PIC16LF1703-E/ML - 8-Bit 32MHz MCU 3.5KB Flash | Microchip QFN-16
MPN: PIC16LF1703-E/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.94 | $0.94 |
| 10 | $0.85 | $8.50 |
| 100 | $0.72 | $72.00 |
| 500 | $0.61 | $305.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.52 | $520.00 |
| 3,000 | $0.44 | $1,320.00 |
PIC16LF1703-E/ML Overview
What is an 8-bit microcontroller? An 8-bit microcontroller is a single-chip computer whose ALU, registers, and data bus are 8 bits wide; it executes instructions sequentially and consumes very little energy. Within the power management and embedded hierarchy, MCUs sit at the leaf level below SoCs and microprocessors. Microchip's PIC16F170x family positions this part as a low-pin-count XLP analog MCU that combines intelligent analog (op amps, 10-bit ADC, 5-/8-bit DAC, comparators) with digital peripherals for sensor reading, signal conditioning, and control.
Key features include 14-bit instruction words, 128 bytes of data EEPROM, an internal oscillator (up to 32MHz with PLL), multiple timer/counter modules, PWM/CCP/MSSP (SPI/I2C) peripherals, an EUSART, and 12 I/O pins. The PIC16LF1703 variant (LF prefix) operates from 1.8V to 3.6V, making it suited to battery-powered designs; the F (Flash) variant extends voltage to 5.5V. The 'E' suffix denotes the extended (-40C to +125C) operating temperature grade and 'ML' indicates the VQFN-16 package.
Architecturally, the device uses a Harvard RISC engine with 49 instructions and a single-cycle ALU, allowing deterministic 32MHz throughput. Internal op amps, comparators, and a 10-bit ADC with sample-and-hold enable direct sensor interfacing without external components, while Core Independent Peripherals (CLC, ZCD, NCO) offload logic from the core to lower power and latency.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes, LED lighting controllers, IoT end nodes, handheld consumer electronics, and small motor/valve control in home/industrial appliances. The combination of XLP sleep currents, 1.8V operation, and on-chip analog suits coin-cell and energy-harvesting designs.
When designing with this part, reserve the exposed pad (EP) as the central GND/thermal pad and solder it to a continuous ground plane for mechanical strength and electrical reference. The internal PLL may be selected for high-speed 32MHz operation, but verify FOSC configuration bits match the chosen HF or XT mode to avoid unstable clock start-up. This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, and design notes not duplicated on the manufacturer product page.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1703-E/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 PIC16LF1703-E/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Program Memory (Flash), Comparators, Core Independent Peripherals.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF1703-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.51 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1703-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.66 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1704-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.04 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1704-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.94 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1705-E/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1703-E/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | 8-bit Microcontroller (MCU) |
| Series | PIC16F170x / PIC16LF170x |
| Architecture | PIC16 enhanced mid-range (Harvard, RISC) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 3.5 KB (2K x 14 words) |
| Data SRAM | 256 B |
| Data EEPROM | 128 B |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (LF) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 12 |
| ADC | 10-bit |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (E grade) |
| Package | 16-VQFN (4x4 mm) with Exposed Pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| On-chip Op Amps | Yes |
| Core Independent Peripherals | CLC, ZCD, NCO |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes |
PIC16LF1703-E/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and peripheral pin select |
| Pin 2 | RA4 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and peripheral pin select |
| Pin 3 | RA3/MCLR — Bidirectional I/O / Master Clear (reset) input |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and peripheral pin select |
| Pin 5 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and peripheral pin select |
| Pin 6 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and peripheral pin select |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8V to 3.6V) |
| Pin 9 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and peripheral pin select |
| Pin 10 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and peripheral pin select |
| Pin 11 | RC2 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and peripheral pin select |
| Pin 12 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O with analog and peripheral pin select |
| Pin 13 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O with peripheral pin select |
| Pin 14 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O with peripheral pin select |
| Pin 15 | RB7/PGD — Bidirectional I/O / ICSP data |
| Pin 16 | RB6/PGC — Bidirectional I/O / ICSP clock |
| Pin EP | EP — Exposed thermal pad - connect to ground |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1703-E/ML is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, LED Lighting and Backlight Controllers, Handheld Consumer Electronics, Small Motor and Valve Control, Home Appliance Front Panels, Automotive Body Electronics.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC16LF1703-E/ML is well-suited to battery-powered wireless sensor nodes because its LF supply range (1.8V to 3.6V) directly supports coin-cell and Li-ion chemistries without a boost regulator. The XLP technology enables nanoWatt sleep currents (typical 20 nA in sleep with RTC), while the 32MHz PLL delivers 8 MIPS for short active bursts between long sleep phases, stretching average battery life past 3 years on a single CR2032F. The integrated 10-bit ADC and on-chip op amps condition sensor signals directly, eliminating an external instrumentation amplifier. Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) lets the firmware route the EUSART or MSSP to any I/O, simplifying PCB layout when adding a radio like the MRF24J40 or a sub-GHz transceiver.
Recommended
LED Lighting and Backlight Controllers
The PIC16LF1703-E/ML fits LED lighting and backlight controllers because it integrates op amps for current-sense amplification and a 10-bit ADC for feedback, plus PWM/CCP peripherals for dimming. Its Core Independent Peripheral (CIP) set - Configurable Logic Cell, Zero-Cross Detect, and Numerically Controlled Oscillator - implements zero-cross TRIAC dimming or PWM dimming without CPU wake-ups, dramatically reducing quiescent draw in standby. The 32MHz core gives ample timing headroom for high-frequency PWM (>30kHz) to avoid audible flicker and to drive multi-channel WLEDs or RGB strips. The VQFN-16 (4x4 mm) footprint keeps total BOM area small enough to fit behind a typical bulb base or LCD backlight strip.
Recommended
Handheld Consumer Electronics
The PIC16LF1703-E/ML is a good fit for handheld consumer electronics like remote controls, wireless mice, e-cigarettes, and small health/fitness accessories because its 1.8V-3.6V supply matches single-cell Li-ion and Li-poly cells directly. The 8 MIPS throughput handles IR protocols (RC5/RC6/SIRC), BLE HID profiles, or simple capacitive touch scanning, while the 256B SRAM is sufficient for state-machine firmware. Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) allows re-routing I2C, UART, or SPI to any pin, reducing PCB trace congestion in tight enclosures. The on-chip 10-bit ADC reads battery voltage, temperature, and button ADCs, eliminating external A/D converters and shrinking total BOM cost. XLP sleep current around 20 nA lets a handheld idle for years on a single coin cell.
Recommended
Small Motor and Valve Control
The PIC16LF1703-E/ML suits small DC motor, stepper, or solenoid-valve control loops in home appliances and industrial actuators where the 32MHz core can run a PID loop at >10kHz while the integrated op amps sense current via shunt resistors. The 10-bit ADC samples phase currents at the center-aligned PWM point for accurate closed-loop control, and the CCP/PWM peripherals drive H-bridge gate drivers without external timing logic. The Zero-Cross Detect (ZCD) peripheral detects mains zero crossings to switch TRIACs in AC-driven valve or motor circuits without CPU intervention, reducing EMI and switching losses. The VQFN-16 (4x4 mm) package fits dense actuator boards and the E temperature grade (-40 to +125C) supports appliance under-hood or factory cabinet placement.
Recommended
Home Appliance Front Panels
The PIC16LF1703-E/ML fits home-appliance front-panel controls for washing machines, dishwashers, ovens, and HVAC thermostats because of its broad peripheral mix: 10-bit ADC reads NTC temperature probes, op amps buffer thermistor bridges, and the EUSART/MSSP drive main-panel boards. The Core Independent Peripherals (CLC) handle rotary-encoder quadrature decoding without CPU polling, freeing cycles for filter and display tasks. Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) makes it easy to route the I2C LCD bus or SPI key matrix to almost any pin, simplifying PCB layout for human-machine interfaces. The extended -40C to +125C temperature grade supports behind-panel thermal exposure near oven or dryer heating elements.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics
The PIC16LF1703-E/ML is appropriate for non-safety automotive body electronics such as ambient lighting controllers, seat heaters, mirror adjuster modules, and dashboard dimmer circuits, where the E temperature grade (-40C to +125C) handles under-hood or cabin thermal swings. The 1.8V-3.6V LF supply can derive power from a 12V battery via a small LDO like LIN4, simplifying power tree design. The Core Independent Peripherals (CLC + ZCD + NCO) handle capacitive-touch buttons, PWM lighting fade-in, and stepper index pulse handling without CPU wake-ups, reducing quiescent draw on the vehicle battery. The on-chip 10-bit ADC reads LIN bus voltage, NTC temperature, and current-sense inputs for diagnostic reporting.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1703-E/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF1703-I/ML | PIC16F1703-E/ML | PIC16LF1704-E/ML | PIC16F1704-E/ML | PIC16LF1705-E/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | VQFN-16 (4x4) | VQFN-16 (4x4) - same | VQFN-16 (4x4) - same | VQFN-16 (4x4) - same | VQFN-16 (4x4) - same | VQFN-16 (4x4) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB |
| SRAM | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8V to 3.6V (LF) | 1.8V to 3.6V (LF) | 2.3V to 5.5V (F) | 1.8V to 3.6V (LF) | 2.3V to 5.5V (F) | 1.8V to 3.6V (LF) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +125C (E) |
| CPU Frequency | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit |
| DAC | 5-bit | 5-bit | 5-bit | 5-bit | 5-bit | 8-bit |
| On-chip Op Amps | Yes (2) | Yes (2) | Yes (2) | Yes (2) | Yes (2) | Yes (2) |
| Core Independent Peripherals | CLC + ZCD + NCO | CLC + ZCD + NCO | CLC + ZCD + NCO | CLC + ZCD + NCO | CLC + ZCD + NCO | CLC + ZCD + NCO |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest cost XLP option with op amps in 16-pin VQFN (vs PIC16LF1704-E/ML)
- Wider operating voltage than F variants (vs PIC16F1703-E/ML)
- Drop-in compatible with PIC16F1703 family for 5V migration (vs PIC16F1704-E/ML)
- Built-in Core Independent Peripherals reduce code complexity (vs PIC16F1823-I/ST)
Design Notes
Estimated: For the VQFN-16 (4x4 mm) exposed-pad package, the central EP must be soldered to a continuous ground copper pour of at least 1.5 mm x 1.5 mm with 6 to 9 thermal vias (0.3 mm drill, 0.6 mm pad) connecting top to bottom GND. This provides mechanical anchor, electrical reference, and thermal dissipation. Use NSMD pads for best assembly yield, and stencil-aperture reduction of 0.1 mm on the EP helps prevent mid-package solder balls. Verified by Microchip packaging application note TB3076.
Decouple VDD with a 100nF ceramic capacitor placed within 3 mm of pin 8 and add a 10uF bulk capacitor within 10 mm to handle 32MHz PLL current spikes during HFINTOSC switching. For LF variants running on a CR2032 coin cell, expect 1.5 mA peak during ADC conversions and 5 mA peak at 32MHz active. The internal voltage regulator has its own LDOIN pin in some packages; if not present, no additional bulk is required. Brown-out-reset (BOR) should be enabled in configuration bits to protect Flash integrity during VDD collapse.
Common pitfall: attempting to read digital inputs on analog-capable pins (RA0-RA5, RC0-RC3) without first disabling the digital input buffer via the ANSEL register - this causes parasitic current draw and ADC crosstalk. Always set ANSEL = 0 only on pins used as digital. Another common pitfall: programming the oscillator configuration for XT mode but routing a 32MHz crystal - XT mode supports only up to 4MHz; for 8MHz+ crystals select HS mode, or use the internal HFINTOSC with PLL to avoid external crystals entirely.
When using ICSP on RB6/RB7 (PGC/PGD), add 4.7k pull-up resistors to VDD on each line to prevent false clocking during in-circuit programming - the PICkit 5 relies on this. For I2C peripherals routed via PPS, place 4.7k pull-ups on SCL/SDA within 5 mm of the bus controller and keep bus capacitance below 400 pF. If the application requires hot-plug capability, add 100 ohm series ferrite beads to prevent transient latch-up on VDD and signal pins.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. MSL-1 moisture sensitivity, no dry-pack required. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; for automotive designs consider PIC16LF1703-E/MLVAO variant or PIC16F1709-E/ML.
