PIC16LF1579T-I/SO - 8-Bit MCU, 14KB Flash, 32MHz, 20-SOIC | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1579T-I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.45 | $2.45 |
| 10 | $2.18 | $21.80 |
| 100 | $1.85 | $185.00 |
| 500 | $1.62 | $810.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.48 | $1,480.00 |
PIC16LF1579T-I/SO Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, non-volatile program memory, working RAM, and a mix of peripherals (ADC, timers, communication ports, comparators, PWM) on one silicon die. Within the broader semiconductor taxonomy, an MCU belongs to the microcontroller family, then to the embedded computing category, and finally to logic ICs / integrated circuits. The PIC16 family uses a Harvard-architecture RISC instruction set with 14-bit instruction words, optimized for deterministic interrupt response and low-power embedded control.
Key differentiating features of the PIC16LF1579 include four independent 16-bit PWMs with dedicated timers - valuable for LED lighting, motor control, and high-resolution timing; a 10-bit ADC with computation; a 5-bit DAC; rail-to-rail comparators; a Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG); Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) for flexible signal routing; and an EUSART for asynchronous/synchronous serial communication. The 1.8 V minimum VDD supports battery-powered and energy-harvesting designs where the standard PIC16F1579 (2.5 V minimum) cannot operate.
Architecturally, the LF variant uses Microchip's eXtreme Low Power (XLP) process technology to achieve nanoWatt sleep currents, and the device supports multiple low-power modes (Sleep, Idle, Doze). Core-independent peripherals offload timing-critical tasks (PWM, CWG, ADC) from the CPU, allowing the core to sleep while peripherals continue operating.
Typical applications include 16-bit PWM LED lighting and dimming controllers, DC-DC converter control loops, battery management units, IoT sensor nodes, and general-purpose embedded control where 14 KB of Flash is sufficient. The wide 20-SOIC footprint is hand-solder-friendly and breadboard-compatible, easing prototyping.
When designing, plan for VDD decoupling (100 nF plus 1-10 uF bulk), ensure ICSP clock and data lines have ESD protection, and follow Microchip's "Fundamentals of MOSFET, IGBT and Power Electronics" gate-drive guidelines when the MCU is controlling external switching FETs.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in 20-SOIC alternatives, and engineering design guidance not consolidated in any single source.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1579T-I/SO — 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 PIC16LF1579T-I/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Architecture, Package, Program Memory (Flash), Operating Temperature, Operating Voltage Range.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF1579-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1579T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$0.81 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1579-E/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.08 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1579T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1578T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$0.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1575T-I/SL
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$1.04 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1574T-I/SL
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1579T-I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit PIC16 RISC (14-bit instruction word) |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz (32 MIPS) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB (8 K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 1 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| ADC | 10-bit |
| DAC | 5-bit |
| PWM Channels | 4 x 16-bit independent |
| Comparators | Yes, rail-to-rail |
| Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) | Yes |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes |
| EUSART | 1 |
| Package | 20-pin SOIC (SO), wide-body, 7.50 mm |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial, I) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | MSL1 (per JEDEC J-STD-020) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
| Programming Interface | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) |
PIC16LF1579T-I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8 V-3.6 V) |
| Pin 2 | RA5 — Bidirectional I/O / ICSP programming clock (ICSPCLK) |
| Pin 3 | RA4 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 4 | RA3/MCLR — Bidirectional I/O / Master Clear reset (active-low) |
| Pin 5 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O / PWM output |
| Pin 6 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O / PWM output |
| Pin 7 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O / PWM output |
| Pin 8 | RC6 — Bidirectional I/O / EUSART TX |
| Pin 9 | RC7 — Bidirectional I/O / EUSART RX |
| Pin 10 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 11 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O / PWM output |
| Pin 12 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O / PWM output |
| Pin 13 | RC2 — Bidirectional I/O / PWM output |
| Pin 14 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 15 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 16 | RB6 — Bidirectional I/O / ICSP programming data (ICSPDAT) |
| Pin 17 | RB7 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 18 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 19 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 20 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1579T-I/SO is suitable for 6 applications: 16-bit PWM LED Lighting Controller, IoT Sensor Node / Battery-Powered Wireless Sensor, DC-DC Converter Digital Control Loop, Battery Management Unit (BMU) for Single-Cell Li-Ion, Motor Control (Brushed DC / Stepper), General-Purpose Embedded Control / Hobby Electronics.
16-bit PWM LED Lighting Controller
The PIC16LF1579T-I/SO is purpose-built for high-resolution LED dimming and color-mixing applications thanks to four independent 16-bit PWM channels with dedicated timers. Each channel delivers 65536 steps of brightness resolution - far beyond what 10-bit PWM ICs offer - enabling flicker-free dimming below 1 percent in architectural and horticultural lighting. The 1.8 V-3.6 V XLP VDD range allows direct operation from a single-cell Li-ion battery, eliminating the LDO and shrinking the BOM. Pair the MCU with a constant-current LED driver such as the AL8860 or BCR402U; the CWG peripheral generates complementary timing signals for half-bridge FET drive if a buck topology is used. Expect PWM jitter under 50 ns with the 32 MHz HFINTOSC, sufficient for high-quality dimming without external crystals.
Recommended
IoT Sensor Node / Battery-Powered Wireless Sensor
The PIC16LF1579T-I/SO fits IoT edge-sensor roles because the XLP variant draws sub-uA in Sleep and the 1.8 V minimum VDD lets it run directly from a primary LiMnO2 or two AA cells. Combined with a sub-GHz or BLE module (MRF89XA, RN4870), the MCU can stay in Sleep for seconds between transmissions, waking on a timer interrupt to read a 10-bit ADC sensor and push data. The 14 KB Flash holds the protocol stack plus application code; 1 KB RAM is sufficient for buffer management. The 10-bit ADC with computation can average sensor readings in hardware, offloading CPU work. Real-world battery life in 2x AA cells with 30-second wake intervals can exceed 2 years. Designers should place a 100 nF + 10 uF decoupling pair on VDD.
Recommended
DC-DC Converter Digital Control Loop
The PIC16LF1579T-I/SO can implement a digital control loop for a synchronous buck or boost converter using the 16-bit PWM as the switching-frequency generator and the 10-bit ADC to sense output voltage and current. The 32 MHz core runs a PID algorithm at up to 250 kHz switching frequency with cycle-by-cycle adjustment. The CWG peripheral produces complementary gate-drive signals with programmable dead time, critical for synchronous rectification. The 5-bit DAC provides a software-controlled reference for analog comparators, useful for cycle-by-cycle current limiting. Compared to a dedicated digital PWM controller like the UCD3138, the PIC16LF1579 trades raw speed for flexibility - firmware upgrades allow topology changes without hardware redesign.
Recommended
Battery Management Unit (BMU) for Single-Cell Li-Ion
The PIC16LF1579T-I/SO can monitor a single-cell Li-ion or Li-polymer pack, using the 10-bit ADC to measure pack voltage, charge current (via a sense resistor and op-amp), and individual cell temperature (via NTC thermistor divider). The MCU drives the charge FET via PWM and the protection FET via a GPIO; the 16-bit PWM allows accurate CC/CV charge profiles. The 256-byte EEPROM stores calibration data and cycle counts. The wide -40C to +85C industrial temperature range suits e-bike, power-tool, and IoT backup applications. Designers should add an external fuel-gauge IC such as the MCP3421 for coulomb counting if higher accuracy is required.
Recommended
Motor Control (Brushed DC / Stepper)
The PIC16LF1579T-I/SO can drive small brushed DC motors, unipolar stepper motors, or solenoids by combining its 16-bit PWM (for speed/torque control) with EUSART feedback from an encoder. The CWG peripheral generates anti-shoot-through timing for H-bridge driver ICs such as the DRV8870 or L293D, and the rail-to-rail comparators handle over-current protection by latching the PWM in fault conditions. The 1.8 V-3.6 V XLP range lets the MCU share the motor battery directly without an LDO. Designers should add flyback diodes and a TVS across the motor terminals; the ICSP pins should be reserved for in-circuit firmware updates during prototyping.
Recommended
General-Purpose Embedded Control / Hobby Electronics
The PIC16LF1579T-I/SO is widely used in hobby and education because the wide-body 20-SOIC is breadboard-compatible and the PICkit / MPLAB SNAP programmers are inexpensive. Typical projects include custom keyboards, MIDI controllers, simple games, sensor readouts, and timer-based controllers. The 14 KB Flash holds substantial C code compiled with Microchip's free XC8 compiler; the EUSART plus the 5-bit DAC cover most hobby I/O. The 1.8 V-3.6 V XLP range suits USB-powered 3.3 V projects as well as 2x AA battery designs. The device's deterministic interrupt latency and core-independent peripherals make it ideal for teaching real-time embedded concepts.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1579T-I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF1579-I/SO | PIC16LF1579T-I/SS | PIC16LF1579-E/SS | PIC16F1579T-I/SO | PIC16F1578T-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-SOIC (SO) wide body 7.50 mm | 20-SOIC (SO) wide body 7.50 mm - same | 20-SSOP (SS) 5.30 mm - smaller land pattern | 20-SSOP (SS) 5.30 mm - smaller land pattern | 20-SOIC (SO) wide body 7.50 mm - same | 20-SOIC (SO) wide body 7.50 mm - same |
| Flash Program Memory | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 7 KB |
| Data RAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 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 | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz (32 MIPS) | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| PWM Channels | 4 x 16-bit | 4 x 16-bit | 4 x 16-bit | 4 x 16-bit | 4 x 16-bit | 3 x 16-bit |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| 1-piece Price (USD, as of 2026-09-23) | $2.45 | $2.42 | $2.30 | $2.55 | $2.50 | $2.20 |
Key Differentiators
- Four 16-bit PWMs with independent timers - rare in 20-pin 8-bit MCUs (vs PIC16F1578T-I/SO)
- XLP 1.8 V minimum VDD vs 2.5 V on the F variant (vs PIC16F1579T-I/SO)
- 5-bit DAC plus rail-to-rail comparators in 20-pin package (vs PIC16LF1559T-I/SS)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as possible to VDD pin 1 (and VDD pin 20 on 20-SOIC) plus a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic cap at the package. For XLP sleep-mode designs, choose a low-leakage cap (<100 nA) because the MCU draws nanoamps in Sleep and any leakage appears as phantom battery drain. Estimated: with 100 nA Sleep Icc and 2 x AA 2400 mAh cells, runtime can exceed 2 years; a 1 uA decoupling leakage would cut this to months.
Do not confuse the PIC16LF1579 (1.8 V-3.6 V) with the PIC16F1579 (2.5 V-5.5 V) when reading the datasheet - the LF variant requires VDD > 1.8 V before any ICSP programming will succeed. Also, the 16-bit PWM outputs are mapped through PPS on most ports; defaulting to fixed pin locations after a code change can disable PWM. Finally, ensure the MCLR pin (pin 4) has a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD if external reset is unused - leaving MCLR floating can cause spurious resets.
Route the ICSP clock (RA5/ICSPCLK) and data (RB6/ICSPDAT) signals with short, parallel traces to the 6-pin PICkit header. Add a 4.7 kohm series resistor on MCLR if the application drives MCLR from another source, to isolate the programmer. Keep clock traces (crystal or HFINTOSC) away from PWM switching outputs to avoid radiated EMI coupling; Microchip's TB3065 application note provides layout guidance for PIC16 8-bit MCUs in noisy environments.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Lead-free finish. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose PIC16LF1579-E/SS (-40C to +125C) for extended-temperature industrial; for automotive AEC-Q100, consult Microchip's PIC16F1579 AEC-Q100 catalog.
