PIC16F1459-I/SO - 8-Bit 48MHz 14KB Flash USB MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F1459-I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.34 | $3.34 |
| 10 | $3 | $30.00 |
| 100 | $2.55 | $255.00 |
| 500 | $2.2 | $1,100.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.95 | $1,950.00 |
PIC16F1459-I/SO Overview
What is a PIC microcontroller? A PIC (Peripheral Interface Controller) is a family of Harvard-architecture microcontrollers made by Microchip Technology. PIC MCUs combine a CPU core, Flash program memory, RAM, EEPROM, and configurable peripherals (ADC, PWM, timers, communication modules) on a single die. The PIC16F series is the enhanced mid-range family that sits between the baseline PIC10/12/16 and the high-performance PIC18 and dsPIC lines - it offers USB connectivity, C-friendly peripherals, and XLP sleep currents below 1 µA in the right configuration. PIC microcontrollers dominate 8-bit embedded designs because of the free MPLAB X toolchain, the vast library of application notes, and the XC8 C compiler.
Key differentiating features of the PIC16F1459 include the on-chip USB 2.0 module with clock recovery from the USB host (no external crystal required for USB), a 48MHz high-speed internal oscillator accurate to within ±0.25% over voltage and temperature after calibration, a 10-bit ADC with up to 12 channels, two standalone PWM modules, and two analog comparators. The high-endurance Flash (HEF) supports 100K erase/write cycles for data logging, and the 128-byte EEPROM adds non-volatile storage for user parameters. XLP technology keeps the active current around 1.8 mA at 4 MHz and deep sleep currents below 1 µA.
Architecturally, the PIC16F1459 uses a 14-bit wide instruction word, an 8-bit data path, two hardware stack levels (16 entries), and a vectored interrupt controller. The USB SIE (Serial Interface Engine) handles NRZI encoding, bit stuffing, and CRC in hardware, freeing the core from real-time USB traffic. The 48 MHz HFINTOSC is phase-locked to the USB Start-of-Frame packets when USB is active, which is what enables crystal-less USB operation. The device also exposes the configurable logic cell (CLC) and numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) peripherals that allow small custom logic functions in hardware.
Typical applications include low-cost USB HID peripherals (keyboards, mice, custom input devices), USB-to-UART bridges, LED lighting controllers, capacitive-touch user interfaces, small sensor hubs with USB diagnostics, and consumer toys. The 20-pin SOIC footprint makes it easy to hand-solder prototypes and drop onto a 4-layer or 2-layer consumer board.
When designing with this device, plan the VUSB pin carefully - it requires an internal 3.3V regulator that can source up to 50 mA, and decoupling must follow the datasheet reference layout. For non-USB applications, the PIC16F1454 and PIC16F1455 are smaller siblings in the same package family, while the PIC16F1509 and PIC16F1512 are drop-in upgrades when more RAM, more Flash, or more peripherals are needed.
This page synthesizes distributor stock, drop-in pin-compatible alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F1459-I/SO — 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/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Data EEPROM, Internal Oscillator, PWM Modules.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1459-E/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1459T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1459-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1455-I/SL
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1454-I/P
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1509-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.34 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1459-I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC16 enhanced mid-range 8-bit |
| Instruction Set Architecture | RISC, 49 instructions, 14-bit wide |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB (8K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 1 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 128 bytes (HEF, high-endurance Flash) |
| I/O Pins | 18 |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Internal Oscillator | 48 MHz HFINTOSC (±0.25% after calibration, USB-accurate) |
| USB Module | USB 2.0 Full-Speed SIE with on-chip clock recovery |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 12 channels |
| PWM Modules | 2 (standalone) |
| Comparators | 2 analog comparators |
| Stack Levels | 16 |
| Package | 20-pin SOIC (0.295 inch / 7.50 mm body width) |
| Operating Temperature Range (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (Pb-free) |
PIC16F1459-I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VPP/RE3/MCLR — Programming voltage input / Master Clear (reset) |
| Pin 2 | RA0 — Digital I/O with analog AN0 input |
| Pin 3 | RA1 — Digital I/O with analog AN1 input |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — Digital I/O with analog AN2 input |
| Pin 5 | RA3 — Digital I/O with analog AN3 input |
| Pin 6 | RA4 — Digital I/O with analog AN4 input |
| Pin 7 | RA5 — Digital I/O with analog AN5 input |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | RA7 — Digital I/O / OSC1 |
| Pin 10 | RA6 — Digital I/O / OSC2 |
| Pin 11 | RC0 — Digital I/O with analog AN6 |
| Pin 12 | RC1 — Digital I/O with analog AN7 |
| Pin 13 | RC2 — Digital I/O / USB D+ (full-speed data) |
| Pin 14 | RC3 — Digital I/O / USB D- (full-speed data) |
| Pin 15 | RC4 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 16 | RC5 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 17 | RC6 — Digital I/O / TX/CK |
| Pin 18 | RC7 — Digital I/O / RX/DT |
| Pin 19 | RB7 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply input (2.5 V to 5.5 V) |
Typical Applications
PIC16F1459-I/SO is suitable for 6 applications: USB HID Peripheral Controller, USB-to-UART Bridge / CDC Device, LED Lighting Controller with USB Diagnostics, Capacitive-Touch User Interface, USB Sensor Hub / Data Logger, Consumer Toy / Hobbyist USB Device.
USB HID Peripheral Controller
The PIC16F1459-I/SO is a strong fit for USB Human Interface Devices because it integrates a USB 2.0 full-speed SIE and a 48 MHz HFINTOSC accurate to ±0.25% over voltage and temperature - the on-chip clock-recovery logic eliminates the external 12 MHz crystal most HID designs require. With 14 KB Flash and 1 KB RAM the device runs full USB stacks including HID report descriptors and embedded bootloader space. Placed as the single-chip MCU between the USB connector and a small matrix-scan keypad or capacitive-touch sensor array, it delivers ~12 MIPS at 48 MHz for polling and HID report assembly. Unlike larger Cortex-M0 alternatives, the PIC16F1459 keeps BOM cost under USD 2 in 1k quantities and ships in a hand-solderable 20-pin SOIC.
Recommended
USB-to-UART Bridge / CDC Device
In USB-to-UART bridge applications, the PIC16F1459-I/SO presents a CDC ACM interface to the host and exposes a UART at 300-115200 baud on the device side, eliminating the need for an FTDI or CP2102 bridge IC. The 18 I/O pins allow spare lines to drive LEDs or flow-control signals alongside the UART. With 128 bytes of EEPROM, the design can store the user's preferred baud rate and VID/PID overrides. The 2.5V-5.5V supply range matches RS-232 driver rails from 3.3V systems up to legacy 5V UART MCUs, simplifying mixed-voltage bridges. Compared with discrete CDC firmware on larger ARM parts, this design needs only the on-chip USB SIE and a few passive components - a typical PCB area under 1 cm².
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller with USB Diagnostics
The PIC16F1459-I/SO drives two standalone PWM channels and exposes the USB SIE for host diagnostics, allowing LED fixture manufacturers to field-update patterns, log operating hours into the 128-byte EEPROM, and adjust current set-points without an external programmer. The 48 MHz core computes color-mixing math and runs PID brightness loops at 1 kHz. Each PWM can sink up to 25 mA, sufficient to gate logic-level MOSFETs for high-power LED strings. The XLP sleep currents below 1 µA in deep sleep are important for battery-backed accent lighting. A 20-SOIC footprint simplifies hand-rework during fixture tuning, and the -40 C to +85 C industrial temperature range suits commercial installations.
Recommended
Capacitive-Touch User Interface
The PIC16F1459-I/SO works well for capacitive-touch panels because the 12-channel 10-bit ADC and 2 analog comparators can read mTouch capacitive-sense electrodes directly, while the USB SIE reports touch events to a host PC. With 1 KB RAM, the device holds a 12-element scan buffer and a small sliding-window gesture recognition state machine. The 14 KB Flash supports Microchip's mTouch library plus a USB HID or CDC report layer. The 48 MHz core completes each electrode scan in well under 1 ms, allowing sub-50 ms system response. Industrial -40 C to +85 C operation is suitable for kitchen appliances, white-goods HMIs, and access-control panels where moisture and temperature swings would defeat less robust MCUs.
Recommended
USB Sensor Hub / Data Logger
The PIC16F1459-I/SO is a good fit for small USB sensor hubs that read temperature, light, or motion sensors over I²C/SPI and stream the data to a host PC over USB CDC. The 18 I/O pins comfortably host an I²C bus, an SPI bus with three chip selects, and several interrupt lines. The 128-byte HEF EEPROM stores calibration constants, while 1 KB RAM holds a circular buffer for sample bursts up to 8 ms at 100 Hz. The 48 MHz CPU allows modest on-device filtering - moving averages or simple FIR - before forwarding data over USB at 12 Mbps full-speed. The industrial temperature range and 2.5V-5.5V supply cover battery-powered portable instruments as well as USB wall-powered benchtop tools.
Recommended
Consumer Toy / Hobbyist USB Device
In hobbyist USB toys - from macro pads to MIDI controllers to arcade buttons - the PIC16F1459-I/SO gives designers USB HID at under USD 2 in 1000-piece reels and a 20-pin SOIC footprint easy enough for students to hand-solder. The 14 KB Flash holds a USB bootloader, a HID descriptor, and the application logic without any external memory, while 1 KB RAM supports a 6-key rollover matrix and 8-byte MIDI message buffers. USB enumeration is automatic via the on-chip SIE, requiring no host driver. The device's 5V tolerance on digital inputs means designers can wire directly to mechanical switches without level translation. Free MPLAB X and XC8 toolchain lowers the entry barrier for makers and education markets.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F1459-I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1459-E/SO | PIC16F1459T-I/SO | PIC16F1459-I/SS | PIC16F1509-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 20-pin SOIC (0.295") | 20-pin SOIC - same | 20-pin SOIC - same | 20-pin SSOP | 20-pin SOIC - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Program Memory | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB |
| RAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 512 B |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 20 MHz |
| USB 2.0 SIE | Yes (on-chip clock recovery) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +125 C (Extended) | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C |
| PWM Modules | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Key Differentiators
- On-chip USB 2.0 SIE with crystal-less clock recovery (vs PIC16F1509-I/SO)
- Higher 48 MHz HFINTOSC vs 20 MHz on older PIC16F1xxx (vs PIC16F1509T-I/SO)
- Hand-solderable 20-pin SOIC (7.50 mm) footprint (vs PIC16F1459-I/SS)
- Industrial -40 C to +85 C operating range as standard (vs PIC16F1459-E/SO)
Design Notes
The PIC16F1459-I/SO requires a 0.1 µF decoupling capacitor placed within 5 mm of the VDD pin (pin 20) and a 10 µF bulk capacitor on the same supply rail. The on-chip 3.3 V VUSB regulator can source up to 50 mA to the USB pull-up resistor and to external 3.3 V circuitry, but if the device is bus-powered, the total current draw from VUSB plus I/O pins must stay below 250 mA (USB 2.0 FS inrush limit). Avoid tying VUSB directly to VDD when self-powered designs are intended - the datasheet shows a recommended blocking diode and 4.7 µF reservoir in that case.
Route the USB D+ (RC2) and D- (RC3) lines as a 90-ohm differential pair with length matching within 2 mm. Keep the trace length under 50 mm on the board; longer stubs cause reflections that degrade the eye diagram. Place a 33 ohm series resistor on each USB line close to the MCU pin, matching the reference design in the datasheet section on USB hardware. Route these lines away from switching nodes such as PWM outputs or clock sources to avoid EMI coupling into the SIE.
The 48 MHz HFINTOSC accuracy is ±0.25% only after USB clock recovery is locked; before enumeration, the tolerance is the looser ±2% typical / ±5% over temperature. If the application uses the HFINTOSC as a UART reference clock, expect up to ±5% baud-rate error before USB locks - high-baud RS-485 links above 115200 should switch to an external 12 MHz crystal. The MPLAB X FVV (Fail-Safe Voltage Verification) routine allows in-system tuning of the HFINTOSC against the USB Start-of-Frame packets.
Do not leave the MCLR pin floating. Even when not used as a reset, MCLR must be tied to VDD through a 10 kohm resistor or to a proper reset circuit, otherwise spurious resets occur during supply ramp. The VPP/MCLR pin is also the high-voltage programming entry, so do not place a capacitor larger than 0.1 µF on it. Lastly, remember that RC2 and RC3 become USB D+ and D- as soon as the USB module is enabled - configuring them as digital outputs disables USB, and configuring them as analog inputs disables USB too.
The PIC16F1459-I/SO dissipates under 100 mW even at full 48 MHz CPU load because it is a CMOS 8-bit core; thermal concerns are minor compared with power-supply decoupling. The 20-pin SOIC has a theta_JA of about 65 C/W, giving a junction-to-ambient rise of only 6 C at 100 mW - well within the -40 C to +85 C industrial operating range. For the E-temperature variant (-40 C to +125 C), no heatsink is needed; this device does not need thermal copper pours beyond normal signal-ground stitching.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page. AEC-Q100 not required for this 8-bit industrial-grade MCU - automotive users should consult Microchip's automotive PIC16F1xxx family instead.
