PIC12LF1501-E/MS - 8-bit MCU, 1.75KB Flash, 20MHz, MSOP-8 | Microchip
MPN: PIC12LF1501-E/MS β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.04 | $1.04 |
| 10 | $0.94 | $9.40 |
| 100 | $0.8 | $80.00 |
| 500 | $0.66 | $330.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.55 | $550.00 |
PIC12LF1501-E/MS Overview
What is a PIC12 microcontroller? The PIC12 family is Microchip's line of 8-bit Harvard-architecture microcontrollers built around a RISC instruction set with 14-bit wide instructions. PIC microcontrollers are flash-programmable system-on-chip devices that integrate CPU core, non-volatile program memory, RAM, EEPROM (where present), and a rich set of peripherals including ADC, timers, PWM, comparators, and communication modules. The PIC12LF1501 belongs to the PIC12F subfamily, which targets low-pin-count applications. The 'LF' suffix indicates the extended low-voltage operating range, while the '1501' designates the part within the family.
Key features include an integrated 10-bit ADC with up to 4 input channels, a 5-bit DAC, three timers, four PWM channels, a comparator, and on-chip configurable logic cells (CLC) and a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO). The device also includes a brown-out reset (BOR), power-on reset (POR), and a watchdog timer (WDT) for robust embedded operation. Per the Microchip PIC12LF1501 datasheet, these peripherals are accessible via the standard PIC12 instruction set.
The PIC12LF1501 uses an enhanced mid-range PIC core with a 14-bit instruction word, 8-level hardware stack, and interrupt controller supporting both core and peripheral interrupts. Internal oscillator options support operation up to 16MHz without external components, while the device can also accept an external clock. The 64-byte SRAM and 1.75KB Flash provide sufficient program space for typical small-form-factor applications in consumer, industrial, and IoT markets.
Typical applications include battery-powered IoT sensor nodes, consumer remote controls, LED lighting controllers, small motor control loops, white goods, and wearable devices. The combination of 6 I/O, 10-bit ADC, CLC, NCO, and PWM makes it especially well-suited for mixed-signal, low-power designs.
When designing with this part, verify your VDD stays within 2.5V to 3.6V. Use the internal 16MHz HFINTOSC to minimize external component count, and leverage the CLC and NCO peripherals to offload timing-critical logic from the CPU.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, providing a complete sourcing and design reference for engineers evaluating the PIC12LF1501-E/MS.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC12LF1501-E/MS 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 PIC12LF1501-E/MS (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Core Architecture, Operating Temperature, ADC, Internal Oscillator, MSL Level.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC12LF1501-I/MS
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12LF1501T-I/MS
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$0.56 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC12LF1501-E/MSVAO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12LF1501-E/MF
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12LF1501-E/MC
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$0.55 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC12LF1501-E/MS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit RISC (Enhanced Mid-Range, 14-bit instruction) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 1.75 KB (1K x 14) |
| Data SRAM | 64 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 0 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 20 MHz |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 2.5 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 6 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 4 channels |
| DAC | 5-bit, 1 channel |
| Timers | 3 (Timer0, Timer1, Timer2) |
| PWM Channels | 4 |
| Comparators | 1 |
| CLC (Configurable Logic Cell) | Yes |
| NCO (Numerically Controlled Oscillator) | Yes |
| Internal Oscillator | 16 MHz HFINTOSC |
| Watchdog Timer (WDT) | Yes |
| Brown-out Reset (BOR) | Yes |
| Power-on Reset (POR) | Yes |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (Extended, 'E' grade) |
| Package | MSOP-8 (3.0 mm body) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC12LF1501-E/MS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5/CLKIN β Bidirectional I/O / external clock input |
| Pin 2 | RA4/AN3/CLC1OUT β Bidirectional I/O / analog input channel 3 / CLC1 output |
| Pin 3 | RA3/MCLR/VPP β Input only / Master Clear reset / programming voltage |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/T6OUT β Bidirectional I/O / analog input channel 2 / Timer6 output |
| Pin 5 | RA1/ICSPCLK/AN1 β Bidirectional I/O / ICD clock / analog input channel 1 |
| Pin 6 | RA0/ICSPDAT/AN0 β Bidirectional I/O / ICD data / analog input channel 0 |
| Pin 7 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | VDD β Positive power supply (2.5V to 3.6V) |
Typical Applications
PIC12LF1501-E/MS is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Consumer Remote Control (IR/RF), LED Lighting Controller, Small DC Motor / Fan Speed Control, Wearable Health / Fitness Sensor, White Goods / Appliance User Interface.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC12LF1501-E/MS is well suited for battery-powered IoT sensor nodes because it operates from 2.5V to 3.6V and supports sleep currents below 1 uA in its lowest-power mode, making it ideal for 2x AA alkaline or single-cell LiFePO4 designs. Its 10-bit ADC with 4 channels handles temperature, light, or voltage sensing, while the 6 I/O pins are sufficient to drive a low-power RF module or BLE transceiver enable line. According to the Microchip PIC12LF1501 datasheet, the CLC and NCO peripherals can offload sensor timing logic, reducing firmware wake-time and extending battery life in duty-cycled IoT deployments.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Control (IR/RF)
The PIC12LF1501-E/MS fits consumer remote control designs thanks to its compact MSOP-8 footprint, 6 I/O pins, and integrated NCO for high-resolution carrier generation in the 36kHz to 40kHz IR band. The PIC12 core runs NEC, RC5, or proprietary IR protocols without external timing ICs, and its 2.5V to 3.6V range is compatible with single CR2032 cells (via boost or direct-drive topology). Per the Microchip PIC12LF1501 datasheet, the CLC can implement PWM modulation in hardware, freeing the CPU from tight carrier-timing loops and reducing average current draw between button presses.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller
The PIC12LF1501-E/MS is ideal for small LED lighting controllers where its 4 PWM channels drive RGB or RGBW LED strings, and its 10-bit ADC reads ambient light or potentiometer color-mix inputs. Operating from 2.5V to 3.6V, it can be powered directly from a 3.3V LDO downstream of an offline LED driver. According to the Microchip PIC12LF1501 datasheet, the NCO provides fade-timing resolution beyond standard PWM, enabling smooth logarithmic dimming curves that match human perception, while the CLC can implement hardware color-mixing combinational logic.
Recommended
Small DC Motor / Fan Speed Control
The PIC12LF1501-E/MS handles small DC motor or fan speed control using its 4 PWM outputs and 3 timers for closed-loop RPM regulation. The 10-bit ADC reads back tachometer or back-EMF signals, and the comparator can implement hardware current limiting. Operating from 2.5V to 3.6V, the part works in 3.3V brushless DC fan or low-voltage DC motor designs. Per the Microchip PIC12LF1501 datasheet, the extended -40C to +125C temperature range supports under-hood or enclosed motor environments where commercial-grade MCUs would fail.
Recommended
Wearable Health / Fitness Sensor
The PIC12LF1501-E/MS suits compact wearable health devices because its 8-pin MSOP package fits sub-1 square inch PCBs and its 2.5V-3.6V range accepts a single Li-ion cell via a 3.3V LDO. Its 10-bit ADC with 4 channels can read heart-rate (PPG) photodiode, skin temperature, battery voltage, and motion interrupt, while the CLC can implement heart-rate edge detection in hardware to wake the main processor only on valid events. According to the Microchip PIC12LF1501 datasheet, sleep currents in the nanoamp range preserve battery life across multi-day wear cycles.
Recommended
White Goods / Appliance User Interface
The PIC12LF1501-E/MS is appropriate for white-goods user-interface modules where its 6 I/O drive button matrices, LED indicators, and buzzer PWM, while the 10-bit ADC reads potentiometer or rotary-encoder inputs. The -40C to +125C extended temperature grade ensures operation in oven-adjacent or refrigerated compartments where consumer-grade MCUs would fail. Per the Microchip PIC12LF1501 datasheet, the BOR and WDT provide the robustness needed for household appliance safety standards, and the small MSOP-8 footprint enables slim bezel designs in modern front-panel layouts.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC12LF1501-E/MS β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC12LF1501-I/MS | PIC12LF1501T-I/MS | PIC12LF1501-E/MSVAO | PIC12LF1501-E/MF | PIC12LF1501-E/MC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | MSOP-8 (3.0 mm) | MSOP-8 (3.0 mm) - same | MSOP-8 (3.0 mm) - same | MSOP-8 (3.0 mm) - same | MSOP-8 (3.0 mm) - same | MSOP-8 (3.0 mm) - same |
| Program Memory | 1.75 KB Flash | 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 | 64 bytes |
| Operating Voltage | 2.5 V to 3.6 V | 2.5 V to 3.6 V | 2.5 V to 3.6 V | 2.5 V to 3.6 V | 2.5 V to 3.6 V | 2.5 V to 3.6 V |
| Maximum Clock | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Temperature Grade | Extended (-40C to +125C) | Industrial (-40C to +85C) | Industrial (-40C to +85C) | Automotive (AEC-Q100) | Extended (-40C to +125C) | Extended (-40C to +125C) |
| ADC | 10-bit, 4 channels | 10-bit, 4 channels | 10-bit, 4 channels | 10-bit, 4 channels | 10-bit, 4 channels | 10-bit, 4 channels |
| PWM Channels | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Key Differentiators
- Extended temperature grade up to +125C (vs PIC12LF1501-I/MS)
- MSOP-8 package for tight PCB layouts (vs PIC12F1501-E/P (PDIP-8))
- Integrated CLC and NCO peripherals (vs PIC12F683-E/MS)
Design Notes
Estimated: VDD decoupling for the PIC12LF1501-E/MS requires a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the VDD pin (pin 8) and a bulk 1 uF to 10 uF capacitor on the same rail. Per the Microchip PIC12LF1501 datasheet, the device draws brief current spikes during ADC conversion and Flash programming, and inadequate bulk capacitance can cause VDD droop that triggers the Brown-out Reset (BOR). For battery designs, place a 100 nF + 10 uF pair on VDD and 100 nF on AVDD if used.
Route the MCLR/RA3 pin (pin 3) carefully. If unused as reset, the Microchip PIC12LF1501 datasheet recommends tying MCLR to VDD through a 10 kOhm pull-up resistor, with the ICSP programming header optionally including a capacitor to ground for in-circuit debugging. Avoid long traces on RA0/RA1 (ICSPDAT/ICSPCLK) because they are used for in-circuit programming and long traces can cause programming failures.
Do not exceed 3.6V on VDD; the LF variant is not 5V tolerant. Per the Microchip PIC12LF1501 datasheet, applying 5V to any I/O pin will damage the device. If interfacing to 5V logic, use a level translator (e.g., resistive divider or dedicated level shifter). Also note that RA3 (pin 3) is input-only - attempting to drive it as an output will damage the silicon. Finally, the device has 0 bytes of EEPROM, so use Flash for non-volatile data storage with proper wear-leveling.
Place the MSOP-8 land pattern per JEDEC MO-187 with thermal pad not connected (this package has no exposed pad). Per Microchip PIC12LF1501 datasheet and the MSOP-8 land pattern recommendations, use 0.4 mm pitch pads with solder mask defined (SMD) openings for best solder joint reliability. Route digital switching signals away from the analog-capable pins (RA0-RA2, RA4) to minimize ADC noise coupling; if unavoidable, add a guard ground trace between the noisy and analog signals.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free compliant per Microchip product page. -E/MS variant is not AEC-Q100 qualified; for automotive applications use PIC12LF1501-E/MSVAO which is AEC-Q100 screened to the same die.
