PIC18LF2220-I/SO - 8-Bit 40MHz MCU, 4KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF2220-I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.62 | $3.62 |
| 10 | $3.34 | $33.40 |
| 100 | $2.95 | $295.00 |
| 500 | $2.62 | $1,310.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.34 | $2,340.00 |
PIC18LF2220-I/SO Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, non-volatile program memory (Flash/ROM), volatile data memory (SRAM), digital I/O, and a rich set of on-chip peripherals such as timers, ADC, UART, and I2C/SPI. Within the broader semiconductor taxonomy, MCUs sit under microcontrollers -> embedded processors -> digital ICs. The PIC18 family is Microchip's high-performance 8-bit architecture, balancing deterministic interrupt latency with C-friendly instruction set, and has been a workhorse for cost-sensitive embedded products for over two decades.
Key features of the PIC18LF2220 include its 10-bit ADC (up to 10 channels), nanoWatt power management for sleep currents down to nanoampere levels, an enhanced 16-bit instruction set with 8-bit data path, and integrated EEPROM emulation. It supports In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) and In-Circuit Debug (ICD), which is critical for engineers prototyping on prototype boards. The LF suffix indicates low-voltage operation; the non-LF PIC18F2220 is the 4.5 V-5.5 V variant.
Typical use cases include low-power sensor nodes, consumer appliance controllers, white-goods motor control, USB-to-UART bridges (when paired with an external PHY), and battery-powered handheld instruments. The wide 2.0 V-5.5 V range also makes it suitable for 2xAA/3xAA battery stacks and energy-harvesting front-ends.
Designers should pay attention to the 28-pin SOIC footprint selection - the I/SO suffix denotes industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C) and SOIC package. Stack height and land pattern follow JEDEC SO-28W standards, making PCB layout straightforward.
This page synthesizes cross-distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, and design notes not aggregated on a single manufacturer or distributor page, providing an at-a-glance comparison for sourcing engineers.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF2220-I/SO — 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 PIC18LF2220-I/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Core Architecture, Timers, Communication, Mounting Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18LF2221-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF2220T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF2320-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.31 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F2220-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.61 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F2221-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF14K22-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF2220-I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC18 (8-bit RISC, enhanced) |
| CPU Speed | 40 MHz (10 MIPS) |
| Program Memory | 4 KB Flash (2K x 16) |
| Data SRAM | 512 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes (emulated) |
| Digital I/O Pins | 25 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 10 channels |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.0 V to 5.5 V (LF series) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Package | 28-SOIC (SO, 7.50 mm body) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Timers | 4 (Timer0/1/2/3) |
| Communication | UART, I2C (MSSP), SPI (MSSP) |
| Power-Saving Modes | nanoWatt Technology (Sleep, Idle, RC Run) |
| Programming/Debug | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) + ICD |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18LF2220-I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/Vpp — Master Clear (Reset) input / programming voltage |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2 — Digital I/O / Analog input channel 2 |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/Vref+ — Digital I/O / Analog input / ADC positive reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — Digital I/O / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/SS/AN4 — Digital I/O / SPI Slave Select / Analog input |
| Pin 8 | Vss — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKI/RA7 — Oscillator crystal input / external clock |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKO/RA6 — Oscillator crystal output / clock output |
| Pin 11 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — Digital I/O / Timer1 oscillator output |
| Pin 12 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — Digital I/O / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 — Digital I/O / CCP1 PWM output |
| Pin 14 | RC3/SCK/SCL — Digital I/O / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 15 | RC4/SDI/SDA — Digital I/O / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 16 | RC5/SDO — Digital I/O / SPI data out |
| Pin 17 | RC6/TX/CK — Digital I/O / UART TX / clock |
| Pin 18 | RC7/RX/DT — Digital I/O / UART RX / data |
| Pin 19 | Vss — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | Vdd — Positive supply voltage (2.0 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 21 | RB0/INT0 — Digital I/O / External interrupt 0 |
| Pin 22 | RB1/INT1 — Digital I/O / External interrupt 1 |
| Pin 23 | RB2/INT2 — Digital I/O / External interrupt 2 |
| Pin 24 | RB3/CCP2 — Digital I/O / CCP2 PWM |
| Pin 25 | RB4 — Digital I/O with interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 26 | RB5 — Digital I/O with interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 27 | RB6/PGC — Digital I/O / ICSP clock (programming/debug) |
| Pin 28 | RB7/PGD — Digital I/O / ICSP data (programming/debug) |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF2220-I/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes, Consumer Appliance Control Panels, USB-to-UART Bridge Dongles, Industrial Process Monitoring, Educational & Hobbyist Embedded Boards, LED Lighting & PWM Dimming Control.
Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes
The PIC18LF2220-I/SO fits battery-powered sensor nodes because its LF low-voltage core operates from 2.0 V to 5.5 V, supporting direct connection to 2-cell AA alkaline (3 V) or 3-cell NiMH (3.6 V) battery stacks without any boost converter. With nanoWatt Technology sleep current below 1 uA and 10 MIPS performance at 40 MHz, the MCU can wake on a timer interrupt, read a sensor via the 10-bit ADC, transmit, and return to sleep, achieving multi-year battery life on a 2000 mAh cell. The 4 KB Flash accommodates a small RTOS or state machine plus BLE/Zigbee application code.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control Panels
The PIC18LF2220-I/SO is well-suited for consumer appliance front-panel controllers such as washing machines, microwave ovens, and dishwashers. Its 25 I/O pins directly drive 7-segment displays, keypads, LED indicators, and triac/MOSFET gate drivers for motor or heater loads, eliminating external I/O expanders. The 40 MHz CPU speed and 10-bit ADC handle rotary encoder inputs, temperature sensing (NTC thermistors), and capacitive touch via software libraries, while the 2.0-5.5 V range supports 3.3 V or 5 V designs.
Recommended
USB-to-UART Bridge Dongles
The PIC18LF2220-I/SO can serve as the MCU in low-cost USB-to-UART converter dongles, paired with an external USB transceiver. The hardware UART (EUSART) provides reliable asynchronous serial communication up to 115.2 kbaud or higher, while the 2.0-5.5 V supply can be powered directly from USB 5 V or a 3.3 V LDO. With 4 KB Flash, the MCU has enough room for USB CDC class firmware or vendor-specific protocols, and ICSP allows in-field firmware updates over the USB lines.
Recommended
Industrial Process Monitoring
In industrial 4-20 mA loop sensors, PLC input modules, and remote telemetry units, the PIC18LF2220-I/SO serves as a low-cost signal conditioner. The 10-bit ADC with up to 10 channels multiplexes thermocouple, RTD, pressure transducer, and 4-20 mA shunt inputs, while the hardware I2C/SPI peripherals communicate with external EEPROM for data logging. The industrial -40C to +85C temperature grade covers most factory environments, and the 28-SOIC package survives conformal coating and automated assembly.
Recommended
Educational & Hobbyist Embedded Boards
The PIC18LF2220-I/SO is widely used in hobbyist kits, PICKit-compatible development boards, and university embedded systems courses. Its 28-SOIC package fits the popular 28-pin PIC development board form factor, and Microchip's MPLAB X IDE + XC8 compiler + PICKit 4 programmer toolchain provides free academic access. The PIC18 architecture's deterministic interrupts and Harvard memory model teach core MCU concepts (timers, ADC, PWM) at a price point suitable for student budgets.
Recommended
LED Lighting & PWM Dimming Control
The PIC18LF2220-I/SO drives multi-channel LED lighting systems using the CCP/ECCP module for hardware PWM at up to 40 MHz, generating flicker-free dimming curves from 0% to 100% duty cycle. Each I/O pin can source/sink 25 mA, sufficient to drive logic-level MOSFETs directly for high-power LED strings. The 25 I/O pins support RGBW (4 channels) plus status indicators and button inputs. nanoWatt sleep enables standby power below 100 uA for ENERGY STAR compliance.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF2220-I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18LF2221-I/SO | PIC18LF2220T-I/SO | PIC18LF2320-I/SO | PIC18F2220-I/SO | PIC18F2221-I/SO | PIC18LF14K22-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SOIC | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 4.5 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Flash Memory | 4 KB | 8 KB | 4 KB | 8 KB | 4 KB | 8 KB | 16 KB |
| SRAM | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B |
| CPU Speed | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS | 40 MHz / 10 MIPS | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS |
| I/O Pins | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 |
| ADC | 10-bit, 10 channels | 10-bit, 10 channels | 10-bit, 10 channels | 10-bit, 10 channels | 10-bit, 10 channels | 10-bit, 10 channels | 10-bit, 11 channels |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest-voltage PIC18 in the family (2.0 V start, vs 4.5 V on non-LF) (vs PIC18F2220-I/SO)
- Direct upgrade path to 8 KB Flash without PCB change (vs PIC18LF2221-I/SO)
- Modern peripheral set vs older PIC16 baseline (vs PIC18LF14K22-I/SO)
Design Notes
The PIC18LF2220-I/SO nanoWatt Technology supports multiple power-saving modes: Sleep (CPU off, peripherals off, <1 uA typical), Idle (CPU off, peripherals on, ~5.8 uA typical), and RC Run modes. For battery-powered designs, leverage Sleep with Watchdog Timer wake-up every few seconds to read sensors - estimated battery life on a 2000 mAh AA cell exceeds 5 years for a 0.1% duty-cycle sensor read. Always enable the Brown-out Reset (BOR) module via CONFIG register to prevent Flash corruption during voltage dips.
The 28-SOIC package follows JEDEC SO-28W (7.50 mm body width). Use a land pattern with 1.27 mm pitch, pad width 0.6 mm, and pad length 1.8 mm for reliable solder fillets. Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to pin 20 (Vdd), with a second 10 uF bulk capacitor within 5 mm. Route the ICSP pins (RB6/PGC, RB7/PGD, MCLR/Vpp) to a 5-pin header on the board edge for programming/debug access without disassembling the product.
Do not confuse PIC18LF2220 (2.0-5.5 V) with PIC18F2220 (4.5-5.5 V) - using the non-LF variant below 4.5 V causes Flash programming failures and erratic ADC readings. When migrating firmware between the two, verify CONFIG register settings (especially LVP - Low-Voltage Programming) - LVP must match the toolchain's ICSP voltage levels. Always read the device ID at startup (0x1050 for LF2220, 0x1060 for LF2221) to confirm the expected die before executing peripheral-specific code.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this is an industrial-grade part (-40C to +85C). For automotive applications, Microchip offers separate PIC18LF2220 automotive-grade variants on request.
