PIC16LF18444T-I/SS - 8-Bit 32MHz XLP MCU 7KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF18444T-I/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.42 | $1.42 |
| 10 | $1.28 | $12.80 |
| 100 | $1.08 | $108.00 |
| 500 | $0.92 | $460.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.78 | $780.00 |
| 2,500 | $0.65 | $1,625.00 |
PIC16LF18444T-I/SS Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer built around an 8-bit data bus and CPU core, integrating Flash program memory, SRAM, peripherals, and interrupt logic on one die. Within the broader semiconductor hierarchy, an 8-bit MCU sits below 16-bit and 32-bit MCUs in computational throughput but above pure logic ICs in functional density, and the PIC16LF18444 belongs to the PIC microcontroller > 8-bit microcontroller > embedded microcontroller taxonomy. This class of device typically targets cost-sensitive, low-power, deterministic control tasks rather than high-throughput DSP or graphics workloads.
Key features of the PIC16LF18444 include 18 general-purpose I/O pins, a 12-bit ADC with Computation (ADCC), a 5-bit DAC, two PWM modules, a comparator, a Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG), and an EUSART plus SPI/I2C interfaces. The device integrates a configurable logic cell (CLC) block, peripheral pin select (PPS) for remapping digital peripherals, and the XLP nanoWatt technology suite that delivers sleep currents in the tens of nanoamperes. The 12-bit ADCC supports automated averaging, threshold comparison, and oversampling for sensor-interface signal conditioning.
The PIC16LF18444 architecture uses a Harvard memory structure with separate program and data buses, a 14-bit instruction word, and a hardware accumulator-based CPU. The on-chip peripherals are interconnected via the Peripheral Module Disable (PMD) registers so unused blocks can be powered down, and the CWG can synthesize complementary dead-band-controlled drive signals for power-converter or motor-control switching stages.
Typical applications include low-power IoT sensor nodes, battery-powered wireless remote controls, white-goods and small-motor driver boards, LED lighting controllers, and consumer human-interface nodes where the SSOP-20 footprint, 18 I/O count, and nanoWatt sleep currents are decisive. The wide 1.8V-3.6V supply range supports direct operation from single-cell lithium or two AA cells with no external LDO.
When designing with this MCU, keep total GPIO load within the 18-pin budget when PPS remapping is required, and respect the 32MHz maximum FOSC derating curve above 3.0V. Use the CLC and PPS to reduce external glue logic on the PCB, and place the supply decoupling capacitor within 3mm of the VDD pin.
This page adds value beyond the manufacturer datasheet by combining distributor pricing, pin-to-pin compatible drop-in alternatives drawn from the PIC16LF family, and practical design notes that shorten the BOM-to-prototype cycle for low-power embedded designs.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF18444T-I/SS — 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 PIC16LF18444T-I/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Program Memory (Flash), DAC, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF18444-I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.32 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18444T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.76 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18345T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.79 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18346T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.79 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1788T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1828T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.79 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18444T-I/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Manufacturer | Microchip Technology |
| Series | PIC16F |
| Core | PIC16 |
| Data Bus Width | 8 bit |
| Program Memory Size | 7 KB (4K x 14) Flash |
| Data RAM Size | 512 B |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 32 MHz |
| ADC Resolution | 12 bit (ADCC) |
| Number of I/Os | 18 I/O |
| Operating Supply Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Maximum Operating Temperature | +85 C |
| Minimum Operating Temperature | -40 C |
| Mounting Style | SMD/SMT |
| Package / Case | 20-SSOP (5.30 mm width) |
| Peripherals | Brown-out Detect, Comparator, DAC, PWM, EUSART, SPI, I2C, CWG, ADCC, CLC, PPS |
| Low-Power Technology | XLP nanoWatt |
| Program Memory Type | Flash |
| Data ROM Type | EEPROM |
| Connectivity | EUSART, SPI, I2C |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF18444T-I/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2 — General purpose I/O / analog input |
| Pin 2 | RA3 — General purpose I/O / analog input |
| Pin 3 | RA4 — General purpose I/O / analog input |
| Pin 4 | RA5 — General purpose I/O / analog input |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RA6 — General purpose I/O / analog input |
| Pin 7 | RA7 — General purpose I/O / analog input |
| Pin 8 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8V-3.6V) |
| Pin 9 | RA8 — General purpose I/O / analog input |
| Pin 10 | RA9 — General purpose I/O / analog input |
| Pin 11 | RA10 — General purpose I/O / analog input |
| Pin 12 | RA11 — General purpose I/O / analog input |
| Pin 13 | RB0 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 14 | RB1 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 15 | RB2 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 16 | RB3 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 17 | RB4 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 18 | RB5 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 19 | RB6 — General purpose I/O / ICSPCLK |
| Pin 20 | RB7 — General purpose I/O / ICSPDAT |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF18444T-I/SS is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, White-Goods and Small Motor Control, LED Lighting Controllers, Wireless Remote Controls and HIDs, Industrial Sensor Transmitters, Consumer Appliance User Interfaces, Portable Medical and Wellness Devices.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC16LF18444T-I/SS is purpose-built for battery-powered IoT sensor nodes where the XLP nanoWatt technology delivers nanoamp-range sleep currents and the 1.8V-3.6V supply accepts a single-cell Li-ion or two-AA battery stack with no external LDO. Its 12-bit ADCC performs on-chip averaging and threshold detection, allowing a thermistor, photodiode, or MEMS sensor to be read autonomously without waking the CPU for every sample. The integrated 18-GPIO budget plus PPS remapping leaves sufficient headroom for an SPI sensor, an I2C EEPROM, and a wireless module's enable line, while the 7 KB Flash comfortably fits a state-machine firmware plus OTA bootloader stub. Designers typically place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 3 mm of VDD and route the ADC reference to a dedicated pin to preserve conversion accuracy at low supply voltages.
Recommended
White-Goods and Small Motor Control
For white-goods appliances and small DC motor control boards, the PIC16LF18444T-I/SS provides the Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) and dual PWM modules needed to drive a half-bridge or full-bridge MOSFET stage with hardware dead-band control. The 32 MHz core executes the speed-control loop fast enough for closed-loop PID at 1 kHz update rates while leaving cycles for housekeeping. With 512 B of RAM the device holds the control state machine, ADC samples, and a small user-interface buffer without external memory. Designers commonly pair this MCU with a low-side gate driver on the CWG outputs and use the on-chip comparator for overcurrent protection, taking advantage of the wide 1.8V-3.6V supply to power the logic directly from a 3.3V regulator on the same board.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controllers
In LED lighting controllers, the PIC16LF18444T-I/SS drives PWM dimming channels while the on-chip 12-bit ADCC reads ambient light and color-temperature sensors for closed-loop brightness control. The XLP nanoWatt sleep current keeps standby power below the ENERGY STAR limits when the luminaire is off but still connected to mains-derived standby. The CWG can synthesize a complementary pair for a synchronous buck LED driver, and the configurable logic cells (CLC) let the designer implement custom safety timing in hardware without software overhead. The 20-pin SSOP footprint fits behind a small constant-current driver board, and the 1.8V-3.6V range allows direct connection to a 3.3V auxiliary supply without an additional LDO stage.
Recommended
Wireless Remote Controls and HIDs
The PIC16LF18444T-I/SS is a strong fit for wireless remote controls and human-interface devices thanks to the nanoWatt XLP sleep current, which keeps a coin-cell-powered remote alive for several years on standby. Its 18-GPIO budget supports a 4x4 key matrix, an IR LED driver, and a low-power SPI link to a sub-GHz or BLE companion radio. The CLC blocks implement custom key-scanning timing without CPU intervention, waking the core only on a real key event, and the EUSART provides a hardware debug port during development. Designers typically pair this MCU with an SPI EEPROM for user preferences and rely on the internal 32 kHz LF oscillator for RTC-grade wake intervals in the deep-sleep state.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Transmitters
For 4-20 mA industrial sensor transmitters and process-control nodes, the PIC16LF18444T-I/SS combines a 12-bit ADCC, 5-bit DAC, and on-chip comparator that can implement a sigma-delta loop or a PWM-driven analog output stage without an external DAC. The -40C to +85C industrial temperature range and the SSOP-20 footprint fit on a small DIN-rail transmitter PCB, and the EUSART plus SPI/I2C peripherals expose both legacy and modern sensor buses. The XLP technology keeps loop-powered designs within the 3.6 mA budget, while the wide 1.8V-3.6V supply allows the MCU to share a regulated rail with the analog front end. Designers typically use the DAC to drive a 4-20 mA loop driver and the ADCC to read a bridge sensor.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance User Interfaces
In consumer appliances, the PIC16LF18444T-I/SS drives a small TFT or segment LCD user interface, scans capacitive touch buttons through the on-chip comparator, and communicates with a host SoC over I2C or SPI. The 32 MHz core renders simple menus and animation frames fast enough to feel responsive, while the CLC and PPS blocks reduce external glue logic on the PCB. The SSOP-20 package fits a small main board alongside the appliance's primary power-management IC, and the 1.8V-3.6V supply range matches a single 3.3V rail. Designers commonly pair this MCU with an EEPROM for user settings and a piezo buzzer driver driven by a PWM channel for audible feedback.
Recommended
Portable Medical and Wellness Devices
The PIC16LF18444T-I/SS is well suited to portable medical and wellness devices where low-power operation, deterministic control, and a small footprint are mandatory. Its XLP nanoWatt sleep current extends battery life for wearable pulse oximeters, glucose meters, and thermometers, while the 12-bit ADCC provides enough resolution for sensor signal conditioning. The wide 1.8V-3.6V supply allows direct operation from a single CR2032 coin cell, and the SSOP-20 footprint fits inside a compact wearable enclosure. Designers often use the CLC blocks to debounce user buttons in real time without CPU wakeup, and rely on the on-chip temperature indicator for basic battery-health monitoring.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF18444T-I/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF18444-I/SS | PIC16LF18444T-I/SO | PIC16LF18345T-I/SS | PIC16LF18346T-I/SS | PIC16LF1788T-I/SS | PIC16LF1828T-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 20-SSOP (5.30mm) | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SOIC - same schematic, wider body | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same | 20-SSOP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory | 7 KB Flash | 7 KB Flash | 7 KB Flash | 14 KB Flash | 28 KB Flash | 8 KB Flash | 4 KB Flash |
| Data RAM | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 1 KB | 2 KB | 512 B | 256 B |
| Maximum Clock | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| ADC Resolution | 12-bit ADCC | 12-bit ADCC | 12-bit ADCC | 12-bit ADCC | 12-bit ADCC | 8-bit ADC | 8-bit ADC |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 3.6V |
| Low-Power Technology | XLP nanoWatt | XLP nanoWatt | XLP nanoWatt | XLP nanoWatt | XLP nanoWatt | XLP nanoWatt | XLP nanoWatt |
| CWG Peripheral | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Quantity-1 Price (USD, as of 2026-09-24) | 1.42 | 1.55 | 1.48 | 1.62 | 1.75 | 1.85 | 1.32 |
Key Differentiators
- Higher ADC resolution with on-chip computation (vs PIC16LF1828T-I/SS)
- Complementary Waveform Generator for power stages (vs PIC16LF1788T-I/SS)
- Best balance of Flash and pin count for battery IoT (vs PIC16LF18346T-I/SS)
Design Notes
Decouple VDD with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 3 mm of the VDD pin, and add a bulk 1uF-10uF capacitor if the design drives high-current peripherals. The 1.8V-3.6V supply range allows direct connection to a single-cell Li-ion source; if the upstream rail is a 5V USB supply, add a 3.3V LDO such as MCP1700 in front of the MCU to avoid exceeding the absolute maximum rating. Estimated: at 32 MHz active and 3.3V supply, the typical IDD is a few mA, so a small SOT-23 LDO is sufficient.
Route the ICSPCLK and ICSPDAT lines (RB6/RB7) directly to a 6-pin ICSP header for in-circuit programming and debugging, and avoid placing series resistors on these signals. Keep analog and digital traces physically separated, and tie the AVdd and AVss pins (if brought out) to clean analog supplies. The exposed thermal pad on the SSOP-20 is not present, so a small copper pour under the device helps dissipate heat but is not required.
Do not exceed 3.6V on VDD even briefly - the absolute maximum rating will permanently damage the part. Ensure the MCLR pin (if present in the variant) is pulled up through a resistor and not left floating, or the device may intermittently reset. When using the 12-bit ADCC, configure the AVDD reference and acquisition time correctly for the input impedance of the sensor to avoid conversion artifacts, and consult the electrical characteristics section for FOSC-versus-VDD derating when running at 32 MHz near the lower supply rail.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page; AEC-Q100 not qualified for Microchip - this part targets industrial and consumer applications, not automotive. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in the verified data.
