PIC16F1579-I/SS - 8-Bit MCU 32MHz 14KB Flash 16b PWM | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F1579-I/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.78 | $1.78 |
| 10 | $1.61 | $16.10 |
| 100 | $1.42 | $142.00 |
| 500 | $1.27 | $635.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.13 | $1,130.00 |
PIC16F1579-I/SS Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, program memory (typically Flash), data memory (RAM), and peripherals such as ADCs, timers, and communication interfaces. Within the broader taxonomy, MCUs sit under microcontrollers -> embedded processors -> semiconductors -> integrated circuits. The PIC16 family sits at the entry-level/mid-range tier of Microchip's 8-bit portfolio and is widely deployed in cost-sensitive, deterministic real-time control applications where low power, ease of programming, and a stable toolchain outweigh raw compute throughput.
Key features of the PIC16F1579 include four independent 16-bit PWM channels for high-resolution control (suited to LED dimming, motor control, and digital power conversion), a 10-bit ADC with up to 17 channels, a 5-bit DAC, Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG), Configurable Logic Cells (CLC), Numerically Controlled Oscillator (NCO), and EUSART, I2C and SPI interfaces. The device supports up to 32 MHz operation via the internal HFINTOSC, achieving a 125 ns instruction cycle.
Typical applications include full-spectrum RGBW LED lighting, fan and small DC motor PWM drivers, digital power supply control loops, sensor signal conditioning, and compact IoT edge nodes. The high-resolution PWMs (16-bit) and CWG make the part well-suited for bridge-tied load (BTL) or half-bridge driver topologies without an external timer IC.
When designing with this part, choose the PIC16F1574/1575/1578/1579 family member based on pin count and required memory; PIC16F1579 is the full-memory (14 KB Flash) variant in a 20-pin package. Ensure the supply decoupling network uses a 100 nF low-ESR ceramic placed within 3 mm of VDD, and program the Configuration Words correctly to avoid unintended band-gap or oscillator lockups after reset.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives (PIC16F1578, PIC16F1829-I/SS, etc.), and practical design notes not collected in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F1579-I/SS — 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 PIC16F1579-I/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Program Memory (Flash), Core Architecture, DAC.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1578-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1575-I/SL
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$0.93 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1829-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.28 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F15254-I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$0.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F15344-I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$0.79 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1579-I/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | 8-bit Microcontroller (MCU) |
| Core Architecture | PIC16 (Enhanced Mid-Range) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB (8K x 14 words) |
| Data Memory (RAM) | 1 KB |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle | 125 ns at 32 MHz |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| PWM Channels | 4 x 16-bit with independent timers |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 17 channels |
| DAC | 5-bit |
| Configurable Logic Cells (CLC) | Yes |
| Numerically Controlled Oscillator (NCO) | Yes |
| Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) | Yes |
| Communication Interfaces | EUSART, I2C, SPI |
| Package | 20-pin SSOP |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature Range (I grade) | -40 C to +85 C |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16F1579-I/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 2 | RA0 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 3 | RA1 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 5 | RA3/MCLR/VPP — Master Clear reset / programming voltage |
| Pin 6 | RA4 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 7 | RC0 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 8 | RC1 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 9 | RC2 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 10 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 11 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.3 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 12 | RC3 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 13 | RC4 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 14 | RC5 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 15 | RC6/RX/TX — Digital I/O / EUSART TX/RX |
| Pin 16 | RC7 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 17 | RB4/SDA — Digital I/O / I2C data (if configured) |
| Pin 18 | RB5/SCL — Digital I/O / I2C clock (if configured) |
| Pin 19 | RB6/ICSPCLK — Digital I/O / ICD clock (programming/debug) |
| Pin 20 | RB7/ICSPDAT — Digital I/O / ICD data (programming/debug) |
Typical Applications
PIC16F1579-I/SS is suitable for 7 applications: Full-Spectrum RGBW LED Lighting, Brushless DC (BLDC) Fan Motor Control, IoT Sensor Edge Node, Digital Power Supply Control Loop, Hobby Servo / RC PWM Driver, Capacitive Touch Keypad Decoder, Industrial Process Indicator.
Full-Spectrum RGBW LED Lighting
The PIC16F1579-I/SS drives full-spectrum RGBW LED fixtures with four independent 16-bit PWM channels, enabling 65536-step dimming resolution per channel for flicker-free color mixing at zero perceivable brightness steps. The 32 MHz CPU sustains real-time CIE-1931 color-temperature compensation while the CWG (Complementary Waveform Generator) directly switches half-bridge LED driver FETs without external timing ICs. The 10-bit ADC samples on-board thermistors to close the thermal-feedback loop, throttling current when LED junction temperatures approach the SOA limit. Versus discrete timer-PWM solutions, integrating four PWMs plus a CWG plus a 10-bit ADC in a USD 1.4 chip reduces BOM by 60% in a 4-channel dimmable driver.
Recommended
Brushless DC (BLDC) Fan Motor Control
The PIC16F1579-I/SS controls small BLDC fans up to 12 V / 5 A with closed-loop RPM regulation using one 16-bit PWM channel for FET gate drive and the CWG for complementary high-side/low-side switching with programmable dead-band. The NCO (Numerically Controlled Oscillator) synthesizes precise commutation timing without external crystal jitter, achieving +/-1% RPM accuracy across the 500-3000 RPM operating range. The 10-bit ADC reads back-Hall or BEMF zero-crossing signals for sensorless or sensored commutation. Compared to dedicated BLDC controllers, the PIC16F1579 reduces external component count while allowing custom firmware for variable-torque profiles.
Recommended
IoT Sensor Edge Node
The PIC16F1579-I/SS serves as a low-cost IoT edge node aggregating sensor data from a 10-bit ADC front-end and transmitting it via the integrated EUSART to a Wi-Fi or Sub-GHz radio co-processor. The 32 MHz CPU executes Modbus RTU framing, sensor linearization, and transmit pacing within 4 KB of code space, leaving room for future firmware updates in the 14 KB Flash. The 2.3-5.5 V input range allows direct connection to single-cell Li-ion or 3x AA alkaline battery stacks, with the IDLE and SLEEP modes keeping quiescent current below 1 uA for battery-life targets exceeding 5 years on a duty-cycled sensor node.
Recommended
Digital Power Supply Control Loop
The PIC16F1579-I/SS implements a digital control loop for non-isolated buck or boost converters up to 30 W, using one 16-bit PWM for synchronous-rectifier gate drive, the 10-bit ADC for output-voltage and current-sense feedback, and a software-based PI or Type-III compensator. With 32 MIPS, the controller closes the loop in under 10 us, supporting switching frequencies up to 250 kHz. The CWG provides programmable dead-time for the synchronous FETs, eliminating shoot-through without external delay lines. Versus analog UC3842-class controllers, the PIC16F1579 enables firmware-based adaptive voltage scaling and telemetry over UART.
Recommended
Hobby Servo / RC PWM Driver
The PIC16F1579-I/SS expands a single UART command stream into up to 16 hobby-servo PWM outputs by combining the four 16-bit PWM channels with software-driven CLC logic to fan-out additional channels in the 50 Hz / 1-2 ms pulse-width format. This makes the part ideal for robotics animatronics and 3D-printer pen-plotter mechanisms where 8+ servos require independent trajectory control. The 32 MHz CPU sustains 16 channels at 50 Hz refresh with sub-microsecond jitter, and the 14 KB Flash stores motion sequences without external EEPROM.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch Keypad Decoder
The PIC16F1579-I/SS scans 8-16 capacitive touch pads using the integrated CLC (Configurable Logic Cells) and NCO for software-free charge-cycle generation, freeing the CPU to debounce and serialize keypresses over I2C or UART. The 5-bit DAC provides adjustable threshold voltage for water-tolerant detection, and the 10-bit ADC reads raw pad capacitance for sliding-touch / wheel decoding. Compared to dedicated MTCH6102 touch controllers, this integration reduces BOM and PCB footprint for appliance, lock, and audio-product front panels.
Recommended
Industrial Process Indicator
The PIC16F1579-I/SS implements a 4-20 mA loop-powered process indicator with on-chip 10-bit ADC for transducer readout and 16-bit PWM for LED bar-graph or 7-segment display multiplexing. Operating from a 2.3 V supply, the part draws less than 5 mA active while sustaining >3.5 mA loop current compliance. The EUSART serves as a Hart-modem-compatible UART for legacy process-control networks, and the 14 KB Flash accommodates PID autotune algorithms for inline control of valves and heaters. This application benefits from the PIC16F1579's wide -40 C to +85 C industrial temperature range and SSOP-20 footprint for compact panel designs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F1579-I/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1578-I/SS | PIC16F1829-I/SS | PIC16F15254-I/SS | PIC16F15344-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | SSOP-20 | SSOP-20 - same | SSOP-20 - same | SSOP-20 - same | SSOP-20 - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB | 7 KB (-50%) | 14 KB (same) | 14 KB (same) | 7 KB (-50%) |
| RAM | 1 KB | 512 B (-50%) | 1 KB (same) | 1 KB (same) | 512 B (-50%) |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz | 32 MHz (same) | 32 MHz (same) | 32 MHz (same) | 32 MHz (same) |
| 16-bit PWM Channels | 4 | 4 (same) | 0 (no 16-bit PWM) | 2 (-50%) | 2 (-50%) |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit | 10-bit (same) | 10-bit (same) | 10-bit (same) | 5-bit (lower) |
| USB 2.0 Support | No | No | Yes (USB 2.0 FS) | No | No |
| Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) | Yes | Yes (same) | No (absent) | No (absent) | No (absent) |
| Approx Unit Price (1000 pcs, USD) | 1.13 | 1.05 (similar) | 1.85 (~+64%) | 1.25 (similar) | 0.95 (~-16%) |
Key Differentiators
- Four 16-bit PWMs with independent timers vs single PWM (vs PIC16F1829-I/SS)
- Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) for half-bridge FET drive (vs PIC16F15254-I/SS)
- Larger Flash than PIC16F1578 in same SSOP-20 footprint (vs PIC16F1578-I/SS)
- Higher-resolution 10-bit ADC vs 5-bit ADC in newer PIC16F15344 (vs PIC16F15344-I/SS)
Design Notes
Decoupling: Place a 100 nF low-ESR ceramic (X7R) capacitor within 3 mm of the VDD pin (pin 11) and a parallel 10 uF bulk capacitor on the supply rail. For battery-powered designs drawing sub-100 uA average current, the internal 16 MHz HFINTOSC allows the MCU to wake, run, and sleep quickly to keep average Iq under 1 uA. Always configure the BOR (Brown-Out Reset) and POR (Power-On Reset) Configuration Word bits for a clean startup at the lowest usable VDD of your application.
The SSOP-20 footprint has 0.65 mm pitch and requires reflow soldering; hand-soldering is feasible but time-consuming. Leave at least 0.5 mm clearance between the SSOP-20 body and any adjacent copper pour to avoid solder bridging during reflow. Route the ICSP clock/data lines (RB6/RB7) away from PWM output traces to prevent programming-induced glitches during in-circuit programming. Expose the SSOP-20 thermal pad region to a copper pour tied to VSS for improved thermal dissipation - though the part typically dissipates <100 mW, the thermal pad aids PCB warpage control during reflow.
Configuration Word mistakes: forgetting to clear the WDT (Watchdog Timer) bit, leaving the LFINTOSC disabled, or selecting the wrong oscillator mode will prevent the MCU from booting. ICSPCLK/ICSPDAT pins (RB6/RB7) are sometimes reconfigured as digital I/O in firmware - this disables in-circuit programming and requires HV programming for recovery, so guard these pins with a Configuration Word setting. For PWM applications, ensure the timer source and PWM period are configured before enabling the PWM output to avoid a transient full-duty-cycle pulse on first enable.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free compliant per Microchip product page; no AEC-Q100 qualification (industrial grade only); halogen-free status not explicitly stated in the verified data.
