Product Overview
The PIC16F74-I is a 40-pin, 8-bit Flash-based CMOS microcontroller from Microchip Technology, featuring the classic Mid-Range PIC architecture with 35 instructions and an 8-level deep hardware stack. This well-established general-purpose MCU offers 7KB (4K x 14 words) of Flash program memory and 192 bytes of RAM. Operating at up to 20 MHz with a 200 ns instruction cycle, it integrates an 8-channel 8-bit ADC, two Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) modules, a Synchronous Serial Port (SSP) configurable as SPI or I2C, a Universal Synchronous Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (USART), and a Parallel Slave Port (PSP) for 8-bit parallel communication. With three timers, Brown-out Reset, and In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) capability, the PIC16F74 is pin-compatible with the PIC16C74B and PIC16F874, making it a reliable workhorse for industrial control, automotive applications, consumer electronics, and motor control designs.
Key Specifications
| Core Architecture | 8-bit PIC (Mid-Range Core) |
| Program Memory | 7KB Flash (4K x 14 words) |
| RAM | 192 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | None |
| Maximum Speed | 20 MHz (5 MIPS) |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0V to 5.5V |
| I/O Pins | 33 |
| ADC | 8-bit, 8 channels |
| Comparators | None |
| Timers | 2 x 8-bit (TMR0/TMR2) + 1 x 16-bit (TMR1) |
| PWM | 2 x CCP (Capture/Compare/PWM), 10-bit |
| Communication | SPI, I2C (SSP), USART |
| Parallel Port | PSP (Parallel Slave Port), 8-bit |
| Oscillator | External (RC, XT, HS, LP, EC options) |
| Stack Levels | 8 |
| Interrupt Sources | Up to 12 |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C to +85°C (Industrial) |
| Package | 40-pin PDIP / 44-pin PLCC / 44-pin QFP / 28-pin variants |
Features
- High-performance RISC CPU with only 35 single-word instructions
- All single-cycle instructions except program branches (two cycles)
- 8-level deep hardware stack
- Direct, indirect, and relative addressing modes
- 8-channel 8-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC)
- Two Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) modules with 16-bit capture and 10-bit PWM
- Synchronous Serial Port (SSP) with SPI (Master) and I2C (Slave)
- Universal Synchronous Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (USART/SCI)
- Parallel Slave Port (PSP) with 8-bit wide read/write interface
- Timer0: 8-bit timer/counter with 8-bit programmable prescaler
- Timer1: 16-bit timer/counter with prescaler, can increment during Sleep
- Timer2: 8-bit timer/counter with period register, prescaler, and postscaler
- Power-on Reset (POR), Power-up Timer (PWRT), Oscillator Start-up Timer (OST)
- Brown-out Reset (BOR) with brown-out detection circuitry
- Watchdog Timer (WDT) with on-chip RC oscillator for reliable operation
- In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) via two pins
- Programmable code protection for program memory security
- Power-saving Sleep mode for low-power applications
- High sink/source current: 25 mA per I/O pin
- Pinout compatible with PIC16C74B and PIC16F874
Applications
- Industrial control systems and PLC modules
- Automotive electronic control units
- Consumer electronics and home appliances
- Motor control and power management
- Data acquisition and sensor interfaces
- Lighting control systems
- Medical devices and instrumentation