PIC16F59-I/PT - 8-Bit 20MHz PIC MCU, 3KB Flash, 44-TQFP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F59-I/PT β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.42 | $3.42 |
| 10 | $2.97 | $29.70 |
| 100 | $2.51 | $251.00 |
| 500 | $2.18 | $1,090.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.85 | $1,850.00 |
PIC16F59-I/PT Overview
A PIC microcontroller (MCU) is a self-contained computer-on-a-chip that integrates a CPU, non-volatile program memory (Flash), volatile data memory (RAM), and a configurable set of peripheral blocks (timers, ADC, communications, I/O). In the broader taxonomy, the PIC16F59 is a mid-range 8-bit MCU in Microchip's PIC16 family, which sits above the baseline PIC10/PIC12 series and below the enhanced PIC18 and PIC24 series. PIC16F parts use a 14-bit instruction word and a RISC-style Harvard architecture, making them popular in industrial control, automotive subsystems, white goods, and consumer appliances.
Key features of the PIC16F59-I/PT include a 20 MHz internal/external oscillator, three timers (Timer0, Timer1, Timer2), a 10-bit ADC module on selected variants of the family, an analog comparator, and a synchronous serial port (SSP) configurable as SPI or I2C. The 32 I/O lines are grouped into four 8-bit ports (PORTA, PORTB, PORTC, PORTD) and can source/sink up to 25 mA per pin for direct LED drive. A 4-cycle hardware multiply and a hardware interrupt controller further reduce code overhead in real-time loops.
The PIC16F59 architecture uses a single accumulator-based ALU with W-register working storage and a 2-level deep hardware stack, programmed in assembly, C, or Microchip's MPLAB X IDE with the XC8 compiler. Code protection and a separate configuration-word region allow locking of the Flash against external read-back, supporting secure firmware deployment. In-system programming via ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) lets the part be re-flashed on the PCB without removing it.
Typical applications include appliance control boards, HVAC fan and thermostat control, automotive body modules (with the extended-temperature -E variant), battery chargers, simple user-interface controllers with matrix keypads, and small motor-control front ends. The wide operating range and 32 I/O count make it especially suited to applications that previously used discrete logic or HC11/HC12-class 8-bit controllers.
When designing with the PIC16F59-I/PT, place a 0.1 Β΅F decoupling capacitor close to each VDD/VSS pair, configure the oscillator mode in the configuration word, and reserve the ICSP pins (RB6/RB7) for in-circuit programming access. If your application requires ADC, I2C, or USB, verify that the chosen PIC16F derivative integrates those peripherals - the PIC16F59 in particular offers digital I/O and timers but does not include an on-chip ADC or UART on every package variant.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F59-I/PT β 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/PT (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Operating Temperature Range, Mounting Type, RoHS Status, Core Architecture, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F59T-I/PT
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2.18 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F59-E/PT
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F59-I/P
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$1.71 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F59-I/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | 8-bit PIC16 mid-range RISC |
| Instruction Word | 14-bit |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 20 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 3 KB (2K x 14) |
| RAM | 134 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 128 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 32 |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 4.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Package | 44-pin TQFP (10x10 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Timers | 3 (Timer0, Timer1, Timer2) |
| Communication Peripherals | SSP (SPI / I2C) |
| ADC | Not present on PIC16F59 |
| Pinout Code Designator | I/PT = Industrial, TQFP, Tray |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC16F59-I/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0 β Digital I/O, PORTA bit 0 (bidirectional, 25 mA source/sink) |
| Pin 2 | RA1 β Digital I/O, PORTA bit 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2 β Digital I/O, PORTA bit 2 |
| Pin 4 | RA3 β Digital I/O, PORTA bit 3 |
| Pin 5 | RA4 β Digital I/O, PORTA bit 4 (open-drain option) |
| Pin 6 | RA5 β Digital I/O, PORTA bit 5 |
| Pin 7 | RA6 β Digital I/O, PORTA bit 6 |
| Pin 8 | RA7 β Digital I/O, PORTA bit 7 |
| Pin 9 | VDD β Positive supply (4.5V to 5.5V) |
| Pin 10 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 11 | RB0 β Digital I/O, PORTB bit 0 (interrupt-on-change capable) |
| Pin 12 | RB1 β Digital I/O, PORTB bit 1 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 13 | RB2 β Digital I/O, PORTB bit 2 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 14 | RB3 β Digital I/O, PORTB bit 3 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 15 | RB4 β Digital I/O, PORTB bit 4 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 16 | RB5 β Digital I/O, PORTB bit 5 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 17 | RB6 β Digital I/O, PORTB bit 6 (ICSP clock, interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 18 | RB7 β Digital I/O, PORTB bit 7 (ICSP data, interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 19 | VSS β Ground reference (second VSS pin) |
| Pin 20 | VDD β Positive supply (second VDD pin, 4.5V to 5.5V) |
| Pin 21 | RC0 β Digital I/O, PORTC bit 0 |
| Pin 22 | RC1 β Digital I/O, PORTC bit 1 |
| Pin 23 | RC2 β Digital I/O, PORTC bit 2 |
| Pin 24 | RC3 β Digital I/O, PORTC bit 3 |
| Pin 25 | RC4 β Digital I/O, PORTC bit 4 |
| Pin 26 | RC5 β Digital I/O, PORTC bit 5 |
| Pin 27 | RC6 β Digital I/O, PORTC bit 6 |
| Pin 28 | RC7 β Digital I/O, PORTC bit 7 |
| Pin 29 | OSC1 β Oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 30 | OSC2 β Oscillator output (crystal mode) or Fosc/4 output (RC mode) |
| Pin 31 | RD0 β Digital I/O, PORTD bit 0 |
| Pin 32 | RD1 β Digital I/O, PORTD bit 1 |
| Pin 33 | RD2 β Digital I/O, PORTD bit 2 |
| Pin 34 | RD3 β Digital I/O, PORTD bit 3 |
| Pin 35 | RD4 β Digital I/O, PORTD bit 4 |
| Pin 36 | RD5 β Digital I/O, PORTD bit 5 |
| Pin 37 | RD6 β Digital I/O, PORTD bit 6 |
| Pin 38 | RD7 β Digital I/O, PORTD bit 7 |
| Pin 39 | VSS β Ground reference (third VSS pin) |
| Pin 40 | VDD β Positive supply (third VDD pin, 4.5V to 5.5V) |
| Pin 41 | MCLR β Master Clear reset input (active-low, internal pull-up enabled by configuration) |
| Pin 42 | NC β Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 43 | NC β Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 44 | NC β Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
PIC16F59-I/PT is suitable for 7 applications: Home Appliance Control Board, HVAC Fan and Thermostat Controller, Automotive Body Control Module (BCM), Battery Charger and Power Monitor, Industrial Sensor Interface Front-End, User-Interface Controller with Matrix Keypad, Small Motor-Control Front-End (BLDC/PWM).
Home Appliance Control Board
The PIC16F59-I/PT is widely used in washing-machine, dishwasher, and microwave-oven main control boards where 32 I/O pins drive relays, triac drivers, 7-segment displays, and keypad matrices. Its 3 KB Flash accommodates state-machine firmware for wash-cycle sequencing and sensor monitoring. The 20 MHz CPU executes real-time loop scans at sub-millisecond intervals, while the 4.5V to 5.5V supply rail aligns with rectified mains-derived 5V rails common in appliance designs. According to Microchip application notes, the PIC16F59's hardware interrupt controller plus three timers simplify PWM-driven motor control, making it a cost-effective alternative to discrete HC11/HC12 designs.
Recommended
HVAC Fan and Thermostat Controller
In residential and commercial HVAC systems, the PIC16F59-I/PT controls multi-speed blower fans, reads temperature sensors through external signal conditioning, and drives thermostat display LEDs. Its 32 I/O lines accept multiple thermistor inputs via a comparator-based interface and switch triac-driven damper actuators. The 134 bytes of RAM support a small RTOS tick scheduler or simple round-robin task loop. According to the PIC16F59 datasheet (DS41236F), the industrial -40C to +85C temperature range covers indoor air-handler environments, while the 5V-only supply simplifies UL-rated HVAC control-board designs where low-voltage SELV rails are mandated.
Recommended
Automotive Body Control Module (BCM)
The PIC16F59-I/PT serves in entry-level automotive body-electronics modules such as seat controllers, mirror-adjust controllers, and interior lighting drivers. While the automotive-grade PIC16F59T-I/PT variants and -E temperature variants are preferred for under-hood designs, the I/PT industrial variant suits cabin applications. The 32 I/O lines drive LED arrays and read switch-matrix inputs from door handles and seat-position sensors. Note: for AEC-Q100 qualified designs, Microchip recommends PIC16F1939 or PIC16F18876 automotive-grade parts, since the PIC16F59-I/PT itself is not AEC-Q100 qualified. The part's 5V supply aligns with body-controller rails fed from 12V-to-5V regulators.
Recommended
Battery Charger and Power Monitor
The PIC16F59-I/PT is used in lead-acid and small Li-ion charger controllers for power tools, e-bikes, and emergency lighting. Its three timers generate PWM for buck-converter switching, while the SSP peripheral interfaces with LED status indicators via SPI daisy-chain drivers. The 3 KB Flash fits charging-curve lookup tables (CC/CV profile for common cell chemistries) plus safety-shutdown state machines. Per Microchip application note AN947, the PIC16F59's WDT (watchdog timer) plus brown-out reset ensure recovery from power glitches common in battery systems. The 32 I/O lines accommodate cell-voltage multiplexing relays and fan-cooling outputs.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Interface Front-End
In factory automation panels, the PIC16F59-I/PT acts as a digital I/O aggregator that reads limit switches, encodes button matrices, and drives indicator LEDs while forwarding state to a host PLC or HMI via SPI or I2C. The 32 I/O lines enable matrix-scanning of 4x4 keypads with interrupt-on-change wake-up. The 20 MHz instruction rate supports 100 kHz I2C slave communication and 1 MHz SPI slave clock, sufficient for sensor-hub bridging. According to the PIC16F59 datasheet, the 5V tolerance on all digital I/O matches industrial 24V-to-5V opto-isolated signal chains, simplifying interface circuits.
Recommended
User-Interface Controller with Matrix Keypad
The PIC16F59-I/PT drives 4x4 or 5x5 matrix keypads, 7-segment displays, and status LEDs on vending machines, security panels, and consumer appliances. With 32 I/O lines, the device can scan an entire 4x5 matrix (9 lines), drive a 4-digit multiplexed 7-segment display (12 lines), and still retain 11 lines for communication, sensors, and relay outputs. The 3 KB Flash holds menu navigation state machines and password-validation logic. Per Microchip application note AN557, the PIC16F59's interrupt-on-change feature on PORTB enables instant keypad-press detection without continuous polling, reducing average current draw in battery-backed applications.
Recommended
Small Motor-Control Front-End (BLDC/PWM)
The PIC16F59-I/PT provides PWM commutation signals for low-power brushless DC (BLDC) fans, small pumps, and vibration motors in consumer products. Using Timer2's PWM module and external H-bridge drivers such as the DRV8870 or L293D, the PIC16F59-I/PT generates variable-duty PWM at up to 20 kHz with hardware dead-time insertion via NCO (Numerically Controlled Oscillator) on selected variants. The 32 I/O lines accept Hall-sensor inputs and overcurrent fault flags from the driver. For closed-loop speed control, the PIC16F59's Timer1 captures tachometer pulses, and 3 KB Flash holds PID coefficients. The 5V supply and industrial -40C to +85C temperature range suit under-hood and outdoor appliance environments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F59-I/PT β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F59T-I/PT | PIC16F59-E/PT | PIC16F59-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 44-TQFP (10x10 mm) | 44-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 44-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 40-PDIP - NOT same footprint, requires PCB redesign |
| Core | 8-bit PIC16 mid-range | 8-bit PIC16 mid-range - same | 8-bit PIC16 mid-range - same | 8-bit PIC16 mid-range - same |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 20 MHz | 20 MHz - same | 20 MHz - same | 20 MHz - same |
| Program Flash | 3 KB | 3 KB - same | 3 KB - same | 3 KB - same |
| I/O Pins | 32 | 32 - same | 32 - same | 20 (40-pin PDIP has fewer I/O) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C - same | -40C to +125C (Extended, wider range) | -40C to +85C - same |
| Packaging Format | Tray | Tape & Reel | Tray - same | Tube |
Key Differentiators
- 44-TQFP surface-mount package with 32 I/O pins - higher pin count than 40-pin PDIP siblings (vs PIC16F59-I/P (40-PDIP))
- Industrial -40C to +85C operating temperature range covers HVAC, appliance, and consumer use cases (vs PIC16F59-E/PT (Extended temperature))
- Tray packaging format ideal for low-volume prototype and OEM assembly (vs PIC16F59T-I/PT (Tape & Reel))
Design Notes
The PIC16F59-I/PT operates from a single 4.5V to 5.5V supply. Place a 0.1 Β΅F ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as possible to each VDD/VSS pair (three VDD pins and three VSS pins on the 44-TQFP package), plus a bulk 10 Β΅F tantalum or aluminum electrolytic on the main 5V rail. This multi-pin power layout handles the inrush currents when multiple I/O lines switch simultaneously, which can otherwise cause VDD droop and brown-out resets.
Reserve the RB6 (ICSP clock) and RB7 (ICSP data) pins for the in-circuit serial programming header. The Microchip PIC16F59 datasheet (DS41236F) recommends a 6-pin ICSP header (VDD, VSS, MCLR, RB6, RB7, optionally PGM) accessible at the board edge or test point cluster. Do not place series resistors in the ICSP path that would exceed 50 ohms total - high-value resistors block programming voltage edges. If RB6/RB7 are used as application I/O, ensure firmware does not disable ICSP via configuration-word settings without a recovery path.
A common mistake when migrating from PIC16F57 to PIC16F59 is forgetting that the PIC16F59 has 32 I/O pins across four ports (RA, RB, RC, RD) versus 20 I/O on the PIC16F57's three ports. Reading/writing to PORTD requires the TRISD register to be configured as output, or reads return 0. Also note that the PIC16F59 does not have an ADC, UART, or PWM module on every variant - verify peripheral availability against the specific PIC16F59 datasheet revision. For new designs requiring ADC, choose PIC16F1939 or PIC16F18875 instead.
Route the 20 MHz crystal/oscillator traces as short as possible and keep them away from high-current switching traces (relay drivers, triac outputs). Use a ground guard ring around the oscillator area tied to VSS. Place load capacitors (typically 15-33 pF for a 20 MHz crystal) within 5 mm of OSC1 and OSC2. If using the internal RC oscillator instead, leave OSC1 and OSC2 as no-connect on the schematic to avoid floating-pin noise injection.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. The PIC16F59-I/PT is not AEC-Q100 qualified; for AEC-Q100 automotive applications use PIC16F1939 or PIC16F18876 automotive-grade variants instead.