Microchip PIC12F508-I/P 8‑Bit Flash Microcontroller (DIP‑8 Package)

The Microchip PIC12F508-I/P is a low‑cost, high‑performance 8‑bit Flash‑based CMOS microcontroller. It is part of Microchip’s baseline core family, featuring a RISC architecture with only 33 single‑word / single‑cycle instructions. The device operates at up to 4 MHz clock frequency (1 MIPS). It includes 768 bytes (512 words × 12 bits) of flash program memory, 25 bytes of SRAM, and 6 I/O pins (plus 2 power pins). The 8‑pin PDIP (Plastic Dual In‑line Package) makes it suitable for space‑constrained and low‑pin‑count applications such as small sensors, timers, remote controls, and embedded control in industrial PLCs and automation modules. The ‑I/P suffix indicates industrial temperature range (-40°C to +85°C) and PDIP packaging.

Technical Specifications

Functional Description

The PIC12F508-I/P is a fully static, Flash programmable microcontroller. It is designed for applications where low cost, low power consumption, and small footprint are critical. The device wakes up from Sleep mode on pin change, making it ideal for battery‑powered applications. The 6 I/O pins can be individually configured as inputs (with optional weak pull‑ups) or outputs (with 25 mA sink/source capability). The internal RC oscillator saves board space and cost by eliminating external components. The device includes a Power‑on Reset (POR) and Device Reset Timer (DRT) that eliminate external reset circuitry.

Peripheral Features

• Timer0: 8‑bit timer/counter with programmable 8‑bit prescaler (1:2 to 1:256). Can be used for timekeeping, pulse counting, or PWM generation via software.

• GPIO: GP0, GP1, GP2, GP3, GP4, GP5. GP3 is input‑only; the rest are bidirectional.

• Wake‑up on Change: Any change on GP0, GP1, GP3 will wake the device from Sleep, enabling low‑power monitoring applications.

• Interrupts: Timer0 overflow and GPIO change interrupts (only when wake‑up enabled).

Programming and Development Tools

The device is supported by Microchip’s development ecosystem:

• MPLAB X IDE: Free integrated development environment.

• MPLAB XC8 Compiler: C compiler for PIC baseline devices.

• PICkit 3 / 4 / 5: Low‑cost programmers and in‑circuit debuggers.

• Assembler: MPASM (for assembly‑language programming).

Programming is done via the ICSP (In‑Circuit Serial Programming) interface using 2 pins (GP0 and GP1) plus VDD, VSS, and VPP. The flash memory has a minimum endurance of 10,000 erase/write cycles (typical) and data retention >40 years.

Applications

The PIC12F508-I/P is used in small embedded systems such as:

• Remote keyless entry transmitters (automotive RKE)

• Household appliance controllers (toasters, fans, coffee makers)

• Industrial timers and counters

• Logic replacement (replaces discrete logic gates and timers)

• Low‑cost PLC expansion modules (e.g., simple I/O coprocessors)

• Battery‑powered sensor nodes (temperature, humidity) with wake‑up on change

Ordering Information (1000‑piece lot)

The part is supplied in PDIP‑8 package, tubes of 60 units. A 1000‑piece lot is equivalent to approximately 17 tubes. The device is RoHS compliant and lead‑free. The tape and reel option (PIC12F508-I/P‑TR) is also available for surface‑mount variants (SOIC).

Conclusion

The Microchip PIC12F508-I/P offers a cost‑effective, low‑pin‑count microcontroller solution for simple control and monitoring tasks, with low power consumption and a robust development tool chain.