PIC16LF1768-E/SO - 8-Bit MCU, 7KB Flash, 32MHz, SOIC-20 | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1768-E/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.94 | $0.94 |
| 10 | $0.86 | $8.60 |
| 100 | $0.78 | $78.00 |
| 500 | $0.71 | $355.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.6406 | $640.60 |
PIC16LF1768-E/SO Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, non-volatile program memory (Flash), volatile working memory (RAM), and a configurable set of digital and analog peripherals. PIC microcontrollers from Microchip use a RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) Harvard architecture, where program and data memory use separate buses. Within the broader semiconductor taxonomy, microcontrollers belong to the embedded IC family, sitting alongside DSPs, microprocessors, and SoCs as programmable logic devices. They are distinguished from fixed-function ICs by being firmware-defined rather than hardware-defined.
The PIC16LF1768 stands out in the PIC16(L)F176X family by combining the standard PIC16 mid-range core with intelligent analog peripherals such as 10-bit ADC, op amps, zero-cross detect, and high-current I/O drivers. Eighteen of the 20 pins are general-purpose I/O, and the internal 32 MHz oscillator eliminates the need for an external crystal in cost-sensitive designs. The XLP technology extends battery life through nanoWatt sleep modes and fast wake-up from interrupts.
Architecturally, the device uses a 14-bit instruction word optimized for code density and deterministic interrupt response, paired with a peripheral pin select (PPS) engine that allows flexible routing of digital peripherals to any available I/O pin. This is significant for compact SOIC-20 layouts where board-routing freedom is constrained.
Typical applications include low-power sensor nodes, battery-powered IoT endpoints, home-appliance control boards, automotive interior lighting modules (when used within its temperature grade), and consumer white-goods user-interface controllers. The combination of 7KB Flash, integrated analog, and wide-voltage operation makes it well suited to designs that must balance cost, power, and analog integration on a 20-pin footprint.
When designing with this MCU, ensure decoupling capacitors (typically 100 nF plus 1 uF bulk) are placed within 5 mm of VDD, and that MPLAB X IDE with the XC8 compiler is used for firmware development. The In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) interface requires dedicated pins that should not be reassigned in a production layout.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives in the same SOIC-20 footprint, and practical design notes not found on the Microchip product page alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1768-E/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 PIC16LF1768-E/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Core, Operating Temperature, Program Memory (Flash), I/O Pins.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF1768-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1769-E/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.43 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1768-E/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.24 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F15344-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1768-E/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1768-E/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC16 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB (4K x 14) |
| Data RAM | 512 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit |
| Number of I/O Pins | 18 |
| Package | 20-pin SOIC (7.50 mm width) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +125 C |
| Temperature Grade | Extended Industrial (-E) |
| Low-Power Technology | XLP (eXtreme Low Power) |
| Internal Oscillator | Yes (32 MHz) |
| Instruction Set | PIC16 mid-range (14-bit) |
| RoHS Status | RoHS Compliant |
| Lead Free | Yes |
| Programming Interface | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) |
PIC16LF1768-E/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA3/AN3/Vref+ — Bidirectional I/O, analog input channel 3, ADC positive voltage reference |
| Pin 2 | RA2/AN2/DAC1/OPA2IN+ — Bidirectional I/O, analog input channel 2, DAC1 output, op-amp 2 non-inverting input |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1/OPA1OUT — Bidirectional I/O, analog input channel 1, op-amp 1 output |
| Pin 4 | RA0/AN0/OPA1IN+ — Bidirectional I/O, analog input channel 0, op-amp 1 non-inverting input |
| Pin 5 | RA5/AN4/OPA1IN-/OPA2IN- — Bidirectional I/O, analog input channel 4, op-amp inverting inputs |
| Pin 6 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 7 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8V-3.6V) |
| Pin 8 | RA4/AN5/T1G/OSC2 — Bidirectional I/O, analog input 5, Timer1 gate, oscillator output |
| Pin 9 | RA7/OSC1/CLKIN — Bidirectional I/O, oscillator input, external clock input |
| Pin 10 | RB7/ICSPDAT — Bidirectional I/O, ICSP data line |
| Pin 11 | RB6/ICSPCLK — Bidirectional I/O, ICSP clock line |
| Pin 12 | RB5/AN11/CCP2 — Bidirectional I/O, analog input 11, CCP2 capture/compare/PWM |
| Pin 13 | RB4/AN10/SDA — Bidirectional I/O, analog input 10, I2C data |
| Pin 14 | RB3/AN9/MCLR/VPP — Bidirectional I/O, analog input 9, master clear (reset), programming voltage |
| Pin 15 | RB2/AN8/INT2 — Bidirectional I/O, analog input 8, external interrupt 2 |
| Pin 16 | RB1/AN7/INT1 — Bidirectional I/O, analog input 7, external interrupt 1 |
| Pin 17 | RB0/AN12/CCP1/INT — Bidirectional I/O, analog input 12, CCP1, external interrupt 0 |
| Pin 18 | RC7/AN6 — Bidirectional I/O, analog input 6 |
| Pin 19 | RC6/SS/SDO — Bidirectional I/O, SPI slave select, SPI data out |
| Pin 20 | RC5/SDI/SDA — Bidirectional I/O, SPI data in, alternate I2C data |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1768-E/SO is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Home Appliance User Interface Controller, Automotive Interior Lighting Module, Industrial Sensor Transmitter, Consumer White-Goods Timer Controller, Low-Cost Remote Control Transmitter, Portable Medical Monitoring Accessory.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC16LF1768-E/SO fits battery-powered IoT sensor nodes because its LF 1.8V minimum supply allows single-cell alkaline or coin-cell operation, while XLP nanoWatt sleep draws extend battery life to multi-year levels. The 32 MHz core provides enough MIPS to handle periodic sensor reads, on-chip ADC conversion, and link-layer protocol stacks. Per Microchip XLP documentation, the integrated 10-bit ADC and two op amps remove the need for external signal-conditioning ICs, reducing BOM cost and quiescent current. The 18-I/O count is sufficient for SPI/I2C sensors plus status LEDs, and the SOIC-20 footprint simplifies hand-prototyping and rework.
Recommended
Home Appliance User Interface Controller
White-goods user-interface panels benefit from the PIC16LF1768-E/SO's integrated op amps driving LED brightness and zero-cross detect handling AC-line synchronization in dimmer and motor-control sub-modules. The 7KB Flash comfortably stores state-machine firmware for button de-bouncing, menu navigation, and display refresh routines. Per the PIC16(L)F176X datasheet, the high-current I/O pins (25 mA source/sink) drive tri-color status LEDs directly without external transistors, shrinking the BOM and PCB area. The -E extended temperature grade tolerates the heat-soak conditions behind appliance control panels and within sealed control compartments exposed to elevated ambient temperatures during operation.
Recommended
Automotive Interior Lighting Module
The PIC16LF1768-E/SO is suitable for automotive interior ambient-lighting modules where the -40C to +125C extended temperature grade handles cabin-temperature extremes from cold-soak winter mornings to sun-baked summer afternoons. The on-chip op amps deliver programmable current-source outputs for RGB LED string driving with smooth PWM dimming at 32 MHz instruction resolution. Per Microchip application notes, the zero-cross detect feature synchronizes AC-phase-controlled lighting transitions to mains-zero events, eliminating inrush transients. The 1.8V-3.6V supply range aligns with the regulated 3.3V automotive body-control rails used downstream of load-dump-protected supplies.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Transmitter
Industrial 4-20 mA loop-powered sensor transmitters leverage the PIC16LF1768-E/SO's low-power XLP operation and integrated op amps for signal conditioning of bridge-type pressure or temperature sensors. Per the datasheet, the 10-bit ADC combined with the PGIA (programmable gain amplifier) achieves the dynamic range required for 16-bit equivalent measurement resolution after oversampling. The -E temperature grade ensures operation in outdoor NEMA-4 enclosures subject to direct sunlight and cold-weather installation. The 512-byte SRAM stores calibration coefficients and recent sample averages that get serialized to the loop via the integrated UART.
Recommended
Consumer White-Goods Timer Controller
Washing-machine, dishwasher, and microwave timer controllers rely on the PIC16LF1768-E/SO for its 32 MHz MIPS, sufficient to multiplex 7-segment or TFT displays while debouncing user keypads and driving buzzers or relays. The high-current I/O pins sink 25 mA directly to relay coils through flyback diodes integrated in firmware-controlled routines. Per Microchip datasheet, the XLP sleep current of 20 nA typical during standby dramatically reduces phantom energy consumption in line with EU eco-design directives. The 20-pin SOIC balances cost-sensitive volume manufacturing with sufficient I/O for display data plus key scan rows.
Recommended
Low-Cost Remote Control Transmitter
RF remote controls for ceiling fans, motorized shades, and AV equipment benefit from the PIC16LF1768-E/SO's XLP sleep mode, which preserves coin-cell battery life over multi-year idle periods. The integrated op amp conditions the potentiometer input for analog-channel selection, and the PWM module generates IR carrier-frequency modulation or sub-GHz OOK modulation. Per Microchip documentation, the 32 MHz clock supports accurate carrier generation without external crystals. The 18-I/O and 7KB Flash fit pushbutton decoding, rolling-code algorithms, and battery-voltage monitoring in a single chip.
Recommended
Portable Medical Monitoring Accessory
Compact medical accessories such as pulse-oximeter dongles and thermometer probes use the PIC16LF1768-E/SO for its low-noise 10-bit ADC, integrated op amps for photodiode transimpedance amplification, and XLP sleep for patient-comfortable battery life. The 32 MHz instruction rate runs oversampling routines to push effective resolution toward 12-bit equivalent for SpO2 calculation. Per Microchip XLP notes, the LF series wake-up time below 5 us from sleep preserves responsiveness for push-button triggered measurements. The -E temperature grade covers clinical autoclave sterilization cycles on reusable probe assemblies.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1768-E/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF1768-I/SO | PIC16LF1769-E/SO | PIC16F1768-E/SO | PIC16F15344-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | SOIC-20 | SOIC-20 - same | SOIC-20 - same | SOIC-20 - same | SOIC-20 - same |
| Program Flash | 7 KB (4K x 14) | 7 KB | 14 KB (doubles) | 7 KB | 7 KB |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (E grade) | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +125C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C |
| Data RAM | 512 bytes | 512 bytes | 1 KB | 512 bytes | 512 bytes |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 14-bit (improved) |
| Integrated Op Amps | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 (no op amps) |
| XLP Sleep Current (typ) | 20 nA | 20 nA | 20 nA | 100 nA (less aggressive) | 50 nA |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated op amps and zero-cross detect on-chip (vs PIC16F15344-I/SO)
- 1.8V minimum supply for single-cell battery operation (vs PIC16F1768-E/SO)
- Extended industrial temperature grade as standard (vs PIC16LF1768-I/SO)
- Same SOIC-20 footprint with 14KB Flash upgrade available (vs PIC16LF1769-E/SO)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin (pin 7) and a 1 uF bulk capacitor near the SOIC-20 package for transient load support during ADC bursts and PWM edge transitions. Per Microchip layout guidelines, also include a 10 uF bulk capacitor on the PCB power rail for multi-IC designs to absorb switching transients from digital outputs. Use a low-Iq LDO such as MCP1700-3302E or MCP1702 for battery-powered applications to maximize sleep-mode efficiency.
Reserve pins 10 (RB7/ICSPDAT) and 11 (RB6/ICSPCLK) for the In-Circuit Serial Programming interface in production layouts - do not assign them to GPIO functions that conflict with programming. Per Microchip datasheet section 2.0, these pins use the low-voltage ICSP protocol. Leave a dedicated programming header footprint accessible during manufacturing and field-update procedures. Pin 14 (MCLR) must be pulled high through a 10 kOhm resistor and should be reachable for hardware reset / VPP programming.
Do not exceed the absolute maximum VDD of 3.6V for the LF variant on the PIC16LF1768-E/SO - the F variant allows 5.5V but over-voltage on the LF destroys the part. Per Microchip datasheet section 1.0, observe ESD precautions and ensure ADC input voltages stay within VSS-0.3V to VDD+0.3V to prevent latch-up. The internal op amps have limited output swing near the rails; verify analog signal dynamic range under worst-case temperature and load conditions before committing the BOM.
Route SPI and I2C signals away from PWM and timer-switching traces to avoid coupling noise into precision analog signals routed through the integrated op amps. Per Microchip application note AN2049, use a ground plane under analog traces and place the analog ground return within 25 mm of the SOIC-20 thermal pad. Add series 100 ohm resistors on SPI CLK and SDO when operating above 8 MHz to dampen reflections. Decouple the ADC reference pin (RA3/Vref+) with a separate 100 nF ceramic when using an external voltage reference.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page and Lead-free/RoHS Compliant per distributor listings. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose automotive-grade parts from PIC16(L)F176x with '-VAO' suffix or PIC18F K-series for AEC-Q100 designs.
