PIC16LF18446T-I/SO - 28KB Flash 8-bit MCU XLP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF18446T-I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.62 | $1.62 |
| 10 | $1.49 | $14.90 |
| 100 | $1.18 | $118.00 |
| 500 | $1.04 | $520.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.94 | $940.00 |
PIC16LF18446T-I/SO Overview
What is an 8-bit microcontroller (MCU)? An 8-bit MCU is a single-chip processor with an 8-bit data path that integrates CPU, Flash program memory, RAM, and peripherals. PIC microcontrollers are RISC-architecture MCUs from Microchip designed for embedded control in low-power and cost-sensitive applications. The PIC16 family sits in the mid-range 8-bit segment - higher integration than PIC10/12 baseline devices but simpler than 16-bit dsPIC or 32-bit ARM Cortex-M parts. Hierarchy: PIC16LF18446 -> PIC16(L)F184xx family -> PIC16 mid-range -> 8-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor.
Key features include 28KB (16K x 14 words) self-programmable Flash, 2KB SRAM, 256B EEPROM, 18 general-purpose I/O pins, and a wide 1.8V-3.6V operating voltage range. The integrated 12-bit ADCC with oversampling supports precision sensor measurements, while XLP technology delivers nanoWatt sleep currents suitable for battery-powered IoT endpoints. The CWG peripheral generates complementary PWM outputs with dead-band control for half-bridge and full-bridge power topologies.
The architecture uses a 14-bit instruction word with a modified Harvard structure, single-cycle execution except for branches, and a 32MHz internal oscillator with ±1% accuracy after calibration. Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) such as the ADCC, CWG, and SMT operate without CPU intervention, freeing the core for application logic and reducing active-mode power.
Typical applications include IoT sensor nodes, low-power wireless endpoints, battery-powered consumer devices, LED lighting controls with dimming, and industrial sensor interfaces. The PIC16LF18446 is AEC-Q100 capable via the -Q automotive variant and is supported by Microchip's MPLAB X IDE and XC8 compiler toolchain.
When designing with this device, evaluate active and sleep current budgets early - XLP nanoWatt technology is most effective when the firmware spends >90% of time in sleep with periodic ADCC-triggered wake-ups. For 5V-tolerant designs, the PIC16F18446 variant operates from 1.8V-5.5V.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF18446T-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 PIC16LF18446T-I/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Comparators, DAC, ADC, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F18446T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
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View Datasheet →PIC16LF18445T-I/SO
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View Datasheet →PIC16LF18445T-I/SO
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View Datasheet →PIC16LF18446T-I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC16 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 28 KB (16K x 14 words) |
| Data SRAM | 2 KB |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 32 MHz |
| Data Bus Width | 8 bit |
| Operating Supply Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Number of I/Os | 18 |
| ADC | 12-bit ADCC |
| DAC | Yes (5-bit / 8-bit) |
| PWM Channels | 2 (10-bit) |
| Comparators | Yes |
| Communication | EUSART, SPI, I2C |
| CWG | Complementary Waveform Generator |
| Package | 20-SOIC (SO) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| MSL Level | 1 (per JEDEC J-STD-020) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC16LF18446T-I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8V-3.6V) |
| Pin 2 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O / AN0 / DAC1OUT |
| Pin 3 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O / AN1 / DAC1REF+ |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O / AN2 / DAC1REF- |
| Pin 5 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O / AN3 / VREF+ |
| Pin 6 | RA4 — Bidirectional I/O / AN4 / T0CKI |
| Pin 7 | RA5 — Bidirectional I/O / AN5 / CWG1IN |
| Pin 8 | RA6 — Bidirectional I/O / AN6 / CLKOUT |
| Pin 9 | RA7 — Bidirectional I/O / AN7 / CLKIN |
| Pin 10 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 11 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O / AN8 / SCL |
| Pin 12 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O / AN9 / SDA |
| Pin 13 | RC2 — Bidirectional I/O / AN10 / SDO |
| Pin 14 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O / AN11 / SDI |
| Pin 15 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O / AN12 / SCK |
| Pin 16 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O / AN13 / TX/CK |
| Pin 17 | RC6 — Bidirectional I/O / AN14 / RX/DT |
| Pin 18 | RC7 — Bidirectional I/O / AN15 / PGM |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference (second bond) |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (second bond) |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF18446T-I/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, LED Lighting Dimming Control, Industrial Sensor Interface, Consumer Remote Control / HID, Automotive Body / Sensor Node (Non-Safety), Home Appliance Control Board.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC16LF18446T-I/SO fits battery-powered IoT sensor nodes because its XLP nanoWatt technology delivers sub-1uA sleep currents while the 12-bit ADCC with hardware oversampling provides accurate temperature, humidity, or light readings on wake. With 28KB Flash, the part can host an I2C/SPI sensor driver, a simple application protocol, and a state machine. Typical duty-cycle budget is <1% active, enabling multi-year coin-cell operation. Use Sleep + ADCC auto-trigger wake with EUSART TX of buffered samples to a host radio.
Recommended
LED Lighting Dimming Control
The PIC16LF18446T-I/SO is well suited for LED dimming because its Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG) produces dead-band-controlled complementary PWM outputs ideal for half-bridge LED driver topologies. The 10-bit PWM delivers smooth dimming, while the 12-bit ADCC reads ambient light sensors for closed-loop brightness control. Operating from 1.8V-3.6V, the LF variant suits battery-powered decorative LEDs; the F variant handles 5V/12V rails. The 2KB SRAM buffers lighting presets and fade curves.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Interface
For industrial sensor interfaces, the PIC16LF18446T-I/SO provides 18 GPIO, 12-bit ADCC, analog comparators, and EUSART/SPI/I2C in a single SOIC-20 device. Its 1.8V-3.6V supply suits 3.3V sensor rails with low quiescent draw, and the industrial -40C to +85C operating range covers most factory environments. Use the CWG for PWM-based valve or fan control and the ADCC with differential input for bridge sensor readout. 256B EEPROM stores calibration coefficients non-volatilely.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Control / HID
The PIC16LF18446T-I/SO is ideal for handheld remote controls thanks to nanoWatt sleep currents enabling coin-cell battery life of 2+ years. The integrated EUSART or SPI can drive a low-cost 2.4GHz transceiver; the CWG can generate IR carrier frequencies for traditional IR remotes. The 28KB Flash accommodates button mapping tables, debounce logic, and pairing protocols. 18 GPIO support matrix keypads or capacitive touch via the on-chip comparators without external ICs.
Recommended
Automotive Body / Sensor Node (Non-Safety)
The PIC16LF18446T-I/SO suits non-safety automotive body and sensor nodes such as seat occupancy sensors, ambient lighting, and door modules. The -40C to +85C industrial temperature grade covers cabin environments; AEC-Q100 automotive qualification requires the PIC16F18446T-I/SO-Q variant. The 12-bit ADCC with hardware averaging handles analog sensor inputs, while EUSART and SPI interface to LIN or CAN transceivers via external bus controllers. 32MHz operation supports real-time LIN protocol stacks.
Recommended
Home Appliance Control Board
The PIC16LF18446T-I/SO fits home appliance control boards including coffee makers, blenders, washing machines, and air purifiers. Its 28KB Flash and 2KB SRAM support user-interface state machines, motor control via CWG/PWM, and sensor monitoring via 12-bit ADCC. EEPROM stores user presets and run-time counters. The CWG peripheral drives TRIAC or MOSFET gate signals for AC load switching, while hardware comparators implement over-current protection without CPU intervention. Industrial -40C to +85C grade handles kitchen environments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF18446T-I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F18446T-I/SO | PIC16LF18445T-I/SO | PIC16LF18346-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 20-SOIC (SO) | 20-SOIC (SO) - same | 20-SOIC (SO) - same | 20-SOIC - same family |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 28 KB | 28 KB | 14 KB (-50%) | 28 KB |
| SRAM | 2 KB | 2 KB | 1 KB (-50%) | 2 KB |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 5.5V | 1.8V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 3.6V |
| Max Clock | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| ADC | 12-bit ADCC | 12-bit ADCC | 12-bit ADCC | 10-bit ADC (older) |
| I/O Pins | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest-voltage operation in PIC16F184xx 20-SOIC family (vs PIC16F18446T-I/SO)
- Maximum Flash density in 20-SOIC PIC16LF184xx family (vs PIC16LF18445T-I/SO)
- Newer-generation peripherals vs PIC16LF18346 (vs PIC16LF18346-I/SO)
Design Notes
Estimated: For battery-life modeling, assume sleep current <1 uA with RTCC + WDT active. Active current at 32 MHz and 3.3V is approximately 5 mA. A 0.1% duty cycle (1 ms active per second) yields average current ~6 uA, giving a CR2032 coin cell (~220 mAh) a calculated life of ~4 years. Always characterize sleep current on the production silicon, not simulation, because peripheral wake sources can multiply current by 10x-100x.
Place the two VDD pins (1, 20) and two VSS pins (10, 19) decoupling capacitors (100 nF X7R each) as close to the IC as possible, ideally within 2 mm trace length. For noisy 3.3V rails (e.g., switching regulator outputs), add a 10 uF bulk capacitor near the MCU. Keep ADC analog traces (RA0-RA7) short and shielded by AGND traces when high-impedance sensors are connected. Avoid routing switching signals under the SOIC-20 footprint to minimize coupling into the exposed die.
Do not exceed 3.6V on any I/O pin of the PIC16LF18446T-I/SO - the LF variant lacks 5V tolerance and clamping currents above 2 mA on a 5V rail can damage the I/O cell. Use the PIC16F18446T-I/SO for 5V-tolerant designs. The ADCC requires the FVR (Fixed Voltage Reference) be enabled and stable before conversions; allow 1 ms after FVR enable per the datasheet. Avoid driving ADC inputs below VSS-0.3V or above VDD+0.3V to prevent ESD latch-up.
Compliance Information
Industrial grade -40C to +85C. AEC-Q100 qualification requires -Q suffix variant (e.g. PIC16F18446T-I/SO-Q). RoHS and lead-free per Microchip product page. For automotive applications, choose the Q variant.
