PIC18LF46K22-I/ML - 8-bit XLP MCU 64KB Flash 44-QFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF46K22-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.14 | $6.14 |
| 10 | $5.78 | $57.80 |
| 100 | $5.21 | $521.00 |
| 500 | $4.69 | $2,345.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.22 | $4,220.00 |
PIC18LF46K22-I/ML Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer integrating a CPU core, program memory (Flash/ROM), data memory (RAM), peripherals, and I/O. The PIC18 family is Microchip's 8-bit RISC architecture using a 16-bit instruction word and a hardware accumulator; the K22 sub-family adds the nanoWatt XLP (eXtra Low Power) energy-management features, deep-sleep modes drawing < 50 nA, and peripheral support for mTouch capacitive sensing, USB, and PWM-driven motor control. The PIC18LF46K22 sits in the PIC18 hierarchy: PIC18 -> 8-bit MCU -> nanoWatt XLP -> K22 series.
Key features of this part include a 12-bit ADC with up to 28 channels, two analog comparators, four 8/16-bit timer/counters, two CCP and three ECCP PWM modules, two MSSP (SPI/I2C) and two EUSART (UART/LIN) ports, an mTouch capacitive-sensing peripheral, an on-chip 16 MHz internal oscillator, and CTMU charge-time measurement. The wide operating range of 1.8 V to 3.6 V allows direct Li-ion or 2x AA battery operation, while CTMU and RTCC support energy-aware applications. The 44-QFN (ML) package combines compact 8x8 mm board area with a thermal pad for higher-power dissipation.
Typical applications include low-power sensor nodes, capacitive touch user interfaces, battery-powered medical and consumer products, USB/CDC human-interface devices, motor and lighting control via ECCP PWM, and industrial control front-ends. The deep-sleep modes with RTCC and WDT wake-up make it well-suited for energy-harvesting and remote-sensor designs.
When designing with this MCU, allocate a solid GND copper pour under the exposed pad and stitch vias to the inner layer for thermal relief. Configure the configuration bits (CONFIG1H/2L/3H/4L) carefully to avoid an unintended oscillator source at first power-up; Microchip's MPLAB X IDE and XC8 compiler are the recommended tool chain for code development.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, same-package drop-in alternatives, and design notes that complement the manufacturer datasheet. Pricing data references XAIPART listings as of 2026-09-29 and may vary across authorized distributors.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF46K22-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 PIC18LF46K22-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Core Architecture, Data RAM, Operating Voltage Range.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F46K22-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF46J53-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF45K22-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.28 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF46K22-E/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF46J50-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF46K22-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC18 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 64 KB (32K x 16) |
| Data RAM | 3968 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 1024 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 64 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Package | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) with exposed pad (ML) |
| I/O Pins | 36 (approximate, varies with peripheral remap) |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 28 channels |
| Timers | 4 x 8/16-bit Timer/Counter |
| PWM Modules | 2 CCP + 3 ECCP |
| Communication | 2 x MSSP (SPI/I2C), 2 x EUSART (UART/LIN) |
| Comparators | 2 analog comparators |
| Special Peripherals | mTouch capacitive sensing, CTMU, RTCC |
| Internal Oscillator | 16 MHz HF + 31 kHz LF |
| MSL Level | MSL3 (JEDEC J-STD-020) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC18LF46K22-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5/AN4/C2IN-/HLVDIN/RCV — PORTA bit 5, ADC input, comparator input, HLVD input |
| Pin 2 | RA4/AN3/C2OUT — PORTA bit 4, ADC input, comparator 2 output |
| Pin 3 | RA3/AN2/C1IN+/VREF+ — PORTA bit 3, ADC input, comparator 1 input, ADC VREF+ |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN1/C2IN+/VREF-/CVREF — PORTA bit 2, ADC input, comparator input, VREF-, CVREF output |
| Pin 5 | RA1/AN0/C1IN-/CTDIN — PORTA bit 1, ADC input, comparator 1 input, CTMU input |
| Pin 6 | RA0/AN0/ULPWU — PORTA bit 0, ADC input, ultra-low-power wake-up |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 8 | VDD — Positive supply voltage 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Pin 9 | RA7/OSC1/CLKIN — PORTA bit 7, oscillator 1 input, external clock input |
| Pin 10 | RA6/OSC2/CLKOUT — PORTA bit 6, oscillator 2 output, clock output |
| Pin 11 | RC0/SOSCO/T1CK1 — PORTC bit 0, secondary oscillator output, Timer1 clock |
| Pin 12 | RC1/SOSCI/CCP2 — PORTC bit 1, secondary oscillator input, CCP2 PWM |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2, CCP1 PWM output |
| Pin 14 | RC3/SEG0/SCL1 — PORTC bit 3, LCD segment, I2C1 clock |
| Pin 15 | RC4/SEG1/SDA1 — PORTC bit 4, LCD segment, I2C1 data |
| Pin 16 | RC5/SEG2 — PORTC bit 5, LCD segment |
| Pin 17 | RC6/SEG3/TX1/CK1 — PORTC bit 6, LCD segment, EUSART1 TX, clock |
| Pin 18 | RC7/SEG4/RX1/DT1 — PORTC bit 7, LCD segment, EUSART1 RX, data |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 21 | RB0/AN12/INT0/SEG5 — PORTB bit 0, ADC, external interrupt 0, LCD segment |
| Pin 22 | RB1/AN10/INT1 — PORTB bit 1, ADC, external interrupt 1 |
| Pin 23 | RB2/AN8/INT2 — PORTB bit 2, ADC, external interrupt 2 |
| Pin 24 | RB3/AN9/INT3/CTMUI — PORTB bit 3, ADC, external interrupt 3, CTMU |
| Pin 25 | RB4/AN11/KBI0 — PORTB bit 4, ADC, keyboard interrupt |
| Pin 26 | RB5/KBI1/P3A — PORTB bit 5, keyboard interrupt, PWM 3 phase A |
| Pin 27 | RB6/KBI2/PGC — PORTB bit 6, keyboard interrupt, ICSP clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7/KBI3/PGD — PORTB bit 7, keyboard interrupt, ICSP data |
| Pin 29 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 30 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 31 | RD0/PSP0 — PORTD bit 0, parallel slave port |
| Pin 32 | RD1/PSP1 — PORTD bit 1, parallel slave port |
| Pin 33 | RD2/PSP2 — PORTD bit 2, parallel slave port |
| Pin 34 | RD3/PSP3 — PORTD bit 3, parallel slave port |
| Pin 35 | RD4/PSP4 — PORTD bit 4, parallel slave port |
| Pin 36 | RD5/PSP5/P1D — PORTD bit 5, parallel slave port, PWM |
| Pin 37 | RD6/PSP6/P1C — PORTD bit 6, parallel slave port, PWM |
| Pin 38 | RD7/PSP7/P1B — PORTD bit 7, parallel slave port, PWM |
| Pin 39 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 40 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 41 | RE0/AN5 — PORTE bit 0, ADC input |
| Pin 42 | RE1/AN6 — PORTE bit 1, ADC input |
| Pin 43 | RE2/AN7 — PORTE bit 2, ADC input |
| Pin 44 | RE3/MCLR — PORTE bit 3, master clear (reset) input |
| Pin 45 | EP — Exposed thermal pad (must be soldered to ground pour) |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF46K22-I/ML is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Capacitive Touch User Interface, Industrial Control and Sensor Conditioning, USB Human Interface Device (HID), Home Appliance Control Panel, Automotive Body and Lighting Module.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC18LF46K22-I/ML is engineered for long-life battery sensor nodes, drawing under 50 nA in deep sleep with RTCC and WDT wake-up per DS39976. Its 1.8 V to 3.6 V VDD range allows direct 2x AA or Li-ion operation without an external boost regulator. The 12-bit ADC with up to 28 channels handles temperature, humidity, and analog sensor inputs in parallel, while the two EUSART and MSSP peripherals connect to LoRa, BLE, or Wi-Fi co-processors. Memory of 64 KB Flash and 3,968 bytes RAM supports over-the-air firmware update logic via bootloader.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch User Interface
The PIC18LF46K22-I/ML integrates Microchip's mTouch capacitive-sensing peripheral and CTMU charge-time measurement, enabling 12+ button sliders or wheels without external touch ICs per DS39976. The 64 MHz CPU executes touch-scan routines in microseconds, while the 12-bit ADC and CTMU deliver sub-percent touch resolution. Low-power sleep lets battery-powered remotes and appliances wake on touch and idle at nanoampere-level currents. The 44-QFN (ML) package fits behind 1 mm glass or plastic overlays.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Sensor Conditioning
The PIC18LF46K22-I/ML is well-suited for industrial control modules requiring reliable ADC sampling and PWM-driven actuator control, with the industrial -40 C to +85 C grade ensuring harsh-environment operation per DS39976. The 12-bit ADC samples up to 28 channels at 100 ksps for multi-zone temperature, pressure, or 4-20 mA current-loop monitoring. Three ECCP + two CCP modules deliver up to 5 PWM channels for valve, motor, or lighting control. The 2.7 V to 3.6 V industrial bus supply range works with 24 V systems via a small front-end regulator.
Recommended
USB Human Interface Device (HID)
For USB HID peripherals such as keyboards, mice, and custom input devices, the PIC18LF46K22-I/ML supplies 64 KB Flash and 3,968 bytes RAM to host the USB HID stack and per-frame descriptor logic per DS39976. The two MSSP peripherals serve SPI flash and I2C sensor hubs, while an external USB transceiver (or migration to PIC18LF46J53 for on-chip USB) handles the bus interface. The 44-QFN (ML) package fits compact keyboard PCBs; deep-sleep < 50 nA extends battery life in wireless peripherals. Microchip's USB stack libraries support HID, CDC, and vendor-class profiles out of the box.
Recommended
Home Appliance Control Panel
The PIC18LF46K22-I/ML is a strong fit for white-goods and HVAC control panels, where capacitive touch keys, LED PWM dimming, and a low-power standby requirement converge per DS39976. Three ECCP + two CCP PWM modules drive LED indicators, buzzer tones, and triac-fired heater elements; the 12-bit ADC reads NTC temperature sensors and AC-line-scaled voltage. The XLP deep-sleep with WDT wake-up keeps standby power below 0.1 W on energy-rated appliances. The 44-QFN (ML) package drops into slim touch-panel form factors behind glass.
Recommended
Automotive Body and Lighting Module
Automotive body controllers and LED lighting modules use the PIC18LF46K22-I/ML for CAN-class PWM and LED dimming in non-safety-critical subsystems per DS39976. The 12-bit ADC samples up to 28 channels for ambient light, battery voltage, and thermistor inputs; three ECCP modules deliver high-resolution PWM for multi-channel LED drivers. The LF variant covers 12 V battery rails post-regulator (2.7 V to 3.6 V via on-board regulator). For AEC-Q100 grade, the E-suffix extended-temperature variant is preferred over the -I industrial grade.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF46K22-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F46K22-I/ML | PIC18LF46J53-I/ML | PIC18LF45K22-I/ML | PIC18LF46K22-E/ML | PIC18LF46J50-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 44-QFN (ML) 8x8 mm | 44-QFN (ML) 8x8 mm - same | 44-QFN (ML) 8x8 mm - same | 44-QFN (ML) 8x8 mm - same | 44-QFN (ML) 8x8 mm - same | 44-QFN (ML) 8x8 mm - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 64 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB (-50%) | 64 KB | 64 KB |
| RAM | 3,968 bytes | 3,968 bytes | 3,968 bytes | 2,048 bytes (-48%) | 3,968 bytes | 3,968 bytes |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF) | 2.7 V to 5.5 V (F-core) | 2.0 V to 3.6 V (LF J-series) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (LF) | 2.0 V to 3.6 V (LF J-series) |
| Max CPU Speed | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS | 48 MHz / 12 MIPS (-25%) | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS | 48 MHz / 12 MIPS (-25%) |
| USB Support | No (external transceiver required) | No (external transceiver required) | Yes, USB 2.0 full-speed OTG on-chip | No (external transceiver required) | No (external transceiver required) | Yes, USB 2.0 full-speed on-chip |
| Deep-Sleep Current | < 50 nA (XLP) | < 50 nA (XLP) | ~100 nA (-50% XLP efficiency) | < 50 nA (XLP) | < 50 nA (XLP) | ~100 nA (-50% XLP efficiency) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +125 C (Extended) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest deep-sleep current in 44-QFN PIC18 family at < 50 nA (vs PIC18LF46J53-I/ML)
- Widest low-voltage VDD range, supporting 1.8 V down to coin cells (vs PIC18F46K22-I/ML)
- Dual mTouch/CTMU capacitive-sensing peripheral on-chip (vs PIC18F46K22-I/ML)
- Industrial -40 C to +85 C qualified with extended -40 C to +125 C option (vs PIC18LF45K22-I/ML)
Design Notes
Place one 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as possible to each VDD pin (pins 8, 20, 30, 40 on the 44-QFN), plus a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic at the regulator output. The exposed thermal pad (pin 45 / EP) must be soldered to a continuous copper pour stitched with at least 4 vias to the inner-layer ground plane. Per DS39976, the nanoWatt XLP deep-sleep current is achieved only when unused peripherals are disabled via PMD registers and the ADC is in off state.
Route the ICSP pins RB6/PGC (pin 27) and RB7/PGD (pin 28) as a 2-wire header with 1k series resistors on each line for ICSP/ICD programming and debugging, per the Microchip ICD header reference design. Keep the trace between the secondary oscillator pins SOSCO (pin 11) and SOSCI (pin 12) short and symmetric, surrounded by a guard ring tied to ground, to ensure stable 32 kHz crystal operation for RTCC. Avoid running high-speed digital traces adjacent to AVCC/AVSS to minimize ADC switching noise coupling.
Do not leave the MCLR/RE3 pin (pin 44) floating - tie it to VDD through a 10 kohm pull-up and add a 100 nF cap to ground for noise immunity, otherwise spurious resets may occur in noisy environments. Configuration bits (CONFIG1H through CONFIG5L) must be set before first programming, particularly the oscillator source and watchdog enable. The LF (1.8 V minimum) variant must not be powered above 3.6 V; use the PIC18F46K22-I/ML (F-core) for 5 V rails. The exposed pad must NOT be left floating - it is the primary thermal path and a ground reference.
When using the 12-bit ADC for sub-LSB precision measurement, source-impedance should stay below 1 kohm to keep acquisition time within the ADC's specified 1.2 us minimum per DS39976. Place a 100 nF bypass on each analog input pin and avoid routing digital signals parallel to analog traces. For capacitive touch applications using mTouch/CTMU, calibrate the CTMU current source at each VDD change using the internal reference, and shield sensor traces with a grounded guard ring to suppress moisture-induced false touches. Average 16+ ADC samples per touch for noise-immune detection.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free per Microchip PIC18F46K22 product page. The -I grade is not AEC-Q100 qualified; for AEC-Q100 applications, evaluate the PIC18F46K22-I/ML family extensions or third-party automotive-grade replacements.
