PIC12F1501-E/SN - 8-bit MCU, 1.75KB Flash, 20MHz, 8-SOIC | Microchip
MPN: PIC12F1501-E/SN β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.93 | $0.93 |
| 10 | $0.85 | $8.50 |
| 100 | $0.74 | $74.00 |
| 500 | $0.66 | $330.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.58 | $580.00 |
PIC12F1501-E/SN Overview
What is an 8-bit Flash Microcontroller? An 8-bit flash microcontroller is a small, self-contained computer-on-a-chip built around an 8-bit data path and non-volatile flash program memory. Within the broader taxonomy, the PIC12F1501 belongs to the PIC12 family of microcontrollers, which sits inside the PIC (Peripheral Interface Controller) 8-bit product line and the Microchip 8-bit MCU portfolio. It is widely used as a low-pin-count replacement for discrete logic and as a flexible glue-logic or sensor-interface controller.
Key features of this device include automotive-grade qualification per AEC-Q100, brown-out detect (BOR) and power-on reset (POR), a low-power Sleep mode with wake-up on I/O change, an internal 16MHz oscillator (HFINTOSC) selectable from 16 MHz down to 500 kHz, plus enhanced peripherals such as a 5-bit DAC and PWM modules. The combination of CLC and NCO enables the chip to synthesize waveforms and replace simple analog timing blocks without external components.
Internally, the PIC12F1501 uses a RISC-style Harvard architecture with 49 instructions, allowing deterministic single-cycle execution at 20MHz. The internal oscillator factory calibration supports USB-friendly 16MHz operation for low-speed bit-banged interfaces. With eXtreme Low Power (XLP) technology at the family level, the device can drop to nanowatt-level Sleep currents.
Typical applications include LED lighting controllers, sensor signal conditioning, battery-management front-ends, automotive body and accessory modules, and consumer white-goods user-interface logic. Its AEC-Q100 grade makes it equally suited to under-hood and cabin subsystems where reliability matters.
When designing in this MCU, leave VDD/VSS decoupling as close as possible to the pins (100nF plus 10uF bulk), respect the ICSP programming pinout (ICSPCLK/ICSPDAT on RA0/RA1), and use the CLC/NCO peripherals to consolidate external glue logic. Note that the -E temperature grade extends to +125C, suitable for industrial and automotive use.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives (PIC12F1501-I/SN, PIC12F1501T-E/SN, PIC12F1501T-I/SN, PIC12LF1501-E/SN, PIC12F1822-I/SN), and practical design considerations you will not find condensed in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC12F1501-E/SN 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 PIC12F1501-E/SN (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, Maximum CPU Speed, Operating Temperature, Timers, ADC.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC12F1501-I/SN
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12F1501T-E/SN
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12F1501T-I/SN
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12F1501-E/P
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$0.92 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC12LF1501-I/SN
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12F1822-I/SN
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$0.85 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC12F617-I/SN
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12F1501-E/SN Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | PIC |
| Core Size | 8-bit |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle | 200 ns |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 1.75 KB (1K x 14 words) |
| Data EEPROM | 64 bytes |
| RAM | 64 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 6 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 4 channels |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (E - Extended) |
| Package | 8-pin SOIC (SN, 3.90 mm body) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| AEC-Q100 Grade | Qualified (automotive grade per datasheets.com) |
| Peripherals | BOR, POR, PWM, WDT, CLC, NCO, 5-bit DAC, HFINTOSC |
| Programming/Debug | ICSP via PICkit 3 / MPLAB ICD 3 (external debug header AC244051/AC244052) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (lead-free SOIC package) |
PIC12F1501-E/SN Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA3/VPP/MCLR β Digital I/O / Master Clear (reset) input / ICSP programming voltage |
| Pin 2 | RA0/ICSPDAT/AN0 β Digital I/O / ICSP data / analog input channel 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/ICSPCLK/AN1 β Digital I/O / ICSP clock / analog input channel 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/T0CKI/INT β Digital I/O / analog input channel 2 / Timer0 clock input / external interrupt |
| Pin 5 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/AN3/CLKOUT β Digital I/O / analog input channel 3 / Fosc/4 clock output |
| Pin 7 | RA5/CLCIN3/T1CKI/CLKIN β Digital I/O / CLC input 3 / Timer1 clock input / external clock input |
| Pin 8 | VDD β Positive power supply (2.5V to 5.5V) |
Typical Applications
PIC12F1501-E/SN is suitable for 7 applications: Automotive Body and Lighting Modules, LED Lighting and Backlight Drivers, Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes, Glue-Logic and Discrete Replacement, Industrial Sensor Conditioning, White-Goods and Consumer User Interface, Automotive Sensor Conditioning.
Automotive Body and Lighting Modules
The PIC12F1501-E/SN fits automotive body controllers because of its AEC-Q100 qualification, -40C to +125C extended range, and 6 I/O pins. Use it to drive LED tail-light strings, read rain-light sensor analog inputs via the 10-bit ADC (up to 4 channels), and sequence relays with the 5-bit DAC. The 20MHz core and 1.75KB of flash comfortably handle LIN-like bit-banged protocol stacks or simple CAN-tail logic. Its 2.5V-5.5V input range aligns with 12V-battery-tolerant 5V rails, and brown-out detect handles cold-crank voltage dips below 6V. Compared with a discrete 555-timer-based design, this part integrates POR, BOR, watchdog timer and CLC logic replacement in a single 8-pin SOIC, reducing BOM cost and board area.
Recommended
LED Lighting and Backlight Drivers
Use the PIC12F1501-E/SN to build compact constant-current LED drivers and backlight controllers where 6 I/O pins are enough for PWM dimming, fault feedback and one-wire control. The 20MHz core and PWM modules can drive MOSFET gates at multi-hundred-kHz switching frequencies, while the integrated 5-bit DAC sets analog reference currents without external resistors. Its 1.75KB flash stores dimming curves and DMX-like sequences; Sleep mode at nanowatt-level current allows battery-powered decorative lighting. The CLC peripheral can combine PWM and current-sense signals in hardware to offload the CPU and improve response to short-circuit events. Compared with a pure analog driver, this part adds reconfigurable behavior and field firmware updates via ICSP.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes
The PIC12F1501-E/SN is well suited to low-power sensor nodes because Sleep current at nanowatt level and a 64-byte RAM make it viable for coin-cell or 2x AA battery operation. Wake on interrupt, run ADC conversion at 10-bit resolution on up to 4 channels, store samples in the 64-byte EEPROM, and return to Sleep - all within a 1.75KB flash budget. The 20MHz core wakes fast enough for periodic one-wire or I2C-bit-banged sensor reads. Compared with a discrete op-amp + comparator solution, the PIC12F1501-E/SN reduces quiescent current by an order of magnitude and lets firmware be updated in the field through ICSP without removing the battery.
Recommended
Glue-Logic and Discrete Replacement
The PIC12F1501-E/SN is widely used as a one-chip replacement for 74HC00-series glue logic in compact products, with the CLC and NCO peripherals synthesizing complex timing without external gates. Two CLC blocks can implement AND/OR/XOR flip-flop combinations in hardware, freeing CPU cycles and reducing pin count. The NCO generates precision frequency or PWM up to MHz rates directly from the 20MHz instruction clock. A typical use is debouncing 3-4 inputs, generating a multi-channel pulse train, and outputting a fault flag - all in an 8-pin SOIC. Compared with a CPLD, this part offers 100x lower static power, simpler development (MPLAB X), and direct on-chip ADC.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Conditioning
The PIC12F1501-E/SN handles industrial sensor signal conditioning: its 10-bit ADC samples thermistor or strain-gauge bridges on up to 4 channels, while the CLC and 5-bit DAC generate excitation signals for ratiometric measurements. The -40C to +125C range handles outdoor and factory-floor temperatures, and AEC-Q100 improves reliability in vibration-prone installations. Brown-out detect at multiple thresholds protects against inductive load transients on shared 24V rails. Compared with a dedicated analog front-end, this part adds digital calibration, linearization, and Modbus-friendly UART bit-banging in the same footprint.
Recommended
White-Goods and Consumer User Interface
The PIC12F1501-E/SN powers low-cost capacitive-touch and rotary-encoder user interfaces in white-goods appliances. Its 6 I/O pins drive 4-6 button inputs via the CLC peripheral and read the wake-on-change interrupt; firmware debounces and filters in software while keeping the MCU in Sleep. The 1.75KB flash stores mode/setting state, and the 64-byte EEPROM retains user preferences across power cycles. Compared with a dedicated touch controller, this part adds MCU headroom for driving a small relay or buzzer directly and integrates user-interface, control loop and housekeeping in one 8-pin SOIC.
Recommended
Automotive Sensor Conditioning
The PIC12F1501-E/SN reads automotive analog sensors - MAP, MAF, oil-pressure - via its 10-bit ADC at up to 4 channels, with on-chip CLC providing window-comparator thresholds and NCO generating excitation tones for variable-reluctance sensors. AEC-Q100 grade and -40C to +125C operation cover under-hood and chassis locations. Brown-out detect handles load-dump events on 12V battery rails. Compared with an analog ASIC, this part lets OEMs calibrate each sensor in firmware, log fault codes to the 64-byte EEPROM, and reuse one design across multiple vehicle programs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC12F1501-E/SN β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC12F1501-I/SN | PIC12F1501T-E/SN | PIC12LF1501-I/SN | PIC12F1822-I/SN | PIC12F617-I/SN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | SOIC-8 (SN) | SOIC-8 (SN) - same | SOIC-8 (SN) - same | SOIC-8 (SN) - same | SOIC-8 (SN) - same | SOIC-8 (SN) - same |
| Flash Memory | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB | 3.5 KB | 1.75 KB |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 32 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (E) | -40 C to +85 C (I) | -40 C to +125 C (E) | -40 C to +85 C (I) | -40 C to +85 C (I) | -40 C to +85 C (I) |
| I/O Pins | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit |
| AEC-Q100 | Qualified (E grade) | Qualified (I grade) | Qualified (E grade) | Qualified (I grade) | Qualified (I grade) | Qualified (I grade) |
Key Differentiators
- Highest temperature grade in the family at the 8-SOIC footprint (vs PIC12F1501-I/SN)
- On-chip CLC and NCO peripherals consolidate external glue logic (vs PIC12F617-I/SN)
- Code-compatible upgrade path with hardware UART/SPI/I2C in same package (vs PIC12F1822-I/SN)
Design Notes
Place a 100nF decoupling capacitor (X7R) within 1-2mm of the VDD pin (pin 8), and add a 10uF bulk capacitor (X5R or tantalum) on the same rail near the IC. The 8-pin SOIC has very short lead lengths, so any inductance in VDD can cause brown-out resets during PWM transients. The VSS pin (pin 5) should connect directly to a low-impedance ground pour. Keep ICSP traces (RA0/RA1) short and avoid routing high-current signals across them.
Pin 1 (RA3) doubles as MCLR/VPP. If the design does not need external reset, tie MCLR to VDD through a 10k resistor and add a 100nF cap to ground for noise filtering - do not leave RA3 floating, or the part may randomly enter reset or fail ICSP programming. When ICSP is used in-circuit, ensure the RA0/RA1 lines are not loaded by >5k to ground or >1nF to ground during programming, or the tool will fail to talk to the device.
Use the internal HFINTOSC (16 MHz factory-calibrated) for most applications to avoid external crystal cost and PCB area. Software-selectable frequencies from 16 MHz down to 500 kHz allow trading off throughput for current. For ADC accuracy above 1 LSB at 10 bits, switch to the FRC oscillator dedicated to the ADC or use Sleep during conversion. Brown-out detect should always be enabled for automotive and battery applications to prevent EEPROM corruption during voltage dips.
If the PIC12F1501-E/SN is driving a switching load (MOSFET gate, relay coil), keep the switching node at least 5mm away from the analog ADC inputs (RA0-RA4). Place a ground guard ring around the analog pins to avoid digital switching noise coupling into the 10-bit ADC. For AEC-Q100 designs, follow IPC-9592 power-conversion derating guidelines for any inductive loads, and use TVS diodes on connectors. The exposed die is on the underside; no thermal copper pad is needed for an 8-pin SOIC at typical 5mA loads.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page and distributor parametric data. AEC-Q100 qualification cited in datasheets.com parametric listing (note: datasheets.com is a third-party parametric aggregator; final system-level qualification is the OEM's responsibility). Lead-free SOIC package confirmed by the "-SN" suffix and Microchip product page. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in verified web data.
