PIC24F04KA201-I/SO - 4KB Flash 16-bit XLP MCU SOIC-20 | Microchip
MPN: PIC24F04KA201-I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.36 | $3.36 |
| 10 | $2.96 | $29.60 |
| 100 | $2.42 | $242.00 |
| 500 | $2.05 | $1,025.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.78 | $1,780.00 |
PIC24F04KA201-I/SO Overview
A 16-bit microcontroller (MCU) is an embedded processing device with a 16-bit data path and instruction word, positioned between 8-bit MCUs and 32-bit ARM Cortex-M cores in the embedded computing hierarchy. Within the power-management-aware MCU segment, XLP-family devices add nanoWatt technology, ultra-low sleep currents, and rich peripherals to enable years of operation from a single coin cell. This makes the PIC24F04KA201 well suited for battery-powered sensors, energy-harvesting designs, and portable instrumentation.
Key features include 4KB self-programmable Flash with 1.375K x 24 organization, 512B SRAM, hardware Real-Time Clock and Calendar (RTCC) with calendar mode, charge time measurement unit (CTMU) for capacitive touch, up to 14 I/O pins, and configurable peripheral pin select. The part supports 1.8V to 3.6V operation, enabling direct coin-cell or Li-ion battery connection without an external regulator.
The device uses a 16-bit modified Harvard architecture with a 24-bit instruction word, dedicated hardware multiply/divide, and an instruction trace buffer. Deep Sleep mode with RTCC retains timekeeping while consuming nanoampere-range current, and the CTMU allows capacitive touch sensing with no external analog components. The 10-bit ADC with internal 1.2V bandgap reference simplifies sensor interfacing.
Typical applications include battery-powered sensor nodes, consumer health and fitness wearables, home-automation endpoints, capacitive-touch user interfaces, remote controls, and ultra-low-power IoT endpoints. The wide operating voltage and low active current (around 1 mA at 8 MHz) simplify energy-budget calculations.
When designing with this device, allocate 14 usable I/O pins carefully because pins are shared between peripherals; the peripheral pin select feature eases remapping. Add a 1 uF decoupling capacitor near VDD and follow Microchip layout guidelines for the analog supply.
This page combines distributor pricing, same-package alternatives, and design notes that complement the manufacturer datasheet to help engineers shorten selection and bring-up time.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC24F04KA201-I/SO — 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 PIC24F04KA201-I/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature, Timers.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC24F04KA200-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24F08KA201-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24F04KA201T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.89 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24F08KA200-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24F08KA101-I/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.49 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24F16KA101-I/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24F04KA201-I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC24F (16-bit modified Harvard) |
| Program Flash | 4 KB (1.375K x 24 words) |
| SRAM | 512 B |
| Max CPU Speed | 32 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 14 (max) |
| ADC | 10-bit, 500 ksps, up to 9 channels |
| Timers | 5 x 16-bit / 32-bit |
| Communication | I2C, SPI, UART (1/2 multiplexed) |
| RTCC | Hardware Real-Time Clock with calendar |
| CTMU | Charge Time Measurement Unit (touch / mTouch) |
| Deep Sleep Current | 20 nA typical (with RTCC) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| Package | 20-pin SOIC (SO) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited floor life) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP |
PIC24F04KA201-I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR — Master Clear (reset) input, active-low |
| Pin 2 | RA0 — PORTA bit 0 / ICSPDAT |
| Pin 3 | RA1 — PORTA bit 1 / ICSPCLK |
| Pin 4 | RB0 — PORTB bit 0 / PGED1 |
| Pin 5 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 / PGEC1 |
| Pin 6 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 / analog AN4 |
| Pin 7 | RB3 — PORTB bit 3 / analog AN5 |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | OSC1 — Oscillator input / CLKI |
| Pin 10 | OSC2 — Oscillator output / CLKO |
| Pin 11 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 / SDA1 |
| Pin 12 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 / SCL1 |
| Pin 13 | RB6 — PORTB bit 6 / analog AN6 |
| Pin 14 | RB7 — PORTB bit 7 / analog AN7 |
| Pin 15 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 16 | RA2 — PORTA bit 2 / analog AN0 |
| Pin 17 | RA3 — PORTA bit 3 / analog AN1 |
| Pin 18 | RA4 — PORTA bit 4 / analog AN2 |
| Pin 19 | RA5 — PORTA bit 5 / analog AN3 |
| Pin 20 | VSS — Ground reference |
Typical Applications
PIC24F04KA201-I/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Wireless Sensor Nodes, Capacitive-Touch User Interface, Wearable Health & Fitness Devices, Industrial Sensor Transmitters, Smart Home / Home Automation Hubs, Consumer Remote Controls.
Battery-Powered Wireless Sensor Nodes
The PIC24F04KA201-I/SO fits wireless sensor nodes thanks to its 16 MIPS throughput, sub-mA active current and 20 nA Deep Sleep with RTCC. It reads a sensor, computes a reading, and wakes an external radio sub-GHz/2.4 GHz module for a few milliseconds before returning to Deep Sleep. The 14 I/O pins map naturally to one SPI or UART to a radio, plus several GPIOs for the sensor and an LED. The 1.8-3.6 V supply connects directly to a single CR2032 or CR2477 coin cell, avoiding any LDO loss and enabling multi-year node lifetimes. The CTMU can also be reused as a wake-on-touch trigger.
Recommended
Capacitive-Touch User Interface
The integrated CTMU plus mTouch firmware library lets the PIC24F04KA201-I/SO implement up to 14 capacitive touch buttons or a small slider in a 20-pin SOIC. With 16 MIPS at 32 MHz, it can scan a full panel of 12 buttons inside 500 us and still have headroom for debounce and gesture handling. The 10-bit ADC and 1.2 V internal reference are also usable to detect moisture or proximity, reducing external analog ICs. Engineers typically pair the MCU with an LED-driver companion to produce haptic or visual feedback.
Recommended
Wearable Health & Fitness Devices
For wearables like fitness bands or medical patches, the PIC24F04KA201-I/SO provides the XLP nanoWatt profile, hardware RTCC for time-stamped logging, and a 10-bit ADC that can interface a photoplethysmography (PPG) front end or thermistor. Deep Sleep at 20 nA preserves coin-cell life while the MCU samples heart rate once per second. The 4 KB Flash is enough for a baseline firmware that streams over a low-energy BLE companion. A typical use case is a step counter or skin-temperature patch lasting over a year on a CR2032.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Transmitters
The industrial -40 C to +85 C temperature grade of the PIC24F04KA201-I/SO makes it viable for 4-20 mA loop-powered transmitters and remote IIoT endpoints. Its 1.8-3.6 V supply rails accept a small DC-DC or LDO directly off the loop, and the 10-bit 500 ksps ADC digitizes RTD, thermocouple, or 4-20 mA sense signals with calibration. HART or Modbus communication can be emulated through the UART, with the RTCC timestamping samples. The wide VDD simplifies surge-tolerant industrial front-end design when paired with TVS protection.
Recommended
Smart Home / Home Automation Hubs
In low-cost home automation endpoints (e.g., battery door/window sensors, leak detectors, occupancy sensors), the PIC24F04KA201-I/SO provides adequate MIPS for processing and security, plus XLP sleep for years of operation. The PIC24F family integrates Basic CodeGuard IP protection, useful for OEM firmware confidentiality. Combined with a sub-GHz or Zigbee radio, it forms a complete coin-cell node for smart-home ecosystem integration. The 14 I/O pins handle one UART/SPI to the radio plus several GPIOs for the reed switch, LED and tamper input.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Controls
The PIC24F04KA201-I/SO is well-suited for IR/BLE remote controls, where its CTMU can detect capacitive button presses, its 32 MHz core runs IR protocols or BLE host commands, and its nanoWatt sleep keeps idle current below 1 uA. A 20-pin SOIC easily accommodates 8-12 buttons, an LED indicator, and a UART link to a BLE SoC. The CTMU also enables proximity wake-up when a hand approaches the remote. Typical designs run 6+ months on a pair of AAA cells in standby.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC24F04KA201-I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC24F04KA200-I/SO | PIC24F08KA201-I/SO | PIC24F04KA201T-I/SO | PIC24F08KA200-I/SO | PIC24F08KA101-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 20-pin SOIC (SO) | 20-pin SOIC (SO) - same | 20-pin SOIC (SO) - same | 20-pin SOIC (SO) - same | 20-pin SOIC (SO) - same | 20-pin SOIC (SO) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same |
| Program Flash | 4 KB | 4 KB (same) | 8 KB (+100%) | 4 KB (same) | 8 KB (+100%) | 8 KB (+100%) |
| SRAM | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B |
| Max CPU Speed | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS |
| 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 | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| ADC | 10-bit 500 ksps, up to 9 channels | 10-bit 500 ksps, up to 9 channels | 10-bit 500 ksps, up to 9 channels | 10-bit 500 ksps, up to 9 channels | 10-bit 500 ksps, up to 9 channels | 10-bit, lower channel count |
| Deep Sleep Current (typ) | 20 nA with RTCC | 20 nA with RTCC | 20 nA with RTCC | 20 nA with RTCC | 20 nA with RTCC | 20 nA with RTCC |
Key Differentiators
- Highest-density same-footprint upgrade path within the same family (vs PIC24F04KA200-I/SO)
- Lowest-cost entry with full PIC24F feature set (vs PIC24F08KA201-I/SO)
- Industrial-grade SOIC packaging, not commercial-grade (vs PIC24F04KA201-E/SO)
Design Notes
Estimated: budget current draw at VDD=3.0 V using typical XLP figures: active 8 MIPS at 32 MHz ~1 mA, idle ~150 uA, Deep Sleep with RTCC ~20 nA. For a coin-cell node that wakes every second for 10 ms, average current = 1 mA * (10/1000) + 150 uA * (1/1000) + 20 nA ~ 10.2 uA, supporting >3 years on a 220 mAh CR2032. Always add a 1 uF X7R decoupling cap directly at VDD/VSS pins, plus a 100 nF for high-frequency noise.
Route the ICSP/PGED/PGEC lines (RB0/RB1) as a dedicated pair to a 6-pin header matching Microchip's ICD header; keep their trace length under 50 mm and avoid routing near switching nodes. Place the analog AVSS/AVDD pins (if used in your variant) with their own ground island tied to VSS at a single point to keep ADC noise low.
Do not leave MCLR floating; pull it to VDD through a 10 kOhm resistor with a 100 nF to ground to allow in-circuit serial programming. When using Deep Sleep, ensure the RTCC is properly initialized or it may draw microamp-range leakage. Disable unused peripherals via the PMD registers to reach true nanoWatt currents - leaving a UART enabled in Deep Sleep can cost ~10-20 uA.
Compliance Information
RoHS/REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this part is for industrial/consumer applications; choose PIC24F automotive-grade variants if required.
