PIC18F46K40T-I/ML - 64KB Flash 8-bit MCU, 64MHz, 44-VQFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F46K40T-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.85 | $2.85 |
| 10 | $2.56 | $25.60 |
| 100 | $2.18 | $218.00 |
| 500 | $1.84 | $920.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.62 | $1,620.00 |
PIC18F46K40T-I/ML Overview
What is an 8-bit PIC microcontroller? An 8-bit PIC microcontroller is a Harvard-architecture RISC processor with 8-bit data paths, widely used in embedded systems for general-purpose control. It belongs to the broader category of microcontrollers -> microcontrollers with integrated peripherals -> low-power MCUs with rich analog and digital IP. PIC18F-series parts sit between the smaller PIC16F and the 16-bit dsPIC families, balancing code density, peripheral count, and ultra-low-power sleep currents.
Key features of the PIC18F46K40T-I/ML include Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) such as CWG, WWDT, CRC/Memory Scan, Hardware CVD, Zero-Cross Detect, and Peripheral Pin Select, which reduce CPU load and BOM cost. The device combines large memory (64KB Flash / 4KB RAM / 256B EEPROM) with 35 ADC channels, enabling high-mix sensor interfaces. XLP technology and a wide 2.5V-5V VDD range make it ideal for battery-powered and industrial nodes.
The architecture uses an enhanced mid-range PIC18 core with a modified Harvard bus, hardware multiplier, and 16-bit instruction word. CIPs execute autonomously, freeing the CPU for application logic and reducing interrupt overhead. The 64MHz internal oscillator (16 MIPS) provides deterministic performance with no external crystal in many designs.
Typical applications include consumer appliances, IoT sensor nodes, industrial control, automotive body electronics, low-power wireless HMI, and battery-powered instruments. The combination of 64KB Flash, 35 ADC channels, and 5V tolerance also suits sensor-conditioning front ends.
When designing with this part, reserve the exposed pad (EP) for thermal and electrical grounding. Decouple VDD with a 1uF plus 100nF pair near each supply pin, and follow Microchip AN1606 and AN2510 layout guidelines for the 44-VQFN to minimize noise coupling into the ADC.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the standalone Microchip datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F46K40T-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 PIC18F46K40T-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Comparators, Program Memory (Flash), Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F46K40-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F46K40T-E/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F46K40T-E/MVVAO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF46K40-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F46K22T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F46K42T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.04 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F46K40T-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC18 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 64 KB (32K x 16) |
| Data RAM | 4 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 256 B |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 64 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 35 channels |
| DAC | 5-bit, 1 channel |
| Comparators | Yes |
| PWM / CCP / CWG | Yes (Core Independent Peripherals) |
| Communication | EUSART, SPI, I2C |
| WWDT / CRC / SCAN | Yes |
| Zero-Cross Detect (ZCD) | Yes |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes |
| Package | 44-pin VQFN (ML) with Exposed Pad |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial, 'I') |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18F46K40T-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2/AN2 — Port A bit 2 / analog input 2 (PPS-remappable on some signals) |
| Pin 2 | RA3/AN3 — Port A bit 3 / analog input 3 |
| Pin 3 | RA4/AN4 — Port A bit 4 / analog input 4 |
| Pin 4 | RA5/AN5 — Port A bit 5 / analog input 5 |
| Pin 5 | RA6 — Port A bit 6 |
| Pin 6 | RA7 — Port A bit 7 |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | VDD — Positive supply (2.5V-5.5V) |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKIN/RA7 — Crystal/clock input or digital I/O |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKOUT/RA6 — Crystal/clock output or digital I/O |
| Pin 11 | RC0 — Port C bit 0 |
| Pin 12 | RC1 — Port C bit 1 |
| Pin 13 | RC2 — Port C bit 2 |
| Pin 14 | RC3 — Port C bit 3 |
| Pin 15 | RC4 — Port C bit 4 |
| Pin 16 | RC5 — Port C bit 5 |
| Pin 17 | RC6 — Port C bit 6 |
| Pin 18 | RC7 — Port C bit 7 |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 21 | RB0 — Port B bit 0 |
| Pin 22 | RB1 — Port B bit 1 |
| Pin 23 | RB2 — Port B bit 2 |
| Pin 24 | RB3 — Port B bit 3 |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — Port B bit 4 |
| Pin 26 | RB5 — Port B bit 5 |
| Pin 27 | RB6 — Port B bit 6 / ICSPCLK |
| Pin 28 | RB7 — Port B bit 7 / ICSPDAT |
| Pin 29 | VPP/MCLR/RE3 — Programming voltage / Master Clear / Port E bit 3 |
| Pin 30 | RA0/AN0 — Port A bit 0 / analog input 0 |
| Pin 31 | RA1/AN1 — Port A bit 1 / analog input 1 |
| Pin 32 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 33 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 34 | RE0 — Port E bit 0 |
| Pin 35 | RE1 — Port E bit 1 |
| Pin 36 | RE2 — Port E bit 2 |
| Pin 37 | RD0 — Port D bit 0 |
| Pin 38 | RD1 — Port D bit 1 |
| Pin 39 | RD2 — Port D bit 2 |
| Pin 40 | RD3 — Port D bit 3 |
| Pin 41 | RD4 — Port D bit 4 |
| Pin 42 | RD5 — Port D bit 5 |
| Pin 43 | RD6 — Port D bit 6 |
| Pin 44 | RD7 — Port D bit 7 |
| Pin EP | EP — Exposed thermal pad - must be soldered to ground plane |
Typical Applications
PIC18F46K40T-I/ML is suitable for 7 applications: Consumer Appliance Control, Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Industrial Control and HMI, Automotive Body Electronics, LED Lighting and Drivers, Low-Power Wireless HMIs and Remotes, Sensor-Conditioning Front Ends.
Consumer Appliance Control
The PIC18F46K40T-I/ML is well suited to white-goods and small-appliance control boards where cost, 5V tolerance, and a single-chip BOM matter. Its 35-channel 10-bit ADC scans temperature, water level, motor current, and door-switch sensors simultaneously, while the PWM/CCP/CWG blocks drive triac-firing and brushed-DC motor stages without external logic. XLP sleep currents below 1 uA keep standby power within Energy Star limits. Engineers typically pair it with the MCP1700 3.3V LDO and a MCP23S17 I/O expander for keypad/LED scan.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
With XLP technology, 2.5V-5.5V VDD, and Core Independent Peripherals, the PIC18F46K40T-I/ML anchors coin-cell or 2xAA sensor nodes that must sleep for years. The CWG, WWDT and CRC/SCAN run while the CPU is asleep, offloading periodic sensor reads and integrity checks. The 64KB Flash accommodates LoRaWAN or BLE-stack libraries plus an OTA bootloader. Pair with the MCP9808 temperature sensor and a low-power RF module for typical indoor air-quality or asset-tracking designs.
Recommended
Industrial Control and HMI
The 5V-tolerant I/O and 64MHz/16 MIPS throughput let the PIC18F46K40T-I/ML drive small color TFTs, keypads, and RS-485 nodes in industrial-control panels. Its EUSART, SPI and I2C blocks simultaneously interface a Modbus slave, an external EEPROM, and a graphical display. The 35 ADC channels digitize 4-20 mA loops via burden resistors. Designers usually add an ADM3251E isolated transceiver for the RS-485 port and a 24LC256 EEPROM for parameter storage.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics
Although the I-grade is rated -40C to +85C, the E-grade PIC18F46K40T-E/MVVAO covers -40C to +125C for under-hood and body modules, sharing the PIC18F46K40T-I/ML VQFN-44 land pattern. The device drives LED lighting via PWM/CCP/CWG and reads switch/wiper positions with ZCD for AC zero-crossing. LIN bus stacks fit easily in 64KB Flash. Pair with a TLE7259-3 LIN transceiver and an MCP1790 high-voltage LDO for 12V battery operation.
Recommended
LED Lighting and Drivers
The 64MHz PIC18F46K40T-I/ML generates multi-channel LED dimming via its 16-bit PWM, CWG, and CCP blocks, while the ZCD peripheral synchronizes phase-control dimming to the AC line. The 5-bit DAC sets reference currents for analog LED-driver ICs, and 5V tolerance interfaces directly to mains-isolated LED-driver front ends. A typical design adds the HV9910 buck LED driver and an MCP1700 for the MCU rail.
Recommended
Low-Power Wireless HMIs and Remotes
Handheld remotes and wireless HMIs benefit from the PIC18F46K40T-I/ML's XLP sleep currents, 35 ADC channels for touch/proximity sensing, and integrated ZCD for AC-powered cradles. The 64KB Flash stores rich UI state machines and proprietary RF protocols. Pair with the MCP2120 IrDA codec for line-of-sight remote control or an MRF24J40 2.4GHz transceiver for bidirectional wireless HMI links.
Recommended
Sensor-Conditioning Front Ends
With 35 channels of 10-bit ADC, integrated comparators, a 5-bit DAC, and PPS, the PIC18F46K40T-I/ML acts as a low-cost sensor-conditioning front end for multi-sensor PCBs in test rigs and HVAC nodes. The CRC/SCAN peripheral verifies memory integrity in safety-relevant loops. A MCP6N11 instrumentation amplifier and a MCP9808 I2C temperature sensor form a typical signal chain.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F46K40T-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F46K40-I/ML | PIC18F46K40T-E/ML | PIC18F46K40T-E/MVVAO | PIC18LF46K40-I/ML | PIC18F46K22T-I/ML | PIC18F46K42T-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 44-VQFN (ML) | 44-VQFN (ML) - same | 44-VQFN (ML) - same | 44-VQFN (ML) - same | 44-VQFN (ML) - same | 44-VQFN (ML) - same | 44-VQFN (ML) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB |
| RAM | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB |
| Max Frequency | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS |
| Operating Voltage | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V | 2.5 V to 5.5 V |
| ADC Channels | 35 x 10-bit | 35 x 10-bit | 35 x 10-bit | 35 x 10-bit | 35 x 10-bit | 28 x 10-bit | 35 x 12-bit |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +125 C | -40 C to +125 C (VAO) | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C |
| ZCD / PPS / 5-bit DAC | Yes / Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes / Yes | No / No / No | Yes / Yes / Yes (improved) |
Key Differentiators
- 5-bit DAC plus 35 ADC channels in one 44-VQFN device (vs PIC18F46K22T-I/ML)
- Core Independent Peripherals (CWG, WWDT, CRC/SCAN, ZCD, PPS) on-chip (vs PIC18F46K22T-I/ML)
- Identical die in smaller VQFN footprint vs TQFP (vs PIC18F46K40T-I/PT)
- Wide 2.5V-5.5V VDD with same VQFN footprint (vs PIC18LF46K40-I/ML)
Design Notes
The 44-VQFN (ML) exposed pad must be soldered to a continuous ground plane using an array of thermal vias (typically 9-13 vias at 0.3 mm drill, 0.5 mm pitch) to meet the package's thermal and electrical reference. Follow Microchip application note AN1606 'QFN PCB Land Pattern and Thermal Management' for the recommended land size, solder mask openings and via tenting. Without proper EP soldering the part can overheat or exhibit ADC offset drift due to ground bounce.
Place a 100 nF X7R ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as possible to every VDD pin, with an additional bulk 1 uF-10 uF tantalum or ceramic on the main supply trace. Both VDD pins (8 and 20 in the ML package) and both VSS pins (7 and 19) must be connected. Inadequate decoupling is the single most common cause of spurious CIP behavior and ADC noise on PIC18F46K40 designs.
The MCLR/RE3 pin (pin 29) is the device Master Clear and must not be left floating - tie it to VDD through a 10 kohm resistor with a 100 nF cap to ground if not used as a reset source. The PPS remap registers must be unlocked (PPSLOCK cleared) before reconfiguration and re-locked afterwards to prevent runaway writes. Finally, do not exceed 5.5V on any I/O even in 5V-tolerant modes - the absolute-maximum rating is 6.5V with 8 mA clamping.
Route the 64MHz HFINTOSC traces away from analog ADC inputs and provide a guard ring around sensitive analog pins. The PIC18F46K40's ADC achieves best results with an acquisition time of at least 4 us and an input impedance below 10 kohm - use external op-amp buffers for high-impedance sensors. Microchip application note AN2510 'PIC18 ADC Configuration' provides example firmware and PCB patterns.
Compliance Information
Industrial grade I: -40C to +85C. For AEC-Q100 automotive, choose PIC18F46K40T-E/MVVAO or PIC18F46K40-E/MLVAO. RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page (verified 2026-09-28).
