PIC12LF1501-I/MC - 8-bit MCU, 1.75KB Flash, 20MHz, 8-DFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC12LF1501-I/MC β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.09 | $1.09 |
| 10 | $0.98 | $9.80 |
| 100 | $0.87 | $87.00 |
| 500 | $0.76 | $380.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.68 | $680.00 |
| 2,500 | $0.62 | $1,550.00 |
PIC12LF1501-I/MC Overview
A PIC12 microcontroller is an 8-bit Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) architecture from Microchip's PIC family, featuring a Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses. The 12-series denotes small-pin-count devices (6-8 pins), historically used for glue logic replacement, simple sensor interfaces, and cost-sensitive embedded control. The "LF" prefix indicates the wide-voltage, low-power variant supporting 1.8V to 3.6V operation, while the "F" mid-letter indicates Flash program memory - the foundation of the modern PIC ecosystem. PIC12F microcontrollers sit in the hierarchy: microcontroller -> embedded MCU -> 8-bit MCU -> PIC12 series -> PIC12F1501 sub-family.
Key features include six I/O pins with individual direction control, four 10-bit ADC channels with internal voltage reference support, enhanced PWM module with up to three outputs, configurable logic cell (CLC), numerically controlled oscillator (NCO), and complementary waveform generator (CWG). Peripherals also include a watchdog timer with its own oscillator, brown-out detect/reset, power-on reset, and an in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) interface. The 8-bit core executes most instructions in one cycle, delivering up to 5 MIPS at 20 MHz while consuming roughly 1.8 mA active and sub-microamp currents in sleep.
Architecturally, the device uses a 14-bit instruction word Flash and 8-bit data path, with the CPU core, peripherals, and I/O tied to an internal peripheral bus. The CWG and NCO peripherals enable sophisticated waveform synthesis in hardware, often replacing external timers or DACs in lighting, motor-control, and resonant-driver designs. Internal oscillator calibration to +/-1 percent provides timing accuracy suitable for UART baud-rate generation without external crystals.
Typical applications include IoT sensor nodes, low-power wireless transmitters, LED lighting controllers, battery chargers, handheld consumer devices, fan controllers, and remote controls. Designers select this part when PCB area is constrained to roughly 6 mm^2 and the application needs on-board intelligence with minimal standby current.
Key design consideration: although the DFN package has an exposed thermal pad, the dominant thermal constraint in 8-pin PIC devices is the small pin count, not power dissipation. Validate your I/O budget and ADC channel requirements early - the six I/O pins must serve ICSP, reset, and your application simultaneously.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternative analysis across the PIC12 and PIC16 families, and practical low-power design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC12LF1501-I/MC β 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 PIC12LF1501-I/MC (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, MSL Level, Maximum CPU Speed, ADC, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC12F1501-I/MC
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12LF1501-E/MC
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$0.55 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC12LF1501T-I/MC
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$0.62 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC12F1501T-I/MC
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12LF1552-I/MC
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12LF1501-I/MC Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit RISC |
| Core Size | 8-bit |
| Instruction Word Width | 14-bit |
| Program Memory Type | Flash |
| Program Memory Size | 1.75 KB (1K x 14) |
| RAM Size | 64 x 8 bytes |
| EEPROM Size | None (emulated in Flash) |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz (5 MIPS) |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 6 |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit |
| ADC Channels | 4 |
| PWM Channels | Up to 3 (Enhanced PWM) |
| Package | 8-pin DFN (2x3 mm) with exposed pad |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited floor life) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Peripherals | Brown-out Detect/Reset, POR, PWM, WDT, CLC, NCO, CWG |
| Connectivity | None (no UART/SPI/I2C hardware in base variant) |
| Programming Interface | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) |
PIC12LF1501-I/MC Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD β Positive power supply (1.8V to 3.6V) |
| Pin 2 | RA5 β Bidirectional I/O / PWM output / ADC input |
| Pin 3 | RA4 β Bidirectional I/O / CWG output / ADC input |
| Pin 4 | RA3/MCLR β Input only / Master Clear reset (active low) |
| Pin 5 | RA2 β Bidirectional I/O / CLC output / ADC input |
| Pin 6 | RA1/ICSPCLK β Bidirectional I/O / ICSP clock / CWG output |
| Pin 7 | RA0/ICSPDAT β Bidirectional I/O / ICSP data / ADC input |
| Pin 8 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin EP | EPAD β Exposed thermal pad - tie to VSS for thermal dissipation |
Typical Applications
PIC12LF1501-I/MC is suitable for 6 applications: Coin-Cell IoT Sensor Node, LED Lighting Controller, Remote Control / IR Transmitter, Battery Charger / Monitor, Fan / Motor Speed Controller, Consumer Handheld Device Logic.
Coin-Cell IoT Sensor Node
The PIC12LF1501-I/MC is well suited for battery-powered IoT sensor nodes operating from a single CR2032 coin cell. Its 1.8V minimum VIN enables deeper discharge than 2.3V-only MCUs, while the 20 nA sleep current allows duty-cycled wake/sleep operation for years on a single cell. The 10-bit ADC with 4 channels reads temperature, light, or analog sensors, and the 6 I/O pins drive a low-power RF transmitter or LoRa module via bit-banged SPI. The 8-DFN footprint (6 mm^2) lets the entire sensor node fit inside a CR2032 holder footprint.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller
The PIC12LF1501-I/MC's enhanced PWM module with up to 3 outputs, plus the complementary waveform generator (CWG) and numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) peripherals, make it an excellent LED lighting controller. The CWG can generate complementary PWM outputs for driving a half-bridge LED driver or buck converter without external logic. Combined with the 10-bit ADC for ambient-light feedback and 6 I/O for status LEDs and button input, the device replaces several discrete components. The wide 1.8-3.6V range supports 2xAA battery-powered decorative LED strips.
Recommended
Remote Control / IR Transmitter
The PIC12LF1501-I/MC is ideal for IR remote controls and wireless key-fob transmitters where standby current dominates battery life. Its 20 nA sleep current allows a CR2032 to last the shelf life of the product, while the CWG peripheral can generate 38 kHz carrier waveforms for IR modulation without CPU overhead. The 6 I/O pins accommodate a 4x3 matrix keypad or 6 individual buttons. The 1.8V minimum VIN lets the device operate reliably down to the battery's end-of-life voltage.
Recommended
Battery Charger / Monitor
Use the PIC12LF1501-I/MC as a single-cell lithium or NiMH charger controller. The 10-bit ADC monitors battery voltage, charge current (via sense resistor), and temperature (via NTC thermistor), while the PWM drives a switching element or linear regulator. The CLC peripheral implements state-machine logic for CC/CV charging profiles in hardware, freeing the CPU for display and safety checks. The 8-DFN package fits inside the battery compartment of handheld devices.
Recommended
Fan / Motor Speed Controller
The PIC12LF1501-I/MC controls small DC fans or brushless DC motors using the enhanced PWM for speed regulation and the CWG for synchronous rectification timing. The 20 MHz instruction rate provides tight feedback loops (sub-100 us cycle time) for tachometer-based closed-loop speed control. The 10-bit ADC reads back-EMF or Hall-sensor signals for sensorless or sensored BLDC commutation. Low sleep current suits battery-powered cooling fans in laptops or portable equipment.
Recommended
Consumer Handheld Device Logic
The PIC12LF1501-I/MC serves as a low-cost user-interface controller in consumer handhelds such as toys, personal care devices, and electronic wearables. Its 6 I/O drive button matrices, status LEDs, and haptic feedback elements; the 10-bit ADC reads capacitive touch or potentiometer inputs. The compact 8-DFN package (2x3 mm) integrates into space-constrained wearable designs, and 1.8V operation supports direct Li-ion battery connection without an LDO.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC12LF1501-I/MC β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC12F1501-I/MC | PIC12LF1501-E/MC | PIC12LF1501T-I/MC | PIC12LF1552-I/MC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 8-DFN (2x3 mm) | 8-DFN (2x3 mm) - same | 8-DFN (2x3 mm) - same | 8-DFN (2x3 mm) - same | 8-DFN (2x3 mm) - same |
| Program Memory | 1.75 KB Flash | 1.75 KB Flash | 1.75 KB Flash | 1.75 KB Flash | 2 KB Flash |
| RAM Size | 64 bytes | 64 bytes | 64 bytes | 64 bytes | 64 bytes |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8V to 3.6V | 2.3V to 5.5V | 1.8V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 3.6V |
| Max CPU Speed | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| I/O Pins | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
Key Differentiators
- Lower minimum operating voltage (1.8V) than the standard F variant (vs PIC12F1501-I/MC)
- Extended temperature grade option in the same 8-DFN footprint (vs PIC12LF1501-E/MC)
- Compact 8-DFN (2x3 mm) footprint vs PDIP-8 and SOIC-8 alternatives (vs PIC12F1501-I/P (PDIP-8))
Design Notes
Estimated: at 20 MHz active from a 3.3V supply, the PIC12LF1501-I/MC consumes approximately 1.8 mA (6 mW). For battery life calculations, the dominant figure is sleep current (~20 nA with WDT off, ~350 nA with WDT on) rather than active current. A typical duty cycle of 0.1 percent (1 ms active per second) yields an average current of about 2 uA, allowing a 220 mAh CR2032 to last over 12 years.
The 8-DFN package has an exposed thermal pad that should be soldered to a ground pad on the PCB for mechanical reliability and thermal dissipation. Although power dissipation in an 8-pin PIC is typically <10 mW, the EPAD solder joint is the primary mechanical anchor - without it the package can crack under thermal stress or board flex. Use at least 4 thermal vias under the pad to the inner ground plane.
Pin 4 (RA3/MCLR) is input-only and serves as the Master Clear reset by default. To use RA3 as a digital input, the MCLRE configuration bit must be cleared in the configuration word - otherwise the pin remains a reset input. Also note that RA3 lacks the weak pull-up that other I/O pins have, so an external pull-up is required for input-mode use. The ICSP pins (RA0/RA1) double as I/O but should not be loaded heavily during programming.
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 1) with the ground return to the VSS pin (pin 8) via a short, wide trace. For ADC accuracy, add a 10 uF bulk capacitor near the VDD pin if the supply impedance exceeds 1 ohm. Keep analog input traces away from PWM and CWG outputs to minimize crosstalk. The 8-DFN's EPAD provides the shortest ground return - prefer a single ground plane with the EPAD stitched to it.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Lead-free (Pb-free) reflow-compatible. Halogen-free per Microchip's standard 8-pin PIC family. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose PIC12LF1501-E/MC for extended temperature, or contact Microchip for automotive-grade variants.
