PIC16LF1554-E/ST - 8-bit MCU, 7KB Flash, 32MHz, 14-TSSOP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1554-E/ST ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.5 | $1.50 |
| 10 | $1.35 | $13.50 |
| 100 | $1.2 | $120.00 |
| 500 | $1.08 | $540.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.97 | $970.00 |
PIC16LF1554-E/ST Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, non-volatile program memory, working RAM, and peripheral blocks (ADCs, timers, communication controllers, GPIO). The PIC16 enhanced mid-range family uses a 14-bit instruction word and a RISC architecture, with the LF suffix designating the 1.8-3.6 V low-voltage process that enables XLP (eXtreme Low Power) sleep currents below the 1 microamp level. Within Microchip's hierarchy, the PIC16LF1554 sits in the XLP 16F sub-family optimized for battery-powered capacitive-touch and sensor-interface designs.
Key differentiating features include the dual 10-bit ADC + hardware CVD block, which removes firmware overhead for touch scanning and improves noise-immunity over software-driven charge-transfer; XLP ultra-low-power modes for coin-cell or energy-harvesting applications; a peripheral pin select (PPS) lite block; an integrated temperature indicator; and Microchip's ICD-friendly in-circuit debugging. The 14 TSSOP footprint also gives designers a small (4.4 mm body) but still hand-solderable package for prototype runs.
The 32 MHz internal oscillator, 7 KB Flash and 512 B RAM footprint target cost- and power-constrained embedded designs. Internally the PIC16LF1554 uses Microchip's enhanced mid-range core with a hardware 8x8 multiplier, a 32 kHz LP oscillator for RTC, and an internal temperature sensor readable through the ADC - enabling applications such as capacitive touch buttons, smoke-detector front-ends, multi-channel sensor readout, and simple IoT edge nodes.
Typical applications include mTouch capacitive-touch keypads, multi-channel sensor front-ends (using the two ADCs), low-power IoT sensor nodes, consumer appliances with touch UI, and battery-powered industrial controls. The dual ADC + CVD is specifically engineered for capacitive touch, while XLP makes the part suitable for sleep-dominant wireless sensor designs.
When designing with the PIC16LF1554-E/ST, plan I/O carefully: only 12 of 14 pins are available as GPIO on the 14 TSSOP variant. Decouple VDD with 100 nF and 1 uF ceramics close to the pin pair, route MCLR with a 10 kohm pull-up when unused, and use ICSP reserved pins (ICSPCLK/ICSPDAT) as GPIO only after the design disables debug.
This page synthesizes distributor stock, drop-in alternative candidates from Microchip's enhanced mid-range portfolio, and design notes that complement the Microchip datasheet - giving engineers a one-stop view of pin-compatible options, thermal and decoupling guidance, and AEC-Q vs commercial grade choices.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1554-E/ST — 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 PIC16LF1554-E/ST (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF1554-I/ST
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1554T-I/ST
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1554-E/STVAO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1554-E/SL
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.08 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1454-E/ST
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1554-E/ST Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16 enhanced mid-range 8-bit RISC |
| Instruction Set | 14-bit CISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB (4K x 14) |
| Data Memory (RAM) | 512 B |
| EEPROM | 256 B |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| ADC | 2 x 10-bit, up to 11 analog channels, 600 ksps combined |
| PWM Modules | 2 |
| GPIO Pins | 12 (on 14-pin package) |
| Communication | I2C, UART (EUSART), SPI |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (E suffix) |
| Package | 14-TSSOP (4.4 mm body) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF1554-E/ST Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA3/AN3/CVDTX/CVDRY — GPIO RA3 / ADC AN3 / CVD transmit-receive |
| Pin 2 | RA4/AN4/CVDTX/CVDRY — GPIO RA4 / ADC AN4 / CVD transmit-receive |
| Pin 3 | RA5/MCLR/VPP — GPIO RA5 / Master Clear (reset, active-low) / ICSP VPP |
| Pin 4 | RA6/OSC2/CLKR — GPIO RA6 / oscillator output / clock output |
| Pin 5 | RA7/OSC1/CLKIN — GPIO RA7 / oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 6 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8 V to 3.6 V) |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | RB4/AN10/CVDTX/CVDRY — GPIO RB4 / ADC AN10 / CVD transmit-receive |
| Pin 9 | RB5/AN11/CVDTX/CVDRY — GPIO RB5 / ADC AN11 / CVD transmit-receive |
| Pin 10 | RB6/ICSPCLK/ADCACT — GPIO RB6 / ICSP clock / ADC activity |
| Pin 11 | RB7/ICSPDAT — GPIO RB7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 12 | RA0/AN0/CVDTX/CVDRY — GPIO RA0 / ADC AN0 / CVD transmit-receive |
| Pin 13 | RA1/AN1/CVDTX/CVDRY — GPIO RA1 / ADC AN1 / CVD transmit-receive |
| Pin 14 | RA2/AN2/CVDTX/CVDRY — GPIO RA2 / ADC AN2 / CVD transmit-receive |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1554-E/ST is suitable for 6 applications: mTouch Capacitive Touch Keypads, Multi-Channel Sensor Front-Ends, Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Consumer Appliance Control with Touch UI, Smoke and CO Detector Front-Ends, Industrial Low-Power Remote Controls.
mTouch Capacitive Touch Keypads
The PIC16LF1554-E/ST was purpose-built for mTouch capacitive touch user interfaces, integrating two 10-bit ADCs with automated hardware CVD modules that connect to up to 11 analog channels at 600 ksps combined sampling. In a 12-button appliance keypad, each button maps to one ADC channel; the CVD engine automates the charge-transfer sequence, freeing the CPU from timing-critical loops and improving touch SNR. Compared with software-only CVD, the hardware block tolerates higher levels of mains hum and conducted noise. Designers still need a guard trace around the sensor pads and a ground pour to set the touch sensitivity floor. The 7 KB Flash fits a 12-button state machine, debounce, and UART command interface comfortably.
Recommended
Multi-Channel Sensor Front-Ends
The two independent 10-bit ADCs and 11 analog input channels make the PIC16LF1554-E/ST well suited to multi-channel sensor readout, such as battery-stack monitoring, multi-zone temperature sensing with NTCs, or low-rate gas-sensor arrays. The dual ADC allows simultaneous sampling of two channels, eliminating the skew that single-ADC designs introduce in ratiometric measurements. With a 32 MHz CPU and hardware multiplier, simple calibration polynomials run in real time without DMA. XLP sleep currents below 1 uA let the MCU sleep between scans at intervals of seconds to minutes. Designers should place 100 nF bypass on each AVdd pin pair and route analog inputs away from PWM outputs to avoid switching noise coupling.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The LF process with XLP ultra-low-power modes makes the PIC16LF1554-E/ST an excellent MCU for coin-cell or 2x AA battery-powered wireless sensor nodes that wake periodically to take a sensor reading, transmit on a paired radio, then return to sleep. The MCU itself consumes less than 1 uA in sleep with RTC running, and the 32 MHz active mode handles the wake-burst transmit in milliseconds before returning to sleep. The 7 KB Flash accommodates a simple LoRaWAN or proprietary RF stack along with sensor drivers. Designers should size the battery for the average current draw including the radio, since the radio typically dominates system power in wireless nodes.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control with Touch UI
The PIC16LF1554-E/ST suits small kitchen and white-goods appliances that need a capacitive-touch UI plus basic motor or valve control via PWM. Two PWM modules can drive a buzzer and a relay driver or low-side FET, while the UART exposes a service-port for factory calibration. The E-grade -40 to +125 C temperature rating handles under-cabinet oven or refrigerator electronics without derating. The 14-TSSOP body saves board space versus SOIC, which matters in compact appliances. Place a 1 kohm resistor in series with MCLR for ESD protection on the touch panel.
Recommended
Smoke and CO Detector Front-Ends
The dual 10-bit ADCs of the PIC16LF1554-E/ST are well-matched to ionization-chamber smoke detectors and electrochemical CO sensors, both of which produce low-frequency analog outputs that need periodic sampling and threshold comparison. The CVD engine can also be repurposed to compensate for humidity drift in the chamber by reading a reference capacitor. XLP sleep modes between samples extend the 10-year sealed-battery life that smoke detectors require. The 7 KB Flash accommodates the sounder-pattern table, low-battery detection, and self-test routines mandated by UL 217. Designers must follow UL 217 spacing for the sounder piezo and battery tabs.
Recommended
Industrial Low-Power Remote Controls
Handheld industrial remote controls benefit from the PIC16LF1554-E/ST's combination of XLP sleep, capacitive-touch buttons, and PWM-driven haptic or buzzer feedback. With most of the duty cycle in sleep, the MCU draws less than 1 uA between button events and wakes only on a touch or button interrupt. The 14-TSSOP package fits inside compact handheld enclosures. Designers should add ESD protection (TVS array) on the touch lines since handheld devices experience frequent static discharge. UART provides a wired service interface for firmware updates and pairing to the receiver.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1554-E/ST — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF1554-I/ST | PIC16LF1554T-I/ST | PIC16LF1554-E/STVAO | PIC16LF1554-E/SL | PIC16LF1454-E/ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 14-TSSOP (4.4 mm) | 14-TSSOP (4.4 mm) - same | 14-TSSOP (4.4 mm) - same | 14-TSSOP (4.4 mm) - same | 14-SOIC (150 mil) - different land pattern | 14-TSSOP (4.4 mm) - same |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 14 KB |
| RAM | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 1 KB |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 48 MHz |
| ADC Count | 2 x 10-bit | 2 x 10-bit | 2 x 10-bit | 2 x 10-bit | 2 x 10-bit | 1 x 10-bit |
| Hardware CVD (Capacitive Touch) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +125 C (automotive VAO) | -40 C to +125 C | -40 C to +125 C |
| Supply 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 | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| USB Support | No | No | No | No | No | Yes (USB 2.0 FS) |
Key Differentiators
- Only 14-pin PIC16LF1xxx family member with hardware CVD + dual ADC at 7 KB Flash (vs PIC16LF1454-E/ST)
- Smaller TSSOP footprint vs SOIC (vs PIC16LF1554-E/SL)
- Automotive-grade variant available in same 14-TSSOP (vs PIC16LF1554-E/STVAO)
Design Notes
Decouple VDD with a 100 nF ceramic in parallel with a 1 uF ceramic placed within 5 mm of the VDD/VSS pin pair; if AVdd is used, add a separate 100 nF bypass on AVdd. The LF process supports 1.8 V minimum operation but at 1.8 V the CPU must run at 16 MHz or slower per the Microchip datasheet. Above 2.0 V VDD, the full 32 MHz is available. Use a ferrite bead in series with VDD if the supply rail is shared with a switching regulator to suppress switching noise on the ADC references.
Route capacitive-touch traces as short as possible and surround each sensor pad with a ground-hatched guard trace connected to a quiet digital ground. Keep ADC traces away from PWM outputs and clock lines to avoid switching-noise coupling into the touch channels. The 14-TSSOP package leaves the exposed pad unconnected on this part - do not assume the QFN-style thermal pad convention. Place a 10 kohm pull-up on MCLR even if reset is not used, to keep the pin above the Vih threshold during noise transients.
Avoid using RB6 (ICSPCLK) and RB7 (ICSPDAT) as plain GPIO in production firmware unless the design intentionally disables debug - attempting to re-purpose these pins without isolating them will conflict with in-circuit programming. Estimated: at 32 MHz and 3.3 V, active current is approximately 4 mA per the Microchip XLP datasheet curve, so verify the regulator can source the worst-case burst current including any connected peripherals. XLP sleep current below 1 uA assumes peripherals are individually disabled; leaving the ADC or UART enabled defeats the sleep rating.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. The standard PIC16LF1554-E/ST is not AEC-Q100 qualified; the PIC16LF1554-E/STVAO variant is Microchip's automotive-grade qualified version. Reach and conflict-minerals status from Microchip corporate compliance statements.
