PIC18F15Q40-I/P - 8-Bit 64MHz MCU, 32KB Flash, 20-PDIP | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F15Q40-I/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.28 | $3.28 |
| 10 | $2.95 | $29.50 |
| 100 | $2.62 | $262.00 |
| 500 | $2.31 | $1,155.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.05 | $2,050.00 |
PIC18F15Q40-I/P Overview
What is a PIC microcontroller? A PIC (Peripheral Interface Controller) is a family of Harvard-architecture microcontrollers from Microchip Technology built around a RISC instruction set, widely used in embedded systems that require deterministic real-time response, low power consumption, and rich peripheral integration. Within the taxonomy, the PIC18F15Q40 sits in the 8-bit PIC18 family -> PIC microcontroller -> microcontroller unit (MCU) -> embedded processor -> semiconductor device.
Key features of the PIC18F15Q40-I/P include up to 64 MHz operation, a 12-bit ADCC with automated capacitive voltage divider (CVD) for advanced touch sensing, two 8-bit DACs for analog outputs, DMA for data movement without CPU intervention, four 16-bit PWMs for motor and power control, four CLC blocks for hardware glue logic, and PPS for flexible pin mapping. Its 32 KB Flash and 2 KB SRAM give enough headroom for state-machine plus protocol stacks in compact designs.
Technically, the ADCC automates averaging, filtering, oversampling, and threshold comparison, offloading signal-conditioning work that would otherwise consume CPU cycles. DMA channels move ADC results into RAM or PWM registers autonomously, freeing the CPU for closed-loop control. The CLC peripheral implements combinational and sequential logic on-chip, replacing small external logic ICs and reducing BOM cost. PPS allows most digital peripherals to be remapped to a wide range of I/O pins, simplifying PCB layout.
Typical applications include capacitive touch user interfaces, BLDC motor control, LED lighting drivers, sensor signal conditioning, HVAC fan control, and small-form-factor IoT edge nodes. The 20-pin PDIP variant is especially attractive for breadboarding, education, and through-hole production where hand-soldering or socketed replacement is required.
When designing with this part, leverage the peripheral pin select (PPS) feature to route peripherals to convenient pins, and use the CLC to implement safety logic or hardware interlocks without external gates. Plan for ICD/ICSP header access if in-field firmware updates are required.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F15Q40-I/P — 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-I/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Core Architecture, DAC, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F15Q40-E/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.02 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F14Q40-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.89 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F05Q40-I/SL
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F15Q40-I/P 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 Speed | 64 MHz |
| ADC | 12-bit ADC with Computation (ADCC) |
| DAC | 2 x 8-bit DAC |
| PWM | 16-bit PWM |
| DMA | Yes (Direct Memory Access) |
| Configurable Logic Cells (CLC) | Yes |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes |
| Package | 20-pin PDIP |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| Communication Interfaces | UART, SPI, I2C |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18F15Q40-I/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA3/AN3 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 2 | RA4/AN4 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 3 | RA5/MCLR — Bidirectional I/O / Master Clear (reset) |
| Pin 4 | RA0/AN0 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 5 | RA1/AN1 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 6 | RA2/AN2 — Bidirectional I/O / analog input |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 9 | RB4 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 10 | RB5 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 11 | RB6/ICSPCLK — Bidirectional I/O / ICD clock |
| Pin 12 | RB7/ICSPDAT — Bidirectional I/O / ICD data |
| Pin 13 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O (PPS-capable) |
| Pin 14 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O (PPS-capable) |
| Pin 15 | RC2 — Bidirectional I/O (PPS-capable) |
| Pin 16 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O (PPS-capable) |
| Pin 17 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O (PPS-capable) |
| Pin 18 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O (PPS-capable) |
| Pin 19 | RC6 — Bidirectional I/O (PPS-capable) |
| Pin 20 | RC7 — Bidirectional I/O (PPS-capable) |
Typical Applications
PIC18F15Q40-I/P is suitable for 6 applications: Capacitive Touch User Interface, BLDC and DC Motor Control, LED Lighting Drivers, Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning, HVAC Fan and Blower Control, IoT Edge Sensor Nodes.
Capacitive Touch User Interface
The PIC18F15Q40-I/P is well suited for capacitive touch user interfaces thanks to its 12-bit ADC with Computation (ADCC) that automates capacitive voltage divider (CVD) sensing. According to the Microchip datasheet, the ADCC performs averaging, filtering, oversampling, and threshold comparison on-chip, offloading capacitive scan processing from the CPU. With 32 KB Flash and 2 KB SRAM, the part has headroom for mTouch libraries and a small UI state machine, while PPS allows flexible sensor pin routing.
Recommended
BLDC and DC Motor Control
The PIC18F15Q40-I/P suits small BLDC and brushed DC motor control applications due to its 16-bit PWM, DMA channels, and configurable logic cells (CLC). The CLC can implement hardware interlocks and dead-time logic without external gates, while DMA autonomously updates PWM duty cycles from RAM. With a 64 MHz CPU the part sustains 10-20 kHz control loops with residual bandwidth for commutation and current sensing, and PPS lets designers route PWM outputs to convenient pins.
Recommended
LED Lighting Drivers
The PIC18F15Q40-I/P fits LED lighting driver designs where multiple PWM channels, high-resolution dimming, and color mixing are required. Its 16-bit PWM provides smooth dimming with minimal flicker, while the two 8-bit DACs supply analog references for constant-current drivers or temperature-compensation loops. DMA and CLC enable automatic color-temperature adjustment without CPU intervention, and the 1.8 V to 5.5 V supply range allows direct operation from battery or USB rails.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning
The PIC18F15Q40-I/P is appropriate for industrial sensor signal conditioning nodes where multiple analog inputs require filtering and linearization. The 12-bit ADCC automates oversampling and threshold-based event detection, while the two 8-bit DACs provide excitation or offset bias for bridge sensors. With UART/SPI/I2C plus PPS, the MCU can simultaneously host a sensor front-end and a downstream industrial bus such as RS-485 or Modbus, all in a through-hole PDIP form factor suited to harsh environments.
Recommended
HVAC Fan and Blower Control
The PIC18F15Q40-I/P is well matched to HVAC fan and blower controllers that require closed-loop speed control and AC line zero-cross detection. Its 16-bit PWM provides high-resolution variable-frequency drive, while CLC blocks implement safety logic such as over-current shutoff without external gates. The 20-pin PDIP package simplifies hand-soldering during field repairs, and the -40C to +85C industrial temperature rating covers indoor equipment compartments.
Recommended
IoT Edge Sensor Nodes
The PIC18F15Q40-I/P is well suited to small IoT edge sensor nodes that require analog front-end, local decision-making, and a serial uplink. The 12-bit ADCC reads multiple sensors while DMA streams results into RAM, and the CLC generates wake-up events without CPU intervention. With 32 KB Flash the MCU can host a lightweight MQTT-SN or LoRaWAN stack, and PPS allows the same serial peripheral to be routed to a wireless module or RS-485 transceiver depending on the deployment.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F15Q40-I/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F15Q40-E/SO | PIC18F14Q40-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-pin PDIP | 20-pin SOIC (same family, NOT drop-in due to footprint) | 20-pin PDIP - same |
| Flash Memory | 32 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB |
| SRAM | 2 KB | 2 KB | 1 KB |
| CPU Speed | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| ADC | 12-bit ADCC | 12-bit ADCC | 12-bit ADCC |
Key Differentiators
- Highest memory density in 20-pin PIC18-Q40 family (vs PIC18F14Q40-I/P)
- Through-hole PDIP for prototyping and education (vs PIC18F15Q40-I/SO)
- Industrial temperature grade at lower price than extended grade (vs PIC18F15Q40-E/SO)
Design Notes
Power the PIC18F15Q40-I/P from a clean 3.3 V or 5 V rail with a 100 nF decoupling capacitor placed within 5 mm of the VDD pin and a bulk 10 uF capacitor on the supply rail. The internal voltage regulator requires VDD between 1.8 V and 5.5 V; operation below 1.8 V is not guaranteed. For battery-powered designs, configure the brown-out reset to match the minimum operating voltage of your specific peripheral mix.
Reserve a 5-pin header footprint for ICSP (ICSPCLK, ICSPDAT, VDD, VSS, MCLR) so production firmware can be programmed in-circuit. Place the header at the board edge to allow pogo-pin or clip-on programming. Keep analog traces short and routed away from PWM or PWM-switched power traces to minimize ADC noise coupling into the 12-bit ADCC measurements.
Do not configure PPS to remap ICSP signals to RB6/RB7 unless an alternate programming header is provided - field firmware updates will fail if the alternate mapping is not in place. Do not exceed 5.5 V on VDD or apply voltage to RA3/RA4 with VDD below 1.8 V; the absolute maximum ratings are stricter than the operating range. Always configure the unused I/O pins as outputs low to minimize shoot-through current.
When using the 12-bit ADCC for capacitive touch or low-level analog sensing, decouple AVVDD from VDD with a ferrite bead and add a 10 uF plus 100 nF capacitor close to the AVSS pin. Disable digital inputs on analog channels via the ANS register to prevent digital glitch energy from corrupting ADC samples. Use the ADCC auto-conversion and oversampling modes to average out high-frequency noise at the cost of latency.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this part targets industrial and consumer, not automotive safety-critical applications.
