PIC18F15Q40-E/REB - 8-Bit 64MHz MCU, 32KB Flash, 20-VQFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F15Q40-E/REB ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.99 | $3.99 |
| 10 | $3.59 | $35.90 |
| 100 | $3.19 | $319.00 |
| 500 | $2.85 | $1,425.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.49 | $2,490.00 |
PIC18F15Q40-E/REB Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, memory, and programmable peripherals on one IC. The PIC18F family is built on an enhanced 8-bit RISC Harvard architecture that balances deterministic interrupt response, low power consumption, and ease of programming in C or assembly. Within the broader taxonomy, an 8-bit MCU like the PIC18F15Q40 sits between simple 8-bit controllers and 16-/32-bit MCUs, making it ideal for cost-sensitive real-time control applications that demand more peripheral integration than a basic PIC10/PIC12 device but do not justify the cost of an ARM Cortex-M0 part.
Key features include 17 channels of 12-bit ADC with computation capabilities, hardware-accelerated averaging/filtering/oversampling/threshold comparison, two 8-bit DACs for analog signal generation, multiple communication interfaces including UART, SPI, and I2C, plus 9 timers and 3 PWM modules. The device operates from 1.8V to 5.5V supply, supports extended temperature range from -40C to +125C, and includes on-chip debugging via MPLAB ICD.
The PIC18-Q40 architecture combines a high-throughput 8-bit core with rich analog integration, making it well suited for sensor-based designs. Configurable Logic Cells allow glue-logic replacement directly in hardware, while DMA offloads repetitive data movement from the CPU, freeing cycles for application code.
Typical applications include consumer appliance control, capacitive touch user interfaces, sensor node data acquisition, motor control loops, LED lighting controllers, and battery-powered IoT edge devices. The wide 1.8V-5.5V supply range supports both single-cell lithium battery operation and traditional 5V systems.
When designing with the PIC18F15Q40-E/REB, ensure that unused pins are configured as outputs or pulled appropriately to minimize power consumption. The CLC modules can replace discrete logic gates to reduce BOM cost and PCB area in mixed-signal designs.
This page synthesizes verified distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, and practical design guidance beyond the manufacturer datasheet, supporting engineers in component selection and BOM optimization.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F15Q40-E/REB — 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 PIC18F15Q40-E/REB (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, DAC, PWM, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
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Request AlternativesPIC18F15Q40-E/REB Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC18 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 32 KB (32K x 8) |
| Data SRAM | 2 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 512 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 64 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (Vcc/Vdd) | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (Extended) |
| ADC | 12-bit with Computation (ADCC), 17 channels |
| DAC | 2 x 8-bit DAC |
| PWM | 16-bit PWM modules |
| DMA Channels | 4 |
| Comparators | 2 |
| Configurable Logic Cells (CLC) | Yes |
| Timers | 9 |
| Communication Interfaces | UART, SPI, I2C |
| Package | 20-pin VQFN (3x3 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | ROHS3 Compliant |
PIC18F15Q40-E/REB Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5 — I/O port A bit 5 / analog input |
| Pin 2 | RA4 — I/O port A bit 4 |
| Pin 3 | RA3 — I/O port A bit 3 |
| Pin 4 | RA2 — I/O port A bit 2 |
| Pin 5 | RA1 — I/O port A bit 1 |
| Pin 6 | RA0 — I/O port A bit 0 |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 8 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 9 | RA7 — I/O port A bit 7 / oscillator |
| Pin 10 | RA6 — I/O port A bit 6 / oscillator |
| Pin 11 | RC5 — I/O port C bit 5 |
| Pin 12 | RC4 — I/O port C bit 4 |
| Pin 13 | RC3 — I/O port C bit 3 |
| Pin 14 | RC2 — I/O port C bit 2 |
| Pin 15 | RC1 — I/O port C bit 1 |
| Pin 16 | RC0 — I/O port C bit 0 |
| Pin 17 | RB7 — I/O port B bit 7 / analog input |
| Pin 18 | RB6 — I/O port B bit 6 / analog input |
| Pin 19 | RB5 — I/O port B bit 5 / analog input |
| Pin 20 | RB4 — I/O port B bit 4 / analog input |
Typical Applications
PIC18F15Q40-E/REB is suitable for 6 applications: Capacitive Touch User Interface, Sensor Node Data Acquisition, BLDC Motor and Fan Control, LED Lighting Controller, Battery-Powered IoT Edge Device, Consumer Appliance Control.
Capacitive Touch User Interface
The PIC18F15Q40-E/REB's 12-bit ADCC with Computation automates Capacitive Voltage Divider (CVD) techniques for robust touch sensing, supporting buttons, sliders, and proximity sensors without external touch ICs. Its 17 ADC channels allow up to 17 touch electrodes on a single MCU, while hardware averaging and threshold comparison eliminate software filtering overhead. The 3x3 mm VQFN-20 package fits behind 1 mm glass overlays in appliance front panels, and the 1.8-5.5V supply enables direct battery operation in portable devices. Compared to discrete touch solutions, the integrated ADCC reduces BOM by replacing dedicated touch controller ICs.
Recommended
Sensor Node Data Acquisition
The PIC18F15Q40-E/REB's 17-channel 12-bit ADCC with DMA offload captures multi-sensor data streams at up to 100 ksps without CPU intervention. Its 4 DMA channels transfer ADC results directly to RAM, freeing the 64MHz PIC18 core for protocol stack processing (UART/SPI/I2C) and threshold logic. The 32KB Flash accommodates sensor fusion firmware, while 2KB SRAM buffers burst ADC captures. Battery-powered wireless sensor nodes benefit from the 1.8V minimum supply enabling direct Li-ion or 2x AA operation down to 2.0V without boost converters.
Recommended
BLDC Motor and Fan Control
The PIC18F15Q40-E/REB's 16-bit PWM modules, two comparators, and Configurable Logic Cells (CLC) implement sensorless BLDC motor commutation and closed-loop fan control. Its 64MHz core executes PI control loops at 16 MHz instruction rate with deterministic interrupt latency for back-EMF zero-crossing detection. The 8-bit DACs provide analog reference outputs for motor driver ICs, while the ADCC monitors current sensing and overcurrent protection. The compact VQFN-20 fits inside small form factor motor housings.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller
The PIC18F15Q40-E/REB drives multi-channel LED lighting with its 16-bit PWM resolution enabling smooth dimming curves down to 0.1% duty cycle steps. Its CLC modules implement hardware PWM blanking and dead-time control without software overhead, while ADCC channels monitor LED current feedback via analog sense resistors. The 32KB Flash stores custom lighting profiles and color mixing algorithms, with DMA enabling flicker-free PWM updates. The wide 1.8-5.5V supply supports both 3.3V logic LEDs and 5V analog dimming interfaces.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Edge Device
The PIC18F15Q40-E/REB's 1.8V minimum supply voltage enables direct Li-ion or 2x AA battery operation without boost converters, maximizing energy efficiency. Its DMA-driven ADC sampling extends battery life by keeping the CPU in sleep mode between sensor reads. The 32KB Flash accommodates MQTT or BLE peripheral firmware, while 2KB SRAM buffers network packets. The CLC implements wake-on-interrupt logic in hardware, reducing average quiescent current. The 20-pin VQFN (3x3 mm) package fits in coin-cell sensor tags.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control
The PIC18F15Q40-E/REB integrates every peripheral needed for white goods and small appliance controllers: 12-bit ADCC reads temperature and humidity sensors, 16-bit PWM drives motor loads, CLC implements safety interlocks in hardware, and UART/SPI/I2C interface to display modules and wireless chips. Its extended -40C to +125C temperature grade meets appliance environmental requirements, while 32KB Flash stores user interface state machines and diagnostic logs. The compact 3x3 mm VQFN fits on densely populated control boards.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F15Q40-E/REB — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F15Q40-I/REB | PIC18F14Q40-I/SO | PIC18F14Q40-E/SO | PIC18F05Q40-E/ST | PIC18F05Q40-I/SL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-pin VQFN (3x3 mm) | 20-pin VQFN (3x3 mm) | 20-pin SOIC | 20-pin SOIC | 20-pin TSSOP | 20-pin SOIC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 32 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB |
| Data SRAM | 2 KB | 2 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 512 B | 512 B |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz |
| ADC Channels / Resolution | 17 ch / 12-bit | 17 ch / 12-bit | 14 ch / 12-bit | 14 ch / 12-bit | 10 ch / 12-bit | 10 ch / 12-bit |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
Key Differentiators
- Highest memory density in 20-pin Q40 family (vs PIC18F14Q40-E/SO)
- Smallest PCB footprint in Q40 family (vs PIC18F14Q40-I/SO)
- Extended temperature grade for harsh environments (vs PIC18F15Q40-I/REB)
Design Notes
The PIC18F15Q40-E/REB operates from 1.8V to 5.5V. Estimated: at 64MHz CPU and all peripherals active, current consumption is approximately 10-15 mA. For battery-powered designs, leverage the ADC DMA + sleep mode pattern - configure the ADCC for periodic sampling and use the CLC to wake the CPU only on threshold events to reduce average current to microamp levels.
The 20-pin VQFN (3x3 mm) package has an exposed thermal pad (EP) that must be soldered to a ground copper pour for thermal dissipation and electrical grounding. Use an array of thermal vias under the EP to connect the top ground pour to inner ground planes. Place a 0.1uF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin, with an additional bulk 1uF-10uF capacitor nearby for switching transients.
Estimated: When migrating between Q40 family variants, verify pinout differences carefully. The 20-pin VQFN, SOIC, and TSSOP packages share pin functions, but pin assignments for peripheral remapping (PPS) differ between packages. Always check Section 2 (Pin Diagrams) of the datasheet before designing PCB layouts to avoid signal-routing errors when scaling across memory sizes.
Compliance Information
ROHS3 compliant per ics-embedded.com listing. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - automotive designs should verify with Microchip directly. Lead-free packaging standard.
