PIC16LF1559T-I/ML - 14KB Flash, 32MHz 8-bit MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1559T-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.39 | $2.39 |
| 10 | $2.15 | $21.50 |
| 100 | $1.93 | $193.00 |
| 500 | $1.66 | $830.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.49 | $1,490.00 |
| 3,300 | $1.32 | $4,356.00 |
PIC16LF1559T-I/ML Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a programmable integrated circuit that executes instructions from on-chip Flash memory, integrating CPU core, RAM, non-volatile memory, I/O peripherals, and timers onto a single die. The PIC16F1 enhanced mid-range core architecture uses a 14-bit instruction word, RISC-style single-cycle execution (excluding branches), and a hardware stack, which simplifies C and assembly firmware development compared to accumulator-based legacy designs. The PIC16LF1559 belongs to the 'LF' (low-Flash / low-voltage) sub-family optimized for battery-powered and energy-harvesting applications; XLP (eXtreme Low Power) technology delivers deep-sleep currents in the nA range, enabling multi-year coin-cell operation.
Key differentiating features include two independent 10-bit ADCs with automated hardware Capacitive Voltage Divider (CVD) modules supporting up to 17 analog channels, two PWM outputs, an EUSART, an MSSP supporting both I2C and SPI, two comparators, a 16-bit timer, and a 32 kHz low-power internal oscillator. The hardware CVD engine offloads capacitive touch signal processing from the CPU, enabling robust mTouch button, slider, and proximity sensing without software ADC conversion loops. The part operates from a wide 1.8-3.6 V VDD supply and supports in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) via two pins.
Typical applications include mTouch capacitive touch interfaces, low-power IoT sensor nodes, battery-powered consumer appliances, and 20-pin industrial control boards. The 14 KB Flash with 8K instruction words comfortably holds mTouch libraries plus application code for small GUI or keypad replacement use cases. The dual-ADC architecture suits bridge-sensor applications (temperature, strain, gas) requiring differential measurements.
When designing with this MCU, allocate at least 4 PCB vias under the exposed pad (EP) to the ground plane for thermal dissipation and to meet QFN solder-joint reliability requirements. A 100 nF decoupling capacitor must be placed within 3 mm of VDD, and unused I/O pins should be configured as outputs low to minimize sleep current. The ICSP programming pins (ICSPCLK/ICSPDAT) cannot be repurposed for general I/O without disabling in-circuit debug.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in Microchip same-family alternatives, and practical PCB layout notes for the PIC16LF1559 family not consolidated on the manufacturer product page.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1559T-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 PIC16LF1559T-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Core Architecture, ADC, Data RAM, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF1554T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1559-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1559-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1559-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1554-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.84 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1554T-I/ST
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1559T-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC16 enhanced mid-range (14-bit instruction word) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB (8K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 512 B |
| Data EEPROM | Not present |
| CPU Speed (max) | 32 MHz (8 MIPS) |
| ADC | 2 x 10-bit, up to 17 analog channels |
| ADC Sampling Rate | 200 ksps per ADC (400 ksps combined) |
| I/O Pins | 17 |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (I-grade) |
| Timers | 1 x 16-bit, 2 x 8-bit |
| PWM Outputs | 2 |
| Comparators | 2 |
| Communication | 1 x EUSART, 1 x MSSP (I2C/SPI) |
| Capacitive Touch | Hardware CVD engine, mTouch-ready |
| Package | 20-pin QFN (4x4 mm) with Exposed Pad |
| Internal Oscillator | 32 MHz HF, 32 kHz LF |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Programming | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) |
PIC16LF1559T-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5 — GPIO / analog input / ICSPCLK |
| Pin 2 | RA4 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 3 | RA3 — GPIO / analog input / MCLR (reset) |
| Pin 4 | RC5 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 5 | RC4 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 6 | RC3 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 7 | RC2 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 8 | RC1 — GPIO / analog input / ICSPDAT |
| Pin 9 | RC0 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 10 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 11 | VDD — Positive supply (1.8V to 3.6V) |
| Pin 12 | RB7 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 13 | RB6 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 14 | RB5 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 15 | RB4 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 16 | RC7 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 17 | RC6 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 18 | RA2 — GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 19 | RA1 — GPIO / analog input / ICSPCLK (alt) |
| Pin 20 | RA0 — GPIO / analog input |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1559T-I/ML is suitable for 6 applications: mTouch Capacitive Touch Button Interface, Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Consumer Appliance Control Board, Industrial Sensor Transmitter (4-20 mA / 0-10 V), LED Lighting Control Module, HMI Keypad Replacement Module.
mTouch Capacitive Touch Button Interface
The PIC16LF1559T-I/ML is purpose-built for Microchip's mTouch capacitive touch ecosystem, leveraging its two integrated 10-bit ADCs with hardware CVD (Capacitive Voltage Divider) modules. The hardware CVD engine performs automated capacitive measurement sequences across up to 17 analog channels, offloading signal processing from the CPU and producing a robust 200 ksps per ADC sampling rate. Each touch electrode connects directly to an analog channel pin, with the on-chip CVD module handling charge-transfer cycles for noise-immune touch detection. The 14 KB Flash (8K instruction words) easily accommodates the mTouch library plus application logic for button, slider, and proximity sensing. The 1.8 V to 3.6 V wide VDD range enables battery-powered touch panels in remote controls, appliance control surfaces, and wearable devices.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC16LF1559T-I/ML's XLP (eXtreme Low Power) technology makes it an excellent choice for coin-cell or 2x AA battery-powered IoT sensor nodes. Sleep current drops into the deep-sleep nA range when the CPU is halted and peripherals gated, with multiple low-power operating states selectable from firmware. The 32 kHz internal LF oscillator maintains timing during sleep without external crystal power draw, and the 32 MHz HF oscillator wakes the CPU to full speed within microseconds. Combined with 512 B RAM and 14 KB Flash, the device holds a small RTOS or cooperative scheduler plus a wireless protocol stack fragment (BLE beacon, LoRaWAN driver) for periodic sensor reporting. The wide 1.8-3.6 V VDD range accommodates discharge curves from 2x AA (3.2 V fresh to 1.8 V end-of-life) and CR2032 coin cells (3.0 V nominal).
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control Board
The PIC16LF1559T-I/ML's dual 10-bit ADCs, two comparators, and 32 MHz CPU make it well-suited for white-goods and small-appliance control boards that need cost-effective mixed-signal integration. The 17 GPIO pins handle user inputs (buttons, rotary encoders, capacitive touch), sensor conditioning (NTC temperature, level sensing), and actuator control (relays, triacs, valves) without external I/O expanders. The EUSART and MSSP peripherals connect to BLDC motor controllers, LED drivers, and user-interface displays over UART or SPI. The 20-pin QFN (ML) 4x4 mm package is small enough to fit inside compact control modules, and the -40C to +85C I-grade temperature range covers kitchen and laundry environments. Built-in hardware CVD simplifies touch-panel replacement for traditional membrane switches.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Transmitter (4-20 mA / 0-10 V)
The PIC16LF1559T-I/ML's two independent 10-bit ADCs enable simultaneous differential measurements of bridge sensors, thermocouples, or 4-20 mA loop currents in compact industrial transmitters. The hardware CVD engine, while primarily targeted at touch, can be repurposed for low-side current sensing via charge-time measurement. With 14 KB Flash, calibration coefficients, linearization tables, and HART or Modbus RTU communication protocol stacks fit comfortably. The wide 1.8-3.6 V VDD range is compatible with loop-powered 4-20 mA architectures (after rectification to 3.3 V via a buck converter). The -40C to +85C I-grade temperature range covers most factory-floor applications, and the 20-pin QFN package meets the small-footprint requirements of DIN-rail-mounted field transmitters.
Recommended
LED Lighting Control Module
The PIC16LF1559T-I/ML delivers precise PWM dimming control for smart-LED drivers and architectural lighting controllers via its two PWM outputs and EUSART/MSSP interfaces for DMX512, DALI, or wireless module integration. The 32 MHz CPU provides sufficient bandwidth for DALI-2 protocol stacks, while the 14 KB Flash accommodates both protocol code and lighting-effect engines. The two 10-bit ADCs monitor LED current (via shunt resistor) and ambient light sensors for closed-loop brightness control and daylight harvesting. XLP technology enables always-on standby behavior with minimal power consumption between lighting commands. The 1.8 V to 3.6 V VDD range supports direct 3.3 V regulator output from AC-DC LED driver front ends.
Recommended
HMI Keypad Replacement Module
The PIC16LF1559T-I/ML hardware CVD engine enables replacement of mechanical keypads with capacitive touch buttons, sliders, or wheels in industrial human-machine interfaces (HMIs). Up to 17 touch electrodes can be implemented simultaneously using only the on-chip analog channels, with no external analog muxes or op-amps. The MSSP (I2C/SPI) interface connects to host PLCs, displays, or RS-485 transceivers for upstream communication, while the EUSART handles legacy UART protocols. With 14 KB Flash, custom gesture libraries and capacitive touch calibration routines fit comfortably, while the 512 B RAM supports runtime parameter storage. The 20-pin QFN (ML) 4x4 mm footprint fits behind glass or plastic overlays as thin as 5 mm, enabling IP65-sealed HMI modules for food processing and outdoor installations.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1559T-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF1554T-I/ML | PIC16LF1559-I/ML | PIC16LF1559-I/P | PIC16LF1559-E/ML | PIC16LF1554-I/ML | PIC16LF1554T-I/ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-pin QFN (4x4 mm) | 20-pin QFN (4x4 mm) - same | 20-pin QFN (4x4 mm) - same | 20-pin QFN (4x4 mm) - same | 20-pin QFN (4x4 mm) - same | 20-pin QFN (4x4 mm) - same | 20-pin QFN (4x4 mm) - same |
| Flash Program Memory | 14 KB | 7 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB |
| Data RAM | 512 B | 256 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 256 B | 256 B |
| GPIO / I/O Pins | 17 | 11 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 11 | 11 |
| 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 | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial (-40C to +85C) | Industrial (-40C to +85C) | Industrial (-40C to +85C) | Industrial (-40C to +85C) | Extended (-40C to +125C) | Industrial (-40C to +85C) | Industrial (-40C to +85C) |
| Packaging Form | Tape & Reel (T) | Tape & Reel (T) | Tube | Tube | Tube | Tube | Tape & Reel (T) |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
Key Differentiators
- Highest Flash/RAM combination in 20-pin PIC16LF155x family (vs PIC16LF1554T-I/ML)
- Industrial temperature range at standard price point (vs PIC16LF1559-E/ML)
- Two independent 10-bit ADCs with hardware CVD offload (vs PIC16LF1554T-I/ML)
- Tape-and-reel packaging optimized for SMT assembly (vs PIC16LF1559-I/ML)
Design Notes
The 20-pin QFN (ML) 4x4 mm package requires a thermal pad (EP, pin 21 on the die side) that is electrically bonded to VSS internally. Place at least 4 thermal vias (0.3 mm drill, 0.5 mm pitch) in the EP land pattern to provide thermal relief and a low-impedance ground return for the analog CVD engine. Solder paste coverage on the EP should be 50-80% (windowed or hatched pattern) to prevent the package from floating during reflow and to reduce voiding. Improper EP soldering degrades thermal performance and may cause intermittent logic resets during high ADC activity.
Place a 100 nF X7R ceramic decoupling capacitor within 3 mm of the VDD pin (pin 11), with the trace width no less than 0.2 mm. Add a bulk capacitor (1-10 uF) on the same VDD node if the supply rail is shared with RF or motor-driver circuitry. For battery-powered designs, gate all unused peripherals in firmware and disable the BOR (Brown-Out Reset) only if your VDD ramp guarantees monotonicity. The PIC16LF1559 LF variant supports 1.8 V minimum VDD, but Flash read operation above 16 MHz requires VDD >= 2.5 V per datasheet; below 2.5 V reduce FOSC accordingly.
Do not leave the MCLR pin (RA3, pin 3) floating; tie it to VDD through a 10 kohm pull-up resistor, or to the ICSP programmer's MCLR output through a series resistor (typically 1 kohm) for in-circuit programming. The ICSP pins ICSPCLK (RA5 or RA1) and ICSPDAT (RC1) are multiplexed with GPIO and become unavailable as general I/O when ICSP is enabled. The hardware CVD engine requires firmware initialization of the dedicated ADC modules; do not assume 'mTouch library handles all' without verifying ADC clock and acquisition time settings in your configuration bits.
Route analog input traces (touch electrodes, sensor inputs) away from switching digital signals and clock traces to minimize capacitive coupling. Guard-ring traces tied to analog ground around touch electrodes reduce stray capacitance pickup. The CVD engine is sensitive to ground bounce; keep the analog VSS return path short and direct to the EP ground. For multi-layer designs, place a solid ground plane on the layer immediately below the MCU to provide a stable reference for the analog channels.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free compliant per Microchip product environmental compliance data. Not AEC-Q100 automotive qualified - the E temperature grade (PIC16LF1559-E/ML) supports -40C to +125C but does not imply AEC-Q100 qualification; choose PIC16F series with AEC-Q100 designation for automotive.
