PIC12LF1552-E/MS - 8-bit MCU, 3.5KB Flash, MSOP-8 | Microchip
MPN: PIC12LF1552-E/MS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.05 | $1.05 |
| 10 | $0.95 | $9.50 |
| 100 | $0.82 | $82.00 |
| 500 | $0.71 | $355.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.62 | $620.00 |
PIC12LF1552-E/MS Overview
What is a PIC microcontroller? A PIC (Peripheral Interface Controller) is a family of 8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit microcontrollers made by Microchip Technology, built on a Harvard RISC architecture with separate program and data buses. PIC MCUs integrate a CPU, Flash program memory, RAM, peripherals (ADC, timers, communication interfaces), and I/O into a single IC, forming the embedded "brain" of countless consumer, industrial, and automotive products. Within that taxonomy, the PIC12F subfamily targets the smallest 6-, 8-, and 14-pin packages, optimized for cost-sensitive and compact designs where every square millimeter of PCB matters.
Key features of the PIC12LF1552 include a 4-channel 10-bit ADC, advanced Capacitive Voltage Divider (CVD) controls for mTouch capacitive sensing, a programmable voltage reference, hardware MI2C/SPI peripherals, 25 mA source/sink I/O for direct LED drive, an internal 32 MHz oscillator, Low-Power Brown-Out Reset (LPBOR), and an extended Watchdog Timer. The "LF" suffix indicates the wide 1.8V to 3.6V operating range, allowing direct battery connection for single-cell Li-ion or two-AA designs.
Architecturally, the device uses a 14-bit instruction word with a two-stage pipeline, achieving throughput of 8 MIPS at 32 MHz. On-chip peripherals include the CVD front-end for mTouch proximity and button sensing, programmable reference for ADC calibration, and configurable digital I/O with weak pull-ups.
Typical applications include mTouch capacitive touch buttons, low-cost IoT sensor nodes, consumer remote controls, LED lighting strips, wearable fitness accessories, battery-powered toys, and small appliance user interfaces. In all of these, the device's tiny MSOP-8 footprint combined with its integrated peripherals eliminates the need for external ADC, touch controller, or LDO components.
A key design consideration when using the PIC12LF1552 is oscillator accuracy: the internal 32 MHz HFINTOSC has a typical accuracy of approximately +/-1% over voltage and temperature, so designs requiring USB, UART at high baud, or RF timing should use a calibrated oscillator mode or external crystal. The CVD module also requires firmware tuning to compensate for board parasitic capacitance and temperature drift.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternative MSOP-8 PIC12LF/12F/16F family parts, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC12LF1552-E/MS — 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 PIC12LF1552-E/MS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Mounting Type, ADC, Internal Oscillator, Operating Temperature Range.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC12LF1552-I/MS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12LF1552T-E/MS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12LF1552-I/MU
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.68 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12LF1552-I/SN
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12LF1552-E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.44 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F1501-E/MS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.48 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12LF1552-E/MS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | PIC12LF (8-bit PIC microcontroller) |
| Core | 8-bit PIC RISC (Harvard architecture) |
| Instruction Word Width | 14-bit |
| Program Flash Memory | 3.5 KB (2K x 14 words) |
| RAM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz (8 MIPS) |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 6 |
| ADC | 4-channel, 10-bit |
| I/O Source/Sink Current | 25 mA per pin |
| Communication Interfaces | MI2C (hardware I2C/SMI), SPI |
| Internal Oscillator | 32 MHz HFINTOSC |
| Capacitive Touch Module | CVD (Capacitive Voltage Divider) with mTouch |
| Voltage Reference | Programmable on-chip reference |
| Brown-Out Reset | Low-Power BOR (LPBOR) |
| Watchdog Timer | Extended WDT |
| Package | MSOP-8 (also supplied as UDFN-8) |
| Operating Temperature (E grade) | -40C to +125C |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC12LF1552-E/MS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8 V to 3.6 V) |
| Pin 2 | RA5 — Bidirectional I/O / ADC channel / CVD input |
| Pin 3 | RA4 — Bidirectional I/O / ADC channel / CVD input |
| Pin 4 | RA3 — Input only / MCLR (Reset) / ADC channel |
| Pin 5 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O / ADC channel / CVD input |
| Pin 6 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O / ADC channel / CVD input / I2C SCL |
| Pin 7 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O / ADC channel / CVD input / I2C SDA |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
Typical Applications
PIC12LF1552-E/MS is suitable for 7 applications: Capacitive Touch Button Panel, Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, LED Lighting Strip Controller, Consumer Remote Control, Wearable Fitness Accessory, Small Appliance User Interface, Toy and Hobby Electronics.
Capacitive Touch Button Panel
The PIC12LF1552 is purpose-built for capacitive touch user interfaces. Its advanced CVD (Capacitive Voltage Divider) front-end and Microchip mTouch firmware library enable reliable detection of up to 4 touch buttons plus one proximity sensor on a single MSOP-8 footprint. The 25 mA source/sink I/O drives status LEDs directly without external transistors, and the 1.8-3.6 V supply runs directly from a single Li-ion cell or 2x AA batteries. Per the device datasheet, the CVD module supports water-rejection algorithms critical for kitchen and bathroom appliances, making this part a frequent choice for white-goods control panels where the alternative of a discrete touch IC plus separate MCU inflates BOM cost.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The 1.8-3.6 V operating range and low-power features of the PIC12LF1552 make it well suited to battery-powered IoT sensor endpoints. With the internal 32 MHz HFINTOSC gated off in sleep, the device draws only a few microamperes in idle and can be woken by watchdog, pin change interrupt, or ADC threshold events. The 4-channel 10-bit ADC interfaces directly to temperature, humidity, or ambient-light sensors, and the hardware MI2C peripheral connects to a digital sensor or EEPROM without bit-banging. Combined with the 3.5 KB Flash for sensor-fusion and BLE-beacon-style firmware, the part fits wireless remote controls, environmental monitors, and asset-tracking tags.
Recommended
LED Lighting Strip Controller
For addressable LED strips or decorative lighting, the PIC12LF1552's 25 mA source/sink I/O and high-frequency oscillator deliver enough timing accuracy to drive WS2812B or similar one-wire LED protocols while leaving spare I/O for an SPI or I2C interface to a downstream BLE module. The CVD module can also implement a capacitive touch strip for brightness or color control, eliminating the need for a mechanical slider. With 3.5 KB of Flash, developers can fit a complete addressable-LED driver plus simple touch state machine in firmware.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Control
The PIC12LF1552's small MSOP-8 package, low voltage range, and integrated hardware I2C/SPI make it a strong fit for handheld IR or BLE remote controls. The 4-channel ADC supports battery voltage monitoring plus multi-axis tilt sensing; CVD can detect touch buttons on a sealed membrane keypad without mechanical switches. With 256 bytes of RAM and 3.5 KB Flash, the MCU handles protocol stacks for NEC RC5/6 IR or simple BLE beacon commands in a low-cost BOM.
Recommended
Wearable Fitness Accessory
Wearable fitness bands require a tiny MCU footprint with low standby current and capacitive touch for tap input. The PIC12LF1552-E/MS in MSOP-8 occupies roughly 9 mm^2 of PCB, leaving the rest of the board for a Li-Po cell, accelerometer, and BLE SoC. CVD implements tap/wake gestures; the LPBOR and extended WDT keep battery life robust across temperature extremes. The -40 to +125C E temperature grade supports skin-contact and outdoor use.
Recommended
Small Appliance User Interface
In coffee machines, microwave ovens, and similar small appliances, the PIC12LF1552-E/MS replaces a discrete touch IC plus 8-bit MCU with one part. CVD handles a sealed glass overlay touch keypad, the 4-channel ADC reads temperature sensors and a potentiometer, and the hardware MI2C drives an OLED display or EEPROM for presets. The E temperature grade (-40 to +125C) survives the under-cabinet thermal environment of a kitchen appliance.
Recommended
Toy and Hobby Electronics
The PIC12LF1552's sub-$1 pricing at 1k quantity and 8-pin MSOP make it ideal for educational electronics, hobby kits, and inexpensive toys. The CVD module enables novelty capacitive features (magic wands, proximity triggers), the ADC supports sensor toys, and the hardware I2C/SPI interfaces permit add-on daughter boards. With the Microchip ecosystem of free MPLAB X IDE, XC8 compiler, and code configurator (MCC), students and hobbyists can develop product-quality firmware in a weekend.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC12LF1552-E/MS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC12LF1552-I/MS | PIC12LF1552T-E/MS | PIC12LF1552-I/MU | PIC12LF1552-I/SN | PIC12F1501-E/MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | MSOP-8 | MSOP-8 (same) | MSOP-8 (same) | UDFN-8 (same die) | SOIC-8 (same die) | MSOP-8 (same) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Temperature Grade (E = -40 to +125C) | E (Extended) | I (Industrial, -40 to +85C) | E (Extended, same) | I (Industrial) | I (Industrial) | E (Extended, same) |
| Flash Memory | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 1.75 KB |
| RAM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 64 bytes |
| ADC Channels / Resolution | 4 channels / 10-bit | 4 / 10-bit | 4 / 10-bit | 4 / 10-bit | 4 / 10-bit | 6 / 10-bit |
| CVD (Capacitive Touch) Module | Yes (mTouch advanced CVD) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8-3.6 V | 1.8-3.6 V | 1.8-3.6 V | 1.8-3.6 V | 1.8-5.5 V (wider range) |
| Max I/O Source/Sink Current | 25 mA | 25 mA | 25 mA | 25 mA | 25 mA | 25 mA |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated advanced CVD capacitive-touch module in an 8-pin MSOP (vs PIC12F1501-E/MS)
- Wider operating temperature range than the I-grade variant (vs PIC12LF1552-I/MS)
- Hardware I2C (MI2C) engine plus SPI in an 8-pin footprint (vs PIC12F508-I/MS)
Design Notes
For battery-powered designs, route the PIC12LF1552's VDD pin through a ferrite bead or 10 ohm resistor and place a 100 nF + 10 uF bulk ceramic capacitor within 5 mm of the supply pin. Use Sleep mode with the ADC threshold interrupt or watchdog wake to keep average current in the low microampere range; HFINTOSC remains stable enough for short wake-process cycles. The LPBOR keeps the part in a defined state during brown-out events, so do not disable LPBOR unless you have an external voltage supervisor.
Keep the MSOP-8 thermal pad footprint identical to the JEDEC reference (1.10 mm pad width, 0.30 mm pitch). Place the decoupling capacitor on VDD as close as possible to pin 1, and route the VSS pin (pin 8) directly to a ground copper pour. For CVD touch sensors, route the CVD trace with a guard ring on both sides to reduce stray capacitance; per the datasheet, the guard trace must be driven by the same firmware state as the sensing trace to cancel parasitic capacitance.
Estimated: Internal 32 MHz HFINTOSC has a typical accuracy of +/-1% over the full -40 to +125C range; designs requiring UART communication above 9600 baud or any RF timing should calibrate the oscillator against the ADC reference or use a PIC with HFINTOSC tuning. The MCLR/RA3 pin (pin 4) is input-only; configuring it as output will not work. The CVD module needs firmware compensation for board parasitic capacitance and temperature drift - always run the mTouch self-calibration sequence at startup. Avoid using the ADC and CVD on the same pin simultaneously.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; the E temperature grade is specified as -40 to +125C industrial but not automotive-qualified.
