PIC12LF1572-I/P - 8-bit MCU, 32MHz, 3.5KB Flash, 8-PDIP | Microchip
MPN: PIC12LF1572-I/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.78 | $0.78 |
| 10 | $0.69 | $6.90 |
| 100 | $0.61 | $61.00 |
| 500 | $0.54 | $270.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.48 | $480.00 |
PIC12LF1572-I/P Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is an integrated circuit containing a processor core, memory, and programmable input/output peripherals on a single silicon die. The PIC12LF1572 belongs to the PIC12 (L)F157x family from Microchip, which targets cost-sensitive embedded designs that need precision analog and PWM generation. The 'LF' suffix indicates a wide operating voltage range of 1.8V to 3.6V, making this part ideal for battery-powered and low-voltage systems where energy efficiency is critical.
Key features include three 16-bit PWMs with independent timers delivering high-resolution pulse-width modulation suitable for LED lighting, stepper motor control, and switched-mode power supplies. The device integrates a 10-bit ADC, a 5-bit DAC, two comparators, an Enhanced Universal Synchronous Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (EUSART), and 5-bit digital signal conditioning blocks (DSM). Its 32MHz internal oscillator eliminates external crystal requirements, reducing BOM cost and PCB area.
The architecture uses a 14-bit instruction word with single-cycle execution except for program branches, providing deterministic timing. With 35 instructions and hardware stack depth of 16, this MCU simplifies code development in MPLAB® X IDE using XC8 compilers. The peripheral pin select (PPS) is not available on this 8-pin device, so pin assignments are fixed per the device datasheet.
Typical applications include LED lighting drivers, brushless DC fan control, small stepper motor control, battery chargers, and general-purpose mixed-signal embedded control. The wide 1.8V-3.6V operating range and integrated analog peripherals reduce the external component count significantly.
When designing with this MCU, ensure the supply voltage stays within the 1.8V to 3.6V LF range; the non-LF PIC12F1572 variant supports 2.3V to 5.5V. Decouple VDD with a 0.1uF ceramic capacitor placed within 5mm of the IC pins. The ICSP™ programming pins (ICSPCLK/ICSPDAT) are shared with GPIO, so design the PCB to allow in-circuit programming access during development.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC12LF1572-I/P — 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-I/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Mounting Type, ADC, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC12F1572-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.84 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12LF1571-I/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12F1571-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12LF1501-E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F1501-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12LF1552-E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.44 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12LF1572-I/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC® 8-bit enhanced mid-range |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 3.5KB (2K x 14) |
| SRAM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF) |
| I/O Pins | 6 |
| ADC | 10-bit, 4 channels |
| DAC | 5-bit, 1 channel |
| Comparators | 2 (with selectable reference) |
| 16-bit PWM | 3 independent modules |
| EUSART | Yes |
| Timers | 3 (one 8-bit, two 16-bit) |
| Internal Oscillator | 31 kHz to 32 MHz selectable |
| Package | 8-pin PDIP (P) |
| Mounting Type | Through Hole |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | Compliant |
PIC12LF1572-I/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8V-3.6V) |
| Pin 2 | RA5/ICSPCLK — GPIO RA5 / serial programming clock |
| Pin 3 | RA4/ICSPDAT/CCP1 — GPIO RA4 / serial programming data / CCP1 |
| Pin 4 | RA3/MCLR/VPP — GPIO RA3 / Master Clear reset / programming voltage |
| Pin 5 | RA2/CVREF/AN2 — GPIO RA2 / comparator voltage reference output / ADC input 2 |
| Pin 6 | RA1/CMP1 — GPIO RA1 / comparator 1 output |
| Pin 7 | RA0/CMP2/AN0 — GPIO RA0 / comparator 2 output / ADC input 0 |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
Typical Applications
PIC12LF1572-I/P is suitable for 6 applications: LED Lighting Drivers, Stepper Motor Control, Battery-Powered Sensor Hubs, Switch-Mode Power Supplies, Brushless DC Fan Control, Battery Chargers and Power Banks.
LED Lighting Drivers
The PIC12LF1572-I/P's three independent 16-bit PWM modules make it ideal for high-resolution LED lighting control in fixtures, strips, and architectural illumination systems. Each PWM supports complementary outputs and independent timing, enabling color mixing, dimming, and fade effects without external driver ICs. The 1.8V-3.6V operating range supports battery-powered portable LED designs and direct Li-ion cell powering.
Recommended
Stepper Motor Control
With three 16-bit PWMs delivering microstep-capable timing resolution and a 32MHz CPU, the PIC12LF1572-I/P provides enough peripheral and processing bandwidth to drive small bipolar stepper motors in compact mechanisms, lens focus systems, and valve actuators. The integrated comparators enable closed-loop current sensing, while the 5-bit DAC provides adjustable reference thresholds. Its 8-pin PDIP package simplifies prototyping and through-hole assembly for low-volume motion control products.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Hubs
The PIC12LF1572-I/P's 1.8V minimum supply voltage and integrated 10-bit ADC make it ideal for battery-powered sensor hubs in IoT edge nodes, environmental monitors, and wearable devices. Its 32MHz internal oscillator eliminates external crystals, and the EUSART enables direct communication with BLE or LoRa modules. Power-saving sleep modes drop current to nanoamp levels, supporting multi-year battery life in duty-cycled sensing applications.
Recommended
Switch-Mode Power Supplies
The PIC12LF1572-I/P's three 16-bit PWMs with high resolution are well-suited for small digital switch-mode power supplies, including buck, boost, and SEPIC topologies in low-power applications. The integrated comparators can be used for current-mode control feedback, and the 5-bit DAC sets adjustable reference voltages. Its 32MHz CPU enables fast control loop execution, while the 8-pin PDIP form factor supports through-hole prototyping.
Recommended
Brushless DC Fan Control
For small brushless DC (BLDC) fans used in consumer electronics, networking equipment, and industrial cooling, the PIC12LF1572-I/P provides three 16-bit PWMs with complementary outputs for direct three-phase gate driving through discrete transistors. The 10-bit ADC reads back-EMF signals for sensorless commutation, and the comparators detect zero-crossings with adjustable thresholds. The wide 1.8V-3.6V range supports direct fan-supply operation.
Recommended
Battery Chargers and Power Banks
The PIC12LF1572-I/P's 1.8V-3.6V operating range, 10-bit ADC for voltage and current sensing, and 16-bit PWM for charger regulation make it a strong fit for linear or low-power switched battery chargers in single-cell Li-ion applications. Its small 8-pin PDIP package supports through-hole assembly for hobbyist and low-volume commercial products. The EUSART communicates charge status to host controllers or LED indicators.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC12LF1572-I/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC12F1572-I/P | PIC12LF1571-I/P | PIC12F1571-I/P | PIC12LF1501-E/P | PIC12LF1552-E/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 8-PDIP | 8-PDIP - same | 8-PDIP - same | 8-PDIP - same | 8-PDIP - same | 8-PDIP - same |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8V to 3.6V (LF) | 2.3V to 5.5V | 1.8V to 3.6V | 2.3V to 5.5V | 1.8V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 3.6V |
| Flash Memory | 3.5KB (2K x 14) | 3.5KB (2K x 14) | 2KB (1K x 14) | 2KB (1K x 14) | 1.75KB | 3.5KB |
| RAM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 64 bytes | 256 bytes |
| 16-bit PWM Modules | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| EUSART | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| 5-bit DAC | Yes (1 channel) | Yes (1 channel) | Yes (1 channel) | Yes (1 channel) | No | No |
| Max CPU Frequency | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 20 MHz | 32 MHz |
Key Differentiators
- Three independent 16-bit PWMs vs two on PIC12LF1571 (vs PIC12LF1571-I/P)
- Lower operating voltage down to 1.8V (vs PIC12F1572-I/P)
- Integrated 5-bit DAC and EUSART not available on PIC12LF1501 (vs PIC12LF1501-E/P)
Design Notes
Decouple VDD (pin 1) with a 0.1uF ceramic capacitor placed within 5mm of the IC pins to minimize supply noise on the analog and PWM peripherals. For ADC accuracy, add a 10uF bulk capacitor near the MCU. The PIC12LF1572-I/P operates from 1.8V to 3.6V; voltages outside this range (especially 5V inputs) will permanently damage the part - use the PIC12F1572-I/P variant for 5V systems.
Pin 4 (RA3/MCLR/VPP) is shared between MCLR reset and the programming voltage input; if MCLR is disabled in configuration bits, an external pull-up is no longer required but in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) becomes mandatory. ICSPDAT (pin 3) and ICSPCLK (pin 2) are multiplexed with RA4 and RA5 - design the PCB to keep programming access available during development, or use the dedicated ICSP header footprint.
Keep analog inputs (AN0-AN2) and PWM outputs short and away from switching nodes to minimize crosstalk into ADC measurements. Place the decoupling capacitor ground via directly under the VSS pin (pin 8). For PWM-driven power stages, use a ground plane separation between the MCU's analog/digital ground and the power stage ground, joining them at a single point near the MCU VSS.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. AEC-Q100 not applicable (consumer/industrial grade part, no automotive qualification on the -I/P variant).
