PIC18F44K22-I/ML - 8-bit 64MHz XLP MCU 16KB Flash QFN-44 | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F44K22-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.51 | $3.51 |
| 10 | $3.16 | $31.60 |
| 100 | $2.75 | $275.00 |
| 500 | $2.42 | $1,210.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.1 | $2,100.00 |
PIC18F44K22-I/ML Overview
A PIC (Peripheral Interface Controller) microcontroller is a compact programmable processor that combines CPU, non-volatile program memory, working RAM, data EEPROM, and configurable peripherals on a single CMOS die. The PIC18 family uses an enhanced 8-bit RISC architecture with a 16-bit instruction word, while PIC18F 'K' series devices add the nanoWatt XLP energy-management extensions that allow peripheral clocks, oscillators and core logic to be turned off individually, dropping active current to the microampere range. The PIC18K22 sits in the mid-density flash tier, sharing a common peripheral set (10-bit ADC, comparators, PWM, mTouch capacitive sensing) with its sibling PIC18F46K22 / PIC18F45K22 parts that simply scale memory and pin count upward.
Key specifications include 16 KB self-programmable Flash program memory, 768 B SRAM and 256 B EEPROM, 36 digital I/O pins multiplexed with peripheral functions, a 10-bit ADC with up to 28 input channels, two rail-to-rail analog comparators with programmable on-chip voltage reference, two CCP/ECCP/PWM modules and four 8/16-bit timer/counters. The nanoWatt XLP feature set delivers typical sleep currents under 100 nA with retention and a real-time-clock calendar mode from 32 kHz crystals. Operating voltage spans 1.8 V to 5.5 V (2.3 V minimum for full 64 MHz MIPS performance), suitable for both 3.3 V and 5 V rails.
Typical applications span battery-powered sensor nodes, low-power IoT edge devices, USB-less human-interface panels, capacitive-touch button or slider front panels, small motor-control loops and 5 V industrial instrumentation. The wide VDD range and QFN-44 small footprint make it a flexible upgrade path for designs that previously used the older PIC18F4420 or PIC18F44J11 devices.
Designers should review the Microchip PIC18F44K22 datasheet for the HFINTOSC, FVR, PLVD and mTouch peripheral programming models. Drop-in migration to PIC18F45K22 (32 KB Flash) and PIC18F46K22 (64 KB Flash) within the same QFN-44 package is supported, enabling memory scaling without PCB changes.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, verified drop-in alternatives and pin-specific design notes drawn from manufacturer documentation, providing context that is not present in the standalone datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F44K22-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 PIC18F44K22-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, MSL Level, Timers, Core Architecture, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F45K22-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F46K22-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.08 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F44K22-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.84 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F43K22-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F44K20T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.84 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F44K22T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F44K22-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | 8-bit PIC18 RISC |
| Instruction Set | PIC18 (16-bit instructions, 8-bit data path) |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 64 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 16 KB (8K x 16) |
| SRAM | 768 B |
| Data EEPROM | 256 B |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 5.5 V (2.3 V min for 64 MHz; 4.2 V-5.5 V per DigiKey entry) |
| Digital I/O Pins | 36 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 28 channels |
| Analog Comparators | 2 (rail-to-rail) |
| CCP / ECCP / PWM | 2 modules |
| Timers | 4 (8-bit / 16-bit) |
| EUSART | 2 |
| MSSP (SPI / I2C) | 1 |
| Package | 44-pin QFN-EP (ML), exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial, 'I' suffix) |
| nanoWatt XLP Sleep Current | <100 nA typical (per family datasheet) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | 3 (per family datasheet) |
PIC18F44K22-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2 — Port A bit 2 / analog input |
| Pin 2 | RA3 — Port A bit 3 / analog input |
| Pin 3 | RA4 — Port A bit 4 / analog input |
| Pin 4 | RA5 — Port A bit 5 / analog input |
| Pin 5 | RA6 — Port A bit 6 / oscillator |
| Pin 6 | RA7 — Port A bit 7 / oscillator |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 9 | RB0 — Port B bit 0 / INT0 |
| Pin 10 | RB1 — Port B bit 1 / INT1 |
| Pin 11 | RB2 — Port B bit 2 |
| Pin 12 | RB3 — Port B bit 3 |
| Pin 13 | RB4 — Port B bit 4 |
| Pin 14 | RB5 — Port B bit 5 |
| Pin 15 | RB6 — Port B bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 16 | RB7 — Port B bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 17 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 18 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 19 | RC0 — Port C bit 0 |
| Pin 20 | RC1 — Port C bit 1 |
| Pin 21 | RC2 — Port C bit 2 |
| Pin 22 | RC3 — Port C bit 3 / SCL |
| Pin 23 | RC4 — Port C bit 4 / SDA |
| Pin 24 | RC5 — Port C bit 5 |
| Pin 25 | RC6 — Port C bit 6 / TX |
| Pin 26 | RC7 — Port C bit 7 / RX |
| Pin 27 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 28 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 29 | RD0 — Port D bit 0 |
| Pin 30 | RD1 — Port D bit 1 |
| Pin 31 | RD2 — Port D bit 2 |
| Pin 32 | RD3 — Port D bit 3 |
| Pin 33 | RD4 — Port D bit 4 |
| Pin 34 | RD5 — Port D bit 5 |
| Pin 35 | RD6 — Port D bit 6 |
| Pin 36 | RD7 — Port D bit 7 |
| Pin 37 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 38 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 39 | RE0 — Port E bit 0 |
| Pin 40 | RE1 — Port E bit 1 |
| Pin 41 | RE2 — Port E bit 2 |
| Pin 42 | RE3 — Port E bit 3 |
| Pin 43 | MCLR — Master clear / reset (active low) |
| Pin 44 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
PIC18F44K22-I/ML is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Capacitive Touch Front Panel, Small BLDC or DC Motor Control, Industrial 5 V Instrumentation, USB-Less Human Interface Device, Smart Energy / Sub-Metering, Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety).
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC18F44K22-I/ML fits battery-powered IoT sensor nodes because its nanoWatt XLP idle current drops below 100 nA in sleep-with-RTC mode, while the 1.8 V minimum VDD lets it run from two AA cells or a single Li-coin cell without a boost regulator. The 64 MHz core bursts awake for sensor acquisition in under a microsecond, the 10-bit ADC with up to 28 input channels digitizes multiple analog sensors, and the EUSART plus MSSP drive UART sensor peripherals or I2C sensor hubs. Compared with a 32-bit Cortex-M0 part in the same role, the K22 typically wins on sleep current and BOM cost at the expense of raw MIPS.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch Front Panel
The PIC18F44K22-I/ML supports Microchip's mTouch capacitive-touch firmware library with up to 28 channels of button, slider or wheel sensing, all on the same 36 available I/O pins without external touch ICs. The hardware CVD (Capacitive Voltage Divider) module offloads the charge-timing measurement, freeing CPU cycles for communication. The QFN-44 footprint keeps the panel small, while the 1.8 V to 5.5 V VDD range lets the same firmware drive 3.3 V and 5 V LED-indicator rings. The two ECCP modules can also drive LED PWM dimming in parallel with the touch scan, eliminating a second MCU.
Recommended
Small BLDC or DC Motor Control
For small brushless-DC or brushed-DC motor control, the PIC18F44K22-I/ML supplies two CCP/ECCP modules that generate complementary PWM with dead-band control, four timer/counters that handle Hall-sensor or back-EMF sampling, and two analog comparators that trip on overcurrent events within tens of nanoseconds. The 64 MIPS throughput runs sensorless back-EMF zero-crossing algorithms at 20 kHz PWM without saturating the core. The same package as PIC18F45K22-I/ML enables a memory-upgrade path for field-oriented control code that exceeds 16 KB Flash.
Recommended
Industrial 5 V Instrumentation
The PIC18F44K22-I/ML is rated for the industrial -40C to +85C temperature range (the 'I' suffix) and operates directly from a 5 V rail, simplifying integration into 24 V industrial backplanes that step down to 5 V. The 10-bit ADC with up to 28 channels monitors multiple analog inputs - pressure, flow, level or 4-20 mA loop voltages - while the EUSART drives RS-485 transceivers for field-bus connectivity. The 256-byte EEPROM and high-endurance Flash support 100k write cycles typical, useful for calibration table storage in long-life instrumentation.
Recommended
USB-Less Human Interface Device
For HID-style human-interface devices such as control panels, custom keyboards or sealed front-panel encoders that do not require USB, the PIC18F44K22-I/ML runs HID-over-UART or HID-over-I2C bridges with low BOM cost. The 64 MHz CPU supports matrix-scanning of up to 36 keys with hardware debouncing, and the EUSART delivers up to 5 Mbaud for high-rate HID reporting. Compared with 32-bit Cortex-M0 alternatives, the K22 reduces sleep current and removes the need for an external oscillator, simplifying FCC/CE EMI compliance.
Recommended
Smart Energy / Sub-Metering
In smart energy sub-meters and home energy monitors, the PIC18F44K22-I/ML measures single-phase voltage and current with its 10-bit ADC, computes RMS power in firmware at the 64 MIPS rate, and reports results via UART, SPI or I2C to a host gateway. The 256-byte EEPROM stores calibration constants, and the XLP low-power modes enter standby between measurement windows. The same QFN-44 footprint as PIC18F45K22-I/ML allows migration to a 32 KB code base when the metering algorithm grows more sophisticated.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety)
For non-safety automotive body applications such as interior lighting, mirror controllers or seat-position memory, the PIC18F44K22-I/ML -40C to +125C 'E' temperature variant operates directly from a 12 V regulated 5 V rail. Two CCP/ECCP modules drive LED strings or small DC motors, while the ADC reads potentiometers and switches. Note that the K22 family is NOT AEC-Q100 qualified; choose a Q-graded PIC18 part (for example PIC18F46Q10 or PIC18F25Q43) when the design requires formal automotive certification.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F44K22-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F45K22-I/ML | PIC18F46K22-I/ML | PIC18F44K22-E/ML | PIC18F43K22-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | QFN-44 (ML) | QFN-44 (ML) - same | QFN-44 (ML) - same | QFN-44 (ML) - same | QFN-44 (ML) - same |
| Flash | 16 KB | 32 KB | 64 KB | 16 KB (same die, extended temp) | 8 KB |
| SRAM | 768 B | 1536 B | 3896 B | 768 B | 512 B |
| Data EEPROM | 256 B | 256 B | 1024 B | 256 B | 256 B |
| Max CPU Frequency | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| Temperature Grade | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C |
| 10-bit ADC Channels | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 22 |
Key Differentiators
- nanoWatt XLP extreme-low-power technology (vs PIC18F44K20T-I/ML)
- Dual memory upgrade path in same QFN-44 footprint (vs PIC18F43K22-I/ML)
- 64 MHz core with 5 V native operation (vs PIC18F44J11-I/ML)
- Extended-temperature variant available in same footprint (vs PIC18F45K22-I/ML)
Design Notes
Estimated: at VDD=5 V, 64 MHz active current is ~9 mA typical and sleep current with RTC is <100 nA according to the PIC18F44K22 datasheet. Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as possible to each VDD/VSS pair (the QFN-44 exposes 4 VDD and 4 VSS pins), plus a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic on the rail. For battery operation, route the RTC crystal (32.768 kHz) to T1OSO/T1OSI pins to keep timer1 alive during sleep.
The QFN-44 exposed pad (EP) is the primary thermal path; solder it directly to a ground copper pour with at least 16 thermal vias to the inner plane. Without the EP soldered, theta_JA exceeds 80 C/W and the part will derate to lower clock speeds at elevated ambient. Estimated: at 85C ambient with EP properly soldered to a 1 sq-inch copper pour, the part dissipates ~250 mW continuous at full 64 MHz throughput.
Route the ICSPDAT (RB7) and ICSPCLK (RB6) signals to a 6-pin header compatible with Microchip PICkit programmers; both signals should be isolated from high-speed switching nets to avoid programmer handshake failures. The MCLR pin requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD and a 100 nF cap to ground for in-circuit debugging; do not leave MCLR floating or the device will intermittently reset during EMI events.
Configuration bits (fuses) MUST be set explicitly in code; an unconfigured part boots with oscillator = RC and MCLR disabled, which leaves RB6/RB7 unusable as digital I/O. The MSSP module shares pins with the analog comparator outputs - configure the PMD (Peripheral Module Disable) registers to disable unused peripherals before claiming the pins as GPIO, or analog functions will override digital settings. Watch for the PIC18F44K22 vs PIC18F44K20 confusion: the K20 lacks mTouch and runs only to 25 MHz.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free per Microchip product page. PIC18F44K22 family is NOT AEC-Q100 qualified; for automotive applications use a Q-graded PIC18 part such as PIC18F25Q43 or PIC18F26K80.
