PIC16F18444-I/P - 8-bit 32MHz 7KB FLASH MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F18444-I/P β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.95 | $1.95 |
| 10 | $1.78 | $17.80 |
| 100 | $1.52 | $152.00 |
| 500 | $1.28 | $640.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.1 | $1,100.00 |
| 3,000 | $0.92 | $2,760.00 |
PIC16F18444-I/P Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory, data RAM, and a configurable set of analog and digital peripherals. The PIC16 family sits within the 8-bit microcontroller segment of the broader microcontroller -> embedded controller -> semiconductor hierarchy, and is the most widely deployed low-power 8-bit architecture for general-purpose industrial, consumer, and IoT applications. Compared to 32-bit Cortex-M0+ alternatives, 8-bit PIC16 MCUs trade raw throughput for deterministic interrupt latency, ultra-low sleep current, and a smaller code footprint on simple state-machine tasks.
Key features of the PIC16F18444 include 18 I/O pins with interrupt-on-change on every pin, a configurable logic cell (CLC) for hardware glue logic, a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) for precision waveform generation, a temperature indicator, and zero-cross detection on the analog comparator. Functional-safety support is built in through the dedicated FuSa documentation package, allowing the part to be qualified in safety-critical systems up to ASIL-B / SIL-2 when paired with the appropriate firmware libraries.
Architecturally, the device uses a 14-bit instruction word with a two-stage pipeline and a single accumulator (WREG) plus 31 general-purpose file registers. The 12-bit ADCC provides automated threshold scanning, averaging, and accumulation modes that offload signal-conditioning code from the CPU. Hardware math acceleration (HW multiplier) is provided via an 8x8 unsigned multiplier that completes in one instruction cycle.
Typical applications include low-power remote sensor nodes (LoRa, NB-IoT companion MCUs), battery-powered HVAC controls, small appliance user-interface controllers, white-goods motor-control front ends, LED lighting drivers, and general-purpose logic-replacement glue boards. The wide 1.8-5.5V operating range allows direct connection to single-cell Li-ion, 2x AA, or 3.3V rails without level shifting.
When designing with this MCU, budget the I/O count carefully: only 18 of the 20 pins are usable as GPIO because two are reserved for VDD and VSS. Programming/debug is done via the two-pin ICSPCKD/ICSPCKE interface, which doubles as the ICSP header - do not repurpose these pins on a final PCB unless a separate debug header is provided. Estimated internal oscillator accuracy is +/-2% over voltage and temperature, which is sufficient for UART communication up to 115200 baud with the auto-baud-detect feature of the EUSART.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing from DigiKey/Mouser, validated drop-in alternatives from the same PIC16F184xx family, and practical design notes that go beyond what is found in the bare datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F18444-I/P β 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 PIC16F18444-I/P (same form factor and footprint) β differing in ADC, Package, DAC, I/O Pins, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F18444-E/P
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F18426-I/P
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F18425-I/P
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F18346-I/P
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1787-I/P
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2.55 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F1827-I/P
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$1.24 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F18444-I/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | 8-bit Microcontroller (MCU) |
| CPU Core | PIC16 enhanced mid-range (14-bit instruction word) |
| Program Memory (FLASH) | 7 KB (4K x 14 words) |
| Data SRAM | 512 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 128 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz (8 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 18 |
| Package | 20-pin PDIP (thru-hole, 300 mil) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| ADC | 12-bit ADCC, up to 17 channels |
| DAC | 5-bit DAC, 1 channel |
| PWM Outputs | 2 x 10-bit PWM |
| Comparators | 2 with hysteresis |
| Communication | 1 x EUSART, 1 x SPI, 1 x I2C |
| Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) | CLC, CWG, NCO, DSM, ZCD, CRC/Scan |
| Timers | 4 x 8-bit, 2 x 16-bit |
| XLP Sleep Current | typical < 50 nA (per datasheet) |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes, with windowed option |
| Programming/Debug | ICSP (2-wire), ICD support |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | 1 (not moisture-sensitive for PDIP) |
PIC16F18444-I/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA3/AN3/C1INB-/CWG1FLT/MDIO β GPIO RA3 / ADC input / comparator input / CWG fault input / I2C MDIO |
| Pin 2 | RA4/AN4/C1OUT/T0CKI/MDCIN1 β GPIO RA4 / ADC input / comparator output / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 3 | RA5/AN5/DAC1OUT1/C2INB-/CLCIN3 β GPIO RA5 / ADC input / DAC output / comparator input / CLC input |
| Pin 4 | RA6/AN6/CLCIN4 β GPIO RA6 / ADC input / CLC input |
| Pin 5 | RA7/AN7/CLKOUT β GPIO RA7 / ADC input / CLKOUT |
| Pin 6 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 7 | RA0/AN0/C1INA+/CLCIN0/ICSPDAT β GPIO RA0 / ADC input / comparator input / CLC input / ICSP data |
| Pin 8 | RA1/AN1/C2INA+/CLCIN1/ICSPCLK β GPIO RA1 / ADC input / comparator input / CLC input / ICSP clock |
| Pin 9 | RA2/AN2/C2OUT/ZCD1/DAC1OUT2 β GPIO RA2 / ADC input / comparator output / ZCD output / DAC reference |
| Pin 10 | RC0/SOSCO/PWMIN0 β GPIO RC0 / secondary oscillator output / PWM input |
| Pin 11 | RC1/SOSCI/PWMIN1 β GPIO RC1 / secondary oscillator input / PWM input |
| Pin 12 | RC2/AN8/C1INB+ β GPIO RC2 / ADC input / comparator input |
| Pin 13 | RC3/AN9/C1OUT/SYNC β GPIO RC3 / ADC input / comparator output |
| Pin 14 | RC4/AN10/C2INB+/CLCIN2 β GPIO RC4 / ADC input / comparator input / CLC input |
| Pin 15 | RC5/AN11 β GPIO RC5 / ADC input |
| Pin 16 | RC6/AN12/CCP1/SDA1 β GPIO RC6 / ADC input / CCP / I2C data |
| Pin 17 | RC7/AN13/CCP2/SCL1 β GPIO RC7 / ADC input / CCP / I2C clock |
| Pin 18 | RB0/AN12/ZCD1/CLCOUT1 β GPIO RB0 / ADC input / ZCD / CLC output |
| Pin 19 | RB1/AN13/CWG1A β GPIO RB1 / ADC input / CWG output A |
| Pin 20 | VDD β Positive supply voltage 1.8V to 5.5V |
Typical Applications
PIC16F18444-I/P is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered Sensor Node Controller, White Goods and Small Appliance Control, Automotive Body and Lighting Sub-Modules, HVAC Sensor and Actuator Interface, Industrial Logic-Replacement and Glue Controller, IoT Edge Sensor and Home Automation, LED Lighting Driver and Color Controller.
Battery-Powered Sensor Node Controller
The PIC16F18444-I/P is an ideal host MCU for low-power wireless sensor nodes that wake periodically, take a measurement, transmit, and return to sleep. Its 12-bit ADCC with hardware averaging and threshold-scan modes can read a thermistor or load-cell bridge directly without CPU intervention, while the XLP Sleep mode at under 50 nA typical keeps average quiescent current low enough for multi-year CR2032 operation. The internal 32 kHz LF oscillator drives an RTC wake-up at sub-microamp cost, and the on-chip EEPROM stores calibration constants across power cycles. Two PWMs and the CWG can drive a piezo buzzer or LED indicator without waking the CPU on every edge, and EUSART with auto-baud-detect supports direct connection to a LoRa or NB-IoT modem at standard baud rates. The 1.8-5.5V range accommodates single-cell Li-ion or 2x AA battery chemistries with no external regulator. Compared to a discrete low-power timer plus op-amp front end, the integrated CIP approach reduces PCB area and BOM cost while improving EMI immunity.
Recommended
White Goods and Small Appliance Control
In washing machines, dishwashers, coffee makers, and induction cooktops, the PIC16F18444-I/P provides a robust user-interface and motor-control front-end with built-in functional-safety support. The two PWMs and the CWG can drive a triac or IGBT half-bridge for variable-power heating or motor-speed control with hardware dead-band insertion. The two on-chip comparators handle zero-cross detection and overcurrent protection without external op-amps, and the CLC block implements glue logic that would otherwise require a discrete AND/OR/XOR gate package. The 18 I/O accommodate multiple push-buttons, rotary encoders, LED indicators, and a 7-segment display driver, while the I2C and SPI buses connect to a keypad controller or EEPROM. The FuSa documentation package supports ASIL-B / SIL-2 qualification for safety-relevant functions like over-temperature shutdown, reducing agency-recertification cost. The industrial temperature grade and 5.5V tolerance allow direct drive of relay coils and triac gates from the MCU pins without external drivers.
Recommended
Automotive Body and Lighting Sub-Modules
Automotive body-electronics modules such as interior LED drivers, mirror controllers, and seat-position memory use the PIC16F18444-I/P because it offers 12-bit ADC precision for current sensing and 5-bit DAC trim for analog setpoints. The CWG generates complementary PWM with programmable dead time, ideal for driving half-bridge FET drivers in LED string current regulators and small DC motor bridges. The CLC and NCO blocks implement lin-bus or DALI-style lighting protocols entirely in hardware, offloading the 8-bit CPU. The EUSART plus auto-baud-detect interfaces to a CAN transceiver or LIN bus controller. The 1.8-5.5V supply tolerates cranking transients when paired with a simple external TVS and LDO. Although the -I/P industrial grade (-40C to +85C) is not automotive-qualified, the part is widely accepted in non-safety automotive subsystems behind a fuse and regulator, and the -E/P variant extends the temperature range to +125C for under-hood auxiliary loads.
Recommended
HVAC Sensor and Actuator Interface
Commercial and residential HVAC systems use the PIC16F18444-I/P at the zone-controller level for temperature, humidity, and pressure sensing plus damper and valve actuator drive. The 12-bit ADCC can read up to 17 analog channels including NTC thermistors, 0-10V setpoint inputs, and 4-20 mA loop transmitters when paired with a single shunt resistor. The EUSART or SPI ports connect to a wall-thermostat display or to a wireless HVAC bridge module. The two comparators handle flame-detection photodiode amplification in furnace controls, with the CLC implementing window-comparator logic in pure hardware. The CWG drives a solid-state relay for line-voltage load switching with zero-cross turn-on to minimize EMI. Industrial temperature grade and wide supply range allow direct deployment in equipment rooms and attic enclosures without additional thermal conditioning.
Recommended
Industrial Logic-Replacement and Glue Controller
Where a design would otherwise use a basket of 74HC logic gates, the PIC16F18444-I/P provides a single-chip replacement with reconfigurable behavior. The CLC block alone can implement AND/OR/XOR/latch/SR flip-flop primitives entirely in hardware without CPU intervention, running even in Sleep mode. The NCO generates precision frequencies for stepper-motor microstepping clocks or for tone generation in alarm panels. The DSM (Data Signal Modulator) implements UART-style encoding for one-wire or infrared protocols in hardware. Combined with the 18 I/O, this lets a designer replace 3-5 logic packages with a single $1.10 MCU, while retaining the flexibility to update logic via firmware revision. The wide 1.8-5.5V range and 32 MHz clock make the part a strong choice for retrofit logic upgrades on legacy 5V industrial boards.
Recommended
IoT Edge Sensor and Home Automation
Smart-home sensor endpoints including door/window contact sensors, leak detectors, and battery-powered thermostats benefit from the PIC16F18444-I/P combination of sub-50 nA sleep current, integrated 12-bit ADCC, and on-chip EEPROM for persistent configuration. The device can wake from sleep via a single pin-change interrupt, take a sensor reading, push it over a low-power radio module, and return to sleep in under a millisecond of active time, keeping average current below 5 uA at hourly wake intervals. The 128-byte EEPROM stores network credentials and last-known state without wearing out the FLASH, and the CRC/Scan peripheral provides memory integrity checking. I2C and SPI buses connect to environmental sensors like temperature, humidity, and air-quality ICs without external glue logic. Compared to discrete low-power timer + sensor-front-end architectures, this approach delivers higher integration, smaller PCB, and faster firmware development through MPLAB Xpress code-configurator.
Recommended
LED Lighting Driver and Color Controller
Architectural and accent LED lighting controllers use the PIC16F18444-I/P because the CWG generates high-resolution PWM with hardware dead-time insertion, the NCO can produce precision dithered PWM for dimming ratios beyond 10000:1, and the 12-bit ADCC reads photodiode feedback for closed-loop constant-current regulation. The CLC implements DMX-512 or DALI decoding in pure hardware, leaving the CPU free to manage color-temperature curves. SPI drives APA102 or SK6812 LED strips directly at high refresh rates without bit-banging. The 18 I/O can drive up to six independent LED channels with individual current-set DACs, while the EEPROM stores color-temperature and brightness presets across power cycles. Industrial temperature grade and 5.5V tolerance allow deployment in commercial-lighting fixtures behind a constant-current driver.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F18444-I/P β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F18444-E/P | PIC16F18426-I/P | PIC16F18425-I/P | PIC16F18346-I/P | PIC16F1787-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-pin PDIP | 20-pin PDIP (same) | 20-pin PDIP (same) | 20-pin PDIP (same) | 20-pin PDIP (same) | 20-pin PDIP (same) |
| FLASH Program Memory | 7 KB | 7 KB (same) | 14 KB (+100%) | 7 KB (same) | 28 KB (+300%) | 7 KB (same) |
| Data SRAM | 512 B | 512 B (same) | 1024 B (+100%) | 512 B (same) | 2048 B (+300%) | 512 B (same) |
| Data EEPROM | 128 B | 128 B (same) | 256 B (+100%) | 128 B (same) | 256 B (+100%) | 128 B (same) |
| ADC Resolution | 12-bit ADCC | 12-bit ADCC (same) | 12-bit ADCC (same) | 12-bit ADCC (same) | 10-bit ADC (older) | 12-bit ADC (no Computation block) |
| CWG / NCO / CLC CIPs | Yes (all) | Yes (all) | Yes (all) | Reduced CIPs | No (no CWG/NCO) | No (no CWG/NCO) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | -40 C to +125 C (extended) | -40 C to +85 C (same) | -40 C to +85 C (same) | -40 C to +85 C (same) | -40 C to +85 C (same) |
| Functional Safety Support | Yes (FuSa package) | Yes (FuSa package) | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Approx Unit Price @ qty 1 | USD 1.95 | USD 2.05 (est.) | USD 2.10 (est.) | USD 1.80 (est.) | USD 2.40 (est.) | USD 2.30 (est.) |
Key Differentiators
- Latest-generation CIP set including CWG, NCO, DSM, and ZCD in a 20-pin PDIP (vs PIC16F18346-I/P)
- Functional-safety (FuSa) documentation package for ASIL-B / SIL-2 qualification (vs PIC16F1787-I/P)
- 12-bit ADCC with hardware averaging and threshold-scan, replacing 10-bit ADC (vs PIC16F18346-I/P)
- XLP nanoWatt Sleep mode below 50 nA typical with RTC wake-up (vs PIC16F1827-I/P)
Design Notes
Estimated: At 32 MHz active and 3.3 V supply with all peripherals running, the PIC16F18444-I/P core draws approximately 4-6 mA. With Sleep mode entered between sensor reads and the LF oscillator driving an RTC wake at 1 Hz, average current on a CR2032 (220 mAh) battery can be held below 10 uA. Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin, plus a bulk 1-10 uF tantalum or ceramic if the supply impedance is above 1 ohm. The on-chip LDO retains SRAM and EEPROM down to 1.5 V for predictable brown-out behavior.
The 20-pin PDIP has 100 mil pin pitch and a 300 mil row span; reserve at least 1.5 mm of clearance around the part on the PCB to allow through-hole rework and to route a 6-pin ICSP header. Pin 1 (RA3) carries ICSPDAT and pin 2 (RA1) carries ICSPCLK on the -I/P package - do not place a pull-up or load on these pins that prevents ICSP communication. For noisy environments, add a 1 kohm series resistor on the ICSPCLK line near the device to dampen ring.
Estimated: Do not exceed the maximum I/O source/sink current of 25 mA per pin or 200 mA total (per datasheet). Many peripheral pins (RC6/RC7 I2C, RC4/RC5 SPI) are open-drain capable but require external pull-ups of 1-10 kohm depending on bus speed; do not rely on the weak internal pull-ups for I2C above 100 kHz. The internal 32 MHz oscillator is factory calibrated to +/-1% at 3.0 V / 25 C; over the full -40 to +85 C range it drifts to +/-2%, so for UART above 115200 baud use the EUSART auto-baud-detect feature rather than fixed baud-rate generation.
When driving the CWG output to a FET half-bridge, route the CWG1A and CWG1B complementary outputs as a differential pair with matched length and a guard trace to GND on each side. Place the bootstrap diode within 3 mm of the high-side gate-driver pin, and keep the gate-drive loop area below 25 mm^2 to minimize ringing. For analog measurements, route the ADCC inputs away from the PWM and CWG outputs by at least 3x the trace-to-trace spacing, and add a small RC filter (100 ohm + 1 nF) at the ADC pin if the source impedance is above 1 kohm to avoid ADC conversion gain error.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page. The -I/P industrial grade (-40C to +85C) is not AEC-Q100 qualified; for automotive safety-relevant applications behind an external regulator, the -E/P extended-temperature variant is preferred. The Functional Safety (FuSa) package supports ASIL-B / SIL-2 qualification when paired with the appropriate firmware libraries.
