PIC16LF18344-I/SO - 8-bit XLP MCU 7KB Flash 32MHz | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF18344-I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.78 | $1.78 |
| 10 | $1.58 | $15.80 |
| 100 | $1.34 | $134.00 |
| 500 | $1.16 | $580.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.02 | $1,020.00 |
PIC16LF18344-I/SO Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, program Flash, data RAM, EEPROM, timers, communication peripherals, and I/O onto one silicon die. PIC microcontrollers follow the RISC Harvard architecture with a 14-bit instruction word, placing them in the broader taxonomy of microcontrollers -> 8-bit MCUs -> PIC family -> 16F subfamily -> embedded controllers. The 'LF' prefix denotes the wide-voltage low-power variant optimized for battery applications, while 'F' (no L) denotes the standard 1.8V-5.5V variant.
Key features include 12-bit ADC with computation, 5-bit DAC, two comparators, zero-cross detection, and a math accelerator (hardware multiply/divide). The PPS module allows remapping of digital peripherals to multiple I/O pins, enabling single PCB layouts to support different peripheral configurations. The XLP technology delivers typical sleep currents below 50 nA with RTCC and watchdog enabled, suiting battery-powered sensor nodes.
Typical applications include IoT sensor nodes, battery-powered remote controls, low-power wireless HMI panels, LED lighting strips with autonomous CLC/PWM mixing, and household appliance user panels. The 20-pin SOIC provides easy hand-soldering and breadboard compatibility for prototyping.
When designing with this device, ensure decoupling capacitors are placed within 3 mm of VDD and use PPS to remap peripherals rather than relying on fixed peripheral pins. Programming via ICSP requires dedicated RB6/RA4 pins; do not load them heavily.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF18344-I/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 PIC16LF18344-I/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Comparators, Operating Temperature, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F18344-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.83 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18345-I/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.02 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18344-I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit PIC16 RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB (4K x 14 words) |
| Data SRAM | 512 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Package | 20-pin SOIC (300 mil) |
| I/O Pins | 18 (with PPS remap) |
| ADC | 12-bit, with computation |
| DAC | 5-bit |
| Comparators | 2 |
| Core-Independent Peripherals | CLC, CWG, CCP, PWM |
| PPS | Peripheral Pin Select |
| XLP Sleep Current | Typical <50 nA with RTCC |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF18344-I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8V to 3.6V) |
| Pin 2 | RA5 — Digital I/O with PPS remap |
| Pin 3 | RA4 — Digital I/O with PPS remap |
| Pin 4 | RA3 — Digital I/O with PPS remap, MCLR alternative |
| Pin 5 | RC5 — Digital I/O with PPS remap |
| Pin 6 | RC4 — Digital I/O with PPS remap |
| Pin 7 | RC3 — Digital I/O with PPS remap |
| Pin 8 | RC2 — Digital I/O with PPS remap |
| Pin 9 | RC1 — Digital I/O with PPS remap |
| Pin 10 | RC0 — Digital I/O with PPS remap |
| Pin 11 | RA2 — Digital I/O with PPS remap, DAC output |
| Pin 12 | RA1 — Digital I/O with PPS remap, ICSPCLK |
| Pin 13 | RA0 — Digital I/O with PPS remap, ICSPDAT |
| Pin 14 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 15 | RA7 — Digital I/O with PPS remap, oscillator |
| Pin 16 | RA6 — Digital I/O with PPS remap, oscillator |
| Pin 17 | RB5 — Digital I/O with PPS remap |
| Pin 18 | RB4 — Digital I/O with PPS remap |
| Pin 19 | RB7 — Digital I/O with PPS remap |
| Pin 20 | VSS — Ground reference (second VSS pin) |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF18344-I/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Wireless Remote Control / HMI Panel, LED Lighting Strip / Architectural Lighting, Industrial Sensor / 4-20 mA Transmitter, Smart Home Appliance Control Board, Automotive Interior Lighting / Accessory Module.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC16LF18344-I/SO is well-suited to battery-powered IoT sensor nodes because its XLP technology delivers typical sleep currents below 50 nA with the RTCC and watchdog running, while its 1.8 V minimum supply lets the device run directly from a depleted single-cell Li-ion. The 7 KB Flash accommodates state-machine firmware with periodic ADC sampling, and the 12-bit ADC with computation performs oversampling and averaging in hardware, offloading the CPU. The PIC16LF18344-I/SO integrates two comparators and a 5-bit DAC for analog front-ends in environmental sensor boards. PPS allows remapping of UART/SPI/I2C to different pins, so the same PCB layout supports different sensor modules. Compared to PIC18 alternatives, this part costs roughly half (USD 1.02 at qty-1000) and consumes far less sleep current.
Recommended
Wireless Remote Control / HMI Panel
The PIC16LF18344-I/SO fits wireless remote control and HMI panel applications through its Core Independent Peripherals (CLC) which perform button-debounce, key-matrix scanning, and LED driving without CPU intervention. This frees the CPU for sleep mode between user interactions, dropping average current below 1 uA in typical TV-remote duty cycles. The 18 remappable I/O pins via PPS support 8x8 key matrices, IR LED PWM, status RGB LEDs, and a buzzer. The PIC16LF18344-I/SO runs from two AA cells (2.0-3.2 V) over the full 1.8-3.6 V supply range. Compared to PIC16F baseline parts, the LF variant's lower minimum voltage extends battery life when cells deplete.
Recommended
LED Lighting Strip / Architectural Lighting
The PIC16LF18344-I/SO is ideal for LED lighting strips and architectural lighting controllers because its Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) produces complementary PWM outputs with programmable dead-band for driving half-bridge LED drivers directly. The 12-bit ADC with computation reads ambient light sensors for closed-loop dimming, while CLC cells implement custom fade curves in hardware. Operating from 1.8 V to 3.6 V, the part runs from a single 3.3 V regulator, simplifying the power tree. The 7 KB Flash stores multiple lighting profiles, sunrise/sunset simulations, and zone configurations for DMX-style fixtures. PPS allows reassigning PWM channels without PCB rework.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor / 4-20 mA Transmitter
The PIC16LF18344-I/SO suits industrial 4-20 mA loop-powered transmitters through its 1.8 V minimum supply (enabling operation from a 4-20 mA loop with shunt regulator) and 12-bit ADC with computation oversampling for 16-bit effective resolution. The two on-chip comparators provide sensor-break detection and over-range alarms without external circuitry. Industrial -40 C to +85 C operating temperature range supports process-control deployments. PPS allows reconfiguring the UART for HART or Modbus communication without board changes. Compared to discrete op-amp-based transmitters, this integrated approach reduces BOM cost and PCB area.
Recommended
Smart Home Appliance Control Board
The PIC16LF18344-I/SO integrates well into smart home appliance control boards (washing machines, dishwashers, coffee machines, air purifiers) thanks to its mix of CCP/PWM for motor/relay control, CLC for safety interlocks, and 12-bit ADC for temperature/pressure sensing. The 7 KB Flash accommodates state-machine firmware for multi-mode appliances, while 512 B SRAM supports user-interface buffers and 256 B EEPROM stores calibration and cycle-count data. The 18 I/O pins drive keypads, LCD segments, buzzers, and triac interfaces. PPS lets designers route peripherals after PCB layout, easing board revisions across product variants.
Recommended
Automotive Interior Lighting / Accessory Module
The PIC16LF18344-I/SO handles automotive interior lighting and accessory modules through its CWG for complementary PWM driving RGB ambient strips, 12-bit ADC reading photodiodes for auto-dimming, and CCP for fan/LED brightness control. While the -I/SO is the industrial -40 C to +85 C grade, the same die is also offered in -E (extended -40 to +125 C) variants for under-hood or harsher cabin environments. The PPS peripheral pin select enables a single PCB layout to serve multiple SKUs with different peripheral mappings. EEPROM stores user preferences and trim values across power cycles. Compared to 5 V PIC16F variants, the LF's 3.6 V maximum aligns with 3.3 V automotive rails.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF18344-I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F18344-I/SO | PIC16LF18345-I/SO | PIC16LF18324-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-SOIC (300 mil) | 20-SOIC (300 mil) - same | 20-SOIC (300 mil) - same | 14-SOIC - smaller |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 5.5V | 1.8V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 3.6V |
| Flash Memory | 7 KB (4K x 14) | 7 KB (4K x 14) - same | 14 KB (8K x 14) | 7 KB (4K x 14) - same |
| SRAM | 512 B | 512 B - same | 1 KB | 512 B - same |
| EEPROM | 256 B | 256 B - same | 256 B - same | 256 B - same |
| Maximum Frequency | 32 MHz | 32 MHz - same | 32 MHz - same | 32 MHz - same |
| I/O Pins | 18 (with PPS) | 18 (with PPS) - same | 18 (with PPS) - same | 12-14 (with PPS) |
| ADC | 12-bit with computation | 12-bit with computation - same | 12-bit with computation - same | 12-bit with computation - same |
| Core-Independent Peripherals | CLC, CWG, CCP, PWM | CLC, CWG, CCP, PWM - same | CLC, CWG, CCP, PWM - same | CLC, CWG, CCP, PWM - same |
Key Differentiators
- Widest supply voltage range with 5V tolerance in same package (vs PIC16F18344-I/SO)
- Double the Flash memory in same 20-SOIC package (vs PIC16LF18345-I/SO)
- Smaller package option with same Flash memory (vs PIC16LF18324-I/SO)
Design Notes
Estimated: at VDD=3.3V, 32 MHz active, the PIC16LF18344-I/SO draws approximately 4-6 mA. In sleep mode with RTCC running at 32 kHz, the typical current is below 50 nA per datasheet document 40001800D. For battery life calculations, use a duty-cycle model: I_avg = (I_active * t_active + I_sleep * t_sleep) / T_period. A typical IoT sensor node waking every 5 seconds for 10 ms achieves sub-uA average current, supporting multi-year battery life from a 2000 mAh Li-ion cell.
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 3 mm of the VDD pin (pin 1) and a second 100 nF cap within 3 mm of the secondary VSS pin (pin 20). For ADC applications, add a 10 uF bulk capacitor near the analog supply. Keep crystal traces short (under 5 mm) if using an external crystal on RA6/RA7, and surround the crystal body with a grounded guard ring to reduce EMI coupling into sensitive analog inputs.
Do not load the ICSPDAT/ICSPCLK pins (RA0/RA1) with heavy capacitance during in-circuit programming - this prevents successful programming. The PPS module allows remapping digital peripherals, but analog functions are fixed; check the pinout table in section 1 of datasheet document 40001800D before assigning analog signals. The MCLR function on RA3 is disabled by default in many configurations - enable it via the CONFIG register if external reset is needed.
When using PPS to remap I2C or SPI to high-capacitance traces, ensure the trace length is under 15 cm and use 4.7 kohm pull-ups on SDA/SCL for 3.3 V operation. For UART communication above 115200 baud, keep trace impedance controlled and avoid routing UART signals near PWM outputs to prevent coupling. The CLC outputs can toggle at up to FOSC/2 - derate trace lengths accordingly.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Lead-free and halogen-free per datasheet document 40001800D. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - for automotive applications use AEC-Q100 qualified variants if available in the same family.
