PIC18F27J53-I/SP - 8-bit 48MHz USB MCU, 128KB Flash, 28-SPDIP | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F27J53-I/SP ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.12 | $6.12 |
| 10 | $5.49 | $54.90 |
| 100 | $4.78 | $478.00 |
| 500 | $4.2 | $2,100.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.65 | $3,650.00 |
PIC18F27J53-I/SP Overview
What is a microcontroller? A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (Flash/ROM), data memory (RAM), and programmable peripherals on one die. The PIC18F27J53 sits in the PIC18 8-bit family hierarchy as: PIC18F27J53 -> PIC18 J-series -> PIC18 family -> 8-bit PIC microcontroller -> Microchip MCU portfolio -> embedded controller IC. Its XLP technology (eXtreme Low Power) provides deep-sleep currents in the nanoamp range, targeting battery-powered and USB-powered embedded designs.
Key features include 12 MIPS peak performance at 48 MHz, 22 channels of 10/12-bit ADC, two analog comparators, hardware DMA moving data between peripherals without CPU intervention, full-speed USB 2.0 device/host/OTG, four 16-bit timers, two MSSP (SPI/I2C), two UART modules, and a CTMU charge-time measurement unit for capacitive touch. The 28-SPDIP package offers through-hole ease-of-use for prototyping and breadboarding while still exposing the full peripheral set.
Architecturally, the PIC18F27J53 uses a Harvard RISC core with a hardware multiplier, 16-bit instructions, and dedicated peripheral DMA channels that allow ADC captures, PWM updates, and USB transfers to run independently of the CPU. This offloading enables deterministic real-time performance and frees the core for application logic in motor control, sensor fusion, or USB HID applications.
Typical applications include USB peripherals such as HID mice/keyboards, CDC virtual COM ports, and audio class devices; industrial sensor nodes using CTMU-based capacitive touch; battery-powered data loggers exploiting nanoWatt XLP sleep currents; small motor control subsystems leveraging PWM and timers; and consumer devices requiring mixed-signal integration with USB connectivity.
When designing with this part, ensure the USB D+/D- lines are routed as a 90-ohm differential pair with the required 15 kohm pull-down on D- in device mode. The wide operating voltage (2.0V-3.6V core / 4.2V-5.5V USB-capable) requires careful LDO selection when powering USB rails.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, verified drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found on the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F27J53-I/SP — 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 PIC18F27J53-I/SP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Operating Temperature, Package, Series, MSL Level.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F27J53-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.23 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F27J53-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F27J53-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F26J53-I/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F27J13-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.7 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F46J53-I/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F27J53-I/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | PIC18 (8-bit) |
| Core Size | 8-Bit |
| Series | PIC XLP 18J |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 48 MHz |
| Performance | 12 MIPS |
| Program Memory Size | 128 KB (64K x 16) Flash |
| RAM Size | 4 KB |
| Package | 28-SPDIP (0.300", 7.62 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Through Hole |
| I/O Count | 25 |
| Connectivity | I2C, LINbus, SPI, UART/USART, USB |
| Peripherals | Brown-out Detect/Reset, POR, PWM, WDT, DMA, CTMU |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 22 channels |
| Supply Voltage | 2.0 V to 3.6 V (core); 4.2 V to 5.5 V USB-capable |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed Device/Host/OTG |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18F27J53-I/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0 — Port A bit 0 / Analog input 0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1 — Port A bit 1 / Analog input 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — Port A bit 2 / Analog input 2 / ADC VREF- |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Port A bit 3 / Analog input 3 / ADC VREF+ |
| Pin 5 | RA4/AN4 — Port A bit 4 / Analog input 4 |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN5 — Port A bit 5 / Analog input 5 |
| Pin 7 | VDD — Positive supply (2.0-3.6V core / 4.2-5.5V USB) |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKIN — Crystal oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Crystal oscillator output / clock output |
| Pin 11 | RC0/SOSCO — Port C bit 0 / Secondary oscillator output |
| Pin 12 | RC1/SOSCI — Port C bit 1 / Secondary oscillator input |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 — Port C bit 2 / Capture/Compare/PWM 1 |
| Pin 14 | RC3/CCP2 — Port C bit 3 / Capture/Compare/PWM 2 |
| Pin 15 | RC4/D-/VMIO — Port C bit 4 / USB D- line / Vbus monitor input |
| Pin 16 | RC5/D+/VPIO — Port C bit 5 / USB D+ line / Vbus power input |
| Pin 17 | RC6 — Port C bit 6 |
| Pin 18 | RC7 — Port C bit 7 |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 21 | RB0/AN12 — Port B bit 0 / Analog input 12 |
| Pin 22 | RB1/AN10 — Port B bit 1 / Analog input 10 |
| Pin 23 | RB2/AN8 — Port B bit 2 / Analog input 8 |
| Pin 24 | RB3/AN9 — Port B bit 3 / Analog input 9 |
| Pin 25 | RB4/CCP4 — Port B bit 4 / Capture/Compare/PWM 4 |
| Pin 26 | RB5/CCP5 — Port B bit 5 / Capture/Compare/PWM 5 |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC — Port B bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD — Port B bit 7 / ICSP data |
Typical Applications
PIC18F27J53-I/SP is suitable for 7 applications: USB HID Peripherals (Mice, Keyboards, Custom HID), USB CDC Virtual COM Port Devices, Capacitive Touch Sensing (CTMU-based Keypads), Battery-Powered Data Loggers with USB, Small Motor Control (PWM + ADC Feedback), Industrial Sensor Front-Ends (LIN/Analog), Consumer Audio Class USB Devices.
USB HID Peripherals (Mice, Keyboards, Custom HID)
The PIC18F27J53's integrated USB 2.0 full-speed SIE and 128 KB Flash make it an excellent fit for USB HID devices such as mice, keyboards, game controllers, and custom HID-class peripherals. The hardware DMA channels move HID report data directly between endpoint buffers and RAM, freeing the 12 MIPS core for button matrix scanning and report formatting. With 4 KB RAM, the device can sustain high HID report rates while maintaining descriptor handling. Designers benefit from Microchip's free USB stack and HID bootloader, which leverage the ICSP self-programming Flash for firmware updates over USB.
Recommended
USB CDC Virtual COM Port Devices
The PIC18F27J53-I/SP supports USB Communication Device Class (CDC) implementations that appear as virtual COM ports to a host PC, eliminating the need for external RS-232 transceivers or USB-to-UART bridges. Its two UART peripherals can be tunneled to USB, allowing legacy RS-232 firmware to bridge to USB transparently. The 12 MIPS performance ensures smooth throughput at 115200+ baud virtual COM rates, while the 4 KB RAM supports bulk endpoint buffering. This makes the chip ideal for industrial configuration interfaces, debug ports, and firmware-update tools where legacy serial design patterns remain in use.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch Sensing (CTMU-based Keypads)
The PIC18F27J53's on-chip CTMU (Charge Time Measurement Unit) combined with the 12-bit ADC and 22 analog channels supports capacitive touch sensing for keypads, sliders, and proximity sensors. The CTMU delivers constant current sources that allow the ADC to measure charge-time differences on capacitive electrodes with sub-percent accuracy, all without external analog components. The XLP deep-sleep mode keeps touch scanning consumption in the microamp range, suiting battery-powered white goods, appliances, and IoT user interfaces. Designers benefit from Microchip's mTouch library for the PIC18 platform.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Data Loggers with USB
The PIC18F27J53-I/SP's nanoWatt XLP technology and 128 KB Flash are ideal for battery-powered data loggers that periodically wake up to acquire sensor data, store it in Flash, and dump to a host via USB. Deep-sleep currents in the nanoamp range allow multi-year battery life when acquisition intervals are long, while the integrated USB eliminates external bridges for log retrieval. The 12-bit ADC at 22 channels supports multi-sensor arrays (temperature, voltage, current), and the DMA engine can stream ADC samples directly to RAM without waking the core for high-rate bursts.
Recommended
Small Motor Control (PWM + ADC Feedback)
The PIC18F27J53-I/SP delivers 12 MIPS and four 16-bit timers with hardware PWM, supporting DC brush, stepper, and small BLDC motor control applications. The 12-bit ADC provides current/voltage feedback sensing at up to 200 ksps with hardware DMA, enabling precise torque and speed control loops without CPU bottlenecking. The 25 I/O pins are sufficient for quadrature encoder inputs, Hall sensors, and half-bridge driver enable lines. Designers can use the CTMU as a zero-crossing detector for low-cost sensorless BLDC commutation in fan or pump drives.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Front-Ends (LIN/Analog)
The PIC18F27J53-I/SP includes LIN-bus connectivity, SPI/I2C MSSP, and a 12-bit ADC, making it suitable for industrial sensor front-ends and LIN slaves. LIN 2.x support, combined with on-chip PWM and timers, enables cost-effective LIN motor and actuator nodes in automotive body electronics and factory automation. The robust industrial temperature range (-40C to +85C) supports outdoor and under-hood sensor placement, while the 128 KB Flash accommodates LIN stack libraries and application firmware in a single chip.
Recommended
Consumer Audio Class USB Devices
The PIC18F27J53's USB Audio Class support and DMA-driven endpoint streaming allow it to implement USB speakers, headsets, and audio control surfaces at low BOM cost. The two MSSP peripherals can drive external I2S DACs, while the 12 MIPS core runs basic audio mixing or sample-rate conversion. With 4 KB RAM and ping-pong endpoint buffering via DMA, the chip sustains stable isochronous USB audio streams. Designers can pair it with low-cost audio DACs to create complete USB audio peripherals without dedicated audio processors.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F27J53-I/SP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F27J53-I/SO | PIC18F27J53-I/SS | PIC18F26J53-I/SP | PIC18F27J13-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SPDIP | 28-SOIC | 28-SSOP | 28-SPDIP (same) | 28-SSOP |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Flash | 128 KB | 128 KB (same) | 128 KB (same) | 64 KB (-50%) | 128 KB (same) |
| RAM | 4 KB | 4 KB (same) | 4 KB (same) | 3.6 KB | 4 KB (same) |
| USB 2.0 | Yes (FS Device/Host/OTG) | Yes (same) | Yes (same) | Yes (same) | Yes (same) |
| CTMU (Capacitive Touch) | Yes | Yes (same) | Yes (same) | Yes (same) | No |
| DMA Channels | Yes (8 channels) | Yes (same) | Yes (same) | Yes (same) | No |
| Maximum Clock | 48 MHz | 48 MHz (same) | 48 MHz (same) | 48 MHz (same) | 48 MHz (same) |
| Unit Price (qty 1) | ~$6.12 USD | ~$5.95 USD | ~$5.80 USD | ~$5.40 USD | ~$5.20 USD |
Key Differentiators
- 128 KB Flash with hardware DMA + CTMU in 28-SPDIP (vs PIC18F27J13-I/SS)
- Same 128 KB Flash as J53 but in 64 KB part (vs PIC18F26J53-I/SP)
- Through-hole SPDIP for breadboard-friendly prototyping (vs PIC18F27J53-I/ML (QFN))
Design Notes
Route the USB D+ and D- lines as a 90-ohm differential pair with controlled impedance on the outer PCB layer, keeping them short and away from switching signals. Place the 15 kohm pull-down resistor on D- (device mode) or D+ (host mode) within 50 mm of the USB connector. Add common-mode chokes if the design must pass radiated emissions testing.
Decouple each VDD/VSS pair with 100 nF ceramic capacitors placed within 3 mm of each pin pair, plus a 10 uF bulk capacitor near the regulator output. When operating USB mode (4.2-5.5V Vbus), the internal 3.3V LDO requires its VDD/VSS pair decoupled as per datasheet recommendation to keep ripple below 50 mV for USB signaling compliance.
Do not assume the ICSP pins RB6/RB7 are 5V tolerant on this part - they require 3.3V signaling from programmers. When migrating firmware from PIC18F2550/4550 designs, the J-series requires PLL configuration changes (48 MHz PLL is on by default with internal clock) and the configuration word bit positions differ; consult the PIC18F27J53 datasheet configuration section before porting.
The 28-SPDIP footprint requires 0.100" (2.54 mm) pin pitch with 0.030" (0.76 mm) drill and standard 0.060" (1.5 mm) pad. For hand-soldered prototypes, use sockets to allow quick firmware iteration. Keep analog traces (RA/RC analog functions) away from digital switching to minimize crosstalk into the ADC measurements.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial temperature grade -40C to +85C. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; for automotive USB applications, consider PIC18F25K50 in AEC-Q100 qualified versions.
