PIC16F1459-E/SS - 8-bit USB MCU, 48MHz, 14KB Flash, 20-SSOP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F1459-E/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.81 | $2.81 |
| 10 | $2.65 | $26.50 |
| 100 | $2.32 | $232.00 |
| 500 | $2.04 | $1,020.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.78 | $1,780.00 |
PIC16F1459-E/SS Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a programmable integrated circuit that combines a CPU, memory, and peripherals on a single die, designed for embedded control tasks where deterministic real-time response, low power, and simple firmware development outweigh raw throughput. PIC microcontrollers sit within the broader hierarchy of microcontrollers -> embedded processors -> semiconductors, and the PIC16F1459 family specifically bridges the entry-level PIC10/12/16 baseline range with the more capable PIC18 and PIC32 lines by adding USB connectivity and high-endurance Flash.
Key features include a Universal Serial Bus 2.0 module with on-chip clock recovery from the USB host, eliminating the need for an external crystal on USB applications; 128 bytes of non-volatile data EEPROM with high-endurance Flash; 2 standalone 10-bit PWM modules; a 5-bit DAC; 10-bit ADC; and Microchip's eXtreme Low Power (XLP) technology for sleep currents in the microamp range. The device supports in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) and in-circuit debugging via two debug pins.
Architecturally, the PIC16F1459 uses an enhanced mid-range 8-bit RISC core with single-cycle execution except for program branches, automatic context saving on interrupts, and a unified 16-bit instruction word. The internal oscillator is factory-calibrated to ±1% across 2.3V to 5.5V and -40C to +125C, removing the typical external resonator bill of materials. USB operation uses an internal 48MHz PLL with clock recovery from the host SOF packets, which is the most distinctive architectural feature of this part.
Typical applications include low-cost USB peripherals such as HID input devices, CDC serial bridges, and USB-to-UART adapters; human-interface consumer products like keyboards, mice, and game controllers; industrial USB sensor interfaces; USB charging controllers for portable devices; and embedded learning platforms where USB connectivity and 5V tolerance are required.
When designing with this MCU, note that the USB module requires specific PCB layout practices: route D+/D- as a 90-ohm differential pair with matched length, place the VBUS sense resistor network close to the connector, and use a ferrite bead on VBUS to suppress inrush transients. The internal 48MHz oscillator is sufficient for USB but PLL jitter can affect radio-frequency-sensitive analog sections.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in pin-compatible alternatives from the same PIC16F145x family and cross-brand ATmega/STM32 substitutes, and practical design notes covering USB layout and low-power modes not typically repeated on basic product listings.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F1459-E/SS — 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 PIC16F1459-E/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, I/O Pins, Package, Data EEPROM, MSL Level.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1459-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1459T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1455-I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1454-E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.32 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1458-I/P
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1459-E/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | PIC PIC® XLP™ 16F |
| Core | Enhanced Mid-Range 8-bit |
| Instruction Set | 49 instructions |
| Stack Levels | 16 |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB (8K x 14 words) |
| RAM | 1 KB (1K x 8) |
| Data EEPROM | 128 B non-volatile |
| I/O Pins | 18 (shared with peripherals) |
| Supply Voltage | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (Extended) |
| USB Module | USB 2.0 Full-Speed with clock recovery from host |
| Internal Oscillator | 48 MHz, factory calibrated |
| ADC | 10-bit |
| DAC | 5-bit |
| PWM Modules | 2 x 10-bit standalone |
| Package | 20-pin SSOP (5.30 mm body width) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited floor life at <30C / 85% RH) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Programming Interface | ICSP / ICD via PGC/PGD pins |
PIC16F1459-E/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA3/MCLR/VPP — Master Clear (Reset) / ICSP programming voltage |
| Pin 2 | RA5/AN4/T1CKI/CLCIN1 — GPIO RA5 / analog input AN4 / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 3 | RA4/AN3/T1G — GPIO RA4 / analog input AN3 / Timer1 gate |
| Pin 4 | RA1/AN1/ICSPDAT — GPIO RA1 / analog input AN1 / ICSP data |
| Pin 5 | RA0/AN0/ICSPCLK — GPIO RA0 / analog input AN0 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 6 | RA2/AN2 — GPIO RA2 / analog input AN2 |
| Pin 7 | VDD — Positive supply (2.3V to 5.5V) |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | RB7/C1IN2-/SCK/SCL — GPIO RB7 / comparator input / SPI SCK / I2C SCL |
| Pin 10 | RB6/C1IN1+/SDI/SDA — GPIO RB6 / comparator input / SPI SDI / I2C SDA |
| Pin 11 | RB5/AN11/DAC1OUT2 — GPIO RB5 / analog AN11 / DAC1 output 2 |
| Pin 12 | RB4/AN10/DAC1OUT1 — GPIO RB4 / analog AN10 / DAC1 output 1 |
| Pin 13 | RC2/P1D — GPIO RC2 / PWM1 output D |
| Pin 14 | RC1/P1C — GPIO RC1 / PWM1 output C |
| Pin 15 | RC4/D-/P2B — USB D- / GPIO RC4 / PWM2 output B |
| Pin 16 | RC5/D+/P2A — USB D+ / GPIO RC5 / PWM2 output A |
| Pin 17 | RC6/AN8 — GPIO RC6 / analog input AN8 |
| Pin 18 | RC7/AN9 — GPIO RC7 / analog input AN9 |
| Pin 19 | RC0/P1B — GPIO RC0 / PWM1 output B |
| Pin 20 | VSS — Ground reference |
Typical Applications
PIC16F1459-E/SS is suitable for 6 applications: USB HID Input Devices, USB-to-UART Serial Bridge, USB Charging Controller / Power Bank, Industrial USB Sensor Interface, USB LED Lighting Controller, USB Consumer Game Controller.
USB HID Input Devices
The PIC16F1459-E/SS is ideal for USB HID devices such as keyboards, mice, game controllers, and barcode scanners because its integrated USB 2.0 full-speed module performs on-chip clock recovery from the USB host, eliminating the 12MHz external crystal required by older PIC18 USB MCUs. The 14KB Flash supports HID descriptor tables plus application logic, while the 1KB RAM handles USB endpoint buffers and HID report FIFOs without external memory. The 5.30mm 20-SSOP footprint keeps PCB area small for compact peripherals, and the 2.3V to 5.5V supply range means it can be powered directly from VBUS at 5V without level shifting. The 18 I/O pins handle key matrix scanning, LED indicators, and capacitive touch sensing.
Recommended
USB-to-UART Serial Bridge
Used as a USB-to-UART bridge, the PIC16F1459-E/SS provides CDC-class USB enumeration with full-speed bulk transfer to a hardware UART, replacing legacy RS-232 ports and CP2102/FT232R bridges in industrial and embedded designs. The on-chip clock recovery reduces the BOM to one decoupling capacitor plus the SSOP-20 package - no crystal, no EEPROM. The enhanced mid-range core delivers 48 MIPS which more than handles 921600 baud UART forwarding with a software ring buffer. The 5V tolerance on the I/O pins lets the device communicate directly with 5V TTL logic without level shifters, while the 128B EEPROM stores user-configurable baud rate and VID/PID pairs.
Recommended
USB Charging Controller / Power Bank
The PIC16F1459-E/SS serves as the USB charging controller in portable power banks and lithium-ion charging cradles because its USB module can enumerate as a dedicated charging port (DCP) or provide a charging-status feedback path. The 10-bit ADC accurately monitors battery voltage, charging current, and thermistor temperature, while the 5-bit DAC generates reference voltages for the battery-management loop. The MCU's eXtreme Low Power (XLP) sleep mode draws nanoamp-class quiescent current when the device is idle, extending shelf life. The 20-SSOP package fits in compact 18650 power bank housings with minimal PCB area.
Recommended
Industrial USB Sensor Interface
In factory automation and process-control sensors, the PIC16F1459-E/SS converts analog sensor outputs to a USB-attached digital stream for SCADA or PLC integration. The 10-bit ADC handles 4-20mA current-loop sensors via a shunt resistor, while the USB full-speed module provides 12 Mbps isolated telemetry back to a host PC or panel meter. The -40C to +125C extended temperature range matches industrial cabinet requirements without active cooling, and the 2.3V to 5.5V supply matches both 3.3V logic and 5V USB rails. The 128B EEPROM stores calibration constants and per-channel configuration that survives power cycles.
Recommended
USB LED Lighting Controller
The PIC16F1459-E/SS controls USB-driven LED strips, architectural lighting fixtures, and DMX-over-USB bridges by using its 2 standalone 10-bit PWM modules and a 5-bit DAC to generate color-mixed dimming signals. The USB CDC interface accepts lighting commands from a host PC or tablet application, while the enhanced mid-range core processes color-curve interpolation and gamma correction in real time. The compact 20-SSOP footprint fits inside USB dongle form factors, and the 5V USB bus power drives both the MCU and the LED load through a MOSFET driver. The 14KB Flash accommodates DMX-512 protocol stacks and per-pixel WS2812 bit-banging.
Recommended
USB Consumer Game Controller
The PIC16F1459-E/SS is widely deployed in USB game pads, joystick adapters, and arcade controllers because its USB HID stack enumerates natively on Windows, macOS, Linux, and most consoles in HID mode without custom drivers. The 18 I/O pins handle D-pad buttons, ABXY face buttons, shoulder triggers, and dual analog joysticks via integrated ADC channels, while the 48MHz core debounces inputs at <2ms latency. The USB bus-powered design eliminates batteries, and the 20-SSOP package fits inside compact controller enclosures. The 128B EEPROM stores per-game button mappings and trigger calibration.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F1459-E/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1459-I/SS | PIC16F1459T-I/SS | PIC16F1455-I/SS | PIC16F1454-E/P | PIC16F1458-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-SSOP | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same |
| Core | Enhanced mid-range 8-bit | Enhanced mid-range 8-bit | Enhanced mid-range 8-bit | Enhanced mid-range 8-bit | Enhanced mid-range 8-bit | Enhanced mid-range 8-bit |
| Max Clock | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz |
| Flash Program Memory | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 8 KB | 14 KB |
| RAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 512 B | 1 KB |
| EEPROM | 128 B | 128 B | 128 B | 128 B | 128 B | 128 B |
| USB Module | Yes (FS, clock recovery) | Yes (FS, clock recovery) | Yes (FS, clock recovery) | Yes (FS, clock recovery) | Yes (FS, clock recovery) | Yes (FS, clock recovery) |
| Temperature Grade | Extended (-40C to +125C) | Industrial (-40C to +85C) | Industrial (-40C to +85C) | Industrial (-40C to +85C) | Extended (-40C to +125C) | Industrial (-40C to +85C) |
| I/O Pins | 18 | 18 | 18 | 12 | 9 | 17 |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated USB clock recovery - no external crystal required (vs PIC18F14K50)
- Lowest-cost PIC16 with USB 2.0 full-speed (vs PIC16F1455-I/SS)
- Extended temperature range up to +125C (vs PIC16F1459-I/SS)
Design Notes
Route the USB D+ (RC5) and D- (RC4) signals as a 90-ohm differential pair with matched trace lengths to within 150 mils (3.8mm). Place the ferrite bead on VBUS within 5mm of the USB connector, with a 1uF ceramic decoupling capacitor on the MCU side of the bead. Keep digital signals away from the D+/D- pair by at least 2x the trace-to-trace spacing to avoid crosstalk into the USB eye pattern. Per the Microchip PIC16F1459 datasheet layout guidance, the SSOP-20 exposed lead frame is also used for thermal relief - ensure at least 100 mm^2 of copper pour on the VSS pins.
The PIC16F1459-E/SS draws approximately 10 mA active at 48MHz with USB enumeration active. Use a single 100 nF X7R decoupling capacitor within 3mm of the VDD pin, plus a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic capacitor on the same supply rail. If the design supplies power from a high-impedance source (e.g. 5V USB through a ferrite bead), verify the inrush current does not cause VDD droop below 2.3V during USB enumeration. The MCP16252 boost converter is recommended for applications running below 3.0V supply.
The internal 48MHz oscillator is factory-calibrated to ±1% across the full voltage and temperature range, but the USB module's clock recovery requires the device to be in active mode - dropping to sleep mode during USB suspend loses the synchronization, so use the USB-defined suspend state to satisfy USB 2.0 suspend current requirements (less than 2.5 mA average). Do not omit the 1uF VBUS bulk capacitor or the device will fail USB compliance testing. Do not connect the MCLR pin directly to VDD without a 10k pull-up resistor - the ICSP programming voltage needs to be applied externally.
Estimated: at maximum active current of 10 mA, VDD = 5V, and 48MHz CPU load, the PIC16F1459-E/SS dissipates 50 mW into the 20-SSOP package (theta_JA approximately 90 C/W on a standard 2-layer JEDEC test board). At room temperature of 25C, the junction rises to 30C - well within the 150C absolute maximum. For industrial applications running at 85C ambient, the junction reaches 90C, leaving comfortable margin. No external heatsink is required. Note: do not insert code in 100% tight loops without enabling the WDT or sleep - while the device is robust, prolonged high-temperature operation reduces long-term reliability.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page; lead-free SSOP-20 package; not AEC-Q100 qualified (use automotive-grade PIC16F1459 variants under different suffixes for AEC-Q100).
