Typical embedded control applications place demands such as low power consumption, small size, low cost and reduced component count onto the microcontroller. This application note implements a 24-hour digital clock, alarm and 99 minute 59 second count down timer, yet operates on two “AA” batteries. The PIC16C54A is perfect for this application, due to it’s small size, high current I/Os with direct LED drive, low cost, fast instruction throughput and low frequency/current operation.