PIC16LF1554T-I/ML - 8-bit MCU, 7KB Flash, 2x10-bit ADC | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1554T-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.4 | $1.40 |
| 10 | $1.27 | $12.70 |
| 100 | $1.13 | $113.00 |
| 500 | $1 | $500.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.89 | $890.00 |
| 3,300 | $0.79 | $2,607.00 |
PIC16LF1554T-I/ML Overview
A PIC microcontroller is an 8-bit RISC-based Harvard-architecture MCU widely used in embedded systems where deterministic behavior, low power, and rich peripheral integration matter more than raw computational throughput. Within Microchip's portfolio this device sits at the intersection of the PIC16F mainstream 8-bit line and the XLP (eXtreme Low Power) family, sharing the PIC16 mid-range instruction set (49 single-word instructions) with newer 16F1xxx parts while targeting cost- and pin-constrained touch and general-purpose designs.
Key features of the PIC16LF1554 include two 10-bit ADCs each with hardware CVD for capacitive touch (mTouch) measurement, two PWM modules with complementary outputs for power control, an integrated temperature indicator channel, on-chip debugging via the In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) interface, and XLP nanoWatt technology that drops quiescent current below typical 8-bit MCU baselines. The 16-QFN (4x4) package exposes up to 11 analog channels and supports surface-mount reflow profiles compatible with standard lead-free SMT lines.
The enhanced mid-range core delivers deterministic 125 ns instruction execution at 32 MHz, with a 14-bit instruction word that lets a single Flash location hold a full opcode plus literal data, keeping the program image compact. Dual-ADC hardware CVD offloads the charge/transfer timing from software, allowing the CPU to remain in sleep between scans for sub-microamp touch-wake currents. A two-stage instruction pipeline plus hardware multiplier support keeps loop and filter kernels efficient for sensor decoding.
Typical applications for the PIC16LF1554 include mTouch capacitive touch buttons, sliders, and proximity sensors in appliance, consumer, and industrial human-machine interface (HMI) panels, low-cost multi-channel sensor signal conditioning front ends, LED lighting controllers with mixed PWM dimming and analog feedback, battery-powered IoT edge nodes that need periodic ADC sampling, and general-purpose 8-bit logic replacement where two ADCs and a small footprint win over a larger Cortex-M0 design. The QFN-16 (4x4) form factor suits PCB real-estate-limited modules such as wearable bands and BLE beacon reference designs.
Designers should note that the 16-QFN variant exposes fewer pins than the 20-pin PIC16LF1559, so verify the channel and I/O count against the system requirement before selecting this specific part. For battery-powered designs, leverage the XLP sleep modes and the ADC's ability to wake the core on conversion-complete to keep average current below the application's quiescent budget. Always include decoupling per Microchip's mid-range reference layout and confirm QFN thermal pad soldering per IPC-7093 guidelines.
This page synthesizes distributor stock, drop-in alternatives from the PIC16LF155x family and competing 8-bit MCUs, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, all cross-referenced against the official Microchip PIC16LF1554/1559 data sheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1554T-I/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 PIC16LF1554T-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Program Memory (Flash), Operating Temperature, Low-Power Technology.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF1554-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.84 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1554-I/ST
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1554-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.76 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1554-E/SL
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.08 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1554-I/SL
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1559-I/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1554T-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Manufacturer | Microchip Technology |
| Series | PIC16F XLP |
| Core | PIC16 enhanced mid-range 8-bit |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB (4K x 14) |
| RAM | 512 bytes |
| Max CPU Clock | 32 MHz |
| Instruction Execution | 125 ns (8 MHz internal = 500 ns) |
| ADC | 2 x 10-bit, up to 11 analog channels |
| ADC Sampling Rate | Up to 600 ksps (combined) |
| PWM Modules | 2 (with complementary outputs) |
| Touch Support | mTouch hardware CVD, up to 11 channels |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF process, low voltage) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| Package | 16-QFN (4x4 mm), tape and reel |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free / Halogen-Free | Yes (lead-free finish) |
| Programming/Debug | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) |
| I/O Pins (max) | Up to 11 (16-QFN variant) |
PIC16LF1554T-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 2 |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 3 / ADC positive reference |
| Pin 5 | RA4/AN4 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 4 |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN5 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 5 |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8 V to 3.6 V) |
| Pin 9 | RA6/AN6/OSC2 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 6 / crystal oscillator output |
| Pin 10 | RA7/AN7/OSC1 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 7 / crystal oscillator input |
| Pin 11 | RB0/AN8 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 8 |
| Pin 12 | RB1/AN9 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 9 |
| Pin 13 | RB2/AN10 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 10 |
| Pin 14 | RB3/AN11 — Bidirectional I/O / analog channel 11 |
| Pin 15 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 16 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin EP | EP — Exposed thermal pad - must be soldered to PCB ground (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1554T-I/ML is suitable for 6 applications: mTouch Capacitive Touch Buttons, LED Lighting Dimming Controllers, Multi-Channel Sensor Signal Conditioning, Battery-Powered IoT Edge Nodes, Consumer Appliance HMI Panels, Wearable Fitness and Wellness Bands.
mTouch Capacitive Touch Buttons
The PIC16LF1554T-I/ML is purpose-built for mTouch capacitive touch button panels in appliances and consumer HMI products. Its two independent 10-bit ADCs with hardware CVD timing offload charge/transfer sequencing from the CPU, enabling up to 11 touch channels on the 16-QFN footprint while the core remains in XLP sleep between scans for sub-microamp touch-wake currents. At a 32 MHz CPU clock, scan and decode latency stays under 200 microseconds per channel, well below the 10 ms human-perception threshold, and the 1.8-3.6 V supply range lets the same part drive single-cell Li-ion and 2x AA battery-powered remote controls directly. Recommended companion ICs: PIC16LF1559 for higher channel counts and MCP1700 LDO for power rails.
Recommended
LED Lighting Dimming Controllers
In constant-current LED drivers and architectural lighting strips the PIC16LF1554T-I/ML supplies two PWM modules with complementary outputs that pair naturally with buck and boost driver stages for warm-dim and color-mixing control. The dual 10-bit ADCs sample the sense resistor and ambient photodiode simultaneously, closing the feedback loop in firmware without an external op-amp. The 125 ns instruction execution keeps the PID update rate comfortably above 10 kHz, eliminating visible flicker at 1 kHz PWM, while the 16-QFN (4x4 mm) footprint drops cleanly into MR16 spot and linear strip modules. The LF process node also makes the part a good fit for energy-harvesting dimmers that run from a few hundred millivolts of harvested power after a boost converter. Recommended companions: MCP1650 boost controller and MIC5400 constant-current LED driver.
Recommended
Multi-Channel Sensor Signal Conditioning
Industrial sensor-conditioning front ends benefit from the PIC16LF1554T-I/ML's dual 10-bit ADC architecture, which can sample two transducers concurrently at a combined 600 ksps throughput. One ADC can monitor a bridge-amplified strain gauge while the second ADC tracks a reference RTD for cold-junction compensation, both feeding firmware-side digital filtering on the 32 MHz enhanced mid-range core. The 16-QFN (4x4 mm) package fits inside 4-20 mA loop-powered sensor heads, and the 1.8 V minimum supply extends usable runtime from loop-derived power. The integrated temperature-indicator channel also lets the firmware compensate ADC gain across the -40C to +85C industrial range. Recommended companions: MCP6N11 instrumentation amplifier and MCP9700 analog temperature sensor.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Edge Nodes
The PIC16LF1554T-I/ML is a strong fit for battery-powered IoT edge nodes that need periodic sensor reads, local processing, and BLE wake-up handshakes. XLP nanoWatt sleep modes drop quiescent current below 100 nA, the dual ADCs wake the core on conversion-complete without external timers, and the 1.8-3.6 V supply range covers single-cell Li-ion and 2x AA chemistries without a boost converter. The 16-QFN (4x4) footprint is small enough to mount inside a coin-cell sensor tag, and the 7 KB Flash comfortably holds a sensor-fusion state machine plus a UART/SPI command parser. The PIC16 enhanced mid-range instruction set also supports inline assembly for time-critical BLE-radio wake sequences. Recommended companions: RN4871 BLE module and MCP1700 LDO.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance HMI Panels
Washing machines, microwave ovens, and induction cooktops increasingly use capacitive touch + slider combinations as their primary user interface, and the PIC16LF1554T-I/ML is engineered exactly for this segment. Up to 11 mTouch channels on the 16-QFN variant handle individual buttons plus a slider or rotary gesture, while the dual ADCs and hardware CVD keep touch-wake latency under 50 ms from deep sleep. The industrial -40C to +85C operating range covers kitchen and laundry environments, and the LF supply range lets the part ride through brownouts from inrush on relay-driven appliances. The ICSP programming interface also supports in-field firmware updates via the appliance service port. Recommended companions: MCP1700 LDO and a TN/IPS LCD driver such as the MCP23S17 GPIO expander.
Recommended
Wearable Fitness and Wellness Bands
Wearable bands demand extreme low power, a tiny footprint, and the ability to wake from a sensor interrupt. The PIC16LF1554T-I/ML checks all three boxes: the 4x4 mm 16-QFN package fits on a 20 mm wristband module, the 1.8-3.6 V supply range matches a single Li-ion or rechargeable coin cell, and the dual 10-bit ADCs can wake the core on a heart-rate or motion threshold crossing. The enhanced mid-range core runs sensor-fusion code in firmware without an external DSP, and the ICSP interface supports end-of-line calibration of the touch-proximity channels. XLP nanoWatt sleep keeps quiescent current below 100 nA between heartbeats, which is the dominant standby interval. Recommended companions: MAX30102 optical heart-rate sensor and LIS2DH 3-axis accelerometer.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1554T-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF1554-I/ML | PIC16LF1554-I/ST | PIC16LF1554-E/ML | PIC16LF1559-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 16-QFN (4x4 mm) | 16-QFN (4x4 mm) - same | 14-SOIC - different | 16-QFN (4x4 mm) - same | 20-QFN - different |
| Flash | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB |
| RAM | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B |
| Max CPU Clock | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| ADC | 2 x 10-bit, 11 channels | 2 x 10-bit, 11 channels | 2 x 10-bit, ~9 channels | 2 x 10-bit, 11 channels | 2 x 10-bit, 17 channels |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF) | 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 |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C (extended) | -40C to +85C |
| mTouch CVD Channels | Up to 11 | Up to 11 | Up to ~9 | Up to 11 | Up to 17 |
| Approx Unit Price (qty 100) | $1.13 USD | ~$1.13 USD | ~$1.10 USD | ~$1.20 USD | ~$1.30 USD |
Key Differentiators
- Hardware CVD offloads touch-sensing timing from CPU (vs PIC16F886 (legacy PIC16 without CVD))
- Industrial 1.8-3.6 V supply range (LF process) (vs PIC16F1554 (F-series, 2.0-5.5 V only))
- Same-family pin compatibility from QFN-16 to QFN-20 (vs PIC16LF1559-I/ML (20-QFN variant))
Design Notes
The 16-QFN (4x4 mm) package exposes a thermal pad on the underside that MUST be soldered to a PCB ground pour of at least 0.5 square inches to keep the junction temperature within the -40C to +85C industrial envelope. Estimated: at the maximum 32 MHz CPU clock and both ADCs running continuously, internal dissipation is roughly 15 mW; without the EP soldered, theta_JA exceeds 100 C/W and the part can derate severely in still air. Follow IPC-7093 QFN assembly guidelines for land pattern and stencil aperture design.
Place a 0.1 microfarad X7R ceramic decoupling capacitor within 2 mm of the VDD pin and a 10 microfarad bulk capacitor near the QFN thermal pad. For mTouch CVD applications, route the analog input traces with a minimum 0.2 mm gap to the touch electrode and keep them away from switching power traces by at least 5 mm to prevent capacitive coupling noise. A guarded ground ring around the touch electrodes significantly improves scan SNR per the Microchip mTouch design guide.
Do not exceed the absolute maximum VDD rating of 4.0 V; the LF process node does not tolerate 5 V supply, unlike the F-series PIC16F1554. When migrating firmware from PIC16F1554 designs, replace any 5 V peripherals on shared I/O lines with 3.3 V equivalents. Also note that the 16-QFN variant exposes only 11 analog channels (versus 17 on the 20-pin PIC16LF1559); do not allocate channel 12+ in firmware without verifying the package variant first.
Use the XLP nanoWatt sleep modes (Sleep and Deep Sleep) to drop quiescent current below 100 nA when the touch sensors are not actively scanned. The ADC's auto-conversion-complete interrupt can wake the core on a sensor threshold crossing without an external timer. Estimated: with 10 touch channels scanned at 10 ms intervals and CPU active for 200 microseconds per scan, average current stays around 5 microamps from a 3.0 V coin cell.
Reserve the ICSP pins (typically RA0/RA1 or dedicated PGC/PGD pins per the datasheet) on the schematic even if in-circuit programming is not planned for production, since field firmware updates via the bootloader are an easy way to patch calibration tables and CVD thresholds. Keep a 2.54 mm header footprint or test-pad cluster on the PCB edges for the PICkit 4 or MPLAB ICD 4 probe.
Compliance Information
RoHS-compliant lead-free finish per Microchip product page. AEC-Q100 not applicable for this industrial-grade MCU; PIC16LF1554-E/ML is the extended-temperature variant for harsher environments.
