PIC16F1579T-I/GZ - 8-Bit 32MHz 14KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F1579T-I/GZ β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.84 | $1.84 |
| 10 | $1.65 | $16.50 |
| 100 | $1.46 | $146.00 |
| 500 | $1.31 | $655.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.17 | $1,170.00 |
PIC16F1579T-I/GZ Overview
A PIC microcontroller is a RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) based 8-bit MCU from Microchip's PIC16 family. PIC MCUs integrate CPU, Flash program memory, RAM data memory, EEPROM, peripherals (ADC, PWM, timers, communication), and a programmable I/O structure onto a single die. Within the broader taxonomy, PIC16F1579 belongs to the PIC16F157X family, which extends the mid-range PIC16 architecture by combining 16-bit PWM resolution with analog peripherals for high-resolution mixed-signal applications such as LED lighting and motor control.
Key features include 14KB (8K x 14 words) self-programmable Flash program memory, 1KB RAM, four 16-bit PWMs with independent timers for fine-grained duty control, a 10-bit ADC with multiple channels, configurable logic cells (CLC), complementary waveform generator (CWG), and an internal 32MHz oscillator. The device also supports up to 18 I/O pins, multiple serial interfaces, and 5-bit DAC for analog signal generation.
Architecturally, the PIC16F1579 uses Microchip's enhanced mid-range 8-bit core with a hardware 14-bit instruction set, 16-level hardware stack, and a 32kHz to 32MHz internal oscillator block with PLL. The four 16-bit PWMs use independent Timer2/4/6 modules for phase-shifted or synchronized outputs, while the 10-bit ADC operates up to 100 ksps. Configurable Logic Cells provide user-defined combinational and sequential logic gates without external components.
Typical applications include high-resolution LED lighting drivers (RGBW and tunable white), DC-DC converters with digital control loops, BLDC and stepper motor commutation, digital power supplies, battery chargers with mixed-signal monitoring, and general-purpose mixed-signal embedded control. The 20-pin UQFN (4x4 mm) package suits compact PCB designs where board area is at a premium.
When designing with the PIC16F1579T-I/GZ, ensure the exposed thermal pad on the UQFN package is soldered to the PCB ground plane for thermal and electrical performance. The device operates from 2.3V to 5.5V VDD; verify that VDD rise-time meets datasheet specification for proper brown-out reset behavior. For noise-sensitive analog applications, place the VDD/VSS decoupling network within 3 mm of the IC pins.
This page synthesizes authorized distributor pricing, drop-in same-family alternatives, parametric comparisons, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone, accelerating component evaluation for production engineers.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F1579T-I/GZ β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1579-I/GZ
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$0.95 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F1578-I/GZ
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$0.92 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F1579T-I/GZ Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16 8-bit RISC (enhanced mid-range) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB (8K x 14 words) |
| Data Memory (RAM) | 1 KB |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz |
| Instruction Set Width | 14-bit |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| 16-bit PWM Modules | 4 with independent timers |
| ADC | 10-bit, multiple channels |
| DAC | 5-bit |
| I/O Pins | Up to 18 |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Package | 20-pin UQFN (4x4 mm) with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Configurable Logic Cells (CLC) | Yes |
| Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) | Yes |
| Internal Oscillator | 32 MHz with PLL |
PIC16F1579T-I/GZ Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5 β Bidirectional I/O / digital input |
| Pin 2 | RA4 β Bidirectional I/O / digital input |
| Pin 3 | RA3 β Bidirectional I/O / digital input |
| Pin 4 | RA2 β Bidirectional I/O / digital input |
| Pin 5 | RA1 β Bidirectional I/O / digital input |
| Pin 6 | RA0 β Bidirectional I/O / digital input |
| Pin 7 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | VDD β Positive supply (2.3 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 9 | RB7 β Bidirectional I/O / digital input |
| Pin 10 | RB6 β Bidirectional I/O / digital input |
| Pin 11 | RB5 β Bidirectional I/O / digital input |
| Pin 12 | RB4 β Bidirectional I/O / digital input |
| Pin 13 | RC3 β Bidirectional I/O / digital input |
| Pin 14 | RC2 β Bidirectional I/O / digital input |
| Pin 15 | RC1 β Bidirectional I/O / digital input |
| Pin 16 | RC0 β Bidirectional I/O / digital input |
| Pin 17 | RC4 β Bidirectional I/O / digital input |
| Pin 18 | RC5 β Bidirectional I/O / digital input |
| Pin 19 | RC6 β Bidirectional I/O / digital input |
| Pin 20 | RC7 β Bidirectional I/O / digital input |
Typical Applications
PIC16F1579T-I/GZ is suitable for 6 applications: High-Resolution RGBW LED Lighting, Brushless DC (BLDC) Motor Commutation, Digital Power Conversion and DC-DC Control, Smart Battery Chargers with Mixed-Signal Monitoring, HVAC Fan Control and Home Appliances, Sensor Hub and IoT Edge Devices.
High-Resolution RGBW LED Lighting
The PIC16F1579T-I/GZ is purpose-built for high-resolution RGBW LED lighting drivers. Its four 16-bit PWMs with independent timers deliver sub-percent duty-cycle resolution for smooth color-mixing across dim-to-warm and full-tunable-white fixtures - far beyond the granularity of 8-bit or 10-bit PWM MCUs. The 32 MHz core runs lighting control loops, gamma-correction tables, and DMX/Casambi protocols in real time. The 10-bit ADC supports on-board temperature monitoring for thermal foldback, while the 5-bit DAC drives analog reference levels. Housed in a 20-pin UQFN (4x4 mm), the part fits inside compact driver housings and operates from 2.3 V to 5.5 V, enabling direct connection to single-cell Li-Ion and 5 V supply rails.
Recommended
Brushless DC (BLDC) Motor Commutation
The PIC16F1579T-I/GZ drives BLDC motors using its Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) and configurable logic cells (CLC), which together generate hardware-level commutation patterns without CPU intervention. The four 16-bit PWMs provide phase-shifted control of the three half-bridge legs with fine timing resolution, critical for sinusoidal FOC implementations. The 10-bit ADC samples back-EMF and current-sense signals for sensorless rotor-position detection. With 32 MHz CPU speed, the MCU runs single-shunt FOC algorithms at 20+ kHz loop rates. The UQFN-20 (4x4 mm) footprint suits small BLDC driver boards in fans, drones, and small appliances.
Recommended
Digital Power Conversion and DC-DC Control
The PIC16F1579T-I/GZ is well-suited to digitally-controlled DC-DC converters and digital power supplies. Its 32 MHz core executes voltage-mode and peak-current-mode control loops at high PWM update rates, while four 16-bit PWMs allow multi-phase converter topologies. The 10-bit ADC samples output voltage and current with 100 ksps throughput for tight regulation. Configurable Logic Cells generate hardware-level protections - cycle-by-cycle current limiting and over-voltage blanking - independent of CPU latency. The 14 KB Flash accommodates digital compensator tables and adaptive control algorithms, while 1 KB RAM supports state-machine variables and feed-forward terms.
Recommended
Smart Battery Chargers with Mixed-Signal Monitoring
The PIC16F1579T-I/GZ executes Li-Ion and lead-acid battery-charging algorithms using its 10-bit ADC to monitor voltage, current, and pack temperature. The four 16-bit PWMs generate gate-drive signals for synchronous buck chargers, while the 5-bit DAC programs reference thresholds for constant-current/constant-voltage transitions. Configurable Logic Cells debounce external signals (AC adapter presence, safety thermistor trip) in hardware. Operating from 2.3 V to 5.5 V, the MCU runs directly from a single-cell Li-Ion pack or 5 V USB rail. The 20-pin UQFN keeps charger boards compact for power tools and e-mobility devices.
Recommended
HVAC Fan Control and Home Appliances
The PIC16F1579T-I/GZ provides variable-speed fan and pump control in HVAC and home appliance applications. Four 16-bit PWMs drive triac/IGBT phase-control circuits for AC line regulation, while the 10-bit ADC monitors tachometer feedback and ambient temperature. Configurable Logic Cells generate hardware-level zero-cross detection for AC line synchronization. The 14 KB Flash supports user-interface state machines and fault logging, while 1 KB RAM buffers diagnostic history. Industrial temperature range (-40 C to +85 C) is suitable for the harsh thermal environment inside appliance cabinets.
Recommended
Sensor Hub and IoT Edge Devices
The PIC16F1579T-I/GZ serves as an edge sensor hub for IoT devices, aggregating data from temperature, humidity, and motion sensors through its 10-bit ADC and configurable logic cells. Four 16-bit PWMs drive indicator LEDs and haptic feedback actuators. The 32 MHz core executes edge-computing algorithms (threshold detection, low-pass filtering) before transmitting only relevant events to the host MCU or wireless module. With 14 KB program memory, the device can host a custom RTOS-light scheduler or simple MQTT-SN stack. The 20-pin UQFN fits inside miniature sensor modules for industrial IoT and smart-home devices.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F1579T-I/GZ β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1579-I/GZ | PIC16F1578-I/GZ | PIC16F1575-I/SL | PIC16F1574-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-UQFN (4x4) | 20-UQFN (4x4) - same | 20-UQFN (4x4) - same | 14-SOIC - different | 14-PDIP - different |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB | 14 KB | 7 KB | 14 KB | 7 KB |
| RAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 512 B | 1 KB | 512 B |
| 16-bit PWM Channels | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| ADC | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Operating Voltage | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
Key Differentiators
- Four 16-bit PWM channels with independent timers vs the typical 8-bit or 10-bit PWM in this class (vs PIC16F1509T-I/GZ)
- Configurable Logic Cells (CLC) and Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) for hardware-level signal generation (vs PIC16F17146-I/SO)
- Compact 4x4 mm UQFN-20 footprint for space-constrained designs (vs PIC16F1574-I/P (PDIP-14))
Design Notes
The 20-pin UQFN (4x4 mm) package has an exposed thermal pad (EP) on the underside that MUST be soldered to the PCB ground plane for both thermal dissipation and electrical performance. Place at least 6 thermal vias (0.3 mm drill) in the EP land pattern to provide low-impedance ground return and heat sinking. Without proper EP soldering, junction temperature can rise 20-30 C above specification under sustained load.
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 3 mm of the VDD pin (pin 8) and a bulk 10 uF capacitor near the EP ground plane. For applications driving multiple high-current PWM outputs (e.g., LED strings, motor phases), add a 1 uF X7R bypass on each PWM pin to reduce switching noise injection into the ADC sampling window. The PIC16F1579 has separate analog and digital VDD pins internally; ensure both are powered cleanly.
When using the 10-bit ADC for precise measurements in noisy switching environments, average 4-16 ADC samples in firmware to improve effective resolution to ~12 bits. Avoid toggling PWM outputs during ADC sampling windows - use the CLC and trigger mechanism to synchronize ADC sampling with PWM off-time. This reduces PWM-edge coupling into ADC readings by 30-50%.
Do not exceed 5.5 V on VDD - the absolute maximum rating is 6.5 V but reliability degrades sharply above 5.5 V. Verify VDD rise-time meets datasheet specification (typically < 50 ms) to ensure proper brown-out reset behavior. Programming via ICSP requires the RB6/RB7 pins - if these pins are used for high-current loads, add a series resistor or buffer to prevent programmer communication errors during firmware updates.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this part targets industrial and consumer applications; for automotive designs choose PIC16F1579-E/GZ (extended temperature) or contact Microchip automotive support.
