PIC12LF1572-E/RF - 8-bit MCU, 32MHz, 3.5KB Flash, 16-bit PWM | Microchip
MPN: PIC12LF1572-E/RF ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.97 | $0.97 |
| 10 | $0.88 | $8.80 |
| 100 | $0.78 | $78.00 |
| 500 | $0.71 | $355.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.64 | $640.00 |
PIC12LF1572-E/RF Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer containing a CPU, program memory (Flash), data memory (RAM), and programmable peripherals. The PIC12LF1572 belongs to the PIC® 12F family of 8-pin mid-range microcontrollers; this LF variant operates from 1.8V to 3.6V and is optimized for low-voltage, low-power designs. Within the broader taxonomy, an MCU is a subset of microcomputer -> embedded processor -> integrated circuit. The PIC12LF1572 family pairs a RISC Harvard-architecture core with Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) so timers, PWM, and logic blocks run without CPU intervention, enabling deterministic real-time control with minimal code overhead.
Key features include three 16-bit PWMs (1.0ns PWM resolution at 32MHz) for high-resolution dimming and motor control, four 10-bit ADC channels with hardware averaging, two comparators, two CLCs, and one CWG with auto-shutdown. The device supports in-circuit serial programming (ICSP), provides 25mA source/sink per I/O, and includes a low-power sleep mode with <50nA typical current. Two speed grades and an extended (-40C to +125C) temperature option make it suitable for industrial and consumer-grade applications.
The PIC12LF1572 uses an enhanced mid-range 8-bit core with a 14-bit instruction word, 8-level hardware stack, and interrupt controller with hardware context save. CIPs (PWM, CLC, CWG) execute autonomously, freeing the CPU for system-level tasks and reducing firmware complexity. The 1.8V minimum VDD allows direct Li-ion or 2xAA battery operation without external regulators.
Typical applications include LED lighting color-mixing and dimming, brushed DC motor and stepper control, switched-mode power supply (SMPS) feedback loops, and consumer remote controls. The three 16-bit PWMs are particularly well suited to high-resolution RGB or white-LED dimming where 8 or 10-bit PWM granularity is insufficient.
When designing with the PIC12LF1572-E/RF, ensure VDD decoupling includes a 100nF ceramic capacitor placed within 5mm of the VDD pin, and use a 10kohm pull-up on MCLR for reliable ICSP programming. The UDFN 3x3mm package has an exposed thermal pad that should be soldered to the ground plane for mechanical reliability.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, drop-in PIC12F1571/1572 family alternatives, and practical design notes not aggregated in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC12LF1572-E/RF — 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 PIC12LF1572-E/RF (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, Program Memory (Flash), ADC, Comparators.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC12F1572-I/RF
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12LF1572-I/RF
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.84 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12LF1571-I/RF
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12F1571-I/RF
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.72 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12LF1822-I/RF
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12LF1572-E/RF Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | Enhanced Mid-Range 8-bit PIC |
| Instruction Word Size | 14-bit |
| CPU Speed | 32 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) |
| Data RAM | 256 bytes |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 6 |
| 16-bit PWM Channels | 3 (independent) |
| ADC | 10-bit, 4 channels |
| Comparators | 2 |
| Configurable Logic Cells (CLC) | 2 |
| Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) | 1 |
| Package | 8-pin UDFN (3x3 mm) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (E = extended) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC12LF1572-E/RF Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8V to 3.6V) |
| Pin 2 | RA5 — GPIO RA5 / PWM3 / ADC CH2 / IOC |
| Pin 3 | RA4 — GPIO RA4 / PWM2 / ADC CH1 / IOC |
| Pin 4 | RA3/MCLR — GPIO RA3 / MCLR (reset, ICSP programming) / ADC CH3 |
| Pin 5 | RA2 — GPIO RA2 / PWM1 / CWG1 / ADC CH2 / IOC |
| Pin 6 | RA1 — GPIO RA1 / CLC2 / Comparator C1+ / ADC CH1 |
| Pin 7 | RA0 — GPIO RA0 / CLC1 / ICSPDAT / ADC CH0 |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference (also exposed thermal pad) |
Typical Applications
PIC12LF1572-E/RF is suitable for 6 applications: RGB LED Color-Mixing Lighting, Brushed DC Motor Speed Control, Switched-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) Feedback, Consumer Remote Control / IR Transmitter, Sensor Hub / IoT Edge Node, White LED Backlight Driver.
RGB LED Color-Mixing Lighting
The PIC12LF1572-E/RF is ideal for high-resolution RGB LED color-mixing and dimming thanks to its three independent 16-bit PWM channels with 1.0ns resolution at 32MHz, per the Microchip PIC12(L)F1571/2 datasheet 40001723D. Unlike a discrete LED driver IC, the MCU lets you implement custom dimming curves, color-temperature blending, and DMX-style control in firmware. Place the part between a 3.3V LDO and the LED FET gates, and use one PWM per R/G/B channel. The 1.8V-3.6V VDD supports direct Li-ion battery power for portable fixtures. Three PWMs means each channel runs without CPU intervention, freeing core for DMX parsing or BLE control.
Recommended
Brushed DC Motor Speed Control
The PIC12LF1572-E/RF drives brushed DC and small stepper motors via its 16-bit PWM + Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG), enabling hardware dead-band control and auto-shutdown on overcurrent per the Microchip PIC12(L)F1571/2 datasheet 40001723D. Compared to a pure analog driver, the MCU gives closed-loop PI control, soft-start, and stall detection in firmware. Typical hookup: PWM -> gate driver -> H-bridge FETs -> motor, with a current-sense op-amp feeding the ADC for feedback. Three PWMs permit dual-axis control (two motors, one CWG) in the 8-pin package. Operate from 2xAA or single Li-ion at 1.8V-3.6V.
Recommended
Switched-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) Feedback
The PIC12LF1572-E/RF provides digital feedback for isolated or non-isolated SMPS via its 10-bit ADC, two comparators, and three 16-bit PWMs per the Microchip PIC12(L)F1571/2 datasheet 40001723D. The high PWM resolution (1.0ns) lets you close a digital current-mode control loop without external DSP. Compared to a UC3842 analog controller, the PIC approach adds adaptive dead-band, soft-start profiling, and telemetry over UART. Typical hookup: output voltage divided to ADC, PWM drives optocoupler or gate driver, comparator handles cycle-by-cycle current limit. The 1.8V-3.6V VDD supports auxiliary VDD derived from the SMPS itself.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Control / IR Transmitter
The PIC12LF1572-E/RF fits IR remote controls where three 16-bit PWMs drive an IR LED with precise carrier-frequency generation (typically 38kHz / 56kHz) per the Microchip PIC12(L)F1571/2 datasheet 40001723D. The Configurable Logic Cells (CLC) can implement protocol encoding without CPU wakeup, extending battery life. Compared to a fixed-function encoder IC, the MCU enables multiple protocols (NEC, RC5, SIRC) and OTA firmware updates via the bootloader. Typical hookup: PWM -> transistor -> IR LED -> button matrix on ADC/digital pins. Sleep current is sub-microamp, suiting CR2032 coin-cell operation for years.
Recommended
Sensor Hub / IoT Edge Node
The PIC12LF1572-E/RF serves as a low-power sensor hub combining 10-bit ADC, two comparators, and three PWMs in an 8-pin UDFN per the Microchip PIC12(L)F1571/2 datasheet 40001723D. The CLCs handle sensor-triggered wake-ups without polling, while the ADC reads temperature, light, or gas sensors via firmware. Compared to a system-on-chip like ESP32, the PIC draws <<1uA in sleep and is simpler to certify for industrial safety. Typical hookup: sensor analog output -> ADC, sensor interrupt -> GPIO wakeup, UART/I2C to companion radio module. The 1.8V-3.6V VDD supports 2xAA battery with months of runtime.
Recommended
White LED Backlight Driver
The PIC12LF1572-E/RF drives white-LED backlight strings via a single 16-bit PWM into a boost converter or current sink per the Microchip PIC12(L)F1571/2 datasheet 40001723D. The 1.0ns PWM resolution yields >65,000 dimming steps, eliminating visible 8-bit PWM flicker on TFT displays. Compared to a PWM-only LED driver IC, the MCU lets you implement ambient-light auto-dimming, OVP/OCP fault handling, and I2C control from a host processor. Typical hookup: PWM -> gate driver -> NFET -> LED string -> current-sense resistor -> ADC. The 3.6V VDD max means use a separate 5V boost rail for the LED string while the MCU runs on 3.3V.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC12LF1572-E/RF — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC12F1572-I/RF | PIC12LF1572-I/RF | PIC12LF1571-I/RF | PIC12F1571-I/RF | PIC12LF1822-I/RF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 8-pin UDFN (3x3) | 8-pin UDFN (3x3) - same | 8-pin UDFN (3x3) - same | 8-pin UDFN (3x3) - same | 8-pin UDFN (3x3) - same | 8-pin UDFN (3x3) - same |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 1.75 KB | 1.75 KB | 8 KB |
| Data RAM | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 128 B | 128 B | 256 B |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| 16-bit PWM Channels | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 (10-bit PWM) |
| ADC Channels | 4 x 10-bit | 4 x 10-bit | 4 x 10-bit | 4 x 10-bit | 4 x 10-bit | 8 x 10-bit |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) |
Key Differentiators
- Three independent 16-bit PWMs in 8-pin package (vs PIC12LF1822-I/RF)
- Higher Flash and RAM than /1571 variant (vs PIC12LF1571-I/RF)
- Extended -40C to +125C temperature range (vs PIC12LF1572-I/RF)
Design Notes
The PIC12LF1572-E/RF VDD range is 1.8V to 3.6V. Place a 100nF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5mm of the VDD pin and a bulk capacitor (1uF to 10uF) at the power entry. For battery-powered designs, the MCP1700 LDO is preferred over switching regulators because its 1.6uA quiescent current does not starve the MCU's sleep-mode budget. Estimated: at 32MHz active and 1.8V VDD, the MCU draws ~3mA, so the LDO's 250mA rating is more than adequate.
The 8-pin UDFN package has an exposed thermal pad that MUST be soldered to the ground plane for mechanical reliability. Per IPC-7351 nominal land pattern, allocate at least 0.5mm of copper pour around the thermal pad with thermal vias (0.3mm diameter, 4-8 vias) tying it to inner ground planes. The UDFN 3x3mm land pattern is also a single copper island, so flood the surrounding ground pour on the top layer to improve heat spreading.
Do not exceed the absolute maximum VDD of 4.0V on the LF variant (5.5V on non-LF). Always configure the MCLR pin as a digital input (not MCLR reset) in CONFIG words if you need it as a GPIO. The CLC inputs and PWM outputs share pins with GPIO; ensure peripheral pin-select (PPS) mappings do not collide. During ICSP programming, MCLR must be pulled to 8.5V - a 10kohm pull-up to VDD is sufficient for normal run mode but does NOT interfere with high-voltage programming.
The 16-bit PWM outputs have 1.0ns resolution at 32MHz but switching transients can inject noise into analog ADC inputs. Route PWM traces away from the ADC trace by at least 3mm, or place a ferrite bead on the PWM output if the trace must cross an analog input. The two comparators can be configured with internal voltage references to avoid external analog noise pickup. Use the CLC to filter PWM glitches without CPU wake-up overhead.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; for automotive AEC-Q100 versions consult Microchip automotive portfolio.
