 | RB6/PGC — Port B bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 27 | RB7/PGD — Port B bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 28 | VSS — Ground (secondary) |
Typical Applications
PIC16C642-04E/SP is suitable for 6 applications: Automotive Body & Chassis Control, Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) Transmitters, Industrial Sensor Conditioning & Control, LED Lighting Controllers, White Goods & Appliance Control, Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes.
Automotive Body & Chassis Control
The PIC16C642-04E/SP's extended -40 °C to +125 °C automotive temperature grade and OTP memory model fit high-volume automotive body modules where firmware is finalized at production time. The 22 I/O pins directly drive LED arrays, relays, and low-side MOSFET switches used in door-lock actuators, mirror-fold motors, and seat-position sensors. The integrated analog comparator enables wheel-speed pulse conditioning without external op-amps, while the watchdog timer (WDT) and extended voltage range (2.5 V to 6.0 V) tolerate automotive load-dump transients. Microchip qualifies this part family against AEC-Q100, making it a direct fit for AEC-Q100-grade ECUs.
Recommended
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) Transmitters
The PIC16C642-04E/SP's 1 µA sleep current at 3 V / 32 kHz is well-suited to battery-powered RKE keyfobs that spend >99 % of their life in sleep mode. The 4 MHz active mode supports rolling-code encryption routines within the 4K-word instruction budget, while the 22 I/O pins directly interface to the SAW-resonator-based RF transmitter and tactile push-buttons. Its 2.5 V to 6.0 V operating range accepts the full discharge curve of a CR2032 coin cell without premature brown-out. OTP memory prevents tampering with the firmware once the fob is sealed.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Conditioning & Control
In industrial 24-V sensor modules, the PIC16C642-04E/SP serves as a low-cost signal-conditioning controller, with the on-chip analog comparator threshold-detecting 4-20 mA loop signals and the 8-bit timer generating PWM outputs to proportional valves. Its 25 mA per-pin I/O drive directly switches optocouplers and small solid-state relays without external drivers. The -40 °C to +125 °C operating range tolerates factory-floor ambient conditions, and the 7 KB program memory accommodates Modbus RTU or proprietary serial protocols. The OTP model suits mature production runs where firmware is locked.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controllers
The PIC16C642-04E/SP drives multi-channel LED lighting fixtures via PWM generated by the on-chip 8-bit timer, achieving dimming ratios above 1000:1 at typical refresh frequencies. With 22 high-current I/O pins (25 mA sink/source) the MCU directly drives low-current indicator LEDs and the gate of external MOSFETs for high-brightness strings. Its 4 MHz instruction rate (1 MIPS) is sufficient for color-mixing calculations across RGBW channels, and the wide 2.5 V to 6.0 V supply range simplifies integration with constant-current LED drivers.
Recommended
White Goods & Appliance Control
Washing machines, dishwashers, and microwave ovens use PIC16C642-04E/SP as the primary control MCU thanks to its robust -40 °C to +125 °C temperature range and 22 I/O pins that interface to triac-driven AC loads, user keypads, and 7-segment displays. The 7 KB OTP program memory holds the appliance state-machine firmware with margin for product variants, and the integrated analog comparator monitors motor current via shunt resistors for stall detection. OTP memory reduces per-unit cost in the multi-million-unit volumes typical of white goods.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes
For low-duty-cycle wireless or wired sensor nodes, the PIC16C642-04E/SP's 1 µA sleep current at 3 V preserves coin-cell or lithium-thionyl-chloride battery life. The PIC mid-range core wakes on the watchdog timeout or external interrupt, takes a sensor reading via the analog comparator, transmits via a companion radio, and returns to sleep within milliseconds - yielding average currents well below 10 µA. The 2.5 V minimum operating voltage extends usable battery life versus 3.3 V-parts. Industrial temperature grade suits outdoor and HVAC sensor placements.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16C642-04E/SP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F642-I/SP | PIC16C642-04/SP | PIC16C642-04E/SO | PIC16C622-04E/SO | PIC16C622A-04I/P | PIC16C642-04/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SPDIP | 28-SPDIP - same | 28-SPDIP - same | 28-SPDIP - same | 28-SPDIP - same | 28-PDIP - same | 28-SOIC - same footprint electrically |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory | 7 KB OTP EPROM | 7 KB Flash | 7 KB OTP EPROM | 7 KB OTP EPROM | 3.5 KB OTP EPROM | 3.5 KB OTP EPROM | 7 KB OTP EPROM |
| RAM | 176 B | 176 B | 176 B | 176 B | 128 B | 128 B | 176 B |
| Max Clock | 4 MHz | 20 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz |
| Operating Voltage | 2.5 V to 6.0 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 6.0 V | 2.5 V to 6.0 V | 2.5 V to 6.0 V | 2.5 V to 6.0 V | 2.5 V to 6.0 V |
| Temperature Grade | Extended -40 °C to +125 °C | Industrial -40 °C to +85 °C | Commercial 0 °C to +70 °C | Extended -40 °C to +125 °C | Extended -40 °C to +125 °C | Industrial -40 °C to +85 °C | Commercial 0 °C to +70 °C |
| Memory Type | OTP EPROM | Flash (reprogrammable) | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM | OTP EPROM |
Key Differentiators
- Extended automotive temperature range (-40 °C to +125 °C) on a 28-SPDIP package (vs PIC16C642-04/SP)
- Flash reprogrammability for development and in-field updates (vs PIC16F642-I/SP)
- Higher 20 MHz clock headroom for performance upgrades (vs PIC16F642-I/SP)
Design Notes
The PIC16C642-04E/SP requires VDD decoupling of 100 nF ceramic placed within 5 mm of the VDD pin (pin 20) plus a bulk 10 µF electrolytic or tantalum on the VDD rail. The MCLR pin (pin 1) needs a 10 kΩ pull-up to VDD; if a manual reset button is wired in, place a series resistor and 100 nF cap to control the MCLR rise time per Microchip application note TB016. Brown-out reset is recommended for any 5 V design and can be configured in the configuration word.
Place the 4 MHz crystal or ceramic resonator within 5 mm of OSC1 (pin 8) and OSC2 (pin 9), with short, symmetrical traces and a ground guard ring around the oscillator cell to reduce EMI pickup. The analog comparator inputs (RA0-RA5) should be routed away from high-frequency digital traces (RC port, oscillator) to avoid crosstalk. Keep the ICSP clock (RB6/PGC, pin 26) and data (RB7/PGD, pin 27) traces accessible for production programming without disturbing the layout.
OTP memory cannot be erased or rewritten - each PIC16C642-04E/SP can only be programmed once. Always verify firmware with a Flash equivalent (e.g., PIC16F642-I/SP) on a prototype before committing to OTP production runs. Configuration-word settings (oscillator mode, watchdog enable, code protection) are also one-time; misconfiguration cannot be corrected. Finally, the ADC reference voltage on RA3 must be sourced from a low-impedance buffer or VDD - direct resistive dividers degrade ADC accuracy on the 5-channel input.
Estimated: the PIC16C642-04E/SP in 28-SPDIP package has typical thermal resistance (theta_JA) of approximately 70 °C/W in still air. At 5 V / 4 MHz active mode with all I/O unloaded, internal dissipation is below 25 mW, producing a junction temperature rise of less than 2 °C above ambient. Designers do not need to apply derating at room-temperature operation, but at 125 °C ambient the device derates linearly per Microchip's thermal data; verify high-temperature quiescent current budget with the DS30400K datasheet figure.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. AEC-Q100 qualification applies to the E (extended) temperature grade variant - the -04 base part is not automotive-qualified. Lead-free and halogen-free per Microchip Material Declaration.
