PIC18LF57K42T-I/PT - 64MHz 8-bit XLP MCU 128KB Flash TQFP-48 | Microchip
MPN: PIC18LF57K42T-I/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.31 | $4.31 |
| 10 | $3.88 | $38.80 |
| 100 | $3.46 | $346.00 |
| 500 | $3.12 | $1,560.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.78 | $2,780.00 |
PIC18LF57K42T-I/PT Overview
What is an 8-bit XLP microcontroller? An 8-bit MCU is a microprocessor with an 8-bit data path, instruction set, and register architecture, optimized for deterministic control and low cost. XLP (eXtreme Low Power) is Microchip's branding for ultra-low-power 8-bit PIC families that combine nanoWatt peripherals (e.g. deep sleep, watchdog, RTCC with current as low as hundreds of nA) with active-mode MIPS per mA efficiency. PIC18LF57K42 belongs to the PIC18 microcontroller hierarchy: 8-bit MCU -> PIC18 family -> PIC18F/LF K42 sub-family -> high pin count XLP tier.
Key features include a 12-bit differential ADC with computation, multiple communication peripherals (UART, SPI, I2C), Configurable Logic Cells (CLC), Complementary Waveform Generator (CWG), and 4x 16-bit timers. The wide 1.8 V to 3.6 V supply range and low-power Sleep modes (under 1 uA typical) make this part suitable for IoT sensors and portable instrumentation. The 44 I/O pins offer generous expansion for keypad, display, and motor-control front ends.
Architecturally, the device uses a Harvard RISC core with hardware multiply, 32-level hardware stack, and vectored interrupts. The CWG and PWM peripherals enable motor control or LED lighting without an external timer IC. Integrated Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) such as CLC, NCO, and zero-cross detect allow event-driven response without CPU wake-up, supporting firmware that spends most of its time in deep sleep.
Typical applications include IoT sensor nodes, battery-powered medical devices, automotive body controllers, HMI displays, smart home gateways, and small motor control boards. The XLP feature set also fits asset tracking tags, e-locks, and remote controls where coin-cell batteries must last years.
When designing with this part, allocate careful pin budgeting because the TQFP-48 has 44 I/O plus dedicated OSC/VCAP/MCLR pins. Use MPLAB X IDE with the XC8 compiler and a Curiosity or Curiosity Nano development board for fastest bring-up. Decoupling: place 100 nF next to VDD/AVDD and a 10 uF bulk on the main rail.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, drop-in compatible PIC18LF alternatives in the same TQFP-48 footprint, application-specific design notes, and a parametric comparison table that complements (does not replace) the Microchip datasheet. Pinout, package outline, and ordering code nomenclature follow Microchip conventions (T = tape and reel, -I = industrial -40C to +85C, /PT = TQFP-48).
Drop-in alternatives for PIC18LF57K42T-I/PT — 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 PIC18LF57K42T-I/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Program Memory (Flash), Package, ADC, Core, EEPROM.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC18LF57K42-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18F57K42T-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC18LF56K42-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$2.5 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF55K42T-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$2.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC18LF57K42T-I/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | PIC18LFxxK42 (XLP) |
| Core | PIC18 8-bit Harvard RISC |
| CPU Speed | 64 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 128 KB (64K x 16) |
| Data SRAM | 8 KB |
| EEPROM | 1 KB |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 44 |
| ADC | 12-bit differential with computation |
| Timers | 4 x 16-bit |
| Communication | UART, SPI, I2C |
| Package | 48-TQFP-EP (7x7 mm) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Special Features | XLP, CLC, CWG, NCO, RTCC, CRC |
PIC18LF57K42T-I/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/ANA0/INTO — PORTA bit 0 / Analog input / External interrupt |
| Pin 2 | RA1/ANA1 — PORTA bit 1 / Analog input |
| Pin 3 | RA2/ANA2 — PORTA bit 2 / Analog input |
| Pin 4 | RA3/ANA3/VREF+ — PORTA bit 3 / Analog input / Voltage reference positive |
| Pin 5 | RA4/ANA4 — PORTA bit 4 / Analog input |
| Pin 6 | RA5/ANA5 — PORTA bit 5 / Analog input |
| Pin 7 | RA6/ANA6 — PORTA bit 6 / Analog input / oscillator output |
| Pin 8 | RA7/ANA7 — PORTA bit 7 / Analog input / oscillator input |
| Pin 9 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 10 | VDD — Positive supply (1.8-3.6 V) |
| Pin 11 | RB0/INT0 — PORTB bit 0 / External interrupt 0 |
| Pin 12 | RB1/INT1 — PORTB bit 1 / External interrupt 1 |
| Pin 13 | RB2/INT2 — PORTB bit 2 / External interrupt 2 |
| Pin 14 | RB3/INT3 — PORTB bit 3 / External interrupt 3 |
| Pin 15 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 16 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 |
| Pin 17 | RB6/ICSPCLK — PORTB bit 6 / In-Circuit Serial Programming clock |
| Pin 18 | RB7/ICSPDAT — PORTB bit 7 / In-Circuit Serial Programming data |
| Pin 19 | AVSS — Analog ground reference |
| Pin 20 | AVDD — Analog positive supply (1.8-3.6 V) |
| Pin 21 | RC0 — PORTC bit 0 |
| Pin 22 | RC1 — PORTC bit 1 |
| Pin 23 | RC2 — PORTC bit 2 |
| Pin 24 | RC3 — PORTC bit 3 |
| Pin 25 | RC4 — PORTC bit 4 |
| Pin 26 | RC5 — PORTC bit 5 |
| Pin 27 | RC6 — PORTC bit 6 |
| Pin 28 | RC7 — PORTC bit 7 |
| Pin 29 | RE0 — PORTE bit 0 |
| Pin 30 | RE1 — PORTE bit 1 |
| Pin 31 | RE2 — PORTE bit 2 |
| Pin 32 | RE3 — PORTE bit 3 |
| Pin 33 | RD0 — PORTD bit 0 |
| Pin 34 | RD1 — PORTD bit 1 |
| Pin 35 | RD2 — PORTD bit 2 |
| Pin 36 | RD3 — PORTD bit 3 |
| Pin 37 | RD4 — PORTD bit 4 |
| Pin 38 | RD5 — PORTD bit 5 |
| Pin 39 | RD6 — PORTD bit 6 |
| Pin 40 | RD7 — PORTD bit 7 |
| Pin 41 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 42 | VDD — Positive supply (1.8-3.6 V) |
| Pin 43 | MCLR — Master clear (reset, active low) |
| Pin 44 | RF0 — PORTF bit 0 |
| Pin 45 | RF1 — PORTF bit 1 |
| Pin 46 | RF2 — PORTF bit 2 |
| Pin 47 | RF3 — PORTF bit 3 |
| Pin 48 | RF4 — PORTF bit 4 |
Typical Applications
PIC18LF57K42T-I/PT is suitable for 6 applications: IoT Sensor Node with Battery Power, Battery-Powered Medical Wearable Device, Automotive Body Control Module, HMI Display and Keypad Controller, Small Motor and Fan Control, Smart Home Sensor Hub Edge Node.
IoT Sensor Node with Battery Power
The PIC18LF57K42T-I/PT is well-suited for IoT sensor nodes because of its XLP nanoWatt Sleep current under 1 uA typical and 16 MIPS active performance at 64 MHz, enabling years of coin-cell life while still running local measurement and RF protocol stacks. CLC and RTCC wake the CPU only on threshold-crossing events, eliminating polling loops. 128 KB Flash supports LoRa or BLE host firmware with OTA upgrade headroom. CWG can directly drive piezo buzzers for alerts.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Medical Wearable Device
The PIC18LF57K42T-I/PT fits medical wearables because its 1.8-3.6 V range accepts direct Li-ion or Li-polymer cell voltages and its 12-bit differential ADC with internal 1.024 V reference supports accurate biopotential or pulse-oximetry measurements. Sleep currents under 1 uA extend battery life to weeks between charges. Core Independent Peripherals such as CLC and NCO handle waveform generation and threshold detection without CPU intervention. 44 I/O pins accommodate displays, sensors, and BLE links.
Recommended
Automotive Body Control Module
The PIC18LF57K42T-I/PT is appropriate for automotive body controllers because of its industrial -40C to +85C operating range, robust 16 MIPS CPU for body-electronics protocols, and hardware LIN-capable UART plus CWG for lighting PWM. The TQFP-48 footprint gives 44 I/O pins to drive window lifters, mirror adjusters, and LED lighting. CRC and ECC on Flash plus 100K-cycles EEPROM support long-life service. Voltage tolerance 1.8-3.6 V covers typical regulated 3.3 V body buses.
Recommended
HMI Display and Keypad Controller
The PIC18LF57K42T-I/PT handles HMI front panels because its 128 KB Flash and 8 KB RAM support full GUI state machines, while CWG and PWM peripherals generate backlight LED drivers and contrast bias. 44 I/O pins can directly scan a 4x5 matrix keypad plus drive a character or small graphic LCD. Low Sleep current lets battery-backed controls retain state when powered down. CLC reduces scan time by handling key debounce in hardware.
Recommended
Small Motor and Fan Control
The PIC18LF57K42T-I/PT drives small brushless DC motors or fans because its CWG generates complementary PWMs with dead-band control and 10-bit PWM resolution at 64 MHz, plus four 16-bit timers for back-EMF sensing. The 12-bit ADC monitors current and back-EMF for closed-loop control. CLC and NCO accelerate the commutation state machine without CPU load. Industrial temperature grade covers under-hood and white-goods environments.
Recommended
Smart Home Sensor Hub Edge Node
The PIC18LF57K42T-I/PT fits edge-node smart home hubs because its 128 KB Flash and 8 KB SRAM can host local rules engines for occupancy, leak, or door/window sensing, while XLP Sleep under 1 uA keeps wireless nodes operational on coin cells for years. UART/SPI/I2C connect to radios and sensors simultaneously. Hardware RTCC handles daily schedules without CPU wake-up. RoHS compliance and tape-and-reel packaging suit high-volume assembly lines.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC18LF57K42T-I/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC18LF57K42-I/PT | PIC18F57K42T-I/PT | PIC18LF56K42-I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | TQFP-48 (7x7 mm) | TQFP-48 (7x7 mm) - same | TQFP-48 (7x7 mm) - same | TQFP-48 (7x7 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| CPU Speed | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS | 64 MHz / 16 MIPS |
| Flash Memory | 128 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB | 32 KB (-75%) |
| SRAM | 8 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB | 2 KB (-75%) |
| EEPROM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8-3.6 V | 1.8-3.6 V | 2.3-5.5 V | 1.8-3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 44 | 44 | 44 | 44 |
Key Differentiators
- Highest Flash density in TQFP-48 K42 family (vs PIC18LF56K42-I/PT)
- XLP nanoWatt Sleep under 1 uA typical (vs PIC18F57K42T-I/PT)
- Wider supply range than same-memory F variant (vs PIC18F57K42T-I/PT)
Design Notes
The PIC18LF57K42T-I/PT has separate analog and digital supply pins (AVDD/AVSS, VDD/VSS). Place a ferrite bead or small resistor between VDD and AVDD to isolate analog noise, and decouple each supply pin with 100 nF ceramic plus 10 uF bulk within 5 mm. Sleep current falls below 1 uA only when all peripherals and unused pins are properly disabled in firmware. Unused I/O should be configured as outputs low, never left floating, to avoid parasitic current draw.
Estimated: at 64 MHz, 3.3 V, the PIC18LF57K42T-I/PT draws roughly 12 mA, dissipating ~40 mW. The TQFP-48 with exposed pad has theta_JA around 45 C/W, producing only 1.8 C rise above ambient. The exposed thermal pad must be soldered to a 1 square-inch copper pour with thermal vias to the inner ground plane. Industrial grade supports -40C to +85C ambient without active cooling.
TQFP-48 with 0.5 mm pitch requires careful PCB layout: minimum 0.25 mm solder mask dam, 0.15 mm land pad width, and 4 mil trace and space design rules. Keep the MCLR line short and pulled up to VDD with a 10 kOhm resistor and 100 nF cap for noise immunity. Place the ICSP connector footprint near pins 17 (RB6/ICSPCLK) and 18 (RB7/ICSPDAT) with test pads accessible even after assembly for production programming.
Do not exceed 64 MHz or use indirect clocking above 32 MHz at 1.8 V without consulting the family data sheet - some K42 parts require 2.7 V minimum to hit full speed. The LF variant operates down to 1.8 V but at reduced Fosc. The 12-bit ADC accuracy degrades if the AVDD decoupling is poor; always include a 10 uF tantalum or ceramic bulk. ICSP pins RB6/RB7 should be reserved for programming or have weak pull-downs to avoid contention.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product environmental compliance. Industrial -40C to +85C temperature grade. AEC-Q100 qualified variants exist separately (PIC18F57K42-I/PT automotive grade).
