PIC16LF1459T-I/GZ - 8-Bit USB MCU, 14KB Flash, 48MHz, 20-UQFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1459T-I/GZ ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.1 | $2.10 |
| 10 | $1.95 | $19.50 |
| 100 | $1.72 | $172.00 |
| 500 | $1.45 | $725.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.28 | $1,280.00 |
| 3,300 | $1.05 | $3,465.00 |
PIC16LF1459T-I/GZ Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, program memory, data RAM, peripherals, and I/O on one silicon die; it executes instructions from on-chip Flash and is the lowest-cost way to add programmable intelligence to a product. The PIC16 architecture uses a Harvard RISC core with a 14-bit instruction word, providing deterministic instruction timing (most instructions execute in one instruction cycle). The PIC16LF1459 specifically extends this base with a USB 2.0 full-speed peripheral, a 48 MHz internal HFINTOSC (required to clock the USB module), 17 general-purpose I/O pins, multiple timers (Timer0, Timer1, Timer2), a 10-bit ADC with up to 9 channels, two comparators, two PWM modules, an EUSART, and an I²C/SPI MSSP. The 'LF' prefix denotes the wide-voltage, low-power variant suitable for both 3.3V and 5V systems as well as battery operation.
Key features of the PIC16LF1459T-I/GZ include eXtreme Low Power (XLP) technology with nanoWatt sleep modes that drop quiescent current below 1 µA typical, integrated USB 2.0 full-speed (12 Mbps) with on-chip transceiver and internal pull-up resistor, 14KB self-programmable Flash with 256-byte page size, 1024-byte SRAM data memory, an active clock tuning feature that calibrates the HFINTOSC against a USB SOF packet, and a wide operating voltage of 2.0V to 5.5V. The 20-UQFN (4x4 mm) package is the smallest variant in the PIC16F1459 family and exposes the exposed pad (EP) for thermal dissipation and ground connection.
Technically, the device uses Microchip's enhanced mid-range core with a 14-bit instruction set, supports In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) and In-Circuit Debug (ICD), and offers two PWM modules capable of driving LEDs, motors, or generating analog references. The 10-bit ADC delivers up to 9 channels at 100 ksps, while the comparators can be used for zero-cross detection or low-battery detection. The integrated USB module supports USB 2.0 full-speed device mode with internal pull-up, removing the need for an external USB transceiver.
Typical applications include USB HID peripherals such as keyboards, mice, game controllers, and custom HID input devices; USB CDC virtual COM port adapters for legacy serial replacement; low-power IoT sensor nodes with USB firmware-update bootloaders; consumer electronics like toys and remote controls; USB battery chargers and power banks; industrial data loggers with USB download; and educational/development boards (e.g., Microchip Curiosity LPC boards and PIC16F1459-based hobby kits).
When designing with this part, note that the 'LF' part-number suffix requires a 48 MHz HFINTOSC when USB is active; if USB is unused, lower-frequency oscillators reduce current draw. The 20-UQFN (4x4 mm) exposed pad must be soldered to the ground plane for thermal performance and signal integrity. Because the USB D+/D- pins are multiplexed, careful pin assignment is required if you also need ADC on more than 9 channels.
This page synthesizes drop-in same-package alternatives, parametric comparison, and practical design notes for the PIC16LF1459T-I/GZ - information not collected in a single place on the manufacturer datasheet or distributor listings.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1459T-I/GZ — 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 PIC16LF1459T-I/GZ (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Architecture, Package, Operating Temperature, Timers, ADC.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF1459-I/GZ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1459T-E/GZ
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1459T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1459T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1459T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1459T-I/GZ Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16 (enhanced mid-range, 8-bit Harvard RISC, 14-bit instructions) |
| Series | PIC® XLP™ 16F (PIC16LF145x family) |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 48 MHz (12 MIPS at 48 MHz) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB (8K x 14 words) |
| Data SRAM | 1024 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 17 |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| USB Module | USB 2.0 Full-Speed (12 Mbps) device mode with internal pull-up |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 9 channels, 100 ksps |
| Comparators | 2 |
| PWM Modules | 2 (10-bit CCP/ECCP) |
| Timers | Timer0 (8-bit), Timer1 (16-bit), Timer2 (8-bit) |
| Serial Peripherals | EUSART (LIN-capable), MSSP (I²C/SPI) |
| Package | 20-UQFN (4x4 mm) with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial, 'I' suffix) |
| Programming/Debug | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) and ICD (In-Circuit Debug) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| XLP Low-Power Modes | nanoWatt sleep modes with sub-1-µA quiescent current typical |
PIC16LF1459T-I/GZ Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0/C1IN+/DACOUT — GPIO RA0, ADC AN0, comparator C1 positive input |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1/C1IN-/C2IN-/PWM1 — GPIO RA1, ADC AN1, comparator inputs, PWM1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2 — GPIO RA2, ADC AN2 |
| Pin 4 | RA3/MCLR/VPP — GPIO RA3, Master Clear reset, programming voltage input |
| Pin 5 | RA4/AN4 — GPIO RA4, ADC AN4 |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN5 — GPIO RA5, ADC AN5 |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 8 | VDD — Power supply (2.0V-5.5V) |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKIN/RA5 — External clock input (shared with RA5 alt func) |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKOUT/RA4 — External clock output (shared with RA4 alt func) |
| Pin 11 | RC0/AN6/SDO — GPIO RC0, ADC AN6, SPI data out |
| Pin 12 | RC1/AN7/SDI/SDA — GPIO RC1, ADC AN7, SPI data in, I2C data |
| Pin 13 | RC2/AN8 — GPIO RC2, ADC AN8 |
| Pin 14 | RC3/USB-D+ — GPIO RC3, USB D+ (shared with USB module) |
| Pin 15 | RC4/USB-D- — GPIO RC4, USB D- (shared with USB module) |
| Pin 16 | RC5 — GPIO RC5 |
| Pin 17 | RB4 — GPIO RB4 |
| Pin 18 | RB5/AN11 — GPIO RB5, ADC AN11 |
| Pin 19 | RB6/ICSPCLK/ICDCLK — GPIO RB6, ICSP clock, ICD clock |
| Pin 20 | RB7/ICSPDAT/ICDDAT — GPIO RB7, ICSP data, ICD data |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1459T-I/GZ is suitable for 7 applications: USB HID Peripherals (Keyboard, Mouse, Gamepad), USB CDC Virtual COM Port Adapters, USB-C Battery Chargers and Power Banks, Low-Power IoT Sensor Nodes with USB Bootloader, Consumer Electronics and Toys, Industrial Data Loggers with USB Download, Educational/Hobby Development Boards.
USB HID Peripherals (Keyboard, Mouse, Gamepad)
The PIC16LF1459T-I/GZ is purpose-built for USB HID devices thanks to its on-chip USB 2.0 full-speed transceiver and 14 KB Flash. According to Microchip's HID Bootloader + HID Class Application stack, the part enumerates as a HID device without any external USB components, leaving ample Flash for HID report descriptors, debounce routines, and macro firmware. Its nanoWatt Sleep mode allows battery-powered wireless HID dongles to idle below 1 µA between user inputs, and the 48 MHz auto-calibrated HFINTOSC removes the need for a costly external crystal.
Recommended
USB CDC Virtual COM Port Adapters
The PIC16LF1459T-I/GZ is widely used to replace legacy RS-232 with USB CDC virtual COM ports at minimal BOM cost. Its integrated USB transceiver and internal pull-up remove the typical USB3300-style external PHY, and 14 KB Flash comfortably hosts Microchip's CDC Class Driver plus a custom command set. The EUSART provides the host-side UART at 3.3V TTL levels, while the 48 MHz auto-calibrated HFINTOSC guarantees USB-compliant 12 Mbps timing without external crystal.
Recommended
USB-C Battery Chargers and Power Banks
The PIC16LF1459T-I/GZ's 2.0V-5.5V operating range and built-in 10-bit ADC make it a good fit for USB-C battery charger and power-bank controllers. According to Microchip's PIC16LF1459 datasheet, the ADC samples up to 9 channels - enough for voltage, current, and thermistor inputs - while the nanoWatt Sleep mode keeps standby current at sub-microamp levels. The USB module negotiates BC1.2 charging current via class requests, and the 17 GPIO pins drive status LEDs, push-buttons, and load FETs.
Recommended
Low-Power IoT Sensor Nodes with USB Bootloader
The PIC16LF1459T-I/GZ is well suited to USB-attached IoT sensor nodes where field firmware updates must be trivial. Microchip's USB bootloader (DS51679) fits entirely in the 14 KB Flash, leaving the rest of the Flash for application code. The 10-bit ADC with 9 channels handles multiple analog sensors, the nanoWatt Sleep mode drops current below 1 µA between samples, and the 48 MHz HFINTOSC auto-calibration against USB SOF maintains long-term timing accuracy without external components.
Recommended
Consumer Electronics and Toys
The PIC16LF1459T-I/GZ is a cost-effective MCU for consumer toys and appliances where USB is the upgrade or charging interface. Its 17 GPIO pins drive LEDs, buzzers, and small DC motors via the two PWM channels; the comparators handle zero-cross detection for triac control; and the EUSART can drive addressable RGB LED strings. The 2.0V-5.5V range allows single-cell Li-Ion or 2xAA operation, and the small 4x4 mm UQFN footprint fits ultra-compact enclosures.
Recommended
Industrial Data Loggers with USB Download
The PIC16LF1459T-I/GZ serves as the core of industrial data loggers that offload readings via USB. Its 14 KB Flash stores the logger firmware plus Microchip's USB CDC stack, and the 1024-byte SRAM buffers multi-sample data before USB transmission. The two comparators enable zero-cross detection on AC line-voltage monitoring, the 10-bit ADC samples 9 analog channels, and the wide 2.0V-5.5V range accepts 3.3V or 5V supply rails common in industrial sensors.
Recommended
Educational/Hobby Development Boards
The PIC16LF1459T-I/GZ is used on Microchip's Curiosity LPC and hobby-class dev boards where USB drag-and-drop programming and a simple PIC16 environment help newcomers learn embedded development. The 14 KB Flash comfortably holds the USB HID bootloader plus the user application, and the 17 GPIO pins expose every on-board peripheral - LED, button, potentiometer, UART, I2C - on standard 0.1" headers. The 48 MHz auto-calibrated HFINTOSC eliminates external crystals and keeps BOM minimal.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1459T-I/GZ — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF1459-I/GZ | PIC16LF1459T-E/GZ | PIC16LF1459T-I/SS | PIC16LF1459T-I/SO | PIC16LF1459T-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 20-UQFN (4x4 mm) | 20-UQFN (4x4 mm) - same | 20-UQFN (4x4 mm) - same | SSOP-20 (different) | SOIC-20 (different) | 20-QFN 6x6 mm (different) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB |
| Data SRAM | 1024 bytes | 1024 bytes | 1024 bytes | 1024 bytes | 1024 bytes | 1024 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz |
| USB Module | USB 2.0 Full-Speed device | USB 2.0 Full-Speed device | USB 2.0 Full-Speed device | USB 2.0 Full-Speed device | USB 2.0 Full-Speed device | USB 2.0 Full-Speed device |
| Operating 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 | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (I) | -40 C to +85 C (I) | -40 C to +125 C (E - extended) | -40 C to +85 C (I) | -40 C to +85 C (I) | -40 C to +85 C (I) |
| RoHS / Lead-Free | Compliant / Lead-free | Compliant / Lead-free | Compliant / Lead-free | Compliant / Lead-free | Compliant / Lead-free | Compliant / Lead-free |
| Approx. Unit Price (1k qty) | $1.28 | ~$1.28 (same die, tray) | ~$1.45 (extended temp premium) | ~$1.28 (SSOP-20) | ~$1.30 (SOIC-20) | ~$1.32 (QFN-20 6x6) |
Key Differentiators
- Smallest-footprint 8-bit USB MCU in the PIC16 family (vs PIC16LF1459T-I/SO)
- Internal USB pull-up and on-chip USB transceiver (vs PIC18F14K50 (SOIC-20))
- Industrial (-40C to +85C) and Extended (-40C to +125C) options in same package (vs PIC16LF1459T-E/GZ vs I-suffix variant)
- Same silicon, four footprint options (UQFN, QFN, SOIC, SSOP) (vs PIC16LF1459T-I/ML (QFN-20 6x6 mm))
Design Notes
The 20-UQFN (4x4 mm) package requires that the exposed pad (EP) on the underside be soldered to a continuous, well-grounded copper pad on the PCB. The EP is the primary thermal path for the die and also serves as the ground reference for the USB D+/D- lines. Provide at least 4 thermal vias in the EP pad to inner ground plane to keep junction temperature within limits. Per Microchip's app note AN-1230 (PCB design for USB), the USB trace impedance should be 90 ohm differential with a short, symmetric route to the USB connector.
Place a 0.1 µF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as possible to VDD (pin 8), plus a bulk 4.7-10 µF tantalum or ceramic on the same rail. According to the Microchip PIC16LF1459 datasheet, the USB regulator requires a 0.22 µF capacitor on the VUSB3V3 pin if USB is used. Do not exceed 5.5 V on VDD or you will damage the USB PHY's internal pull-up.
A common mistake is leaving the USB D+/D- traces un-impedance-controlled - USB full-speed requires a 90 ohm +/- 10% differential impedance with a maximum trace length under ~50 mm. Per Microchip, mismatched impedance leads to signal integrity errors that fail USB-IF compliance. Another common pitfall is forgetting the 0.1 µF bypass capacitor next to the VDD pin, which can cause brown-out resets during USB enumeration.
When the USB module is active, the 48 MHz HFINTOSC must be running. Per Microchip's datasheet, USB packet timing is derived directly from the HFINTOSC; if the HFINTOSC drifts more than ~0.25% the USB device will fail enumeration. Enable active clock tuning (ACT) to lock the HFINTOSC against the USB SOF packet - this corrects for crystal-less designs and restores timing accuracy.
Keep analog signals (ADC inputs, comparator inputs) away from the USB D+/D- lines and from any switching traces. According to Microchip's datasheet, the PIC16LF1459 ADC can achieve 10-bit accuracy only if the analog traces are guarded by ground on both sides. If you need both ADC and USB on the same board, route USB traces on one PCB layer and analog traces on a separate inner layer.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant and lead-free per Microchip product page. AEC-Q100 not applicable (consumer/industrial part, not automotive qualified). REACH compliance confirmed by Microchip. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in the verified data - set to 'unknown' per Data Authenticity Rules.
