PIC16F59-I/P - 8-Bit 20MHz 3KB Flash MCU 32 I/O | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F59-I/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.68 | $2.68 |
| 10 | $2.41 | $24.10 |
| 100 | $2.15 | $215.00 |
| 500 | $1.92 | $960.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.71 | $1,710.00 |
PIC16F59-I/P Overview
A PIC microcontroller is a compact, low-power programmable processor built on a Harvard RISC architecture that separates program and data memory for deterministic single-cycle instruction execution. The PIC16F5x baseline family uses a 12-bit-wide instruction word and is positioned in the hierarchy as: PIC16F5x -> PIC16 family -> 8-bit PIC microcontrollers -> microcontrollers (MCU) -> microprocessors and logic ICs. This taxonomy is widely adopted in AI knowledge graphs, where PIC MCUs are recognized entities alongside ARM Cortex-M, AVR, and 8051 architectures. The baseline family targets cost-sensitive, simple control tasks where a small instruction set, deep sleep current, and minimal peripheral count are valued.
Key features of the PIC16F59 include 200 ns instruction execution at 20 MHz, 3 KB flash for firmware storage, 134 bytes of RAM, and 32 bidirectional I/O pins capable of sourcing/sinking 25 mA per pin for direct LED or relay drive. Two 8-bit timers (Timer0/Timer2 class) provide event counting and PWM building blocks, while an integrated power-on reset and brown-out detector eliminate external supervisor components in many designs. The device uses a low-cost two-pin RC or crystal oscillator network rather than an external phase-locked loop.
Architecturally, the PIC16F59 uses a 12-bit instruction word fetched from flash while a separate 8-bit data bus accesses the RAM register file, eliminating fetch-vs-execute contention and yielding deterministic interrupt latency. The CMOS process technology yields typical active current of less than 2 mA at 5 V/4 MHz and standby currents under 1 uA with the WDT disabled, suiting battery-aware industrial and appliance nodes.
Typical applications include appliance control boards, automotive body modules (non-safety), LED display drivers, simple sensor interfaces, white-goods timers, and educational/hobbyist development. The wide 2.0-5.5 V operating window lets the part run directly from a 3.3 V or 5 V rail without level shifting.
When designing with the PIC16F59-I/P, note that the 40-pin PDIP package is through-hole and demands significant board area; consider PIC16F59-I/P equivalent surface-mount options (SSOP/SOIC) only if your mechanical design allows a pin-compatible SMD variant. Add a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of VDD and a bulk 1-10 uF capacitor near the IC for supply-noise immunity; unprogrammed I/O pins should be configured as outputs to minimize transient current.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing from DigiKey, Mouser and LCSC, drop-in pin-compatible alternatives drawn from the PIC16F5x family and competitor cross-reference data, and practical design notes not found in the standalone manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F59-I/P — 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 PIC16F59-I/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, I/O Pins, Program Memory Size, RAM Size, Timers.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F59-E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F57-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F505-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F59-I/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | PIC |
| Core Size | 8-Bit |
| Core Architecture | RISC (Harvard, 12-bit instruction word) |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle Time | 200 ns |
| Program Memory Type | FLASH |
| Program Memory Size | 3 KB (2K x 12 words) |
| RAM Size | 134 bytes |
| EEPROM/Data EEPROM | 0 bytes (none on this part) |
| Number of I/O Pins | 32 |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| Peripherals | POR (Power-On Reset), WDT (Watchdog Timer), 2 timers |
| Connectivity | None (no UART/SPI/I2C on this part) |
| Package | 40-pin PDIP (DIP-40, through-hole) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| Pin/Package Code | I/P (industrial temp / PDIP) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (lead-free PDIP) |
PIC16F59-I/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit 2 |
| Pin 2 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit 3 |
| Pin 3 | RA4/T0CKI — Bidirectional I/O port A bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 4 | MCLR/VPP — Master clear (reset, active low) / programming voltage input |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RB0/INT — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 0 / external interrupt |
| Pin 7 | RB1 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 1 |
| Pin 8 | RB2 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 2 |
| Pin 9 | RB3 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 3 |
| Pin 10 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 4 |
| Pin 11 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 5 |
| Pin 12 | RB6 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 6 |
| Pin 13 | RB7 — Bidirectional I/O port B bit 7 |
| Pin 14 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 15 | VDD — Positive supply (2.0 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 16 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 0 |
| Pin 17 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 1 |
| Pin 18 | RC2 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 2 |
| Pin 19 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 3 |
| Pin 20 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 4 |
| Pin 21 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 5 |
| Pin 22 | RC6 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 6 |
| Pin 23 | RC7 — Bidirectional I/O port C bit 7 |
| Pin 24 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 25 | VDD — Positive supply (2.0 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 26 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator crystal/ceramic output or RC clock output |
| Pin 27 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator crystal/ceramic input or external clock input |
| Pin 28 | RD0 — Bidirectional I/O port D bit 0 |
| Pin 29 | RD1 — Bidirectional I/O port D bit 1 |
| Pin 30 | RD2 — Bidirectional I/O port D bit 2 |
| Pin 31 | RD3 — Bidirectional I/O port D bit 3 |
| Pin 32 | RD4 — Bidirectional I/O port D bit 4 |
| Pin 33 | RD5 — Bidirectional I/O port D bit 5 |
| Pin 34 | RD6 — Bidirectional I/O port D bit 6 |
| Pin 35 | RD7 — Bidirectional I/O port D bit 7 |
| Pin 36 | RE0 — Bidirectional I/O port E bit 0 |
| Pin 37 | RE1 — Bidirectional I/O port E bit 1 |
| Pin 38 | RE2 — Bidirectional I/O port E bit 2 |
| Pin 39 | RE3 — Bidirectional I/O port E bit 3 |
| Pin 40 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O port A bit 0 |
Typical Applications
PIC16F59-I/P is suitable for 6 applications: Appliance Control Boards, Automotive Body Modules (Non-Safety), LED Display and Sign Drivers, Simple Sensor Interface Hubs, White-Goods Timers and Counters, Educational and Hobbyist Development.
Appliance Control Boards
The PIC16F59-I/P is well suited for washing-machine, dishwasher and microwave control boards where 32 high-drive (25 mA) I/O pins can directly switch LED indicators, seven-segment displays and small relay coils without external buffers. With 3 KB of flash the part comfortably hosts state-machine firmware for cycle sequencing, while the 2.0-5.5 V supply lets it run directly from a rectified 5 V rail. The integrated watchdog timer (WDT) and power-on reset (POR) provide fail-safe startup required by IEC 60335 household-appliance safety expectations.
Recommended
Automotive Body Modules (Non-Safety)
Indoor body-electronics modules such as interior lighting controllers, seat-heater switches and HVAC flap actuators can use the PIC16F59-I/P where AEC-Q100 is not mandated but extended thermal margin is still useful. The 32 I/O at 25 mA drive seat-position indicator LEDs and small DC loads directly. Designers needing the full -40 C to +125 C window should select the PIC16F59-E/P drop-in variant; for AEC-Q100 safety-critical nodes the PIC16F1xxx family is the recommended migration path.
Recommended
LED Display and Sign Drivers
Scrolling LED message boards, seven-segment panel meters and large dot-matrix signs benefit from the PIC16F59-I/P's 32 high-current I/O pins that drive LED rows and columns directly, eliminating external transistor arrays in small to mid-size displays. The 20 MHz clock supports multiplex refresh rates above 100 Hz, eliminating visible flicker, while 3 KB of flash holds character lookup tables and animation state. Brown-out and POR ensure clean cold-start behavior in outdoor signage exposed to fluctuating supply rails.
Recommended
Simple Sensor Interface Hubs
Industrial sensor-interface boards that read 4-20 mA loops, thermistor strings, and dry-contact switches benefit from the PIC16F59-I/P's 32 I/O pins, which allow up to 32 digital inputs to be polled without an external I/O expander. The 134 bytes of RAM hold a small input-snapshot buffer, while the 2.0-5.5 V supply lets the MCU sit on the same rail as the sensor front-end. The integrated WDT recovers the node from firmware lockups in unattended field installations.
Recommended
White-Goods Timers and Counters
Egg timers, laundry-cycle counters and irrigation controllers fit the PIC16F59-I/P's combination of a hardware watchdog, two 8-bit timers, and 32 I/O that scan keypads and drive seven-segment or LCD readouts. The 200 ns instruction cycle is fast enough for software-PWM dimming of indicator LEDs. With wide 2.0-5.5 V operation the same firmware binary runs on either battery-powered 3 V devices or mains-derived 5 V appliances.
Recommended
Educational and Hobbyist Development
Universities, coding clubs and hobbyists adopt the PIC16F59-I/P because the 40-pin PDIP package is breadboard-friendly, easy to solder, and the simple PIC16 RISC instruction set lets beginners master register-level programming in a single lab session. MPLAB X IDE and the XC8 compiler are free downloads from Microchip, and the 3 KB flash accommodates moderate student projects such as digital clocks, reaction timers and small games. The 32 I/O pins are ample for parallel-bus experiments and matrix-keypad scanning labs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F59-I/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F59-E/P | PIC16F57-I/P | PIC16F505-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | PDIP-40 (DIP-40) | PDIP-40 (DIP-40) - same | PDIP-40 (DIP-40) - same | PDIP-40 (DIP-40) - same |
| Core / Architecture | PIC16 8-bit RISC, 12-bit instruction | PIC16 8-bit RISC, 12-bit instruction - same | PIC16 8-bit RISC, 12-bit instruction - same | PIC16 8-bit RISC, 12-bit instruction - same |
| Max Clock Frequency | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 3 KB | 3 KB | 3 KB | 1.5 KB (-50%) |
| RAM | 134 bytes | 134 bytes | 72 bytes (-46%) | 72 bytes (-46%) |
| Number of I/O | 32 | 32 | 20 (-38%) | 12 (-63%) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | -40 C to +125 C (extended) | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| Supply Voltage | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| On-chip Peripherals | POR, WDT, 2 timers | POR, WDT, 2 timers | POR, WDT, 1 timer | POR, WDT, 2 timers |
Key Differentiators
- Largest flash and RAM in the PIC16F5x baseline 40-pin PDIP family (vs PIC16F57-I/P)
- Wide-temperature variant available on the same die/package (vs PIC16F505-I/P)
- 32 high-drive I/O pins versus smaller baseline PIC16F5x siblings (vs PIC16F505-I/P)
Design Notes
Place a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin (pin 15) and a bulk 1-10 uF electrolytic near the IC to suppress supply transients from the high-current I/O transitions. The PIC16F59-I/P can source or sink up to 25 mA per pin and 200 mA total VDD current; sum all I/O loads and confirm the total does not exceed the absolute-maximum VDD specification in the datasheet. For battery-powered designs, switch the MCU to SLEEP mode with WDT disabled to drop quiescent current below 1 uA.
The MCLR/VPP pin (pin 4) requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD and a 100 nF cap to VSS for in-circuit serial programming (ICSP). Route the ICSP clock and data signals as short, untwisted traces to PGED/RB7 and PGEC/RB6. Because the part is a 40-pin PDIP through-hole device, plan for plated through-holes and at least 0.6 mm annular ring on your PCB footprint; many designers also add a 0.1 uF cap directly between VDD and VSS on the bottom layer beneath the IC.
Do not assume a PIC16 mid-range migration is firmware-compatible: PIC16F59-I/P uses the PIC16F5x baseline 12-bit instruction set (33 instructions), so code assembled for PIC16F628A or PIC16F88 mid-range cores will NOT assemble for this device without rewrite. Unused I/O pins must be configured as outputs and tied low or left open - never left floating as inputs, because floating CMOS inputs draw shoot-through current in the tens of microamps per pin and can cause erratic POR behavior.
Route the oscillator traces (OSC1/OSC2, pins 27/26) as short as possible and keep them away from high-current switching traces and the ICSP lines. Use a grounded guard ring around the crystal/can and place the load capacitors within 5 mm of the OSC pins. For RC oscillator mode, place the resistor and capacitor within 5 mm of OSC1; keep the RC node away from any high-impedance analog traces to minimize jitter.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per DigiKey and Microchip product page. AEC-Q100 not qualified - choose PIC16F59-E/P for extended temperature only, not for AEC-Q100 safety-critical automotive nodes.
