PIC18LF26J53T-I/SO - 8-bit USB MCU 64KB Flash 12 MIPS | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF26J53T-I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.38 | $4.38 |
| 10 | $3.94 | $39.40 |
| 100 | $3.5 | $350.00 |
| 500 | $3.1 | $1,550.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.78 | $2,780.00 |
PIC18LF26J53T-I/SO Overview
An 8-bit PIC microcontroller is a Harvard-architecture RISC processor designed for embedded control. PIC MCUs sit within the broader microcontroller category, which itself belongs to the integrated circuits > microcontrollers hierarchy in power-managed embedded systems. The LF sub-family extends the legacy PIC18 line with nanoWatt XLP technology, internal voltage regulation, and ultra-low sleep currents that make these parts attractive for handheld, USB-bus-powered, and energy-harvesting designs.
Key features include the integrated USB 2.0 full-speed transceiver and SIE, eliminating external USB PHY cost; 64KB self-programmable Flash with 10K erase cycles; 4KB linear RAM and 256-byte EEPROM; 10-bit or 12-bit A/D with auto-acquisition; mTouch capacitive touch support; and on-chip hardware RTCC for real-time clock backup. The CTMU peripheral enables accurate time and charge measurement for proximity sensing and capacitive buttons.
The architecture is built on an enhanced PIC18 pipeline with hardware multiplier, 31-level stack, and C-friendly instruction set. The internal 31 kHz to 8 MHz oscillator block plus 48 MHz USB clock source minimize external components, while two comparators and a reference DAC provide analog signal conditioning. XLP nanoWatt technology delivers typical sleep currents below 100 nA with RTCC enabled.
Typical applications include USB HID peripherals such as mice, keyboards, and game controllers, low-power sensor hubs, USB-to-UART bridges, and human-interface devices. The combination of integrated USB, ample RAM for USB endpoint buffers, and XLP sleep modes makes the LF26J53 a frequent choice for tethered battery peripherals and bus-powered IoT edge nodes.
When designing with this part, allocate enough Flash for the USB stack and CDC/HID class driver (typically 10-14KB), and follow Microchip's USB PCB layout guidelines including a 90-ohm differential impedance on D+/D- and a common-mode choke near the connector. The 28-SOIC wide footprint is the same as PIC18F/LF2553 and PIC18F/LF25K22, simplifying board upgrades.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, same-family pin-compatible alternatives, and practical USB design notes not found in the standalone Microchip datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF26J53T-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 PIC18LF26J53T-I/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Core Architecture, I/O Pins, ADC, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18LF26J53-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.41 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F26J53-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF25J53-I/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF2553T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.35 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F25K83-I/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F25K22-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF26J53T-I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC18 (8-bit Harvard RISC) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 64 KB |
| Data RAM | 4 KB |
| EEPROM | 256 B |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 48 MHz (12 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage (Vdd) | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Package | 28-pin SOIC wide (7.50 mm body) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 10 channels |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed (12 Mbps) Device with on-chip transceiver and SIE |
| Timers | Five 16-bit timers + two 8-bit timers |
| Communication Peripherals | 2x EUSART, 2x MSSP (SPI/I2C) |
| I/O Pins | 22 |
| Comparators | 2x analog comparators with reference DAC |
| CTMU Module | Yes (Charge Time Measurement Unit) |
| RTCC | Yes (Real-Time Clock Calendar) |
| XLP (nanoWatt) | Yes (sleep current < 100 nA typical) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited floor life) |
PIC18LF26J53T-I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0 — Digital I/O / Analog input 0 / CVREF+ |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1 — Digital I/O / Analog input 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2 — Digital I/O / Analog input 2 / VREF- |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3 — Digital I/O / Analog input 3 / VREF+ |
| Pin 5 | RA4/AN4 — Digital I/O / Analog input 4 |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN5 — Digital I/O / Analog input 5 |
| Pin 7 | RA6/OSC2 — Digital I/O / Oscillator output |
| Pin 8 | RA7/OSC1 — Digital I/O / Oscillator input |
| Pin 9 | Vss — Ground reference |
| Pin 10 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.0V-3.6V) |
| Pin 11 | RB0/AN12 — Digital I/O / Analog input 12 |
| Pin 12 | RB1/AN10 — Digital I/O / Analog input 10 |
| Pin 13 | RB2/AN8 — Digital I/O / Analog input 8 |
| Pin 14 | RB3/AN9 — Digital I/O / Analog input 9 |
| Pin 15 | RB4/AN11 — Digital I/O / Analog input 11 |
| Pin 16 | RB5 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 17 | RB6/PGC — Digital I/O / ICSP clock |
| Pin 18 | RB7/PGD — Digital I/O / ICSP data |
| Pin 19 | VUSB — USB 3.3V supply (internal regulator output) |
| Pin 20 | D+ — USB data plus |
| Pin 21 | D- — USB data minus |
| Pin 22 | RC0 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 23 | RC1 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 24 | RC2 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 25 | RC3 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 26 | RC4 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 27 | RC5 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 28 | RC6 — Digital I/O |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF26J53T-I/SO is suitable for 7 applications: USB HID Peripheral (Keyboard / Mouse), USB-to-UART Bridge (CDC Virtual COM Port), Low-Power Sensor Hub with USB Wake-Up, Capacitive Touch Front Panel (mTouch / CTMU), Industrial USB Data Logger, USB Battery Charger / Monitor, Audio USB Consumer Device (Streaming Headset).
USB HID Peripheral (Keyboard / Mouse)
The PIC18LF26J53T-I/SO's integrated USB 2.0 full-speed transceiver and SIE eliminate the need for an external PHY, while its 4 KB RAM comfortably buffers HID report endpoints. The 12 MIPS CPU executes HID class stacks in roughly 8-10 KB Flash, leaving over 50 KB for application code. XLP nanoWatt sleep currents below 100 nA extend battery life in wireless-tethered designs. Microchip's AN1190 HID reference firmware accelerates time-to-market.
Recommended
USB-to-UART Bridge (CDC Virtual COM Port)
The device's 12 MIPS throughput easily handles USB CDC class enumeration plus UART bridging at baud rates up to 921600. With 64 KB Flash, the CDC stack fits alongside application-level command parsers. The two on-chip EUSART peripherals can serve both the USB-to-host bridge and a separate debug console. Industrial temperature grade ("I") supports factory-floor RS-232 replacement designs.
Recommended
Low-Power Sensor Hub with USB Wake-Up
XLP nanoWatt technology holds sleep current below 100 nA with RTCC enabled, allowing always-on sensor duty-cycling on a CR2032 coin cell for months. The CTMU peripheral enables accurate capacitive touch or temperature sensing without an external timer IC. USB wake-up from sleep lets the hub replay buffered sensor data on host reconnect. The 12-bit ADC samples thermistor or bridge sensors at low rates.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch Front Panel (mTouch / CTMU)
The on-chip CTMU and 12-bit ADC scan up to 10 touch electrodes with hardware-timed charge measurement, eliminating the dedicated touch IC. The 28-SOIC exposes enough I/O for 8-12 buttons plus indicator LEDs. Low-power sleep with touch wake-up keeps idle current under 1 uA. Microchip's mTouch library provides ready-made proximity and button algorithms.
Recommended
Industrial USB Data Logger
Industrial -40C to +85C rating plus 64 KB Flash and 4 KB RAM make the J53T-I/SO ideal for tethered data loggers that record sensor telemetry and stream to a host PC over USB. The 256-byte EEPROM stores configuration parameters non-volatilely. With 5 timers and mTouch support, the same MCU also handles periodic sampling and event timestamping. Tape-and-reel packaging fits SMT production lines.
Recommended
USB Battery Charger / Monitor
The 12-bit ADC reads battery voltage and current sense resistors while USB enumeration negotiates the required current from a host or wall adapter. Flash space accommodates custom charge profiles for Li-ion, NiMH, and lead-acid chemistries. Low-power sleep between ADC conversions extends run time on battery-only operation. The LF core variant's low quiescent current suits solar or energy-harvesting designs.
Recommended
Audio USB Consumer Device (Streaming Headset)
USB isochronous endpoints deliver compressed audio at 12 Mbps while the CPU handles volume control, button debouncing, and indicator LED PWM. The 28 SOIC package routes audio ground and USB ground on separate pins for clean EMC. Two MSSP peripherals can drive an external audio DAC or LED matrix simultaneously. The 22 I/O pins cover capacitive buttons plus RGB status LEDs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF26J53T-I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18LF26J53-I/SO | PIC18F26J53-I/SO | PIC18LF25J53-I/SO | PIC18LF2553T-I/SO | PIC18F25K83-I/SO | PIC18F25K22-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SOIC wide (7.50 mm) | 28-SOIC wide (7.50 mm) - same | 28-SOIC wide (7.50 mm) - same | 28-SOIC wide (7.50 mm) - same | 28-SOIC wide (7.50 mm) - same | 28-SOIC wide (7.50 mm) - same | 28-SOIC wide (7.50 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB (-50%) | 32 KB (-50%) | 32 KB (-50%) | 32 KB (-50%) |
| Data RAM | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 2 KB (-50%) | 2 KB (-50%) | 1.5 KB (-63%) |
| USB Support | USB 2.0 FS Device with on-chip transceiver | USB 2.0 FS Device | USB 2.0 FS Device | USB 2.0 FS Device | USB 2.0 FS Device | No USB | No USB |
| ADC Resolution | 12-bit | 12-bit | 12-bit | 12-bit | 12-bit | 12-bit with computation | 10-bit |
| XLP Sleep Current | <100 nA typical | <100 nA typical | Higher (F core, no XLP) | <100 nA typical | Higher (no nanoWatt XLP) | Lower (K80-class XLP) | Low (K22 XLP) |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0V to 3.6V | 2.0V to 3.6V | 2.0V to 3.6V | 2.0V to 3.6V | 2.0V to 5.5V (wider) | 2.3V to 5.5V | 1.8V to 5.5V |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated USB 2.0 full-speed transceiver with SIE (vs PIC18F25K83-I/SO)
- XLP nanoWatt sleep current below 100 nA (vs PIC18LF2553T-I/SO)
- 64 KB Flash versus 32 KB on most siblings (vs PIC18LF25K22-I/SO)
- 12-bit ADC with on-chip voltage reference DAC (vs PIC18F25K22-I/SO)
Design Notes
Route USB D+ (pin 20) and D- (pin 21) as a 90-ohm differential pair with controlled impedance on the top layer and a continuous ground reference plane beneath. Place the common-mode choke and ESD protection array within 5 mm of the USB connector. Microchip's AN6128 USB hardware checklist recommends keeping the D+/D- traces under 50 mm and avoiding any via transitions in the differential segment. A ferrite bead on Vusb plus 4.7uF decoupling capacitor near pin 19 isolates USB noise from the digital 3.3V rail.
Estimated: at 48 MHz CPU active and full USB traffic, the J53T-I/SO draws approximately 12-15 mA from Vdd, dissipating roughly 40-55 mW at 3.3V. Decouple Vdd (pin 10) with a 100 nF ceramic within 2 mm of the pin plus a 4.7 uF bulk capacitor on the same supply node. Place the Vss pin (pin 9) via directly to the ground plane without sharing traces with USB ground to avoid digital return currents coupling into USB reference.
Do not exceed 3.6V on Vdd when the USB transceiver is active, as Vusb derives its 3.3V from an internal regulator that lacks overvoltage protection. The 'LF' variants are 2.0V-3.6V only and cannot operate at 5V systems without a level shifter. Also note that configuration word settings for the oscillator must match the actual external crystal; the internal 8 MHz HFINTOSC is suitable for most designs but accuracy-critical USB requires the 48 MHz PLL plus 96 MHz PLL-derived USB clock. The T suffix indicates tape-and-reel packaging only and does not affect electrical behavior.
For capacitive touch sensing via CTMU, route electrode traces with minimum 0.5 mm clearance from digital signals and use a grounded guard ring around sensitive electrodes. Microchip application note AN1250 recommends a 10 ms scan period with CTMU current source set to 0.55 uA for typical touch buttons. Avoid placing touch electrodes directly above or below the USB differential pair to prevent capacitive coupling into USB signaling.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product declaration. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose PIC18F26J53-I/SO automotive grade or similar Q1 part for AEC-Q100 designs. Halogen-free per Microchip environmental compliance documentation.
