PIC16F18446T-I/GZ - 8-bit 32MHz 28KB Flash XLP MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F18446T-I/GZ β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.85 | $2.85 |
| 10 | $2.57 | $25.70 |
| 100 | $2.21 | $221.00 |
| 500 | $1.98 | $990.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.74 | $1,740.00 |
PIC16F18446T-I/GZ Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller is a small computing-on-a-chip that executes instructions 8 bits wide at a time. It sits within the broader hierarchy of microcontrollers -> embedded microcontrollers -> semiconductor ICs, and is the workhorse of low-power, deterministic, cost-sensitive embedded designs. The PIC16F18446 specifically belongs to the mid-range PIC16 family, which adds CIPs to handle I/O tasks in hardware without burdening the CPU.
Key features of this part include operation from 2.3V to 5.5V, an integrated 32 MHz internal oscillator, low-power sleep currents in the nanoampere range via XLP, and CIPs that let designers offload timing-critical functions to hardware. The 12-bit ADCC performs averaging, oversampling, and threshold comparison in hardware, while the CWG can synthesize dead-band-controlled complementary outputs for power-switching applications.
Architecturally, the PIC16F18446 uses Microchip's enhanced mid-range 8-bit core with a 14-bit instruction word, hardware multiplier, and direct addressing of up to 32KB of Flash. The CIP block includes Numerically Controlled Oscillator (NCO), CWG, and configurable logic cells that act as glue logic on-chip, reducing BOM and PCB area.
Typical applications include IoT sensor end nodes, low-power battery-operated products, LED lighting controllers, consumer appliances, and small motor control. Its 20-pin UQFN footprint suits space-constrained designs.
When designing, ensure the supply decoupling follows the layout in the datasheet's typical application circuit. For FuSa-required systems, consult Microchip's functional safety documentation for diagnostic coverage and FMEDA data.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, and practical design notes drawn from Microchip's PIC16F18446 datasheet and reference designs.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F18446T-I/GZ 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 PIC16F18446T-I/GZ (same form factor and footprint) β differing in DAC, ADC, Comparators, Core Architecture, Data EEPROM.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F18446-I/GZ
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$1.1 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F18446T-I/GZVAO
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F18346T-I/GZVAO
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet βPIC16F18445T-I/GZ
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F18444T-I/GZ
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F15344T-I/GZ
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F18446T-I/GZ Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit (14-bit instruction word) |
| Family | PIC16(L)F184xx |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 28 KB (16K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 2 KB |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| ADC | 12-bit ADCC with Computation |
| DAC | 5-bit and 8-bit DAC |
| PWM Channels | 2 x 10-bit PWM |
| Comparators | Yes (on-chip) |
| Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) | Yes |
| Communication Interfaces | EUSART, SPI, I2C |
| Package | 20-pin UQFN (4x4 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| eXtreme Low-Power (XLP) | Yes (nA-range sleep current) |
| Functional Safety (FuSa) | Supported |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16F18446T-I/GZ Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0 β Bidirectional I/O / ADC channel |
| Pin 2 | RA1 β Bidirectional I/O / ADC channel / DAC1 output |
| Pin 3 | RA2 β Bidirectional I/O / ADC channel / DAC reference |
| Pin 4 | RA3 β Bidirectional I/O / MCLR (reset, weak pull-up) |
| Pin 5 | RA4 β Bidirectional I/O / ADC channel |
| Pin 6 | RA5 β Bidirectional I/O / ADC channel |
| Pin 7 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | RA6 β Bidirectional I/O / oscillator |
| Pin 9 | RA7 β Bidirectional I/O / oscillator |
| Pin 10 | RB0 β Bidirectional I/O / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 11 | RB1 β Bidirectional I/O / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 12 | RB2 β Bidirectional I/O / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 13 | RB3 β Bidirectional I/O / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 14 | RB4 β Bidirectional I/O / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 15 | RB5 β Bidirectional I/O / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 16 | RB6 β Bidirectional I/O / ICSPCLK / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 17 | RB7 β Bidirectional I/O / ICSPDAT / interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 18 | VDD β Positive supply voltage (2.3 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 19 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | NC β Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
PIC16F18446T-I/GZ is suitable for 6 applications: IoT Sensor End Nodes, Battery-Powered Consumer Devices, LED Lighting Controllers, Industrial Sensor Conditioning, Small Motor Control (Fans, Pumps, BLDC), Home Appliance User Interface Boards.
IoT Sensor End Nodes
The PIC16F18446T-I/GZ is purpose-built for IoT sensor end nodes that demand years of battery life from a coin cell or two AA cells. Its XLP technology delivers nanoamp-range sleep current with full RAM retention, while the 12-bit ADCC with Computation oversamples and thresholds in hardware, offloading the CPU. Designers connect analog or digital sensors via SPI or I2C, buffer data through the on-chip 2 KB RAM, and wake the 32 MHz core only for transmission bursts, achieving typical average currents below 5 uA in duty-cycled operation.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Consumer Devices
Battery-powered consumer products benefit from the PIC16F18446T-I/GZ's 2.3V-5.5V supply range, which directly supports 2x alkaline, single Li-ion, or USB power sources without external regulation. The dual 10-bit PWMs drive LEDs, buzzers, or vibration motors, while the CWG synthesizes dead-band-controlled complementary outputs for small DC-DC or Class-D audio stages. XLP sleep currents below 100 nA extend shelf and operational life, and the 20-pin UQFN (4x4 mm) package fits wearable form factors.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controllers
LED lighting applications use the PIC16F18446T-I/GZ's CWG to generate complementary PWM signals with programmable dead-band timing, driving half-bridges for buck or boost LED drivers without external logic. The 12-bit ADCC samples photodiode or current-sense feedback for closed-loop dimming and color mixing, while the 8-bit DAC provides analog reference levels for tunable white or RGB controllers. Sleep current in the nanoamp range suits mains-powered standby regulations.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Conditioning
Industrial sensor signal conditioning leverages the PIC16F18446T-I/GZ's 12-bit ADCC, 5-bit and 8-bit DACs, and on-chip comparators to build complete analog front-ends in a single IC. The 32 MHz CPU performs linearization, calibration, and HART-style protocol framing for 4-20 mA loops, while the CWG and PWMs generate excitation signals for bridge sensors or LVDTs. The industrial -40C to +85C temperature range and Functional Safety (FuSa) documentation support factory automation designs.
Recommended
Small Motor Control (Fans, Pumps, BLDC)
The PIC16F18446T-I/GZ drives sensorless brushless DC (BLDC) fans, small pumps, and stepper motors using its CWG to generate six-step or sinusoidal complementary PWMs with hardware dead-band insertion. The 12-bit ADCC samples back-EMF for sensorless commutation, while the on-chip comparators provide fast overcurrent protection without external analog ICs. 32 MHz instruction throughput and 28 KB Flash accommodate field-oriented control (FOC) libraries in compact UQFN-20 outline.
Recommended
Home Appliance User Interface Boards
Home appliance HMI boards use the PIC16F18446T-I/GZ to scan capacitive touch buttons via the on-chip CIPs and comparators, drive LED or 7-segment displays through PWMs, and communicate with the main appliance MCU over UART or SPI. The XLP sleep mode enables battery-backed clock and timer functions on cordless appliances. The 4x4 mm UQFN-20 footprint fits behind display panels where board space is at a premium.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F18446T-I/GZ β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F18446-I/GZ | PIC16F18445T-I/GZ | PIC16F18444T-I/GZ | PIC16F18346T-I/GZ | PIC16F15344T-I/GZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-pin UQFN (4x4 mm, GZ) | 20-pin UQFN (4x4 mm, GZ) - same | 20-pin UQFN (4x4 mm, GZ) - same | 20-pin UQFN (4x4 mm, GZ) - same | 20-pin UQFN (4x4 mm, GZ) - same | 20-pin UQFN (4x4 mm, GZ) - same |
| Program Flash | 28 KB | 28 KB | 14 KB | 7 KB | 28 KB | 7 KB |
| Data RAM | 2 KB | 2 KB | 1 KB | 512 B | 2 KB | 512 B |
| Max CPU Speed | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| ADC | 12-bit ADCC | 12-bit ADCC | 12-bit ADCC | 12-bit ADCC | 10-bit ADC | 10-bit ADC |
| CWG | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| XLP Low Power | Yes (nA sleep) | Yes (nA sleep) | Yes (nA sleep) | Yes (nA sleep) | Yes (nA sleep) | Yes (nA sleep) |
| Operating Voltage | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| Unit Price (1pc, USD) | 2.85 | 2.85 | 2.55 | 2.30 | 2.70 | 1.95 |
Key Differentiators
- Largest flash in PIC16F184xx UQFN-20 family (vs PIC16F18444T-I/GZ)
- Newer 12-bit ADCC vs older 10-bit ADC (vs PIC16F15344T-I/GZ)
- On-chip CWG for power-switching waveforms (vs PIC16F15344T-I/GZ)
- Functional Safety (FuSa) documentation (vs PIC16F18445T-I/GZ)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 18) and a 10 uF bulk capacitor at the board's power entry. For XLP nanoamp sleep operation, ensure no high-impedance floating pins leak current - either set unused pins to outputs or enable the internal weak pull-ups via WPUA/WPUB registers.
The UQFN-20 (4x4 mm) package requires a small thermal pad that should be soldered to a grounded copper pour of at least 0.5 cm^2 to improve thermal dissipation and mechanical reliability. Keep the ICSPDAT (RB7) and ICSPCLK (RB6) traces short and away from switching signals to ensure reliable in-circuit programming.
Do not confuse the UQFN-20 (GZ) package with the SOIC-20 or TSSOP-20 packages - the pin order differs. When migrating code from PIC16F18346 to PIC16F18446, note the new 12-bit ADCC registers (ADCON0/ADCON1/ADCON2/ADCON3) replace the older 10-bit ADC register layout. Always rebuild the project against the latest MPLAB X device packs.
The internal 32 MHz oscillator requires the OSCTUNE register to be calibrated for temperature-stable UART baud rates. For EUSART communication above 115200 baud, switch to a hardware crystal via the RA6/RA7 pins or use the PLL with HFINTOSC. Enable read-modify-write protection on PORT registers to avoid race conditions in ISR-driven GPIO updates.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Standard variant is not AEC-Q100 qualified; choose PIC16F18446T-I/GZVAO (VAO suffix) for automotive-grade designs. Lead-free and halogen-free per Microchip environmental certification.
