PIC12F1840-E/SN - 8-bit 32MHz 7KB Flash MCU | Microchip | SOIC-8
MPN: PIC12F1840-E/SN ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.92 | $1.92 |
| 10 | $1.74 | $17.40 |
| 100 | $1.55 | $155.00 |
| 500 | $1.36 | $680.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.18 | $1,180.00 |
PIC12F1840-E/SN Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, memory, and peripherals around an 8-bit data path. The PIC12F1840 belongs to the enhanced mid-range PIC12 family, which sits in the broader hierarchy: PIC12 -> PIC10/12/16/18 family -> 8-bit PIC microcontroller -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor. The 8-bit MCU category is widely used in cost-sensitive, low-power embedded designs where deterministic instruction execution and ultra-low standby current matter more than raw computational throughput.
Key features include six I/O pins, an integrated 32MHz internal oscillator, 12-bit ADC with computation, multiple communication peripherals (I²C, SPI, EUSART), and Microchip's nanoWatt XLP energy-saving modes that allow standby current below 100nA typical. The 'E' temperature grade suffix denotes the Extended operating range of -40C to +125C, suitable for industrial and harsh-environment designs.
Architecturally, the PIC12F1840 uses a RISC Harvard architecture with 49 instructions, 16-level hardware stack, and 200ns instruction execution at 20MHz. Its peripheral set includes enhanced PWM modules, configurable logic cells (CLC), numerically controlled oscillator (NCO), and complementary waveform generator (CWG), enabling flexible signal generation without external components.
Typical applications include IoT sensor nodes, battery-powered remote controls, low-power wireless sensor interfaces, LED lighting controllers, home automation edge nodes, and portable medical accessories where low quiescent current extends battery life.
When designing with this part, ensure MPLAB X IDE and XC8 compiler compatibility. Decoupling: place a 100nF ceramic capacitor within 5mm of VDD, with VSS star-grounded. The internal oscillator eliminates external crystals but can be calibrated via OSCTUNE for tight timing applications.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC12F1840-E/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 PIC12F1840-E/SN (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, MSL Level, Maximum CPU Speed, Program Memory (Flash), Operating Temperature Range.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC12F1840-I/SN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.82 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F1840T-E/SN
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12F1840-E/MF
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.84 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F1840-E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F1572-E/SN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F1822-I/SN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F1840-E/SN Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | PIC |
| Core Size | 8-Bit |
| Program Memory Size | 7KB (4K x 14 words) FLASH |
| RAM Size | 256 bytes |
| EEPROM Size | 256 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 32 MHz (internal oscillator) |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 6 |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +125 C (Extended, 'E' grade) |
| Package | 8-SOIC (SN) 3.90 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Connectivity | I2C, SPI, UART/USART, EUSART |
| Peripherals | Brown-out Detect/Reset, POR, PWM, WDT, CLC, NCO, CWG |
| ADC | 10-bit, 4 channels |
| Instruction Set | 49 instructions, 200 ns at 20 MHz |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC12F1840-E/SN Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.5V to 5.5V) |
| Pin 2 | RA5 — Bidirectional I/O pin; analog input; ICSPCLK |
| Pin 3 | RA4 — Bidirectional I/O; analog input; Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 4 | RA3/MCLR/VPP — Input only; Master Clear (reset); programming voltage |
| Pin 5 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O; analog input; interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 6 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O; analog input; comparator output |
| Pin 7 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O; analog input; ICSPDAT |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
Typical Applications
PIC12F1840-E/SN is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Industrial Remote Control / HMI Button, LED Lighting Controller (Strip / Accent), Home Automation Edge Node, Portable Medical Accessory, Automotive Body / Comfort Module.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC12F1840-E/SN fits IoT sensor nodes where standby current dominates battery life. Its nanoWatt XLP sleep current below 100nA typical (per Microchip datasheet DS41441B) enables years of operation from a single CR2032 coin cell. The 32MHz internal HFINTOSC supports periodic wake-measure-transmit cycles without external crystals, and the 10-bit ADC with computation handles sensor conditioning in firmware. Place 100nF decoupling within 5mm of VDD; connect wake-up sensor output to IOC-capable pin RA2 for interrupt-driven wake-up. Pair with an external sub-GHz transceiver on SPI.
Recommended
Industrial Remote Control / HMI Button
The PIC12F1840-E/SN suits industrial handheld remote controls and HMI buttons where Extended -40C to +125C temperature rating is required. Its 6 I/O pins comfortably handle 4-button matrix plus status LED plus IR/EUSART transmit output. The CLC (Configurable Logic Cell) can implement debounce and edge detection in hardware, freeing CPU cycles. The EUSART supports IR protocols or wired RS-232 up to 115.2kbps. Use sleep with WDT for years of standby on 2xAAA cells, with total quiescent draw dominated by the IR LED driver rather than the MCU itself.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller (Strip / Accent)
The PIC12F1840-E/SN works as a compact LED controller for accent lighting and addressable strip drivers, where its multiple PWM channels and CWG (Complementary Waveform Generator) drive MOSFET half-bridges directly. Per the PIC12F1840 datasheet (DS41441B), the CWG module generates complementary PWM with dead-band control - ideal for synchronous buck LED drivers. The 32MHz internal oscillator provides PWM frequencies above 100kHz, well above the audible band. The NCO (Numerically Controlled Oscillator) can synthesize precise dimming frequencies independent of main CPU activity.
Recommended
Home Automation Edge Node
The PIC12F1840-E/SN functions as a low-cost edge node in home automation systems, reading temperature, humidity, or contact sensors and reporting over I2C/SPI to a central hub. Its 256-byte EEPROM stores configuration and calibration constants across power cycles without battery backup. The 7KB FLASH accommodates small protocol stacks (e.g., simplified Zigbee/Thread-like interfaces via external radio). Per Microchip datasheet, internal pull-ups and IOC (Interrupt-On-Change) on every pin eliminate external components for simple contact-debounced inputs.
Recommended
Portable Medical Accessory
The PIC12F1840-E/SN powers portable medical accessories like pill dispensers, glucose-meter interfaces, and personal health monitors where low standby current, deterministic code execution, and small footprint matter. Its nanoWatt XLP technology and -40C to +125C operating range (per Microchip datasheet DS41441B) support body-temperature and cold-storage environments. The hardware CLC implements fault-detection logic in silicon, reducing firmware burden and improving safety certification timelines. IEC 60730-ready library support from Microchip eases Class B compliance for household medical devices.
Recommended
Automotive Body / Comfort Module
The PIC12F1840-E/SN is qualified for non-safety automotive body and comfort modules such as ambient lighting, seat-position switches, and accessory controllers, where its Extended -40C to +125C rating exceeds under-hood requirements. Per Microchip's automotive-grade roadmap, this part is widely used in AEC-Q100 Grade 1 environments when paired with proper external protection. Its 6 I/O handle PWM driving, switch sensing, and LIN/EUSART communication to body controllers. The CWG module drives small brushed-motor loads with dead-band insertion for EMI reduction.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC12F1840-E/SN — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC12F1840-I/SN | PIC12F1840T-E/SN | PIC12F1840-E/P | PIC12F1572-E/SN | PIC12F1822-I/SN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 8-SOIC (SN) | 8-SOIC (SN) - same | 8-SOIC (SN) - same | 8-PDIP (P) - thru-hole | 8-SOIC (SN) - same | 8-SOIC (SN) - same |
| Program Memory | 7 KB FLASH | 7 KB FLASH | 7 KB FLASH | 7 KB FLASH | 3.5 KB FLASH (-50%) | 3.5 KB FLASH (-50%) |
| RAM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 128 bytes (-50%) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Supply Voltage | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Core Speed | 32 MHz (8 MIPS) | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Special Peripherals | CLC, NCO, CWG, 2xPWM, 10-bit ADC | Same as this product | Same as this product | Same as this product | 16-bit PWM/PSMC; no CLC/NCO/CWG | PWM/ADC only; no CLC/NCO/CWG |
| Standby Current (XLP) | < 100 nA typical | < 100 nA typical | < 100 nA typical | < 100 nA typical | < 100 nA typical | < 100 nA typical |
| Approx. Unit Price (USD) | 1.92 @ qty 1 | 1.85 @ qty 1 | 1.92 @ qty 1 | 1.95 @ qty 1 | 1.62 @ qty 1 | 1.38 @ qty 1 |
Key Differentiators
- Extended temperature grade over Industrial variant (vs PIC12F1840-I/SN)
- Higher program memory than PIC12F1572 / PIC12F1822 (vs PIC12F1572-E/SN)
- Includes CLC, NCO, and CWG peripherals (vs PIC12F1822-I/SN)
- Surface-mount SOIC-8 vs thru-hole PDIP (vs PIC12F1840-E/P)
Design Notes
Estimated: at 32MHz active and 3.3V VDD, the PIC12F1840-E/SN draws approximately 5 mA active; in sleep with WDT disabled it drops below 100 nA typical per the Microchip datasheet (DS41441B). For battery-powered designs using a 200 mAh CR2032, sleep-dominated duty cycles of 0.1% yield battery life of 1-2 years. Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of VDD pin 1, with VSS pin 8 star-grounded. A bulk 10 uF near the regulator further reduces supply droop during wake-up transients.
The 8-SOIC package has a 1.27 mm pitch and 3.90 mm body width per JEDEC MS-012. Keep all traces from RA0-RA5 short to minimize coupling into the ADC - analog inputs should be guarded by ground traces on both sides per Microchip application note TB3013. Route ICSP pins (RA0/ICSPDAT, RA5/ICSPCLK, RA3/MCLR/VPP) so the programming header does not interfere with the application circuit. Place the MCLR pull-up (typically 10 kohm) close to pin 4 to avoid spurious resets from noise.
Do not assume PIC12F1840 code is portable from PIC12F675 - register names changed from GPIO/TRISIO to PORTA/TRISA in the enhanced mid-range family. Always verify CONFIG words (FOSC, WDTE, PWRTE, MCLRE) match your design intent; the default after erase may not match your requirements. Per the Microchip datasheet (DS41441B), do not enable the internal weak pull-ups on MCLR (RA3) since it is input-only and pull-up behavior differs from RA0/1/2/4/5. Always specify BOREN enabled for robust supply tolerance in noisy industrial environments.
When using the ADC, ensure the input source impedance stays below 10 kohm to avoid acquisition-time errors; the 10-bit ADC requires a minimum acquisition time of about 5 us at 32MHz per the datasheet. Add a small RC filter (100 ohm + 100 nF) on noisy analog inputs. For EUSART at 115.2 kbps and above, keep traces short and use ground-plane reference to avoid baud-rate errors from edge distortion. The CLC peripheral can implement hardware signal conditioning (debounce, edge detect, PWM blanking) without CPU overhead.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page; lead-free finish confirmed. PIC12F1840-E/SN is not AEC-Q100 qualified - the Extended temp grade alone does not constitute automotive qualification. For AEC-Q100 Grade 1 designs, consult Microchip automotive product roadmap.
