PIC18F44J11-I/ML - 8-bit 48MHz 16KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F44J11-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.95 | $2.95 |
| 10 | $2.78 | $27.80 |
| 100 | $2.45 | $245.00 |
| 500 | $2.18 | $1,090.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.85 | $1,850.00 |
PIC18F44J11-I/ML Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a programmable system-on-chip combining an 8-bit CPU core, non-volatile program memory, volatile data RAM, and a mix of digital and analog peripherals in a single silicon die. Within the broader semiconductor taxonomy, MCUs sit under embedded ICs -> microcontrollers -> 8-bit microcontrollers -> low-power nanoWatt family. The PIC18F44J11 belongs to the nanoWatt XLP (eXtreme Low Power) family, leveraging deep-sleep current draw in the nanoamp range to support battery-backed designs.
Key differentiating features of the PIC18F44J11-I/ML include its wide 2.0V to 3.6V core voltage with 5.5V-tolerant I/O, Peripheral Pin Select remapping on most digital I/O, hardware Real-Time Clock/Calendar (RTCC) with dedicated timing crystal, and a 10-bit ADC with up to 13 input channels at 40 MHz conversion rate. The 44-QFN (8x8) package exposes 36 I/O pins with a small 8 mm footprint suitable for space-constrained USB-enabled embedded designs.
The architecture uses a Harvard-class RISC-style pipeline, 16-bit instructions, and C-compiler-friendly orthogonal addressing. Hardware-level nanoWatt technology supports run, idle, and deep-sleep modes with wake-on-interrupt, making it appropriate for always-on sensor front-ends and human-interface devices. The 5.5V-tolerant I/O simplifies interfacing to legacy 5V peripherals without level shifters.
Typical applications for the PIC18F44J11-I/ML include USB human-interface devices (HID), data loggers, USB-to-serial bridges, sensor front-ends with RTCC timestamping, motor drive control panels, and consumer appliance keypads. Its balance of 12 MIPS throughput, integrated USB 2.0 full-speed support, and nanoWatt low-power modes addresses cost-sensitive embedded designs that demand both real-time control and field longevity.
A critical design consideration is the 5.5V-tolerant I/O paired with a 3.3V regulated core, which requires careful power-rail sequencing during in-circuit serial programming (ICSP). The deep-sleep current is enabled only when the internal regulator is configured for low-power mode via configuration bits, and wake sources must be explicitly enabled in firmware.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing across DigiKey, Mouser, and LCSC, same-brand Microchip drop-in alternatives, application reference designs, and practical design notes not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F44J11-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 PIC18F44J11-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, Core Architecture, ADC, Timers.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F45J11-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.25 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F44J50-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F44J10-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F45K22-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F46J11-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.61 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F44K22-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F44J11-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit PIC18 RISC |
| Clock Speed (Max) | 48 MHz internal (12 MIPS) |
| Program Memory | 16 KB Flash (8K x 16) |
| Data SRAM | 4 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| I/O Pins | 36 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 13 channels |
| Supply Voltage (Core) | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Voltage Tolerance | 5.5 V tolerant |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Package | 44-pin QFN (8x8 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Communications | 2x UART, SPI, I2C, USB 2.0 FS |
| Timers | 2x 8-bit, 3x 16-bit |
| Low-Power Modes | Run, Idle, Sleep, Deep Sleep (nanoWatt XLP) |
| RTCC | Hardware Real-Time Clock/Calendar |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18F44J11-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / Analog input 0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / Analog input 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — PORTA bit 2 / Analog input 2 / ADC VREF- |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — PORTA bit 3 / Analog input 3 / ADC VREF+ |
| Pin 5 | RA4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN4 — PORTA bit 5 / Analog input 4 |
| Pin 7 | RA6/OSC2 — PORTA bit 6 / Crystal oscillator output |
| Pin 8 | RA7/OSC1 — PORTA bit 7 / Crystal oscillator input |
| Pin 9 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 10 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 11 | RB0/INT0 — PORTB bit 0 / External interrupt 0 |
| Pin 12 | EP — Exposed thermal pad (connect to VSS) |
| Pin 13 | RB1/INT1 — PORTB bit 1 / External interrupt 1 |
| Pin 14 | RB2/INT2 — PORTB bit 2 / External interrupt 2 |
| Pin 15 | RB3 — PORTB bit 3 |
| Pin 16 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 17 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 18 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 19 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 20 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 21 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 22 | RC0 — PORTC bit 0 |
| Pin 23 | RC1 — PORTC bit 1 |
| Pin 24 | RC2 — PORTC bit 2 |
| Pin 25 | RC3 — PORTC bit 3 |
| Pin 26 | RC4 — PORTC bit 4 |
| Pin 27 | RC5 — PORTC bit 5 |
| Pin 28 | RC6 — PORTC bit 6 |
| Pin 29 | RC7 — PORTC bit 7 |
| Pin 30 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 31 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 32 | RD0 — PORTD bit 0 |
| Pin 33 | RD1 — PORTD bit 1 |
| Pin 34 | RD2 — PORTD bit 2 |
| Pin 35 | RD3 — PORTD bit 3 |
| Pin 36 | RD4 — PORTD bit 4 |
| Pin 37 | RD5 — PORTD bit 5 |
| Pin 38 | RD6 — PORTD bit 6 |
| Pin 39 | RD7 — PORTD bit 7 |
| Pin 40 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 41 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 42 | RE0 — PORTE bit 0 |
| Pin 43 | RE1 — PORTE bit 1 |
| Pin 44 | RE2 — PORTE bit 2 |
Typical Applications
PIC18F44J11-I/ML is suitable for 6 applications: USB Human-Interface Devices (HID), Industrial Data Loggers, USB-to-Serial Bridge Adapters, Sensor Front-End with RTCC Timestamping, Motor Drive Control Panels, Consumer Appliance Keypads and HMIs.
USB Human-Interface Devices (HID)
The PIC18F44J11-I/ML is well-suited for USB HID peripherals such as custom keyboards, mice, and game controllers where its 48 MHz clock provides deterministic USB 2.0 full-speed polling. The integrated USB-compatible peripheral with internal pull-ups eliminates external PHY components, reducing BOM cost. With 16 KB of Flash and 4 KB of RAM, designers can implement HID descriptors, debounce logic, and macro-layer firmware without external memory. The PPS feature allows USB D+/D- pins to be remapped to convenient package locations for PCB routing. Power-conscious HID devices benefit from the nanoWatt XLP deep-sleep mode when the bus is suspended, drawing under 100 nA.
Recommended
Industrial Data Loggers
Industrial data loggers benefit from the PIC18F44J11-I/ML's 13-channel 10-bit ADC for multi-sensor acquisition combined with its hardware RTCC for accurate timestamping of logged events. The 4 KB SRAM can buffer hundreds of sample frames before batch transmission over UART or SPI, while the 256-byte EEPROM retains calibration constants across power cycles. The wide 2.0V to 3.6V core supply with 5.5V-tolerant I/O allows direct connection to 5V industrial sensors without level shifters. The nanoWatt XLP deep-sleep mode, with wake-on-interrupt, supports multi-year battery operation for remote field loggers deployed in unattended locations.
Recommended
USB-to-Serial Bridge Adapters
The PIC18F44J11-I/ML is frequently deployed in USB-to-UART bridge dongles used to retrofit legacy RS-232 equipment with USB host connectivity. Its 48 MHz clock sustains 12 MIPS throughput, easily handling 921,600 baud UART rates without dropped bytes, while the dual UARTs enable simultaneous bridge and debug-channel operation. The PPS feature lets designers remap UART TX/RX to GPIO-friendly pins, simplifying PCB layout when an external transceiver like the MAX232 or MAX3221 is used for RS-232 level translation. The 44-QFN package keeps total board area small for dongle form factors.
Recommended
Sensor Front-End with RTCC Timestamping
The PIC18F44J11-I/ML is ideal for environmental and asset-tracking sensor nodes that require hardware-level timekeeping. Its dedicated RTCC with 32.768 kHz crystal input maintains accurate timestamps to within seconds per day while consuming less than 1 µA. Combined with the 10-bit ADC reading temperature, humidity, or pressure sensors, the MCU can log geotagged or time-stamped readings to internal EEPROM or transmit over I2C/SPI. The 5.5V-tolerant I/O allows connection to industrial sensor modules that operate at higher voltages than the core supply, eliminating level-shifter overhead.
Recommended
Motor Drive Control Panels
Small motor drive panels for fans, pumps, and conveyor sections leverage the PIC18F44J11-I/ML's three 16-bit timers for precise PWM generation across multiple motor phases. The 12 MIPS throughput ensures deterministic control-loop execution at 10 kHz or higher switching frequencies, while the analog comparators provide hardware overcurrent protection. Peripheral Pin Select remaps PWM outputs to any GPIO, simplifying PCB layout for H-bridge gate drivers such as the MCP1755 or DRV8871. The 44-QFN footprint suits compact panel-mount designs with thermal vias under the exposed pad.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Keypads and HMIs
Consumer appliance control panels, including microwave ovens, washing machines, and HVAC thermostats, commonly use the PIC18F44J11-I/ML to drive segmented LCDs, scan capacitive keypads, and communicate with the main appliance controller. The nanoWatt XLP deep-sleep mode keeps standby power below energy-star compliance thresholds, while wake-on-touch or wake-on-RTCC-alarm maintains instant responsiveness. The 36 I/O pins easily support a 4x4 keypad matrix, a 4-digit LCD, status LEDs, and a UART service interface without external I/O expanders. The 5.5V-tolerant I/O connects directly to 5V LCD bias supplies.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F44J11-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F45J11-I/ML | PIC18F44J50-I/ML | PIC18F45K22-I/ML | PIC18F46J11-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 44-QFN (8x8) | 44-QFN (8x8) - same | 44-QFN (8x8) - same | 44-QFN (8x8) - same | 44-QFN (8x8) - same |
| Clock Speed (Max) | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) - same | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) - same | 64 MHz (16 MIPS) +33% | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) - same |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB | 64 KB +300% | 16 KB - same | 32 KB +100% | 64 KB +300% |
| SRAM | 4 KB | 4 KB - same | 4 KB - same | 2 KB -50% | 4 KB - same |
| I/O Pins | 36 | 36 - same | 36 - same | 36 - same | 36 - same |
| USB Support | USB 2.0 FS compatible (no OTG) | USB 2.0 FS compatible | USB 2.0 FS OTG | USB 2.0 FS compatible | USB 2.0 FS compatible |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP (Deep Sleep) | nanoWatt XLP | nanoWatt XLP | nanoWatt XLP | nanoWatt XLP |
Key Differentiators
- Highest Flash density in same-footprint J-series family (vs PIC18F45J11-I/ML)
- Lowest power consumption with nanoWatt XLP deep sleep (vs PIC18F44K22-I/ML)
- Hardware RTCC for accurate timestamping (vs PIC18F45K22-I/ML)
Design Notes
The PIC18F44J11-I/ML operates from a 2.0V to 3.6V core supply, but its I/O pins are 5.5V tolerant, enabling direct interfacing with 5V peripherals. Decouple the VDD pins with 100 nF ceramic capacitors placed within 5 mm of each supply pin, and add a bulk 10 µF tantalum or ceramic capacitor at the board power entry. For battery-powered designs, the nanoWatt XLP deep-sleep mode draws under 100 nA when the internal regulator is set to low-power mode via configuration bits (CONFIG3L). Estimate: with a 200 mAh CR2032, the device can run for years in deep sleep with periodic RTCC wake events.
The 44-QFN (8x8) package has an exposed thermal pad (EP) on pin 12 that must be soldered to a VSS plane for mechanical and thermal performance. Use an array of 0.3 mm thermal vias under the pad to conduct heat to the inner ground plane; typical recommended via count is 9 vias in a 3x3 grid. Place the ICSP programming header (PGC/RB6, PGD/RB7, MCLR) on the board edge to enable in-circuit firmware updates without desoldering the MCU.
Do not apply voltages above 3.6V to the VDD pins; the core supply is 3.3V nominal even though I/O pins tolerate 5.5V. The Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) feature must be unlocked by writing to the IOLOCK bit sequence in firmware before remapping peripherals; lock the PPS again after configuration to prevent accidental re-mapping. The 256-byte EEPROM supports 100K erase/write cycles - use wear-leveling algorithms for frequently updated parameter storage.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial temperature grade -40C to +85C. Not AEC-Q100 qualified for automotive applications.