PIC12LF1552-I/MU - 8-bit 32MHz MCU, 3.5KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: PIC12LF1552-I/MU β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.18 | $1.18 |
| 10 | $1.06 | $10.60 |
| 100 | $0.92 | $92.00 |
| 500 | $0.78 | $390.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.68 | $680.00 |
PIC12LF1552-I/MU Overview
What is a PIC microcontroller? A PIC microcontroller (Peripheral Interface Controller) is a self-contained microcomputer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (Flash), data memory (RAM), and peripherals such as timers, ADC, communication interfaces, and I/O ports onto a single silicon die. PIC MCUs sit in the broader hierarchy of embedded microcontrollers -> microcontrollers -> microcomputer -> semiconductor -> integrated circuit. The PIC12LF series specifically targets ultra-low-power, space-constrained applications where a small pin count, low operating voltage, and integrated analog peripherals matter most.
Key features of the PIC12LF1552 include 1.8V to 3.6V single-supply operation, 4 KB total Flash address space, 6 I/O pins, hardware mTouch capacitive sensing, 4 CLC blocks, a 10-bit ADC with 7 channels, 2 comparators, 1 8-bit and 1 16-bit timer, an EUSART module, and an internal 32 MHz oscillator that eliminates the need for an external crystal. The UDFN-8 (2x3) package enables compact PCB designs in wearables and IoT endpoints.
The device uses Microchip's enhanced mid-range 8-bit core with a 14-bit instruction word, executing most instructions in a single clock cycle. The integrated ADC2 (Analog-to-Digital Converter with Computation) performs averaging, filtering, threshold comparison, and oversampling in hardware, reducing firmware complexity and CPU wake-time. The NCO block provides high-resolution frequency generation suitable for dimming LED drivers, IR carrier generation, and tone synthesis without CPU intervention.
Typical applications include IoT sensor nodes, wearable fitness and health devices, consumer remote controls, LED lighting controllers, capacitive-touch user interfaces, low-end battery-powered toys, and small home appliances. The wide 1.8V-3.6V range supports single-cell Li-ion and 2xAA/AAA battery chemistries directly.
When designing with the PIC12LF1552, ensure the exposed thermal pad (EP) is soldered to a ground copper pour for thermal dissipation and electrical reference. Decouple VDD with a 0.1 Β΅F X7R ceramic capacitor placed within 2 mm of the IC, and reserve the MCLR pin configuration carefully if in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) is required.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC12LF1552-I/MU 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 PIC12LF1552-I/MU (same form factor and footprint) β differing in ADC, Internal Oscillator, Package, Communication Interfaces, Core.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC12LF1552T-I/MU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$0.68 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC12F1501-I/MU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12LF1501T-I/MU
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12LF1552-I/MU Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC enhanced mid-range 8-bit |
| Instruction Width | 14-bit |
| Max CPU Frequency | 32 MHz (8 MIPS) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 3.5 KB (2K x 14 words) |
| Data SRAM | 256 bytes |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 6 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 7 channels, with ADC2 computation |
| Comparators | 2 |
| Configurable Logic Cells (CLC) | 4 blocks |
| Numerically Controlled Oscillator (NCO) | Yes, 20-bit |
| Timers | 1 x 8-bit, 1 x 16-bit |
| EUSART | Yes (1 module) |
| mTouch Capacitive Sensing | Yes, hardware |
| Internal Oscillator | 32 MHz (no external crystal needed) |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 Β°C to +85 Β°C (Industrial) |
| Package | 8-UDFN (2x3 mm) with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC12LF1552-I/MU Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD β Positive supply voltage (1.8 V to 3.6 V) |
| Pin 2 | RA5 β Bidirectional I/O pin / IOC / ADC channel |
| Pin 3 | RA4 β Bidirectional I/O pin / IOC / ADC channel |
| Pin 4 | RA3/MCLR β Input-only / Master Clear Reset (active-low) |
| Pin 5 | RA2 β Bidirectional I/O pin / IOC / ADC channel |
| Pin 6 | RA1 β Bidirectional I/O pin / IOC / ADC channel |
| Pin 7 | RA0 β Bidirectional I/O pin / IOC / ADC channel |
| Pin 8 | VSS β Ground reference |
Typical Applications
PIC12LF1552-I/MU is suitable for 7 applications: IoT Wireless Sensor Node, Wearable Fitness/Health Device, Capacitive Touch User Interface, LED Lighting Controller, Consumer Remote Control, Industrial Sensor Module, Smart Home Wireless Button.
IoT Wireless Sensor Node
The PIC12LF1552-I/MU fits IoT wireless sensor nodes thanks to its 1.8V-3.6V operating range that matches 2xAA alkaline or single-cell Li-FeS2 chemistries directly. Its 32 MHz internal oscillator eliminates the external crystal required by many sensor SoCs, reducing PCB area below 1 cmΒ². The 10-bit ADC2 with hardware averaging and oversampling produces clean sensor readings while keeping the CPU in sleep mode most of the time, yielding years of battery life.
Recommended
Wearable Fitness/Health Device
For wearable fitness bands and health patches, the PIC12LF1552-I/MU's UDFN-8 (2x3 mm) footprint fits inside small enclosures, and its 32 MHz performance handles BLE-beacon stack coordination, heart-rate sensor sampling, and step-count algorithms. The 256-byte SRAM buffers sensor data before BLE transmission, while the mTouch peripheral supports touch-button wakeup without additional ICs.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch User Interface
The PIC12LF1552-I/MU integrates Microchip's mTouch capacitive-touch sensing peripheral, enabling slide, button, wheel, and proximity sensor interfaces without external touch ICs. Combined with the CLC blocks for noise filtering and ADC2 for signal averaging, the MCU produces robust touch readings even in wet or noisy environments typical of white-goods and kitchen appliances.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller
The PIC12LF1552-I/MU's 20-bit NCO and 16-bit timer modules generate fine-resolution PWM outputs for LED dimming and color-mixing, supporting up to 1 million dimming steps for high-quality architectural lighting. The 32 MHz system clock provides the resolution needed for flicker-free operation, while the 1.8V-3.6V range suits driver-side voltage rails.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Control
The PIC12LF1552-I/MU's EUSART, low power, and 32 MHz performance make it an excellent fit for IR/RF remote-control transmitters and receivers. The NCO generates accurate IR carrier frequencies (typically 38 kHz or 56 kHz) without CPU overhead, while 1.8V operation supports single-cell coin-cell battery designs. Battery life exceeds 1 year at typical usage patterns.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Module
The PIC12LF1552-I/MU's industrial temperature grade (-40 Β°C to +85 Β°C) and integrated 10-bit ADC2 make it suitable for factory-floor sensor modules that monitor temperature, pressure, and vibration. Hardware ADC computation (averaging, oversampling, threshold detection) reduces CPU wake time, while the UDFN-8 footprint mounts directly on densely packed industrial PCBs.
Recommended
Smart Home Wireless Button
For smart-home wall switches and battery-powered buttons, the PIC12LF1552-I/MU's deep-sleep current of <50 nA typical (per datasheet) and mTouch wake-up capability enable coin-cell life exceeding 5 years. The 32 MHz wake-and-transmit time under 5 Β΅s minimizes button-to-cloud latency, while the 8-UDFN package fits inside CR2032-battery fixtures with millimetre clearance.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC12LF1552-I/MU β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Choose PIC12F1501-I/MU when you need a lower-cost drop-in in the same UDFN-8 footprint and your application fits within 1.75 KB Flash and 64 bytes SRAM without touch or NCO.
Choose PIC12LF1552-I/SN when you need the same silicon die in an SOIC-8 package for hand-soldered prototypes or where thermal performance matters more than PCB density. The UDFN package is preferred for reflow-only production where minimum PCB area is the priority.
Choose PIC12F1572-I/MS only if you specifically need its MSOP-8 footprint; functionally it is less capable than PIC12LF1552-I/MU in the same family.
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC12LF1552T-I/MU | PIC12LF1552-I/SN | PIC12F1501-I/MU | PIC12F1572-I/MS | PIC12LF1501T-I/MU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 8-UDFN (2x3) | 8-UDFN (2x3) - same | 8-SOIC - different footprint | 8-UDFN (2x3) - same | 8-MSOP - different footprint | 8-UDFN (2x3) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 1.75 KB | 3.5 KB | 1.75 KB |
| SRAM | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 64 B | 256 B | 64 B |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| mTouch Capacitive Sense | Yes (hardware) | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| NCO | Yes (20-bit) | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Max CPU Frequency | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 16 MHz (LF suffix: 32 MHz) | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Unit Price (qty 1, USD) | 1.18 | 1.18 | 1.18 | 0.84 | 1.05 | 0.84 |
Key Differentiators
- Largest Flash in 8-pin UDFN PIC12F family (vs PIC12F1501-I/MU)
- Integrated mTouch hardware capacitive-touch peripheral (vs PIC12F1572-I/MS)
- 20-bit NCO for high-resolution frequency generation (vs PIC12F1501-I/MU)
Design Notes
Solder the exposed thermal pad (EP) of the 8-UDFN (2x3 mm) package to a ground copper pour at least 2 mmΒ² in area. The EP is internally bonded to VSS; failure to solder it causes high die temperature and unreliable operation. Use a 0.1 Β΅F X7R ceramic decoupling capacitor placed within 2 mm of the VDD pin, with a 4.7 Β΅F bulk capacitor on the same supply rail if the application drives capacitive loads.
The PIC12LF1552 supports 1.8 V-3.6 V single-supply operation. For single-cell Li-ion designs (3.0-4.2 V), use a low-IQ LDO such as MCP1700 to extend battery life. For 2xAA alkaline designs, add a 4.7 Β΅F bulk capacitor to handle the high source impedance as cells discharge below 0.9 V each. In-circuit serial programming (ICSP) requires no external pull-up on MCLR when using the internal MCLR configuration.
The mTouch capacitive-touch sensing peripheral is sensitive to PCB ground plane discontinuities under the sensor pads. Keep the ground pour intact under sensor electrodes; do not route signals or power traces directly beneath them. Use guard rings on the schematic-side PCB layer to improve noise immunity. Match sensor trace lengths if multiple buttons share a scan sequence to maintain balanced touch response.
Do not exceed 3.6 V on VDD; the PIC12LF1552 is rated 1.8-3.6 V and the 'LF' low-voltage variant is not 5 V tolerant. Avoid driving an LED directly from RA0/RA1 without a current-limit resistor - peak sourcing/sinking is 25 mA per I/O. Configuration Words must be set correctly for the internal oscillator (INTOSC); a missing configuration causes the device to wait for an external crystal that does not exist.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial temperature grade (-40 Β°C to +85 Β°C) only; not AEC-Q100 qualified for automotive. PIC12F family parts are not PPAP-capable.
