PIC12F683 — 8-Pin 8-Bit CMOS Flash Microcontroller (nanoWatt)

Overview

The PIC12F683 is a compact 8-pin Flash-based 8-bit CMOS microcontroller manufactured by Microchip Technology. Available in an 8-pin through-hole DIP-8 and surface-mount SOIC-8 package, it features Microchip's nanoWatt technology ( $< 1\ \mu\text{A}$ standby power) and an internal software-selectable $8\text{ MHz}$ precision RC oscillator.

Equipped with 2K words ( $3.5\text{ KB}$ ) of Flash program memory, 128 bytes of RAM, 256 bytes of EEPROM, a 4-channel 10-bit ADC, three hardware timers, an analog comparator, and a Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) module, the PIC12F683 gained widespread fame in DIY electronics for game console modifications (rapid-fire modchips), servo exercisers, smart RGB lighting controllers, and ultra-compact battery monitors.

Quick reference


CPU Core	8-bit PIC Mid-Range RISC (35 instructions)
Package	8-pin DIP (DIP-8 / PDIP-8) / 8-pin SOIC / 8-pin DFN
Max Clock Frequency	$20\text{ MHz}$ ( $8\text{ MHz}$ software-calibrated internal RC)
Flash Program Memory	2048 words ( $3.5\text{ KB}$ , 14-bit word width)
Data RAM	128 bytes
Data EEPROM	256 bytes true non-volatile EEPROM
Operating Voltage (`VDD`)	$2.0\text{ V}$ to $5.5\text{ V}$ DC ( $4.5\text{V} \dots 5.5\text{V}$ for $20\text{MHz}$ )
GPIO Count	6 I/O pins (GP0 through GP5; GP3 is input-only)
ADC Channels	4 channels (10-bit resolution)
CCP / PWM	1 Capture/Compare/PWM module (10-bit PWM resolution)
In-Circuit Serial Programming	ICSP via `GP0` (ICSPDAT), `GP1` (ICSPCLK), and `GP3` (MCLR/VPP)

Pinout (DIP-8 Package)

text

                            ┌───┴───┐
                  VDD (+5V) 1│ 1   8 │ VSS (GND 0V)
 (T1CKI/OSC1/CLKIN)     GP5 2│PIC12F │ 7 GP0 (AN0/CIN+/ICSPDAT)
 (AN3/T1G/OSC2/CLKOUT)  GP4 3│  683  │ 6 GP1 (AN1/CIN-/VREF/ICSPCLK)
 (Active-Low/VPP/MCLR)  GP3 4│ DIP-8 │ 5 GP2 (AN2/T0CKI/INT/COUT/CCP1)
                            └───────┘

Pin	Name	Type	Description
1	`VDD`	Power	Positive Supply Voltage ( $+2.0\text{ V}$ to $+5.5\text{ V}$ DC)
2	`GP5`	GPIO / Clock	`T1CKI` (Timer1 Clock) / `OSC1` / `CLKIN`
3	`GP4`	GPIO / Analog	`AN3` / `T1G` (Timer1 Gate) / `OSC2` / `CLKOUT`
4	`GP3`	Digital Input	`MCLR` (Master Clear / Reset) / `VPP` (Programming Voltage) (Input-only)
5	`GP2`	GPIO / Analog	`AN2` / `T0CKI` / `INT` / `COUT` / `CCP1` (PWM Output)
6	`GP1`	GPIO / Analog	`AN1` / `CIN-` / `VREF` / `ICSPCLK` (Programming Clock)
7	`GP0`	GPIO / Analog	`AN0` / `CIN+` / `ICSPDAT` (Programming Data)
8	`VSS`	Power	Common Ground reference ( $0\text{ V}$ )

Programming Connections (PICkit 3 / 4 / Snap ICSP Header)

text

   PICkit ICSP Pin                  PIC12F683 DIP-8 Pin
   ┌──────────────┐                ┌──────────────────────┐
   │ 1: VPP / MCLR├───────────────►│ Pin 4: GP3 / MCLR/VPP│
   │ 2: VDD (+5V) ├───────────────►│ Pin 1: VDD (+5V)     │
   │ 3: VSS (GND) ├───────────────►│ Pin 8: VSS (GND)     │
   │ 4: PGD (Data)├───────────────►│ Pin 7: GP0 / ICSPDAT │
   │ 5: PGC (Clock)───────────────►│ Pin 6: GP1 / ICSPCLK │
   └──────────────┘                └──────────────────────┘

Common mistakes

Attempting to configure GP3 as an output: Pin 4 (GP3) is input-only in hardware due to the high-voltage VPP/MCLR circuitry. It cannot be driven as an output pin.
Forgetting to set ANSEL for digital I/O: Pins GP0, GP1, GP2, and GP4 default to analog input mode on power-up. Write ANSEL = 0; and CMCON0 = 7; in software to use pins as standard digital GPIOs.
Floating MCLR pin: If MCLRE configuration bit is ON, Pin 4 must be tied to $V_{DD}$ via a $10\text{ k}\Omega$ pull-up resistor. Alternatively, configure internal MCLR in the configuration word (_MCLRE_OFF).

Notes

Software Ecosystem: Programmed using MPLAB X IDE with the free Microchip XC8 C compiler, or open-source SDCC (sdcc -mpic14).