PIC16LF76-I/ML - 8-Bit 20MHz 14KB Flash MCU 28-QFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF76-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.68 | $6.68 |
| 10 | $6.01 | $60.10 |
| 100 | $5.35 | $535.00 |
| 500 | $4.75 | $2,375.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.2 | $4,200.00 |
PIC16LF76-I/ML Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, program memory (ROM/Flash), data memory (RAM), and peripherals around a compact instruction set. The PIC family uses a Harvard RISC architecture with separate program and data buses, allowing most instructions to execute in one instruction cycle. Within the broader semiconductor taxonomy, an MCU sits inside microcontrollers > integrated circuits > semiconductors, and the PIC16F76 specifically occupies the mid-range PIC16F family (PIC16 -> PIC16F -> PIC16F7X -> PIC16F76) targeting cost-sensitive embedded control.
Key features of the PIC16LF76-I/ML include 8-level hardware stack, 14-bit instruction word, three timer modules, 10-bit ADC with up to 8 channels (shared with digital I/O), and a capture/compare/PWM module. The 28-QFN package reduces board area versus PDIP/SOIC variants while exposing a thermal pad for improved dissipation. The In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) interface allows firmware updates after PCB assembly, critical for field-deployed products. The LF voltage range (2.0V-5.5V) extends operation below the 4.5V minimum of standard PIC16F76 (F) parts, enabling two-cell battery designs.
Typical applications include industrial sensor interfaces, low-power remote controls, battery management front-ends, small appliance controllers, automotive interior modules, and consumer white goods. The combination of 14KB Flash, 22 I/O, and ADC/PWM peripherals makes the part a strong fit for replacing older PIC16C/F7X designs while adding low-voltage operation.
When designing with this part, place 0.1uF decoupling close to VDD and run MCLR through the standard ICSP pull-up. Confirm QFN land pattern (0.65mm pitch) matches your PCB footprint, and use the exposed pad for thermal relief per Microchip AN233 solder recommendations. Operate VDD between 2.0V and 5.5V for LF parts.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing across DigiKey, Mouser, LCSC, and Octopart, drop-in QFN-28 alternatives within the PIC16 family, and practical design notes that go beyond the bare datasheet summary.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF76-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 PIC16LF76-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Timers, ADC, I/O Pins, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F76-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF76T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.89 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F76T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF767-I/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$2.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF873A-I/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$4.21 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1938-I/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF76-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC RISC, 8-bit, Harvard |
| Program Memory | 14 KB Flash (8K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 368 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | Not specified on this part number |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Set Width | 14-bit |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V (LF variant) |
| Number of I/O Pins | 22 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 8 channels (multiplexed with digital I/O) |
| PWM Channels | Capture/Compare/PWM module, 2 channels per datasheet family |
| Timers | Timer0, Timer1, Timer2 |
| Communication Peripherals | I2C, SPI, UART/USART (AUSART) |
| Other Peripherals | Brown-out Detect/Reset, Power-on Reset, Watchdog Timer |
| Package | 28-pin QFN (ML) 6 x 6 mm with exposed thermal pad |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial, 'I' suffix) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (per distributor listings) |
| Programming Interface | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) via MCLR/PGM/RB7/RB6 |
PIC16LF76-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP — Master clear reset input / ICSP programming voltage |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / Analog input 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / Analog input 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — PORTA bit 2 / Analog input 2 / ADC negative reference |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — PORTA bit 3 / Analog input 3 / ADC positive reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS — PORTA bit 5 / Analog input 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKIN — Crystal oscillator input / external clock in |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Crystal oscillator output / clock out |
| Pin 11 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock in |
| Pin 12 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator in / Capture/Compare/PWM2 |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / Capture/Compare/PWM1 |
| Pin 14 | RC3/SCK/SCL — PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 15 | RC4/SDI/SDA — PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 16 | RC5/SDO — PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 17 | RC6/TX/CK — PORTC bit 6 / USART TX / USART clock |
| Pin 18 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / USART RX / USART data |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference (second pad) |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.0V-5.5V) |
| Pin 21 | RB0/INT — PORTB bit 0 / External interrupt |
| Pin 22 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 23 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 24 | RB3/PGM — PORTB bit 3 / ICSP LVP programming enable |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 26 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 29 | EP — Exposed thermal pad (connect to VSS) |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF76-I/ML is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Interface Hub, Battery-Powered Remote Control, Small Appliance Controller, Automotive Interior Module, White Goods Control Board, Consumer Hobby / Maker Electronics.
Industrial Sensor Interface Hub
The PIC16LF76-I/ML fits industrial sensor hubs because it combines 22 digital I/O with a 10-bit ADC, two PWM channels, and I2C/SPI/UART in a compact 28-QFN footprint. With 14KB Flash, firmware can manage up to four sensor channels (temperature, pressure, flow) plus a HMI button matrix, while the 2.0V-5.5V LF range supports loop-powered 4-20mA backplane rails. Brown-out detect and watchdog timer are essential for factory-floor EMI resilience; the 20MHz clock is sufficient for periodic sampling at 100Hz per channel.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Remote Control
The PIC16LF76-I/ML is well-suited to handheld remote controls because the LF variant's 2.0V-5.5V supply range permits two AA alkaline cells (3V nominal, drooping to 2V at end-of-life) where standard F76 parts would brown out. The 14KB Flash accommodates IR/RF protocol stacks (RC5, NEC, BLE HCI command tables) and the PWM module drives IR LED modulation at 38kHz carrier. Sleep current in the low-microamp range (mid-range PIC LF) keeps shelf life multi-year on a single coin cell.
Recommended
Small Appliance Controller
The PIC16LF76-I/ML controls small appliances (coffee makers, blenders, induction cooktops) thanks to its 20MHz CPU, 14KB Flash, and capture/compare/PWM module. The PWM drives triac phase-angle firing or MOSFET switching at up to tens of kHz, while the ADC reads temperature sensors (NTC) and the I2C bus controls an OLED display. Brown-out detect prevents unsafe state during mains sag, and the 28-QFN exposed thermal pad dissipates the MCU's own heat adjacent to power-stage components.
Recommended
Automotive Interior Module
The PIC16LF76-I/ML is used in non-safety automotive interior modules such as HVAC blend-door actuators, mirror controllers, and ambient lighting drivers because its 22 I/O handle multiple brushed DC motors via H-bridges and the PWM module sets LED dimming levels. The industrial -40 to +85 C rating meets cabin-temperature requirements, while the LF voltage range accepts 12V-battery-fed 5V rails post-regulator. The 28-QFN 6x6 mm footprint fits the constrained PCB area behind dashboard trim.
Recommended
White Goods Control Board
The PIC16LF76-I/ML serves as the main controller in washing machines, dishwashers, and refrigerators where 22 I/O handle triac-driven pumps/valves, encoder inputs, and a 7-segment or LCD display. The 14KB Flash stores the wash-program state machine and EEPROM emulation (data tables), while USART links to a sub-board for the user interface. The exposed pad QFN package gives good thermal headroom for the densely-packed control compartment.
Recommended
Consumer Hobby / Maker Electronics
The PIC16LF76-I/ML is a popular choice for hobbyist robotics, model trains, and educational kits because the 28-QFN can be broken out on a carrier PCB exposing all I/O for breadboarding, and the 14KB Flash holds complex state machines (line-following, PID motor control). The ICSP programming interface uses standard PICkit header, so makers can iterate firmware without an external programmer. The 2.0V-5.5V supply range tolerates USB-powered Li-ion or 3xAA battery packs equally.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF76-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F76-I/ML | PIC16LF76T-I/ML | PIC16F76T-I/ML | PIC16LF767-I/ML | PIC16LF1938-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-QFN (ML) 6x6 mm | 28-QFN (ML) 6x6 mm - same | 28-QFN (ML) 6x6 mm - same | 28-QFN (ML) 6x6 mm - same | 28-QFN (ML) 6x6 mm - same | 28-QFN (ML) 6x6 mm - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 28 KB |
| Data RAM | 368 B | 368 B | 368 B | 368 B | 368 B | 1 KB |
| I/O Pins | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 25 |
| ADC | 10-bit, 8 ch | 10-bit, 8 ch | 10-bit, 8 ch | 10-bit, 8 ch | 10-bit, 8 ch | 10-bit, 11 ch |
| Core Architecture | PIC16 mid-range (14-bit) | PIC16 mid-range (14-bit) - same | PIC16 mid-range (14-bit) - same | PIC16 mid-range (14-bit) - same | PIC16 mid-range (14-bit) - same | PIC16 enhanced mid-range (14-bit) - new instructions |
Key Differentiators
- Low-voltage LF range 2.0V-5.5V vs standard F 4.5V-5.5V (vs PIC16F76-I/ML)
- 14KB Flash with 368B RAM and 22 I/O in 28-QFN (vs PIC16LF873A-I/ML (PIC18))
- Mature PIC16 mid-range core with extensive toolchain (vs PIC16LF1938-I/ML (enhanced mid-range))
Design Notes
Place a 0.1uF decoupling capacitor within 5mm of the VDD pin (pin 20) and the VSS pads (pins 8/19), connected with short wide traces to minimize inductance. For battery applications using the LF variant below 4.5V, add a 10uF bulk capacitor near VDD to handle the voltage regulator transient response at low Vin. The brown-out detect (BOD) is factory-set or user-selectable per configuration word and will reset the MCU when VDD falls below threshold.
The 28-QFN ML package has a 0.65mm pitch and an exposed thermal pad (pin 29) that must be soldered to a PCB copper pad of at least equal size, ideally with thermal vias (5-9, 0.3mm diameter) to the internal ground plane for heat sinking. Use NSMD (non-solder-mask-defined) land pads per Microchip AN233 for reliable reflow. Stencil aperture for the thermal pad should be a checkerboard pattern of ~50% coverage to avoid tombstoning during reflow.
Do not confuse the LF suffix (low-voltage 2.0V-5.5V) with the F suffix (standard 4.5V-5.5V) when sourcing substitutes - substituting PIC16F76-I/ML for PIC16LF76-I/ML will fail to start below 4.5V. ICSP programming requires MCLR pulled to VDD through a 10k resistor, with PGC (RB6) and PGD (RB7) connected to the programmer; ensure these pins are not heavily loaded externally or program/verify will fail. Watchdog timer must be cleared periodically or it will reset the MCU unexpectedly.
Route the ICSP signals (MCLR, PGC, PGD) as short traces and avoid routing digital switching signals (PWM outputs, oscillator) parallel to analog ADC inputs (RA0-RA5) to minimize crosstalk. Place the crystal or external clock source within 10mm of OSC1/OSC2 (pins 9/10) with a ground guard ring. PORTA pins used as ADC inputs should have separate analog ground via to the supply ground, not the digital ground plane.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance and lead-free confirmed by all listed distributors (DigiKey, Mouser, LCSC). Part is industrial-grade -40C to +85C, not AEC-Q100 qualified for automotive; for automotive select PIC16F76-I/ML or a PIC16F76-E variant. Conflict-minerals status per Microchip Technology standard reporting.
