PIC16F1574-E/JQ - 8-Bit MCU, 32MHz, 7KB Flash, 16-UQFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F1574-E/JQ ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.45 | $1.45 |
| 10 | $1.32 | $13.20 |
| 100 | $1.18 | $118.00 |
| 500 | $1.05 | $525.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.93 | $930.00 |
PIC16F1574-E/JQ Overview
What is an 8-bit microcontroller? An MCU (microcontroller unit) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (typically Flash), data RAM, and a rich set of peripherals (ADC, timers, PWM, communication blocks) into one package. 8-bit MCUs from the PIC16 family occupy the low-power, deterministic end of the embedded spectrum, sitting under the umbrella hierarchy: microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor IC. They are widely used when the application needs deterministic interrupt latency, low quiescent current, and a small code footprint rather than the multi-GHz throughput of an ARM Cortex-M device.
The PIC16F1574-E/JQ's distinguishing features are four 16-bit PWMs with independent timers (high-resolution PWM for LED lighting and motor control), a 10-bit ADC, two comparators, a 5-bit DAC, a single USART, and 12 I/O lines. The 16-bit PWM resolution is the headline feature - it allows precise dimming and current control that 8-bit or 10-bit PWM MCUs cannot match without external timing ICs.
Architecturally, the device uses a Harvard RISC core with a 14-bit instruction word and a hardware multiplier, providing deterministic 1-cycle instruction execution (except branches). The 7 KB self-programmable Flash supports In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) for field updates, and the 512 B SRAM provides headroom for protocol stacks, lighting state machines, and small control loops.
Typical applications include high-resolution LED lighting drivers (RGBW or tunable white), BLDC fan and pump motor control via complementary PWM, general-purpose sensor signal conditioning, and consumer/industrial white-goods control. The automotive-grade temperature range and small UQFN footprint also fit HMI (human-machine interface) and IoT edge-node designs where board area is constrained.
When designing, note that Vdd must be decoupled with 100 nF and bulk capacitors close to the ICSP/VDD pins, and unused I/O should be configured as outputs low to minimize power. The PIC16F1574-E/JQ is the extended-temperature ("-E") variant; the "-I" grade is industrial-only (0 °C to +85 °C).
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, cross-reference alternatives, and practical design notes that go beyond the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F1574-E/JQ — 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 PIC16F1574-E/JQ (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Operating Temperature, Program Memory (Flash), DAC.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1575-E/JQ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1578-E/JQ
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1579-E/JQ
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F15325-E/JQ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F15313-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.51 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1455-I/JQ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.27 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1574-E/JQ Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC16 (8-bit RISC, Harvard) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB (4K x 14) |
| Data Memory (SRAM) | 512 B |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.5 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +125 °C (Extended "-E") |
| I/O Pins | 12 |
| PWM Channels | 4 x 16-bit |
| ADC | 10-bit |
| Comparators | 2 |
| DAC | 1 x 5-bit |
| Timers | 7 |
| USART | 1 |
| Package | 16-UQFN (4x4 mm), JQ suffix |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16F1574-E/JQ Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5 — Bidirectional I/O / ICSP programming data |
| Pin 2 | RA4 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 3 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O / MCLR (reset, weak pull-up) |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 5 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O / ICSPCLK |
| Pin 6 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — Bidirectional I/O / DAC1OUT (5-bit DAC output) |
| Pin 9 | RA6 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 10 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 11 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 12 | RC2 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 13 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 14 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 15 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 16 | VDD — Positive supply (2.5 V - 3.6 V); EP must be soldered to GND plane |
Typical Applications
PIC16F1574-E/JQ is suitable for 6 applications: High-Resolution LED Lighting Driver, BLDC Fan and Small Motor Control, Sensor Signal Conditioning and IoT Edge Node, Human-Machine Interface (HMI) Control, Consumer White-Goods and Small Appliances, Industrial Control and Automation Modules.
High-Resolution LED Lighting Driver
The PIC16F1574-E/JQ's four 16-bit PWM channels with independent timers are the defining feature for precision LED lighting. Each 16-bit PWM channel delivers 65536 steps of duty-cycle resolution - roughly 256x finer than an 8-bit PWM - which directly eliminates visible flicker in dim-to-warm and RGBW tunable-white fixtures, and removes perceptible stepping at low brightness levels. The MCU drives MOSFET gates directly from its I/O pins, removing the need for an external PWM controller IC. The 32 MHz core gives the firmware headroom for DMX-512 or DALI parsing alongside the lighting control loop, and the 7 KB Flash is ample for full state-machine and color-mixing code. Designers should size the bypass capacitance on VDD per the datasheet and use the exposed pad as a thermal sink if the PCB sits behind high-power LEDs.
Recommended
BLDC Fan and Small Motor Control
The PIC16F1574-E/JQ fits low-power brushless DC fan and pump control where 16-bit PWM resolution translates directly into smoother commutation and lower acoustic noise. Its four 16-bit PWM outputs can drive a three-phase bridge plus a brake or tacho-capture channel, while the 10-bit ADC samples back-EMF or current-sense signals for sensorless or hall-assisted commutation. The hardware comparator blocks enable zero-cross detection with no CPU overhead, and the 32 MHz instruction rate supports sensorless back-EMF algorithms at typical fan speeds (up to a few kHz electrical). Compared with stepping up to a dedicated motor-control MCU, this part saves cost in applications such as appliance fans and small pumps.
Recommended
Sensor Signal Conditioning and IoT Edge Node
The 10-bit ADC, two comparators, 5-bit DAC, and 12 I/O make the PIC16F1574-E/JQ a strong fit for sensor-signal conditioning in IoT edge nodes. The on-chip comparators handle threshold detection (e.g., for NTC thermistor or photodiode front-ends) without external op-amps, while the 10-bit ADC is sufficient for environmental sensors like temperature, humidity, and ambient light. The USART talks to an external radio module (LoRa, sub-GHz, BLE) or Wi-Fi co-processor, and the small 16-UQFN footprint lets the MCU sit on a coin-cell PCB next to the radio. The 2.5-3.6 V VDD range matches a single Li-ion or two alkaline cells with no extra regulation.
Recommended
Human-Machine Interface (HMI) Control
In HMI subsystems - appliance keypads, thermostat touch-button rings, simple industrial control panels - the PIC16F1574-E/JQ provides the deterministic response that capacitive-touch and rotary-encoder inputs require. The 32 MHz core scans capacitive-touch buttons via the mTouch peripheral or reads mechanical encoders through the on-chip timers, while the 16-bit PWM channels smoothly backlight LEDs and indicator rings without flicker. The USART connects to a host display or main appliance controller, and the 7 KB Flash comfortably holds state-machine and debounce code. The 4 x 4 mm UQFN footprint enables placement behind a small display or touch pad.
Recommended
Consumer White-Goods and Small Appliances
The PIC16F1574-E/JQ sits in the sweet spot for cost-sensitive white-goods sub-systems: coffee machines, rice cookers, kitchen scales, and small air-quality monitors. The Extended (-40 to +125 °C) temperature grade handles steam and proximity-heat exposure near the appliance boundary, and the 2.5-3.6 V VDD range allows direct battery or wall-adapter regulation. The 16-bit PWM drives heating elements, valves, or buzzer tones with fine-grained duty-cycle control, while the ADC reads temperature, weight, or gas-sensor inputs. Microchip's MPLAB X IDE and XC8 toolchain shorten firmware development for appliance engineers migrating from older PIC12/PIC16 parts.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Automation Modules
The Extended temperature grade and small UQFN package suit industrial control modules such as small PLC slices, sensor hubs, and I/O expanders. The PIC16F1574-E/JQ's deterministic interrupt response (PIC16 core executes most instructions in one cycle) is valuable for time-critical I/O scanning, while the USART interfaces to RS-485 transceivers or industrial bus bridges. The on-chip comparators handle 0-10 V or 4-20 mA analog front-end thresholds, and the four 16-bit PWM channels drive proportional valves or indicator LEDs. The 7 KB Flash covers typical small-module state machines and protocol handlers without overflowing.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F1574-E/JQ — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1575-E/JQ | PIC16F1578-E/JQ | PIC16F1579-E/JQ | PIC16F15325-E/JQ | PIC16F1455-I/JQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 16-UQFN (4x4), JQ | 16-UQFN (4x4), JQ - same | 16-UQFN (4x4), JQ - same | 16-UQFN (4x4), JQ - same | 16-UQFN (4x4), JQ - same | 16-UQFN (4x4), JQ - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB | 14 KB | 7 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB |
| SRAM | 512 B | 1 KB | 512 B | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB |
| Max CPU Frequency | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 48 MHz |
| PWM Channels | 4 x 16-bit | 4 x 16-bit | 4 x 16-bit | 4 x 16-bit | 4 x 10-bit | 2 x 10-bit |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 12-bit | 10-bit |
| Operating Voltage | 2.5 V - 3.6 V | 2.5 V - 3.6 V | 2.5 V - 3.6 V | 2.5 V - 3.6 V | 2.3 V - 5.5 V | 2.5 V - 5.5 V |
| Temperature Grade | Extended (-40 to +125 °C) | Extended (-40 to +125 °C) | Extended (-40 to +125 °C) | Extended (-40 to +125 °C) | Extended (-40 to +125 °C) | Industrial (0 to +85 °C) |
Key Differentiators
- Four 16-bit PWM channels with independent timers (vs PIC16F1455-I/JQ)
- Smallest Flash in the family, lowest unit cost (vs PIC16F1575-E/JQ)
- 5-bit DAC plus 10-bit ADC plus 2 comparators on-chip (vs PIC16F15325-E/JQ)
Design Notes
The PIC16F1574-E/JQ operates from a single 2.5 V to 3.6 V supply. Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as possible to VDD (pin 16) and add a bulk capacitor (4.7 µF to 10 µF) on the same trace. The exposed pad (EP) under the UQFN must be soldered to a ground plane; it is both the primary thermal path and a ground reference. Per the PIC16(L)F1574 datasheet, exceeding 3.6 V is an absolute-maximum violation.
Estimated: the 16-UQFN package has a theta_JA of approximately 39 °C/W on a standard 2-layer JEDEC test board (per Microchip package thermal data). At the typical 5-10 mA active current and 3.3 V supply, self-heating is well under 1 °C and thermal management is straightforward. However, if the design drives high-current PWM directly from the I/O pins, consider the additional dissipation in the output transistors and provide adequate copper on inner layers.
The 16-UQFN (4 x 4 mm) JEDEC land pattern requires a center thermal pad with via stitching to the ground plane for thermal and electrical performance. Per IPC-7351, the EP vias should be 0.2-0.3 mm drilled, 0.5 mm pitch, plugged or tented to prevent solder wicking. Keep analog traces (ADC, comparators) short and away from PWM switching edges to minimize coupling noise.
Common pitfalls include: (1) leaving the MCLR/RA3 pin un-pulled-up - this prevents ICSP programming and leaves the MCU in reset; (2) configuring unused I/O as analog inputs without disabling digital inputs - this wastes current; (3) relying on the internal oscillator without calibration when UART accuracy is critical - use the INTOSC with the OSCTUNE register or an external crystal for UART comms above 9600 baud.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free status per Microchip product page. AEC-Q100 automotive qualification not claimed on the standard -E/JQ; for full automotive-grade parts use Microchip -VAO suffixes.
