PIC12LF1822-E/MF - 8-bit MCU, 3.5KB Flash, 32MHz, XLP | Microchip
MPN: PIC12LF1822-E/MF ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.12 | $1.12 |
| 10 | $0.99 | $9.90 |
| 100 | $0.86 | $86.00 |
| 500 | $0.74 | $370.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.6252 | $625.20 |
PIC12LF1822-E/MF Overview
A PIC microcontroller (MCU) is a compact programmable processor that integrates CPU core, non-volatile flash program memory, SRAM, EEPROM, and peripherals such as ADC, timers, comparators, and communication modules into a single IC. Within the broader taxonomy, the PIC12LF1822 belongs to the enhanced mid-range 8-bit PIC12 family, which sits below the PIC16 and PIC18 lines and above baseline 8-bit cores; XLP nanoWatt technology further classifies it as an ultra-low-power MCU ideal for IoT edge nodes, wearables, and remote sensors where quiescent current is critical.
Key features of the PIC12LF1822-E/MF include an integrated 10-bit ADC with up to 7 channels, a 16-bit timer, a 10-bit PWM module, two comparators, an EUSART, and an MSSP module supporting SPI and I²C. The 8-pin DFN (3x3 mm) package gives designers 6 general-purpose I/O pins plus ICSP™/ICD programming access. The 'LF' suffix denotes the low-voltage F variant, and 'E/MF' specifies the industrial temperature grade (-40°C to +125°C) in DFN-8 packaging.
Architecture-wise, the device uses a RISC-based PIC core with a single-cycle instruction execution at 200 ns (32 MHz) and a hardware stack supporting deep call nesting. The on-chip 32 MHz HFINTOSC and 31 kHz LFINTOSC eliminate external crystal requirements for many designs. CIPs (Core Independent Peripherals) such as the complementary waveform generator and configurable logic cells let the part handle events without waking the CPU, dramatically reducing average power.
Typical applications include battery-powered IoT sensor nodes, wearable fitness/health monitors, remote controls, low-power wireless sensor end nodes (sub-1 GHz, BLE beacons), electronic shelf labels, smart-metering peripherals, and LED driver control loops. The wide 1.8V-3.6V range and DFN-8 footprint also make it attractive for space-constrained consumer and industrial modules.
When designing with the PIC12LF1822-E/MF, place a 0.1 µF decoupling capacitor close to VDD and route the ICSPDAT/ICSPCLK lines with short, isolated traces for stable in-circuit debugging. Use the nanoWatt XLP sleep modes (doze, idle, sleep) to bring average current below 50 nA for battery-life-critical designs. The DFN-8 package requires thermal pad soldering per IPC-7351 for reliable production.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC12LF1822-E/MF — 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 PIC12LF1822-E/MF (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Operating Temperature, Package, RoHS Status, Comparators.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC12LF1822-I/MF
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12F1822-E/MF
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.98 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F1822-I/MF
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC12LF1840-E/MF
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.15 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F1840-E/MF
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.84 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12F1612-E/MF
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC12LF1822-E/MF Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | 8-bit Microcontroller (MCU) |
| Family | PIC® XLP™ 12F |
| Core | Enhanced Mid-range PIC 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 3.5 KB (2K x 14 words) |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| SRAM | 128 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz (200 ns instruction cycle) |
| Operating Voltage (Vdd) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 6 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 7 channels |
| Comparators | 2 |
| PWM | 10-bit Enhanced PWM (ECCP) |
| Timers | One 16-bit, One 8-bit, One WDT |
| Communication | EUSART, MSSP (SPI / I²C) |
| Internal Oscillator | 32 MHz HFINTOSC, 31 kHz LFINTOSC |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP (sleep < 50 nA typical) |
| Package | 8-pin DFN (3x3 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +125 °C (Industrial, 'E' suffix) |
| Programming/Debug | ICSP™ via PICkit™ 3 / MPLAB® Snap |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC12LF1822-E/MF Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8V to 3.6V) |
| Pin 2 | RA5 — GPIO / ICSPCLK / ADC channel |
| Pin 3 | RA4 — GPIO / ICSPDAT / ADC channel |
| Pin 4 | RA3 — GPIO / MCLR / ADC channel (input only) |
| Pin 5 | RC5 — GPIO / PWM / ADC channel |
| Pin 6 | RC4 — GPIO / PWM / ADC channel |
| Pin 7 | RC3 — GPIO / EUSART / SPI/I2C / ADC channel |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
Typical Applications
PIC12LF1822-E/MF is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Wearable Health Monitor, Remote Control / IR Transmitter, Electronic Shelf Label (ESL) Node, Smart-Metering Peripheral / Sub-1 GHz Sensor, LED Lighting Controller (Low-Power).
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC12LF1822-E/MF suits coin-cell battery IoT sensor nodes because its 1.8V-3.6V VDD matches a CR2032 cell for its full discharge curve, and its nanoWatt XLP sleep current (under 50 nA typical) lets a node sleep for years between wake events. Its 32 MHz HFINTOSC eliminates the external crystal normally used as a sleep-current leak, while the integrated 10-bit ADC handles temperature, light, and motion sensors without an external analog front end. Using the integrated EUSART plus MSSP, the part can drive a sub-1 GHz transceiver or BLE module with wake-on-character interrupts. Versus a discrete microcontroller + RTC design, the LF1822 cuts BOM cost by 30-40% and PCB area below 25 mm² including decoupling.
Recommended
Wearable Health Monitor
For fitness bands and wearable health monitors, the PIC12LF1822-E/MF delivers the low active current (under 50 µA/MHz at 3.3V) and nanoWatt sleep that extend battery life into multi-week territory. The on-chip 10-bit ADC measures photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor current, skin temperature, and battery voltage without a separate analog IC, while the 10-bit PWM drives a single haptic feedback motor. The 8-pin DFN (3x3 mm) footprint fits inside the rigid-flex PCBs of wrist-worn devices, and the -40 °C to +125 °C industrial temperature grade tolerates body-heat and outdoor-cold use. CIP peripherals such as the complementary waveform generator let the part time PPG LED pulses without waking the CPU, cutting average current by 70% versus polled sampling.
Recommended
Remote Control / IR Transmitter
The PIC12LF1822-E/MF is a strong fit for battery-powered remote controls thanks to its nanoWatt XLP sleep that pulls standby current into the nanoamp range, allowing a coin-cell remote to last the shelf life of the battery. The 10-bit PWM (ECCP) module generates 38 kHz carrier IR modulation with hardware timing, freeing the CPU for button scanning and protocol encoding. Two comparators detect when a key is pressed on a resistive key matrix, allowing zero-current key polling while asleep. Versus a discrete timer + op-amp design, the LF1822 reduces standby current by 50x and shrinks the controller section to a 3x3 mm DFN footprint.
Recommended
Electronic Shelf Label (ESL) Node
In electronic shelf labels, the PIC12LF1822-E/MF serves as the low-power companion controller that wakes on a wireless sync beacon, updates a display segment driver via SPI, then returns to nanoamp sleep. The 1.8V-3.6V range aligns with the CR2032 cells used in ESLs, and the -40 to +125 °C industrial temperature grade tolerates supermarket cold-chain aisles. The MSSP (SPI) module talks to e-paper or segmented LCD drivers without extra glue logic, and the internal 32 MHz HFINTOSC keeps timing accurate during the brief wake window. Compared to dedicated ESL chips, the LF1822 is more flexible for custom UI logic while matching the same decade-plus battery life.
Recommended
Smart-Metering Peripheral / Sub-1 GHz Sensor
The PIC12LF1822-E/MF can act as a metering-side companion MCU for water, gas, or heat meters, where it counts pulses from a flow head, performs simple smoothing, and forwards results to a sub-1 GHz or LoRa transceiver via SPI. The 256-byte EEPROM stores tamper flags and meter readings through battery swaps, while the on-chip comparator detects low-battery conditions. The DFN-8 package fits inside the cramped meter enclosure, and the industrial temperature range survives outdoor meter installations. Versus a custom ASIC, the LF1822 delivers the same 10+ year battery life with the flexibility to add features in firmware.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller (Low-Power)
The PIC12LF1822-E/MF handles small-scale LED lighting tasks like under-cabinet accent strips, decorative pulse patterns, and battery-powered luminaires. Its 10-bit PWM and complementary waveform generator create smooth dimming without flicker, while its nanoWatt sleep cuts quiescent draw below 100 nA in standby so a battery fixture stays usable for years. The 1.8-3.6 V range pairs with single-cell Li-Ion or two-AA battery packs, and the DFN-8 footprint fits inside thin aluminum profiles. Compared to dedicated LED-driver ICs, the LF1822 lets designers add custom fade curves and color-mixing in firmware, with the option to reuse the same PCB for multiple SKUs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC12LF1822-E/MF — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC12LF1822-I/MF | PIC12F1822-E/MF | PIC12F1822-I/MF | PIC12LF1840-E/MF | PIC12F1840-E/MF | PIC12F1612-E/MF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | DFN-8 (3x3 mm, MF) | DFN-8 (3x3 mm, MF) - same | DFN-8 (3x3 mm, MF) - same | DFN-8 (3x3 mm, MF) - same | DFN-8 (3x3 mm, MF) - same | DFN-8 (3x3 mm, MF) - same | DFN-8 (3x3 mm, MF) - same |
| Operating Voltage | 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 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| Flash Memory | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 1.75 KB |
| Max CPU Speed | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Temperature Grade | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +125C (E) |
| Sleep Current (typ) | < 50 nA (XLP) | < 50 nA | < 50 nA | < 50 nA | < 50 nA | < 50 nA | < 50 nA |
Key Differentiators
- Industrial temperature range with DFN-8 footprint (vs PIC12LF1822-I/MF)
- Lower-voltage variant for true 3.3V designs (vs PIC12F1822-E/MF)
- More flash for firmware upgrades (vs PIC12F1612-E/MF)
- Backward-compatible upgrade path to PIC12LF1840 (vs PIC12LF1840-E/MF)
Design Notes
Estimated (input values: VDD=3.3V, MCU active current=50uA/MHz, sleep current=50nA): duty-cycled at 0.1% active time, the average current is roughly 50uA + (50nA x 99.9%) ~ 50uA effective. For a CR2032 cell (220 mAh), this gives ~180 days of continuous operation and several years with typical 1% duty-cycle sensor wakes. Use the PIC's peripheral module disable (PMD) registers to shut down unused peripherals such as ADC and PWM when entering Sleep for the deepest nanoWatt savings.
The DFN-8 (MF) package has an exposed thermal pad on the bottom that MUST be soldered to a PCB land pattern per IPC-7351 DFN guidelines. Without it, the part will fail thermal cycling and reliability tests. Place a single 0.1uF X7R ceramic decoupling capacitor within 3 mm of the VDD pin (pin 1), and route VDD/VSS traces as short and wide as practical. Keep the ICSPDAT/ICSPCLK lines isolated from PWM outputs to avoid in-circuit debug noise coupling.
Do not confuse the 8-pin DFN ('MF' suffix) with the 8-pin MSOP ('MS' suffix) or 8-pin PDIP ('P' suffix) - the land patterns are not interchangeable and PCB rework is required. Also verify that the supply voltage never exceeds 3.6 V for the 'LF' variant; the 5V 'F' parts must be used if the system rail goes higher. Finally, do not leave MCLR floating - tie it to VDD through a 10 kohm pull-up or use the internal MCLR function via the configuration register to avoid spurious resets.
Route the analog ADC inputs (RA0-RA5) away from digital PWM and switching lines to avoid coupling noise into the 10-bit ADC measurement. Use a ground pour on the bottom layer and stitch vias around the DFN-8 thermal pad for thermal and electrical grounding. If using the internal HFINTOSC for USB or EUSART timing, place the part away from RF sources to keep jitter low.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant and lead-free per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this is a general-purpose MCU, not an automotive-qualified part. Use AEC-Q100-grade parts from Microchip's automotive line for vehicle applications.
