PIC16F1768-I/ML - 8-Bit 32MHz MCU, 7KB Flash, 20-QFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F1768-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.45 | $2.45 |
| 10 | $2.21 | $22.10 |
| 100 | $1.97 | $197.00 |
| 500 | $1.76 | $880.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.55 | $1,550.00 |
PIC16F1768-I/ML Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a programmable computing core optimized for cost-sensitive, low-power embedded control. It executes one byte per instruction cycle using a Harvard architecture (separate program and data buses), making it deterministic and simple to integrate. PIC microcontrollers sit in the taxonomy of microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor IC, and the PIC16F1768 belongs to Microchip's enhanced mid-range PIC16 core family, which adds C-friendly instruction set features while preserving byte-level simplicity.
Key differentiating features include 10-bit PWM with up to four independent outputs, configurable logic cells, complementary waveform generators suited to lighting and motor control, an integrated op-amp pair, zero-cross detect for AC-line signal conditioning, and XLP (eXtreme Low Power) technology that drops quiescent current below 100 nA in sleep mode. The 20-QFN footprint enables compact PCB designs typical of sensor-conditioning and lighting-control modules.
Architecturally, the PIC16F1768 uses a 14-bit instruction word Flash program store with a hardware multiplier and a deep hardware interrupt stack. The peripheral pin select (PPS) engine remaps digital peripherals to almost any I/O pin, easing PCB routing for dense mixed-signal layouts, and the 10-bit ADC with internal voltage reference supports ratiometric sensor measurements without external references.
Typical applications include LED lighting drivers, sensor signal conditioning, AC zero-cross switching, small motor control, battery-powered IoT end nodes, and consumer appliance front-panel controllers. The 32 MHz core and integrated op-amp also fit loop controllers in industrial process instrumentation.
When designing with this device, prioritize PPS routing during schematic capture to keep analog and digital traces short, and budget PCB area for the 20-QFN thermal pad which must be soldered for rated thermal and electrical performance. Avoid leaving unused analog inputs floating; tie them to a defined rail to prevent shoot-through current in the input mux.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives within the same 20-QFN footprint, and practical design notes that are not aggregated on the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F1768-I/ML — 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 PIC16F1768-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, MSL Level, DAC, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1769-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1768-E/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.24 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1764-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.87 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1764-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.87 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1768-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16 enhanced mid-range 8-bit |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB (4K x 14 words) |
| Data SRAM | 512 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 18 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (industrial, 'I' suffix) |
| ADC | 10-bit, integrated |
| DAC | 10-bit, integrated |
| Operational Amplifiers | 2 integrated op-amps |
| Zero-Cross Detect | Yes |
| PWM Outputs | Up to 4 channels, 10-bit |
| Timers | Multiple 8/16-bit timers (per datasheet) |
| Package | 20-QFN (4x4 mm) ('ML' suffix) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | MSL per JEDEC J-STD-020 (see datasheet) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16F1768-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 2 | RA4 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 3 | RA3 — Digital I/O / analog input (MCLR shared on some variants) |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 5 | RA1 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 6 | RA0 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 8 | VDD — Positive supply (2.3 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/RA7 — Crystal input or digital I/O |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/RA6 — Crystal output or digital I/O |
| Pin 11 | RC0 — Digital I/O / analog input / PWM |
| Pin 12 | RC1 — Digital I/O / analog input / PWM |
| Pin 13 | RC2 — Digital I/O / analog input / PWM |
| Pin 14 | RC3 — Digital I/O / analog input / PWM |
| Pin 15 | RC4 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 16 | RC5 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 17 | RB7 — Digital I/O / analog input (ICSP data) |
| Pin 18 | RB6 — Digital I/O / analog input (ICSP clock) |
| Pin 19 | RB5 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 20 | RB4 — Digital I/O / analog input |
Typical Applications
PIC16F1768-I/ML is suitable for 6 applications: LED Lighting Drivers and Dimming, Sensor Signal Conditioning, AC Zero-Cross Switching and Appliance Control, Small Brushless DC Motor Control, Battery-Powered IoT End Nodes, Industrial Process Instrumentation Loops.
LED Lighting Drivers and Dimming
The PIC16F1768's integrated 10-bit PWM, complementary waveform generators, and zero-cross detect make it a strong fit for solid-state lighting drivers and phase-cut dimmers. Designers can run up to four PWM channels to drive FET half-bridges for constant-current LED strings, while the zero-cross detect synchronizes TRIAC phase-angle control with the AC line for incandescent/LED retrofit dimmers. The dual op-amps condition current-sense feedback before the on-chip 10-bit ADC closes the loop, eliminating an external analog front end. At 32 MHz the core can run a 1 kHz control loop with 32000 instruction cycles of headroom per period for state-machine and DMX512 protocol handling. XLP sleep below 100 nA keeps wall-switch form factors feasible.
Recommended
Sensor Signal Conditioning
The PIC16F1768's two on-chip op-amps, 10-bit ADC, and 10-bit DAC form a complete analog signal chain for bridge sensors, thermistors, and photocells. The op-amps can buffer and gain a low-level sensor output (e.g., a strain gauge at a few millivolts) before feeding the on-chip ADC, while the DAC generates excitation or offset voltages. Peripheral Pin Select lets the designer route analog inputs and PWM outputs independently, keeping the PCB layout clean. At 32 MHz, oversampling and digital filtering (moving average, IIR) can run in real time on a 1 kHz sensor sample rate, improving effective resolution beyond the native 10-bit ADC. XLP sleep extends battery life in wireless sensor end nodes.
Recommended
AC Zero-Cross Switching and Appliance Control
The PIC16F1768's zero-cross detect peripheral synchronizes TRIAC firing and SSR control to the AC line, minimizing EMI and extending relay life in appliance front-panel controllers. The 20-QFN package fits behind standard wall-switch bezels, and the integrated op-amps can interface directly to a mains-isolated CT or shunt for current sensing. The 10-bit DAC provides an analog setpoint output for proportional control valves or fan speeds. At 32 MHz the core can handle HMI button debouncing, triac timing, and Modbus RTU over UART simultaneously. The 'I' suffix industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C) covers kitchen and laundry environments without derating.
Recommended
Small Brushless DC Motor Control
The PIC16F1768's complementary waveform generators drive 3-phase BLDC motor commutation with dead-band control directly from the on-chip PWM. The dual op-amps handle back-EMF sensing or current-shunt amplification, and the 32 MHz CPU executes field-oriented control loops with sufficient margin for sensorless startup routines. The 7 KB Flash accommodates standard 6-step trapezoidal or sinusoidal commutation state machines plus UART-based command interface. The 20-QFN form factor suits compact fan and pump controllers where PCB area is constrained. Sleep mode with peripheral wake-up supports low standby power for battery-backed cooling fans.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT End Nodes
XLP (eXtreme Low Power) technology on the PIC16F1768 drops quiescent current below 100 nA in sleep mode while retaining RAM and interrupt wake-up, supporting multi-year coin-cell operation for IoT sensor end nodes. The integrated 10-bit ADC reads battery voltage and sensor inputs without external components, and the 32 MHz core can wake, sample, run an averaging filter, transmit over UART/SPI, and return to sleep within milliseconds. The 7 KB Flash fits LoRaWAN or BLE-proprietary command stacks. The 20-QFN footprint keeps node PCB below 1 cm^2, and the 2.3 V minimum supply operates directly from a single LiMnO2 coin cell.
Recommended
Industrial Process Instrumentation Loops
The PIC16F1768's on-chip op-amps, 10-bit ADC, and 10-bit DAC implement a complete 4-20 mA current-loop transmitter or thermocouple conditioner without external analog ICs. The op-amp can drive a 4-20 mA loop through an external pass transistor, while the ADC reads a PT100/thermocouple front end with on-chip cold-junction compensation derived from the DAC reference. At 32 MHz, the core runs HART or Modbus RTU framing for legacy industrial networks. The 'I' temperature grade covers field enclosures, and the 20-QFN package fits inside standard DIN-rail transmitter housings.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F1768-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1769-I/ML | PIC16F1768-E/SS | PIC16F1764-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-QFN (4x4 mm) | 20-QFN (4x4 mm) - same | 20-SSOP - different footprint (verify PCB) | 20-QFN (4x4 mm) - same |
| Flash Program Memory | 7 KB (4K x 14 words) | 14 KB (8K x 14 words) | 7 KB (4K x 14 words) | 4 KB (2K x 14 words) |
| Data SRAM | 512 bytes | 1 KB | 512 bytes | 512 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 18 bytes | 32 bytes | 18 bytes | 18 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | -40 C to +125 C (extended) | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| 10-bit ADC / DAC / Op-amps | Yes / Yes / 2 | Yes / Yes / 2 | Yes / Yes / 2 | Yes / Yes / 2 |
Key Differentiators
- Largest Flash in same 20-QFN footprint (vs PIC16F1764-I/ML)
- Half the Flash of the next-tier pin-compatible part (vs PIC16F1769-I/ML)
- Integrated zero-cross detect eliminates external circuitry (vs PIC16F1709-I/SS)
Design Notes
Estimated: at 32 MHz active and 3.3 V supply, the PIC16F1768 core draws approximately 5-7 mA; in XLP sleep with peripherals disabled, quiescent current drops below 100 nA per the Microchip datasheet. Use a bulk 1 uF plus a 100 nF ceramic bypass on VDD, placed within 5 mm of the VDD pin. Decouple the analog AVDD pin separately with a ferrite bead and 10 uF/100 nF pair to keep digital switching noise out of the ADC measurements.
The 20-QFN exposed thermal pad must be soldered to a copper pour of at least 25 mm^2 to keep the junction temperature below 85 C at typical 5 mA active current. Estimated theta_JA for the 4x4 mm QFN with a JEDEC 2s2p test board is around 35 C/W, but production enclosures with limited airflow can run 20 C higher. Derate the supply voltage if the device is sealed inside an IP65 enclosure to limit internal self-heating.
Keep analog input traces short (less than 25 mm) and guarded by a ground hatch to minimize ADC pickup. Route the ICSP pins (RB6/RB7) away from switching power traces to avoid in-circuit programming glitches. For the 20-QFN package, use a 0.5 mm pitch land pattern and via-in-pad under the thermal pad for best thermal performance. Avoid routing high-current PWM traces under the crystal or analog traces to prevent capacitive coupling.
Do not leave unused analog inputs floating - they inject shoot-through current into the ADC mux and degrade ADC accuracy across channels; tie them to a defined rail through a 10 kohm resistor. The MCLR pin must be pulled high through a resistor (typically 10 kohm) for normal operation; a reset capacitor of 100 nF is recommended for noisy environments. Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) mappings must be unlocked by writing the PPSLOCK sequence, otherwise remapping silently fails.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page. Industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C) but not AEC-Q100 automotive qualified - choose PIC16F1768-E/SS for extended temperature or look for Q1 suffix for automotive.
