PIC16LF628A-I/SO - 8-bit MCU, 3.5KB, 20MHz, nanoWatt | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF628A-I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.95 | $3.95 |
| 10 | $3.56 | $35.60 |
| 100 | $3.16 | $316.00 |
| 500 | $2.85 | $1,425.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.55 | $2,550.00 |
| 3,000 | $2.21 | $6,630.00 |
PIC16LF628A-I/SO Overview
A PIC microcontroller (Programmable Interface Controller) is a family of 8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit RISC microcontrollers from Microchip Technology that use a Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses. The PIC16 mid-range family sits within the broader PIC8 microcontroller -> RISC microcontroller -> microcontroller hierarchy, and is widely used in cost-sensitive embedded control applications requiring deterministic execution, low power consumption, and ease of programming via Microchip's MPLAB X IDE ecosystem.
Key features include 2.5V to 5.5V wide operating voltage (LF denotes the low-voltage F-version), internal 4 MHz oscillator with software-selectable 48 kHz LF oscillator for ultra-low-power modes, 10-bit ADC, two analog comparators with rail-to-rail inputs, USART, capture/compare/PWM (CCP) module, and nanoWatt power management with sleep current as low as 100 nA typical. The 18-pin SOIC package is industry-standard and supports both hand-soldering and reflow manufacturing.
The PIC16LF628A uses an enhanced mid-range 14-bit instruction core with hardware multiply, interrupt context save/restore, and In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) via two pins. It is upward source-compatible with PIC16F628, PIC16C62XA, PIC16C5X, and PIC12CXXX devices, enabling easy migration and reuse of legacy code. The flash program memory supports 100K erase/write cycles typical and 40-year data retention.
Typical applications include consumer electronics remote controls, battery-powered sensor nodes, automotive body and interior modules, small appliance motor control, security and alarm system keypads, and industrial control logic. The wide 2.5V-5.5V supply range makes it well suited for 3.3V and 5V mixed-voltage designs.
Design consideration: ensure decoupling capacitors (100 nF ceramic plus 10 uF bulk) are placed within 5 mm of the VDD pin and that unused I/O pins are configured as outputs with low level to minimize sleep current. Designers should also budget for the 128 bytes of EEPROM write endurance (100K cycles typical) when designing parameter storage subsystems.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, including a curated comparison table, application-specific design recommendations, and verified cross-brand equivalents.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF628A-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 PIC16LF628A-I/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Internal Oscillator, Operating Temperature, Core Architecture, MSL Level.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F628A-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.32 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF627A-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F88-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F648A-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF628A-I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit, enhanced mid-range (14-bit instruction) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 3.5 KB (2K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 224 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 128 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 20 MHz (200 ns instruction cycle) |
| Internal Oscillator | 4 MHz (software selectable) |
| Operating Voltage | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 16 |
| Package | 18-pin SOIC (SO, wide-body 7.5 mm) |
| Comparators | 2 analog comparators |
| USART | 1 x USART |
| CCP Module | 1 x Capture/Compare/PWM |
| nanoWatt Sleep Current | 100 nA typical |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial / I grade) |
| Programming Interface | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF628A-I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2/AN2/CVREF/VREF — Digital I/O / Analog input / Comparator reference output |
| Pin 2 | RA3/AN3/CMP1 — Digital I/O / Analog input / Comparator 1 output |
| Pin 3 | RA4/T0CKI/CMP2 — Digital I/O (open-drain) / Timer0 clock input / Comparator 2 output |
| Pin 4 | RA5/MCLR/VPP — Digital I/O / Master Clear (reset, active low) / Programming voltage |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RB0/INT — Digital I/O / External interrupt input |
| Pin 7 | RB1/RX/DT — Digital I/O / USART RX / Synchronous data |
| Pin 8 | RB2/TX/CK — Digital I/O / USART TX / Synchronous clock |
| Pin 9 | RB3/CCP1 — Digital I/O / Capture/Compare/PWM channel 1 |
| Pin 10 | RB4 — Digital I/O / Interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 11 | RB5 — Digital I/O / Interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 12 | RB6/T1OSC1/PGC — Digital I/O / Timer1 oscillator input / ICSP clock |
| Pin 13 | RB7/T1OSC2/PGD — Digital I/O / Timer1 oscillator output / ICSP data |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.5 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 15 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Crystal/Resonator / Clock output |
| Pin 16 | OSC1/CLKIN — Crystal/Resonator / External clock input |
| Pin 17 | RA0/AN0 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 0 |
| Pin 18 | RA1/AN1 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 1 |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF628A-I/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Consumer Remote Control, Battery-Powered Sensor Node, Automotive Body Control Module, Industrial Control Logic, Small Appliance Motor Control, Security Alarm Keypad.
Consumer Remote Control
The PIC16LF628A-I/SO is widely used in consumer remote controls (TV, set-top box, AC remotes) where its 20 MHz execution speed, 16 I/O pins, and USART module directly support IR transmit/receive, key scanning, and battery voltage monitoring. The wide 2.5 V to 5.5 V supply allows a single alkaline or lithium AAA cell with a boost converter or two alkaline cells in series. nanoWatt sleep current of 100 nA typical extends battery life to 2-3 years in standby, and the internal 4 MHz oscillator eliminates the external resonator, reducing BOM cost and PCB area in slim handheld enclosures.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Node
In battery-powered IoT sensor nodes (temperature, humidity, door/window sensors), the PIC16LF628A-I/SO's nanoWatt Technology with 100 nA typical sleep current and software-selectable 48 kHz LF oscillator enable multi-year battery life on a single CR2032 coin cell. The on-chip 10-bit ADC and two analog comparators support direct sensor interfacing without external signal conditioning. The 128-byte EEPROM is suitable for storing calibration constants, sensor IDs, and last-known state across power cycles, and the 3.5 KB flash supports Modbus, MQTT-SN, or proprietary lightweight sensor protocols in C or assembly.
Recommended
Automotive Body Control Module
The PIC16LF628A-I/SO is used in non-safety automotive body control modules such as interior lighting dimmers, mirror controllers, and seat-position memory switches. Its 18-pin SOIC package is automotive-vibration qualified, and the wide -40 C to +85 C industrial temperature range covers cabin environments. The USART interfaces with the vehicle CAN/LIN gateway through external transceivers, while the CCP module drives PWM-controlled LED dimming at frequencies up to 20 kHz. Note that AEC-Q100 Grade 0 qualified variants (PIC16LF628AT-I/SO) should be specified for under-hood or harsher body-electronics applications.
Recommended
Industrial Control Logic
The PIC16LF628A-I/SO is deployed in industrial control logic for relay drivers, contactor sequencing, push-button debouncing, and 4-20 mA loop signal conditioning. Its two analog comparators with rail-to-rail inputs directly monitor sensor thresholds without external op-amps, while the CCP module generates PWM outputs for proportional control. The 224-byte RAM accommodates Modbus RTU frame buffers and stack for industrial protocol stacks, and the 3.5 KB flash supports ladder-logic-to-C translation tools from Microchip's MPLAB ecosystem for legacy PLC migrations.
Recommended
Small Appliance Motor Control
In small appliances (blenders, fans, coffee grinders, washing-machine pumps), the PIC16LF628A-I/SO handles brushed DC motor speed control, triac-fired AC phase-angle dimming, and Hall-sensor commutated BLDC driving. The 20 MHz clock provides 200 ns instruction execution, which is sufficient to generate center-aligned PWM at 20 kHz with 10-bit resolution for low-noise BLDC operation. The two on-chip comparators can directly trigger over-current protection from a shunt-amplifier signal, and the 18-pin SOIC fits comfortably on compact appliance control boards.
Recommended
Security Alarm Keypad
The PIC16LF628A-I/SO is a common choice for security alarm system keypads, RFID door-lock controllers, and access-control panels. Its 16 I/O pins directly drive 4x4 matrix keypads without external scan logic, and the USART interfaces with the main alarm panel via RS-485 or proprietary serial. The 128-byte EEPROM stores user codes, zone configuration, and tamper-event logs across power cycles, while the 3.5 KB flash supports custom encryption and rolling-code algorithms for residential security panels in compact PCB designs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF628A-I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F628A-I/SO | PIC16LF627A-I/SO | PIC16F648A-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | SOIC-18 (SO) | SOIC-18 (SO) - same | SOIC-18 (SO) - same | SOIC-18 (SO) - same |
| Flash Program Memory | 3.5 KB | 3.5 KB - same | 1.75 KB (-50%) | 7 KB (+100%) |
| Data RAM | 224 bytes | 224 bytes - same | 224 bytes - same | 256 bytes (+14%) |
| Operating Voltage | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 4.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V - same | 2.0 V to 5.5 V (wider) |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 20 MHz | 20 MHz - same | 20 MHz - same | 20 MHz - same |
| I/O Pins | 16 | 16 - same | 16 - same | 16 - same |
| EEPROM | 128 bytes | 128 bytes - same | 128 bytes - same | 256 bytes (+100%) |
| Internal Oscillator | 4 MHz | 4 MHz - same | 4 MHz - same | 4 MHz - same |
| nanoWatt Sleep Current | 100 nA typical | 100 nA typical - same | 100 nA typical - same | 100 nA typical - same |
Key Differentiators
- Wide 2.5 V to 5.5 V supply voltage range (vs PIC16F628A-I/SO)
- Larger flash program memory with same footprint (vs PIC16LF627A-I/SO)
- In-system programming via ICSP (vs PIC16F84A-I/P (legacy DIP-18))
Design Notes
The PIC16LF628A-I/SO has a nanoWatt Technology sleep current of 100 nA typical at 3 V supply, but typical active current at 20 MHz and 5 V is approximately 7 mA. Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor (X7R dielectric, 10 V rated) within 5 mm of the VDD pin and a 10 uF bulk capacitor (tantalum or aluminum-polymer) on the same supply trace. For battery-powered designs, configure unused I/O pins as outputs driving low to eliminate current leakage into floating inputs.
The MCLR pin (pin 4 / RA5) is dual-function: it serves as Master Clear reset input during normal operation and as VPP (programming voltage) during ICSP. If you leave MCLR floating, the part may randomly reset due to noise. Always tie MCLR to VDD through a 10 kohm pull-up resistor, and add a 100 nF cap to ground for noise filtering. Disable MCLR via the CONFIG register only if you have a robust external supervisor; otherwise the ICSP programmer will be unable to enter programming mode without a high-voltage pulse on MCLR.
When using the internal 4 MHz oscillator, route the OSC1/OSC2 traces (pins 15 and 16) as short as possible to avoid coupling noise into the internal oscillator block. For crystal-mode designs, keep the crystal within 5 mm of the pins, guard the traces with a ground pour, and place 20-30 pF load capacitors (per the crystal datasheet) directly at the pins. Avoid routing the USART signals (RB1/RB2) parallel to switching power traces to prevent UART framing errors at higher baud rates above 57600.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial (-40 to +85 C) temperature grade (I suffix). Not AEC-Q100 qualified - AEC-Q100 variants (PIC16LF628AT-I/SO) must be specified for automotive applications.
