PIC16F18344-E/SO - 8-bit 32MHz 7KB Flash XLP MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F18344-E/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.2 | $1.20 |
| 10 | $1.08 | $10.80 |
| 100 | $0.96 | $96.00 |
| 500 | $0.86 | $430.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.77 | $770.00 |
PIC16F18344-E/SO Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (Flash/ROM), working memory (RAM), non-volatile data memory (EEPROM), and programmable I/O peripherals into one package. Within the broader taxonomy, the PIC16F18344 belongs to the PIC16 8-bit RISC family -> PIC microcontrollers -> microcontrollers -> microcontrollers (MCU) -> embedded processors -> semiconductors. The 'PIC16F' prefix denotes the 14-bit instruction-word architecture that Microchip has shipped since the 1990s, while 'F' indicates Flash program memory.
Key features of the PIC16F18344 include Peripheral Pin Select (PPS), which allows remapping of digital peripherals to any I/O pin, simplifying PCB layout. It integrates a 10-bit ADC with up to 17 channels, a 5-bit DAC, two I2C/SPI interfaces, an EUSART, and four Configurable Logic Cells (CLC) plus a Numerically Controlled Oscillator (NCO). The 32 MHz internal oscillator eliminates external crystals in many designs, while XLP provides sub-uA sleep currents for battery applications.
The device is built on Microchip's enhanced mid-range core with hardware multiply and a 14-bit instruction set. It supports up to 12 KB of addressable Flash via a linear program memory map and uses a 256-byte data EEPROM for non-volatile parameter storage. The integrated 32 kHz to 32 MHz HF internal oscillator with clock switching permits dynamic power management across active, sleep, and deep-sleep modes.
Typical applications include low-power IoT sensor nodes, battery-powered consumer devices, automotive body controllers, capacitive-touch human-machine interfaces, and functional-safety subsystems. The combination of PPS, CLC, and NCO lets the device replace several discrete logic and timer ICs in mixed-signal designs.
A key design consideration is that the PPS feature can only assign one peripheral function to a pin at a time, so designers must plan pin usage early. The internal oscillator accuracy of +/-1% (factory calibrated) is sufficient for UART timing at room temperature but may require the external oscillator for industrial temperature-range serial links.
This page synthesizes verified distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, and engineering design notes that complement the manufacturer datasheet for the PIC16F18344-E/SO 20-pin SOIC variant.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F18344-E/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 PIC16F18344-E/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Program Memory (Flash), Comparators, DAC.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F18344-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.83 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F18344-E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.02 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F18324-E/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F18345-E/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F18323-E/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F18344-E/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC16 8-bit RISC (enhanced mid-range) |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz (8 MIPS) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB (4K x 14 words) |
| SRAM | 512 bytes |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 17 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 17 channels |
| DAC | 5-bit |
| Communication Interfaces | 2x I2C, 2x SPI, 1x EUSART |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes |
| CLC (Configurable Logic Cells) | 4 |
| NCO (Numerically Controlled Oscillator) | 1 |
| Internal Oscillator | 32 MHz HF + 32 kHz LF |
| Package | 20-pin SOIC (SO) |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +125C (extended) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited floor life at <30C/85% RH) |
PIC16F18344-E/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA3/AN3/MCLR — Digital I/O / ADC input / Master Clear (reset) |
| Pin 2 | RA4/AN4 — Digital I/O / ADC input |
| Pin 3 | RA5/AN5 — Digital I/O / ADC input |
| Pin 4 | RA0/AN0 — Digital I/O / ADC input |
| Pin 5 | RA1/AN1 — Digital I/O / ADC input |
| Pin 6 | RA2/AN2 — Digital I/O / ADC input |
| Pin 7 | VDD — Positive power supply |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | RA7/OSC1/CLKI — Digital I/O / crystal oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 10 | RA6/OSC2/CLKO — Digital I/O / crystal oscillator output / clock output |
| Pin 11 | RC0/SOSCFO/PPS — Digital I/O / secondary oscillator output / PPS-mappable |
| Pin 12 | RC1/SOSCFI/PPS — Digital I/O / secondary oscillator input / PPS-mappable |
| Pin 13 | RC2/PPS — Digital I/O / PPS-mappable |
| Pin 14 | RC3/PPS — Digital I/O / PPS-mappable |
| Pin 15 | RC4/PPS — Digital I/O / PPS-mappable |
| Pin 16 | RC5/PPS — Digital I/O / PPS-mappable |
| Pin 17 | RC6/PPS — Digital I/O / PPS-mappable |
| Pin 18 | RC7/PPS — Digital I/O / PPS-mappable |
| Pin 19 | ICSPCLK/RB6 — In-circuit serial programming clock / digital I/O |
| Pin 20 | ICSPDAT/RB7 — In-circuit serial programming data / digital I/O |
Typical Applications
PIC16F18344-E/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Low-Power IoT Sensor Nodes, Capacitive-Touch Human-Machine Interface, Automotive Body Electronics, Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning, Battery-Powered Consumer Devices, Functional-Safety Subsystems.
Low-Power IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC16F18344-E/SO fits battery-powered IoT sensor nodes because its XLP technology delivers sub-uA sleep current (50 nA typical) and its 2.5V-5.5V range supports both 3.3V and 3.6V lithium chemistries. The integrated 32 MHz HF internal oscillator eliminates an external crystal, reducing BOM cost and PCB footprint. Combined with PPS for flexible sensor pin assignments and 7 KB Flash for BLE/Zigbee stack snippets, the part enables multi-year coin-cell lifetimes in remote monitoring deployments.
Recommended
Capacitive-Touch Human-Machine Interface
The PIC16F18344's 17-channel 10-bit ADC and PPS feature make it well-suited for capacitive-touch buttons, sliders, and proximity sensors. Each ADC channel can be routed to a dedicated touch sensor pin with hardware shielding, while the four Configurable Logic Cells (CLC) can implement wake-on-touch without CPU intervention. The CLC outputs can directly trigger an interrupt, dropping power consumption into the nA range until the user touches the sensor.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics
With its -40C to +125C extended temperature range (E suffix) and Functional Safety (FuSa) features, the PIC16F18344-E/SO targets automotive body controllers for lighting, mirror adjustment, and seat-position memory. The 5-bit DAC provides analog set-point generation for motor control loops, while the EUSART supports LIN protocol for body networks. PPS simplifies routing of multiple sensor inputs and PWM channels to compact body-controller PCBs.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning
The PIC16F18344-E/SO's 10-bit ADC with 17 channels and hardware-accelerated averaging fits industrial 4-20 mA loop-powered sensors and bridge-signal conditioning modules. The Numerically Controlled Oscillator (NCO) provides 20-bit-resolution PWM frequency synthesis for excitation signals without CPU overhead. The 5-bit DAC plus on-chip op-amp support (where present in the family) lets the part replace discrete analog front ends in compact sensor transmitters.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Consumer Devices
Consumer remote controls, electronic toys, and personal care devices benefit from the PIC16F18344's XLP sleep modes (down to 50 nA) and self-programmable Flash that enables in-the-field firmware updates. The integrated 5-bit DAC supports LED brightness ramping and audio click generation, while the four CLC can implement custom PWM modulation without software overhead. PPS allows flexible PCB routing in space-constrained enclosures.
Recommended
Functional-Safety Subsystems
The PIC16F18344 is part of Microchip's Functional Safety (FuSa) portfolio, providing IEC 61508 SIL-2 capable features including Windowed Watchdog Timer (WWDT), hardware BIST on Flash and RAM, and dedicated CRC. Combined with PPS for fail-safe pin assignments and 256B EEPROM for fault log storage, the part fits safety sub-modules in industrial machinery, medical monitoring accessories, and appliance control boards. The extended -40C to +125C rating supports harsh-environment deployments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F18344-E/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F18344-I/SO | PIC16F18344-E/P | PIC16F18324-E/SO | PIC16F18345-E/SO | PIC16F18323-E/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | SOIC-20 | SOIC-20 (same) | PDIP-20 (different, pin-to-pin) | SOIC-20 (same) | SOIC-28 (different, requires rework) | SOIC-20 (same) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB | 14 KB | 3.5 KB |
| SRAM | 512 bytes | 512 bytes | 512 bytes | 512 bytes | 1 KB | 256 bytes |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 25 | 12 |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit |
| CLC (Configurable Logic Cells) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +125C (E) |
| Functional Safety (FuSa) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Key Differentiators
- Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) on every digital peripheral (vs PIC16F1827-I/SO)
- Four CLC plus NCO for hardware-level glue logic (vs PIC16F18323-E/SO)
- Functional Safety (FuSa) IEC 61508 SIL-2 features (vs PIC16F18324-E/SO)
- 256B EEPROM with 100k endurance vs none on PIC18F equivalents (vs PIC18F14K22-I/SO)
Design Notes
Use the PIC16F18344's XLP Sleep mode to drop supply current to ~50 nA typical at 3V. Configure unused peripherals as off (PMD registers) and disable unused ADCs to save additional 200-400 uA active current. The 32 kHz LF oscillator with the Secondary Oscillator enables Real-Time Clock (RTCC) operation from a watch crystal during sleep, waking the core only at scheduled intervals.
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin (pin 1) and a 10 uF bulk capacitor near the IC for transient suppression. Use a ground plane under the SOIC body, and route the MCLR/RA3 pin (pin 1) away from high-current switching traces. If the internal oscillator is used, no crystal layout is needed; otherwise keep the crystal traces short and symmetric within 5 mm of pins 9 and 10.
PPS configuration must be locked by PPS-LOCK to prevent runaway writes that could remap peripherals away from their firmware-expected pins. Do not exceed the maximum I/O source of 20 mA per pin and 90 mA per port combined. The 5-bit DAC output range is ratiometric to VDD, not absolute, so calibrate against VDD if used as a voltage reference. Verify the MCLR/RA3 pin is configured as digital I/O (LVP=OFF, MCLRE=OFF) before disabling the reset function in CONFIG words.
When using the CLC peripheral, route CLC inputs from any digital I/O pin via PPS, but place CLC-output-driven signals away from sensitive analog ADC traces to avoid digital switching noise injection. The 10-bit ADC can achieve ENOB of approximately 9.5 bits if you keep signal traces short, add a small RC anti-alias filter (10 ohm + 100 pF) on each ADC input, and use the on-chip acquisition capacitor switching technique. For capacitive-touch applications, add a ground pour around each touch pad with a 2 mm trace gap.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified (industrial-grade E temp range only). The PIC16F18344-E/SO is Functional Safety (FuSa) IEC 61508 SIL-2 capable per the Microchip safety documentation.
