PIC16F1459-I/ML - 8-Bit 48MHz USB MCU 14KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F1459-I/ML β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.65 | $2.65 |
| 10 | $2.39 | $23.90 |
| 100 | $2.13 | $213.00 |
| 500 | $1.91 | $955.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.7 | $1,700.00 |
PIC16F1459-I/ML Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, non-volatile program memory (typically flash), volatile working memory (RAM), and a configurable set of peripherals such as timers, ADCs, communication controllers, and GPIO. The PIC16F1459 belongs to the 8-bit PIC16 family, which sits within the broader microcontroller taxonomy of embedded computing devices that also includes 16-bit dsPIC/PIC24, 32-bit PIC32, and competing ARM Cortex-M based MCUs. Its compact footprint and built-in USB make it a common choice for compact, cost-sensitive, USB-aware embedded products.
Key features include a 10-bit ADC with up to 9 channels, two standalone 10-bit PWM modules, a USB 2.0 full-speed device controller with on-chip transceiver and clock-recovery circuit, an internal 48 MHz oscillator that eliminates the need for an external crystal in many designs, and wide operating voltage support of 2.3 V to 5.5 V. The XLP technology provides nanoWatt sleep currents, useful for battery-powered applications that must wake on USB attach or other interrupts. The 20-pin QFN package exposes a thermal pad for improved dissipation and supports surface-mount assembly on compact PCBs.
Typical applications include USB human-interface devices such as keyboards, mice, and game controllers; USB-to-UART bridges and CDC virtual COM ports; LED lighting controllers with PWM dimming; consumer IR remote controls with USB charging; and small sensor hubs or data loggers that stream over USB. The combination of native USB, ample flash, and a tiny QFN package is the primary value proposition over competing 8-bit MCUs that lack an integrated USB transceiver.
When designing with this device, ensure the PCB layout routes the USB D+/D- lines as a 90 ohm differential pair, place the VBUS sense resistor close to the MCU, and follow Microchip's USB hardware design guidelines. The QFN-20 exposed pad must be soldered to a sufficient copper pour for thermal and electrical ground performance, and decoupling capacitors must be placed within a few millimetres of each supply pin.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F1459-I/ML 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 PIC16F1459-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Core Architecture, Internal Oscillator, PWM Modules, Package, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1459T-I/ML
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$1.62 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F1459-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16 enhanced mid-range 8-bit |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB (8K x 14) |
| Data RAM | 1024 bytes |
| Non-volatile Data EEPROM (HEF) | 128 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Clock Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Instruction Set Size | 49 instructions, 16 stack levels |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| USB Module | USB 2.0 full-speed device with clock recovery |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 9 channels |
| PWM Modules | 2 x 10-bit standalone PWM |
| Internal Oscillator | 48 MHz (no external crystal required) |
| Low-Power Technology | XLP (eXtreme Low Power) |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (industrial, -I suffix) |
| Package | 20-pin QFN (4x4 mm) with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | MSL3 (per JEDEC J-STD-020) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16F1459-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5 β GPIO / analog input / ICSPDAT |
| Pin 2 | RA4 β GPIO / analog input / ICSPCLK |
| Pin 3 | RA3 β GPIO / MCLR (reset, active-low) |
| Pin 4 | RC5 β GPIO / PWM output |
| Pin 5 | RC4 β GPIO / PWM output / USB D- |
| Pin 6 | RC3 β GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 7 | RC2 β GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 8 | RC1 β GPIO / analog input / SOSCO |
| Pin 9 | RC0 β GPIO / analog input / SOSCI |
| Pin 10 | VSS β Ground |
| Pin 11 | VDD β Positive supply voltage (2.3 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 12 | RA2 β GPIO / analog input / DAC output |
| Pin 13 | RA1 β GPIO / analog input / VREF+ |
| Pin 14 | RA0 β GPIO / analog input / ICSPDAT |
| Pin 15 | RB7 β GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 16 | RB6 β GPIO / analog input / ICSPCLK |
| Pin 17 | RB5 β GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 18 | RB4 β GPIO / analog input / USB D+ |
| Pin 19 | RC7 β GPIO / PWM output |
| Pin 20 | RC6 β GPIO / PWM output |
Typical Applications
PIC16F1459-I/ML is suitable for 6 applications: USB HID Keyboard or Mouse, USB to UART Bridge (CDC Virtual COM Port), LED Lighting Controller with PWM Dimming, USB Charging Dongle and Power Bank Monitor, USB Sensor Hub / Data Logger, Consumer IR Remote with USB Charging.
USB HID Keyboard or Mouse
The PIC16F1459-I/ML is a natural fit for USB HID input devices such as keyboards, mice, game controllers, and remote controls. The integrated USB 2.0 full-speed device with on-chip transceiver and clock-recovery circuit eliminates external USB PHY components and the 48 MHz USB clock crystal in many designs. With 14 KB of flash and 1024 bytes of RAM, the MCU comfortably hosts the Microchip USB stack plus HID report handling, debouncing, and wake-on-Wake logic. Designers should follow the 90 ohm differential routing for D+/D- and place the VBUS sense resistor near the IC for robust enumeration at 1.5 Mbps and 12 Mbps USB full-speed.
Recommended
USB to UART Bridge (CDC Virtual COM Port)
The PIC16F1459-I/ML can act as a USB-to-serial bridge using the CDC class driver, exposing a virtual COM port to the host without requiring a custom driver on Windows, macOS, or Linux. The 48 MHz CPU and 14 KB flash can host the CDC stack plus command-line UART logic at common baud rates up to 921600 bps. Two standalone 10-bit PWM outputs and a 10-bit ADC with up to 9 channels let the bridge also sample sensors or drive simple actuators, making the device useful for prototyping and field-debug tools. The XLP deep-sleep current under 1 uA lets the bridge enter low-power states between bursts.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller with PWM Dimming
The PIC16F1459-I/ML is suited to small LED lighting controllers and RGB colour-mixing drivers, leveraging its two standalone 10-bit PWM modules to drive constant-current sinks or external MOSFET gates with smooth dimming. The 1024-byte RAM buffer can hold colour-lookup tables for effects such as fades, chases, and music-reactive patterns, while the USB interface allows host-side configuration of brightness curves and scenes. The wide 2.3 V to 5.5 V supply range supports both 3.3 V logic-level designs and 5 V analog-mixed lighting PCBs. Designers should leverage the QFN exposed pad as a thermal relief when driving high-current LED strings.
Recommended
USB Charging Dongle and Power Bank Monitor
The PIC16F1459-I/ML's USB module, 10-bit ADC, and XLP low-power features suit it for portable USB charging accessories, power-bank fuel gauges, and USB voltage/current monitors. The ADC can sample VBUS voltage and a sense-resistor drop to compute load current, while the USB CDC interface reports state-of-charge and temperature over USB to a host GUI. The 2.3 V minimum operating voltage lets the MCU run directly from a single Li-ion cell without an LDO. Sleep currents under 1 uA preserve battery life when the charger is idle, and the 48 MHz internal oscillator avoids external crystals to keep BOM cost low.
Recommended
USB Sensor Hub / Data Logger
Engineers building small USB sensor hubs, environment monitors, or handheld data loggers can use the PIC16F1459-I/ML to bridge I2C/SPI sensors to a host over USB CDC or vendor-class bulk transfers. The 14 KB flash accommodates USB stack plus a small sensor-acquisition scheduler, and the 1024-byte RAM is sufficient for short batch buffers before bulk transmission. The 10-bit ADC samples analog channels such as temperature thermistors or photocells. The 20-pin QFN 4x4 mm footprint fits inside compact dongle enclosures, while the industrial -40 C to +85 C temperature grade supports field-deployed sensors.
Recommended
Consumer IR Remote with USB Charging
The PIC16F1459-I/ML can host both the USB charging interface and an IR transmitter firmware in a single MCU, useful for TV/STB remote controls and air-conditioner controllers that expose a USB-C charging port. The 48 MHz core handles RC5/RC6 or NEC protocol encoding in software, while the USB module manages Li-ion charging state and firmware-update bootloaders. Two 10-bit PWM outputs can drive IR LEDs at carrier frequencies up to ~78 kHz, and the XLP deep-sleep mode extends standby time on a small rechargeable cell. The QFN-20 4x4 mm package keeps the remote PCB under 20 mm square.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F1459-I/ML β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1459T-I/ML | PIC16F1459-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 20-pin QFN (4x4 mm) with EP | 20-pin QFN (4x4 mm) with EP - identical | 20-pin SSOP - different footprint, NOT drop-in |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB |
| Data RAM | 1024 bytes | 1024 bytes | 1024 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz |
| Operating Voltage | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| USB Module | USB 2.0 FS with clock recovery | USB 2.0 FS with clock recovery | USB 2.0 FS with clock recovery |
| Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| Pin Count | 20 | 20 | 20 |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated USB 2.0 FS device with on-chip transceiver and clock recovery - no external USB crystal required (vs PIC16F1454-E/P (8-pin DIP, no USB))
- XLP nanoWatt sleep current under 1 uA with USB wake-on-attach support (vs ATmega8A (no native USB, ~5 uA sleep at 3 V))
- Compact 20-pin QFN 4x4 mm footprint with exposed thermal pad (vs PIC16F1459-I/SS (20-pin SSOP, 7.2 mm wide))
Design Notes
Route USB D+ and D- as a 90 ohm differential pair on the top layer, with continuous ground reference beneath. Keep the pair length-matched within 150 mil and avoid stubs. Place the VBUS sense resistor within 5 mm of the VBUS pin and route a clean trace to the MCU. Reference Microchip application note AN26 - 'USB Hardware Design Recommendations' for full layout guidance.
Solder the QFN-20 exposed pad to a continuous ground pour with thermal vias (typically 4-6 vias in a 0.3 mm grid) connecting to an inner ground plane. Estimated: with 4 thermal vias of 0.3 mm diameter, the thermal resistance theta-JA drops from ~70 C/W (no pad) to ~45 C/W. Without proper pad soldering, the die temperature can exceed 100 C at moderate ambient and self-heating loads.
When USB is enabled, RC4 (D-) and RB4 (D+) are multiplexed with GPIO functions and lose their digital I/O capability - design the GPIO budget accordingly. The alternate ICSP pins (RA0/RA1) overlap with the analog comparator and DAC outputs - choose carefully during programming-mode debug. Do not omit the VBUS decoupling capacitor; a 4.7 uF ceramic placed close to VDD is the minimum per USB 2.0 specification.
Add a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor on each VDD pin, placed within 2 mm of the pin, plus a 4.7 uF bulk capacitor on the VBUS rail. The XLP sleep mode draws less than 1 uA but wakes on USB attach, so the bulk capacitor must hold VDD stable during wake-up transients. Estimated: a 4.7 uF bulk cap sustains VDD above 2.3 V for ~50 ms during a 10 mA wake burst at 3.3 V input.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial temperature grade -40 C to +85 C. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - for automotive, Microchip offers PIC16F1xxx AEC-Q100 variants separately. Halogen-free and lead-free packaging per Microchip environmental compliance disclosure.