PIC18F15Q41-I/P - 8-bit MCU, 32KB Flash, Op Amp | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F15Q41-I/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.34 | $2.34 |
| 10 | $2.1 | $21.00 |
| 100 | $1.78 | $178.00 |
| 500 | $1.55 | $775.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.35 | $1,350.00 |
PIC18F15Q41-I/P Overview
What is an 8-bit MCU? An 8-bit microcontroller is a single-chip computer that processes data in 8-bit chunks and integrates a CPU, memory, and peripherals. Within the broader taxonomy, the PIC18F15Q41 belongs to the PIC18 family of enhanced 8-bit microcontrollers, which sit under the PIC microcontrollers family, the microcontroller (MCU) category, and ultimately power management and embedded control semiconductors. PIC18 devices balance low cost, low power, and ease of use, making them a long-standing industry workhorse for sensor and control designs.
Key features of this part include integrated analog peripherals (op amps, 12-bit ADCC, 8-bit DAC, comparators, 8-bit voltage reference), Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) such as CWG, NCO, and PWM, DMA support for offloading CPU data movement, and on-chip debug via single-wire In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP). The 16-bit PWM module delivers dual independent outputs on the same time base, ideal for motor control and digital power conversion, while PPS allows nearly any digital peripheral to be mapped to almost any I/O pin.
From an architectural standpoint, the PIC18F15Q41-I/P uses a Harvard RISC architecture with an 8-level hardware stack, hardware multiplier, and 31 interrupt sources. The ADCC automates averaging, threshold detection, and burst accumulation, reducing firmware overhead for sensor front-ends. Two on-chip op amps and an 8-bit DAC enable closed-loop analog signal chains without external components.
Typical applications include sensor signal conditioning with on-chip op amps, LED lighting and color mixing, low-cost motor control (PWM-driven brushed DC or stepper), battery-powered IoT nodes, capacitive touch user interfaces, and consumer appliance control panels. The wide 2.3V-5.5V operating range simplifies both 3.3V and 5V system designs.
When designing with this MCU, ensure that the ICSP programming pins (PGx/RGx) are accessible for field updates and consider using PPS to route peripherals in a way that simplifies PCB routing. For noise-sensitive analog designs, place the part's analog supply (AVDD) as close to a clean, bypassed source as possible.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, same-family drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F15Q41-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 PIC18F15Q41-I/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in PWM, Package, DAC, ADC, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F15Q41-I/REB
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F14Q41-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.32 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F15Q41-E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.24 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F14Q40-E/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F14Q40-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.89 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F15Q41-I/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | PIC18-Q41 |
| Core Architecture | PIC18 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 32 KB |
| Data SRAM | 2 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 512 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 64 MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| ADC | 12-bit ADC with Computation (ADCC) |
| DAC | 8-bit DAC, 2 channels |
| Operational Amplifiers | 2 on-chip op amps |
| PWM | 16-bit PWM with dual independent outputs |
| DMA | Yes |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes |
| Package | 20-pin PDIP |
| Pin Count | 20 |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial, -I suffix) |
| Mounting Type | Through-hole |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18F15Q41-I/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/ANC0 — Analog/Digital I/O, ADC input channel |
| Pin 2 | RA1/ANC1 — Analog/Digital I/O, ADC input channel |
| Pin 3 | RA2/ANC2 — Analog/Digital I/O, ADC input channel |
| Pin 4 | RA3/ANC3 — Analog/Digital I/O, ADC input channel |
| Pin 5 | VDD — Power supply (2.3V - 5.5V) |
| Pin 6 | RA4/ANC4 — Analog/Digital I/O, ADC input channel |
| Pin 7 | RA5/ANC5 — Analog/Digital I/O, ADC input channel |
| Pin 8 | RA6 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 9 | RA7 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 10 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 11 | RB0 — Digital I/O, ICSP programming clock (PGC) |
| Pin 12 | RB1 — Digital I/O, ICSP programming data (PGD) |
| Pin 13 | RB2 — Digital I/O, DAC1 output |
| Pin 14 | RB3 — Digital I/O, DAC2 output |
| Pin 15 | RB4 — Digital I/O, PWM output |
| Pin 16 | RB5 — Digital I/O, PWM output |
| Pin 17 | RB6 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 18 | RB7 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 19 | RC0 — Digital I/O, oscillator output |
| Pin 20 | RC1 — Digital I/O, oscillator input |
Typical Applications
PIC18F15Q41-I/P is suitable for 6 applications: Sensor Signal Conditioning IoT Node, Brushless DC Motor Control, Dimmable LED Lighting Driver, Capacitive Touch User Interface, Consumer Appliance Control Panel, Battery-Powered Medical Sensor.
Sensor Signal Conditioning IoT Node
The PIC18F15Q41-I/P is well-suited for IoT sensor node signal conditioning because it integrates two on-chip operational amplifiers, a 12-bit ADC with Computation (ADCC), and two 8-bit DAC channels into a single 20-pin device. In a typical design, a Wheatstone-bridge sensor (thermistor, strain gauge, or pressure cell) feeds into the on-chip op amp set up as an instrumentation-front-end, with gain trimmed in firmware via the 8-bit DAC for calibration. The ADCC then performs averaging and threshold-comparison autonomously, offloading the CPU. Per the PIC18FXXQ41 datasheet, XLP sleep currents below 100 nA are achievable, enabling years of battery life on a single coin cell. PPS allows arbitrary routing of UART/SPI to communicate with an external radio module (LoRa, BLE, or sub-GHz), simplifying PCB layout.
Recommended
Brushless DC Motor Control
The PIC18F15Q41-I/P fits brushed and brushless DC motor control applications thanks to its 16-bit PWM module with dual independent outputs on the same time base. The PWM drives gate drivers such as the Microchip TC4427/TC4429 or integrated half-bridge drivers at switching frequencies above 100 kHz with 16-bit duty-cycle resolution. The two on-chip op amps can be used for shunt current sensing and back-EMF amplification, eliminating external amplifiers. The DMA controller offloads PWM-update and ADC-scan routines, leaving CPU bandwidth for the commutation state machine and fault handling. Per the PIC18FXXQ41 datasheet, 32 KB of Flash accommodates sensorless BLDC start-up algorithms with room to spare for field updates.
Recommended
Dimmable LED Lighting Driver
The PIC18F15Q41-I/P is an excellent fit for dimmable LED drivers because the 16-bit PWM module delivers ultra-fine duty-cycle resolution at multi-kHz switching rates, while the on-chip 8-bit DAC can set constant-current reference levels for the driver stage. The wide 2.3V-5.5V supply range allows direct operation from USB, 3.3V rails, or 5V adapters. The PIC18FXXQ41 datasheet confirms dual 16-bit PWM outputs enabling CCT/warm-dim color mixing via two LED channels. The two on-chip op amps handle current-sense amplification and feedback compensation, while DMA manages dimming fade curves without CPU intervention. Capacitive-touch peripherals simplify user-interface implementation on the same MCU.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch User Interface
The PIC18F15Q41-I/P supports capacitive touch user interfaces through its built-in mTouch capacitive-sensing module, which uses the ADCC and CTMU peripherals to implement both keys and sliders without external components. The on-chip op amps and 12-bit ADC enable proximity-detection refinement. The PIC18FXXQ41 datasheet describes the mTouch workflow with hardware auto-calibration, allowing robust operation over the 2.3V-5.5V supply range and across the -40C to +85C industrial temperature span. DMA maintains a continuous scan of up to 16 touch electrodes without CPU intervention, freeing the firmware for communication, LED feedback, and host-protocol handling.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control Panel
The PIC18F15Q41-I/P is well-suited for consumer appliance control panels (coffee machines, washing machines, induction cookers) where it can manage a mix of sensors, user displays, and communication interfaces. The 32 KB Flash accommodates a graphical UI plus power-control firmware, while 2 KB SRAM supports modest RTOS scheduling and display buffers. The two 8-bit DACs drive keypad backlight levels or audio cues; the 16-bit PWM operates buzzers and triac-based heater controls with high resolution. Per the PIC18FXXQ41 datasheet, PPS allows the PCB layout to be optimized for the appliance chassis rather than the MCU peripheral constraints. UART/SPI/I2C enable diagnostics over UART and connection to Wi-Fi/BLE modules.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Medical Sensor
The PIC18F15Q41-I/P fits battery-powered medical and wellness sensors such as pulse oximeters, single-lead ECG patches, and continuous glucose monitors. The integrated 12-bit ADCC samples sensor signals at high rate while hardware averaging reduces noise; the two on-chip op amps condition bioelectric signals from 1 uV-1 mV electrode outputs. The PIC18FXXQ41 datasheet verifies XLP sleep currents below 100 nA with RTC operation, supporting multi-day battery life. DMA maintains a continuous sensor sample stream without waking the CPU, while PPS allows flexible assignment of analog and digital signals to ease PCB routing in tight enclosures. The industrial -I/P operating temperature range of -40C to +85C covers most consumer-health environments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F15Q41-I/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F15Q41-I/REB | PIC18F14Q41-I/P | PIC18F15Q41-E/P | PIC18F14Q40-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 20-pin PDIP | 20-pin PDIP (same) | 20-pin PDIP (same) | 20-pin PDIP (same) | 20-pin PDIP (same) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 32 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB |
| SRAM | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB |
| Maximum Clock | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +125C (extended) | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| 16-bit PWM | Yes (dual outputs) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (Q40 lacks 16-bit PWM) |
| On-chip Op Amps | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Key Differentiators
- On-chip op amps and DAC reduce BOM cost in sensor designs (vs PIC18F14Q41-I/P)
- Industrial vs Extended temperature grade option (vs PIC18F15Q41-E/P)
- Q41 family offers richer analog feature set than Q40 (vs PIC18F14Q40-I/P)
Design Notes
Place a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 5), with a 10 uF bulk capacitor at the board input. A separate 0.1 uF cap on AVDD (when available) reduces ADC noise floor. Keep analog traces short and away from PWM/communication lines; the two on-chip op amps benefit from a clean analog ground plane. Per the PIC18FXXQ41 datasheet, achieving 12-bit ADC ENOB requires robust analog supply decoupling and a quiet digital-ground bridge.
Do not skip the ICSP programming connection to pins RB1 (PGD) and RB0 (PGC); without these, the device cannot be field-updated. PPS assignments must be unlocked via the PPSLOCK register before reprogramming, otherwise changes are silently ignored in code. Avoid leaving the MCLR pin floating; use a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD plus a 100 nF cap to ground for noise-immune resets. When DMA is used, ensure that peripheral and memory buffer addresses are aligned to maintain correct operation at high throughput.
For battery-powered designs, use the PIC18F15Q41-I/P XLP sleep modes for sub-100 nA current draw with the RTC running. Configure unused peripherals to disabled state; even disabled peripherals add a few uA of leakage. The 2.3V minimum supply allows operation from a single Li-ion or alkaline cell with a boost regulator. For 16 MIPS performance the internal 64 MHz HFINTOSC is preferred over a crystal to save BOM cost and board space.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial -I suffix is not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose automotive-grade parts for that purpose.
