PIC18F44K20-E/MV - 8-bit PIC MCU, 16KB Flash, 40-pin UQFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F44K20-E/MV ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.92 | $3.92 |
| 10 | $3.53 | $35.30 |
| 100 | $3.13 | $313.00 |
| 500 | $2.74 | $1,370.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.35 | $2,350.00 |
PIC18F44K20-E/MV Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, non-volatile program memory, RAM, peripherals, and I/O. PIC18 is Microchip's enhanced 8-bit architecture family featuring a RISC core, hardware multiplier, and C-friendly instruction set, positioned between baseline PIC10/12/16 parts and the 16-bit dsPIC/PIC24 families. The K-series variant adds XLP nanoWatt sleep modes and 1.8V-3.6V wide-range operation.
Key features include 16KB Flash (100K erase/write cycles typical), 768-byte SRAM, 256-byte EEPROM, 36 I/O pins, 14-channel 10-bit ADC, two analog comparators, hardware UART/SPI/I2C, four 8-bit timers and one 16-bit timer, and 25 mA source/sink per I/O. Sleep current is typically under 100 nA with XLP enabled, and the ADC delivers 100K samples/sec.
Architecturally, the device uses a 16-bit instruction word with an 8-bit data path, 31-level hardware stack, and an instruction-cycle time of 4 clocks (giving 48 MHz = 12 MIPS). The K-series enhanced PWM and nanoWatt XLP peripherals (RTCC, ultra-low-power watchdog, ultra-low-power wake-up) differentiate it from earlier PIC18F46K20 family members.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes, consumer appliance control panels, USB/HID peripherals, low-cost motor control, and industrial sensor hubs. Designers select this part when wide operating voltage, low sleep current, and 8-bit simplicity are required simultaneously.
Design consideration: the UQFN package exposes a thermal pad (EP) that must be soldered to a sufficient copper pour (>= 10 mm^2 recommended) for mechanical reliability and thermal dissipation above 50 mA load.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, parametric drop-in alternatives, and practical PCB design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, enabling faster BOM decisions and second-source risk mitigation.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F44K20-E/MV — 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 PIC18F44K20-E/MV (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Timers, Comparators, Maximum CPU Frequency.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F44K20-I/MV
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F45K20-I/MV
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F45K20-E/MV
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F43K20-I/MV
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.97 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F44K22-I/MV
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F44K20-E/MV Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | PIC |
| Core Size | 8-Bit |
| Program Memory Size | 16 KB Flash |
| RAM Size | 768 bytes |
| EEPROM Size | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.5 V to 3.3 V (1.8 V-3.6 V XLP range) |
| Number of I/O Pins | 36 |
| ADC | 10-bit, 14-channel, 100 ksps |
| Analog Comparators | 2 |
| Timers | 4x 8-bit + 1x 16-bit (with gate) |
| Connectivity | UART, SPI, I2C (MSSP + EUSART) |
| Package | 40-pin UQFN EP (MV) 5x5 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +125C (E suffix) |
| Low-Power Feature | nanoWatt XLP (sleep current < 100 nA typ.) |
| I/O Sink/Source Capability | 25 mA per pin |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18F44K20-E/MV Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 2 / ADC negative reference |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 3 / ADC positive reference |
| Pin 5 | RA4/AN4 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 4 |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN5 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 5 |
| Pin 7 | RA6 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 9 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 10 | VDD — Positive power supply |
| Pin 11 | OSC1/CLKI — Crystal oscillator input or external clock input |
| Pin 12 | OSC2/CLKO — Crystal oscillator output or clock output |
| Pin 13 | RC0 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 14 | RC1 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 15 | RC2 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 16 | RC3 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 17 | RC4 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 18 | RC5 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 19 | RC6 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 20 | RC7 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 21 | RB0 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 22 | RB1 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 23 | RB2 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 24 | RB3 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 26 | RB5 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC — Digital I/O / In-circuit serial programming clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD — Digital I/O / In-circuit serial programming data |
| Pin 29 | MCLR — Master clear reset (active low) |
| Pin 30 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 31 | VDD — Positive power supply |
| Pin 32 | RE0 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 33 | RE1 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 34 | RE2 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 35 | RE3 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 36 | RD0 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 37 | RD1 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 38 | RD2 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 39 | RD3 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 40 | EP — Exposed thermal pad (must be soldered to GND plane) |
Typical Applications
PIC18F44K20-E/MV is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Sensor Node, Consumer Appliance Control Panel, USB HID Peripheral Interface, Low-Cost BLDC Motor Control, Industrial Sensor Hub with Modbus RTU, Smart Home Lighting Controller.
Battery-Powered Sensor Node
The PIC18F44K20-E/MV is ideal for battery-powered sensor nodes thanks to its nanoWatt XLP extreme-low-power technology, with sub-100 nA sleep current and a wake-up via Real-Time Clock Calendar (RTCC) or ultra-low-power watchdog timer. The 14-channel 10-bit ADC supports direct interface with temperature, humidity, and gas sensors, while 768 bytes of SRAM is sufficient for buffering small data packets before transmission. The device operates from 1.8V-3.6V across the full -40C to +125C range, allowing direct connection to 2xAA alkaline or single-cell Li-ion chemistries with no external regulator, and the 16 KB Flash accommodates 8-bit protocol stacks such as Modbus RTU or Wireless M-Bus.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control Panel
Consumer appliance control panels use the PIC18F44K20-E/MV for its 36 I/O pins (25 mA sink/source), which directly drive LED indicators, 7-segment displays, and triac interfaces without buffering. The 16 KB Flash stores menu logic and fault-diagnostics firmware, while UART and SPI peripherals communicate with main inverter or motor controller boards. The 40-pin UQFN EP package has a 5x5 mm footprint that fits compact behind-glass PCB layouts. The 1.8V-3.6V XLP wide-range voltage tolerance accommodates poorly-regulated SMPS rails common in white-goods designs, and the -40C to +125C extended temperature grade ensures reliable operation in oven or dryer environments.
Recommended
USB HID Peripheral Interface
The PIC18F44K20-E/MV supports USB Full-Speed device operation via the MSSP peripheral combined with an external USB transceiver or through direct 5V-tolerant I/O bit-banging, enabling HID-class peripherals such as keyboards, mice, and custom input devices. The 16 KB Flash accommodates USB HID report descriptors and HID class drivers, while 768 bytes of SRAM handles HID report buffers. The 48 MHz CPU clock provides sufficient MIPS for full-speed USB polling (1 ms interval). The wide 1.8V-3.6V supply range allows the device to be powered directly from the USB 5V bus through a 3.3V LDO, and the 40-pin UQFN EP package's small footprint fits inside USB connector enclosures.
Recommended
Low-Cost BLDC Motor Control
The PIC18F44K20-E/MV can drive low-power BLDC motors in fans, pumps, and small appliances by using its 14-channel 10-bit ADC for back-EMF sensing, its PWM module for commutation timing, and its 36 I/O pins for direct MOSFET gate driving via gate-driver ICs. The 16 KB Flash fits sensorless trapezoidal commutation firmware with speed PI control loops, and the 48 MHz CPU clock ensures adequate loop bandwidth for kilohertz-rate commutation. The -40C to +125C extended temperature range covers under-hood automotive and outdoor industrial environments, while the 40-pin UQFN EP provides compact integration next to the inverter stage. Designers should place a 10 mm^2 thermal copper pour under the exposed pad for thermal dissipation at higher switching loads.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Hub with Modbus RTU
Industrial sensor hubs benefit from the PIC18F44K20-E/MV's hardware EUSART peripheral, which directly drives RS-485 transceivers for Modbus RTU communication at 115200 baud or below. The 16 KB Flash stores Modbus map, calibration tables, and Modbus application layer firmware, while 768 bytes of RAM holds packet buffers and process variables. The 14-channel 10-bit ADC interfaces with 4-20 mA loop-powered sensors via external current-sense resistors, and the 1.8V-3.6V wide supply tolerates 24V industrial bus rails through an LDO. The -40C to +125C extended temperature grade and 40-pin UQFN EP compact footprint enable DIN-rail-mounted sensor hub designs with minimal PCB area.
Recommended
Smart Home Lighting Controller
Smart home lighting controllers leverage the PIC18F44K20-E/MV for its PWM outputs (driving LED dimmers), UART/SPI/I2C interfaces (linking to wireless modules or DMX controllers), and 36 I/O pins (multiple zone control). The 16 KB Flash holds color-mixing algorithms and Zigbee/BLE bridge firmware, while 768 bytes of RAM stores scene state. The nanoWatt XLP feature enables always-on standby at sub-100 nA, allowing wall-switch form factors with multi-year battery life for wireless remotes. The -40C to +125C temperature range covers outdoor and ceiling-fixture environments, and the 40-pin UQFN EP package's 5x5 mm footprint supports compact behind-switch PCB layouts.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F44K20-E/MV — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F44K20-I/MV | PIC18F45K20-I/MV | PIC18F45K20-E/MV | PIC18F43K20-I/MV | PIC18F44K22-I/MV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 40-pin UQFN EP (MV) | 40-pin UQFN EP (MV) - same | 40-pin UQFN EP (MV) - same | 40-pin UQFN EP (MV) - same | 40-pin UQFN EP (MV) - same | 40-pin UQFN EP (MV) - same |
| Program Memory Size | 16 KB Flash | 16 KB Flash | 32 KB Flash | 32 KB Flash | 8 KB Flash | 16 KB Flash |
| RAM Size | 768 bytes | 768 bytes | 1536 bytes | 1536 bytes | 512 bytes | 768 bytes |
| EEPROM Size | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) |
| nanoWatt XLP Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Extended -40C to +125C operating temperature range (vs PIC18F44K20-I/MV)
- 100 nA typical sleep current via nanoWatt XLP technology (vs PIC18F43K20-I/MV)
- Higher Flash headroom vs PIC18F43K20 family (vs PIC18F43K20-I/MV)
Design Notes
The 40-pin UQFN EP package requires the exposed thermal pad (pin 40) to be soldered to a ground copper pour for mechanical reliability and thermal dissipation. Per Microchip datasheet DS41287F and the package mechanical drawing, a minimum copper pour of 10 mm^2 is recommended. Without proper pad soldering, the device can delaminate during thermal cycling or mechanical shock. The thermal pad should be connected to the same ground plane as VSS pins and include multiple thermal vias for heat conduction.
Place a 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as possible to each VDD/VSS pair (pins 10/9 and 31/30), with a 10 uF bulk capacitor near the supply pins. The 1.8V-3.6V wide supply range is sensitive to supply transients during switching events; add a 100 nF capacitor near the MCLR pin to filter reset glitches. Crystal traces (OSC1/OSC2) should be kept short and surrounded by a ground guard ring to minimize EMI susceptibility.
Do not confuse the E (Extended -40C to +125C) and I (Industrial -40C to +85C) temperature suffixes when ordering - they share the same silicon die and pinout, but the E grade is essential for outdoor, automotive, or industrial environments above 85C. Additionally, ensure the CONFIG settings (configuration fuses) select the correct oscillator mode and brown-out voltage threshold for your application; the K-series offers four BOR trip points (1.8V, 2.0V, 2.7V, 3.0V). Misconfigured CONFIG1L or CONFIG1H registers can cause unexpected reset behavior or oscillator failures.
For ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming), connect PGC (pin 27, RB6) and PGD (pin 28, RB7) directly to the programming header with no series resistors, and route them with short traces to avoid signal integrity issues at 5V programming voltages. Maintain a guard trace around the ICSP signals to prevent interference with adjacent analog inputs. If using the ADC, keep analog traces (AN0-AN13) away from digital switching signals like PWM outputs and the ICSP clock to minimize crosstalk; the ADC inputs share pins with digital I/O so careful pin assignment is essential.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product declaration; lead-free and halogen-free per Microchip packaging materials disclosure. The -E suffix indicates Extended -40C to +125C operating temperature range but does NOT imply AEC-Q100 automotive qualification - automotive applications should select from the AEC-Q100 qualified PIC18FxxKxx-Q1 family instead.
