PIC18LF27J53T-I/SS - 48MHz USB MCU 128KB Flash SSOP-28 | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF27J53T-I/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.92 | $4.92 |
| 10 | $4.43 | $44.30 |
| 100 | $3.93 | $393.00 |
| 500 | $3.52 | $1,760.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.11 | $3,110.00 |
PIC18LF27J53T-I/SS Overview
What is a PIC18 J-series microcontroller? The PIC18 J-series is Microchip's family of 8-bit CMOS flash microcontrollers built on an enhanced RISC architecture with a 16-bit instruction word. It belongs to the broader PIC18 product line (8-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded controller -> semiconductor). The "LF" prefix indicates the low-voltage F-variant core (2.0 V to 3.6 V), and the "J53" sub-family adds a USB 2.0 full-speed transceiver and a 12-bit ADC with up to 16 channels.
Key features of the PIC18LF27J53T-I/SS include up to 16 MIPS throughput at 48 MHz, 200 ns single-cycle instruction execution, integrated USB 2.0 full-speed (12 Mbps) transceiver, 12-bit ADC with up to 16 channels, two analog comparators, CTMU for capacitive touch sensing, and nanoWatt XLP power management with deep-sleep current of approximately 20 nA. The device supports I2C, SPI, and two enhanced USARTs for asynchronous and synchronous serial communications.
The architecture combines a 16-bit program counter with an 8-bit data path, a hardware multiplier, and a four-deep stack. The 128 KB flash is organized as 64K x 16 words and supports self-programming under firmware control. Internal oscillator blocks include a 31 kHz LF-INTLF source and a software-tunable HF-INTOSC for low-power standby and full-speed operation.
Typical applications for the PIC18LF27J53T-I/SS include USB HID peripherals such as mice, keyboards, and game controllers; capacitive-touch user interfaces; low-cost data loggers with USB CDC connectivity; sensor conditioning with the CTMU; and consumer devices such as toys, remote controls, and small appliances. The deep-sleep mode extends battery life for always-on sensor front-ends.
Design consideration: the USB D+/D- lines require 27 ohm series resistors close to the IC and a 90 ohm differential characteristic impedance on the PCB. VUSB must be decoupled with at least 0.47 uF and the internal 3.3V USB regulator disabled when the system is bus-powered above 3.6V.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, including cross-brand equivalence analysis and SSOP-28 pin-compatibility guidance.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF27J53T-I/SS — 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 PIC18LF27J53T-I/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, ADC, Program Memory (Flash), Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18LF27J53-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F27J53T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F27J53-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF26J53-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF27J13T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF27J53T-I/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | PIC18 J-series |
| Core | 8-bit PIC18 (enhanced RISC) |
| Instruction Set | 16-bit width, 200 ns cycle |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 128 KB (64K x 16) |
| RAM | 3.8 KB |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 48 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0 V to 3.6 V (LF core) |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed (12 Mbps) integrated transceiver |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 16 channels |
| Comparators | 2 analog comparators |
| CTMU | Charge Time Measurement Unit (capacitive touch) |
| Serial Interfaces | I2C, SPI, 2x EUSART |
| Timers | 5 16-bit timers |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Package | 28-pin SSOP (SS), 5.30 mm body width |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Packaging Media | Tape and Reel (T suffix) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18LF27J53T-I/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2/AN2 — Digital I/O / analog input 2 |
| Pin 2 | RA3/AN3 — Digital I/O / analog input 3 |
| Pin 3 | RA4/AN4 — Digital I/O / analog input 4 |
| Pin 4 | RA5/AN5 — Digital I/O / analog input 5 |
| Pin 5 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 6 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 7 | RA7 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 8 | RA6/OSC2 — Digital I/O / oscillator output |
| Pin 9 | RA1/OSC1 — Digital I/O / oscillator input |
| Pin 10 | RA0 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 11 | RC0 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 12 | RC1 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 13 | RC2 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 14 | VUSB — USB transceiver supply (3.3V LDO output) |
| Pin 15 | D+ — USB data plus |
| Pin 16 | D- — USB data minus |
| Pin 17 | RB0/AN12 — Digital I/O / analog input 12 |
| Pin 18 | RB1/AN10 — Digital I/O / analog input 10 |
| Pin 19 | RB2/AN8 — Digital I/O / analog input 8 |
| Pin 20 | RB3/AN9 — Digital I/O / analog input 9 |
| Pin 21 | RB4/CCP4 — Digital I/O / Capture-Compare-PWM 4 |
| Pin 22 | RB5/CCP5 — Digital I/O / Capture-Compare-PWM 5 |
| Pin 23 | RB6/PGC — Digital I/O / ICSP clock |
| Pin 24 | RB7/PGD — Digital I/O / ICSP data |
| Pin 25 | RC6 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 26 | RC7 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 27 | RC3 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 28 | RC4 — Digital I/O |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF27J53T-I/SS is suitable for 6 applications: USB HID Peripherals, Capacitive Touch User Interfaces, USB CDC Data Loggers, Consumer Appliance Control, Industrial Sensor Front-Ends, Educational and Hobby Projects.
USB HID Peripherals
The PIC18LF27J53T-I/SS is purpose-built for USB HID devices such as keyboards, mice, game controllers, and consumer input devices. The integrated USB 2.0 full-speed transceiver eliminates an external PHY, the 16 MIPS CPU handles HID report polling at 1 ms intervals with margin, and 128 KB of flash accommodates USB stacks plus HID report descriptors. According to the Microchip datasheet, the on-chip USB SIE handles CRC, packet framing, and resume signaling automatically, reducing firmware burden. Place 27 ohm series resistors on D+/D- close to the IC, route to a 90 ohm differential pair to the connector, and tie VBUS to the VUSB pin through a 0.47 uF decoupling cap. Compared to discrete USB implementations, this part reduces BOM by roughly 4-5 components and shrinks PCB area below 1 cm².
Recommended
Capacitive Touch User Interfaces
The PIC18LF27J53T-I/SS is well matched to capacitive touch button, slider, and proximity sensing front-ends thanks to its integrated CTMU (Charge Time Measurement Unit) and two analog comparators. The CTMU delivers sub-pF resolution capacitance measurement, allowing up to 16 touch channels via the 12-bit ADC multiplexer. According to the Microchip datasheet, the device's deep-sleep current around 20 nA enables always-on wake-on-touch operation from a coin cell. Typical scan time is sub-millisecond per electrode, leaving CPU headroom for the application layer. Layout requires guard traces around touch electrodes, 0.5 mm minimum trace-to-pad gap, and a ground flood to suppress false triggers from external fields.
Recommended
USB CDC Data Loggers
The PIC18LF27J53T-I/SS integrates USB CDC class support directly through the on-chip transceiver, enabling a single-chip USB-to-serial data logger with no external PHY or UART bridge. The 3.8 KB RAM buffer accommodates incoming USB packets, while the 128 KB flash stores logger firmware and configuration. The 12-bit ADC with up to 16 channels digitizes analog sensor inputs, and the I2C/SPI peripherals connect to digital sensors such as temperature, humidity, or accelerometers. According to Microchip datasheet figures, the deep-sleep current of approximately 20 nA enables multi-year battery life on intermittent logging. Program the USB stack into upper flash, leave a bootloader region, and use CTMU for precision timing of low-duty-cycle wake events.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control
The PIC18LF27J53T-I/SS is well suited to small consumer appliances and remote controls, particularly those with USB charging or connectivity. The 48 MHz / 16 MIPS performance handles user-interface logic, motor control via PWM, and USB communications simultaneously. The nanoWatt XLP modes offer deep-sleep currents around 20 nA, extending battery life for battery-powered remote controls to multi-year standby. The two analog comparators support low-side current sensing or thermistor interfacing without an external op-amp. According to the Microchip datasheet, the 16-bit timers generate precise PWM for LED dimming, heater control, or small DC motor drive, and the CTMU enables capacitive touch-button replacement of mechanical switches in modern appliance front panels.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Front-Ends
The PIC18LF27J53T-I/SS serves industrial sensor conditioning and bridge excitation front-ends with USB diagnostic output. The 12-bit ADC delivers 16 channels of simultaneous monitoring, the two analog comparators implement window-comparator alarm functions, and the CTMU enables precision ratiometric capacitance measurement. The wide operating temperature range of -40 C to +85 C industrial grade supports factory-floor deployment, while the USB interface allows technicians to read live diagnostics via a laptop without opening the enclosure. The 128 KB flash supports Modbus-style protocol stacks and on-board calibration routines. Place 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling at every VDD pin and add ferrite beads on the USB lines for EMI suppression in motor-rich environments.
Recommended
Educational and Hobby Projects
The PIC18LF27J53T-I/SS is a popular choice for university embedded systems courses, maker projects, and USB development kits. The Microchip MPLAB X IDE, XC8 compiler, and free USB framework make firmware development straightforward, while the SSOP-28 package fits standard breakout boards such as the PIC18F47J53-based development kits. The integrated USB lets students learn device enumeration, HID, CDC, and mass-storage classes without external components. The 128 KB flash, 3.8 KB RAM, and 16 MIPS give enough headroom for RTOS demonstrations, bootloader exercises, and capstone projects. According to Microchip's developer documentation, evaluation boards and starter kits are available with schematics, firmware examples, and application notes for USB-stack integration.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF27J53T-I/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18LF27J53-I/SS | PIC18F27J53T-I/SS | PIC18F27J53-I/SS | PIC18LF26J53-I/SS | PIC18LF27J13T-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | SSOP-28 | SSOP-28 - same | SSOP-28 - same | SSOP-28 - same | SSOP-28 - same | SSOP-28 - same |
| Flash Memory | 128 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB | 64 KB | 128 KB |
| USB Transceiver | Integrated USB 2.0 FS | Integrated USB 2.0 FS | Integrated USB 2.0 FS | Integrated USB 2.0 FS | Integrated USB 2.0 FS | No USB |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V (F-variant) | 2.0 V to 3.6 V (F-variant) | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Maximum Frequency | 48 MHz / 16 MIPS | 48 MHz / 16 MIPS | 48 MHz / 16 MIPS | 48 MHz / 16 MIPS | 48 MHz / 16 MIPS | 48 MHz / 16 MIPS |
| CTMU (Capacitive Touch) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Packaging Media | Tape & Reel | Tube | Tape & Reel | Tube | Tube | Tape & Reel |
| Unit Price (USD, qty 100) | 3.93 | 3.93 | 3.93 | 3.93 | 3.45 | 3.75 |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated USB 2.0 full-speed transceiver (vs PIC18LF27J13T-I/SS)
- Twice the flash of the J52 sibling (vs PIC18LF26J53-I/SS)
- Tape-and-reel media for high-volume assembly (vs PIC18LF27J53-I/SS)
Design Notes
Route USB D+ and D- as a 90 ohm differential pair from the IC to the connector, with 27 ohm series resistors placed within 5 mm of the IC pins. The VUSB pin requires a 0.47 uF decoupling capacitor close to the pin and should not be left floating even if USB is unused. According to Microchip USB hardware design guidelines, maintaining differential impedance and tight impedance matching prevents signal-integrity failures at full-speed edge rates of 12 Mbps.
The PIC18LF27J53T-I/SS operates from 2.0 V to 3.6 V on VDD. When bus-powered from 5 V USB, enable the internal 3.3 V USB voltage regulator and connect VUSB to the regulated output. For self-powered designs above 3.6 V, disable the internal regulator and supply 3.3 V externally. Place a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor on every VDD pin plus a bulk 4.7 uF near the IC to suppress transient current spikes during USB packet transmission, which can draw up to 50 mA peak in high-speed handshake events.
For capacitive touch applications using the CTMU, surround touch electrodes with a ground flood and use 0.5 mm minimum clearance between electrodes and traces. Avoid placing ground planes directly under touch pads - they add parasitic capacitance that degrades sensitivity. According to Microchip CTMU application notes, use guard ring patterns on outer electrodes to reject water droplets and provide uniform sensitivity across the panel. Shield the touch sensor with a thin dielectric overlay no thicker than 3 mm of glass or plastic.
Do not leave the VUSB pin floating even if USB is unused, as the internal 3.3 V LDO requires a stable output for the USB transceiver analog block. Never exceed 3.6 V on any VDD pin, since the LF core lacks a 5V-tolerant I/O option. Configure the Configuration Words (CONFIG1L, CONFIG1H, CONFIG2L, CONFIG2H, CONFIG3L, CONFIG3H) to set the oscillator mode and disable unused peripherals before runtime - an incorrect config can lock out ICSP programming, requiring a high-voltage recovery sequence.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - for automotive applications, use AEC-Q100 qualified PIC18FxxKxx variants.
