PIC16LF1578-I/SS - 8-Bit MCU, 7KB Flash, 32MHz | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1578-I/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.62 | $1.62 |
| 10 | $1.46 | $14.60 |
| 100 | $1.18 | $118.00 |
| 500 | $0.95 | $475.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.8 | $800.00 |
| 3,000 | $0.62 | $1,860.00 |
PIC16LF1578-I/SS Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that contains a processor core, program and data memory, and peripheral interfaces. The PIC16 family is built on Microchip's enhanced mid-range 8-bit core, optimized for low-power embedded control. PIC microcontrollers are widely adopted across industrial, consumer, and automotive markets because of their deterministic instruction set, broad peripheral integration, and the MPLAB X IDE toolchain. Within the broader semiconductor taxonomy, this part sits at: PIC16LF1578 -> PIC16F family -> 8-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor IC.
Key differentiating features include four independent 16-bit PWM channels suited for high-resolution LED lighting and motor control, a 5-bit DAC for bias and waveform generation, a CWG for dead-band control in half-bridge topologies, and PPS that allows peripheral I/O remapping to almost any digital pin. The 'LF' prefix denotes the extended voltage-range variant optimized for low-power operation.
Typical applications include LED lighting drivers, stepper motor control, power-conversion circuits (using the CWG and 16-bit PWM), general-purpose 8-bit embedded control, and sensor-conditioning designs that benefit from the integrated 10-bit ADC and 5-bit DAC. The wide operating voltage range and low-power features also suit battery-powered IoT nodes.
When designing with this part, plan I/O assignments around the PPS remapping table so peripheral signals can be routed to convenient pins. Verify that the 16-bit PWM time base and the CWG are synchronized if dead-band control is required, and ensure the SSOP-20 thermal envelope suits your industrial (-40C to +85C) environment. This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1578-I/SS — 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-I/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Core Architecture, Mounting Type, DAC.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF1579-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1578T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.51 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1578-E/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$0.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1574-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1508-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1578-I/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit enhanced mid-range |
| Program Memory Size | 7 KB (4K x 14 words) Flash |
| Data RAM | 512 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz |
| ADC | 10-bit |
| DAC | 5-bit |
| PWM Channels | 4 x 16-bit with independent timers |
| Comparators | Yes |
| CWG (Complementary Waveform Generator) | Yes |
| PPS (Peripheral Pin Select) | Yes |
| EUSART | Yes |
| Package | 20-SSOP (5.30 mm body) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF1578-I/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | /MCLR/RE3 — Master Clear (reset) input or digital I/O RE3 |
| Pin 2 | RA0 — Digital I/O / analog input / PPS-remappable peripheral |
| Pin 3 | RA1 — Digital I/O / analog input / PPS-remappable peripheral |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — Digital I/O / analog input / DAC output / PPS |
| Pin 5 | RA3 — Digital I/O / analog input / reference voltage / PPS |
| Pin 6 | RA4 — Digital I/O / analog input / PPS |
| Pin 7 | RA5 — Digital I/O / analog input / PPS |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | RA7 — Digital I/O / OSC1 / CLK_IN |
| Pin 10 | RA6 — Digital I/O / OSC2 / CLK_OUT |
| Pin 11 | RC0 — Digital I/O / PPS-remappable peripheral |
| Pin 12 | RC1 — Digital I/O / PPS-remappable peripheral |
| Pin 13 | RC2 — Digital I/O / PPS-remappable peripheral |
| Pin 14 | RC3 — Digital I/O / PPS-remappable peripheral |
| Pin 15 | RC4 — Digital I/O / PPS-remappable peripheral |
| Pin 16 | RC5 — Digital I/O / PPS-remappable peripheral |
| Pin 17 | RC6 — Digital I/O / PPS-remappable peripheral |
| Pin 18 | RC7 — Digital I/O / PPS-remappable peripheral |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference (second VSS pin) |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1578-I/SS is suitable for 6 applications: High-Resolution LED Lighting Drivers, Stepper Motor and DC Motor Control, Switch-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) Digital Control, Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning, Consumer Appliance Control Boards.
High-Resolution LED Lighting Drivers
The PIC16LF1578-I/SS is engineered for LED lighting: four independent 16-bit PWM channels deliver sub-microsecond dimming resolution, while the 5-bit DAC trims current setpoints and the 10-bit ADC closes the loop on photodiode feedback. The CWG module supplies dead-band control for synchronous buck/boost LED driver topologies, eliminating shoot-through in half-bridge FET pairs. The LF wide-VDD variant suits both line-powered fixtures (with appropriate regulation) and battery-backed emergency luminaires. PPS lets designers remap PWM outputs to any digital pin, simplifying PCB routing for multi-channel RGBW fixtures. Reference design patterns are published in Microchip application notes for LED driver topologies, and the PIC16F1578 family is explicitly marketed at this segment.
Recommended
Stepper Motor and DC Motor Control
The PIC16LF1578-I/SS handles stepper and brushed DC motor control with deterministic timing from its 8-bit PIC core. The four 16-bit PWM channels drive two H-bridges for bipolar stepper sequencing or four independent brushed DC motors with closed-loop speed regulation. The 5-bit DAC sets reference levels for current-mode amplifiers, while the 10-bit ADC samples back-EMF or shunt-sense signals at high PWM rates. EUSART links the MCU to a host controller or encoder; PPS assigns peripheral I/O to convenient PCB pins. Industrial-grade (-40C to +85C) operation suits factory-automation and appliance motor subsystems.
Recommended
Switch-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) Digital Control
The PIC16LF1578-I/SS is suited for digital control of small switch-mode supplies because the CWG module generates complementary gate-drive waveforms with programmable dead-band, eliminating external logic. Four 16-bit PWMs can each drive a converter phase or implement digital slope compensation. The 5-bit DAC programs the analog current-mode threshold or trim voltage, while the comparator triggers peak-current-mode events. Combined with the 10-bit ADC for output-voltage feedback, the MCU implements a fully digital voltage-mode or peak-current-mode controller in a single IC. This topology reduces BOM count compared to analog UC3842-style controllers and enables firmware-based soft-start, OVP, and OCP curves.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The 'LF' low-voltage variant of the PIC16LF1578-I/SS is intended for battery-powered sensor nodes where wide-VDD operation and sleep-mode current are critical. The 8-bit PIC core executes from sleep on interrupts, the ADC and comparator can wake the MCU on threshold crossings, and the 7KB Flash stores networking stacks or local edge-processing logic. PPS lets designers assign UART/SPI/I2C peripheral pins after PCB layout, simplifying mixed-signal sensor-board design. EUSART and the configurable serial interfaces connect to radios or wired sensor buses. Industrial temperature grade suits outdoor or harsh-environment IoT deployments.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning
Industrial sensor signal conditioning boards benefit from the PIC16LF1578-I/SS's integrated analog chain: 10-bit ADC for transducer readout, 5-bit DAC for excitation bias, and analog peripherals for signal chain trimming. The 16-bit PWMs can drive optocouplers or solid-state relays with precise timing, while the comparator implements window-detection. Industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C) is mandatory for many factory-floor deployments. PPS allows the designer to keep the analog-front-end pins on quiet traces while remapping digital functions to convenient I/O locations, easing PCB layout in mixed-signal designs.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control Boards
The PIC16LF1578-I/SS is widely adopted in consumer appliances - washing machines, dishwashers, microwave ovens, and HVAC controllers - where deterministic 8-bit control is preferred over higher-cost 32-bit parts. The four 16-bit PWMs drive triac-based heater controls or brushless DC motors for fans and pumps. EUSART links the appliance to a user-interface board or wireless module; CWG dead-band control simplifies inverter leg drives in small variable-speed compressors. The 32 MHz core provides responsive interrupt-driven control loops, while the wide VDD range handles rectified-mains-derived rails. Microchip's PIC16 family has decades of appliance-grade reference firmware.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1578-I/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF1579-I/SS | PIC16LF1578T-I/SS | PIC16LF1578-E/SS | PIC16LF1574-I/SS | PIC16LF1508-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 20-SSOP | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory | 7 KB Flash | 8 KB Flash | 7 KB Flash (identical) | 7 KB Flash (identical) | 4 KB Flash | 7 KB Flash |
| Data RAM | 512 bytes | 512 bytes | 512 bytes | 512 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 20 MHz |
| PWM Channels | 4 x 16-bit | 4 x 16-bit | 4 x 16-bit | 4 x 16-bit | 4 x 16-bit | 4 x 10-bit |
| DAC | 5-bit | 5-bit | 5-bit | 5-bit | 5-bit | No |
| CWG Module | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
Key Differentiators
- Four 16-bit PWMs with independent timers in SSOP-20 (vs PIC16LF1508-I/SS)
- Integrated CWG (Complementary Waveform Generator) with programmable dead-band (vs PIC16LF1508-I/SS)
- 5-bit DAC integrated alongside 10-bit ADC (vs PIC16LF1508-I/SS)
- Low-voltage 'LF' variant for wide VDD operation (vs PIC16F1578-I/SS (F variant))
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin (pin 20) and a bulk capacitor (1-10 uF) on the same supply trace. For SSOP-20, route the VDD/VSS pair as a wide short loop to minimize switching-noise coupling into the analog ADC inputs. If using the internal 32 MHz oscillator, place the SSOP-20 part away from high-current switching traces to reduce jitter on PWM edges.
Use the Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) feature to remap UART, SPI, I2C, and PWM outputs to any convenient digital pin - this simplifies PCB routing and lets the same SSOP-20 footprint serve multiple board variants. Assign analog inputs to RA2/RA3/RA5 to leverage the dedicated analog pin functions, and reserve RA0/RA1 for high-impedance sensor inputs to minimize digital switching noise pickup.
When migrating between PIC16LF1574, PIC16LF1578, and PIC16LF1579, verify the program-memory size in MPLAB X IDE - code built for 4 KB on the LF1574 will not fit if you scale up peripherals on the LF1578. Also note that the LF (low-voltage) variants have a different VDD range than the F variants; do not exceed the LF datasheet maximum. For SMPS designs using the CWG, program dead-band time with the CWG1CON register before enabling the PWM source.
Estimated: at 32 MHz, VDD = 5 V, the PIC16LF1578-I/SS active current is approximately 6-8 mA typical. In sleep mode (LF variant) current drops to under 1 uA, enabling battery-powered designs with duty-cycled wake/sleep. For solar or energy-harvesting designs, combine the LF variant with MCP1640 boost converter and MCP1700 LDO to minimize quiescent current. Always check the latest datasheet DC characteristics section for production silicon values.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page; lead-free and halogen-free per Microchip packaging data. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - automotive applications should use a Q-graded variant or another automotive MCU family. The 'I' temperature grade is industrial (-40C to +85C); for -40C to +125C choose the 'E' extended variant PIC16LF1578-E/SS.
