PIC12F1571-E/RF - 8-Bit MCU, 32MHz, 1.75KB Flash, 3x PWM | Microchip
MPN: PIC12F1571-E/RF ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.97 | $0.97 |
| 10 | $0.88 | $8.80 |
| 100 | $0.78 | $78.00 |
| 500 | $0.71 | $355.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.66 | $660.00 |
| 3,000 | $0.59 | $1,770.00 |
PIC12F1571-E/RF Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (Flash/ROM), data memory (RAM), and peripheral blocks such as timers, PWM modules, ADCs and communication interfaces. The PIC12F1571 belongs to the 8-bit PIC® 12F family, itself part of the broader mid-range PIC® microcontroller family that traces back to Microchip's original Harvard-architecture PIC cores. Within the system hierarchy, this places the device at MCU -> 8-bit microcontroller -> PIC® 12F -> mid-range PIC® MCU -> embedded computing.
Key features include 6 I/O lines, three 16-bit PWMs with independent timers for high-resolution waveform generation, 4-channel 10-bit ADC, internal 32 MHz oscillator, and an extended operating voltage range of 2.5V to 5.5V (2.3V min at 16 MHz). The enhanced mid-range core offers 49 instructions and 16 stack levels, balancing code density with deterministic interrupt response for real-time control.
Typical applications span LED lighting (color-mixing, dimming via 16-bit PWM), stepper motor drive (microstepping waveform generation), digital power conversion (DC-DC and PFC control loops), battery chargers, and small general-purpose control boards where board area and BOM cost dominate. Its 8-UDFN 3x3 mm footprint enables placement in space-constrained designs.
Design consideration: the exposed thermal pad on the 8-UDFN package must be soldered to the PCB ground plane to meet thermal and electrical performance. When migrating from PIC12F1501 designs, confirm peripheral mapping because the PIC12F1571 adds three 16-bit PWMs versus two on the 1501.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, verified drop-in alternatives and practical design notes (thermal pad layout, PWM resolution, migration tips) that go beyond the manufacturer datasheet itself, helping procurement teams and embedded engineers shorten the design-in cycle for cost-sensitive 8-bit MCU projects.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC12F1571-E/RF — 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 PIC12F1571-E/RF (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Maximum CPU Speed, Package, ADC, Operating Voltage Range, I/O Pins.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC12F1572T-E/RF
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12F1571-I/RF
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.72 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F1571T-E/RF
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12F1501T-I/MU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC10F322-I/MC
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.52 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F1571-E/RF Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | PIC |
| Core Size | 8-Bit |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz |
| Program Memory Size | 1.75 KB (1K x 14) Flash |
| RAM Size | 128 B |
| Number of I/O Pins | 6 |
| PWM Channels | 3 x 16-bit (independent timers) |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.5 V to 5.5 V (down to 2.3 V at 16 MHz) |
| Supply Voltage (max) | 5.5 V |
| Peripherals | Brown-out Detect/Reset, POR, PWM, WDT |
| Oscillator | Internal 32 MHz |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 °C to +125 °C (E suffix = Enhanced, industrial extended) |
| Package | 8-UDFN Exposed Pad (3x3 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
PIC12F1571-E/RF Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0/CWG1PPS/ICSPDAT — Bidirectional I/O, analog input 0, CWG input, ICSP data |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1/CWG2PPS/ICSPCLK — Bidirectional I/O, analog input 1, CWG input, ICSP clock |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2 — Bidirectional I/O, analog input 2 |
| Pin 4 | RA3/MCLR/VPP — Bidirectional I/O, Master Clear reset (active-low), programming voltage |
| Pin 5 | RA4/AN3 — Bidirectional I/O, analog input 3 |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN4 — Bidirectional I/O, analog input 4 |
| Pin 7 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.5 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 8 | VSS (Exposed Pad) — Ground reference - exposed thermal pad MUST be soldered to PCB ground |
Typical Applications
PIC12F1571-E/RF is suitable for 6 applications: RGB LED Lighting and Color-Mixing, Stepper Motor Microstepping Control, Digital Power Supply and PFC Control, Battery Chargers and Fuel-Gauge Front-Ends, Wearable and IoT Sensor Nodes, Industrial Control and Signal Conditioning.
RGB LED Lighting and Color-Mixing
The PIC12F1571-E/RF is purpose-built for multi-channel LED lighting, where its three independent 16-bit PWM channels drive the red, green and blue (or warm/cool white + RGB) strings with >65,000 dimming steps per channel. At a 32 MHz instruction rate the PWM modules deliver sub-microsecond duty-cycle resolution, eliminating flicker on video and broadcast displays. The 8-UDFN 3x3 mm footprint fits inside MR16, GU10 and candelabra bulb form factors, while the 1.75 KB Flash comfortably holds color-space conversion (HSV/HSL), DMX-512 or Bluetooth-Mesh lighting stacks. Designers pair the 1571 with high-brightness LED drivers such as the TLC59401 or LP8866 for current regulation.
Recommended
Stepper Motor Microstepping Control
Three 16-bit PWMs and 32 MHz CPU bandwidth let the PIC12F1571-E/RF generate sinusoidal microstepping waveforms for bipolar stepper motors in 3D printers, camera focus rings and small CNC tools. The independent timers behind each PWM allow phase-shifted outputs without CPU intervention, freeing the core to run speed/torque control loops. With 6 GPIO pins exposed, the MCU drives a 2-H-bridge topology directly through external MOSFET drivers such as the DRV8833 or A4950. The 8-UDFN package fits on the back of NEMA-8 and NEMA-11 motor carriers, and the 128-byte SRAM handles sine-table lookups for up to 1/256 microstepping.
Recommended
Digital Power Supply and PFC Control
The PIC12F1571-E/RF's high-resolution PWM and 32 MHz core suit entry-level digital power-conversion tasks such as DC-DC buck/boost regulation and active Power-Factor-Correction (PFC) control loops in sub-100 W adapters. With three 16-bit PWMs the MCU can drive a primary FET, a synchronous rectifier FET and an auxiliary housekeeping rail from one device. The ADC samples the output voltage and current while the comparator-based PWM modules implement peak-current-mode control with cycle-by-cycle limiting. The 8-UDFN 3x3 mm footprint enables compact adapter daughter-cards, and the industrial-extended -40 to +125 °C range supports outdoor and industrial PSU environments.
Recommended
Battery Chargers and Fuel-Gauge Front-Ends
Battery chargers for 1S Li-ion / LiPo packs benefit from the PIC12F1571-E/RF's 6 GPIO, ADC and 16-bit PWM combination. The MCU implements CC/CV charge profiles, temperature monitoring via NTC, optional PWM-based cell balancing, and load-disconnect FET control. At a 2.5 V minimum Vdd, the device runs directly off the cell stack without an extra LDO. The 3x3 mm UDFN package drops into the compact PCBs of vape mods, IoT battery packs and portable medical devices, and the 128 B SRAM holds 8-entry charge-history buffers for SOC reporting.
Recommended
Wearable and IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC12F1571-E/RF's 3x3 mm UDFN footprint and sub-2 mA active consumption (estimated from datasheet typical IDD numbers - confirm in DS40001723D Section 30) make it attractive for wearable health bands, fitness beacons and coin-cell IoT nodes. With three 16-bit PWMs the MCU drives RGB indicator LEDs, haptic-feedback drivers and even small vibration motors from one chip, replacing discrete LED-driver ICs and saving PCB area. The PIC12F1571 is well-supported by Microchip's MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC) for low-power sleep-mode firmware templates targeting <1 µA standby currents. Pair with a Bluetooth Low Energy module such as the RN4870 or BL654 for complete wireless wearables.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Signal Conditioning
In industrial 4-20 mA loop transmitters, HVAC damper actuators and small PLC I/O modules, the PIC12F1571-E/RF delivers deterministic PWM-based analog outputs (after low-pass filtering) and ADC-driven measurement loops. The 2.5-5.5 V supply range tolerates industrial 24 V bus rails after a simple LDO. The 6 GPIO pins drive opto-isolated inputs, status LEDs and SSR triggers. The -40 °C to +125 °C extended temperature grade ensures reliable operation in factory-floor enclosures. The PIC12F1571 is supported by Microchip's functional-safety libraries and is migrating to IEC 61508 SIL-2 capable variants in newer revisions, making it a candidate for safety-critical industrial nodes.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC12F1571-E/RF — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC12F1572T-E/RF | PIC12F1571-I/RF | PIC12F1571T-E/RF | PIC12F1501T-I/MU | PIC10F322-I/MC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 8-UDFN Exposed Pad (3x3 mm) | 8-UDFN (3x3) - same | 8-UDFN (3x3) - same | 8-UDFN (3x3) - same | 8-UDFN (3x3) - same | 8-DFN (3x3) - compatible |
| Core / Architecture | 8-bit PIC® enhanced mid-range | 8-bit PIC® enhanced mid-range | 8-bit PIC® enhanced mid-range | 8-bit PIC® enhanced mid-range | 8-bit PIC® enhanced mid-range | 8-bit PIC® mid-range (PIC10) |
| Max CPU Speed | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 20 MHz | 16 MHz |
| Flash Program Memory | 1.75 KB (1K x 14) | 3.5 KB (larger) | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB | 0.875 KB (smaller) |
| RAM | 128 B | 256 B | 128 B | 128 B | 128 B | 64 B (smaller) |
| GPIO Pins | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
| 16-bit PWM Channels | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 (one fewer) | 2 (one fewer) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +125 °C (E suffix) | -40 °C to +125 °C | -40 °C to +85 °C (I suffix) | -40 °C to +125 °C | -40 °C to +85 °C | -40 °C to +85 °C |
Key Differentiators
- Three independent 16-bit PWM channels vs two on similar PIC12F1501 (vs PIC12F1501T-I/MU)
- Memory upgrade path within same 8-UDFN footprint (vs PIC12F1572T-E/RF)
- Industrial-extended -40 to +125 °C grade (vs PIC12F1571-I/RF)
Design Notes
The 8-UDFN package exposes a thermal/ground pad on its underside that MUST be soldered to a continuous PCB copper pour tied to VSS. Failing to solder the e-pad degrades thermal dissipation and can cause intermittent VSS reference issues, especially at 32 MHz operation. Use at least 4 thermal vias in the e-pad land pattern and stitch the surrounding ground plane to a continuous pour with no signal traces cutting under the package.
RA3/MCLR (pin 4) is a shared reset and programming pin. If your application forces MCLR low externally or uses the pin as a high-impedance input only, ensure the MCLR enable bit is configured correctly in CONFIG1 and that no external pull-up/down conflicts with the internal weak pull-up. For ICSP programming, route the ICSPDAT and ICSPCLK lines with short, parallel traces and a 4.7 kΩ pull-up on MCLR.
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 3 mm of the VDD pin, plus a 10 µF bulk capacitor shared by the power rail. The PIC12F1571 has internal brown-out detect (BOR) - configure BOR voltage and re-arm delay in CONFIG2 to match your supply's rise time. For battery applications, switch the MCU to LFINTOSC (31 kHz) during sleep to drop current consumption to microamp levels (estimated from typical datasheet IDD numbers; verify in DS40001723D Section 30 'Electrical Characteristics').
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance status per Microchip product environmental certification statements; AEC-Q100 qualification not applicable for -E extended industrial grade - Microchip PIC® automotive variants carry -VAO suffix.
