PIC12LF1501-I/SN - 8-bit 20MHz 1.75KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC12LF1501-I/SN ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.36 | $1.36 |
| 10 | $1.22 | $12.20 |
| 100 | $1.08 | $108.00 |
| 500 | $0.96 | $480.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.88 | $880.00 |
PIC12LF1501-I/SN Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a small computer-on-a-chip built around an 8-bit data path and integrated peripherals such as Flash, RAM, ADC, timers, and configurable logic cells. Within Microchip's taxonomy, the PIC12LF1501 belongs to the PIC12F family -> 8-bit PIC microcontrollers -> microcontrollers (MCU) -> embedded microcontrollers -> semiconductors. The 'LF' suffix denotes a low-voltage (2.5V-3.6V) variant aimed at battery-powered designs that sit below the standard PIC12F 5V operation.
Key features include Microchip's eXtreme Low Power (XLP) technology with sub-µA sleep currents, three 8-bit timers (TMR0/TMR2 with postscaler/TMR4 or TMR6), a Configurable Logic Cell (CLC), a Numerically Controlled Oscillator (NCO), 4-channel 10-bit ADC, and an on-board 4xPLL that allows 20MHz operation from an internal 5MHz HFINTOSC. The device also offers two comparators and an enhanced PWM with up to 4 outputs, providing significant analog and digital integration for its 8-pin footprint.
The PIC12LF1501 uses a Harvard RISC core with a single-cycle instruction architecture (apart from branches), enabling predictable 20MHz throughput (~5 MIPS). The internal oscillator, PLL, and ADC enable BOM reduction by removing the external crystal, while the CLC and NCO blocks add hardware glue logic without extra ICs. The SOIC-8 package simplifies hand prototyping and reflow assembly on small boards.
Typical applications include battery-powered IoT sensor nodes, wearable devices, general-purpose LED lighting controllers, low-power remote controls, and small consumer appliances where 8 pins are sufficient. Designers pick this part when they need more analog integration (CLC, NCO, ADC) than the PIC12F675/683 while retaining the same SOIC-8 footprint and pinout.
When designing, ensure VDD decoupling is placed close to pin 1 and pin 8, and that the ICSPDAT/ICSPCLK pins remain accessible for in-circuit serial programming. Note the -I (industrial) temperature grade covers -40°C to +85°C, so the -E grade is required for -40°C to +125°C automotive/industrial-thermal designs.
This page synthesizes verified distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, application notes, and design notes not consolidated on a single manufacturer page, accelerating sourcing and design-in decisions for the PIC12LF1501-I/SN.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC12LF1501-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 PIC12LF1501-I/SN (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, RoHS Status, ADC, Data EEPROM.
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Request AlternativesPIC12LF1501-I/SN Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC12 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory | 1.75 KB Flash (1K x 14) |
| SRAM | 64 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 2.5 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 6 |
| Timers | 3 x 8-bit (TMR0, TMR2, TMR4/6) |
| ADC | 4-channel 10-bit |
| Comparators | 2 |
| PWM Outputs | Enhanced PWM, up to 4 channels |
| Special Features | CLC, NCO, HFINTOSC, 4x PLL |
| XLP Sleep Current | Sub-µA (XLP technology) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +85 °C (Industrial, -I grade) |
| Package | 8-pin SOIC (SN, 0.154" / 3.90 mm body) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (lead-free, per SKU suffix /SN) |
| Programming | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) via ICSPDAT/ICSPCLK |
PIC12LF1501-I/SN Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Positive power supply (2.5 V to 3.6 V) |
| Pin 2 | RA5 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input / ICSPDAT (alt) |
| Pin 3 | RA4 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 4 | RA3/MCLR/VPP — Bidirectional I/O / Master Clear (reset) / programming voltage |
| Pin 5 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 6 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 7 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input / ICSPCLK (alt) |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
Typical Applications
PIC12LF1501-I/SN is suitable for 6 applications: Coin-Cell IoT Sensor Node, Battery-Powered Wearable Device, General-Purpose LED Lighting Controller, Low-Power Remote Control / IR Transmitter, Small Consumer Appliance Control, Industrial Sensor Interface Module.
Coin-Cell IoT Sensor Node
The PIC12LF1501-I/SN is well matched to CR2032-powered IoT sensor nodes because its 2.5 V minimum VDD covers the coin-cell's 3.0 V nominal discharge curve, while the XLP technology holds sleep current in the sub-µA range. The 4-channel 10-bit ADC reads temperature, light, or battery voltage without an external analog front end, and the CLC block implements hardware wake logic so the core can stay asleep until a sensor threshold is crossed. This 8-pin SOIC footprint allows the entire MCU + decoupling to occupy less than 25 mm² of PCB, which is critical for wearable form factors. Compared with discrete logic implementations, the integrated ADC and NCO reduce BOM cost and assembly complexity.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Wearable Device
Wearable designs benefit from the PIC12LF1501-I/SN's small SOIC-8 footprint and XLP sub-µA sleep, which preserves CR2032 / coin-cell runtime during idle periods. The 20 MHz core, derived from an internal 5 MHz HFINTOSC and 4x PLL, executes sensor reads and BLE companion-chip handshakes without an external crystal, reducing BOM and antenna-area constraints. The CLC and NCO blocks can drive status LEDs or haptic feedback using PWM edges generated entirely in hardware, freeing the CPU for sensor processing. Designers typically run the MCU at 3.0 V from a single coin cell with a 100 nF decoupling capacitor on VDD and a 10 µF reservoir cap for ADC reference stability.
Recommended
General-Purpose LED Lighting Controller
The PIC12LF1501-I/SN's enhanced PWM module supports up to 4 channels with configurable frequency and duty cycle, making it a compact controller for RGB or tunable-white LED strings from a 3 V supply. The NCO and CLC blocks generate high-resolution fade curves in the background, so the CPU stays idle and XLP sleep keeps quiescent current below 1 µA between brightness updates. The 4-channel 10-bit ADC reads ambient light sensors or potentiometers for closed-loop brightness control. Designers can daisy-chain LEDs in series with a single current-mode driver controlled by PIC12LF1501-I/SN PWM output, achieving smooth dimming without flicker.
Recommended
Low-Power Remote Control / IR Transmitter
For IR or sub-GHz remote controls, the PIC12LF1501-I/SN combines sub-µA XLP idle with on-chip PWM and NCO blocks that can synthesize a 38 kHz carrier without an external timer IC. Its 2.5-3.6 V VDD operates directly from a single CR2032 coin cell, and the 6 I/O pins can drive IR LEDs, scan a key matrix, and interface to a low-cost companion transceiver. The CLC implements edge detection for key-debounce logic in hardware, offloading the CPU and reducing firmware complexity. Compared with dedicated IR controller ICs, the PIC12LF1501-I/SN provides more headroom for custom protocols and OEM-specific code.
Recommended
Small Consumer Appliance Control
Small kitchen, personal-care, or hobby appliances benefit from the PIC12LF1501-I/SN's combination of 6 I/O pins, ADC inputs, PWM outputs, and 2.5-3.6 V operation. Designers can read push-buttons, drive MOSFET gates via PWM, sense NTC thermistors through the 10-bit ADC, and time tasks using the 8-bit timers, all from a single SOIC-8 chip. The CLC block provides configurable hardware logic for safety interlocks and over-temperature shutdown, meeting IEC 60730 class B requirements with minimal software overhead. Its SOIC-8 footprint simplifies hand-rework and low-volume assembly for small-batch products.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Interface Module
Industrial sensor modules leverage the PIC12LF1501-I/SN's 10-bit ADC, two comparators, and CLC/NCO hardware blocks to implement signal conditioning and threshold detection directly on-chip. The SOIC-8 form factor is suitable for integration into compact DIN-rail or PCB-mount modules where board space is constrained. The 2.5-3.6 V VDD range aligns with 3.3 V industrial rails, while optional extended-temperature PIC12LF1501-E/SN grades support -40 °C to +125 °C environments. The device's low sleep current enables battery-backed sensing nodes that monitor field signals intermittently over multi-year deployments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC12LF1501-I/SN — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC12F1501-I/SN | PIC12LF1501-E/SN | PIC12LF1501-I/P | PIC12LF1822-I/SN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | SOIC-8 (SN) | SOIC-8 (SN) - same | SOIC-8 (SN) - same | PDIP-8 /P (THT) | SOIC-8 (SN) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 2.5 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 3.6 V | 2.5 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB | 3.5 KB |
| SRAM | 64 B | 64 B | 64 B | 64 B | 128 B |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 20 MHz (HFINTOSC + 4x PLL) | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 32 MHz |
| ADC | 4-channel 10-bit | 4-channel 10-bit | 4-channel 10-bit | 4-channel 10-bit | 4-channel 10-bit |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +85 °C (-I grade) | -40 °C to +85 °C | -40 °C to +125 °C | -40 °C to +85 °C | -40 °C to +85 °C |
Key Differentiators
- Low-voltage 2.5 V minimum VDD vs standard 1.8 V 'F' variant (vs PIC12F1501-I/SN)
- Extended temperature grade in same SOIC-8 footprint (vs PIC12LF1501-I/SN (-I grade))
- Sub-µA XLP sleep vs older PIC12F675/683 baseline (vs PIC12F683-I/SN)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to pin 1 (VDD) and pin 8 (VSS) to suppress switching transients from the internal HFINTOSC and ADC. For ADC-stable references, add a 10 µF reservoir capacitor on VDD; the XLP sleep current remains sub-µA as long as the ADC is disabled during sleep.
Reserve the ICSPDAT (RA5/alt) and ICSPCLK (RC3/alt) pins for in-circuit serial programming if you plan field updates; the APFCON register swaps them to alternative pin locations but you need a header to access one of these two pins. Keep the MCLR/RA3/VPP pin accessible to allow external reset and low-voltage programming.
The PIC12LF1501-I/SN industrial grade is rated -40 °C to +85 °C; do not specify it for -40 °C to +125 °C designs - choose PIC12LF1501-E/SN instead. Also note that the 2.5 V minimum VDD excludes 1.8 V system designs; for that range, pick the PIC12F1501-I/SN variant (1.8 V-5.5 V).
The SOIC-8 (SN) package has a thermal resistance of approximately 100 °C/W junction-to-ambient; with a low-power 8-bit MCU the typical junction rise is well below 10 °C, so no thermal copper pour is required beyond standard ground fill. Maintain at least 0.2 mm clearance around the SOIC-8 pads for hand-rework access.
Compliance Information
SOIC-8 /SN package is lead-free and RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. AEC-Q100 qualification not published for this part; automotive designs should reference the PIC12F1501-I/SN automotive-grade part numbers.
