PIC18F46J50T-I/ML - 8-bit USB MCU, 64KB Flash, 44-QFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F46J50T-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.3 | $6.30 |
| 10 | $5.65 | $56.50 |
| 100 | $4.95 | $495.00 |
| 500 | $4.42 | $2,210.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.85 | $3,850.00 |
PIC18F46J50T-I/ML Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, memory, and programmable peripherals. The PIC18J family specifically targets low-power and USB-enabled applications, sitting within the broader PIC18 8-bit architecture hierarchy (PIC18J -> PIC18 -> 8-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded IC). nanoWatt XLP is Microchip's branded ultra-low-power technology that allows battery-powered products to operate for years on a single cell, distinguishing the PIC18F46J50 from generic 8-bit MCUs in the same price tier.
Key features include a Full-Speed USB 2.0 device/host/OTG transceiver with on-chip transceiver, 10-bit ADC up to 13 channels, two analog comparators, two CCP/ECCP modules, four 8/16-bit timers, and two UART/AUSART ports. The 44-QFN package provides 36 digital I/O pins with high-current sink/source capability (25 mA per pin), enabling direct LED and relay drive without external drivers. Internal voltage regulation and deep-sleep modes further reduce power consumption in battery-backed designs.
The device uses Microchip's enhanced RISC Harvard architecture with a 16-bit instruction word and 8-bit data path, achieving 10 MIPS throughput at 48 MHz FOSC. The integrated USB 2.0 full-speed PHY eliminates external transceiver components, reducing BOM cost by approximately $0.50-$1.00 per board compared to MCUs requiring external USB interfaces. The 64 KB Flash is self-programmable under firmware control, enabling bootloader-based field updates without external programmer access.
Typical applications include USB peripherals (HID, CDC, mass storage), low-power IoT sensor nodes, battery-backed data loggers, consumer electronics with USB charging control, and industrial sensor interfaces. The combination of integrated USB and XLP power management makes it particularly suitable for portable USB devices that must meet strict standby current budgets.
When designing with this MCU, allocate the 8x8 mm QFN thermal pad with at least 16 thermal vias to a continuous inner-plane ground pour to meet the 1.1 W dissipation rating. The USB D+/D- traces require 90 ohm differential impedance and length matching within 150 mil for Full-Speed USB compliance.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found on standard product listings, providing engineering-grade reference material for BOM decisions.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F46J50T-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 PIC18F46J50T-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Timers, Operating Temperature, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F46J50-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F47J53-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F46J13-I/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$4.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F46K22-I/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$3.08 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F46J50T-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC18 8-bit RISC Harvard |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 64 KB (32K x 16) |
| Data RAM | 4 KB |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 48 MHz (10 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 36 |
| USB Interface | USB 2.0 Full-Speed Device/Host/OTG, integrated transceiver |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 13 channels |
| Comparators | 2 analog comparators |
| CCP / ECCP Modules | 2 (1 CCP + 1 ECCP) |
| Timers | 4 (8/16-bit) |
| UART / AUSART | 2 |
| I2C / SPI | 1 I2C, 1 SPI (Master/Slave) |
| Package | 44-pin QFN (8x8 mm) with exposed pad (ML) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Power-Saving Modes | nanoWatt XLP, Deep Sleep <100 nA, Sleep, Idle |
| Pin Current Source/Sink | 25 mA per pin |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | 3 (per JEDEC J-STD-020) |
| Programming Interface | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) via PGC/PGD |
PIC18F46J50T-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / Analog input channel 0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / Analog input channel 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/AN4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / Analog input 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN5/SS1/HLVDIN — PORTA bit 5 / Analog input 5 / SPI1 slave select / HLVD input |
| Pin 7 | RA6/OSC2/CLKO — PORTA bit 6 / Crystal oscillator output / Clock output |
| Pin 8 | RA7/OSC1/CLKI — PORTA bit 7 / Crystal oscillator input / Clock input |
| Pin 9 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.0V-3.6V) |
| Pin 10 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 11 | RB0/AN12/INT0 — PORTB bit 0 / Analog input 12 / External interrupt 0 |
| Pin 12 | RB1/AN10/INT1 — PORTB bit 1 / Analog input 10 / External interrupt 1 |
| Pin 13 | RB2/AN8/INT2 — PORTB bit 2 / Analog input 8 / External interrupt 2 |
| Pin 14 | RB3/AN9/INT3 — PORTB bit 3 / Analog input 9 / External interrupt 3 |
| Pin 15 | RB4/AN11/KBI0 — PORTB bit 4 / Analog input 11 / Keyboard interrupt 0 |
| Pin 16 | RB5/KBI1/PGM — PORTB bit 5 / Keyboard interrupt 1 / LVP programming |
| Pin 17 | RB6/KBI2/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / Keyboard interrupt 2 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 18 | RB7/KBI3/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / Keyboard interrupt 3 / ICSP data |
| Pin 19 | VUSB3V3 — USB internal 3.3V regulator output (bypass cap) |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 21 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 22 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator out / Timer1 clock |
| Pin 23 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator in / CCP2 output |
| Pin 24 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / CCP1 PWM output |
| Pin 25 | RC3/SCK1/SCL1 — PORTC bit 3 / SPI1 clock / I2C1 clock |
| Pin 26 | RC4/SDI1/SDA1 — PORTC bit 4 / SPI1 data in / I2C1 data |
| Pin 27 | RC5/SDO1 — PORTC bit 5 / SPI1 data out |
| Pin 28 | RC6/TX1/CK1 — PORTC bit 6 / UART1 TX / UART1 clock |
| Pin 29 | RC7/RX1/DT1 — PORTC bit 7 / UART1 RX / UART1 data |
| Pin 30 | RD0 — PORTD bit 0 |
| Pin 31 | RD1 — PORTD bit 1 |
| Pin 32 | RD2 — PORTD bit 2 |
| Pin 33 | RD3 — PORTD bit 3 |
| Pin 34 | RD4 — PORTD bit 4 |
| Pin 35 | RD5 — PORTD bit 5 |
| Pin 36 | RD6 — PORTD bit 6 |
| Pin 37 | RD7 — PORTD bit 7 |
| Pin 38 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 39 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 40 | RE0 — PORTE bit 0 |
| Pin 41 | RE1 — PORTE bit 1 |
| Pin 42 | RE2 — PORTE bit 2 |
| Pin 43 | D+ — USB D+ differential data line |
| Pin 44 | D- — USB D- differential data line |
Typical Applications
PIC18F46J50T-I/ML is suitable for 7 applications: USB HID Peripherals, Battery-Backed Data Loggers, USB Charging Controllers, Industrial Sensor Hubs, USB Mass Storage Devices, Consumer USB Audio Devices, IoT Edge Sensor Nodes.
USB HID Peripherals
The PIC18F46J50T-I/ML's integrated USB 2.0 Full-Speed transceiver makes it ideal for USB HID-class peripherals such as keyboards, mice, custom input devices, and industrial control panels. The on-chip USB PHY eliminates external transceiver costs, while 64 KB of Flash comfortably hosts Microchip's free USB stack with HID, CDC, and generic driver classes. The 36 digital I/O pins directly drive mechanical switch matrices and LED indicators without external drivers, and nanoWatt XLP deep sleep keeps idle current under 100 nA for bus-powered designs compliant with USB suspend current limits (500 uA).
Recommended
Battery-Backed Data Loggers
The PIC18F46J50T-I/ML's nanoWatt XLP technology delivers deep-sleep currents under 100 nA, enabling multi-year battery life on two AA cells or a single CR2032 coin cell. The 4 KB RAM is sufficient to buffer 2,048 16-bit sensor samples, and the 13-channel 10-bit ADC supports multi-sensor interfaces (temperature, humidity, light) in a single-chip design. The integrated USB supports tethered data offload without requiring a separate UART-USB bridge, reducing BOM cost. Real-time clock and calendar (RTCC) module with deep-sleep retention maintains accurate timestamps across years of battery operation.
Recommended
USB Charging Controllers
The PIC18F46J50T-I/ML implements USB Battery Charging Specification (BC1.2) and proprietary charging-port detection via firmware on its integrated USB transceiver. The PIC18F47J53 variant specifically adds USB OTG with charge pump for VBUS, supporting both slave charging and master power-roles. The 36 I/O pins directly drive N-channel MOSFETs for power-path switching at 25 mA per pin, sufficient to gate lithium-ion charger ICs. Wide 2.0V-3.6V supply range enables direct battery monitoring while USB power is present, simplifying hybrid power-path topologies.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Hubs
The PIC18F46J50T-I/ML serves as a USB-tethered industrial sensor hub, aggregating 4-20 mA current loops, thermocouples, and bridge sensors via its 13-channel 10-bit ADC. Industrial -40 C to +85 C operating range supports factory-floor deployment, while the 48 MHz CPU throughput executes linearization, cold-junction compensation, and USB CDC data streaming at 1 kHz sample rates. The ECCP module generates PWM for actuator control loops, and the 2 UARTs support RS-485 bridges with external transceivers.
Recommended
USB Mass Storage Devices
The PIC18F46J50T-I/ML with Microchip's USB Mass Storage Class firmware stack and 64 KB Flash implements custom USB flash drives, SD-card readers, and industrial data recorders. The integrated USB Full-Speed supports 1 MB/s read/write throughput via the Bulk-Only Transport (BOT) protocol. The SPI peripheral at 10 MHz clocks SD cards at full speed, while the 4 KB RAM serves as 512-byte sector buffer. Industrial temperature range and nanoWatt XLP deep sleep support bus-powered designs that meet USB suspend current limits.
Recommended
Consumer USB Audio Devices
The PIC18F46J50T-I/ML implements USB Audio Class 1.0 devices (headsets, speakers, microphones) at 48 kHz mono and 16-bit full-duplex, leveraging its integrated USB Full-Speed transceiver and 64 KB Flash for the audio descriptor stack and DSP volume controls. The ECCP module generates PWM for class-D amplifier driver signals at 250 kHz switching, while two analog comparators implement audio jack insertion detection. The 36 I/O directly drive button matrices for play/pause/volume control without external logic.
Recommended
IoT Edge Sensor Nodes
The PIC18F46J50T-I/ML anchors low-power IoT edge nodes combining USB for commissioning and firmware updates with deep-sleep under 100 nA for years of battery operation. The 13-channel ADC interfaces analog sensors (light, temperature, gas), while the I2C and SPI peripherals connect digital sensors and radios (LoRa, Sub-GHz transceivers). The 4 KB RAM supports lightweight sensor-fusion and edge-filtering algorithms, with the integrated USB enabling laptop-based field firmware upgrades without dedicated programmers. Operating temperature of -40 C to +85 C suits outdoor industrial IoT deployment.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F46J50T-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F46J50-I/ML | PIC18F47J53-I/ML | PIC18F46J13-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) - same | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) - same | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) - same |
| Program Flash | 64 KB | 64 KB | 128 KB | 64 KB |
| RAM | 4 KB | 4 KB | 8 KB | 3.7 KB |
| USB Interface | USB 2.0 FS Device/Host/OTG | USB 2.0 FS Device/Host/OTG | USB 2.0 FS + OTG charge pump | USB 2.0 FS Device |
| CPU Speed | 48 MHz (10 MIPS) | 48 MHz (10 MIPS) | 48 MHz (10 MIPS) | 48 MHz (10 MIPS) |
| Deep-Sleep Current | <100 nA (XLP) | <100 nA (XLP) | <100 nA (XLP) | <100 nA (XLP) |
| Supply Voltage | 2.0V to 3.6V | 2.0V to 3.6V | 2.0V to 3.6V | 2.0V to 3.6V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C |
| I/O Pins | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest-cost Microchip 8-bit USB MCU with nanoWatt XLP deep sleep (vs PIC18F4550-I/PT)
- Smallest footprint 44-pin USB MCU in PIC18 family (vs PIC18F46J50-I/PT (44-TQFP))
- Integrated USB 2.0 OTG with on-chip pull-up resistors (vs PIC18F46K22-I/ML (no USB))
- Tape-and-reel packaging variant (vs PIC18F46J50-I/ML (tray))
Design Notes
The 44-QFN exposed pad (ePAD) must be soldered to a continuous inner-plane ground pour with at least 16 thermal vias (0.3 mm drill, 0.5 mm pitch) for 1.1 W dissipation and to meet the package's mechanical stress rating. The USB D+/D- traces must be routed as a 90 ohm differential pair with length matching within 150 mil for Full-Speed USB compliance per USB 2.0 specification. Keep high-speed digital traces (USB, SPI clock) away from the analog ADC inputs (RA0-RA5, RB0-RB4) to minimize crosstalk, and bypass each VDD pin with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 3 mm.
The internal 3.3V LDO regulator requires a 4.7 uF low-ESR ceramic bypass capacitor on the VUSB3V3 pin (pin 19) to meet USB suspend current limits. Connect VDDCORE pin to VDD directly if the internal regulator is bypassed in 3.3V-only designs to reduce quiescent current by approximately 5 uA. The deep-sleep mode (DS) requires RTCC and WDT to be configured before entering, and all unused peripherals must be disabled in their PMDx registers to achieve the <100 nA current target.
The 13-channel 10-bit ADC achieves specified accuracy only when the source impedance is below 2.5 kohm; for higher-impedance sensors, buffer with an op-amp (e.g., MCP6001) before the ADC input. The internal 2.5V bandgap reference has 5 mV typical drift over temperature; use an external MCP1525 reference if better than 8-bit absolute accuracy is required across -40 C to +85 C. Sample-and-hold acquisition time must be configured to at least 1.4 us for 10-bit accuracy at full 48 MHz FOSC.
Do not connect 5V signals to any I/O pin - the PIC18F46J50T-I/ML is a 3.3V-only device and 5V input will damage the silicon. For 5V-tolerant industrial designs, use the PIC18F4550-I/PT in 44-TQFP package instead. The internal oscillator accuracy is +/- 2% over temperature and voltage; for USB Full-Speed which requires +/- 0.25% clock accuracy, an external 48 MHz crystal on OSC1/OSC2 is mandatory. The ICSP programming pins (RB6/RB7) must not be pulled low at power-up or the MCU enters programming mode unintentionally.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page and Abacus Technologies EU RoHS certification. Industrial -40 C to +85 C operating range; not AEC-Q100 qualified - not for automotive safety-critical applications. Lead-free (Pb-free) matte-tin plating per IPC JEDEC J-STD-609.
