PIC12F617-I/SN - 8-Bit 20MHz 3.5KB Flash MCU | Microchip | 8-SOIC
MPN: PIC12F617-I/SN ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.45 | $1.45 |
| 10 | $1.31 | $13.10 |
| 100 | $1.16 | $116.00 |
| 500 | $1.04 | $520.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.93 | $930.00 |
| 3,000 | $0.85 | $2,550.00 |
PIC12F617-I/SN Overview
What is a mid-range 8-bit MCU? The PIC12 mid-range family is a CMOS microcontroller architecture built around a Harvard RISC core with 14-bit instructions, 8-level stack, and standard peripherals. MCUs sit in the integrated circuit > microcontroller > 8-bit MCU > mid-range taxonomy and act as the system brain in low-power embedded designs, providing GPIO, timers, comparators, and ADC for sensor/control tasks. The PIC12F617 variant extends the family with internal 4/8MHz oscillator, enhanced analog (10-bit ADC, 2 comparators with hysteresis), and PWM capture modules.
Key features include: 6 GPIO with 25mA source/sink I/O capability, 10-bit ADC with up to 4 channels, two comparators with user-configurable hysteresis, two 8-bit timers (TMR0/TMR2) plus one 16-bit timer (TMR1), an Enhanced PWM/Capture/Compare module, internal 4MHz/8MHz oscillator, and an ICD debug interface on the 8-SOIC variant. The internal 8MHz oscillator saves BOM cost and PCB area versus a discrete crystal.
From an architecture perspective, the mid-range x14 core delivers deterministic 200ns instruction execution, which simplifies real-time control loops. The 14-bit instruction word with 8-level stack is more compact than baseline 12-bit PIC10/12C parts, while remaining simpler than 16-bit PIC24/dsPIC parts. Self-programming Flash supports in-application updates from internal or external sources.
Typical applications include consumer white goods, LED lighting controllers, battery chargers, sensor signal conditioning, simple motor control via PWM, and low-cost IoT edge nodes. The wide 2.0-5.5V supply range allows direct 2xAA battery, 3.3V, or 5V system operation without an extra LDO.
Design consideration: the SOIC-8 package (300 mil) provides hand-solderable and breadboard-friendly pads, but has higher thermal resistance than DFN/QFN alternatives; for high-I/O-switching designs paralleling 25mA outputs, account for ground bounce and use a 0.1uF decoupling cap within 5mm of VDD. This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC12F617-I/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 PIC12F617-I/SN (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, ADC, Maximum CPU Speed, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC12F615-I/SN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.52 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F617-E/SN
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12F609-I/SN
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12F1571-I/SN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.6549 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F1840-I/SN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.82 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F1822-I/SN
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F617-I/SN Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC12 mid-range 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory Type | Flash (self read-write) |
| Program Memory Size | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) |
| RAM | 128 bytes |
| EEPROM | 0 bytes (emulated in Flash) |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz (5 MIPS, 200 ns instruction cycle) |
| Instruction Set | 35 single-word instructions, 8 stack levels |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 6 |
| I/O Source/Sink Current | 25 mA per pin |
| Internal Oscillator | 4 MHz / 8 MHz selectable |
| Timers | 2x 8-bit (TMR0, TMR2), 1x 16-bit (TMR1) |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 4 channels |
| Comparators | 2 with user-configurable hysteresis |
| PWM / CCP | Enhanced Capture/Compare/PWM |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial, suffix -I) |
| Package | 8-SOIC (SN) 3.90 mm, 0.209 mm lead pitch |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited floor life) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Debug Interface | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming), ICD on select packages |
PIC12F617-I/SN Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Positive supply voltage, 2.0V to 5.5V |
| Pin 2 | GP5/T1CKI/OSC1/CLKIN — GPIO 5 / Timer1 clock input / crystal oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 3 | GP4/AN3/T1G/OSC2/CLKOUT — GPIO 4 / ADC input 3 / Timer1 gate / crystal oscillator output / clock out |
| Pin 4 | GP3/MCLR/VPP — GPIO 3 / Master Clear reset (active low) / programming voltage input |
| Pin 5 | GP2/AN2/T0CKI/INT/COUT/CCP1 — GPIO 2 / ADC input 2 / Timer0 clock input / external interrupt / comparator output / PWM/CCP |
| Pin 6 | GP1/AN1/CIN-/ICSPCLK — GPIO 1 / ADC input 1 / comparator inverting input / ICSP clock |
| Pin 7 | GP0/AN0/CIN+/ICSPDAT — GPIO 0 / ADC input 0 / comparator non-inverting input / ICSP data |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
Typical Applications
PIC12F617-I/SN is suitable for 6 applications: LED Lighting Controller, Battery-Powered Sensor Node, Consumer Appliance Control, DC Motor Speed Control (PWM), Simple IoT Edge Device, Capacitive Touch Interface.
LED Lighting Controller
The PIC12F617-I/SN drives RGB or single-channel LED strips via the Enhanced PWM/CCP module, with 6 GPIO (25mA source/sink) enough to direct-drive small LEDs without external FETs. Its 2.0-5.5V supply range accepts 3.3V or 5V rails directly, and the 10-bit ADC reads ambient light sensors for closed-loop dimming. The 20 MHz / 5 MIPS core handles smooth PWM fades at 8-bit or 10-bit resolution, while internal 8 MHz oscillator eliminates a crystal and reduces BOM cost in high-volume consumer lighting.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Node
For 2xAA battery sensor endpoints, the PIC12F617-I/SN draws a few hundred nA in sleep mode and runs directly from 2.0V, supporting multi-year coin-cell or alkaline deployments. The internal 4/8 MHz oscillator removes the crystal standby current, and the 10-bit ADC with 4 channels reads temperature, light, or voltage dividers for battery monitoring. The 6 GPIO wake on interrupt to service a sub-1GHz radio or low-power LoRa module in duty-cycled sleep/wake, with the mid-range x14 core's deterministic 200ns cycle simplifying real-time sensor sampling.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control
In white goods, coffee makers, or small kitchen appliances, the PIC12F617-I/SN provides the touch-button interface, temperature sensing via 10-bit ADC, and relay or TRIAC drive through its 25mA GPIO. The 2 comparators with user-configurable hysteresis are well-suited to zero-crossing detection on AC mains or sensor threshold comparison without software overhead. The 8-SOIC footprint simplifies hand-rework and the industrial -40 to +85 C range covers appliance temperature profiles, while the 3.5 KB Flash holds state-machine firmware and lookup tables.
Recommended
DC Motor Speed Control (PWM)
The PIC12F617-I/SN's Enhanced PWM/CCP module drives a small DC motor or fan at variable duty cycle using the 20 MHz core's 5 MIPS throughput. The 10-bit ADC reads back EMF or RPM sensor for closed-loop speed regulation, and the 2 comparators can be repurposed for overcurrent protection by sensing a shunt resistor. The 6 GPIO is sufficient to drive a half-H-bridge via external FETs or a pre-driver IC, with 25mA sink capability for opto-coupler LED drive. The 2.0-5.5V supply runs directly from a 3.3V or 5V motor rail.
Recommended
Simple IoT Edge Device
The PIC12F617-I/SN acts as the sensor-aggregation front-end for a low-cost IoT node, reading analog sensors via the 10-bit ADC and forwarding digital events via UART or SPI to a Wi-Fi/BLE co-processor on the 6 GPIO. The wide 2.0-5.5V supply range covers coin-cell, 3.3V, and 5V systems, while sleep currents in the few-hundred-nA range enable multi-year battery life. The 3.5 KB Flash holds a small state machine and sensor calibration constants, and the mid-range x14 core's 35-instruction simplicity keeps firmware compact for cost-sensitive edge nodes.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch Interface
The PIC12F617-I/SN's 2 analog comparators with user-configurable hysteresis implement reliable capacitive touch sensing on 2-4 pads using the mTouch peripheral methodology documented in Microchip app notes. The 10-bit ADC reads out touch strength for sliders or wheels, and the 25mA GPIO drives status LEDs or backlight drive transistors. The 2.0-5.5V supply range supports battery-powered remote controls, and the 6 GPIO is sufficient for 4 touch pads plus 2 LED indicators. Industrial -40 to +85 C range covers automotive and appliance touch interfaces.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC12F617-I/SN — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC12F615-I/SN | PIC12F617-E/SN | PIC12F609-I/SN | PIC12F1571-I/SN | PIC12F1840-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-SOIC (SN) - same | 8-SOIC (SN) - same | 8-SOIC (SN) - same |
| Program Flash | 3.5 KB | 1.75 KB (-50%) | 3.5 KB (same) | 1 KB (-71%) | 14 KB (+300%) | 7 KB (+100%) |
| RAM | 128 B | 64 B (-50%) | 128 B (same) | 64 B (-50%) | 1 KB (+700%) | 256 B (+100%) |
| Max CPU Speed | 20 MHz (5 MIPS) | 20 MHz (same) | 20 MHz (same) | 20 MHz (same) | 32 MHz (+60%) | 32 MHz (+60%) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +125 C (extended) | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C |
| Internal Oscillator | 4/8 MHz | 4/8 MHz | 4/8 MHz | 4/8 MHz | 16/32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| I/O Pins | 6 | 6 (same) | 6 (same) | 6 (same) | 6 (same) | 6 (same) |
Key Differentiators
- 2 comparators with user-configurable hysteresis (vs PIC12F609-I/SN)
- Larger program memory at same price tier (vs PIC12F615-I/SN)
- Same footprint as 32 MHz PIC12F1840/1822/1571 family (vs PIC12F1840-I/SN)
Design Notes
Place a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin (pin 1) with the ground return to the VSS pin (pin 8) via a short trace or via. Add a 10 uF bulk capacitor on the supply rail if the PIC12F617-I/SN is more than 25 mm from the system regulator. Brown-out detection (BOD) is configurable via CONFIG; enable it to prevent Flash corruption during supply dips below 2.0 V.
For 8-SOIC hand-prototyping, use 0.1-inch (2.54 mm) breakout adapter or wire-wrap with #30 wire. The 8-SOIC's 0.209 mm lead pitch is too fine for direct 0.1-inch protoboard, so a SOIC-to-DIP breakout PCB is recommended for breadboard work. For production, follow JEDEC J-STD-020 lead-free reflow with a peak of 260 C for 30 seconds maximum.
Pin 4 (GP3/MCLR/VPP) is input-only and shares a function with the MCLR reset. If MCLR is disabled in CONFIG, this pin becomes a digital input only; if enabled, it requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD. Do not leave MCLR floating, as noise can spuriously reset the part. Per the datasheet, ICSP programming requires MCLR/VPP, VDD, VSS, ICSPCLK (GP1), and ICSPDAT (GP0) - isolate these from heavily-loaded signals during programming.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page and DigiKey listing. 8-SOIC package is lead-free matte-tin plated and MSL1 rated per JEDEC J-STD-020. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; for automotive choose PIC12F617-E/SN with extended temperature range or upgrade to AEC-Q100 PIC16/dsPIC family.
