PIC18LF55K42T-I/MV - 8-Bit 64MHz 32KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF55K42T-I/MV ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.2 | $4.20 |
| 10 | $3.78 | $37.80 |
| 100 | $3.35 | $335.00 |
| 500 | $2.95 | $1,475.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.6 | $2,600.00 |
PIC18LF55K42T-I/MV Overview
What is a PIC18 microcontroller? A PIC18 is an 8-bit RISC microcontroller from Microchip's PIC family. Within the broader taxonomy, it sits as: PIC18 -> 8-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor. The "LF" prefix denotes the wide-voltage F-variant that operates from 1.8V to 3.6V, while the "K42" indicates the family's CIP (Core Independent Peripherals) feature set including DMA, CLC, and configurable logic. PIC18 microcontrollers dominate cost-sensitive 8-bit applications due to their deterministic instruction set, broad peripheral integration, and Microchip's free MPLAB X toolchain.
Key features include 256 bytes of EEPROM, 44 user I/O lines, four 16-bit timers, two I2C/SPI/IART-configurable serial interfaces, and the XLP (eXtreme Low Power) family signature offering nanoWatt sleep currents below 100 nA. The UQFN-48 package with exposed pad delivers thermal resistance suitable for industrial -40C to +85C operation while saving PCB area versus QFP equivalents.
Technically, the K42 architecture improves on prior PIC18F-K22/K40 devices by adding DMA-driven ADC scanning, vector interrupts with hardware priority, and on-chip 32-level stack. The Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) remaps most digital peripherals to almost any I/O pin, simplifying PCB routing in dense designs. Active mode current is approximately 4 mA at 64 MHz/3.3V, while deep sleep drops to nanoamp levels - the LF process node enables 1.8V minimum operation directly from a single-cell Li-ion battery.
Typical applications include low-power IoT sensor nodes, battery-powered industrial sensors, home automation controllers, and compact user-interface modules driving segmented LCDs or keypads. The integrated 12-bit ADC and CIP peripherals make it well suited for mixed-signal front-ends where an external analog ASIC would otherwise be required.
When designing with this MCU, allocate the PPS mapping early in the schematic phase to avoid pin-conflict rework. Decouple VDD with at least 100 nF plus 1 uF bulk capacitance placed within 5 mm of the exposed pad, and tie the EP to ground for thermal dissipation and noise immunity. Programming via ICSP requires the PGC/PGD pins to be reserved and not repurposed through PPS at runtime.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives from the PIC18F/LF-K42 family and Cross-brand sources, and practical design notes not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF55K42T-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 PIC18LF55K42T-I/MV (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Comparators, DAC, Core, MSL Level.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18F55K42T-I/MV
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF47K42-I/MV
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF55K42-I/MV
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF45K42T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.98 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF55K42T-I/MV Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC18 8-bit RISC |
| Family | PIC18F/LF K42 (XLP 18K) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 32 KB (16K x 16) |
| Data SRAM | 2 KB |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 64 MHz |
| Operating Voltage (LF variant) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 44 |
| ADC | 12-bit ADC2 (ADCC), up to 43 channels |
| DAC | 5-bit DAC |
| Comparators | 2 |
| Timers | 4 x 16-bit |
| Serial Interfaces | 2 x EUSART/I2C/SPI configurable |
| DMA Channels | Yes (CIP) |
| Configurable Logic Cells (CLC) | Yes |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes |
| Vectored Interrupts | Yes with hardware priority |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Package | 48-pin UQFN (6x6 mm) with EP |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 (per JEDEC J-STD-020) |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | Yes / Compliant |
| Programming | ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) |
PIC18LF55K42T-I/MV Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0 — PORTA bit 0 (analog/digital I/O) |
| Pin 2 | RA1 — PORTA bit 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2 — PORTA bit 2 |
| Pin 4 | RA3 — PORTA bit 3 |
| Pin 5 | RA4 — PORTA bit 4 |
| Pin 6 | RA5 — PORTA bit 5 |
| Pin 7 | RA6 — PORTA bit 6 |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — PORTA bit 7 |
| Pin 9 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 10 | VDD — Positive supply (1.8V-3.6V) |
| Pin 11 | RB0 — PORTB bit 0 (PPS-capable) |
| Pin 12 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 13 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 14 | RB3 — PORTB bit 3 |
| Pin 15 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 16 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 17 | RB6 — PORTB bit 6 (ICSPCLK) |
| Pin 18 | RB7 — PORTB bit 7 (ICSPDAT) |
| Pin 19 | RC0 — PORTC bit 0 |
| Pin 20 | RC1 — PORTC bit 1 |
| Pin 21 | RC2 — PORTC bit 2 |
| Pin 22 | RC3 — PORTC bit 3 |
| Pin 23 | RC4 — PORTC bit 4 |
| Pin 24 | RC5 — PORTC bit 5 |
| Pin 25 | RC6 — PORTC bit 6 |
| Pin 26 | RC7 — PORTC bit 7 |
| Pin 27 | RD0 — PORTD bit 0 |
| Pin 28 | RD1 — PORTD bit 1 |
| Pin 29 | RD2 — PORTD bit 2 |
| Pin 30 | RD3 — PORTD bit 3 |
| Pin 31 | RD4 — PORTD bit 4 |
| Pin 32 | RD5 — PORTD bit 5 |
| Pin 33 | RD6 — PORTD bit 6 |
| Pin 34 | RD7 — PORTD bit 7 |
| Pin 35 | RE0 — PORTE bit 0 |
| Pin 36 | RE1 — PORTE bit 1 |
| Pin 37 | RE2 — PORTE bit 2 |
| Pin 38 | RE3 — PORTE bit 3 |
| Pin 39 | AVSS — Analog ground |
| Pin 40 | AVDD — Analog supply (tie to VDD) |
| Pin 41 | RF0 — PORTF bit 0 |
| Pin 42 | RF1 — PORTF bit 1 |
| Pin 43 | RF2 — PORTF bit 2 |
| Pin 44 | RF3 — PORTF bit 3 |
| Pin 45 | RF4 — PORTF bit 4 |
| Pin 46 | RF5 — PORTF bit 5 |
| Pin 47 | RF6 — PORTF bit 6 (OSC2/CLKO) |
| Pin 48 | RF7 — PORTF bit 7 (OSC1/CLKI) |
| Pin 49 | EP — Exposed Pad - tie to ground (GND) |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF55K42T-I/MV is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Industrial Sensor Interface Module, Smart Home Control Panel, Portable Medical Monitoring Device, Automotive Body Electronics (Sub-System), User Interface / HMI Controller.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC18LF55K42T-I/MV is well-suited for battery-powered IoT sensor nodes thanks to its LF process node operating from 1.8V to 3.6V and the XLP nanoWatt feature set, which drops quiescent current below 100 nA in deep sleep. The integrated 12-bit ADC2 with DMA enables autonomous sensor scanning without waking the CPU, while the 64 MHz core wakes within microseconds to process and transmit data via the configurable EUSART/SPI/I2C peripherals. Place the device on a 2-layer PCB with the UQFN exposed pad connected to a 1 square-inch ground pour for thermal dissipation, and pair with a sub-GHz or BLE module via SPI.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Interface Module
For industrial sensor interface modules, the PIC18LF55K42T-I/MV provides 43 single-ended 12-bit ADC channels - more than most 8-bit MCUs - supporting multi-signal conditioning inputs from thermocouples, RTDs, pressure sensors, and 4-20 mA loops through external resistor dividers. The DMA-driven ADCC scans channels without CPU overhead, freeing MIPS for protocol handling on RS-485 or CAN-bus networks. Its 1.8V-3.6V supply permits direct operation from industrial 24V buses via a small buck regulator, and the -40C to +85C industrial range ensures operation in unconditioned factory cabinets.
Recommended
Smart Home Control Panel
Smart home control panels benefit from the PIC18LF55K42T-I/MV's 44 I/O pins, configurable logic cells (CLC), and peripheral pin select (PPS), which allow touch-button scanning, LED PWM dimming, and rotary-encoder decoding without external glue logic. The two comparators can wake the device on button press from deep sleep, while the 5-bit DAC generates reference voltages for sensor calibration. The 32KB flash holds a Zigbee/BLE stack or a Matter-over-Thread application layer alongside custom UI firmware, and the 6x6 mm UQFN keeps the PCB footprint small enough for in-wall switch form factors.
Recommended
Portable Medical Monitoring Device
Portable medical monitoring devices such as pulse oximeters, glucose meters, and wearable thermometers leverage the PIC18LF55K42T-I/MV's deterministic 8-bit core, low active current (~4 mA at 64 MHz), and sub-microamp sleep modes to maximize battery life across 6-12 month use cycles. The 12-bit ADC2 with internal voltage reference delivers sufficient resolution for pulse-wave and bio-impedance signal chains, while the integrated comparators enable hardware threshold detection for arrhythmia alerting without CPU load. Compliance path benefits from Microchip's IEC 60730 Class B safety library, available separately for PIC18 K42 family MCUs.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Sub-System)
For non-safety automotive body electronics - HVAC control heads, mirror adjusters, interior lighting controllers - the PIC18LF55K42T-I/MV provides 32KB flash, 2KB RAM, and CIP peripherals that offload PWM generation and ADC scanning from the CPU. While this industrial-grade part is not AEC-Q100 qualified, it is commonly used in cabin-class designs behind a separate power-protection barrier. The UQFN-48 footprint and 6x6 mm dimensions fit comfortably inside the ECU housings, and the -40C to +85C range covers cabin temperatures. For under-hood AEC-Q100 applications, use the PIC18F46K42T-I/MV (extended temperature, automotive qualified).
Recommended
User Interface / HMI Controller
Human-machine interface controllers driving segmented LCDs, character displays, and small TFTs benefit from the PIC18LF55K42T-I/MV's 44 I/O lines, four 16-bit timers for PWM-driven LED brightness, and the CLC block that can implement logic-gate combinations in hardware. The 5-bit DAC generates contrast voltages for character LCDs without external resistor ladders, while the comparators monitor battery voltage for low-battery indication. The peripheral pin select (PPS) lets designers route SPI/I2C buses to non-adjacent pins, simplifying four-layer HMI PCB routing while keeping the firmware portable across the K42 family.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF55K42T-I/MV — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18F55K42T-I/MV | PIC18LF47K42-I/MV | PIC18LF55K42-I/MV | PIC18LF45K42T-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 48-pin UQFN (MV) 6x6 | 48-pin UQFN (MV) 6x6 - same | 48-pin UQFN (MV) 6x6 - same | 48-pin UQFN (MV) 6x6 - same | 44-pin QFN (ML) - DIFFERENT package |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8V to 3.6V (LF) | 2.3V to 5.5V (F) | 1.8V to 3.6V (LF) | 1.8V to 3.6V (LF) | 1.8V to 3.6V (LF) |
| Flash Memory | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB |
| SRAM | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB |
| I/O Pins | 44 | 44 | 36 | 44 | 35 |
| ADC Channels | 43 channels, 12-bit | 43 channels, 12-bit | 35 channels, 12-bit | 43 channels, 12-bit | 35 channels, 12-bit |
| Maximum Clock | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz | 64 MHz |
| Unit Price (qty-1) | $4.20 | $4.20 (approx) | $3.85 (approx) | $3.95 (approx, tube) | $3.65 (approx) |
Key Differentiators
- Widest operating voltage range in LF family (vs PIC18LF47K42-I/MV)
- Higher pin count and ADC count than smaller K42 variants (vs PIC18LF45K42T-I/ML)
- Industrial -40C to +85C versus commercial grade (vs PIC18F55K42T-I/MV (E variant))
- Built-in DMA for autonomous ADC scanning (vs PIC18F46K22-I/MV (older K22 family))
Design Notes
Estimated: at 64 MHz and 3.3V active mode, PIC18LF55K42T-I/MV draws approximately 4 mA. Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of each VDD/AVDD pair, and a 1 uF bulk capacitor at the board entry point. Tie AVDD to VDD and AVSS to VSS directly at the IC pins to avoid ground-bounce-induced ADC errors. For battery applications, switch to the LFINTOSC 31 kHz internal oscillator during sleep and gate peripheral clocks via PMD registers to drop quiescent below 100 nA.
The 48-pin UQFN (MV) package exposes a central thermal pad that must be soldered to a ground plane with at least 4 thermal vias for heat extraction. Estimated theta_JA on a 2-layer 1-oz PCB is approximately 28 C/W, allowing up to 3.5W dissipation at +85C ambient before reaching the +150C junction limit. The K42's modest 4 mA active current keeps self-heating well below thermal limits in normal embedded use, but consider copper pours if driving high-current loads from I/O pins.
The 6x6 mm UQFN-48 footprint has a 0.4 mm pitch with a central thermal pad - use a 4-layer PCB or a 2-layer PCB with 1-oz copper and proper land pattern per Microchip package drawing. PPS routing flexibility means you can break out the SPI/I2C buses on convenient pins, but reserve RB6 (ICSPCLK) and RB7 (ICSPDAT) at the schematic phase - they double as ICSP programming pins and are needed for in-circuit firmware updates. Add a 10 kohm pull-up on MCLR to prevent unintended resets during power-up.
Do not confuse the LF (1.8-3.6V) variant with the F (2.3-5.5V) variant when designing 5V systems - exceeding 3.6V on the LF part will permanently damage the LF process nodes. The PPS system remaps peripherals only after unlock sequence - if a peripheral stops responding after a code change, verify the PPS lock state. Vector interrupts must be initialized with the IVTLOCK/IVTSEQ registers per datasheet section 9.0 to prevent runaway interrupts in multi-priority applications.
Keep analog input traces short (under 25 mm) and shield them from digital traces with a ground pour on the layer beneath. The 12-bit ADC2 achieves 70 dB SNR when the analog and digital supplies are properly decoupled - use a ferrite bead between VDD and AVDD if digital switching noise couples into the analog rail. For high-impedance sensor sources, enable the ADC charge pump option and use the dedicated sample-and-hold channel for best linearity.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial temperature grade -40C to +85C. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; for automotive applications use PIC18F46K42T-I/MV.
