PIC12LF1552T-I/SN - 8-bit MCU, 3.5KB Flash, 32MHz, 8-SOIC | Microchip
MPN: PIC12LF1552T-I/SN ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.71 | $1.71 |
| 10 | $1.61 | $16.10 |
| 100 | $1.43 | $143.00 |
| 500 | $1.28 | $640.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.14 | $1,140.00 |
PIC12LF1552T-I/SN Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a small computer-on-a-chip that integrates a CPU, program memory (Flash/ROM), data memory (RAM), and peripherals such as timers, ADC, and communication interfaces into a single IC. The PIC12LF1552 belongs to the enhanced mid-range PIC12 architecture with the x14 instruction set (49 instructions, 200 ns instruction execution at 20 MHz). This category sits within the broader hierarchy of microcontrollers -> embedded processors -> semiconductors -> integrated circuits, and is widely used in low-power, cost-sensitive, pin-constrained designs.
Key features of this device include 6 I/O pins, an internal 16 MHz oscillator, a 10-bit ADC with up to 4 channels, mTouch capacitive-touch sensing peripherals, an 8-bit timer with prescaler, and wide 1.8V to 3.6V operating voltage supporting both LF and HV (PIC12HV1552) variants. The 32 MHz operation is achieved via the internal oscillator or an external crystal, and the device supports in-circuit serial programming (ICSP).
Technically, the PIC12LF1552 implements Microchip's enhanced mid-range 8-bit core with a 14-bit instruction word, 16-level hardware stack with overflow/underflow reset, automatic interrupt context saving, and direct/indirect/relative addressing modes. The on-chip peripherals are mapped through Peripheral Pin Select (PPS)-like fixed mappings, and the device integrates a temperature indicator, eeprom emulation in flash, and low-power sleep modes typical of the PIC12F family.
Typical applications include capacitive touch buttons, sliders and proximity sensors, low-cost remote controls, LED lighting controllers, battery-powered sensor nodes, and small home-appliance user interfaces. The combination of low pin count (8-pin), low voltage operation, mTouch peripheral support, and small Flash footprint makes it ideal for replacing electromechanical switches with solid-state touch interfaces.
When designing with this device, ensure decoupling capacitors (100 nF and 10 uF) are placed close to VDD, follow Microchip's mTouch layout guidelines for touch electrodes, and verify supply ramp timing for brown-out reset behavior. Programming can be performed via ICSP using Microchip's MPLAB X IDE and PICkit programmers.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, same-package drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes drawn from Microchip's published PIC12LF1552 datasheet, complementing the standard datasheet content with engineer-focused selection guidance.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC12LF1552T-I/SN — 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 PIC12LF1552T-I/SN (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, ADC, MSL Level, RAM.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC12LF1552-I/SN
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12LF1552-E/SN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12LF1501T-I/SN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12LF1552T-I/SN Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC 8-bit enhanced mid-range (x14) |
| Family | PIC12F |
| Program Memory Size | 3.5 KB Flash (2K x 14) |
| RAM Size | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz |
| Instruction Execution | 200 ns at 20 MHz |
| Number of I/O Pins | 6 |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 4 channels |
| Internal Oscillator | 16 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial, 'I') |
| Package | 8-SOIC (SN) 3.9 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited floor life at <30 C / 85% RH) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
| Programming Interface | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) |
PIC12LF1552T-I/SN Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA3/MCLR/VPP — Digital I/O / Master Clear (reset) input / programming voltage |
| Pin 2 | RA5/OSC1/CLKIN — Digital I/O / Timer0 gate / crystal oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 3 | RA4/OSC2/CLKOUT — Digital I/O / Timer1 gate / crystal oscillator output / clock output |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/T0CKI — Digital I/O / analog channel 2 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 5 | RA1/AN1/ICSPCLK — Digital I/O / analog channel 1 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 6 | RA0/AN0/ICSPDAT — Digital I/O / analog channel 0 / ICSP data |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8V to 3.6V) |
Typical Applications
PIC12LF1552T-I/SN is suitable for 6 applications: Capacitive Touch Button Replacement, Low-Cost LED Lighting Controller, Battery-Powered Sensor Node, Remote Control Handset, Small Home Appliance User Interface, Toys and Hobby Electronics.
Capacitive Touch Button Replacement
Replacing mechanical push-buttons with solid-state touch sensors is the primary target use case for the PIC12LF1552T-I/SN. The on-chip mTouch peripheral supports up to 6 capacitive sense channels on the 6 available I/O pins, with hardware-driven measurement and water-rejection algorithms available through Microchip's firmware libraries. The 32 MHz CPU runs the touch-scan firmware and any UI state machine within ~1 ms scan windows; the 10-bit ADC supports proximity sensing at ranges up to 10 cm when paired with large guard electrodes. Designers can drop the device directly onto a 1.8-3.6V battery rail, eliminating the boost converter that often drives alternative capacitive touch ICs.
Recommended
Low-Cost LED Lighting Controller
Single-channel and RGB LED controllers for accent, under-cabinet, and decorative lighting are well-served by the PIC12LF1552T-I/SN. Its 32 MHz MIPS throughput supports 8-bit PWM dimming at 1 kHz rates without flicker, and the 1.8-3.6V supply matches 2xAA battery packs or 3.3V regulated rails from AC adapters. The 10-bit ADC can read an ambient light sensor to enable automatic brightness control, while the small SOIC-8 footprint keeps the BOM compact. Compared to dedicated LED-driver ICs, this part allows custom fade curves and user-defined color blending via firmware.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Node
Wireless sensor endpoints for temperature, humidity, contact, or simple occupancy monitoring can be built around the PIC12LF1552T-I/SN. The device's 1.8V minimum VDD enables direct connection to depleted-but-usable 2xAA cells, while sleep-mode currents in the sub-microamp range extend battery life for years. The 10-bit ADC reads analog sensors such as NTC thermistors or LDR light sensors; the 3.5 KB Flash holds TinyOS-style stack or simple custom protocols. Pairing with a sub-GHz or BLE module via UART/SPI keeps the BOM under $3 for high-volume IoT deployments.
Recommended
Remote Control Handset
Infrared or RF remote controls for TVs, set-top boxes, fans, and small appliances are a classic PIC12LF1552T-I/SN application. The 6 I/O pins comfortably handle a 4x3 key matrix plus an IR or 433 MHz transmitter output, and the 32 MHz clock is fast enough to generate precise IR carrier frequencies (36-40 kHz typical). Low-voltage operation supports single-cell CR2032 coin-cell remotes, while the 8-SOIC's small footprint enables sub-30 mm PCB designs. Microchip's IR firmware libraries accelerate protocol implementation for NEC, RC5, and SIRC codes.
Recommended
Small Home Appliance User Interface
Coffee makers, blenders, irons, and kitchen timers use the PIC12LF1552T-I/SN to drive a small touch panel or 7-segment LED display with a few capacitive buttons. The 6 I/O pins can drive multiplexed LED segments plus a couple of switches, while the 10-bit ADC reads resistive sensors such as temperature probes. The industrial temperature range (-40 C to +85 C) tolerates under-cabinet or appliance-internal thermal stress. Compared to dedicated UI controllers, the PIC12LF1552T-I/SN allows OEMs to consolidate glue logic and UI handling on a single chip.
Recommended
Toys and Hobby Electronics
Educational kits, robotic toys, and hobbyist projects leverage the PIC12LF1552T-I/SN's combination of low cost (~$1.14 at 1k pieces), DIP-friendly SOIC-8 footprint, and Microchip's free MPLAB X IDE toolchain. The 3.5 KB Flash accommodates BASIC or C interpreters for educational use; the 256 bytes RAM supports small interactive programs. The mTouch peripheral enables simple touch interfaces on student-built projects without external components, while the ICSP interface supports in-circuit programming with inexpensive PICkit debuggers.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC12LF1552T-I/SN — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC12LF1552-I/SN | PIC12LF1552-E/SN | PIC12LF1501T-I/SN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 8-SOIC (SN) | 8-SOIC (SN) - same | 8-SOIC (SN) - same | 8-SOIC (SN) - same |
| Flash Memory | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 1.75 KB |
| RAM | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 64 B |
| Maximum Clock | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| ADC | 10-bit, 4 ch | 10-bit, 4 ch | 10-bit, 4 ch | 10-bit, 4 ch |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (I) | -40 C to +85 C (I) | -40 C to +125 C (E) | -40 C to +85 C (I) |
| Approx 1k Price (USD) | 1.14 | 1.14 | 1.20 | 0.95 |
Key Differentiators
- On-chip mTouch peripheral with up to 6 touch channels (vs PIC12LF1501T-I/SN)
- Larger Flash and RAM budget than sibling PIC12F1501 (vs PIC12LF1501T-I/SN)
- Drop-in SOIC-8 footprint across temperature grades (vs PIC12LF1552T-I/MU (MSOP))
Design Notes
Decouple VDD (pin 8) with both a 100 nF ceramic and a 10 uF tantalum/ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the IC, returning directly to VSS (pin 7). For battery applications on coin cells, add a 100 uF bulk capacitor to handle the inrush current when transmitting on a connected radio. Brown-out reset (BOR) should be enabled in configuration bits to prevent code corruption during battery droop below 1.8V.
Follow Microchip's mTouch layout guidelines for capacitive touch designs: route sense traces as short as possible, surround them with a hatched ground pour connected to VSS, and avoid routing noisy signals (PWM, switching) parallel to sense traces. The guard ring should be driven by the same firmware routine as the sense electrode and connected via a separate GPIO. Avoid soldermask over the touch electrodes; open the soldermask opening for proper capacitive coupling.
Do not assume the PIC12LF1552T-I/SN is pin-compatible with the PIC12HV1552 - the HV variant requires a different supply voltage range (3.6V+) and may damage the LF part if misapplied. Always configure the MCLR pin as MCLR (not as RA3) for reliable reset unless you intentionally want a digital-only pin; an unconfigured MCLR can float and cause intermittent resets. The internal oscillator trim should be calibrated at 3V and the operating temperature for accurate UART baud rates.
The PIC12LF1552T-I/SN uses Microchip's ICSP protocol on pins RA0 (ICSPDAT) and RA1 (ICSPCLK), with VPP on RA3/MCLR. Use a PICkit 3, PICkit 4, MPLAB SNAP, or compatible third-party programmer with MPLAB X IDE or MPLAB IPE for firmware loading. Debugging requires a header with ICSPCLK, ICSPDAT, VDD, VSS, and VPP - the SOIC-8 footprint supports debug headers from Tag-Connect or custom PCBs. Configuration bits must include WDTE disabled (for touch apps), BOR enabled, and LVP disabled if using MCLR as reset.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; for automotive, evaluate PIC16F or PIC18 AEC-Q100 alternatives.
