PIC16LF1778-E/MX - 28KB Flash 8-bit MCU, 32MHz, 28-UQFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1778-E/MX ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.84 | $2.84 |
| 10 | $2.62 | $26.20 |
| 100 | $2.31 | $231.00 |
| 500 | $2.05 | $1,025.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.89 | $1,890.00 |
PIC16LF1778-E/MX Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a small computer on a single integrated circuit containing a CPU, RAM, Flash program memory, and a rich set of peripheral interfaces. The PIC16LF family sits in Microchip's PIC® XLP™ (eXtreme Low Power) product tier, optimized for battery-powered and energy-harvesting applications. Within the broader taxonomy, PIC16LF microcontrollers are members of the 8-bit MCU category, which itself belongs to the microcontroller family, a subset of embedded microprocessors and ultimately the broader semiconductor class of integrated circuits.
Key features of the PIC16LF1778 include high-resolution PWM modules with 16-bit resolution suitable for digital lighting, motor control, and power-conversion feedback loops; multiple operational amplifiers and comparators for analog front-end conditioning; and on-chip peripherals for LED dimming, battery charging, and switched-mode power supply control. The integrated digital-to-analog converters (DACs) further reduce external component count. The 28KB Flash memory accommodates application code plus bootloader or firmware-update functionality.
Technically, the PIC16LF1778 leverages Microchip's enhanced mid-range 8-bit core architecture with a 14-bit instruction word and hardware multiply support. The XLP™ design philosophy focuses on sub-microamp sleep currents and rapid wake-up from sleep, making the part well-suited to duty-cycled IoT sensor nodes. Internal peripherals are interconnected through Microchip's Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) and Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs), allowing complex functions such as closed-loop motor control without CPU intervention.
Typical applications include LED lighting controllers, battery chargers, switched-mode power supplies with digital PFC, BLDC motor control, IoT sensor hubs, and general-purpose embedded consumer devices. The 28-UQFN package suits compact PCB layouts where board area is constrained. The exposed thermal pad aids heat dissipation when driving GPIO at high source/sink currents.
When designing with this part, verify the chosen programmer/debugger supports the device ID - the MPLAB® PICkit™ 4, MPLAB® ICD 4, and Curiosity development platform are recommended. Decoupling capacitors of 100 nF plus 1 µF placed close to VDD/AVDD pins are essential for clean ADC performance. This page consolidates distributor pricing, pin-compatible alternatives, and design guidance beyond the manufacturer datasheet to accelerate engineering decisions.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1778-E/MX — 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 PIC16LF1778-E/MX (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, CPU Speed, Comparators, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
No drop-in alternatives available for this product.
Request AlternativesPIC16LF1778-E/MX Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Series | PIC® XLP™ 16F |
| Core Processor | PIC 8-bit |
| Core Size | 8-Bit |
| Program Memory Size | 28KB (16K x 14) Flash |
| RAM Size | 2 KB |
| CPU Speed | 32 MHz |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| ADC | 10-bit on-chip |
| Package | 28-UQFN (6x6 mm) with Exposed Pad |
| Pin Count | 28 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +125 °C (E = Extended) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Technology Family | PIC16LF (Low Power, Low Voltage) |
PIC16LF1778-E/MX Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 2 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 3 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 4 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 5 | RA4 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 6 | RA5 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 7 | RA6 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 9 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 10 | RB0 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 11 | RB1 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 12 | RB2 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 13 | RB3 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 14 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 15 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 16 | RB6 — Bidirectional I/O / ICSPCLK |
| Pin 17 | RB7 — Bidirectional I/O / ICSPDAT |
| Pin 18 | AVDD — Analog supply voltage |
| Pin 19 | AVSS — Analog ground |
| Pin 20 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 21 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 22 | RC2 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 23 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 24 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 25 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 26 | RC6 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 27 | RC7 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 28 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1778-E/MX is suitable for 7 applications: BLDC Motor Control, LED Lighting & Digital Dimming, Battery Charging & Power Management, IoT Sensor Hubs & Edge Nodes, Switched-Mode Power Supplies (SMPS) with Digital PFC, Consumer Appliance Control, Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning.
BLDC Motor Control
The PIC16LF1778-E/MX drives sensorless and sensored BLDC motors at low voltage, integrating 16-bit PWM, on-chip operational amplifiers for current sensing, and comparators for back-EMF zero-cross detection. With a 32 MHz core and 28KB Flash, control-loop firmware fits comfortably; the XLP™ sleep current below 1 µA lets battery-powered tools enter deep sleep between demands. Microchip's AN1078 application note uses the PIC16LF177x family as the reference platform for sensored BLMC motion profiles at 12V to 24V rails.
Recommended
LED Lighting & Digital Dimming
The PIC16LF1778-E/MX delivers four 16-bit PWM channels and multiple 10-bit PWM channels ideal for high-resolution LED dimming and color-mixing lighting fixtures. The integrated operational amplifiers support constant-current drive feedback without external components, and the 1.8V-3.6V operation suits battery-backup emergency luminaires. Reference designs in the Microchip lighting development kit target 4-channel RGBA dimming below 0.1% linearity across the full duty range.
Recommended
Battery Charging & Power Management
The PIC16LF1778-E/MX is engineered for closed-loop battery charging across Li-Ion, LiFePO4, NiMH, and lead-acid chemistries using its integrated op-amps for voltage and current regulation and on-chip comparators for safety cutoff. The 28KB Flash accommodates multi-stage CC/CV profiles plus state-of-health logging. With XLP™ currents below 50 nA in sleep, the part draws negligible quiescent power from the battery when the system is idle.
Recommended
IoT Sensor Hubs & Edge Nodes
The PIC16LF1778-E/MX aggregates data from analog and digital sensors through its 10-bit ADC, comparators, and serial interfaces (I²C/SPI/UART), then performs on-node preprocessing before forwarding to a host MCU or radio. The XLP™ architecture achieves nanoamp sleep current, enabling multi-year battery life on duty-cycled sensor nodes. With 2KB RAM and 28KB Flash, lightweight edge-AI inference (decision trees, anomaly detection) is feasible on raw sensor streams.
Recommended
Switched-Mode Power Supplies (SMPS) with Digital PFC
The PIC16LF1778-E/MX combines high-resolution PWM, fast comparators, and operational amplifiers to implement digital-mode power factor correction and SMPS control loops. The 32 MHz CPU executes average-current-mode control firmware within microsecond tick intervals, while the on-chip 10-bit ADC samples inductor current and bus voltage synchronously to the PWM. Microchip's digital-power application notes reference the PIC16LF177x family at 50W to 500W PFC stages.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control
The PIC16LF1778-E/MX provides the analog integration needed for sensor-rich consumer appliances such as coffee machines, induction cooktops, and air purifiers. Its integrated op-amps condition thermistor and flow-sensor outputs, the 10-bit ADC digitizes user-interface knob positions, and the 16-bit PWMs drive proportional valves and fans. The extended -40°C to +125°C temperature grade supports underhood and outdoor installations such as HVAC outdoor units.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning
The PIC16LF1778-E/MX integrates operational amplifiers and 12-bit (with oversampling) ADC channels to condition bridge sensors, RTDs, and 4-20 mA loops in industrial settings. The 32 MHz core executes linearization and cold-junction compensation algorithms at kHz update rates, while the 1.8V-3.6V operation allows solar or thermoelectric energy harvesting at remote sites. Industrial-grade -40°C to +125°C operation tolerates factory-floor environments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1778-E/MX — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF1778-I/MX | PIC16LF1777-I/MX | PIC16LF1776-I/MX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-UQFN (6x6) | 28-UQFN (6x6) - same | 28-UQFN (6x6) - same | 28-UQFN (6x6) - same |
| Flash Memory | 28 KB | 28 KB | 14 KB (-50%) | 8 KB (-71%) |
| RAM Size | 2 KB | 2 KB | 1 KB (-50%) | 1 KB (-50%) |
| CPU Speed | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Operating Voltage | 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 |
| Temperature Grade | E (-40°C to +125°C) | I (-40°C to +85°C) | I (-40°C to +85°C) | I (-40°C to +85°C) |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit |
| Integrated Op-Amps | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (only comparators) |
| Unit Price (qty 1) | $2.84 | ~$2.50 (est. lower grade) | ~$2.10 (est.) | ~$1.95 (est.) |
Key Differentiators
- Extended -40°C to +125°C temperature range (vs PIC16LF1778-I/MX)
- Highest memory tier in the PIC16LF177x 28-pin family (vs PIC16LF1777-I/MX)
- Integrated op-amps and DACs (vs PIC16LF1776-I/MX)
Design Notes
Decouple VDD and AVDD separately with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor within 2 mm of each pin and a bulk 1 µF to 10 µF tantalum or ceramic capacitor at the supply entry point. Tie AVDD and VDD together at a single star point under the IC, with AVSS and VSS similarly star-grounded. Adding a small ferrite bead between digital and analog supplies reduces ADC switching noise injection by 10-15 dB.
The 28-UQFN package has an exposed thermal pad (EP) on its underside that MUST be soldered to a ground copper pour of at least 16 mm² for thermal dissipation and electrical grounding. Failure to solder the EP results in higher junction temperatures and possible latch-up at high GPIO source/sink currents. Route all 28 signals out of the perimeter pads without vias-in-pad for reliable manufacturability.
Do not connect RA4 as an open-drain output on parts where the datasheet specifies it as a standard CMOS pin - on some PIC16LF1xxx variants RA4 lacks a full CMOS driver. Always consult the pin description tables in the datasheet. Also, when migrating code from PIC16F1778 to PIC16LF1778, verify the Fosc configuration against the lower VDD range - 32 MHz at <2.5V requires the internal 8 MHz HFINTOSC with PLL, not the external crystal.
For motor-control and SMPS applications, keep the PWM output traces short (<25 mm) and avoid routing them parallel to sensitive analog inputs (AN0-AN7). Place a 100 nF ceramic between the comparator input pins (C1IN+, C1IN-) and ground to filter high-frequency switching noise. Decoupling the operational-amplifier supply pin (if used in unity-gain buffer) with a 10 nF NF capacitor improves ADC sampling accuracy by 1-2 LSB.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free compliant per Microchip product page. AEC-Q100 qualification status not explicitly listed - for automotive designs verify the Q-grade variant PIC16LF1778-E/MXVAO or contact Microchip. Halogen-free per Microchip environmental compliance documentation.
