PIC24F04KA201-I/SS - 16-bit 4KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC24F04KA201-I/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.54 | $2.54 |
| 10 | $2.29 | $22.90 |
| 100 | $2.03 | $203.00 |
| 500 | $1.85 | $925.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.67 | $1,670.00 |
PIC24F04KA201-I/SS Overview
A 16-bit MCU (microcontroller unit) is an integrated circuit containing a CPU core, program and data memory, peripherals, and I/O on a single chip. The PIC24F family uses a modified Harvard RISC architecture with a 16-bit data path, sitting hierarchically within Microchip's product tree as: PIC24F -> 16-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded IC -> semiconductor. The eXtreme Low Power technology adds nanoWatt features such as Deep Sleep and Sleep modes with sub-microsecond wake-up, enabling years of operation from coin-cell or battery sources.
Key features include 4 KB self-programmable Flash, 512 B SRAM, hardware Real-Time Clock and Calendar (RTCC), Charge Time Measurement Unit (CTMU) for capacitive touch and 1 mA current source, 9-channel 10-bit 500 ksps ADC, two UART, one SPI, one I2C, four 16-bit timers, and four PWM channels. The industrial -40C to +85C operating range suits harsh embedded deployments.
The architecture combines a 16-bit instruction set with a 32 MHz oscillator and a hardware multiplier, achieving 16 MIPS throughput. The Deep Sleep mode drops current to approximately 20 nA while retaining SRAM, supporting ultra-low-power duty-cycled applications where the MCU wakes briefly to take a sensor reading and returns to sleep.
Typical applications include low-power sensor nodes, capacitive touch user interfaces, battery-powered medical wearables, consumer electronics remote controls, and industrial data loggers. The CTMU peripheral is well-suited for touch-button decoding, while the RTCC allows time-stamping without an external RTC chip.
When designing with this device, pay attention to the Vcap pin requiring an external capacitor for the internal core voltage regulator, and ensure the MCLR pin is pulled high through a resistor for reliable operation. Program via ICSP using PGEDx/PGECx pins shared with general I/O.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone, helping engineers evaluate migration paths within the PIC24F04KA2xx family and select the correct -I/SS package variant for low-volume prototyping or mass production.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC24F04KA201-I/SS — 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/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, I/O Pins, ADC, Operating Temperature, Timers.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC24F04KA201-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24F04KA200T-I/ST
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.99 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24F04KA200-I/ST
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.42 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24F08KA201-I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24F16KA101-I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$2.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24F08KA101-I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24F04KA201-I/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC24F (16-bit modified Harvard RISC) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 4 KB |
| Data Memory (SRAM) | 512 B |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| ADC | 10-bit, 500 ksps, up to 9 channels |
| Package | 20-pin SSOP (5.30 mm body) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| UART Modules | 2 |
| SPI Modules | 1 |
| I2C Modules | 1 |
| Timers | 4 x 16-bit |
| PWM Channels | 4 |
| CTMU (Charge Time Measurement Unit) | Yes (1 mA current source, capacitive touch capable) |
| RTCC (Real-Time Clock/Calendar) | Yes (hardware, with alarm) |
| Deep Sleep Current | Approximately 20 nA (typical, per datasheet) |
| Pin Count | 20 |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited floor life at <=30 C / 85% RH) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC24F04KA201-I/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/RA5 — Master Clear (reset) input, shared with RA5 GPIO |
| Pin 2 | RA0 — GPIO / analog input AN0 / CVREF- |
| Pin 3 | RA1 — GPIO / analog input AN1 / CVREF+ |
| Pin 4 | RB0 — GPIO / INT0 / AN2 / PGED1 (programming/debug data) |
| Pin 5 | RB1 — GPIO / AN3 / PGEC1 (programming/debug clock) |
| Pin 6 | RB2 — GPIO / AN4 / PGED2 (alt programming data) |
| Pin 7 | RB3 — GPIO / AN5 / PGEC2 (alt programming clock) |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | RA2 — GPIO / analog AN6 / VREF- |
| Pin 10 | RA3 — GPIO / analog AN7 / VREF+ |
| Pin 11 | RA4 — GPIO / analog AN8 / SOSCO (32.768 kHz crystal out for RTCC) |
| Pin 12 | RB4 — GPIO / SDA1 (I2C data) |
| Pin 13 | RB5 — GPIO / SCL1 (I2C clock) |
| Pin 14 | RB6 — GPIO / ICSP programming clock / PGC |
| Pin 15 | RB7 — GPIO / ICSP programming data / PGD |
| Pin 16 | RA6 — GPIO / SOSCI (32.768 kHz crystal in for RTCC) |
| Pin 17 | RA7 — GPIO / RTCC output / clock output |
| Pin 18 | VCAP — Internal core voltage regulator decoupling (connect 10 uF to VSS) |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference (secondary) |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply 1.8V-3.6V |
Typical Applications
PIC24F04KA201-I/SS is suitable for 7 applications: Battery Sensor Nodes (IoT), Capacitive Touch Keypads, Industrial Data Loggers, Consumer Remote Controls, Medical Wearable Sensors, Smart Home Sensor Hubs, Hobbyist Maker / Educational Boards.
Battery Sensor Nodes (IoT)
The PIC24F04KA201-I/SS suits coin-cell or 2xAA-powered IoT sensor nodes because of its approximately 20 nA Deep Sleep current with RTCC running, retaining the 512 B SRAM across wake cycles. The 32 MHz / 16 MIPS core is more than enough for sub-millisecond sensor reads from a 10-bit 500 ksps ADC; the MCU wakes, takes a temperature or humidity reading, transmits via UART, and returns to Deep Sleep within a few milliseconds. Pin count of 20 leaves budget for one UART, one I2C sensor, and the wake-up GPIO. The CTMU can drive resistive or capacitive sensor bridges directly, eliminating an analog front-end op-amp.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch Keypads
The PIC24F04KA201-I/SS integrates the CTMU peripheral with a 1 mA constant current source, enabling capacitive touch sensing on multiple I/O pins without external analog components. Each touch pad is wired directly to a GPIO and read through the ADC; the CTMU charges/discharges the pad capacitance and the MCU decodes touch state. With the 500 ksps ADC and on-chip RTCC for debounce, typical response is 10-20 ms per channel, well within human-perceptible latency. The 4 KB Flash holds the touch decoding firmware and the 512 B SRAM is sufficient for state and last-press buffers in small 4-8 key designs.
Recommended
Industrial Data Loggers
The PIC24F04KA201-I/SS industrial -40C to +85C operating range and 9-channel 10-bit ADC support low-cost industrial data loggers that sample multiple sensors and timestamp readings via the on-chip RTCC. The RTCC eliminates the external RTC chip, reducing BOM cost and PCB area; the 32.768 kHz crystal provides accurate timing across years. The 512 B SRAM is enough for circular logging buffers when paired with external EEPROM via I2C, while the UART allows RS-232/RS-485 transceiver interfaces for field configuration. The MCU's 1.8V-3.6V VDD range supports direct operation from 3.3V rails common in industrial control boards.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Controls
The PIC24F04KA201-I/SS fits battery-powered remote controls for TVs, set-top boxes, or smart-home hubs due to its 16 MIPS compute headroom (more than adequate for IR protocol encoding, key matrix scanning, and BLE/UART command forwarding) and sub-microamp Deep Sleep wake currents that allow the device to idle between button presses. The 20 SSOP pins support up to 8x8 key matrix scanning via separate row/column GPIOs, plus an IR LED driver PWM channel and a UART for voice-remote microphones. CTMU can detect capacitive slide or wheel gestures on the front panel without a dedicated touch IC.
Recommended
Medical Wearable Sensors
The PIC24F04KA201-I/SS suits medical wearables such as heart-rate patches, pulse oximeters, and continuous glucose monitors where battery life is paramount. Its nanoWatt Deep Sleep with RTCC retains timer and state across multi-second sleep intervals, while the 9-channel ADC reads multiple sensor outputs (PPG photodiode, temperature, galvanic skin response). The CTMU current source can drive LEDs for PPG measurement. The 16 MIPS core supports on-device signal processing for heart-rate variability extraction before transmitting via Bluetooth via UART to a paired phone. The SSOP-20 footprint suits space-constrained wrist or chest-band designs.
Recommended
Smart Home Sensor Hubs
The PIC24F04KA201-I/SS can act as a low-power edge sensor hub for smart-home networks, aggregating Zigbee/Z-Wave/BLE radio UARTs and forwarding them over Wi-Fi or Ethernet to the home gateway. The 9-channel ADC and CTMU support multi-pixel environmental sensor arrays (light, motion PIR, gas). The RTCC enables precise time-stamping of events. The 1.8V-3.6V VDD range allows direct power from a 3.3V LDO, and the SSOP-20 footprint fits compact form-factor designs. PIC24F04KA201-I/SS pairs well with Microchip's MCP9808 temperature sensor and the RN4870 Bluetooth module over UART.
Recommended
Hobbyist Maker / Educational Boards
The PIC24F04KA201-I/SS is widely used in Microchip's Curiosity Development Board and MikroElektronika Click board examples, making it a strong choice for educational and hobbyist projects. The MPLAB X IDE with free XC16 compiler and Microchip Code Configurator (MCC) generate peripheral init code automatically, lowering the entry barrier for students. The SSOP-20 package is hand-solderable for breakout boards and the 16 MIPS compute is more than enough for robotics, motor control via PWM, and sensor-fusion projects. Microchip's academic program provides free samples to enrolled classes.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC24F04KA201-I/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC24F04KA201-I/SO | PIC24F04KA200T-I/ST | PIC24F04KA200-I/ST | PIC24F08KA201-I/SS | PIC24F16KA101-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | SSOP-20 | SOIC-20 - same pinout, larger PCB footprint | TSSOP-20 - smaller body (4.4 mm) | TSSOP-20 - smaller body (4.4 mm) | SSOP-20 - identical footprint | SSOP-20 - identical footprint |
| Program Memory | 4 KB Flash | 4 KB Flash (same) | 4 KB Flash (same) | 4 KB Flash (same) | 8 KB Flash (+100%) | 16 KB Flash (+300%) |
| Data Memory (SRAM) | 512 B | 512 B (same) | 512 B (same) | 512 B (same) | 1 KB (+100%) | 1.5 KB (+193%) |
| ADC | 10-bit 500 ksps, 9 ch | 10-bit 500 ksps, 9 ch (same) | None (no ADC) | None (no ADC) | 10-bit 500 ksps, 9 ch | 10-bit 500 ksps, 9 ch |
| CTMU (Touch/Current Source) | Yes (1 mA) | Yes (same) | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS (same) | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS (same) | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS (same) | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS (same) | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS (same) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (same) | -40 C to +85 C (same) | -40 C to +85 C (same) | -40 C to +85 C (same) | -40 C to +85 C (same) |
Key Differentiators
- CTMU with 1 mA current source for capacitive touch without external analog ICs (vs PIC24F04KA200-I/ST)
- On-chip RTCC eliminates external RTC chip (vs Microcontroller without RTCC (e.g., PIC16F series))
- 4 KB Flash with self-programmability for bootloaders (vs PIC24F04KA200-I/ST)
Design Notes
The PIC24F04KA201-I/SS requires a 1.8V-3.6V supply at VDD (pin 20) and VSS (pins 8 and 19). The internal core regulator needs a 10 uF X7R ceramic decoupling capacitor on the VCAP pin (pin 18) tied to VSS; do not omit it or the MCU will not start reliably. For battery applications, an external 32.768 kHz crystal on SOSCI/SOSCO enables RTCC in Deep Sleep at approximately 500 nA; without the crystal RTCC must use the internal LFINTOSC (~500 nA additional).
The MCLR/RA5 pin (pin 1) is shared between reset and general-purpose I/O; if used as GPIO, the MCLR function must be disabled in the configuration bits and the pin can no longer reset the MCU. The PGEDx/PGECx programming pins are also shared with GPIOs; in-circuit debuggers drive these lines and may conflict with attached loads during programming. The ADC reference (FAN..f..f+) requires decoupling capacitors at the VREF+ pin and the source impedance of the analog signal must be below 10 kOhm for accurate 10-bit conversion at 500 ksps.
Place the 10 uF VCAP capacitor within 5 mm of pin 18 with a short, wide trace to the VSS plane. Keep analog inputs (AN0-AN8) routed away from digital switching signals (PWM, UART TX) to minimize crosstalk into the 10-bit ADC. Provide a ground plane under the SSOP-20 footprint and stitch vias around the perimeter to reduce EMI. If the 32.768 kHz crystal is used, route SOSCI/SOSCO traces symmetrically and keep them short to limit stray capacitance that would otherwise shift the oscillator frequency.
The PIC24F04KA201-I/SS in SSOP-20 has a thermal resistance (theta-JA) of approximately 100 C/W on a standard 4-layer JEDEC test PCB. At maximum active current of approximately 8 mA at 32 MHz / 3.3V, the MCU dissipates roughly 26 mW; thermal rise is negligible (<3 C) and no heatsink is required. In Deep Sleep at 20 nA the dissipation drops to micro-watts, confirming the part's suitability for sealed enclosures with no airflow.
Compliance Information
Industrial-grade (-40 C to +85 C) part, not automotive qualified. Per Microchip product page status: In Production. RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product environmental compliance disclosure.
