PIC24F16KA101-I/SO - 16KB Flash XLP 16-bit MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC24F16KA101-I/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.18 | $3.18 |
| 10 | $2.86 | $28.60 |
| 100 | $2.41 | $241.00 |
| 500 | $2.16 | $1,080.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.92 | $1,920.00 |
PIC24F16KA101-I/SO Overview
A 16-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a microprocessor that processes data and instructions in 16-bit chunks, giving it a higher instruction throughput, larger addressing range, and richer peripheral integration than legacy 8-bit devices while retaining single-chip simplicity. Within the broader taxonomy, this part sits at: 16-bit MCU -> PIC24F family -> XLP (eXtreme Low Power) microcontrollers -> embedded microcontrollers -> semiconductor ICs. The PIC24F KA family is purpose-built for battery-powered and energy-harvesting designs, adding deep-sleep retention, deep-sleep brown-out reset (DSBOR), deep-sleep watchdog timer (DSWDT), and a real-time clock calendar (RTCC) that keep current draw in the nanoamp range while state and time-of-day are preserved.
Key features include 16 MIPS performance at 32 MHz, 16 KB self-programmable Flash, 2 KB SRAM, 512 B EEPROM, 16 GPIO, three 16-bit timers, two analog comparators, a 10-bit ADC with up to 12 channels, two UART/SPI/I2C selectable serial modules (MSSP), and 5V tolerant I/O on digital pins. Peripherals are orchestrated by a peripheral pin-select (PPS) engine that maps digital functions onto most I/O, simplifying PCB routing.
Architecturally the device uses a modified Harvard RISC core with a 24-bit instruction word, single-cycle hardware multiply, and a 16-element x 16-bit working register array. The XLP power-management block supports Sleep, Idle, Deep-Sleep, and Deep-Sleep-with-RTCC modes, with typical Deep-Sleep currents in the tens of nanoamps, which is the technical reason this family dominates in coin-cell and energy-harvesting applications.
Typical applications include battery-powered IoT sensor nodes, wearable health and fitness devices, remote controls, low-power wireless sensor transmitters, energy-harvesting switches, industrial data loggers, and any portable or unattended product where quiescent current budgets are measured in microamps. Designers targeting ULPMark scores, ENERGY STAR standby limits, or coin-cell lifetimes of multiple years will find the KA-series XLP feature set directly aligned with their targets.
When designing with this part, allocate one I/O pin for the MCLR reset, use PPS carefully to avoid peripheral map conflicts, and follow Microchip's recommended decoupling and ICSP programming layout. For absolute minimum sleep current, leave all unused pins configured as outputs driving low and disable unused peripherals via PMD registers; these two steps alone typically reduce Deep-Sleep current by 20-40 percent versus an unconfigured default.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in package alternatives, and engineering design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone, providing a single-page reference for sourcing, selection, and design-in of the PIC24F16KA101-I/SO.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC24F16KA101-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 PIC24F16KA101-I/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Core Architecture, I/O Pins, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC24F16KA101-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24F16KA101-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.9 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24F16KA101-I/MQ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24F16KA101T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24F16KA101T-I/MQ
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24F16KA101-E/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.72 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24F16KA101-I/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 16-bit PIC24F RISC (modified Harvard) |
| Family | PIC24F KA-series, nanoWatt XLP |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 16 KB (5.5K x 24 instruction words) |
| Data SRAM | 2 KB |
| EEPROM | 512 B |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 16 |
| Package | 20-pin SOIC (SO), 7.50 mm body width |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (industrial, -I suffix) |
| Timers | 3 x 16-bit |
| Analog Comparators | 2 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to ~10 channels |
| Serial Interfaces | 2 configurable UART/SPI/I2C (MSSP) |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes |
| RTCC in Deep Sleep | Yes (DSBOR, DSWDT, RTCC) |
| MCLR Pin | Yes (dedicated) |
| ICSP / In-Circuit Programming | Yes |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited floor life, JEDEC J-STD-020) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC24F16KA101-I/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0 — Digital I/O / analog input / peripheral pin-select |
| Pin 2 | RA1 — Digital I/O / analog input / peripheral pin-select |
| Pin 3 | RA2 — Digital I/O / analog input / peripheral pin-select |
| Pin 4 | MCLR — Master clear (reset) input / ICSP programming |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | RA4 — Digital I/O / analog input / peripheral pin-select |
| Pin 7 | RA5 — Digital I/O / analog input / peripheral pin-select |
| Pin 8 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8 V to 3.6 V) |
| Pin 9 | OSC1 — External clock input / crystal connection |
| Pin 10 | OSC2 — Crystal output / external clock return |
| Pin 11 | RB0 — Digital I/O / peripheral pin-select |
| Pin 12 | RB1 — Digital I/O / peripheral pin-select |
| Pin 13 | RB2 — Digital I/O / peripheral pin-select |
| Pin 14 | RB3 — Digital I/O / peripheral pin-select |
| Pin 15 | RA6 — Digital I/O / peripheral pin-select |
| Pin 16 | RA7 — Digital I/O / peripheral pin-select |
| Pin 17 | VDD — Positive supply (second VDD pin for decoupling) |
| Pin 18 | VSS — Ground reference (second VSS pin for decoupling) |
| Pin 19 | RB7 — Digital I/O / peripheral pin-select / PGEDx ICSP |
| Pin 20 | RB8 — Digital I/O / peripheral pin-select / PGECx ICSP |
Typical Applications
PIC24F16KA101-I/SO is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Wearable Health and Fitness Devices, Remote Controls and Wireless Key Fobs, Energy-Harvesting Wireless Switches, Industrial Data Loggers and Wireless Sensors, Low-Power Motor and Valve Control, Medical Monitoring and Diagnostic Devices.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC24F16KA101-I/SO fits battery-powered IoT sensor nodes because its nanoWatt XLP technology achieves deep-sleep currents in the tens of nanoamps with DSBOR, DSWDT, and RTCC retention, enabling multi-year coin-cell lifetimes. Its 16 MIPS throughput at 32 MHz is sufficient to run a sub-GHz radio driver, sensor sampling, and a lightweight RTOS in active mode while spending most of the duty cycle asleep. The 16 KB Flash comfortably hosts a Sigfox/LoRaWAN MAC stack, and the 2 KB SRAM holds sample buffers and protocol state. Place the MCU between a CR2032 cell and the sensor front-end; use the internal 8 MHz oscillator to keep external components to a minimum.
Recommended
Wearable Health and Fitness Devices
The PIC24F16KA101-I/SO is well-suited to wearable health and fitness devices because its 1.8V-3.6V VDD range matches single-cell Li-ion/Li-poly operation, and the XLP deep-sleep modes keep average current below 1 uA while the heart-rate or step-counter sensor is off. The 16 MIPS core runs pedometer, sleep-tracking, and BLE-through-UART command handling, while the 16 GPIO drives a small OLED or LED indicator array. Hardware multipliers support FFT-based heart-rate variability (HRV) analysis on a 256-sample window in real time. Power the rail from a 3.3V MCP1700 LDO and use PPS to remap I2C onto any two GPIO pins for the sensor I/O.
Recommended
Remote Controls and Wireless Key Fobs
The PIC24F16KA101-I/SO powers remote controls and wireless key fobs where a CR2032 or CR2450 coin cell must last 5+ years of standby. The XLP deep-sleep mode with RTCC retention draws sub-microamp current while a button is waiting to be pressed, and a GPIO interrupt wakes the part to transmit within microseconds. The 32 MHz core drives an SPI or UART interface to a sub-GHz or BLE companion radio without external clock stretching. The 20-pin SOIC package fits a sub-30 mm x 30 mm fob PCB. Use the internal LF oscillator for the RTCC to avoid external 32 kHz crystal cost.
Recommended
Energy-Harvesting Wireless Switches
The PIC24F16KA101-I/SO drives energy-harvesting wireless switches, where a piezoelectric or thermoelectric generator produces microjoules per actuation and the MCU must boot, transmit, and return to sleep within tens of milliseconds. The 16 MIPS core completes a BLE beacon or sub-GHz transmission before the storage capacitor droops, and the XLP sleep mode then returns to nanoamp-range current awaiting the next event. The 16 GPIO can directly interface the harvester's rectifier output and a low-side MOSFET driving the radio. Pair with a 0.5F supercapacitor and a low-loss rectifier to maximize harvested energy use.
Recommended
Industrial Data Loggers and Wireless Sensors
The PIC24F16KA101-I/SO fits industrial data loggers and wireless sensors where industrial -40C to +85C ambient operation and battery-life of 1-3 years are required. The 16 KB Flash stores the logger firmware and parameter tables, while 512 B EEPROM stores calibration constants. The 10-bit ADC and 16 GPIO can read 4-20 mA loops, thermocouples (via external amplifier), and digital switch inputs. The MSSP peripherals drive external SPI flash or I2C sensors, and the XLP sleep modes keep quiescent draw below 5 uA between samples. Use PIC24F16KA101-E/SS variant for the -40C to +125C extended-temperature option.
Recommended
Low-Power Motor and Valve Control
The PIC24F16KA101-I/SO drives low-power motor and valve control loops for HVAC dampers, irrigation solenoids, and small DC pumps where standby current must be near zero. Its three 16-bit timers generate PWM with hardware dead-band, and the XLP idle mode drops to microamp-range current between actuation events. The 16 GPIO directly drive low-side MOSFETs or optocouplers for mains-isolated valve control. Use the 10-bit ADC to read position-feedback potentiometers and current-sense amplifiers. Place the MCU on the low-voltage logic side of an opto-isolated interface and use the internal 8 MHz oscillator to minimize external components.
Recommended
Medical Monitoring and Diagnostic Devices
The PIC24F16KA101-I/SO supports medical monitoring and diagnostic devices where compact footprint, low power, and reliable operation are mandatory. Its 16 MIPS core runs a pulse-oximetry or glucometer signal-processing algorithm and drives a small LCD or OLED through GPIO bit-banging. The XLP deep-sleep mode preserves battery capacity during storage and inter-measurement intervals, while the 16 KB Flash stores device firmware and up to a few hundred sample records. The 2 KB SRAM is sufficient for FFT buffers and running-mean filters used in heart-rate or respiration-rate algorithms. For longer data retention, offload sample history to an external SPI EEPROM.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC24F16KA101-I/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC24F16KA101-I/SS | PIC24F16KA101-I/P | PIC24F16KA101-I/MQ | PIC24F16KA101T-I/MQ | PIC24F16KA101-E/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 20-SOIC (0.295" / 7.50 mm) | 20-SSOP (same 20-pin count) | 20-PDIP (same 20-pin count) | 20-QFN 5x5 mm (same 20-pin count) | 20-QFN 5x5 mm (same 20-pin count) | 20-SSOP (same 20-pin count) |
| Flash Program Memory | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB |
| SRAM | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB |
| EEPROM | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B | 512 B |
| 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 |
| Supply 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 |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +125 C (extended) |
| GPIO Count | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Pin-Count | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
Key Differentiators
- nanoWatt XLP technology with Deep-Sleep, RTCC retention (vs Generic PIC24F non-XLP variants)
- 20-pin SOIC footprint with 16 GPIO via PPS (vs 28-pin PIC24F16KA102 (KA102))
- Self-programmable 16 KB Flash with 1,000-cycle endurance (vs One-time-programmable PIC microcontrollers)
Design Notes
Estimated: For minimum deep-sleep current on the PIC24F16KA101-I/SO, configure all unused GPIO as outputs driving low, disable unused peripherals via the PMD registers, and switch to the internal LF oscillator (31 kHz) as the system clock source before entering Sleep or Deep-Sleep. According to Microchip's nanoWatt XLP datasheet and family application notes, this typically reduces Deep-Sleep current by 20-40% versus an unconfigured default, allowing CR2032 lifetimes of 5+ years in a typical 1 wake/min duty profile.
Place the 100 nF and 10 uF decoupling capacitors within 3 mm of the VDD pins (pin 8 and pin 17) with the smallest value closest to the package. For the SOIC footprint, use a single uninterrupted ground pour on the top side connecting pins 5 and 18; avoid routing signal traces through the VDD/VSS pin pairs. A 4-layer PCB is recommended for RF or BLE companion designs, with the second inner layer as a continuous ground reference directly under the MCU.
Allocate dedicated traces for the ICSP programming signals on PGEDx (RB7) and PGECx (RB8). According to the Microchip PIC24F family programming specification, these pins must be accessible even in production boards for field firmware updates and cannot be reassigned to other functions. Add a 4-pin header (VDD, VSS, PGC, PGD) or a 2x3 ICSP connector with no series resistors on the PGC/PGD lines, otherwise Microchip programmers may fail to handshake.
Do not exceed 3.6 V on VDD; the part is NOT 5 V tolerant on the supply rail even though its GPIO are 5 V tolerant as inputs. Per the family datasheet, exceeding 3.6 V can trigger permanent damage or anomalous brown-out reset events. Also avoid configuring MCLR as a regular GPIO on this part - the MCLR function is required for ICSP and is not multiplexed with a peripheral pin-select alternate. For multi-rail designs, hold the MCU in Reset via MCLR until all rails are stable to prevent undefined GPIO behavior at startup.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this is a general-purpose industrial MCU. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in verified data.
