PIC16LF628A-I/P - 8-Bit 20MHz Flash MCU 3.5KB | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF628A-I/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.95 | $2.95 |
| 10 | $2.62 | $26.20 |
| 100 | $2.3 | $230.00 |
| 500 | $2.05 | $1,025.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.84 | $1,840.00 |
PIC16LF628A-I/P Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a small computing system on a single integrated circuit that integrates a CPU, RAM, Flash program memory, EEPROM, timers, and peripherals such as ADC, UART, and GPIO. PIC microcontrollers follow the RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) philosophy with only 35 single-word instructions, simplifying code generation in assembly or C (XC8). The PIC16 family sits between the baseline PIC10/12/16 series and the enhanced PIC18/dsPIC families in the Microchip 8-bit hierarchy, making it a workhorse for cost-sensitive embedded designs.
Key features include 16 digital I/O pins capable of driving LEDs directly, two analog comparators with programmable on-chip reference, a USART module for serial communication, capture/compare/PWM (CCP) modules, and three timers (Timer0, Timer1, Timer2). The internal 4 MHz oscillator eliminates the need for an external crystal in many designs, while the internal 48 kHz LF oscillator enables the nanoWatt sleep modes drawing only nA-level standby current.
Architecturally, the PIC16LF628A uses a Harvard bus structure with separate code and data paths, a 14-bit instruction word, and 8-bit data paths. The 'LF' variant supports the wide 2.0V to 5.5V operating range needed for battery-powered designs, distinguishing it from the PIC16F628A which is specified 2.0V to 5.5V with different Flash endurance and voltage characteristics. The part is fully software- and pin-compatible with the PIC16F628A, the PIC16C62XA, the PIC16C5X, and the PIC12CXXX families.
Typical applications include appliance controls, hobby and educational projects, sensor signal conditioning, low-power remote controls, automotive body electronics, and any cost-sensitive embedded node requiring Flash reprogrammability. Designers choose it when 14-bit PIC instruction set familiarity, broad third-party tool support, and wide memory headroom for firmware updates matter.
When designing, ensure the MCLR pin is pulled high through a 10 kohm resistor for normal run mode and consider using the internal oscillator with a 100 nF decoupling capacitor at VDD to suppress digital switching noise from corrupting the analog comparator reference. The CCP and USART peripherals share pins in some configurations, so re-read the pin allocation table before committing to a board layout.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, a same-package alternative matrix, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, giving an engineer a one-stop decision tree for selecting, sourcing, or replacing the PIC16LF628A-I/P.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF628A-I/P — 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 PIC16LF628A-I/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Internal Oscillator, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature, Mounting Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F628A-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF627A-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF627-04I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.23 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF628-04I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F627A-I/P
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.72 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF628A-I/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit PIC RISC |
| Instruction Set | 35 single-word instructions |
| Program Memory | 3.5 KB Flash (2K x 14) |
| SRAM | 224 bytes |
| EEPROM Data Memory | 128 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Cycle Time | 200 ns |
| Supply Voltage (Vdd) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 16 |
| Timers | 3 (Timer0, Timer1, Timer2) |
| Analog Comparators | 2 with programmable reference |
| Communication Modules | USART, CCP |
| Internal Oscillator | 4 MHz (software selectable) |
| Package | 18-pin PDIP (0.300 inch, 7.62mm) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF628A-I/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2/AN2/VREF — Port A bit 2 / analog channel 2 / voltage reference |
| Pin 2 | RA3/AN3/CMP1 — Port A bit 3 / analog channel 3 / comparator 1 output |
| Pin 3 | RA4/TOCKI/CMP2 — Port A bit 4 / Timer0 clock input / comparator 2 output |
| Pin 4 | RA5/MCLR/VPP — Port A bit 5 / Master Clear (reset) / programming voltage |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RB0/INT — Port B bit 0 / external interrupt |
| Pin 7 | RB1/RX/DT — Port B bit 1 / USART RX / data |
| Pin 8 | RB2/TX/CK — Port B bit 2 / USART TX / clock |
| Pin 9 | RB3/CCP1 — Port B bit 3 / Capture/Compare/PWM 1 |
| Pin 10 | RB4 — Port B bit 4 |
| Pin 11 | RB5 — Port B bit 5 |
| Pin 12 | RB6/T1OSO/T1CKI — Port B bit 6 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 13 | RB7/T1OSI — Port B bit 7 / Timer1 oscillator input |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 15 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Oscillator output / clock out (crystal mode) |
| Pin 16 | OSC1/CLKIN — Oscillator input / clock in (crystal or external clock mode) |
| Pin 17 | RA0/AN0 — Port A bit 0 / analog channel 0 |
| Pin 18 | RA1/AN1 — Port A bit 1 / analog channel 1 |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF628A-I/P is suitable for 6 applications: Appliance Control Boards, Hobby and Educational Projects, Low-Power Remote Controls, Sensor Signal Conditioning, Automotive Body Electronics, Cost-Sensitive Embedded Node.
Appliance Control Boards
The PIC16LF628A-I/P fits appliance control boards that need a small Flash MCU with 16 GPIO driving relays, triacs, and LED indicators. Its 20 MHz instruction cycle and 200 ns response time are fast enough for mains-zero-crossing detection and PWM-driven valve/door-lock control loops. The internal 4 MHz oscillator saves the BOM cost of a crystal in washing machines, dishwashers, and microwave ovens. Wide 2.0-5.5V operation lets the same firmware run on 3.3V logic or 5V relay-driver rails. Combined with the 128-byte EEPROM for run-hour counters and the nanoWatt sleep mode for standby compliance, the PIC16LF628A-I/P is a workhorse for white-goods MCU designs.
Recommended
Hobby and Educational Projects
The PIC16LF628A-I/P is a classic choice for hobbyist and university microcontroller courses because of its breadboard-friendly 0.300 inch PDIP-18 footprint and 5V-tolerant GPIO. The 3.5 KB Flash fits textbook-sized projects in assembly or XC8 C with the PICkit programmer. The 16 GPIO can drive LEDs, buttons, LCD character displays, and simple sensors without external glue logic. Internal comparators support a single-chip analog threshold detector and the internal 4 MHz oscillator removes crystal-cost barriers for student labs. Tens of thousands of hobbyist tutorials and code examples exist for the PIC16F628A family, easing the learning curve.
Recommended
Low-Power Remote Controls
The PIC16LF628A-I/P serves battery-powered remote controls with sub-uA nanoWatt sleep current that lets a coin-cell last for years. The internal 48 kHz LF oscillator and Timer1 can wake the chip on a key-press interrupt, transmit via an external OOK/FSK transmitter, then return to sleep. With 16 GPIO, the part scans a 4x4 keypad matrix directly and drives an LED activity indicator. The wide 2.0-5.5V supply covers CR2032, 2x AA, and Li-ion rechargeable cells. The 128-byte EEPROM stores user preferences and pairing codes across battery swaps.
Recommended
Sensor Signal Conditioning
The PIC16LF628A-I/P conditions analog sensor outputs by combining its two on-chip comparators with a programmable voltage reference to threshold temperature, light, or position sensors without external op-amps. The CCP module generates PWM excitation for resistive sensors such as thermistors and bridge strain gauges, while the USART streams conditioned data to a host controller. The 8-bit core and 224-byte SRAM are sufficient for moving-average filtering and alarm hysteresis. The internal 4 MHz oscillator simplifies sensor modules that have to fit in a small enclosure.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics
The PIC16LF628A-I/P handles automotive body-electronics nodes such as door-lock controllers, mirror adjusters, and interior lighting dimmers where 16 GPIO and PWM-controlled current drive replace discrete logic. The industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C) tolerates cabin thermal extremes per Microchip DS41191G. The internal 4 MHz oscillator and nanoWatt sleep support CAN-transceiver-equipped modules that need microamp standby draw for parked-car battery survival. The PIC16LF628A is automotive-pedigree with mature firmware libraries for seat-controller and lighting applications.
Recommended
Cost-Sensitive Embedded Node
The PIC16LF628A-I/P is the right choice when a microcontroller is needed at minimum BOM cost with proven tooling and 3.5 KB Flash for over-the-air-style firmware updates. It replaces discrete 74HC logic by integrating timers, comparators, USART, and PWM in a single 18-pin chip. The PDIP package supports hand-soldering and rework for prototype runs under 1000 units. Designers migrating from PIC16C5X gain a 14-bit core with the same pinout family and the same free MPLAB X / XC8 toolchain. The combination of low unit cost, mature firmware libraries, and nanoWatt standby is hard to match at this footprint.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF628A-I/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F628A-I/P | PIC16LF627A-I/P | PIC16LF627-04I/P | PIC16LF628-04I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | PDIP-18 (0.300 inch) | PDIP-18 - same | PDIP-18 - same | PDIP-18 - same | PDIP-18 - same |
| Program Memory | 3.5 KB Flash (2K x 14) | 3.5 KB Flash | 1.75 KB Flash (1K x 14) | 1.75 KB Flash (1K x 14) | 3.5 KB Flash (2K x 14) |
| SRAM | 224 bytes | 224 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 224 bytes |
| EEPROM | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes | 128 bytes |
| Maximum Clock | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| nanoWatt Technology | Yes (LF silicon) | Yes (F silicon, equivalent low-power) | Yes (LF silicon) | Yes (LF silicon) | Yes (LF silicon) |
| Internal Oscillator | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz | 4 MHz |
Key Differentiators
- Wide 2.0V to 5.5V operating range with nanoWatt sleep technology (vs PIC16F628A-I/P)
- Larger 3.5 KB Flash with full peripheral set (vs PIC16LF627A-I/P)
- 20 MHz full-speed operation (vs PIC16LF627-04I/P)
Design Notes
Estimated: at VDD=5 V and 20 MHz external oscillator, the PIC16LF628A-I/P draws approximately 11 mA active and 1-100 uA in sleep modes per DS41191G. Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as practical to the VDD pin, and add a bulk 10 uF tantalum or aluminum polymer capacitor on the same rail. For battery-powered designs, switch the system clock to the internal 4 MHz oscillator to drop active current to roughly 2 mA. The PIC16LF628A LF silicon typically achieves sub-uA sleep currents at room temperature, supporting multi-year coin-cell battery life.
Route the MCLR pin with a 10 kohm pull-up resistor to VDD and place a 100 nF capacitor to ground for noise immunity. When using an external crystal, keep the OSC1/OSC2 traces short (<10 mm) and surround them with a grounded guard ring to avoid injecting digital switching noise into the oscillator. When using the internal oscillator, OSC1 and OSC2 pins can be reassigned as RA7/RB6 general-purpose I/O if you avoid CONFIG setting FOSC = LP/XT/HS. Always place a 100 nF decoupling cap immediately adjacent to the VDD pin.
Do not omit the MCLR pull-up resistor: without it, the PIC16LF628A-I/P can randomly enter reset during supply transients. Do not drive the MCLR pin with a logic-level signal from a high-impedance source. When migrating firmware from PIC16F84 to PIC16LF628A, double-check the interrupt vector address (0x0004) and the GPIO initialization sequence because the port registers moved from PORTA/PORTB naming to TRISA/TRISB with analog/digital configuration. Verify CONFIG bits match the oscillator and watchdog settings before locking the code; an accidental WDT enabled at 18 ms can hang your application.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; for automotive designs requiring qualification, choose PIC16F628A-I/P or a higher-tier PIC MCU.
