PIC12F629-I/P - 8-bit 20MHz Flash MCU 1.75KB | Microchip
MPN: PIC12F629-I/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.61 | $1.61 |
| 10 | $1.46 | $14.60 |
| 100 | $1.31 | $131.00 |
| 500 | $1.17 | $585.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.04 | $1,040.00 |
PIC12F629-I/P Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer containing a CPU, program memory (Flash/ROM), data memory (RAM), peripherals, and I/O on one die. The PIC® 12F family sits at the bottom of Microchip's 8-bit hierarchy - smaller than PIC16F and PIC18F parts, and simpler than 16-bit PIC24F or 32-bit PIC32MX MCUs. With only 35 single-word instructions, PIC12F629 enables rapid firmware development for embedded engineers new to the Microchip ecosystem.
Key features include an internal 4MHz/8MHz oscillator (eliminating external crystal requirements), 100,000 erase/write cycle Flash endurance, watchdog timer with independent oscillator, in-circuit serial programming (ICSP), and programmable code protection. The 6 bidirectional I/O pins each support weak pull-ups and interrupt-on-change, with GP5/MCLR/VPP pin configurable for digital I/O when MCLR is disabled.
Technically, the PIC12F629 uses a 14-bit modified Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses, allowing instruction fetch and operand access in the same cycle. The CMOS process yields <1 mA active current at 4MHz/2V, and <1 uA typical standby current - enabling battery-powered applications spanning years from a single coin cell.
Typical applications include consumer appliance control, sensor signal conditioning, LED driving, simple state machines, hobby projects, and educational embedded platforms. The 8-pin footprint and minimal external components suit space-constrained PCBs.
When designing with this device, add a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor adjacent to VDD, a 4.7k-10k pull-up on MCLR (if not disabled), and verify programming tool compatibility (PICkit 3, PICkit 4, MPLAB SNAP, MPLAB ICD 4 supported).
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, parametric comparisons, and design notes that complement (rather than duplicate) the Microchip datasheet for engineers evaluating PIC12F629-I/P for new designs or legacy maintenance.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC12F629-I/P — 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 PIC12F629-I/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Timers, Package, ADC, Core.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC12F675-I/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12F617-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.14 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F629-E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F615-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F1840-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F508-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F629-I/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit (14-bit instruction word, modified Harvard) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 1.75 KB (1K x 14 words) |
| Data Memory (RAM) | 64 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 128 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 20 MHz (200 ns instruction cycle) |
| I/O Pins | 6 bidirectional GPIO |
| Internal Oscillator | 4 MHz / 8 MHz selectable |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit/16-bit Timer0 with pre-scaler |
| Analog Comparator | 1 channel |
| ADC | None (PIC12F675 variant has 10-bit ADC) |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes, with independent oscillator |
| ICSP Programming | Yes (In-Circuit Serial Programming) |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial -I grade) |
| Package | 8-pin PDIP (P) |
| Instruction Set | 35 single-word instructions |
| Flash Endurance | 100,000 erase/write cycles typical |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC12F629-I/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | GP5/MCLR/VPP — Digital I/O pin GP5 (or MCLR reset input, or ICSP VPP programming voltage) |
| Pin 2 | GP0/AN0/CIN+/ICSPDAT — Digital I/O GP0; comparator non-inverting input; ICSP data |
| Pin 3 | GP1/AN1/CIN-/ICSPCLK — Digital I/O GP1; comparator inverting input; ICSP clock |
| Pin 4 | GP2/COUT/T0CKI — Digital I/O GP2; comparator output; Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 5 | GP3/MCLR/VPP — Input-only GP3; can serve as MCLR reset |
| Pin 6 | GP4/AN3/T1G/OSC2/CLKOUT — Digital I/O GP4; Timer1 gate; oscillator output |
| Pin 7 | GP5/OSC1/CLKIN — Digital I/O GP5; oscillator input |
| Pin 8 | VDD — Positive supply voltage 2.0V to 5.5V |
Typical Applications
PIC12F629-I/P is suitable for 7 applications: Consumer Appliance Control, Battery-Powered Wireless Sensor Nodes (Sub-GHz Companion MCU), LED Lighting Drivers and Effects Controllers, Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning, Automotive Under-Hood Sub-Systems, Educational and Hobby Embedded Platforms, Simple State Machine and Timing Controllers.
Consumer Appliance Control
The PIC12F629-I/P fits consumer appliance control boards where 6 GPIO, 1 comparator, and 1.75 KB Flash handle simple state machines. The internal 4/8 MHz oscillator eliminates the external crystal BOM, and the industrial temperature grade covers kitchen and laundry environments. With <1 uA standby current and 2.0-5.5 V VDD, the device runs for years from battery or directly from rectified mains via a small regulator. The watchdog timer with independent oscillator ensures recovery from firmware lockup in unattended appliance operation.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Wireless Sensor Nodes (Sub-GHz Companion MCU)
The PIC12F629-I/P pairs with a sub-GHz RF transmitter (MRF49XA, CC1101) as a low-cost sensor-edge MCU in battery-powered nodes. Its 128-byte EEPROM stores calibration constants across power cycles, and 1.75 KB Flash holds sensor-reading routines and interrupt-driven sleep scheduling. The internal oscillator plus 2.0 V minimum VDD enables operation directly from a single 1.5 V AA cell via a boost converter. Brown-out detection prevents undefined behavior during battery end-of-life, and 100,000 Flash erase cycles support field reconfiguration via ICSP.
Recommended
LED Lighting Drivers and Effects Controllers
The PIC12F629-I/P drives RGB LED strips, decorative lighting, and signage effects via PWM-emulated bit-banging on its GPIO pins. Its 20 MHz instruction rate supports flicker-free color transitions with 256-step PWM resolution per channel at 60 Hz refresh. The 128-byte EEPROM retains last state across power cycles, and the internal comparator provides current-limit sensing through a shunt resistor. Industrial temperature rating suits outdoor LED installations and stage lighting fixtures where ambient temperatures fluctuate widely.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning
The PIC12F629-I/P serves as a low-cost analog-front-end MCU for industrial 4-20 mA loop sensors, thermocouple cold-junction compensation, and switch-debouncing modules. Its 1 analog comparator digitizes threshold events, while the 64-byte RAM buffers data before transmission. The ICSP programming interface allows field firmware updates via pick-and-place programming fixtures during production calibration. With -40C to +85C industrial temperature rating and 5.5 V VDD tolerance, the device withstands factory-floor transients.
Recommended
Automotive Under-Hood Sub-Systems
The PIC12F629-I/P supports non-safety automotive sub-systems such as seat-position encoders, mirror-adjustment switches, and accessory lighting controllers when paired with the -E temperature variant. Its 20 MHz CPU speed and 6 GPIO handle encoder decoding and PWM motor-drive signals. The internal oscillator eliminates external components for vibration resilience, while the ICSP interface supports factory programming and field re-flashing through automotive service tooling. Operating from a regulated 5 V automotive rail at -40C to +85C ensures reliable operation across cabin and engine-bay environments.
Recommended
Educational and Hobby Embedded Platforms
The PIC12F629-I/P is a popular teaching MCU due to its 35-instruction RISC architecture, 8-pin PDIP that fits a breadboard, and broad MPLAB X IDE support. Students learn timer interrupts, comparator-based ADC emulation, and GPIO multiplexing in firmware. The 1.75 KB Flash accommodates small real-world projects (thermometer, dice roller, PWM fan controller) while remaining within the instruction budget for classroom assignments. Programming via PICkit 3/4 or MPLAB SNAP at low cost makes this part ideal for undergraduate embedded-systems labs and maker spaces.
Recommended
Simple State Machine and Timing Controllers
The PIC12F629-I/P implements standalone state machines in vending machines, access control keypads, and irrigation controllers where deterministic timing is critical. Its 1 hardware timer generates interrupt-driven schedules, while 6 GPIO drive relays, solenoids, and indicator LEDs. The watchdog timer prevents firmware lockup in unattended field installations, and the 128-byte EEPROM stores configuration parameters (pulse durations, sensor thresholds) that survive power cycles. With 35 single-cycle instructions, the MCU responds within microseconds to external events.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC12F629-I/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC12F675-I/P | PIC12F617-I/P | PIC12F629-E/P | PIC12F615-I/P | PIC12F1840-I/P | PIC12F508-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | PDIP-8 | PDIP-8 - same | PDIP-8 - same | PDIP-8 - same | PDIP-8 - same | PDIP-8 - same | PDIP-8 - same |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB - same | 2 KB (+14%) | 1.75 KB - same | 1.4 KB (-20%) | 7 KB (+300%) | 0.75 KB (-57%) |
| RAM | 64 bytes | 64 bytes - same | 128 bytes (+100%) | 64 bytes - same | 64 bytes - same | 256 bytes (+300%) | 25 bytes (-61%) |
| ADC | None | 10-bit, 4 channels | 8-bit, 4 channels | None - same | 10-bit, 4 channels | 10-bit, 4 channels | None - same |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 20 MHz | 20 MHz - same | 20 MHz - same | 20 MHz - same | 20 MHz - same | 32 MHz (+60%) | 20 MHz - same |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C - same | -40C to +85C - same | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C - same | -40C to +85C - same | -40C to +85C - same |
Key Differentiators
- SAME PINOUT as PIC12F675 with no ADC (vs PIC12F675-I/P)
- Extended temperature variant available (vs PIC12F629-E/P)
- More mature and lower cost than enhanced 8-bit core (vs PIC12F1840-I/P)
Design Notes
Add a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor as close as possible (within 5 mm) to the VDD pin (pin 8). For applications with high GPIO switching currents, add a bulk 10 uF tantalum or aluminum electrolytic capacitor at the regulator output. The PIC12F629's <1 uA standby current depends on the watchdog timer being disabled in software; enable WDT only when fault recovery is required, as WDT adds approximately 1-3 uA quiescent current. Brown-out reset (BOR) is recommended for battery-powered designs to prevent code execution at indeterminate VDD voltages below 2.0 V.
GP3 is input-only - never configure it as an output in firmware, or the pin will appear to be stuck low. When MCLR is disabled via configuration bits (CONFIG_MCLRE = OFF), pin 4 becomes a general-purpose digital input, freeing it for application use - but disabling MCLR removes external reset capability. Pin 1 (GP5) serves as both GPIO and VPP programming voltage; if used as output in the application, ensure the ICSP programmer can still drive VPP without contention. Configuration bits must be set explicitly before first code execution - factory default may not match the application.
The 8-pin PDIP package has 2.54 mm (0.1 inch) pin pitch, compatible with standard through-hole breadboards and IC sockets. For production, allow at least 1.5 mm of pad-to-trace clearance to prevent solder bridges during wave soldering. Keep the ICSP programming footprint (3-wire: ICSPCLK, ICSPDAT, VPP, plus VDD and GND) accessible for in-circuit firmware updates - either as test pads or a 5-pin header. Route analog comparator inputs (GP0, GP1) away from high-frequency digital switching traces to minimize coupling noise.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose PIC12F629-E/P for harsh environment. Lead-free and halogen-free per Microchip environmental compliance data.
