PIC12HV615-I/MD - 8-bit 20MHz 1.75KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC12HV615-I/MD β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.42 | $1.42 |
| 10 | $1.28 | $12.80 |
| 100 | $1.07 | $107.00 |
| 500 | $0.92 | $460.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.78 | $780.00 |
PIC12HV615-I/MD Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a small, self-contained computing device built around an 8-bit data path and an integrated CPU, memory, and peripherals on a single silicon die. PIC microcontrollers implement Microchip's proprietary RISC architecture, executing instructions in a single cycle (200 ns at 20MHz) from a compact 35-instruction set, balancing low power, deterministic timing, and code efficiency. PIC12-family devices sit at the low-end of the PIC hierarchy -> 8-bit PIC -> PIC microcontroller -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor, optimized for cost-sensitive, space-constrained applications where only a few I/O pins are needed.
The PIC12HV615 integrates key differentiating features including a high-voltage shunt regulator on the VDD pin (the HV suffix), enabling direct connection to higher-voltage buses via an external Zener/resistor network without a separate LDO. It also includes an internal 8MHz oscillator (4MHz factory calibrated), 4 channels of 10-bit ADC, a comparator, and Flash program memory that supports in-circuit serial programming (ICSP).
Architecturally, the PIC12HV615 uses a Harvard RISC core with separate program and data buses, allowing simultaneous instruction fetch and operand access. The wide operating range and integrated peripherals enable standalone analog and digital sensing designs without external components. The HV shunt regulator topology is distinctive: it tolerates inputs well above 5.5V (with proper external component selection), making it ideal for automotive and industrial nodes where the upstream supply is unregulated.
Typical applications include LED lighting control, battery chargers, sensor signal conditioning, and automotive/industrial subsystems where board space and BOM count are critical. Compared with switching regulators + MCU combinations, the integrated HV shunt simplifies the analog front end.
When designing with the PIC12HV615-I/MD, ensure the DFN-8 (MD) exposed pad is properly soldered for thermal dissipation and that the HV shunt network components are correctly sized for the target input voltage. The device is supported by Microchip's MPLAB X IDE and XC8 compiler toolchain.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone, providing engineers with a single reference for sourcing, selection, and PCB layout decisions.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC12HV615-I/MD β 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 PIC12HV615-I/MD (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, Operating Temperature, ADC, Comparators, Internal Oscillator.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC12HV615T-I/MD
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$0.83 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC12HV615-E/MS
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$0.72 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC12F615-I/MD
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$0.64 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC12F615T-I/MD
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12HV615-I/MD Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | 8-bit PIC RISC |
| Program Memory | 1.75 KB Flash (1K x 14) |
| RAM | 64 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Set | 35 instructions, 200 ns instruction cycle at 20 MHz |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 6 |
| ADC | 4-channel, 10-bit |
| Comparators | 1 |
| Internal Oscillator | 8 MHz (factory calibrated to 4 MHz) |
| High-Voltage Shunt Regulator | Integrated (HV suffix) |
| Package | DFN-8 (4x4 mm) with exposed pad |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC12HV615-I/MD Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD β Positive supply voltage (HV shunt regulator input) |
| Pin 2 | GP5 β General-purpose I/O / OSC1 / Timer0 gate |
| Pin 3 | GP4 β General-purpose I/O / OSC2 / AN3 |
| Pin 4 | GP3/MCLR/VPP β General-purpose I/O / Master Clear / Programming voltage |
| Pin 5 | GP2 β General-purpose I/O / AN2 / T0CKI / INT |
| Pin 6 | GP1 β General-purpose I/O / AN1 / CIN- / ICSPDAT |
| Pin 7 | GP0 β General-purpose I/O / AN0 / CIN+ / ICSPCLK |
| Pin 8 | VSS β Ground reference |
Typical Applications
PIC12HV615-I/MD is suitable for 7 applications: LED Lighting Control Modules, Automotive Sensor Signal Conditioning, Battery Charging Controllers, Industrial Process Sensor Nodes, Consumer Appliance User Interface, Hobbyist and Educational Electronics, Smart Home Sensor Endpoints.
LED Lighting Control Modules
The PIC12HV615-I/MD is well-suited for LED lighting controllers drawing power directly from an unregulated high-voltage bus. Its integrated HV shunt regulator accepts inputs above 5.5V via an external Zener/resistor network, eliminating a separate LDO and reducing BOM count by 3-4 components. The 20MHz CPU executes PWM dimming and color-mixing algorithms at full instruction speed, while the 4-channel 10-bit ADC reads ambient light sensors and current-sense amplifiers. With 1.75KB Flash, lighting presets, fade tables, and DMX-style command parsing fit comfortably. The DFN-8 (4x4 mm) footprint allows compact driver PCBs found in E27 bulbs, downlights, and architectural fixtures.
Recommended
Automotive Sensor Signal Conditioning
The PIC12HV615-I/MD's industrial -40C to +85C temperature range and integrated HV shunt regulator suit automotive body-electronics and 12V/24V sensor nodes. The HV shunt accepts direct connection to a vehicle's 12V battery through an external resistor/Zener pair, eliminating a discrete regulator. The on-chip comparator combined with the 4-channel ADC performs threshold detection and linearization of thermistor, hall-effect, and pressure-sensor inputs. The 6 GPIO pins drive MOSFET pre-drivers or opto-isolated outputs. The compact DFN-8 package enables placement inside tight engine-bay or wheel-hub sensor housings where PCB real estate is severely constrained.
Recommended
Battery Charging Controllers
For low-power NiMH, Li-ion, or lead-acid battery chargers drawing from a higher-voltage rail, the PIC12HV615-I/MD's HV shunt regulator enables direct connection to the DC bus without an upstream LDO. The 8-bit PIC RISC core runs CC/CV charge profiles, performs delta-V or dT/dt termination algorithms, and monitors cell temperature via the 10-bit ADC. The integrated comparator detects over-current conditions and triggers fast shutdown within one instruction cycle. The 1.75KB Flash stores charge profile lookup tables for multiple battery chemistries, while the small DFN-8 footprint fits inside compact wall-cube and USB-PD charger designs.
Recommended
Industrial Process Sensor Nodes
Industrial 4-20 mA loop-powered and 24V-bus sensor nodes benefit from the PIC12HV615-I/MD's integrated HV shunt, which connects directly to a 24V industrial rail via a Zener/resistor network. The 20MHz RISC core implements HART or IO-Link-like protocol stacks, while the 10-bit ADC digitizes bridge, RTD, or thermocouple inputs. The 64-byte RAM and 1.75KB Flash provide enough headroom for linearization tables and calibration constants. The DFN-8 footprint accommodates M12 and M8 sensor head form factors, and the -40C to +85C industrial grade supports factory-floor deployments.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance User Interface
The PIC12HV615-I/MD handles user-interface tasks in appliances such as coffee machines, microwave ovens, and washing machines where a few buttons, LEDs, and a buzzer need smart control from a high-voltage rectified mains-derived rail. The HV shunt regulator tolerates the unregulated DC bus, reducing external components. The 20MHz CPU debounces capacitive-touch or mechanical buttons, drives 7-segment or matrix LED displays via Charlieplexing, and produces melody/alert tones through PWM on a piezo buzzer. With 1.75KB Flash, custom UI state machines and fault codes fit easily, and the DFN-8 footprint fits behind small display panels.
Recommended
Hobbyist and Educational Electronics
For hobbyist microcontroller projects, robotics kits, and university embedded-systems courses, the PIC12HV615-I/MD offers a low-cost, easy-to-learn 8-bit platform with extensive Microchip educational resources. The 35-instruction RISC set simplifies assembly learning, while MPLAB X IDE and XC8 compiler support free C development. The HV shunt allows students to power the board directly from a 9V battery or wall adapter without regulator complexity. The DFN-8 breakout boards sold by SparkFun, Adafruit, and Microchip's own Curiosity development platform expose all 6 I/O pins plus ICSP programming headers for rapid prototyping.
Recommended
Smart Home Sensor Endpoints
Battery-powered or energy-harvesting smart-home sensors such as window/door contact switches, water-leak detectors, and temperature/humidity transmitters benefit from the PIC12HV615-I/MD's low BOM count and ability to operate from unregulated high-voltage sources. The HV shunt enables direct connection to small solar panels or rectified 12V adapters. The internal 8MHz oscillator eliminates external timing components, and the 10-bit ADC reads sensor outputs with 4.88 mV resolution at 5V. Combined with a sub-GHz or BLE companion radio, the PIC12HV615-I/MD provides the application logic and housekeeping functions while consuming <2 mA active.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC12HV615-I/MD β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC12HV615T-I/MD | PIC12HV615-E/MS | PIC12F615-I/MD | PIC12F615T-I/MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | DFN-8 (4x4 mm) | DFN-8 (4x4 mm) - same | DFN-8 (4x4 mm) - same | DFN-8 (4x4 mm) - same | DFN-8 (4x4 mm) - same |
| Program Memory | 1.75 KB Flash | 1.75 KB Flash | 1.75 KB Flash | 1.75 KB Flash | 1.75 KB Flash |
| RAM | 64 bytes | 64 bytes | 64 bytes | 64 bytes | 64 bytes |
| HV Shunt Regulator | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated | Not present | Not present |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| 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 |
| Packaging Form | Tube | Tape & Reel | Tube | Tube | Tape & Reel |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated high-voltage shunt regulator on VDD (vs PIC12F615-I/MD)
- Extended temperature option available in same package (vs PIC12HV615-E/MS)
- Tape-and-reel packaging variant for high-volume assembly (vs PIC12HV615T-I/MD)
Design Notes
The PIC12HV615-I/MD's integrated HV shunt regulator requires an external Zener diode and series resistor on VDD to safely drop a high-voltage bus to the device's 2.0V-5.5V operating range. According to the Microchip datasheet, selecting a Zener voltage (Vz) between 5.1V and 5.6V and a resistor sized for typical quiescent current plus I/O drive is required. Estimated: at 12V input, with Vz = 5.1V and Iq = 2 mA, a 3.3 kohm series resistor gives ~2.1 mA quiescent plus headroom for transient loads.
The DFN-8 (MD) package relies on the exposed thermal pad for heat dissipation. According to the Microchip package datasheet, the pad MUST be soldered to a copper pour on the PCB of at least 1 square inch to achieve the rated theta_JA. Without a proper thermal pad connection, the device may overheat at high CPU loads combined with high ambient temperature. The datasheet recommends via stitching to inner plane layers for additional thermal relief.
The MCLR/GP3 pin (pin 4) is shared with the device's Master Clear reset function. When used as a general-purpose input, a weak pull-up to VDD is mandatory because this pin defaults to MCLR at reset. According to the Microchip datasheet, leaving MCLR floating can cause intermittent resets or erratic behavior. A 10 kohm pull-up to VDD is the recommended value for in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) compatibility.
For ICSP programming, the ICSPCLK (GP0) and ICSPDAT (GP1) pins must remain accessible and not be isolated by analog-only signal routing. According to the Microchip programming specification, place 0.1uF decoupling capacitors within 5 mm of the VDD pin and route programming signals away from high-current switching traces to prevent programming errors. The exposed pad should not be the only ground connection for the device.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free compliance per Microchip product marking. AEC-Q100 qualification is NOT available for this family; for automotive AEC-Q100 designs, consider PIC16 or PIC18 families. Halogen-free status not explicitly confirmed in provided web data.
