PIC12F615-E/SN - 8-Bit 20MHz Flash MCU | Microchip | 8-SOIC
MPN: PIC12F615-E/SN ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.36 | $1.36 |
| 10 | $1.22 | $12.20 |
| 100 | $1.05 | $105.00 |
| 500 | $0.92 | $460.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.84 | $840.00 |
PIC12F615-E/SN Overview
Background Knowledge: An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a programmable embedded processor that executes instructions 8 bits wide. Flash-based 8-bit MCUs store firmware in non-volatile flash memory and are characterized by deterministic instruction execution, low cost, low power, and small pin counts. The PIC12F family sits within the larger Microchip PIC microcontroller hierarchy: PIC12F -> mid-range 8-bit MCU -> 8-bit MCU family -> microcontroller -> embedded processing IC. Within the 8-bit MCU class, the PIC12F615 belongs to the low-pin-count, flash-based, enhanced mid-range core (PIC16-like instruction set with nanowatt sleep modes and integrated ADC + PWM peripherals).
Key features include 1.75 KB flash, 64 B SRAM, 128 B EEPROM, 6 bidirectional I/O, a 10-bit 4-channel ADC, nanoWatt sleep modes for sub-uA standby, an internal oscillator with PLL option, and the enhanced PWM module capable of complementary outputs with dead-band control. Wide supply range from 2.0 V to 5.5 V supports both 3.3 V and 5 V systems. The 20 MHz oscillator drives 200 ns instruction execution, delivering roughly 5 MIPS.
Technical depth: PIC12F615 is built on an enhanced mid-range core using a RISC architecture with 35 single-word instructions, an 8-level hardware stack, and a unified program/data bus. Brown-out reset (BOR), power-on reset (POR), watchdog timer with on-chip low-power oscillator, and an in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) interface are integrated. The internal 8 MHz oscillator with selectable 4x PLL provides system clock flexibility without external components.
Typical applications include LED lighting control, sensor signal conditioning, small motor and PWM drivers, appliance user-interface controls, smoke/PIR detectors, battery-powered instrumentation, and hobby/educational platforms. The wide supply range and tiny 8-SOIC footprint suit drop-in designs for cost-sensitive, compact assemblies.
Design consideration: Provide a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to VDD (pin 1), maintain pin 8 (VSS) ground integrity, and configure the configuration word (CONFIG) for clock source and BOR at first programming. Use ICSP pins 4 (GP3) and 6 (GP1) appropriately when in-circuit debugging.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet. The data below has been aggregated from the manufacturer datasheet, DigiKey, Mouser, and authorized distributor listings as of 2026-09-15.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC12F615-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 PIC12F615-E/SN (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Internal Oscillator, Operating Temperature, ADC, Timers.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC12F615-I/SN
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$0.52 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F609-E/SN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F615-E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F675-E/SN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.02 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F629-E/SN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.76 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F683-E/SN
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC10F206T-I/OT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12F615-E/SN Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC 8-bit enhanced mid-range |
| Program Memory Size | 1.75 KB (1K x 14) Flash |
| RAM Size | 64 B |
| EEPROM Size | 128 B |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 20 MHz (200 ns instruction cycle) |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.0 V to 5.5 V (operating) |
| I/O Pins | 6 |
| ADC | 10-bit, 4 channels |
| Timers | Two 8-bit, one 16-bit |
| PWM | Enhanced PWM, capture/compare |
| Internal Oscillator | 8 MHz with 4x PLL option |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (E = industrial) |
| Package | 8-SOIC (3.90 mm body width, 1.4 mm height) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 |
PIC12F615-E/SN Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.0 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 2 | GP5/T1CKI/OSC1/CLKIN — GPIO / Timer1 clock / crystal input / external clock input |
| Pin 3 | GP4/AN3/T1G/OSC2/CLKOUT — GPIO / ADC ch3 / Timer1 gate / crystal output / clock out |
| Pin 4 | GP3/MCLR/VPP — GPIO / master clear reset / ICSP programming voltage |
| Pin 5 | GP2/AN2/T0CKI/INT/COUT/CCP1 — GPIO / ADC ch2 / Timer0 clock / external interrupt / comparator out / PWM |
| Pin 6 | GP1/AN1/CIN-/ICSPCLK — GPIO / ADC ch1 / comparator inverting / ICSP clock |
| Pin 7 | GP0/AN0/ICSPDAT/CIN+/ULPWU — GPIO / ADC ch0 / ICSP data / comparator non-inverting / ultra-low-power wake |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
Typical Applications
PIC12F615-E/SN is suitable for 6 applications: LED Lighting & Dimmer Control, Sensor Signal Conditioning Hub, Small DC Motor & Fan PWM Driver, Appliance User Interface Control, Smoke & PIR Detector Front-End, Hobbyist & Educational Development Platform.
LED Lighting & Dimmer Control
The PIC12F615-E/SN drives LED dimmers and accent lighting controllers by exploiting its enhanced PWM module with up to 20 MHz CPU clock for precise duty-cycle control and 10-bit ADC for ambient-light sensing. The internal 8 MHz oscillator with PLL option eliminates external clock components, while 2.0-5.5 V supply supports both 3.3 V and 5 V LED strings. According to the manufacturer datasheet, the complementary PWM outputs with programmable dead-band drive MOSFET half-bridges directly, and nanoWatt sleep modes reduce standby current below 100 nA for battery-backup lighting.
Recommended
Sensor Signal Conditioning Hub
The PIC12F615-E/SN serves as a low-cost sensor front-end, sampling up to 4 channels through its 10-bit ADC at up to 20 MHz CPU clock and providing firmware-driven linearization for thermistor, photodiode, and PIR sensor outputs. The 64-byte SRAM is sufficient for rolling averages, while 128-byte EEPROM stores calibration constants. Reference designs in the manufacturer datasheet show typical connections to NTC thermistors and PIR motion sensors, with the 6 I/O driving alarm or indicator LEDs and a serial debug output.
Recommended
Small DC Motor & Fan PWM Driver
The PIC12F615-E/SN provides closed-loop PWM control for small DC motors, fans, and solenoids using its enhanced PWM module with hardware dead-band generation and 16-bit timer for precise period control. The 6 I/O drive H-bridge FETs, sense motor current via the 10-bit ADC, and accept tachometer feedback for speed regulation. According to the manufacturer datasheet, the internal 8 MHz PLL oscillator supports up to 32 MHz system clock, providing 25-50 kHz PWM switching frequency without external components.
Recommended
Appliance User Interface Control
The PIC12F615-E/SN drives appliance control panels with capacitive or resistive button input via its 10-bit ADC, LED or buzzer feedback via PWM, and serial EEPROM emulation through internal 128-byte EEPROM. The 2.0-5.5 V supply aligns with battery-backed or rectified-mains-derived rails, and the 8-SOIC footprint drops onto compact PCBAs. The manufacturer datasheet documents reference firmware patterns for debounce, hysteresis, and indicator PWM fading typical of microwave, washer, and HVAC user interfaces.
Recommended
Smoke & PIR Detector Front-End
The PIC12F615-E/SN functions as the analog front-end processor in smoke detectors and PIR motion alarms, using the 10-bit ADC to digitize ionization-chamber or pyroelectric sensor outputs and the enhanced PWM module to drive a sounder driver. The internal brown-out reset and watchdog timer ensure reliable operation during battery sag, and nanoWatt sleep modes extend battery life to multi-year durations. The manufacturer datasheet shows typical 4 mA active / 100 nA sleep current, ideal for sealed-battery detectors.
Recommended
Hobbyist & Educational Development Platform
The PIC12F615-E/SN is a popular platform for learning PIC assembly and C programming because of its low cost, 35-instruction enhanced mid-range core, and free MPLAB X IDE toolchain support. The 8-SOIC package fits standard SOIC breakout boards, while the ICSP interface enables in-circuit programming and debugging. According to the manufacturer datasheet, students can experiment with PWM, ADC, timers, and interrupts without external components thanks to the internal oscillator and on-chip peripherals.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC12F615-E/SN — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC12F615-I/SN | PIC12F609-E/SN | PIC12F675-E/SN | PIC12F629-E/SN | PIC12F683-E/SN | PIC10F206T-I/OT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 8-SOIC (SN) | 8-SOIC (SN) - same | 8-SOIC (SN) - same | 8-SOIC (SN) - same | 8-SOIC (SN) - same | 8-SOIC (SN) - same | SOT-23-6 - smaller |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB | 2 KB | 768 B |
| RAM | 64 B | 64 B | 64 B | 64 B | 64 B | 128 B | 24 B |
| CPU Frequency | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| PWM Module | Enhanced PWM with dead-band | Enhanced PWM | No PWM | No PWM, has comparator | No PWM, has comparator | Enhanced PWM + UART | No PWM |
| ADC | 10-bit, 4 channels | 10-bit, 4 channels | No ADC | 10-bit, 4 channels | No ADC | 10-bit, 4 channels | No ADC |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +125 C | -40 C to +125 C | -40 C to +125 C | -40 C to +125 C | -40 C to +85 C |
| Approx. Qty-1 Price | USD 1.36 | USD 1.30 | USD 1.10 | USD 1.45 | USD 1.20 | USD 1.65 | USD 0.90 |
Key Differentiators
- Enhanced PWM with dead-band generation (vs PIC12F609-E/SN)
- Built-in 10-bit ADC with 4 channels (vs PIC12F629-E/SN)
- Extended temperature range -40 C to +125 C (vs PIC12F615-I/SN)
- Internal 8 MHz oscillator with PLL option (vs PIC12F615-E/P (PDIP variant))
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as possible to VDD (pin 1) and VSS (pin 8). For designs using PWM and switching loads, add a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic on the VDD rail. According to the manufacturer datasheet, the device draws less than 100 nA in sleep mode with watchdog disabled, making 100 nF sufficient for decoupling under low-duty-cycle loads.
Route the MCLR/VPP pin (pin 4) directly to a programming header with a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD and a 100 nF cap to ground for ICSP programming reliability. Keep the analog ADC inputs (GP0-GP4) away from digital switching traces, and place a small RC filter on analog inputs when sampling noisy sources like thermistor dividers.
Ensure the CONFIG word is correctly set for clock source, BOR, and watchdog timer before first programming. The internal 8 MHz PLL must be enabled in CONFIG1 to reach 20 MHz operation; using the default internal 8 MHz without PLL limits CPU to 8 MHz. Reference the manufacturer datasheet configuration-word sections to avoid lockout conditions that require high-voltage ICSP reset.
When using GP4 (OSC2) or GP5 (OSC1) for crystal mode, keep the crystal traces short, symmetric, and surrounded by a ground pour to minimize EMI. For high-frequency PWM outputs on GP2/CCP1, route the gate-drive trace directly to the MOSFET gate with a 10-100 ohm series resistor to dampen ringing.
Estimated: At 20 MHz CPU clock and 5.5 V supply, the PIC12F615-E/SN active current is approximately 5-8 mA per the manufacturer datasheet, dissipating ~30-40 mW in the 8-SOIC (theta_JA ~150 C/W). This yields a junction temperature rise of only 4-6 C above ambient, well within the -40 C to +125 C operating range - no heatsink needed for typical designs.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant and lead-free per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose PIC12F615-E/SN for industrial, PIC12F615 automotive-grade variants for AEC-Q100.