PIC12F1501T-I/MU - 8-bit MCU, 1.75KB Flash, 20MHz, 8-UDFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC12F1501T-I/MU ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.18 | $1.18 |
| 10 | $1.06 | $10.60 |
| 100 | $0.94 | $94.00 |
| 500 | $0.84 | $420.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.74 | $740.00 |
PIC12F1501T-I/MU Overview
What is an 8-bit PIC microcontroller? An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer built around an 8-bit data-path CPU, on-chip Flash for program storage, RAM for data, and a fixed set of peripherals such as ADC, timers and communication modules. The PIC12F1501 belongs to the PIC® 12F family from Microchip, which sits at the entry-level of the PIC taxonomy: PIC10F -> PIC12F -> PIC16F -> PIC18F -> PIC24 -> dsPIC33, ranging from 6-pin minimal parts up to high-performance 16-bit Digital Signal Controllers. Within the power management and embedded hierarchy, PIC12F1501 fits as a small-footprint microcontroller for sensor conditioning, LED driving and logic replacement in industrial, automotive and consumer products.
Key features include 1.75 KB self-programmable Flash with 32-year data retention, 64 B SRAM, four 10-bit ADC channels with hardware Capacitive Voltage Divider (CVD) support, one 5-bit DAC, two CLC blocks that implement combinational/sequential logic without external gates, a 20 MHz internal oscillator and one enhanced PWM module with complementary outputs and dead-band control. Interrupt-driven peripherals and a hardware NCO provide deterministic timing for lighting, motor-control and signal-generation tasks.
The PIC12F1501 uses an enhanced mid-range 8-bit RISC core (49 instructions, 16-level hardware stack, single-cycle execution except branches), fabricated on Microchip's proprietary CMOS process. The CLC and NCO blocks offload logic and frequency synthesis from the CPU, enabling deterministic analog and timing behaviour without burning core cycles. The CVD-capable ADC enables robust touch and proximity sensing in noisy environments.
Typical applications include LED lighting effect controllers, small BLDC fan drivers, capacitive touch user interfaces, sensor signal conditioning, battery-powered IoT endpoints and automotive interior LED dimming. The 6 I/O pins plus internal peripherals allow a complete product to be built with very few external components.
When designing with this part, allocate one I/O for ICSPDAT and one for ICSPCLK to retain in-circuit serial programming in production. Use the internal 16 MHz HFINTOSC with the PLL to reach 32 MHz operation, and pair the CVD-capable ADC with the CLC for low-power capacitive touch sensing. Verify the 8-UDFN thermal pad land pattern against the manufacturer reference design to meet the 2.3 V minimum VDD requirement reliably at full 20 MHz.
This page combines distributor pricing, drop-in alternative coverage, and practical design considerations that are not consolidated on any single manufacturer page, giving engineers a single source for selecting, sourcing and validating the PIC12F1501T-I/MU.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC12F1501T-I/MU — 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 PIC12F1501T-I/MU (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Core Processor, I/O Pins, MSL Level.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC12F1501T-I/MC
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12LF1501T-I/MU
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12F1501T-I/MS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1503-I/MU
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12F1501T-I/SN
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC10F322-I/MC
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.52 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F617T-I/MF
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12F1501T-I/MU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | PIC12 (enhanced mid-range 8-bit RISC) |
| Core Size | 8-bit |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 1.75 KB (1K x 14 words) |
| Data SRAM | 64 B |
| I/O Pins | 6 |
| ADC | 4 channels x 10-bit |
| DAC | 1 channel x 5-bit |
| Configurable Logic Cells (CLC) | 2 |
| Enhanced PWM Channels | 1 (with complementary outputs and dead-band) |
| NCO (Numerically Controlled Oscillator) | 1 |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| Package | 8-UDFN (2 mm x 3 mm) Exposed Pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 (per JEDEC J-STD-020) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Programming Interface | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) |
PIC12F1501T-I/MU Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/ICSPDAT/AN0/C1IN+/DACOUT — GPIO RA0 / ICSP data / ADC channel 0 / comparator non-inverting / DAC output |
| Pin 2 | RA1/ICSPCLK/AN1/C1IN0-/VREF+ — GPIO RA1 / ICSP clock / ADC channel 1 / comparator input / voltage reference plus |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2/C1OUT — GPIO RA2 / ADC channel 2 / comparator output |
| Pin 4 | RA3/MCLR/VPP — GPIO RA3 / master clear (reset) / programming voltage |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.3 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 7 | RA4/AN3/C1IN1-/PWM2/CLC4IN — GPIO RA4 / ADC channel 3 / comparator input / PWM output 2 / CLC input |
| Pin 8 | RA5/CLKOUT/C2IN+/PWM1 — GPIO RA5 / clock output / comparator input / PWM output 1 |
Typical Applications
PIC12F1501T-I/MU is suitable for 6 applications: LED Lighting Effect Controllers, Capacitive Touch User Interface, Small BLDC Fan and Pump Drivers, Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Automotive Interior LED Dimming, Logic Replacement and Glue Functions.
LED Lighting Effect Controllers
The PIC12F1501T-I/MU fits compact LED lighting designs because its 20 MHz enhanced mid-range core drives the enhanced PWM module with complementary outputs and dead-band control in real time without CPU intervention. The 4-channel 10-bit ADC reads ambient light and temperature sensors, while the 5-bit DAC sets constant-current regulator references, and the NCO generates flicker-free PWM dithering. In a typical 4-LED RGBW strip node, the part's 6 I/O pins handle two PWM channels, one enable and one status LED, leaving the CLC to combine fault inputs without external gates, reducing BOM cost versus an 8-pin PIC10F alternative.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch User Interface
The PIC12F1501T-I/MU is well suited for capacitive touch buttons and sliders because its 10-bit ADC with hardware Capacitive Voltage Divider (CVD) support performs ratiometric touch measurements that reject power-supply noise and temperature drift. The 2 CLC blocks debounce and latch the touch events in hardware, freeing the CPU to enter sleep between scans, while the NCO provides a stable scan-frequency reference. A 4-button touch key pad implemented on this MCU draws under 1 uA average current at 3.3 V, enabling coin-cell operation. The 2 mm x 3 mm 8-UDFN package also fits inside appliance front panels.
Recommended
Small BLDC Fan and Pump Drivers
The PIC12F1501T-I/MU's enhanced PWM with dead-band and complementary outputs drives small 3-phase or single-phase BLDC fans and pumps directly through external gate drivers, while the NCO synthesises the commutation reference frequency with sub-Hz resolution. The 10-bit ADC reads back-EMF or current shunt signals, and the CLC implements hardware commutation timing, allowing the CPU to run housekeeping tasks at 20 MHz. In a 5 V / 200 mA fan controller the part consumes under 3 mA active and drops below 1 uA in sleep, supporting USB or 3.3 V rail-powered designs.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC12F1501T-I/MU's 2.3 V to 5.5 V VDD range covers both single-cell Li-ion and 3.3 V coin-cell rails, while its < 1 uA sleep current with RTC running enables multi-year battery life in intermittent sensing applications. The NCO and CLC offload wake-up timing and event counting from the CPU, allowing the core to remain in deep sleep for 99% of the duty cycle. The 6 I/O pins drive a sensor, an LED indicator and an SPI/I2C peripheral such as a temperature or humidity sensor, while the 4-channel ADC reads analog sensors simultaneously - all in a 2 mm x 3 mm package.
Recommended
Automotive Interior LED Dimming
The PIC12F1501T-I/MU fits interior ambient lighting and backlight dimming because its 20 MHz core and 1.75 KB Flash comfortably store logarithmic dimming curves and fade animations, while the enhanced PWM provides 10-bit brightness resolution at 1 kHz with negligible flicker. The CLCs combine CAN-LIN wake signals with fault inputs in hardware for automotive-grade responsiveness. The 4-channel ADC reads potentiometer or rotary encoder inputs, and the 5-bit DAC generates a reference for constant-current LED drivers. The 8-UDFN package fits inside space-constrained dome-light modules behind the headliner.
Recommended
Logic Replacement and Glue Functions
The PIC12F1501T-I/MU is a strong candidate for replacing discrete 74HC logic glue because its two CLC blocks implement AND/OR/XOR/latch/flip-flop functions in hardware without code, while the NCO generates clock or pulse-train signals independently of CPU activity. Designers can combine this with the 10-bit ADC to add monitoring functions that pure logic ICs cannot perform. A typical 4-board level shifter with fault detection fits into one PIC12F1501T-I/MU, reducing PCB area by 60% versus the discrete equivalent, and the 6 I/O pins cover bidirectional signal routing plus status indication in a 2 mm x 3 mm footprint.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC12F1501T-I/MU — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC12F1501T-I/MC | PIC12LF1501T-I/MU | PIC12F1501T-I/MS | PIC16F1503-I/MU | PIC10F322-I/MC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 8-UDFN (MU) 2x3 mm | 8-DFN (MC) 2x3 mm | 8-UDFN (MU) 2x3 mm - same | 8-MSOP | 8-UDFN (MU) 2x3 mm | 8-DFN (MC) 2x3 mm |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 1.75 KB (1K x 14) | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB | 3.5 KB | 0.875 KB (512 x 14) |
| Data SRAM | 64 B | 64 B | 64 B | 64 B | 128 B | 64 B |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 16 MHz |
| ADC Channels / Resolution | 4 x 10-bit | 4 x 10-bit | 4 x 10-bit | 4 x 10-bit | 8 x 10-bit | 3 x 8-bit |
| CLC Blocks | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| NCO | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
Key Differentiators
- Built-in CLC and NCO peripherals eliminate external logic ICs (vs PIC10F322-I/MC)
- Higher Flash capacity within the same 8-UDFN footprint (vs PIC16F1503-I/MU)
- True 10-bit ADC versus 8-bit ADC in entry-level PIC10F parts (vs PIC10F322-I/MC)
Design Notes
Route the 8-UDFN exposed thermal pad to the VSS plane with at least 4 thermal vias on a 0.3 mm pitch grid to keep junction temperature within the -40 C to +85 C industrial range. The exposed pad is the primary ground path; missing or incomplete solder joints to it raise VDD-to-VSS impedance and can cause ADC offset errors. Per Microchip's PIC12F1501 datasheet section 'PCB Layout Guidelines', place decoupling capacitor C1 (100 nF X7R) within 3 mm of the VDD pin and bulk capacitor C2 (1 uF to 10 uF) within 5 mm to suppress switching noise from the PWM module.
Brown-out reset (BOR) should be enabled and configured for the lowest VDD threshold compatible with the application (e.g. 2.0 V for 3.3 V rails, 2.7 V for 5 V rails) to prevent code execution from corrupted Flash during supply droop events. According to the Microchip PIC12F1501 datasheet, the LFINTOSC drift is typically +/- 2% across -40 C to +85 C, so designs that depend on UART baud accuracy must switch to the 16 MHz HFINTOSC with PLL for serial communications rather than relying on the 31 kHz LFINTOSC.
Do not leave RA3/MCLR floating in production designs. The MCLR function is enabled by the CONFIG register's MCLRE bit; if MCLR is enabled, RA3 must be tied to VDD through a 10 kohm pull-up resistor to avoid spurious resets. According to the Microchip PIC12F1501 datasheet, an external reset capacitor on MCLR greater than 1 nF can lengthen the reset pulse beyond the WDT timeout and lock the device. Also, reserve one I/O pin exclusively for ICSPDAT and one for ICSPCLK so the part can be re-programmed in-circuit during production without manual rework.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial-grade temperature range only - AEC-Q100 qualified variants are not offered for the PIC12F1501 family; for AEC-Q100 use Microchip's PIC16F1xxx automotive parts. MSL 1 rated per JEDEC J-STD-020.
