PIC18F46Q43-E/PT - 64KB Flash 8-bit MCU 64MHz 44-TQFP | Microchip
MPN: PIC18F46Q43-E/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.85 | $2.85 |
| 10 | $2.62 | $26.20 |
| 100 | $2.31 | $231.00 |
| 500 | $2.05 | $1,025.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.82 | $1,820.00 |
PIC18F46Q43-E/PT Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer optimized for embedded control, integrating CPU, non-volatile program memory (Flash), working RAM, and peripherals on one die. It belongs to the hierarchy: 8-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor. The PIC18 family uses a RISC Harvard architecture with a 16-bit instruction word and 8-bit data path, balancing code density with deterministic interrupt response.
Key features include a 12-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter with Computation (ADCC) supporting Capacitive Voltage Divider (CVD) touch sensing, three 16-bit PWMs with flexible triggering, six-channel DMA, configurable logic cells (CLCs), and an 8-bit DAC. The XLP (eXtreme Low Power) technology provides deep sleep currents in the nanoamp range, enabling battery-powered designs that run for years on a single cell.
Typical applications include capacitive touch user interfaces, sensor signal conditioning, LED lighting control, motor control (BLDC, stepper), and industrial IoT edge nodes. The high-resolution ADCC and dedicated hardware CIPs reduce CPU loading and code footprint, making the Q43 a strong fit for real-time control.
When designing with this part, ensure that VDDCORE is decoupled per the datasheet and that unused I/O pins are configured as outputs low to minimize leakage. The device supports ICSP and JTAG for programming and debug.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternative MPNs, and engineering design notes that go beyond the manufacturer datasheet to accelerate your sourcing and design decisions.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18F46Q43-E/PT — 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 PIC18F46Q43-E/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Program Memory (Flash), DAC, Operating Temperature Range.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F46Q43-I/PT
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View Datasheet →PIC18F46Q10-E/PT
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View Datasheet →PIC18F46K42-E/P
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View Datasheet →PIC18F46K40-E/ML
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View Datasheet →PIC18F46Q43-I/MP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F4620-E/PT
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$5.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F46Q43-E/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC18 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 64 KB (64K x 8) |
| Data RAM | 4 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 1 KB |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 64 MHz |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +125 C |
| Package | 44-pin TQFP (10x10 mm) |
| Number of I/O Pins | 36 |
| ADC | 12-bit ADCC with computation |
| PWM | 3 x 16-bit |
| DMA Channels | 6 |
| DAC | 8-bit |
| Comparators | Yes |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Data Bus Width | 8 bit |
PIC18F46Q43-E/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/IO0 — Port A bit 0 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 2 | RA1/IO1 — Port A bit 1 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 3 | RA2/IO2 — Port A bit 2 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 4 | RA3/IO3 — Port A bit 3 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 5 | RA4/IO4 — Port A bit 4 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 6 | RA5/IO5 — Port A bit 5 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 7 | RA6/IO6 — Port A bit 6 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 8 | RA7/IO7 — Port A bit 7 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 9 | RE0/IO32 — Port E bit 0 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 10 | RE1/IO33 — Port E bit 1 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 11 | RE2/IO34 — Port E bit 2 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 12 | VDD — Positive supply (1.8V to 5.5V) |
| Pin 13 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 14 | RB0/IO8 — Port B bit 0 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 15 | RB1/IO9 — Port B bit 1 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 16 | RB2/IO10 — Port B bit 2 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 17 | RB3/IO11 — Port B bit 3 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 18 | RB4/IO12 — Port B bit 4 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 19 | RB5/IO13 — Port B bit 5 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 20 | RB6/IO14 — Port B bit 6 / bidirectional I/O / ICSP programming clock |
| Pin 21 | RB7/IO15 — Port B bit 7 / bidirectional I/O / ICSP programming data |
| Pin 22 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 23 | VDD — Positive supply (1.8V to 5.5V) |
| Pin 24 | RC0/IO16 — Port C bit 0 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 25 | RC1/IO17 — Port C bit 1 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 26 | RC2/IO18 — Port C bit 2 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 27 | RC3/IO19 — Port C bit 3 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 28 | RC4/IO20 — Port C bit 4 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 29 | RC5/IO21 — Port C bit 5 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 30 | RC6/IO22 — Port C bit 6 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 31 | RC7/IO23 — Port C bit 7 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 32 | RD0/IO24 — Port D bit 0 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 33 | RD1/IO25 — Port D bit 1 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 34 | RD2/IO26 — Port D bit 2 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 35 | RD3/IO27 — Port D bit 3 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 36 | RD4/IO28 — Port D bit 4 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 37 | RD5/IO29 — Port D bit 5 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 38 | RD6/IO30 — Port D bit 6 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 39 | RD7/IO31 — Port D bit 7 / bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 40 | AVDD — Analog positive supply |
| Pin 41 | AVSS — Analog ground reference |
| Pin 42 | MCLR — Master clear (reset, active low) / programming voltage input |
| Pin 43 | OSC1/CLKIN — Crystal oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 44 | OSC2/CLKOUT — Crystal oscillator output / clock output |
Typical Applications
PIC18F46Q43-E/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Capacitive Touch User Interface, Sensor Signal Conditioning and IoT Edge Node, LED Lighting Control, BLDC Motor Control, Industrial Control and HMI, Automotive Body Electronics.
Capacitive Touch User Interface
The PIC18F46Q43-E/PT's 12-bit ADCC with Computation enables Capacitive Voltage Divider (CVD) touch sensing with hardware-accelerated averaging, oversampling, and threshold detection, reducing CPU overhead to near zero. Place mTouch sensors on PCB pads routed to ADCC channels, and let the DMA controller stream conversion results without waking the CPU. Compared to firmware-driven 10-bit ADC scanning, this design achieves lower power and faster response for button, slider, and proximity interfaces in appliance and consumer products.
Recommended
Sensor Signal Conditioning and IoT Edge Node
With 64KB Flash, 12-bit ADCC, and six DMA channels, the PIC18F46Q43-E/PT can sample, filter, and pre-process analog sensor data autonomously before forwarding via UART, SPI, or I2C to a host. XLP deep-sleep currents in the nanoamp range enable battery-powered IoT nodes that wake on ADCC threshold or RTC, capture a burst of samples via DMA, transmit, and return to sleep. This architecture is widely used in environmental monitors, smart agriculture sensors, and wireless HVAC transmitters.
Recommended
LED Lighting Control
Three independent 16-bit PWMs with flexible triggering and configurable logic cells (CLCs) make the PIC18F46Q43-E/PT ideal for multi-channel LED drivers, RGB color mixing, and dimming curves. The PWMs support complementary outputs, dead-band control, and fault shutdown for half-bridge topologies. Combined with the 8-bit DAC for analog dimming and the ADCC for ambient light sensing, the Q43 delivers flicker-free, high-resolution lighting control in architectural, automotive interior, and horticultural fixtures.
Recommended
BLDC Motor Control
The PIC18F46Q43-E/PT supports sensorless and Hall-sensor BLDC, stepper, and brushed DC motor control via its 16-bit PWMs, quadrature encoder interface, and CLC-based commutation logic. The 64MHz core executes FOC or trapezoidal commutation loops with deterministic timing, while DMA offloads ADC sampling for back-EMF zero-crossing detection. Operate from 3.3V or 5V rails with gate drivers such as the Microchip MCP8024 or IRS2003 to drive small to medium BLDCs in fans, pumps, and drones.
Recommended
Industrial Control and HMI
The 36 I/O pins, hardware UART/SPI/I2C, and the E temperature grade (-40C to +125C) of the PIC18F46Q43-E/PT suit it for industrial PLC expansion modules, sensor hubs, and operator-panel HMIs. CIPs such as CLCs and PWMs implement deterministic glue logic, reducing external gates. The 12-bit ADCC digitizes 4-20 mA loop signals or thermistor bridges without an external op-amp, while the UART or CAN bridge connects to a higher-level controller or display.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics
The -E/PT extended temperature grade (-40C to +125C) of the PIC18F46Q43-E/PT makes it suitable for non-safety automotive body modules such as seat controllers, mirror adjusters, ambient lighting, and HVAC blend doors. The 16-bit PWMs drive small motors, the CLCs implement debouncing and fault logic, and the ADCC handles multi-channel sensor scanning. While this part is not AEC-Q100 qualified, the E grade provides adequate margin for cabin environments; for safety-critical rails, consider a Q100-qualified MCU.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18F46Q43-E/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F46Q43-I/PT | PIC18F45Q43-I/P | PIC18F46Q10-E/PT | PIC18F46K42-E/P | PIC18F46K40-E/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | TQFP-44 (10x10) | TQFP-44 (10x10) - same | TQFP-44 (10x10) - same | TQFP-44 (10x10) - same | TQFP-44 (10x10) - same | TQFP-44 (10x10) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB (45 = 40-pin variant) | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB |
| ADC Resolution | 12-bit ADCC | 12-bit ADCC | 12-bit ADCC | 10-bit | 12-bit (no CVD) | 10-bit |
| DMA Channels | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PWM Resolution | 16-bit (3x) | 16-bit (3x) | 16-bit (3x) | 10-bit | 10-bit/16-bit mix | 10-bit |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (E grade) | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +125C (E grade) | -40C to +125C (E grade) | -40C to +125C (E grade) |
| Configurable Logic Cells (CLC) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Limited | No |
| Capacitive Touch (CVD) | Yes (hardware ADCC) | Yes (hardware ADCC) | Yes (hardware ADCC) | Yes (firmware) | Yes (CTMU) | Yes (CTMU) |
Key Differentiators
- Hardware 12-bit ADCC with built-in CVD for capacitive touch (vs PIC18F46K40-E/ML)
- Six DMA channels for peripheral offload (vs PIC18F46Q10-E/PT)
- 16-bit PWM with 3 independent channels (vs PIC18F46K42-E/P)
Design Notes
The PIC18F46Q43-E/PT requires two decoupling capacitors: a 100 nF ceramic placed within 3 mm of each VDD/VSS pin pair and a bulk 1 uF to 10 uF tantalum or ceramic on the main supply rail. The AVDD/AVSS pair should have its own 100 nF + 10 uF decoupling network placed close to the analog pins to keep the ADCC reference clean. For battery designs, the XLP sleep mode draws under 100 nA with RTC running, allowing years of standby on a single CR2032.
Route the crystal traces (OSC1/OSC2) short and symmetric with a ground guard ring if possible. Place the MCLR pull-up (typically 10 kohm) close to the pin and add a 100 nF cap to VDD on MCLR to improve ESD performance. Keep the analog signal traces away from PWM and switching nodes; the TQFP-44 (10x10 mm) package gives reasonable analog trace routing if the inner layer is a solid ground plane.
Do not leave unused I/O pins floating - configure them as outputs driving low to minimize supply leakage. When migrating code from PIC18F46K40/K42 families, the register map differs; the Q43 moves several peripherals (CLC, DMA, PWM) to new SFR addresses. Validate all configuration bits in your project, especially the FEXTOSC and RSTOSC fields, since the Q43 has different oscillator defaults than older PIC18F devices.
For capacitive touch sensing with the ADCC, route the CVD sensor traces with a ground-fill guard ring to suppress crosstalk. Use the internal charge pump rather than external pull-ups where possible to reduce BOM. The DMA can stream ADCC results directly to RAM, allowing zero-CPU-overhead scanning of up to 6 channels, but ensure the DMA priority does not starve other peripherals.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. The -E/PT extended temperature grade is suitable for industrial and automotive cabin environments but is NOT AEC-Q100 qualified. For safety-critical automotive applications, choose a Q100-qualified part.