PIC16LF1559-I/GZ - 8-bit MCU, 14KB Flash, 32MHz, XLP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1559-I/GZ ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.86 | $2.86 |
| 10 | $2.57 | $25.70 |
| 100 | $2.29 | $229.00 |
| 500 | $2.05 | $1,025.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.85 | $1,850.00 |
PIC16LF1559-I/GZ Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (Flash/ROM), working memory (RAM), and peripheral interfaces. The PIC16 mid-range 8-bit family uses a Harvard RISC architecture with 49 single-word instructions and 125 ns instruction execution, positioning it within the broader 8-bit microcontroller -> embedded controller -> semiconductor device taxonomy. The 'LF' prefix designates the eXtreme Low Power (XLP) variant optimized for battery-powered designs.
Key specifications include 14KB Flash program memory, 512 bytes SRAM data memory, two 10-bit ADC modules with hardware CVD support, multiple communication peripherals, and PWM outputs. The integrated CVD engine automates capacitive touch sensor scanning, eliminating firmware loop overhead for mTouch button, slider, and proximity designs. The UQFN-20 (GZ) package measures just 4x4 mm with an exposed thermal pad for improved thermal performance.
The PIC16LF1559 architecture implements Microchip's enhanced mid-range 8-bit core with a 14-bit instruction word. The dual-ADC + CVD architecture enables up to 17 analog inputs through internal channel multiplexing, while the XLP technology keeps active current below 1 mA at 32 MHz and sleep current in the nanoamp range. The 20-pin footprint supports up to 17 I/O pins depending on peripheral configuration.
Typical applications include mTouch capacitive touch buttons and proximity sensors, battery-powered IoT sensor nodes, consumer appliance user interfaces, LED lighting controllers, and general-purpose embedded control. The low-power XLP features make it well-suited for energy-harvesting and coin-cell powered products.
Designers should evaluate the CVD acquisition timing budget against the number of sensor channels to ensure adequate scan rate for the user interface. The internal 32 MHz oscillator eliminates the need for an external crystal in cost-sensitive designs.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, verified drop-in alternatives from the same UQFN-20 family, and practical design notes that supplement the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1559-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 PIC16LF1559-I/GZ (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Operating Temperature, Package, Core Architecture, Family.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF1559-E/GZ
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1559T-I/GZ
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1509-I/GZ
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$0.81 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1509T-I/GZ
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$0.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1508-I/GZ
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1559-I/GZ Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | PIC® XLP™ 16F |
| Core | PIC16 enhanced mid-range 8-bit |
| Instruction Set Width | 14-bit |
| CPU Speed | 32 MHz |
| Instruction Execution Time | 125 ns |
| Program Memory | 14 KB (8K x 14) Flash |
| Data Memory (SRAM) | 512 bytes |
| ADC | 2 x 10-bit, hardware CVD support |
| Analog Channels | Up to 17 |
| ADC Sampling Rate | 600 ksps total |
| Package | 20-pin UQFN (GZ) 4x4 mm |
| I/O Pins | Up to 17 |
| PWM Modules | 2 |
| Technology | XLP (eXtreme Low Power) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial -I) |
PIC16LF1559-I/GZ Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 2 | RA4 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 3 | RA3/MCLR — Digital I/O or Master Clear (reset) input |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 5 | RA1 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 6 | RA0 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | RC7 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 9 | RC6 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 10 | RC5 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 11 | RC4 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 12 | RC3 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 13 | RC2 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 14 | RC1 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 15 | RC0 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 16 | VOUT — Voltage regulator output |
| Pin 17 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 18 | RB7 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 19 | RB6 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 20 | RB5 — Digital I/O / analog input |
| Pin 21 | EP — Exposed thermal pad (bottom) - connect to VSS |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1559-I/GZ is suitable for 6 applications: mTouch Capacitive Touch Buttons, Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Consumer Appliance User Interfaces, LED Lighting Controllers, General-Purpose Embedded Control, Medical and Wellness Wearables.
mTouch Capacitive Touch Buttons
The PIC16LF1559-I/GZ is purpose-built for capacitive touch user interfaces because it integrates two 10-bit ADCs with dedicated hardware CVD (Capacitive Voltage Divider) acquisition that automates sensor scanning without firmware loops. With up to 17 analog channels at a combined 600 ksps throughput, the part can scan a 12-button keypad plus a slider in a single acquisition burst while keeping the core idle. The hardware CVD engine handles baseline tracking and noise immunity internally, freeing the 32 MHz core for application logic, and the XLP active current under 1 mA keeps touch wake-on-proximity power budgets low.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC16LF1559-I/GZ fits battery-powered IoT nodes because its XLP (eXtreme Low Power) technology drops active current below 1 mA at 32 MHz and sleep current into the nanoamp range, while the dual-ADC plus 14KB Flash lets a single chip handle sensor sampling, edge processing, and BLE/Wireless coexistence-friendly sleep scheduling. The wide operating voltage range supports direct connection to 3V coin cells or 1S Li-ion packs, and the 4x4 mm UQFN-20 footprint enables wearable and miniature form factors. The 32 MHz internal oscillator eliminates an external crystal for cost-sensitive disposable sensor designs.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance User Interfaces
The PIC16LF1559-I/GZ suits consumer appliance touch interfaces such as washing machine panels, microwave keypads, and induction cooktop sliders because the hardware CVD engine delivers noise-immune capacitive scanning required for reliable operation near motors and switching power. The 14KB Flash holds state-machine firmware for multi-zone touch plus a small display driver, while the two PWM outputs can drive LED backlights or buzzer tones directly. The wide operating voltage tolerates 3.3V to 5V rails common in appliance power supplies, and the -40C to +85C industrial temperature range covers kitchen and laundry environments.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controllers
The PIC16LF1559-I/GZ works well in LED lighting controllers because the two PWM channels plus the 32 MHz core enable smooth dimming via direct PWM or high-resolution dithered PWM, while the dual ADCs sense ambient light, color sensors, or current feedback for closed-loop brightness control. The 14KB Flash holds CCT tuning curves and fade profiles for tunable-white fixtures, and the XLP technology enables battery-powered portable LED designs that need months of runtime from AAA cells. The 20-pin UQFN footprint fits inside GU10 bulb base PCBs where board area is constrained.
Recommended
General-Purpose Embedded Control
The PIC16LF1559-I/GZ functions as a general-purpose 8-bit controller for toys, hobby electronics, simple motor control loops, and small automation nodes because the 32 MHz enhanced mid-range core delivers 8 MIPS, while the 14KB Flash holds substantial C-compiled firmware with libraries. The two PWM outputs can drive small DC motors or solenoids, and the dual ADCs read position sensors or current shunts. Compatibility with the MPLAB X IDE, XC8 compiler, and Curiosity development board creates a low-friction path from prototype to production in the broad PIC16 ecosystem.
Recommended
Medical and Wellness Wearables
The PIC16LF1559-I/GZ suits medical and wellness wearables such as fitness bands, smart patches, and disposable drug-delivery pen interfaces because its XLP sleep current in the nanoamp range plus hardware CVD capacitive buttons allow months of runtime from a single coin cell. The two ADCs sample biometric sensors such as temperature, heart rate, or galvanic skin response, and the 14KB Flash fits BLE-stack companion firmware, sensor algorithms, and OTA bootloader. The 4x4 mm UQFN footprint fits wristbands and patches where board area is severely constrained.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1559-I/GZ — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF1559-E/GZ | PIC16LF1559T-I/GZ | PIC16LF1509-I/GZ | PIC16LF1509T-I/GZ | PIC16LF1508-I/GZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-pin UQFN (GZ) 4x4 mm | 20-pin UQFN (GZ) 4x4 mm - same | 20-pin UQFN (GZ) 4x4 mm - same | 20-pin UQFN (GZ) 4x4 mm - same | 20-pin UQFN (GZ) 4x4 mm - same | 20-pin UQFN (GZ) 4x4 mm - same |
| Program Memory | 14 KB Flash | 14 KB Flash | 14 KB Flash | 8 KB Flash | 8 KB Flash | 4 KB Flash |
| Hardware CVD Engine | Yes (dual ADC + CVD) | Yes | Yes | No (firmware CVD) | No (firmware CVD) | No |
| Analog Channels | Up to 17 | Up to 17 | Up to 17 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
| CPU Speed | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Temperature Range | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) |
| XLP Low Power | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Dual-ADC hardware CVD engine for capacitive touch (vs PIC16LF1509-I/GZ)
- Higher analog channel count (vs PIC16LF1509-I/GZ)
- Larger Flash for complex firmware (vs PIC16LF1508-I/GZ)
Design Notes
Estimated: For a coin-cell design at 3.0V VDD, 32 MHz active current is typically around 0.6 mA while sleep current drops below 100 nA with full SRAM retention. With hardware CVD scanning every 50 ms, average current stays well under 50 uA, giving a CR2032 battery roughly 6 months of life in a typical 12-key touch design. Decouple VDD with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 3 mm of the VDD pin, and add a 10 uF bulk capacitor if the supply traces are longer than 50 mm.
The 20-pin UQFN (GZ) 4x4 mm package has a center exposed thermal pad (EP) on the bottom that must be soldered to a PCB ground pour with at least 4 thermal vias to the opposite ground plane for proper thermal dissipation. Place all analog traces away from switching traces and the dual ADC inputs in separate analog and digital ground regions joined at a single point near the VSS pin to minimize ground-loop noise coupling into the CVD measurements.
Estimated: Configuring the hardware CVD module requires careful sequencing of acquisition, conversion, and processing phases per Microchip application note AN1309 - skipping the precharge or discharge phase yields unstable readings. Do not exceed the 17-channel total when assigning analog inputs to both ADC modules simultaneously. The MCLR/RA3 pin defaults to MCLR function after reset; configure it as GPIO only via the CONFIG register to avoid spurious resets from capacitive loading on the pin.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page; not AEC-Q100 qualified (industrial grade only).
