PIC18LF452T-I/ML - 8-bit MCU, 32KB Flash, 40MHz, 44-QFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF452T-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.45 | $7.45 |
| 10 | $6.84 | $68.40 |
| 100 | $6.12 | $612.00 |
| 500 | $5.55 | $2,775.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.92 | $4,920.00 |
PIC18LF452T-I/ML Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, non-volatile program memory, working RAM, and configurable peripheral interfaces onto one die. Within the broader semiconductor hierarchy, the PIC18F452 sits in the Microchip 8-bit PIC18F "high-performance" family between the PIC16F mid-range parts and the 16-bit dsPIC/PIC24F devices, optimized for low-power and cost-sensitive embedded designs running from 2.0V to 5.5V. This places it firmly in the legacy "low-voltage Flash" (LF) class of Microchip MCUs, distinct from the F-prefixed 4.2V-5.5V parts.
Key differentiating features include 32KB of self-programmable Flash (in-application programmable via ICSP), 256 bytes of EEPROM data memory, a 10-bit A/D with up to 8 channels, two 8-bit and three 16-bit timers, a CAN-ready peripheral set, and a wide operating voltage range of 2.0V to 5.5V. The 44-QFN (ML) package provides a low-profile 8x8 mm footprint suitable for space-constrained boards while the exposed thermal pad improves heat dissipation at 40 MHz.
The PIC18F452 architecture uses a 16-bit instruction word with separate 16-bit data and program paths, a hardware multiplier, and a priority-level interrupt controller. The 8-bit datapath keeps software simple and deterministic, while the 32KB Flash supports C compilers (MPLAB XC8) and field firmware upgrades via the on-chip ICSP/ICD interface.
Typical applications include industrial control and sensor nodes, low-power remote keyless entry, HVAC interface panels, USB-to-UART bridges, instrumentation data loggers, and battery-powered measurement devices where the 2.0V minimum VDD enables single Li-ion or two-AA cell operation. The wide peripheral mix suits mixed-signal front ends.
When designing with this part, allocate PCB copper under the exposed pad and stitch thermal vias to the inner ground plane to meet the 31.6 C/W theta_JA thermal budget. Brown-out reset and the dual-watchdog timer should be enabled in firmware for noisy industrial environments.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF452T-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 PIC18LF452T-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in MSL Level, Package, ADC, Operating Temperature, Program Memory (Flash).
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View Datasheet →PIC18LF4510T-I/ML
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View Datasheet →PIC18LF452T-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit RISC |
| Core Family | PIC18F |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 32 KB (16K x 16) |
| RAM | 1536 bytes |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 40 MHz |
| Instruction Throughput | 10 MIPS |
| Number of I/O Pins | 34 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 8 channels |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Package | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) with exposed pad |
| Peripherals | USART, MSSP (SPI/I2C), PSP, PWM, Timers, WDT |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | 1 (per package marking) |
| Programming Interface | ICSP/ICD |
PIC18LF452T-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/RE3 — Master Clear (reset) input / digital I/O RE3 |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / analog input AN0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / analog input AN1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — PORTA bit 2 / analog input AN2 / VREF- |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — PORTA bit 3 / analog input AN3 / VREF+ |
| Pin 6 | RA4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN4/SS — PORTA bit 5 / analog input AN4 / SPI slave select |
| Pin 8 | RE0/RD/AN5 — PORTE bit 0 / parallel slave port read / AN5 |
| Pin 9 | RE1/WR/AN6 — PORTE bit 1 / parallel slave port write / AN6 |
| Pin 10 | RE2/CS/AN7 — PORTE bit 2 / PSP chip select / AN7 |
| Pin 11 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 12 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 13 | OSC1/CLKI — Crystal oscillator input / external clock in |
| Pin 14 | OSC2/CLKO — Crystal oscillator output / clock out |
| Pin 15 | RC0/T1OSO/T13CKI — PORTC bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator out / T13CKI |
| Pin 16 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — PORTC bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator in / CCP2 |
| Pin 17 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2 / CCP1 PWM/capture |
| 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 / clock |
| Pin 26 | RC7/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7 / USART receive / 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 reference |
| 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 (alternate) |
| Pin 37 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 38 | RB5/PGM — PORTB bit 5 / LVP programming |
| Pin 39 | RB6/PGC — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 40 | RB7/PGD — PORTB bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 41 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 42 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 43 | RA6/OSC2 — PORTA bit 6 / secondary oscillator output |
| Pin 44 | RA7/OSC1 — PORTA bit 7 / secondary oscillator input |
| Pin 45 | EP — Exposed thermal pad — must be soldered to ground |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF452T-I/ML is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Node, Battery-Powered Measurement Device, USB-to-UART Bridge / Com Port, HVAC Control Interface Panel, Instrumentation Data Logger, Low-Power Remote Keyless Entry.
Industrial Sensor Node
The PIC18LF452T-I/ML fits industrial sensor nodes with its 2.0V-5.5V supply range, 32KB Flash, and 10-bit ADC. Per Microchip datasheet (DS39576C), the wide VDD range lets the MCU run from a single 3.3V LDO rail directly off a 24V industrial bus, while 32KB Flash holds sensor calibration, Modbus RTU framing, and a full diagnostics stack. With 1536-byte RAM it can buffer multiple analog samples between transmits. The 40 MHz core delivers 10 MIPS, enough to run cyclic acquisition and CAN-style polling without bottlenecks. Industrial-grade -40C to +85C operation plus brown-out reset make it robust against factory-floor transients and brown-outs during motor switching.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Measurement Device
Battery-powered measurement devices benefit from the PIC18LF452T-I/ML's 2.0V minimum supply and low-voltage LF process. Per Microchip datasheet (DS39576C), the device runs directly from a single Li-ion (3.0-4.2V) or 2xAA cell stack with no boost converter, cutting idle draw. The 32KB Flash stores lookup tables for thermistor linearization, while 1536 bytes of RAM holds rolling-window averaging buffers. Sleep mode plus WDT wake-up keep average current in the microamp range, and the 10-bit ADC samples up to 8 sensor channels with 1-20 TAD acquisition. Combined with the 44-QFN exposed-pad package, this yields a compact 25x25 mm data-logger PCB.
Recommended
USB-to-UART Bridge / Com Port
The PIC18LF452T-I/ML serves as a USB-to-UART bridge or virtual COM port thanks to its USART, MSSP (SPI/I2C), and 32KB Flash. According to the Microchip datasheet (DS39576C), the USART supports asynchronous mode up to the MCU's 40 MHz core, while the MSSP port handles SPI slave transactions. With 32KB Flash the part implements a CDC-class firmware stack, and 1536 bytes of RAM absorbs USB endpoint buffers. The 2.0V-5.5V supply matches both 3.3V and 5V USB designs, and the 44-QFN 8x8 mm footprint keeps dongle PCBs slim. Hardware flow-control RTS/CTS signals map to standard USART pins for direct handshaking.
Recommended
HVAC Control Interface Panel
HVAC control panels benefit from the PIC18LF452T-I/ML's 34 I/O pins, 10-bit ADC, and industrial temperature rating. Per Microchip datasheet (DS39576C), the 34 digital I/O lines drive LCD glass, keypad matrix, relay coils, and triac interfaces simultaneously without external mux. The 10-bit ADC reads thermistor and pressure sensor inputs at up to 40 ksps, while the 32KB Flash stores user-menu strings and PID control tables. Operating from -40C to +85C, the part survives unconditioned mechanical rooms, and 2.0V-5.5V VDD lets it share a 3.3V rail with the rest of the panel logic.
Recommended
Instrumentation Data Logger
Standalone instrumentation data loggers leverage the PIC18LF452T-I/ML's 32KB Flash and EEPROM for local record-keeping. Per Microchip datasheet (DS39576C), 256 bytes of EEPROM retain calibration constants through power cycles, while the 1536-byte RAM acts as a circular sample buffer. The MSSP peripheral talks directly to SPI Flash for offload storage, and the USART outputs RS-232/RS-485 frames for wired telemetry. With 10 MIPS throughput, the MCU can sample, log, and timestamp without a separate RTC. The wide 2.0V-5.5V supply matches battery-powered field units, and the 44-QFN's exposed pad keeps the die cool at full 40 MHz load.
Recommended
Low-Power Remote Keyless Entry
Low-power remote keyless entry (RKE) and small RF transmitter nodes use the PIC18LF452T-I/ML for its 2.0V minimum VDD and small 44-QFN footprint. According to the Microchip datasheet (DS39576C), Sleep current drops into the microamp range, allowing coin-cell or 2xAAA operation. The MSSP peripheral drives an ASK/FSK transmitter IC over SPI, while a single ADC channel reads the push-button or tamper input. With 32KB Flash the part stores rolling-code algorithms and security keys, and the 10 MIPS core wakes fast enough to encode and transmit in under 10 ms from button release.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF452T-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18LF452T-I/PT | PIC18LF452-I/ML | PIC18F452T-I/ML | PIC18LF4523T-I/ML | PIC18LF4520T-I/ML | PIC18LF4525T-I/PT | PIC18LF4510T-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 44-QFN (ML) 8x8 mm | 44-TQFP (PT) | 44-QFN (ML) — same | 44-QFN (ML) — same | 44-QFN (ML) — same | 44-QFN (ML) — same | 44-TQFP (PT) | 44-QFN (ML) — same |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 32 KB (16K x 16) | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 48 KB | 32 KB |
| RAM | 1536 bytes | 1536 bytes | 1536 bytes | 1536 bytes | 1536 bytes | 1536 bytes | 2560 bytes | 1536 bytes |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz |
| Operating Voltage Range | 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 | 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 |
| Operating Temperature Range | -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 | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit |
Key Differentiators
- Wide 2.0V-5.5V supply range supports battery operation (vs PIC18F452T-I/ML)
- 44-QFN exposed-pad package delivers ~31.6 C/W thermal resistance (vs PIC18LF452T-I/PT (TQFP-44))
- 10 MIPS at 40 MHz with 32KB Flash exceeds older PIC16F designs (vs PIC16F877A-I/ML)
Design Notes
The 44-QFN package (ML) dissipates heat through the exposed pad (EP) on pin 45. Per Microchip datasheet (DS39576C), the thermal resistance theta_JA is approximately 31.6 C/W on a 4-layer JEDEC test board. Always solder the EP to a copper pour stitched with thermal vias (at least 9 vias of 0.3 mm) into the inner ground plane. At 40 MHz clock with full peripheral activity, junction-to-ambient rises roughly 10-15 C above ambient in enclosed housings — keep self-heating in mind when designing in sealed enclosures.
Place 100 nF X7R decoupling capacitors within 3 mm of every VDD/VSS pair (pins 11/12, 31/32, 41/42) to suppress switching noise during ICSP/ICD programming pulses. Keep the trace between OSC1 and the crystal shorter than 10 mm, with the load capacitors placed on opposite sides of the crystal and returned to a clean analog ground. Add a guard ring around the crystal traces to prevent the MSSP SPI clock from coupling into the oscillator. Route the MCLR line away from high-frequency digital traces and use a 10 kohm pull-up plus 100 nF cap to the MCLR pin to ensure clean reset transitions.
Do not assume the PIC18LF452T-I/ML is interchangeable with PIC18F452T-I/ML on a 3.3V board — the F-prefix variant has a 4.2V minimum VDD and will not start at 3.3V. Verify brown-out reset (BOR) is enabled in CONFIG to prevent code runaway during supply droops. Do not exceed 5.5V on VDD or apply voltage to any pin before VDD is present, as the device has limited ESD protection. When migrating from PIC18F452 to PIC18LF452, check the CONFIG register defaults — the LF variant enables the LFINTOSC by default in newer silicon revisions, which can confuse legacy code.
Compliance Information
RoHS/REACH/halogen-free compliant per Microchip material composition disclosure. Not AEC-Q100 qualified (industrial sensor); no automotive-grade version observed in PIC18LF452 family. Lead-free reflow profile compatible with JEDEC J-STD-020.