PIC24F04KA201T-I/SO - 16-Bit XLP MCU, 4KB Flash, 32MHz | Microchip
MPN: PIC24F04KA201T-I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.95 | $2.95 |
| 10 | $2.66 | $26.60 |
| 100 | $2.36 | $236.00 |
| 500 | $2.12 | $1,060.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.89 | $1,890.00 |
PIC24F04KA201T-I/SO Overview
An MCU (Microcontroller Unit) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program memory (Flash), data memory (RAM), and peripherals such as ADCs, timers, communication interfaces, and I/O. 16-bit microcontrollers occupy the middle ground between 8-bit MCUs (PIC16, PIC18, AVR) used in simple control tasks and 32-bit MCUs (PIC32, ARM Cortex-M) used in computationally intensive applications. The PIC24F family belongs to the broader category of low-power MCUs, sitting within the taxonomy: MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor IC. The nanoWatt XLP technology places PIC24F among the lowest active and standby current consumption devices in this class.
Key differentiating features of the PIC24F04KA201 include 4KB Flash (1.375K × 24 instruction words), 512 bytes RAM, 18 general-purpose I/O pins, an internal oscillator, a 10-bit ADC with up to 500 ksps throughput, multiple low-power sleep modes, and on-chip debugging via PGx/PGD. The device supports operating voltages from 1.8V to 3.6V, enabling direct Li-ion or 2× AA battery operation. Its small 20-pin SOIC footprint allows integration into compact PCBs where board space is at a premium.
Typical applications include low-power wireless sensor nodes, IoT edge devices, battery-powered instrumentation, consumer remote controls, small-form-factor sensor hubs, and portable medical accessories. The wide operating voltage range and eXtreme Low Power sleep modes make it particularly suited to applications with multi-year battery life targets where the MCU spends most of its time in deep sleep and wakes only briefly for measurement and transmission.
When designing with this MCU, place decoupling capacitors (typically 100nF and 10µF) close to the VDD/VSS pins, route the ICSP PGx/PGD traces with short, parallel lengths to avoid signal-integrity issues during programming, and connect the MCLR pin through the recommended 10kΩ pull-up for reliable reset behavior. The internal oscillator eliminates external crystal cost but limits precision; applications requiring tight timing accuracy should consider an external crystal option from the same family.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC24F04KA201T-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 PIC24F04KA201T-I/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature, I/O Pins, Package.
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/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24F04KA200-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24F08KA101T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24F08KA101-I/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.49 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24F04KA201T-I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC® 16-bit (PIC24F) |
| Family | PIC24F04KA201 (nanoWatt XLP™) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 4 KB (1.375K × 24 instruction words) |
| RAM | 512 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Operating Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 18 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 500 ksps |
| Oscillator | Internal |
| Package | 20-SOIC (0.295 inch / 7.5 mm body width) |
| Package Type | Surface Mount SOIC, tape & reel (T) |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C to +85°C (industrial, 'I' grade) |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP™ |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC24F04KA201T-I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/PGD — Digital I/O / ICD data line (programming) |
| Pin 2 | RA1/PGC — Digital I/O / ICD clock line (programming) |
| Pin 3 | RA2 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 4 | RA3/MCLR — Digital I/O / Master Clear (reset) |
| Pin 5 | RA4 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 6 | RA5/OSCI — Digital I/O / crystal oscillator input |
| Pin 7 | RA6/OSCO — Digital I/O / crystal oscillator output |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | RA7 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 10 | RA8 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 11 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 12 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 13 | RB0 — Digital I/O / AN0 |
| Pin 14 | RB1 — Digital I/O / AN1 |
| Pin 15 | RB2 — Digital I/O / AN2 |
| Pin 16 | RB3 — Digital I/O / AN3 |
| Pin 17 | RB4 — Digital I/O / AN4 |
| Pin 18 | RB5 — Digital I/O / AN5 |
| Pin 19 | RB6 — Digital I/O / AN6 |
| Pin 20 | RB7 — Digital I/O / AN7 |
Typical Applications
PIC24F04KA201T-I/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Wireless Sensor Nodes, IoT Edge Devices and Smart Home Sensors, Portable Medical and Health Accessories, Consumer Remote Controls and HID Devices, Industrial Sensor Hubs and Data Loggers, Educational and Prototyping Platforms.
Battery-Powered Wireless Sensor Nodes
The PIC24F04KA201T-I/SO is well-suited to battery-powered wireless sensor nodes because its nanoWatt XLP technology delivers sub-µA Deep Sleep current with the real-time clock active, and the wide 1.8-3.6 V VDD range permits direct connection to single-cell Li-ion or two AA cells without a boost regulator. With 4KB Flash and 512 bytes RAM, the device can host a simple protocol stack for Sub-GHz transceivers (e.g., Microchip MRF89XA) or BLE-SoC command interfaces. The 32 MHz / 16 MIPS core allows fast wake-process-sleep cycles, minimizing active time and extending battery life to multi-year targets in indoor environmental monitoring.
Recommended
IoT Edge Devices and Smart Home Sensors
The PIC24F04KA201T-I/SO fits IoT edge devices and smart-home sensors where the MCU aggregates data from one or more I2C/SPI peripherals and transmits aggregated packets upstream. Its 10-bit 500 ksps ADC handles analog sensor front-ends (light, gas, soil moisture), while multiple UART/I2C/SPI instances allow concurrent connectivity to radios, displays, and sensors. The industrial -40°C to +85°C operating range covers outdoor enclosures, and the small 20-SOIC footprint keeps PCB area under 50 mm² - ideal for in-wall switch modules and small sensor pods.
Recommended
Portable Medical and Health Accessories
For portable medical accessories such as pill-bottle reminders, wearables, and disposable diagnostic patches, the PIC24F04KA201T-I/SO offers the low standby current, small footprint, and reliable core required for compliance-driven designs. The integrated 10-bit ADC captures sensor signals (pulse, temperature, motion via external accelerometer) while the 16 MIPS core runs simple decision algorithms. Industrial temperature grade supports refrigerated pharmaceutical applications, and the XLP sleep modes enable coin-cell operation lasting months or years between replacements.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Controls and HID Devices
In consumer remote controls, key fobs, and human-interface devices, the PIC24F04KA201T-I/SO provides matrix-keypad scanning, IR or RF transmission, and battery-friendly deep sleep between button presses. The 18 GPIO pins easily accommodate 4×4 keypads plus status LEDs, and the internal oscillator eliminates external crystal cost. With XLP sleep currents under 1 µA, a CR2032-powered remote can deliver multi-year battery life, and the 20-SOIC package allows single-sided PCB assembly for ultra-thin form factors.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Hubs and Data Loggers
The PIC24F04KA201T-I/SO suits small industrial sensor hubs and stand-alone data loggers that aggregate multiple analog and digital inputs. Its 10-bit ADC combined with an external multiplexer or signal-conditioning front-end can scan 8-12 channels, while 4KB Flash holds modest local firmware for filtering, thresholding, and event tagging. Industrial temperature grade ensures operation in factory-floor cabinets and outdoor enclosures, and the 32 MHz core delivers deterministic loop times for control-loop-adjacent applications where 8-bit MCUs lack headroom.
Recommended
Educational and Prototyping Platforms
The PIC24F04KA201T-I/SO is widely used in educational and prototyping platforms, including Microchip's Explorer 16/32 development boards and PICkit-compatible programmer/debugger targets. The combination of ICSP/ICD programming, free MPLAB X IDE, and XC16 compiler support makes it ideal for embedded-systems courses teaching 16-bit architecture, interrupts, and peripheral programming. The 20-SOIC package is breadboard-compatible with adapters, and the active Microchip community provides abundant example code for ADC, PWM, UART, and I2C exercises.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC24F04KA201T-I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC24F04KA201-I/SO | PIC24F04KA200T-I/SO | PIC24F04KA200-I/SO | PIC24F08KA101T-I/SO | PIC24F08KA101-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 20-SOIC | 20-SOIC - same | 20-SOIC - same | 20-SOIC - same | 20-SOIC - same | 20-SOIC - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 4 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB |
| RAM | 512 B | 512 B | 256 B | 256 B | 1 KB | 1 KB |
| Maximum 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 |
| I/O Pins | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Packaging Form | Tape & Reel | Tube | Tape & Reel | Tube | Tape & Reel | Tube |
Key Differentiators
- Same-die 8KB Flash upgrade path with same SOIC-20 footprint (vs PIC24F08KA101T-I/SO)
- Tube-packaged variant for prototype/low-volume builds (vs PIC24F04KA201-I/SO)
- Reduced-RAM variant for cost-sensitive designs (vs PIC24F04KA200T-I/SO)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 11) and a bulk 10 µF ceramic or tantalum capacitor on the main supply rail. For battery-powered designs drawing average currents below 100 µA, route the MCU's VDD through a ferrite bead or small LDO to suppress switching transients from radios. The PIC24F04KA201T-I/SO can operate down to 1.8V, but full 32 MHz / 16 MIPS performance requires VDD above ~2.7V; reduce the system clock or use the internal 8 MHz oscillator for sub-2.7V operation.
Route ICSP/ICD signals PGD (pin 1) and PGC (pin 2) as a short, parallel pair with a ground return path on an adjacent layer, and avoid routing noisy signals (PWM, switching) between them. Keep the MCLR pull-up resistor (typically 10 kΩ) close to pin 4 and add a 100 nF cap to ground for reset noise immunity. The 20-SOIC pad pattern is standard 1.27 mm pitch SOIC; do not mix with 0.65 mm pitch SSOP footprints.
Do not leave the MCLR pin floating - it requires the recommended 10 kΩ pull-up to VDD or the MCU may randomly enter reset or fail to start. Do not exceed 3.6V on any pin, including ADC inputs without clamping; the absolute maximum ratings per the datasheet are tight. When migrating from PIC24F04KA200 to PIC24F04KA201, verify RAM sizing (256B vs 512B) before firmware release - the smaller RAM can cause stack overflow on tight designs.
The PIC24F04KA201T-I/SO typically dissipates well under 50 mW in normal operation, so no heatsinking is required. However, in IO-driven or PWM-heavy designs with all I/O pins switching at maximum slew rate, total power can approach 100 mW. Estimated: at VDD=3.3V, all 18 IO sourcing 10 mA each = ~180 mW peak per data direction, but normally only a few pins switch at once. Ensure ambient temperature stays within -40°C to +85°C for industrial-grade reliability.
Compliance Information
RoHS-compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial temperature grade (-40°C to +85°C); not AEC-Q100 qualified - see automotive-grade PIC24F variants for vehicle applications.
