Single-wire EEPROM for pin-constrained designs
The Microchip 11LC020-I/P is a 2Kbit serial EEPROM that communicates over a single-wire interface, needing only one I/O pin on the host microcontroller for both data and clock. The 8-pin DIP package (0.300" body, 7.62mm pitch) is through-hole, so it's a natural for prototype boards, legacy rework, or environments where a socketed part is preferred over soldering a surface-mount package.
The single-wire protocol runs at 100 kHz, which is slower than a typical I2C EEPROM (400 kHz) but adequate for storing a few hundred bytes of configuration data. Write-cycle time is 5 ms per word or page, so bulk writes take a moment — plan for a small delay in firmware if you're writing multiple bytes back-to-back. The 256 x 8 organization means each addressable byte is written individually; there's no page buffer larger than one byte, so each write takes the full 5 ms.
Runs from 2.5V to 5.5V, so it bridges 3.3V and 5V logic without a regulator or level shifter — handy for mixed-voltage boards. No AEC-Q qualification is listed, so it's not a first choice for safety-rated automotive paths without additional screening.
The through-hole PDIP package also means it's straightforward to hand-assemble or rework on a prototype run.