PIC18LF45K50T-I/MV - 8-bit MCU 32KB Flash 48MHz USB | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF45K50T-I/MV ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.34 | $3.34 |
| 10 | $3.01 | $30.10 |
| 100 | $2.45 | $245.00 |
| 500 | $2.1 | $1,050.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.85 | $1,850.00 |
PIC18LF45K50T-I/MV Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer containing a CPU, non-volatile program memory (Flash), volatile working memory (RAM), peripherals, and I/O. It belongs to the category hierarchy: microcontroller -> embedded processor -> integrated circuit -> semiconductor. The PIC18LF45K50 family adds a hardware USB peripheral that is rare in low-pin-count 8-bit MCUs, eliminating the need for an external USB transceiver.
Key features include 32 KB self-programmable Flash (16K x 16), 2 KB RAM, 256 B EEPROM, 25 to 35 digital I/O pins depending on package, a 12-channel 10-bit ADC with auto-acquisition, two analog comparators, two 8-bit timers and three 16-bit timers, an enhanced Capture/Compare/PWM (ECCP) module, and an mTouch capacitive sensing peripheral. The integrated USB 2.0 full-speed transceiver and on-chip 3.3 V regulator make it a strong fit for HID, CDC, and vendor-class USB devices.
The 'LF' prefix denotes the wide-voltage low-power variant (1.8 V to 3.6 V), enabling direct Li-ion battery operation. nanoWatt XLP technology provides sleep currents below 100 nA typical, supporting battery-powered designs with multi-year standby lifetime. The 48 MHz internal oscillator eliminates the external crystal typically required by USB devices.
Typical applications include USB human-interface devices (HIDs) such as keyboards and mice, USB-to-UART bridges, USB sensor dongles, capacitive touch interfaces, low-cost data loggers, and consumer peripherals. The exposed thermal pad on the UQFN package aids heat dissipation for high-I/O USB applications.
When designing with this part, place a 1 uF decoupling capacitor close to each VDD pin and connect the exposed pad (EP) to a solid ground plane. Configure the internal USB regulator through the CONFIG3L register before enumerating; failure to do so will prevent USB detection.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF45K50T-I/MV — 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 PIC18LF45K50T-I/MV (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Operating Temperature, Comparators, Package, Communication.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18LF45K50-I/MV
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF45K50-E/MV
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF45K42-I/MV
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF45K40-I/MV
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.7 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF45K50T-I/MV Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | PIC18LFxxK50 (PIC18 XLP) |
| Core | 8-bit PIC RISC (49 instruction set) |
| Program Memory | 32 KB Flash (16K x 16) |
| RAM | 2 KB |
| EEPROM | 256 B |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Operating Voltage (LF) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 25 channels (HDR + DDR) |
| Timers | 2 x 8-bit, 3 x 16-bit |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed (12 Mbps) with on-chip transceiver |
| Comparators | 2 analog comparators |
| Package | 40-pin UQFN (MV) 5x5 mm with EP |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18LF45K50T-I/MV Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2/AN2 — Digital I/O / analog input 2 |
| Pin 2 | RA3/AN3 — Digital I/O / analog input 3 / VREF+ |
| Pin 3 | RA4/AN4 — Digital I/O / analog input 4 |
| Pin 4 | RA5/AN5 — Digital I/O / analog input 5 / VREF- |
| Pin 5 | VDD — Positive supply 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF) |
| Pin 6 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 7 | RA7 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 8 | RA6 — Digital I/O / oscillator |
| Pin 9 | RC0 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 10 | RC1 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 11 | RC2 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 12 | RC3 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 13 | RC4/D-/VMO — USB D- data line |
| Pin 14 | RC5/D+/VPO — USB D+ data line |
| Pin 15 | RC6 — Digital I/O / TX |
| Pin 16 | RC7 — Digital I/O / RX |
| Pin 17 | RB0/AN12 — Digital I/O / analog input 12 / interrupt |
| 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/AN11 — Digital I/O / analog input 11 |
| Pin 22 | RB5/AN13 — Digital I/O / analog input 13 |
| Pin 23 | RB6/PGC — Digital I/O / ICSP clock |
| Pin 24 | RB7/PGD — Digital I/O / ICSP data |
| Pin 25 | VUSB — USB 3.3 V internal regulator output (decouple 220 nF) |
| Pin 26 | RD0 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 27 | RD1 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 28 | RD2 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 29 | RD3 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 30 | RD4 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 31 | RD5 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 32 | RD6 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 33 | RD7 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 34 | RE0 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 35 | RE1 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 36 | RE2 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 37 | RE3 — Digital I/O (input only per datasheet) |
| Pin 38 | AVDD — Analog positive supply |
| Pin 39 | AVSS — Analog ground |
| Pin 40 | EP — Exposed thermal pad - connect to ground |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF45K50T-I/MV is suitable for 6 applications: USB Human Interface Device (HID), USB-to-UART Bridge, Capacitive Touch Sensor Interface (mTouch), USB Sensor Dongle, Battery-Powered Data Logger, Consumer LED Lighting Controller.
USB Human Interface Device (HID)
The PIC18LF45K50T-I/MV is purpose-built for USB HID designs such as keyboards, mice, gamepads, and custom input devices. Its integrated USB 2.0 full-speed transceiver with on-chip 3.3 V regulator eliminates the external USB interface IC normally required on low-pin MCUs, reducing BOM cost by $0.30-$0.50 per unit. The 48 MHz internal oscillator removes the 12 MHz crystal requirement, and the 32 KB Flash holds full HID class descriptors and report logic. nanoWatt XLP sleep currents below 100 nA typical enable multi-year battery life on wireless HID peripherals. The UQFN-40 5x5 mm footprint is ideal for compact consumer peripherals.
Recommended
USB-to-UART Bridge
The PIC18LF45K50T-I/MV makes an effective USB-to-UART bridge (CDC class) for connecting legacy RS-232 equipment to modern PCs that lack serial ports. The integrated USB transceiver enumerates as a virtual COM port on Windows/macOS/Linux without driver installation, while the EUSART peripheral provides 115200 baud native RS-232 output. The 2 KB RAM comfortably buffers UART traffic, and the 1.8 V to 3.6 V supply supports direct Li-ion battery operation for portable bridge dongles. This topology is widely used in industrial programming cables and sensor adapters.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch Sensor Interface (mTouch)
The PIC18LF45K50T-I/MV integrates Microchip's mTouch capacitive sensing module, supporting up to 13 touch channels without external components. The CTMU peripheral charges an internal capacitor and measures discharge time through a touch pad, resolving capacitance differences of femtofarads with the 10-bit ADC. This makes the K50 a fit for appliance control panels, proximity wake-up sensors, and slider/wheel interfaces. Combined with USB enumeration, the same MCU can serve as both the touch controller and USB-CDC/HID reporting channel, reducing system cost and PCB area in a 40-UQFN footprint.
Recommended
USB Sensor Dongle
The PIC18LF45K50T-I/MV is widely deployed in USB sensor dongles that report environmental, biometric, or industrial data to a host PC. The 12-channel 10-bit ADC acquires analog sensor signals, and the 32 KB Flash holds TinyUSB stack, sensor drivers, and HID/CDF report logic. USB bus-powered dongles draw up to 500 mA from the host; the on-chip 3.3 V regulator supplies the MCU and sensors without an external LDO. Low-power sleep modes allow the dongle to quiesce below 100 nA between sample intervals.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Data Logger
The PIC18LF45K50T-I/MV's nanoWatt XLP technology and 1.8 V to 3.6 V supply range make it a strong fit for battery-powered data loggers that periodically wake, sample, and return to sleep. The 32 KB Flash records time-stamped data with wear-leveling ECC, while the 2 KB RAM buffers samples between writes. nanoWatt XLP provides < 100 nA sleep current, so a 2000 mAh Li-ion cell supports months to years of unattended logging depending on duty cycle. USB enumeration on connection allows battery charging and data dump without separate connectors.
Recommended
Consumer LED Lighting Controller
The PIC18LF45K50T-I/MV drives WS2812B / APA102 addressable LED strips through PWM or bit-banged SPI, while a USB-CDC interface accepts commands from a host PC or smartphone bridge. The 25 mA I/O source/sink directly drives small MOSFET gates for high-side LED switching, and the ECCP module produces 16-bit PWM resolution for smooth color fades. The wide 1.8 V to 3.6 V supply matches single-cell Li-ion or 3.3 V regulated USB supplies. Designers use the K50 in DMX512-over-USB controllers, pixel-art wall displays, and ambient lighting systems.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF45K50T-I/MV — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18LF45K50-I/MV | PIC18LF45K50-E/MV | PIC18LF45K42-I/MV | PIC18LF45K40-I/MV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 40-pin UQFN (MV) 5x5 | 40-pin UQFN (MV) 5x5 - same | 40-pin UQFN (MV) 5x5 - same | 40-pin UQFN (MV) 5x5 - same | 40-pin UQFN (MV) 5x5 - same |
| Flash Memory | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB (-50%) |
| RAM | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 1 KB (-50%) |
| USB Peripheral | USB 2.0 FS integrated | USB 2.0 FS integrated | USB 2.0 FS integrated | USB 2.0 FS integrated | No USB peripheral |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Temperature Grade | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | -40 C to +125 C (extended) | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| Shipping Format | Tape & Reel (T suffix) | Tray (no T suffix) | Tray or Tube | Tray | Tray |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated USB 2.0 full-speed transceiver eliminates external USB IC (vs PIC18LF45K40-I/MV)
- 48 MHz internal oscillator eliminates external crystal for USB operation (vs PIC16F1455)
- Industry-standard PIC18 core with mature USB stack and bootloader (vs PIC18LF45K42-I/MV)
Design Notes
Decouple the VDD pin with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 3 mm of the pin, and add a bulk 1 uF to 10 uF tantalum or ceramic capacitor. The internal USB 3.3 V regulator on the VUSB pin requires its own 220 nF decoupling capacitor per the datasheet. Failure to decouple VUSB prevents USB enumeration and may cause host-side device-not-recognized errors.
Connect the exposed pad (EP) of the UQFN-40 package to a continuous ground plane with at least 8 thermal vias. The EP provides the primary heat-dissipation path; floating it raises junction temperature by 20-30 C at full USB load (bus-powered sensors pulling 200 mA). Estimated: with 4-layer 1 oz copper and 8 thermal vias, theta_JA drops below 30 C/W versus 60 C/W for EP floating.
Route the USB D+ (RC5) and D- (RC4) lines as a 90 ohm differential pair with matched length to within 150 mil. Place the 15 kohm pull-up resistor on D+ close to the MCU; per USB spec, the pull-up signals full-speed connection. Maintain a clearance of 90 mils under the pair to avoid coupling from other signals; this is critical for USB-IF compliance.
The CONFIG3L register must enable the internal USB voltage regulator (VREGEN = 1) before USB pins become functional. Forgetting this is the most common K50 firmware issue and produces 'device not recognized' on the host. Additionally, the LF (low-voltage) variant only operates down to 1.8 V; below that, oscillator start-up fails and the device stays in reset.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip material declarations. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - for automotive USB applications consider PIC18F46K50-I/PT (AEC-Q100 grade 1) instead. Lead-free reflow profile per JEDEC J-STD-020.
