PIC16LF1507-E/ML - 8-bit MCU, 3.5KB Flash, 20MHz | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1507-E/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.04 | $1.04 |
| 10 | $0.94 | $9.40 |
| 100 | $0.83 | $83.00 |
| 500 | $0.74 | $370.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.66 | $660.00 |
| 3,000 | $0.55 | $1,650.00 |
PIC16LF1507-E/ML Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, non-volatile program memory, working RAM, and a rich set of peripherals. The PIC16LF1507 belongs to the broader 8-bit microcontroller hierarchy: MCU -> 8-bit MCU -> PIC16 family -> PIC16LF150x sub-family. Its low-power 'LF' lineage uses an enhanced mid-range core with 14-bit instruction width and a modified Harvard architecture, balancing code density against deterministic interrupt latency for real-time embedded tasks.
Key features include 18 digital I/O pins shared with peripheral functions, an integrated 10-bit ADC with multiple acquisition channels, enhanced PWM, configurable logic cells (CLC), a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO), and a 16-bit timer plus 8-bit timers. The device supports in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) and integrates nanoWatt XLP power-saving modes that drop quiescent current to the low nanoampere range, enabling years of operation from a single coin cell.
The device uses Microchip's standard mid-range instruction set with 14-bit-wide program words, providing predictable execution timing. The 20-pin QFN (4x4) package includes a central thermal pad that must be soldered to a PCB copper pour to meet the datasheet thermal specifications; failure to do so can degrade power dissipation capability and long-term reliability.
Typical applications include consumer electronics, IoT sensor nodes, battery-operated remote controls, low-cost motor control, and lighting control. The combination of low voltage, low quiescent current, and the small 4x4 mm QFN footprint suits space- and power-constrained products including wearables and wireless sensor endpoints.
When designing with this part, ensure that the exposed pad is soldered to a sufficient copper area, that decoupling capacitors are placed close to VDD, and that the configuration bits are reviewed to enable the desired peripherals and oscillator mode. Programming can be performed with the MPLAB X IDE and the PICkit or Snap programmer.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1507-E/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 PIC16LF1507-E/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, I/O Pins, Package, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF1508-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1509-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1507-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1507-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.48 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1507-E/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | PIC16LF150x |
| Core | PIC 8-bit enhanced mid-range |
| Instruction Set Architecture | 8-bit data, 14-bit instruction word (Harvard) |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) |
| Data SRAM | 128 bytes (128 x 8) |
| Data EEPROM | Not present |
| I/O Pins | 18 |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| ADC | 10-bit, multiple channels |
| Timers | 16-bit x 1, 8-bit x 2 (typical family) |
| PWM Modules | Yes (enhanced PWM) |
| Configurable Logic Cells (CLC) | Yes |
| Numerically Controlled Oscillator (NCO) | Yes |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +125 C (E suffix) |
| Package | 20-pin QFN (4x4 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | Yes (per Microchip product page) |
PIC16LF1507-E/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5 — Port A bit 5 / digital I/O |
| Pin 2 | RA4 — Port A bit 4 / digital I/O |
| Pin 3 | RA3 — Port A bit 3 / digital I/O |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — Port A bit 2 / digital I/O |
| Pin 5 | RA1 — Port A bit 1 / ICSPCLK |
| Pin 6 | RA0 — Port A bit 0 / ICSPDAT |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — Port A bit 7 / digital I/O |
| Pin 9 | RA6 — Port A bit 6 / digital I/O |
| Pin 10 | RC0 — Port C bit 0 / digital I/O |
| Pin 11 | RC1 — Port C bit 1 / digital I/O |
| Pin 12 | RC2 — Port C bit 2 / digital I/O |
| Pin 13 | RC3 — Port C bit 3 / digital I/O |
| Pin 14 | RC4 — Port C bit 4 / digital I/O |
| Pin 15 | RC5 — Port C bit 5 / digital I/O |
| Pin 16 | RC6 — Port C bit 6 / digital I/O |
| Pin 17 | RC7 — Port C bit 7 / digital I/O |
| Pin 18 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 19 | RB7 — Port B bit 7 / digital I/O |
| Pin 20 | RB6 — Port B bit 6 / digital I/O |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1507-E/ML is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Operated IoT Sensor Nodes, Consumer Remote Controls, LED Lighting Control, Low-Cost Motor Control, Wearable Health Bands, Industrial Sensor Transmitters.
Battery-Operated IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC16LF1507-E/ML fits battery-operated IoT sensor nodes because its 1.8 V minimum supply enables direct connection to a single LiSOCl2 or alkaline cell, while nanoWatt XLP sleep modes drop quiescent current to the nanoampere range between transmissions. The 18 I/O pins drive digital sensors, an integrated 10-bit ADC samples analog inputs, and the 3.5 KB Flash holds compact BLE/Zigbee payload builders. Compared with a 3.3 V MCU, the LF variant eliminates the boost converter loss in primary-cell designs, extending operating life by an estimated 30-40%.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Controls
The PIC16LF1507-E/ML suits consumer IR remote controls because its 1.8 V operation runs directly from two AAA cells, its CLC peripheral generates 38 kHz carrier waveforms without CPU overhead, and the small 4x4 mm QFN-20 footprint fits inside a slim remote housing. NCO provides fine-grained frequency synthesis for IR modulation, while the 10-bit ADC reads battery voltage for low-battery alerts. Dropping the LF part into a design replaces a discrete 555 timer and timer IC with a single MCU, reducing BOM count by 2-3 components.
Recommended
LED Lighting Control
The PIC16LF1507-E/ML fits LED lighting control because the enhanced PWM module drives high-resolution dimming across multiple channels, the 10-bit ADC reads ambient light sensors and current sense, and the wide -40C to +125C temperature range tolerates enclosed luminaire environments. The QFN-20 (4x4 mm) footprint sits comfortably inside a 60 mm downlight housing, and CLC cells implement over-temperature foldback logic in hardware without CPU cycles. Designers typically pair this MCU with a constant-current LED driver; PWM resolution is the limiting factor for dimming smoothness.
Recommended
Low-Cost Motor Control
The PIC16LF1507-E/ML supports low-cost brushed DC and small stepper motor control via its enhanced PWM module, 16-bit timer for precise commutation timing, and 10-bit ADC for back-EMF or current sensing. The QFN-20 (4x4 mm) package plus 1.8 V operation enables miniaturized motor boards for toys, small fans, and pump controllers. CLC cells implement hardware protection such as over-current blanking in parallel to firmware; expected performance is suitable for sub-30 W motor loads where cost dominates over precision.
Recommended
Wearable Health Bands
The PIC16LF1507-E/ML fits wearable health bands because its nanoWatt XLP sleep modes sustain coin-cell life for 1-3 years, the small 4x4 mm QFN-20 footprint fits inside a wristband module, and 1.8 V operation directly powers heart-rate or temperature sensor ICs. The 10-bit ADC samples PPG or thermistor outputs at low duty cycle, while CLC cells wake the MCU only when a sensor threshold is crossed. Compared with a 5 V MCU, the LF variant reduces average quiescent current by an estimated 60% in 1.8 V rail designs.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Transmitters
The PIC16LF1507-E/ML serves in industrial 4-20 mA sensor transmitters because the -40C to +125C extended temperature grade tolerates field enclosures, the 10-bit ADC provides adequate resolution for sensor linearization, and the small QFN-20 footprint fits a 2-wire loop-powered head. The 1.8 V minimum supply supports an efficient shunt-regulator-derived rail, and CLC cells implement HART-style FSK modulation without CPU load. Designers typically pair this MCU with a 16-bit sigma-delta ADC front-end when higher accuracy is required for precision pressure or temperature transmitters.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1507-E/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF1508-E/ML | PIC16LF1509-E/ML | PIC16LF1507-I/ML | PIC16F1507-E/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 20-pin QFN (4x4) (ML) | 20-pin QFN (4x4) (ML) - same | 20-pin QFN (4x4) (ML) - same | 20-pin QFN (4x4) (ML) - same | 20-pin QFN (4x4) (ML) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | PIC 8-bit enhanced mid-range | PIC 8-bit enhanced mid-range | PIC 8-bit enhanced mid-range | PIC 8-bit enhanced mid-range | PIC 8-bit enhanced mid-range |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| Program Flash | 3.5 KB | 4 KB | 8 KB | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB |
| Data SRAM | 128 bytes | 256 bytes | 512 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| Temperature Range | -40 C to +125 C (E) | -40 C to +125 C (E) | -40 C to +125 C (E) | -40 C to +85 C (I) | -40 C to +125 C (E) |
| I/O Pins | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest voltage operation in the PIC16LF150x family (vs PIC16F1507-E/ML)
- Extended -40C to +125C temperature grade (vs PIC16LF1507-I/ML)
- Mid-tier flash density (vs PIC16LF1509-E/ML)
Design Notes
The QFN-20 (4x4) ML package has a central exposed thermal pad that MUST be soldered to a PCB copper pour, ideally connected to a ground plane with multiple thermal vias. Failure to solder the pad results in poor heat dissipation and reduced reliability. The datasheet recommends at least 4 thermal vias (0.3 mm drill) under the pad to a 1 oz copper pour on the opposite side; for high-current GPIO switching, increase the copper area to 100 mm^2 or more.
Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 18) with the trace short and wide. Add a bulk capacitor of 1 uF to 10 uF at the regulator output to supply transient currents during ADC conversions and PWM switching. Estimated: assuming 20 mA peak digital transients, a 1 uF bulk holds VDD within 50 mV during a 1 us transient (dV = I*dt/C = 0.02 V). Source: standard decoupling practice.
Route the ICSPDAT (pin 6) and ICSPCLK (pin 5) signals to a programming header with no series resistors or capacitors; any added impedance can prevent in-circuit programming. Keep the ICSP traces short (<50 mm) and away from switching nodes. The MCLR/VPP pin (not bonded out on this device) is internally disabled on PIC16LF1507; programming uses the dedicated ICSP pins. Source: Microchip ICSP specification for enhanced mid-range PIC16.
Do not assume 20 MHz operation at 1.8 V supply - the datasheet frequency-vs-voltage plot restricts CPU frequency to about 4 MHz at VDD = 1.8 V, and 20 MHz requires VDD greater than or equal to 2.5 V. Operating the core at 20 MHz with VDD below 2.5 V causes unreliable execution and Flash programming failures. For designs that must run 20 MHz from a depleted battery, add a boost converter or specify a higher nominal cell voltage.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant and lead-free per Microchip product page; halogen-free status not specified in the verified distributor data. PIC16LF1507-E/ML is not AEC-Q100 qualified - automotive applications require Microchip's AEC-Q100-grade PIC16F counterpart.
