PIC16LF1578-E/P - 8-bit MCU, 7KB Flash, 32MHz, 20-PDIP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1578-E/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.82 | $1.82 |
| 10 | $1.64 | $16.40 |
| 100 | $1.45 | $145.00 |
| 500 | $1.28 | $640.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.12 | $1,120.00 |
PIC16LF1578-E/P Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer built around an 8-bit data bus and a Harvard or modified-Harvard architecture. Within the broader taxonomy, PIC16LF1578 belongs to the PIC16F family -> 8-bit PIC microcontrollers -> microcontrollers (MCU) -> embedded controllers -> integrated circuits (ICs). The 'LF' suffix denotes the low-voltage and low-power variant, while '1578' identifies its position in the PIC16(L)F157x family known for its 16-bit PWMs and analog peripherals.
Key features include four 16-bit PWMs with independent timers, a 10-bit ADC, and configurable logic cells (CLC). These peripherals enable high-resolution LED lighting, motor control, and signal generation. The 'E' suffix indicates the extended operating temperature range of -40°C to +125°C, suitable for industrial environments. The 20-PDIP package simplifies prototyping and breadboarding, and is the most user-friendly pin-compatible option to revisit during interface development.
The PIC16LF1578 uses Microchip's enhanced mid-range core with a 14-bit instruction set, 8-level hardware stack, and 31 interrupt sources. It includes two comparators, a 5-bit DAC, and a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) for precision frequency generation. With its peripheral module disable (PMD) feature, unused peripherals can be turned off to reduce dynamic current consumption.
Typical applications include LED lighting and color-mixing controls, DC-DC converter control loops, sensor interfacing in IoT endpoints, and battery-powered consumer devices. The wide operating voltage allows direct connection to a single-cell lithium or two-cell alkaline supply, simplifying power tree design.
When designing with this MCU, ensure the ICSP programming pins (RBGPVDATA, RB6/ICSPCLK) are accessible on the PCB layout for in-circuit programming. The wide analog and digital peripheral selection means careful attention to pin allocation is essential to avoid conflicts. The device's nanoWatt technology also supports sleep current as low as a few nanoamperes, depending on configuration.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, same-package Microchip drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1578-E/P — 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 PIC16LF1578-E/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Mounting Type, Core Architecture, Operating Voltage Range.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1578-E/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1579-E/P
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.22 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1574-E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.24 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1575-E/SL
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1578-I/P
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.14 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1578-E/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC16 8-bit Enhanced Mid-Range |
| Program Memory Size | 7 KB (4K x 14) |
| Program Memory Type | FLASH |
| RAM Size | 256 bytes |
| EEPROM Size | 128 bytes |
| CPU Speed | 32 MHz |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Number of I/O | 17 |
| ADC | 10-bit, 8 channels |
| PWM | 4 x 16-bit |
| Comparators | 2 |
| Package | 20-PDIP (0.300", 7.62mm) |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +125 C |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF1578-E/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA3/AN3/Vref+/C12IN3+ — Port A bit 3 / Analog input 3 / Positive voltage reference / Comparator input |
| Pin 2 | RA4/AN4/CPS4/T0CKI — Port A bit 4 / Analog input 4 / Capacitive touch sense 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 3 | RA5/MCLR/Vpp — Port A bit 5 / Master Clear (reset) / Programming voltage |
| Pin 4 | RA6 — Port A bit 6 (no alternate function) |
| Pin 5 | RA7 — Port A bit 7 (no alternate function) |
| Pin 6 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 7 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 8 | RB4/AN10/CPS6/PWM4 — Port B bit 4 / Analog input 10 / Cap touch 6 / PWM4 output |
| Pin 9 | RB5/AN11/PWM3 — Port B bit 5 / Analog input 11 / PWM3 output |
| Pin 10 | RB6/ICSPCLK/PWM2 — Port B bit 6 / ICSP clock / PWM2 output |
| Pin 11 | RB7/ICSPDAT/PWM1 — Port B bit 7 / ICSP data / PWM1 output |
| Pin 12 | RC0/SOSC1/SCLKI — Port C bit 0 / Secondary oscillator 1 / Secondary clock input |
| Pin 13 | RC1/SOSC2 — Port C bit 1 / Secondary oscillator 2 |
| Pin 14 | RC2/AN6/CPS8 — Port C bit 2 / Analog input 6 / Cap touch 8 |
| Pin 15 | RC3/AN7/CPS9 — Port C bit 3 / Analog input 7 / Cap touch 9 |
| Pin 16 | RC4/AN8/CPS10 — Port C bit 4 / Analog input 8 / Cap touch 10 |
| Pin 17 | RC5/AN9/CPS11 — Port C bit 5 / Analog input 9 / Cap touch 11 |
| Pin 18 | RC6/AN12/CPS12 — Port C bit 6 / Analog input 12 / Cap touch 12 |
| Pin 19 | RC7/AN13/CPS13 — Port C bit 7 / Analog input 13 / Cap touch 13 |
| Pin 20 | RA0/AN0/CPS0/CLCIN0 — Port A bit 0 / Analog input 0 / Cap touch 0 / CLC input 0 |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1578-E/P is suitable for 6 applications: LED Lighting and Color-Mixing Control, Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, DC-DC Converter Control Loops, Industrial Motor Control, Precision Signal Generation with NCO, Consumer Electronics and Appliance Control.
LED Lighting and Color-Mixing Control
The PIC16LF1578-E/P's four independent 16-bit PWM channels provide the resolution needed for smooth LED dimming and RGB color-mixing applications. Per the PIC16(L)F1578 datasheet, the 16-bit PWM is significantly higher than typical 8-bit or 10-bit PWMs in competing PIC16F devices, allowing 65536 steps of brightness control. The 1.8V-3.6V operating range enables direct connection to single-cell lithium-ion or 2x alkaline battery stacks typical in portable LED fixtures. Used with constant-current LED drivers, it generates PWM dimming signals while its 10-bit ADC monitors supply voltage and LED current for closed-loop control. The 32MHz clock provides sufficient bandwidth for flicker-free operation above 100Hz refresh rates.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC16LF1578-E/P's 1.8V-3.6V range and nanoWatt sleep modes make it suitable for battery-powered IoT sensor endpoints. Per Microchip documentation, sleep currents in the nanoampere range extend battery life to multi-year durations on coin-cell or 2x AA batteries. The 10-bit ADC with 8 channels interfaces directly with analog sensors (temperature, light, gas), while its 7KB Flash accommodates sensor-fusion algorithms and wireless protocol stacks like LoRaWAN or Zigbee MAC layers. The CLC (Configurable Logic Cell) implements hardware-level sensor signal conditioning without CPU intervention, further reducing active current.
Recommended
DC-DC Converter Control Loops
The PIC16LF1578-E/P's high-resolution 16-bit PWM and 32MHz clock speed support digital control of switch-mode power supplies (SMPS). Per the PIC16(L)F1578 datasheet, the configurable logic cells (CLC) and 5-bit DAC simplify peak-current-mode control and slope compensation circuits. The 10-bit ADC samples feedback signals at adequate rates for voltage-mode and current-mode control loops operating in the 100kHz-1MHz range. The 1.8V-3.6V range suits single-cell Li-ion powered converters, and the extended -40C to +125C temperature range supports industrial SMPS applications.
Recommended
Industrial Motor Control
The PIC16LF1578-E/P's four 16-bit PWMs generate the complementary or independent PWM signals required for BLDC, stepper, and brushed DC motor control. Per Microchip documentation, the PWMs support center-aligned and edge-aligned modes with programmable dead-band control, critical for half-bridge driver stages. The 32MHz clock and dedicated timers support field-oriented control (FOC) algorithms for sensorless BLDC operation. The extended -40C to +125C temperature range and robust 20-PDIP package suit industrial motor drives in factory automation environments.
Recommended
Precision Signal Generation with NCO
The PIC16LF1578-E/P's Numerically Controlled Oscillator (NCO) generates precision frequency outputs up to the MHz range with 20-bit accumulator resolution. Per the PIC16(L)F1578 datasheet, the NCO is useful for generating sinusoidal or arbitrary waveforms via PWM-filter combinations, frequency-shift-keying (FSK) for low-cost RF links, and clock substitution in legacy designs. Combined with the 16-bit PWM and configurable logic cells, the device synthesizes complex waveforms without CPU overhead, freeing the core for protocol handling or user-interface tasks.
Recommended
Consumer Electronics and Appliance Control
The PIC16LF1578-E/P's combination of low power, multiple peripherals, and 20-PDIP package makes it useful for consumer appliance controllers such as coffee machines, washing machine displays, and smart thermostats. Per the PIC16(L)F1578 datasheet, the 7KB Flash accommodates user-interface state machines, while the 16-bit PWMs drive LCD bias voltages or LED indicators. The 1.8V-3.6V operating range suits battery-backed appliance designs, and the nanoWatt modes keep standby power consumption within Energy Star limits. The through-hole 20-PDIP package simplifies manufacturing and field-service replacements.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1578-E/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1578-E/P | PIC16LF1579-E/P | PIC16LF1574-E/P | PIC16LF1578-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 20-PDIP (0.300") | 20-PDIP - same | 20-PDIP - same | 20-PDIP - same | 20-PDIP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory | 7 KB (4K x 14) Flash | 7 KB Flash | 14 KB Flash (2x) | 7 KB Flash (same family) | 7 KB Flash |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| CPU Speed | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| PWM Channels | 4 x 16-bit | 4 x 16-bit | 4 x 16-bit | 3 x 16-bit | 4 x 16-bit |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (Extended) | -40 C to +125 C | -40 C to +125 C | -40 C to +125 C | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
Key Differentiators
- Higher PWM resolution than typical PIC16F devices (vs PIC16F1507)
- Wider low-voltage operating range than PIC16F variants (vs PIC16F1578)
- Extended temperature range for industrial environments (vs PIC16LF1578-I/P)
Design Notes
The PIC16LF1578-E/P operates from 1.8V to 3.6V and supports nanoWatt technology for ultra-low sleep currents. Decouple VDD with a 100nF ceramic capacitor as close to the VDD pin as possible, plus a bulk capacitor of at least 1uF. Avoid long PCB traces between VDD and the decoupling capacitor to minimize switching transients. For battery operation, the nanoWatt sleep mode can reduce quiescent current to nanoampere levels when properly configured per the PIC16(L)F1578 datasheet.
Place the 20-PDIP part with its notch correctly oriented to match the pinout in the datasheet. Pin 1 is identified by the notch or dot marking on the package. For prototype-friendly designs, reserve space for an ICSP header (RB0/PROG-DAT, RB0/RBPGC) so firmware updates can be performed without removing the MCU. Keep analog traces (AN0-AN13) short and away from digital switching traces (PWM outputs) to minimize ADC noise coupling.
Do not exceed the absolute maximum ratings of VDD = 4.0V or ESD ratings. Always tie the MCLR pin to VDD through a 10kohm pull-up resistor to ensure proper reset behavior; floating MCLR can cause unreliable resets. Ensure the configuration bits (FOSC, WDTE, PWRTE, BOREN) are set correctly in the source code before programming to avoid brown-out reset misbehavior in the field. Per the PIC16(L)F1578 datasheet, the CLC peripheral must be configured to avoid unintended output toggling at startup.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose PIC16LF1578-E/P automotive equivalent for AEC-Q100 qualified variants. Lead-free and halogen-free packaging per Microchip documentation.
