PIC18LF4480T-I/ML - 16KB Flash, 40MHz, ECAN 8-bit MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF4480T-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.4 | $6.40 |
| 10 | $6.08 | $60.80 |
| 100 | $5.46 | $546.00 |
| 500 | $5.1 | $2,550.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.72 | $4,720.00 |
PIC18LF4480T-I/ML Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that contains a processor core, volatile and non-volatile memory, programmable I/O peripherals, and often analog or communication blocks, all on one IC. The PIC18 family is part of Microchip's 8-bit RISC architecture portfolio, sitting between lower-end PIC16 devices and the 16-bit PIC24/dsPIC families. PIC18 MCUs use a Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses, an accumulator-based register file (with linear access on the F4480), and a 16-bit instruction word, giving them a balance of deterministic timing, low power, and rich peripheral integration suitable for industrial, automotive, and consumer control applications.
Key features of the PIC18LF4480T-I/ML include nanoWatt Technology for power-managed operation with multiple idle and sleep modes, an Enhanced CAN 2.0B module with hardware acceptance filters for automotive and industrial networking, an addressable USART module supporting both synchronous and asynchronous serial protocols, and a 10-bit A/D converter with up to 13 single-ended channels. The device also offers two analog comparators, two 8/16-bit timer/counters, a 4-word deep capture register, and a Parallel Slave Port for external bus connection, all configured through peripheral feature disable registers to save power when unused.
Architecturally, the PIC18LF4480 uses an enhanced flash Harvard architecture that supports C-optimized instructions such as one-cycle multiply and hardware divide, with a 32-level hardware stack and an 8x8 hardware multiplier. The Flash program memory is rated for 100K erase/write cycles, supports self-programmability via ICSP, and can be optionally write-protected in blocks. The ECAN module implements CAN 2.0B active with full filtering, including DeviceNet addressing, while the Enhanced USART and MSSP (SPI/I2C) modules enable additional serial connectivity.
Typical applications include automotive body and chassis ECAN nodes, industrial CAN-bus sensor and actuator modules, HVAC control boards, building automation gateways, and low-power battery-sensed instrumentation. In automotive body control, the integrated ECAN controller with hardware filtering dramatically reduces software overhead compared to bit-banged CAN, allowing nodes such as seat controllers, mirror modules, or HVAC flaps to participate on a multi-node bus at 125 kbps or 500 kbps.
When designing with this part, place decoupling capacitors (100 nF ceramic plus a bulk 1 uF to 10 uF) as close as possible to VDD/AVDD/VSS/AVSS pins and ensure the QFN thermal pad is soldered to a continuous copper plane to keep the silicon die within its industrial temperature rating under continuous ECAN activity. NanoWatt modes such as Sleep can drop current into the low microamp range, but wake-up latency and ECAN state retention must be verified for your specific timing budget.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF4480T-I/ML — 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 PIC18LF4480T-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Timers, ADC, Program Memory (Flash), Mounting Type, Package.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18LF4480-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF4580T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4480T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$3.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18F4580T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF4480T-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Device Family | PIC18F/LF4480 series (8-bit RISC) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 16 KB (16384 bytes) |
| Data Memory (SRAM) | 768 bytes |
| Non-volatile Memory (EEPROM) | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 40 MHz (10 MIPS) |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Digital I/O Pins | 36 |
| Package | 44-pin QFN (ML) with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial grade) |
| Temperature Grade Code | I (Industrial) |
| Packaging Suffix | T (Tape and Reel) |
| A/D Converter | 10-bit, up to 13 single-ended channels |
| CAN Module | ECAN 2.0B active, hardware acceptance filters |
| Communication Peripherals | Enhanced USART, MSSP (SPI / I2C), Parallel Slave Port |
| Timers | 2 x 8/16-bit with capture/compare |
| Analog Comparators | 2 |
| Power-Saving Modes | nanoWatt Technology (Idle, Sleep, etc.) |
| ICSP / Self-Programming | Yes (Flash rated 100K erase/write) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18LF4480T-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | OSC1/CLKI/RA7 — Oscillator input or digital I/O |
| Pin 2 | OSC2/CLKO/RA6 — Oscillator output or digital I/O |
| Pin 3 | MCLR/RA5 — Master Clear (reset) input or digital I/O |
| Pin 4 | RA4/T0CKI/C1OUT — Digital I/O, Timer0 clock input, comparator output |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Digital I/O, ADC input, ADC VREF+ |
| Pin 6 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — Digital I/O, ADC input, ADC VREF- |
| Pin 7 | RA1/AN1 — Digital I/O, ADC input |
| Pin 8 | RA0/AN0 — Digital I/O, ADC input |
| Pin 9 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 10 | VDD — Positive supply 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Pin 11 | RB7/KBI3/PGD — Digital I/O, interrupt-on-change, ICSP data |
| Pin 12 | RB6/KBI2/PGC — Digital I/O, interrupt-on-change, ICSP clock |
| Pin 13 | RB5/KBI1 — Digital I/O, interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 14 | RB4/KBI0 — Digital I/O, interrupt-on-change |
| Pin 15 | RB3/CANRX — Digital I/O, ECAN receive input (CCP2 alternative) |
| Pin 16 | RB2/CANTX — Digital I/O, ECAN transmit output |
| Pin 17 | RB1/INT1 — Digital I/O, external interrupt |
| Pin 18 | RB0/INT0/FLT0 — Digital I/O, external interrupt, PWM fault |
| Pin 19 | RC7/RX1/DT1 — Digital I/O, USART1 async RX or sync data |
| Pin 20 | RC6/TX1/CK1 — Digital I/O, USART1 async TX or sync clock |
| Pin 21 | RC5/SDO — Digital I/O, SPI data out |
| Pin 22 | RC4/SDI/SDA — Digital I/O, SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 23 | RC3/SCK/SCL — Digital I/O, SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 24 | RC2/CCP1 — Digital I/O, Capture/Compare/PWM |
| Pin 25 | RC1/CCP2 — Digital I/O, Capture/Compare/PWM |
| Pin 26 | RC0/T13CKI — Digital I/O, Timer1/3 external clock |
| Pin 27 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 28 | VDD — Positive supply 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Pin 29 | RE3/RD — Digital I/O, Parallel Slave Port read |
| Pin 30 | RE2/CS — Digital I/O, Parallel Slave Port chip select |
| Pin 31 | RE1/WR — Digital I/O, Parallel Slave Port write |
| Pin 32 | RE0 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 33 | AVSS — Analog ground reference |
| Pin 34 | AVDD — Analog supply 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Pin 35 | AN4/RC4_alt — ADC input |
| Pin 36 | AN5/RE1_alt — ADC input |
| Pin 37 | AN6 — ADC input |
| Pin 38 | AN7 — ADC input |
| Pin 39 | AN8 — ADC input |
| Pin 40 | AN9 — ADC input |
| Pin 41 | AN10 — ADC input |
| Pin 42 | AN11 — ADC input |
| Pin 43 | AN12 — ADC input |
| Pin 44 | EP — Exposed thermal pad - connect to VSS for heatsinking |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF4480T-I/ML is suitable for 6 applications: Automotive ECAN Body-Control Nodes, Industrial CAN-bus Sensor and Actuator Modules, HVAC and Building-Automation Gateways, Battery-Sensed Instrumentation, Home Appliance Control Panels, Security and Access-Control Panels.
Automotive ECAN Body-Control Nodes
The PIC18LF4480T-I/ML is designed for automotive ECAN body-control modules where its integrated CAN 2.0B controller with hardware acceptance filters and 36 digital I/O make it well-suited to multi-node ECAN networks. The part operates across the 2.0 V to 5.5 V supply range typical of body ECUs and survives the -40 C to +85 C industrial window, with an exposed QFN thermal pad that pulls heat out of the die during continuous bus activity. Its 16 KB Flash comfortably fits typical seat, mirror, and door-module firmware, while the ECAN mailbox reduces CPU load so the 10 MIPS core can run control-loop logic in addition to bus servicing.
Recommended
Industrial CAN-bus Sensor and Actuator Modules
On industrial CAN-bus backbones, the PIC18LF4480T-I/ML provides 13 single-ended 10-bit ADC channels for analog sensor inputs, 36 I/Os for discrete signaling, and the same ECAN engine used in automotive networks. Designers rely on its nanoWatt sleep modes to draw only microamps between acquisition bursts, and the 40 MHz core / 10 MIPS throughput gives enough headroom for processing and forwarding the CAN frames. Industrial specs cover -40 C to +85 C and an industrial temperature grade 'I' designator, making the part appropriate for cabinet-mounted I/O blocks on the factory floor.
Recommended
HVAC and Building-Automation Gateways
In HVAC and building-automation gateways, the PIC18LF4480T-I/ML acts as a CAN-bus-to-LIN or CAN-to-Modbus translation node, leveraging its Enhanced USART plus MSSP (SPI/I2C) peripherals to talk multiple protocols on the same chip. The 16 KB Flash stores translation tables and BACnet datapoint maps, while the 768 B SRAM buffers packets between protocols. Industrial-grade 2.0 V to 5.5 V operation allows battery-backed or power-over-Ethernet supply schemes common in building systems, with sleep currents reduced by nanoWatt Technology for added energy savings.
Recommended
Battery-Sensed Instrumentation
Battery-powered field instruments benefit from the PIC18LF4480T-I/ML 2.0 V lower bound and its rich power management, including multiple Sleep modes that draw micro-amp-level currents when the application is idle. The 13-channel 10-bit ADC digitizes analog sensor signals, while 256 bytes of EEPROM store calibration constants written from the field without a programmer. Its industrial -40 C to +85 C window covers outdoor enclosures, and the QFN package plus exposed pad simplify compact sensor housings.
Recommended
Home Appliance Control Panels
Mid-range home appliances with displays and motorized valves often use the PIC18LF4480T-I/ML as the appliance controller thanks to its ECAN-to-LIN flexibility, 36 I/Os for relays and triac drivers, and 13 ADC channels for temperature and pressure sensors. With 16 KB of Flash the firmware can host both the user-interface loop and the safety-monitor state machine, while the 10 MIPS throughput manages the ECAN traffic, keypad scanning, and PID control loops concurrently. Lower-voltage 2.0 V operation also supports low-power standby for energy-star compliant appliances.
Recommended
Security and Access-Control Panels
Security and access-control panels use the PIC18LF4480T-I/ML for keypad and RFID-to-CAN bus bridging, exploiting the 36 digital I/Os to scan keypads while the ECAN module forwards card-validation requests to a central controller. The 16 KB Flash stores encrypted credential tables and door-state machines, and the 256-byte EEPROM retains door schedules across power cycles. Industrial temperature support plus -40 C to +85 C operation ensure reliability inside metal enclosures, while nanoWatt Technology keeps the panel quiet on backup battery.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF4480T-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18LF4480-I/ML | PIC18LF4580T-I/ML | PIC18LF2480T-I/ML | PIC18F4480T-I/ML | PIC18F4580T-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 44-pin QFN (ML) | 44-pin QFN (ML) | 44-pin QFN (ML) | 28-pin QFN (ML) | 44-pin QFN (ML) | 44-pin QFN (ML) |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB |
| SRAM | 768 B | 768 B | 1536 B | 768 B | 768 B | 1536 B |
| Operating Voltage | 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 | 4.2 V to 5.5 V (F variant) | 4.2 V to 5.5 V (F variant) |
| Max 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) |
| ECAN Module | Yes (2.0B active) | Yes (2.0B active) | Yes (2.0B active) | Yes (2.0B active) | Yes (2.0B active) | Yes (2.0B active) |
| I/O Pins | 36 | 36 | 36 | 25 | 36 | 36 |
Key Differentiators
- True 2.0 V low-voltage operation with full ECAN support (vs PIC18F4480T-I/ML)
- Industry-proven ECAN 2.0B with hardware filter masks (vs PIC18LF2480T-I/ML)
- Drop-in 32 KB Flash upgrade on the same 44-QFN footprint (vs PIC18LF4580T-I/ML)
Design Notes
Solder the QFN exposed pad (pin 44) to a continuous copper plane on the PCB and stitch it into the VSS net with 4-6 thermal vias underneath for best heat transfer. Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor on each VDD/AVDD pin within 2 mm of the pad and a 1 uF to 10 uF bulk capacitor close to the same VDD cluster to avoid MCU brown-out on CAN TX surges.
For CAN nodes, an external MCP2551 or MCP2561 transceiver plus a small LDO such as MCP1700/MCP1702 is the typical supply chain for 3.3 V or 5 V ECAN bodies. The PIC18LF4480T-I/ML can also operate directly from USB 5 V or a battery stack; enable the nanoWatt Sleep mode between CAN frames to drop supply current to the low microamp range.
Choose the correct variant: PIC18LF4480T-I/ML targets 2.0 V to 5.5 V, whereas the PIC18F4480T-I/ML part targets 4.2 V to 5.5 V only - reusing the F version on a 3.3 V rail violates the spec. Also mind the QFN footprint: PIC18LF4480 (44-pin) and PIC18LF2480 (28-pin) packages look similar but pin counts differ; verify pad pattern before PCB release.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free lead finish confirmed by Microchip product page; AEC-Q100 automotive qualification is not stated in the verified data so the part should be qualified for automotive AEC-Q100 needs separately. Halogen-free status not explicitly verified.
