PIC18F44K20T-I/ML - 8-Bit 64MHz MCU 16KB Flash 44-QFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F44K20T-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.42 | $4.42 |
| 10 | $3.97 | $39.70 |
| 100 | $3.56 | $356.00 |
| 500 | $3.18 | $1,590.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.84 | $2,840.00 |
PIC18F44K20T-I/ML Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, memory, and peripherals around an 8-bit data path. Within the broader semiconductor taxonomy, an 8-bit MCU belongs to the microcontroller family, which itself sits under microcontrollers and processors in the integrated circuit hierarchy. The PIC18 architecture uses a modified Harvard RISC core with 16-bit instructions, delivering up to 16 MIPS at 64 MHz - roughly 4x the throughput of legacy PIC16 parts while retaining the familiar instruction set. This combination of deterministic execution, rich peripherals, and nanoWatt XLP sleep modes makes the PIC18F44K20 a workhorse for low-power embedded designs.
Key features include hardware multipliers, a 10-bit ADC with up to 28 input channels, dual analog comparators with programmable reference, and a charge time measurement unit (CTMU) for capacitive touch. The MSSP module supports both SPI and I2C (master/slave), while the enhanced USART supports RS-232, RS-485 and IrDA. Internal oscillator modes eliminate external crystals in cost-sensitive designs.
The PIC18F44K20 family targets battery-powered and energy-harvesting applications thanks to nanoWatt XLP technology. Typical standby currents below 100 nA and multiple low-power sleep modes with peripheral wake-up sources enable multi-year battery life on a single coin cell. The 256-byte EEPROM and high-endurance Flash (100K erase/write cycles) support field-updatable firmware.
Typical applications include low-power wireless sensor nodes, home automation controllers, HVAC thermostat controls, portable medical monitors, and automotive body electronics. Designers select this part when they need a balance of code space (16 KB), low quiescent current, and a compact 44-pin QFN footprint with 36 GPIO lines for moderate I/O density.
When designing with the PIC18F44K20T-I/ML, place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 3 mm of each VDD/VSS pair, follow Microchip AN1187 for in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) layout, and use MPLAB X IDE with XC8 compiler for firmware development. Note that the QFN package requires thermal vias under the exposed pad to the ground plane for reliable 1 A GPIO sink performance.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, parametric drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone, helping procurement and engineering teams shorten evaluation cycles.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F44K20T-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 PIC18F44K20T-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:
PIC18F44K20-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F44K20T-I/MV
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.32 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F44K20T-E/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F46K20T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F44K22T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F43K20T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.31 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F44K20T-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC18 RISC (modified Harvard) |
| Data Bus Width | 8 bit |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 64 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 16 KB (8K x 16) |
| Data SRAM | 768 B |
| Data EEPROM | 256 B |
| I/O Pins | 36 |
| Timers | 6 |
| PWM Channels | 2 |
| Analog Comparators | 2 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 14 channels |
| Connectivity | EUSART (RS-232/RS-485/IrDA), MSSP (SPI / I2C) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (XLP); 2.5 V/3.3 V typical |
| Operating Temperature (I grade) | -40C to +85C |
| Package | 44-pin QFN (8x8 mm) with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free / Halogen-Free | Yes / Yes |
PIC18F44K20T-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/SS — PORTA bit 5 / Analog input 4 / SSP slave select |
| Pin 7 | RA6 — PORTA bit 6 |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — PORTA bit 7 |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKI/RA7 — Crystal/clock input (alt) |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKO/RA6 — Crystal/clock output (alt) |
| Pin 11 | RC0 — PORTC bit 0 |
| Pin 12 | RC1 — PORTC bit 1 |
| Pin 13 | RC2 — PORTC bit 2 |
| Pin 14 | RC3 — PORTC bit 3 |
| Pin 15 | RC4 — PORTC bit 4 |
| Pin 16 | RC5 — PORTC bit 5 |
| Pin 17 | RC6 — PORTC bit 6 |
| Pin 18 | RC7 — PORTC bit 7 |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 21 | RB0/INT0 — PORTB bit 0 / External interrupt 0 |
| Pin 22 | RB1/INT1 — PORTB bit 1 / External interrupt 1 |
| Pin 23 | RB2/INT2 — PORTB bit 2 / External interrupt 2 |
| Pin 24 | RB3/INT3 — PORTB bit 3 / External interrupt 3 |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 26 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 29 | RD0 — PORTD bit 0 |
| Pin 30 | RD1 — PORTD bit 1 |
| Pin 31 | RD2 — PORTD bit 2 |
| Pin 32 | RD3 — PORTD bit 3 |
| Pin 33 | RD4 — PORTD bit 4 |
| Pin 34 | RD5 — PORTD bit 5 |
| Pin 35 | RD6 — PORTD bit 6 |
| Pin 36 | RD7 — PORTD bit 7 |
| Pin 37 | RE0 — PORTE bit 0 |
| Pin 38 | RE1 — PORTE bit 1 |
| Pin 39 | RE2 — PORTE bit 2 |
| Pin 40 | RE3/MCLR — PORTE bit 3 / Master Clear (reset) |
| Pin 41 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 42 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 43 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 44 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
PIC18F44K20T-I/ML is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, HVAC Thermostat Controller, Home Appliance Control Board, Portable Medical Monitoring Device, Automotive Body Electronics, Industrial Sensor Transmitter (4-20 mA Loop).
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC18F44K20T-I/ML is ideal for IoT sensor nodes because of its nanoWatt XLP technology, which delivers standby currents below 100 nA with RTCC and watchdog active. Its 64 MHz PIC18 RISC core provides 16 MIPS, sufficient for on-node signal processing and protocol stacks before transmitting to a sub-GHz or BLE radio. The 16 KB Flash holds application firmware plus a small bootloader, while 768 B SRAM accommodates modest sensor buffers. Operating from 1.8 V to 3.6 V makes the part directly compatible with two AA alkaline cells or a CR2032 coin cell via boost regulator. The 36 GPIO lines support multiple I2C/SPI sensors, and the 10-bit ADC with 14 input channels enables direct connection of analog sensors (temperature, light, gas). Compared with 32-bit Cortex-M0 alternatives, the PIC18F44K20T-I/ML offers lower sleep current and simpler MPLAB XC8 toolchain.
Recommended
HVAC Thermostat Controller
The PIC18F44K20T-I/ML fits HVAC thermostat designs that need multi-channel analog sensing, relay driving, and user-interface I/O. Its 10-bit ADC with up to 14 channels reads temperature, humidity, setpoint potentiometer, and battery voltage simultaneously. The 36 GPIO lines are sufficient to drive a character LCD, scan a keypad, switch a fan relay, a compressor contactor, and a heat-pump reversing valve. nanoWatt XLP sleep modes allow the thermostat to enter microamp sleep between sensor reads while keeping the RTCC tick for timekeeping. Compared with discrete thermostat ICs, the PIC18F44K20T-I/ML delivers programmable firmware flexibility for OEM-specific features (filter reminders, eco-mode scheduling). The 256-byte EEPROM stores user preferences across power cycles without external NVM. Industrial -40C to +85C operating range covers both residential and light-commercial enclosures.
Recommended
Home Appliance Control Board
The PIC18F44K20T-I/ML serves washing machines, dishwashers, and microwave oven control boards where 8-bit control plus rich peripherals outweigh raw CPU throughput. Its 6 timers drive triac-based motor controls (universal motor, drain pump) while the 2 analog comparators perform zero-crossing detection for synchronous dimming or RPM sensing. The EUSART links to the display/keypad module, while MSSP (SPI or I2C) talks to EEPROM, RTC, and digital potentiometers. The 16 KB Flash holds state-machine firmware and diagnostic logs, with 100K erase/write endurance to survive factory programming cycles. Operating at 3.3 V with the -40C to +85C industrial grade supports behind-panel thermal environments. Compared with 16-bit competitors, the PIC18 K20 family delivers lower cost and the mature MPLAB toolchain that many appliance OEMs already use.
Recommended
Portable Medical Monitoring Device
The PIC18F44K20T-I/ML is suited for low-power portable medical devices such as pulse oximeters, blood-pressure monitors, and handheld glucometers, where 8-bit deterministic control, low standby current, and FDA-traceable firmware revision tracking matter. Its nanoWatt XLP technology allows the device to sit on a shelf for months drawing microamps, then wake for a measurement and display cycle. The 10-bit ADC digitizes PPG or ECG sensor signals with adequate resolution for screening-grade instruments. The 36 GPIO lines interface to an LCD, button matrix, buzzer, and serial EEPROM for patient log storage. Compared with 32-bit Cortex-M parts, the PIC18F44K20T-I/ML has a smaller code footprint (16 KB Flash) and simpler deterministic interrupt model - advantages for IEC 62304-compliant firmware. Pair it with a Bluetooth module for wireless health data export.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics
The PIC18F44K20T-I/ML -I (industrial grade) covers body-comfort and accessory modules such as seat controllers, mirror adjusters, sunroof drivers, and ambient-LED backlight controllers in 12 V automotive systems. Its EUSART supports LIN (Local Interconnect Network) slave communication when paired with a LIN transceiver; LIN is the dominant bus for non-safety body ECUs. The 36 GPIO lines drive H-bridges, LEDs, and switches with up to 25 mA source/sink per pin. The MSSP talks to SPI-driven smart LED drivers and I2C sensors (temperature, ambient light). Compared with dedicated automotive MCUs, the PIC18F44K20T-I/ML is lower cost for non-safety body modules; for safety-critical ECUs select an AEC-Q100 part like PIC18F46K20T-I/ML. Note that the I-grade version operates -40C to +85C, suitable for cabin environments.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Transmitter (4-20 mA Loop)
The PIC18F44K20T-I/ML powers 4-20 mA loop-powered industrial transmitters for pressure, level, flow, and temperature measurement. Its 10-bit ADC digitizes the bridge or RTD sensor signal, while firmware linearizes and outputs the 4-20 mA loop current via a PWM-driven current sink. nanoWatt XLP mode enables <100 nA quiescent current, well within the 3.5 mA HART loop budget. The MSSP talks to a HART modem for digital communication overlaid on the 4-20 mA loop. The 36 GPIO lines drive diagnostic LEDs and accept calibration push-buttons. Compared with ASIC loop controllers, the PIC18F44K20T-I/ML is fully programmable for custom protocols, supports in-field firmware updates, and the -40C to +85C industrial grade covers IEC 61000 industrial EMC environments when paired with TVS and common-mode chokes.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F44K20T-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F44K20-I/ML | PIC18F44K20T-E/ML | PIC18F46K20T-I/ML | PIC18F44K22T-I/ML | PIC18F43K20T-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | 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 | 44-QFN (8x8) - same |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 64 KB (+300%) | 16 KB | 16 KB |
| Data SRAM | 768 B | 768 B | 768 B | 3.8 KB (+400%) | 768 B | 768 B |
| Data EEPROM | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 1 KB (+300%) | 256 B | 256 B |
| I/O Pins | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz |
| ADC | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit (or 12-bit on K42 family) | 10-bit |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) |
| Lifecycle Status | Active | Active | Active | Active | Active | Active |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest-cost active 44-QFN PIC18 with 16 KB Flash and nanoWatt XLP (vs PIC18F46K20T-I/ML)
- Pin-compatible upgrade path to 64 KB Flash (vs PIC18F43K20T-I/ML)
- Industrial -40C to +85C grade standard (vs PIC18F44K20T-E/ML)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 3 mm of each VDD/VSS pair (pins 20, 41 on this 44-QFN) to suppress switching-induced ringing on the 1.8-3.6 V rail. Add a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic at the regulator output to support inrush when waking from nanoWatt XLP sleep modes. The exposed thermal pad must be soldered to a ground plane with at least 4 thermal vias for rated DC and AC performance; otherwise the part may thermal-limit during sustained GPIO load.
For ICSP programming, route the PGC (pin 27) and PGD (pin 28) traces as a short matched pair to a 6-pin header; keep them at least 3 mm from noisy nets like PWM or switching regulator feedback. Follow Microchip AN1187 (In-Circuit Serial Programming Guidelines) for trace widths and ground isolation. Add a 10 kohm pull-up to MCLR (pin 40) and a 100 nF cap to ground for clean reset during programming and brown-out events.
Do not exceed VDD = 3.6 V; the PIC18 K20 family is NOT 5 V tolerant on I/O and absolute maximum is 3.6 V. If the upstream rail can overshoot (e.g., automotive load-dump), add a 3.3 V TVS and series resistor. Avoid leaving unused I/O pins floating - configure them as outputs driving low or enable the internal weak pull-ups. Floating inputs can leak 1-5 uA into the nanoWatt sleep budget and prevent reaching the datasheet <100 nA standby target.
Estimated: at maximum GPIO source/sink of 25 mA on all 36 pins simultaneously (illegal in practice) the die dissipation would be in the tens of mW; at typical 3.3 V, 8 MHz, the supply current is ~5 mA so dissipation is ~16 mW, well within the QFN 8x8 thermal envelope. Even at 64 MHz full operation supply rises to ~15 mA = ~50 mW. The exposed pad provides theta_JA around 28 C/W (4-layer JEDEC test board) so worst-case die rise is ~1.4 C above ambient. Always provide thermal vias under the pad for production designs.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. I grade is -40C to +85C industrial; E grade (-40C to +125C) is available as PIC18F44K20T-E/ML for extended-temperature applications. AEC-Q100 is not applicable to the I grade - automotive safety modules should use PIC18F46K20T-I/ML with appropriate qualification.
