PIC18F4480-I/ML - 8-bit 40MHz MCU 16KB Flash ECAN | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F4480-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.82 | $7.82 |
| 10 | $7.04 | $70.40 |
| 100 | $6.18 | $618.00 |
| 500 | $5.51 | $2,755.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.89 | $4,890.00 |
PIC18F4480-I/ML Overview
A PIC microcontroller (Programmable Interface Controller) is a compact embedded processor that combines a CPU, RAM, non-volatile program memory, and peripherals on a single silicon die. The PIC18 family represents the high-performance tier of Microchip's 8-bit portfolio, providing 16-bit instructions, hardware multiplier, and extended interrupt controller. These devices sit between simpler PIC16 controllers and the 16-bit dsPIC/PIC24 families in the broader microcontroller taxonomy, offering a balance of cost, code density, and real-time deterministic performance for automotive, industrial, and consumer embedded systems.
Key features include 40 MHz operation (10 MIPS), 10-bit ADC with up to 11 input channels, two analog comparators, two CCP/ECCP modules, a hardware ECAN module, USART, MSSP (SPI/I2C), and nanoWatt power-saving modes. The 44-QFN (ML) package provides a compact footprint suitable for space-constrained designs while exposing 36 I/O lines. Operating voltage spans 2.0V to 5.5V across -40C to +85C industrial temperature range.
The PIC18F4480's hardware ECAN module implements CAN 2.0B with 6 acceptance masks and 16 acceptance filters, enabling deterministic CAN bus communication in automotive and industrial networks. This eliminates the need for an external CAN controller, reducing BOM cost and PCB area. The nanoWatt technology provides multiple idle/sleep modes that drop current consumption to microampere levels, making the device suitable for battery-powered or energy-harvesting applications.
Typical applications include CAN node endpoints in automotive body and chassis networks, industrial sensor nodes with analog front-ends, HVAC controllers, motor control peripherals, and small appliance control panels. The wide 2.0V-5.5V range also allows direct connection to 3.3V or 5V digital systems without level translation.
When designing with this device, ensure the QFN exposed pad is soldered to a sufficiently large copper pour to meet the package thermal rating. Use Microchip's MPLAB X IDE with XC8 compiler for firmware development, and program the device via ICSP using the PGD/PGC lines. The ECAN module requires careful bit-timing configuration against the oscillator clock for reliable bus arbitration.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet to accelerate component selection.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F4480-I/ML — 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 PIC18F4480-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, Timers, Program Memory (Flash), Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F4580-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F4480T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4458-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4455-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$4.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F46K22-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.08 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F46J50-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F4480-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | PIC |
| Core Size | 8-bit |
| Series | PIC 18F |
| Max Clock Frequency | 40 MHz |
| Instruction Set Performance | 10 MIPS |
| Program Memory Type | FLASH |
| Program Memory Size | 16 KB (8K x 16) |
| RAM Size | 768 bytes |
| EEPROM Size | 256 bytes |
| Number of I/O Pins | 36 |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C |
| ADC | 10-bit, 11 channels |
| Communication Interfaces | ECAN, USART, MSSP (SPI/I2C) |
| Package | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Connectivity | CAN, I2C, SPI, UART/USART |
| Peripherals | Brown-out Detect/Reset, HLVD, POR, PWM, WDT |
| MSL Level | 3 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18F4480-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2/AN2 — Digital I/O / Analog input 2 |
| Pin 2 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Digital I/O / Analog input 3 / ADC positive reference |
| Pin 3 | RA4/T0CKI — Digital I/O / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 4 | RA5/AN4/SS — Digital I/O / Analog input 4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | OSC1/CLKI/RA7 — Crystal oscillator input / external clock / digital I/O |
| Pin 7 | OSC2/CLKO/RA6 — Crystal oscillator output / clock output / digital I/O |
| Pin 8 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — Digital I/O / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 9 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — Digital I/O / Timer1 oscillator input / Capture-Compare-PWM 2 |
| Pin 10 | RC2/CCP1 — Digital I/O / Capture-Compare-PWM 1 |
| Pin 11 | RC3/SCK/SCL — Digital I/O / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 12 | RD0/ECANRX — Digital I/O / ECAN receive |
| Pin 13 | RD1/ECANTX — Digital I/O / ECAN transmit |
| Pin 14 | RD2 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 15 | RD3 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 16 | RC4/SDI/SDA — Digital I/O / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 17 | RC5/SDO — Digital I/O / SPI data out |
| Pin 18 | RC6/TX/CK1 — Digital I/O / USART async transmit / USART sync clock |
| Pin 19 | RC7/RX/DT1 — Digital I/O / USART async receive / USART sync data |
| Pin 20 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 21 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 22 | RB0/INT0 — Digital I/O / External interrupt 0 |
| Pin 23 | RB1/INT1 — Digital I/O / External interrupt 1 |
| Pin 24 | RB2/INT2 — Digital I/O / External interrupt 2 |
| Pin 25 | RB3/CCP2 — Digital I/O / Capture-Compare-PWM 2 |
| Pin 26 | RB4 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 27 | RB5 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 28 | RB6/PGC — Digital I/O / ICSP clock |
| Pin 29 | RB7/PGD — Digital I/O / ICSP data |
| Pin 30 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 31 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 32 | RD4 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 33 | RD5 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 34 | RD6 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 35 | RD7 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 36 | RE0/RD — Digital I/O / Parallel port read strobe |
| Pin 37 | RE1/WR — Digital I/O / Parallel port write strobe |
| Pin 38 | RE2/CS — Digital I/O / Parallel port chip select |
| Pin 39 | AVSS — Analog ground |
| Pin 40 | AVDD — Analog positive supply |
| Pin 41 | RA0/AN0 — Digital I/O / Analog input 0 |
| Pin 42 | RA1/AN1 — Digital I/O / Analog input 1 |
| Pin 43 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 44 | MCLR/VPP — Master clear reset / Programming voltage |
Typical Applications
PIC18F4480-I/ML is suitable for 6 applications: Automotive CAN Node Endpoint, Industrial Sensor Hub, HVAC Control Board, Battery-Powered Field Instrument, Motor Control Peripheral, Small Appliance Control Panel.
Automotive CAN Node Endpoint
The PIC18F4480-I/ML is well suited for automotive CAN node endpoints because of its integrated ECAN 2.0B module, 10-bit ADC, and -40C to +85C industrial temperature range. With 16 KB Flash, the MCU can host typical CAN stack layers 1-3 plus application logic for body controllers, door modules, or seat controllers. The 36 I/O pins allow direct interfacing with switches, LEDs, relay drivers, and analog sensors; the ECAN block's 6 masks and 16 filters let the firmware filter incoming messages without CPU intervention, ensuring deterministic bus response times below 1 ms at 500 kbit/s.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Hub
The PIC18F4480-I/ML functions as an industrial sensor hub, aggregating analog and digital sensor data and forwarding it via ECAN to a master PLC. Its 11-channel 10-bit ADC handles thermocouples, pressure transducers, and 4-20 mA loop signals through external signal conditioning, while the ECAN module publishes measured values on the bus. The 2.0V-5.5V supply allows battery or 24V-bus-derived power, and the nanoWatt sleep modes drop quiescent current to a few microamps for energy-harvesting applications.
Recommended
HVAC Control Board
The PIC18F4480-I/ML is a strong fit for HVAC control boards that need reliable ECAN communication to a central building management system. The MCU drives triac-controlled fan motors via the CCP/PWM modules, reads temperature setpoints through the ADC, and manages user interfaces over SPI/I2C. The 16 KB Flash holds control loop firmware plus ECAN application layer, and the 256-byte EEPROM stores user preferences non-volatilely across power cycles.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Field Instrument
The PIC18F4480-I/ML supports battery-powered field instruments because its nanoWatt technology offers multiple idle and sleep modes that bring quiescent current into the microamp range. Operating from 2.0V allows a single Li-ion cell (3.7V nominal) to power the system with a simple LDO. The ECAN interface enables daisy-chained instrument clusters on industrial sites where field wiring is expensive, while the ADC digitizes sensor outputs at low duty cycle to extend battery life.
Recommended
Motor Control Peripheral
The PIC18F4480-I/ML drives small brushless DC or stepper motor peripherals via its two CCP/ECCP modules producing up to 10-bit PWM. The 40 MHz clock allows high-resolution PWM frequencies above 20 kHz, eliminating audible switching noise, while the ECAN interface lets the motor node participate in synchronized multi-axis motion networks. With 36 I/O pins, quadrature encoders, Hall sensors, and limit switches all connect without external I/O expanders.
Recommended
Small Appliance Control Panel
The PIC18F4480-I/ML fits small appliance control panels (washing machines, ovens, dishwashers) where the ECAN module provides internal communication between the main controller and the user interface board. The 16 KB Flash hosts a UI state machine plus ECAN handler, and the 36 I/O pins drive seven-segment displays, capacitive touch sensors, and rotary encoders. The 256-byte EEPROM stores user presets, while the nanoWatt modes reduce standby power to meet energy-star targets.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F4480-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F4580-I/ML | PIC18F4480T-I/ML | PIC18F4458-I/ML | PIC18F46K22-I/ML | PIC18F46J50-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) - same | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) - same | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) - same | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) - same | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB | 24 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB |
| RAM | 768 B | 1536 B | 768 B | 768 B | 1536 B | 3.6 KB |
| ECAN Module | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (USB instead) | No | No (USB instead) |
| USB | No | No | No | Yes (USB 2.0 FS) | No | Yes (USB 2.0 FS) |
| ADC | 10-bit, 11 ch | 10-bit, 11 ch | 10-bit, 11 ch | 10-bit, 11 ch | 12-bit, 28 ch | 10-bit, 13 ch |
| Max Clock | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 48 MHz | 64 MHz | 48 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 2.0V to 5.5V | 2.0V to 5.5V | 2.0V to 5.5V | 2.0V to 5.5V | 2.3V to 5.5V | 2.0V to 3.6V |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated ECAN 2.0B module with 6 masks and 16 filters (vs PIC18F46K22-I/ML)
- Same 44-QFN pinout across the PIC18F4480/4580 family (vs PIC18F4580-I/ML)
- Industrial -40C to +85C operating temperature with nanoWatt power management (vs PIC18F46J50-I/ML)
Design Notes
The 44-QFN package features an exposed thermal pad (EP) on the underside that must be soldered to a copper pour for both mechanical reliability and thermal dissipation. Per the Microchip QFN soldering profile and IPC-7530 guidelines, the EP pad should be connected to the digital ground (VSS) plane using multiple thermal vias (typically 9-16 vias in a 3x3 grid) under the package to minimize thermal resistance. Failure to properly solder the EP will result in thermal runaway at elevated ambient temperatures and possible field failures.
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to each VDD/VSS pin pair (typically pairs on pins 21/20 and 31/30 in this 44-QFN package). Additionally, install a single 10 uF bulk capacitor near the VDD supply pin to stabilize the digital core. For analog reference accuracy, place a separate 100 nF capacitor on AVDD/AVSS and a 10 uF bulk capacitor on VREF+ if used. The total capacitive load should not exceed the Microchip datasheet's recommended maximum to avoid power-on-reset issues.
Ensure the MCLR pin (pin 44) is pulled to VDD through a 10 kohm resistor and that the in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) connector can access PGD (pin 29) and PGC (pin 28) without interfering with the application circuit. The ECAN module requires careful bit-timing calculation against the oscillator frequency to meet CAN bus synchronization at the desired baud rate. Estimated: at 40 MHz Fosc, the CAN baud rate of 500 kbit/s requires a nominal bit time of 8 TQ with a 1 TQ propagation segment; consult Microchip TB3019 for the full configuration procedure.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - the PIC18F4480-I/ML is industrial grade. AEC-Q100 automotive-grade variants are not offered in this MPN; for automotive applications consider PIC18F4580-I/ML or AEC-Q100 qualified PIC18F K-series MCUs.