PIC16LF720T-I/ML - 8-bit MCU, 16MHz, 3.5KB Flash, 20-QFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF720T-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.32 | $1.32 |
| 10 | $1.18 | $11.80 |
| 100 | $1.05 | $105.00 |
| 500 | $0.92 | $460.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.78 | $780.00 |
PIC16LF720T-I/ML Overview
Key features include 16 MHz CPU speed (8 MHz instruction rate at 2:1 Fcycle/Finstruction ratio), 128 B SRAM, 36 I/O, internal 16 MHz oscillator, and a peripheral set of I²C, SPI, AUSART, CCP capture/compare/PWM, two 8-bit timers (TMR0/TMR2), one 16-bit timer (TMR1), watchdog timer, power-on reset, brown-out reset, and in-circuit serial programming. The low-voltage LF prefix makes the part suitable for 2.3V–3.6V operation while sharing the same die as the F (5V) variants.
A PIC microcontroller (Peripheral Interface Controller) is a Harvard-architecture RISC MCU family from Microchip, widely used in embedded control. In the system hierarchy it sits as: PIC16 family -> mid-range 8-bit core -> microcontroller -> embedded computing -> semiconductor. The PIC16(L)F720/721 family targets cost-sensitive, low-power applications such as remote controls, sensor nodes, and small appliances.
The PIC16LF720T-I/ML uses a 14-bit instruction word, runs 35 instructions with 8 hardware stack levels, and supports 25 mA source/sink per I/O for direct LED drive. The 20-QFN (4x4) package includes an exposed thermal pad that must be soldered to the ground plane for rated thermal performance and reliable operation across the -40 °C to +85 °C industrial temperature range.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes, IoT endpoints, LED lighting controllers, low-power consumer devices, and small home appliances. The wide 1.8V–3.6V range makes the part well suited for systems powered by two alkaline, NiMH, or single Li-ion cells.
When designing with this device, ensure the exposed pad of the QFN is thermally and electrically bonded to the PCB ground plane to meet the 31.4 °C/W theta-JA specification. MPLABX assigns peak and average current budgets based on the selected clock mode and ADC sample rate, which should be validated against the application's nanoWatt XLP target.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-family alternatives, and QFN PCB layout notes not consolidated on a single datasheet excerpt.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF720T-I/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 PIC16LF720T-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Architecture, Package, I/O Pins, Capture/Compare/PWM, Data SRAM.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF721-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF720-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.68 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F720-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F721-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF720T-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16 enhanced mid-range (8-bit) |
| CPU Speed | 16 MHz (8 MIPS) |
| Program Memory | 3.5 KB (2K x 14) Flash |
| RAM | 128 B |
| I/O Pins | 36 (multiplexed, package-limited) |
| Supply Voltage | 2.3 V to 3.6 V (LF variant) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +85 °C (industrial) |
| Package | 20-VFQFN (4x4 mm) with exposed pad |
| Internal Oscillator | 16 MHz |
| ADC | 12-channel, 8-bit |
| Communication Peripherals | I²C, SPI, AUSART (USART) |
| Timers | TMR0 (8-bit), TMR1 (16-bit), TMR2 (8-bit) |
| Capture/Compare/PWM | 1x CCP |
| I/O Source/Sink Current | 25 mA per pin |
| Power-Saving Technology | nanoWatt XLP |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF720T-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0/CVREF/ICSPDAT — Bidirectional I/O, analog input, ICSP data |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1/C1IN-/ICSPCLK — Bidirectional I/O, analog input, ICSP clock |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2/CVREF-/VREF- — Bidirectional I/O, analog input, VREF- |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3/C1IN+/VREF+ — Bidirectional I/O, analog input, VREF+ |
| Pin 5 | RA4/AN4/T0CKI — Bidirectional I/O, analog input, Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN5/SS/HLVDIN — Bidirectional I/O, SPI SS, HLVD input |
| Pin 7 | RA6/OSC2/CLKR — Bidirectional I/O, oscillator output, clock output |
| Pin 8 | RA7/OSC1/CLKIN — Bidirectional I/O, oscillator input, external clock |
| Pin 9 | VDD — Positive supply (2.3V to 3.6V) |
| Pin 10 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 11 | RB0/AN12/INT/SDA — Bidirectional I/O, interrupt, I²C data |
| Pin 12 | RB1/AN10/C1OUT — Bidirectional I/O, comparator output |
| Pin 13 | RB2/AN8/PWM1 — Bidirectional I/O, PWM output |
| Pin 14 | RB3/AN9/CPPG — Bidirectional I/O, CCP output |
| Pin 15 | RB4/AN11 — Bidirectional I/O, analog input |
| Pin 16 | RB5/AN13 — Bidirectional I/O, analog input |
| Pin 17 | RB6/ICSPCLK/ICDCLK — Bidirectional I/O, ICSP clock, ICD clock |
| Pin 18 | RB7/ICSPDAT/ICDDAT — Bidirectional I/O, ICSP data, ICD data |
| Pin 19 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — Bidirectional I/O, Timer1 oscillator |
| Pin 20 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — Bidirectional I/O, Timer1 oscillator, CCP2 |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF720T-I/ML is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes, LED Lighting Controllers, Remote Controls and HMI, Small Home Appliances, IoT Endpoint Devices, Industrial Sensor Modules.
Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes
The PIC16LF720T-I/ML's 2.3V–3.6V supply range and nanoWalt XLP technology make it a strong fit for battery-powered sensor nodes that must run for years on a single cell. Its 12-channel 8-bit ADC can directly sample temperature, light, and humidity sensors without an external analog front end, while the 3.5 KB Flash is sufficient for periodic sample averaging, threshold logic, and a low-power RF or UART reporting routine. Sleep current below 1 µA combined with a fast wake time allows duty-cycling down to a fraction of a percent to extend coin-cell life to >5 years. The 20-QFN footprint occupies only 16 mm² of board area, leaving room for a coin-cell holder and a wireless module.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controllers
With 25 mA source/sink per I/O, the PIC16LF720T-I/ML can drive small LED strings or relay coils directly without external transistors, simplifying lighting controller designs. Its CCP module supports PWM dimming at audible-silent frequencies above 20 kHz, eliminating flicker in architectural and task lighting. The 128 B RAM and 16 MHz instruction rate allow multi-channel lighting effects (chase, fade, color mix) with deterministic timing. The wide 1.8V–3.6V (LF) supply enables direct battery operation for portable fixtures and emergency lighting that must run from a backup cell.
Recommended
Remote Controls and HMI
Infrared and RF remote controls benefit from the PIC16LF720T-I/ML's low sleep current, 36 I/O lines for keypad scanning, and AUSART/I²C/SPI for module interfacing. The 14-bit instruction word and 35-instruction set simplify coding of debounced key scanning, IR protocol generation (RC5, NEC, SIRC), and pairing sequences. The 16 MHz internal oscillator eliminates an external crystal, reducing BOM cost. The 20-QFN's small footprint fits comfortably behind a keymat in compact handheld enclosures.
Recommended
Small Home Appliances
Coffee makers, blenders, and countertop ovens commonly use the PIC16LF720T-I/ML for its low cost, integrated ADC for temperature sensing, and 25 mA I/O for solenoid and triac drive via optocouplers. The 16 MIPS performance supports PID loops for temperature regulation, and the AUSART enables firmware updates or diagnostic output over a service port. The -40 °C to +85 °C industrial temperature rating ensures reliable operation in warm kitchen environments. The 20-QFN exposed pad simplifies single-sided PCB layouts and reduces assembly cost.
Recommended
IoT Endpoint Devices
For Wi-Fi or BLE endpoints that offload radio work to a companion module, the PIC16LF720T-I/ML acts as a low-cost application processor and sensor aggregator. The PIC16LF720 can wake on UART activity, read sensor data over I²C or SPI, and forward it to a wireless module while keeping average current under 100 µA. The CCP and timer peripherals support sensor-sampling triggers without CPU intervention. Its 20-QFN footprint allows designs small enough to fit into wearables and asset-tracking tags.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Modules
Industrial 4-20 mA loop sensors, panel meters, and discrete signal conditioners benefit from the PIC16LF720T-I/ML's industrial -40 °C to +85 °C temperature range and integrated 12-bit ADC alternative (8-bit here is sufficient for many process variables). The AUSART and I²C peripherals simplify integration to PLCs and HMI panels. Brown-out reset and watchdog timer support fail-safe operation in electrically noisy industrial environments. The QFN package's small thermal pad and 31.4 °C/W theta-JA support enclosed IP67 enclosures without active cooling.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF720T-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF721-I/ML | PIC16LF720-I/ML | PIC16F720-I/ML | PIC16F721-I/ML | PIC16LF720T-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-QFN (4x4 mm) | 20-QFN (4x4 mm) - same | 20-QFN (4x4 mm) - same | 20-QFN (4x4 mm) - same | 20-QFN (4x4 mm) - same | 20-SSOP - different footprint |
| Program Memory | 3.5 KB Flash | 4.5 KB Flash | 3.5 KB Flash | 3.5 KB Flash | 4.5 KB Flash | 3.5 KB Flash |
| RAM | 128 B | 128 B | 128 B | 128 B | 128 B | 128 B |
| Supply Voltage | 2.3 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 3.6 V |
| CPU Speed | 16 MHz | 16 MHz | 16 MHz | 16 MHz | 16 MHz | 16 MHz |
| CCP Modules | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| ADC Channels | 12 (8-bit) | 12 (8-bit) | 12 (8-bit) | 12 (8-bit) | 12 (8-bit) | 12 (8-bit) |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest-cost 20-QFN PIC mid-range MCU (vs PIC16LF1939T-I/ML)
- Low-voltage LF operation (vs PIC16F720-I/ML)
- Tape and Reel packaging (vs PIC16LF720-I/ML)
Design Notes
The 20-QFN exposed pad must be soldered to a continuous ground plane on the PCB to meet the 31.4 °C/W theta-JA thermal specification and provide proper electrical grounding for the die. Use multiple thermal vias under the pad to spread heat into inner ground planes. Without the pad soldered, junction-to-ambient resistance can rise 2-3x, causing thermal shutdown in enclosed industrial environments. Stencil aperture for the exposed pad should be split into multiple smaller openings to prevent solder voiding.
Decouple VDD with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 5 mm of the VDD pin, plus a bulk 1 µF–10 µF tantalum or ceramic capacitor for transient load steps. The nanoWalt XLP technology can achieve sleep currents below 1 µA when peripherals are disabled and the system clock is gated. For battery-powered designs, use the internal 16 MHz HFINTOSC plus a 31 kHz LFINTOSC for low-power wake timing. Estimated: at 3.3 V supply and 16 MHz active, typical core current is ~3 mA based on PIC16 family data.
Do not forget to configure the MCLR pin function (reset vs digital I/O) and the PWRTE bit for power-up timer. The ICSP pins RB6/RB7 are shared with digital I/O; ensure your application does not drive these low at power-up or in-circuit programming will fail. Brown-out reset (BOR) should be enabled for industrial applications to recover from voltage dips. When migrating from PIC16F720 to PIC16LF720T-I/ML, verify that the lower minimum supply voltage (2.3 V vs 1.8 V) does not break analog references or ADC readings at low battery levels.
Route the ICSP clock (RB6/ICSPCLK) and data (RB7/ICSPDAT) traces away from high-frequency switching nodes to avoid noise coupling during in-circuit programming. Keep analog input traces short and guarded with a ground fill to minimize ADC crosstalk, especially when reading low-level sensor signals. If using the external oscillator mode (RA6/RA7), place the crystal load capacitors within 5 mm of the pins and surround the oscillator area with a grounded guard ring. The ADC reference (VREF+/VREF-) should be bypassed with 100 nF ceramics and decoupled from the digital supply.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial -40°C to +85°C temperature grade. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose automotive-grade PIC variants for vehicle applications.
