PIC18LF442-I/PT - 8-Bit 40MHz 16KB Flash MCU | Microchip | TQFP-44
MPN: PIC18LF442-I/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8.95 | $8.95 |
| 10 | $8.06 | $80.60 |
| 100 | $7.16 | $716.00 |
| 500 | $6.5 | $3,250.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.85 | $5,850.00 |
PIC18LF442-I/PT Overview
What is a PIC18 microcontroller? The PIC18 family from Microchip is a high-performance 8-bit CMOS Flash MCU line using an enhanced RISC architecture with 77 single-word instructions and a hardware multiplier. PIC18 belongs to the broader category: microcontroller -> embedded MCU -> 8-bit MCU -> CMOS RISC processor -> semiconductor. These devices target applications requiring deterministic real-time control, low power, and easy reprogrammability in-circuit.
Key features of the PIC18LF442 include: 16 KB (8K x 16) self-programmable Flash program memory, 768 bytes of RAM, 256 bytes of EEPROM, 34 I/O pins with individually programmable pull-ups, four timer modules, a 10-bit ADC with up to 8 input channels, two analog comparators, an enhanced USART with autobaud detection, an MSSP module supporting SPI and I2C (master/slave), and a 10 MHz internal oscillator option alongside external crystal support up to 40 MHz.
The architecture provides 10 MIPS throughput, hardware stack, priority interrupts, and nanoWatt power management with multiple idle and sleep modes. The enhanced flash cell supports >100 k erase/write cycles and supports self-programming under firmware control, enabling bootloader and field-update scenarios.
Typical applications include industrial sensor interfaces, motor control peripherals, HVAC controllers, automotive body electronics (non-AEC-Q100), consumer appliance control boards, and USB-to-UART bridges when paired with a separate USB transceiver. The wide 2.0-5.5 V supply supports both 3.3 V and 5 V system rails.
When designing with this MCU, use a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor per VDD pin placed within 5 mm, and ensure MCLR is tied through a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD for reliable reset. The ICD/ICSP programming pins (RB6/RB7) should not be heavily loaded during debug sessions to avoid programming failure.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, same-family pin-compatible drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the bare manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF442-I/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 PIC18LF442-I/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Timers, ADC, Operating Temperature, Core.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18LF452-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$5.04 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F442-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF4420-I/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$3.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF4410-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$4.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF4320-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$5.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF442-I/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC18 (8-bit RISC, enhanced) |
| Instruction Set | 77 single-word instructions |
| Maximum Clock Speed | 40 MHz (10 MIPS) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 16 KB (8K x 16 words) |
| Data RAM | 768 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Digital I/O Pins | 34 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 8 channels |
| Analog Comparators | 2 |
| Timers | 4 (Timer0/1/2/3) |
| Communication Interfaces | I2C, SPI, USART (with autobaud) |
| Package | 44-pin TQFP (10x10 mm) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 3 (168 hours) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC18LF442-I/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLRbar/VPP/RE3 — Master Clear (active-low reset) / programming voltage / digital I/O RE3 |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / analog input channel 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / analog input channel 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — PORTA bit 2 / analog input channel 2 / ADC negative reference |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — PORTA bit 3 / analog input channel 3 / ADC positive reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI/C1OUT — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input / comparator 1 output |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SSbar/C2OUT — PORTA bit 5 / analog input 4 / SPI slave select / comparator 2 output |
| Pin 8 | RE0/RDbar/AN5 — PORTE bit 0 / parallel read control / analog input 5 |
| Pin 9 | RE1/WRbar/AN6 — PORTE bit 1 / parallel write control / analog input 6 |
| Pin 10 | RE2/CSbar/AN7 — PORTE bit 2 / parallel chip select / analog input 7 |
| Pin 11 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 12 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 13 | OSC1/CLKI/RA7 — Oscillator crystal input / external clock input / PORTA bit 7 |
| Pin 14 | OSC2/CLKO/RA6 — Oscillator crystal output / clock output / PORTA bit 6 |
| Pin 15 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 16 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 module |
| Pin 17 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / CCP1 module (PWM/Capture/Compare) |
| Pin 18 | RC3/SCK/SCL — PORTC bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 19 | RD0/PSP0 — PORTD bit 0 / parallel slave port data bit 0 |
| Pin 20 | RD1/PSP1 — PORTD bit 1 / parallel slave port data bit 1 |
| Pin 21 | RD2/PSP2 — PORTD bit 2 / parallel slave port data bit 2 |
| Pin 22 | RD3/PSP3 — PORTD bit 3 / parallel slave port data bit 3 |
| Pin 23 | RC4/SDI/SDA — PORTC bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 24 | RC5/SDO — PORTC bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 25 | RC6/TX/CK — PORTC bit 6 / USART transmit / USART clock |
| Pin 26 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / USART receive / USART data |
| Pin 27 | RD4/PSP4 — PORTD bit 4 / parallel slave port data bit 4 |
| Pin 28 | RD5/PSP5 — PORTD bit 5 / parallel slave port data bit 5 |
| Pin 29 | RD6/PSP6 — PORTD bit 6 / parallel slave port data bit 6 |
| Pin 30 | RD7/PSP7 — PORTD bit 7 / parallel slave port data bit 7 |
| Pin 31 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 32 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 33 | RB0/INT0 — PORTB bit 0 / external interrupt 0 |
| Pin 34 | RB1/INT1 — PORTB bit 1 / external interrupt 1 |
| Pin 35 | RB2/INT2 — PORTB bit 2 / external interrupt 2 |
| Pin 36 | RB3/CCP2 — PORTB bit 3 / CCP2 module alternate pin |
| Pin 37 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 38 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 (interrupt-on-change) |
| Pin 39 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock (programming/debug) |
| Pin 40 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data (programming/debug) |
| Pin 41 | AVSS — Analog ground |
| Pin 42 | AVDD — Analog positive supply |
| Pin 43 | VREF- — ADC negative reference (separate analog ground reference) |
| Pin 44 | VREF+ — ADC positive reference (separate analog supply reference) |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF442-I/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Interface, HVAC Zone Controller, Consumer Appliance Control Board, Motor Control Peripherals, USB-to-UART Bridge, Smart Sensor Node with Bootloader.
Industrial Sensor Interface
The PIC18LF442-I/PT is well-suited for industrial sensor hub designs where multiple analog sensors need conditioning and digital read-out. Its 10-bit ADC with up to 8 input channels, 2.0 V to 5.5 V supply range, and 16 KB flash comfortably host sensor linearization, calibration tables, and Modbus RTU-style protocols over USART. The wide supply tolerance supports both 24 V-derived 5 V rails and direct 3.3 V Li-ion battery stacks. Compared to PIC16 alternatives, the 8 KB x 16 Flash word architecture yields faster execution of 16-bit arithmetic on transducer data.
Recommended
HVAC Zone Controller
HVAC zoning boards benefit from the PIC18LF442-I/PT's blend of ADC channels, PWM timers, and USART for damper/valve actuation with thermostat connectivity. Four timer modules generate PWM for motorized damper control and triac firing, while 34 I/O lines interface with keypads, displays, and relays. The 2.0-5.5 V supply range lets a single MCU operate from 3.3 V (low-power standby) and 5 V (active driver) rails. NanoWatt sleep modes cut quiescent draw below 1 uA during standby, critical for wall-mounted thermostats.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control Board
Appliance control boards (washing machines, dishwashers, microwave ovens) leverage the PIC18LF442-I/PT's deterministic interrupt response, 10 MIPS throughput, and robust peripheral mix. The PIC18 enhanced instruction set executes complex state machines for wash cycles in <1 ms tick times. The 16 KB flash holds multilingual UI strings, and 256-byte EEPROM stores user settings across power cycles. 34 I/O lines directly drive LEDs, keypads, triac interfaces, and motor enable lines without external muxing.
Recommended
Motor Control Peripherals
Small brushless DC and stepper motor controllers in fans, pumps, and 3D printers pair well with the PIC18LF442-I/PT. Its four 16-bit timers with PWM and input-capture modes handle commutation timing and tachometer feedback, while the 10-bit ADC samples current shunt and back-EMF signals. The 10 MIPS core executes Field-Oriented Control loops within microseconds, supporting smooth torque delivery. The wide 2.0-5.5 V supply accepts 3.3 V logic-level gate drivers directly.
Recommended
USB-to-UART Bridge
When paired with an external USB transceiver such as the MCP2200 or FT232, the PIC18LF442-I/PT serves as a compact USB-to-UART/I2C/SPI bridge for debug and field-update scenarios. The enhanced USART supports autobaud detection, simplifying firmware update flows. The 16 KB flash holds bootloader code plus the bridge firmware, while 768 bytes of RAM buffer CDC packets. The 2.0-5.5 V range supports both USB-bus-powered 5 V and battery-powered 3.3 V operation.
Recommended
Smart Sensor Node with Bootloader
The PIC18LF442-I/PT's self-programmable Flash supports a robust bootloader for field firmware updates over I2C or UART, ideal for smart sensor nodes deployed across building automation or asset-tracking systems. The 16 KB flash partitions cleanly into bootloader + application regions, with the hardware write-protect feature guarding critical bootloader code. The 256-byte EEPROM stores configuration and calibration parameters across firmware upgrades without loss. The 2.0-5.5 V supply range supports battery-powered LoRaWAN-style sensor nodes.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF442-I/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18LF452-I/PT | PIC18F442-I/PT | PIC18LF4420-I/ML | PIC18LF4410-I/PT | PIC18LF4320-I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | TQFP-44 (10x10) | TQFP-44 (10x10) - same | TQFP-44 (10x10) - same | TQFP-44 (10x10) - same | TQFP-44 (10x10) - same | TQFP-44 (10x10) - same |
| Core | PIC18 8-bit RISC | PIC18 8-bit RISC | PIC18 8-bit RISC | PIC18 enhanced 8-bit | PIC18 enhanced 8-bit | PIC18 enhanced 8-bit |
| Maximum Clock 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) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 16 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 8 KB |
| Data RAM | 768 bytes | 1536 bytes | 768 bytes | 768 bytes | 768 bytes | 512 bytes |
| Supply Voltage | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 2.0 V to 5.5 V | 4.2 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 |
| Digital I/O Pins | 34 | 34 | 34 | 36 | 36 | 36 |
| ADC | 10-bit, 8 channels | 10-bit, 8 channels | 10-bit, 8 channels | 10-bit, 13 channels | 10-bit, 13 channels | 10-bit, 13 channels |
| Communication Interfaces | I2C, SPI, USART | I2C, SPI, USART | I2C, SPI, USART | I2C, SPI, 2x USART | I2C, SPI, 2x USART | I2C, SPI, 2x USART |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C |
| Lifecycle Status | Active | Active | Active | Active | Active | Active |
Key Differentiators
- Wider supply voltage range than F-variant (vs PIC18F442-I/PT)
- Drop-in upgrade path with double memory (vs PIC18LF452-I/PT)
- Industrial-grade temperature and active lifecycle (vs PIC18LF4320-I/PT)
- Enhanced peripheral integration in next-gen LF4420 (vs PIC18LF4420-I/ML)
Design Notes
Place a 0.1 uF decoupling capacitor on each VDD pin (pin 11 and pin 32) within 5 mm of the package, plus a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic capacitor on the main VDD rail. For analog-sensitive designs, add a ferrite bead between AVDD and VDD to isolate digital switching noise from the analog reference. The PIC18LF442-I/PT's AVDD pin (pin 42) should be tied to the same supply as VDD if separate analog regulation is not used; if used separately, AVDD must come up no later than VDD to avoid latch-up via internal ESD clamps.
Route the ICSP pins RB6/PGC (pin 39) and RB7/PGD (pin 40) directly to a 6-pin ICSP header with no series resistors or buffer stages; load capacitance >30 pF on these lines causes programming failures with the PICkit 3. Keep the trace lengths under 50 mm and avoid routing them near high-frequency switching signals. For production programming, use a Tag-Connect TC2030 footprint to save board space.
When using the ADC, ensure AVDD has at least 10 uF of bulk capacitance with a 0.1 uF ceramic bypass close to pin 42, and tie AVSS (pin 41) directly to the ground plane with a short trace. The ADC's VREF+ input (pin 44) draws dynamic current during conversions; if using internal VREF, add a 0.1 uF ceramic cap on this pin. For multi-channel scanning above 50 kSPS, use sequential (not simultaneous) sampling and add 1 uF on each analog input pin through a low-impedance mux path.
Do not leave MCLRbar floating. Tie MCLRbar (pin 1) to VDD through a 10 kohm pull-up resistor, and add a 100 nF cap to ground for noise filtering. Floating MCLRbar causes random resets in noisy environments. Also note that RE3 (also on pin 1) is input-only - it cannot be driven as output. Configuration bits must be set to disable Low-Voltage Programming (LVP) unless pin 1 (RB5/PGM) is dedicated for that purpose, otherwise random LVP entry can occur during power-up brown-out events.
Keep the 40 MHz crystal (or resonator) within 10 mm of pins 13 (OSC1) and 14 (OSC2), with the load capacitors placed close to the crystal. Use a ground guard ring around the crystal traces to prevent injection of digital switching noise. If using the internal oscillator, the HF-INTOSC is factory calibrated to within +/- 1% across the full temperature range and 2.0-5.5 V supply, sufficient for USART autobaud at 9600 baud and below.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial -40 C to +85 C temperature range. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - for automotive applications choose PIC18F automotive variants.