PIC24FV16KA304-I/ML - 16-bit XLP MCU, 16KB Flash, 44-QFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC24FV16KA304-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.42 | $3.42 |
| 10 | $3.08 | $30.80 |
| 100 | $2.74 | $274.00 |
| 500 | $2.42 | $1,210.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.1 | $2,100.00 |
PIC24FV16KA304-I/ML Overview
A 16-bit microcontroller (MCU) is an integrated circuit that combines a 32 MHz CPU core, program memory, data memory, peripherals, and I/O into a single chip. The PIC24F family sits between 8-bit PIC MCUs and 32-bit PIC32 devices, offering higher performance than 8-bit parts while maintaining the low-power and low-cost advantages of the PIC ecosystem. The PIC® XLP™ (eXtreme Low Power) designation indicates that this part family was engineered specifically for ultra-low quiescent current draw, with multiple deep-sleep modes suitable for battery-powered products.
Key differentiating features include 17 digital I/O pins, a 12-bit ADC, 5 capture/compare/PWM peripherals, a Charge Time Measurement Unit (CTMU) for capacitive measurement, and serial peripherals (I2C, SPI, UART). The wide 1.8V-5.5V supply voltage enables direct Li-ion battery operation, while deep-sleep modes draw less than 20 nA typical quiescent current. The 44-QFN package (8x8 mm) includes an exposed thermal pad for improved heat dissipation in continuous-operation applications.
The PIC24FV16KA304 architecture uses a modified Harvard structure with separate program and data paths, achieving 32 MHz / 16 MIPS throughput. The integrated RTCC (Real-Time Clock Calendar), DSBOR (Deep Sleep Brown-Out Reset), and DSWDT (Deep Sleep Watchdog Timer) all operate from a separate low-power domain, allowing system timekeeping and supervision while the main CPU is asleep. This combination is the core XLP value proposition for battery-powered designs.
Typical applications include battery-powered IoT sensor nodes, wearable health monitors, remote controls, electronic shelf labels, smart meters, low-power wireless sensor networks, and any portable device that must run for months or years on a single coin cell or AA battery. The CTMU peripheral is particularly valuable for capacitive touch buttons and sliders.
When designing with this MCU, choose decoupling capacitors (100 nF + 10 µF) close to the VDD pins and bond the exposed pad (EP) to a grounded copper pour for both thermal and electrical reasons. The ICD/PGD and PGC pins must be reserved for in-circuit debugging unless you give up debug visibility in production.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC24FV16KA304-I/ML — 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 PIC24FV16KA304-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, I/O Pins, Program Memory (Flash), Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC24F16KA304-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24FV32KA304-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24FV16KA302-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.04 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24FV16KA302T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24FV16KA304-E/MV
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.32 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24FV08KM204-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
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View Datasheet →PIC24FV16KA304-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC 16-bit (MIPS) |
| Family | PIC® XLP™ 24F |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 16 KB (5.5K x 24 instructions) |
| RAM | 2 KB |
| EEPROM | 512 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage (Vdd) | 1.8 V to 5.5 V (FV wide-voltage) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +85 °C (Industrial) |
| I/O Pins | 17 |
| ADC | 12-bit, 16 channels |
| Capture/Compare/PWM | 5 |
| CTMU (Charge Time Measurement Unit) | Yes |
| Communication Peripherals | I2C, SPI, UART/USART |
| Special Features | DSBOR, DSWDT, RTCC, HLVD, PWM, ICD |
| Connectivity | I2C, IrDA, LINbus, SPI, UART/USART |
| Package | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | Yes |
| Oscillator Type | Internal + external crystal support |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes (DSWDT for deep-sleep) |
PIC24FV16KA304-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RP5/PMD5/RB5 — Remappable I/O / Parallel Master Port data |
| Pin 2 | RP6/PMD6/RB6 — Remappable I/O / Parallel Master Port data |
| Pin 3 | RP7/PMD7/RB7 — Remappable I/O / Parallel Master Port data |
| Pin 4 | RP8/SCL1/RB8 — Remappable I/O / I2C1 clock |
| Pin 5 | RP9/SDA1/RB9 — Remappable I/O / I2C1 data |
| Pin 6 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 7 | VCAP — Voltage regulator filter capacitor |
| Pin 8 | RP10/RB10 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 9 | RP11/RB11 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 10 | RP12/RB12 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 11 | RP13/RB13 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 12 | RP14/RB14 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 13 | RP15/OCFB/RB15 — Remappable I/O / OC fault input |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8-5.5 V) |
| Pin 15 | OSCI/CLKI/RC12 — External clock input / oscillator input |
| Pin 16 | OSCO/CLKO/RC15 — Oscillator output / clock output |
| Pin 17 | SOSCI/RP0/RC0 — Secondary oscillator input / remappable I/O |
| Pin 18 | SOSCO/RP1/RC1 — Secondary oscillator output / remappable I/O |
| Pin 19 | RP2/RC2 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 20 | RP3/RC3 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 21 | RP4/RC4 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 22 | TMS/RA0 — ICD test mode select / Port A I/O |
| Pin 23 | TCK/RA1 — ICD test clock / Port A I/O |
| Pin 24 | TDI/RA2 — ICD test data in / Port A I/O |
| Pin 25 | RA3 — Port A I/O |
| Pin 26 | RA4 — Port A I/O |
| Pin 27 | RA5 — Port A I/O |
| Pin 28 | AN16/RP16/RC6 — Analog input / remappable I/O |
| Pin 29 | AN17/RP17/RC7 — Analog input / remappable I/O |
| Pin 30 | AN18/RP18/RC8 — Analog input / remappable I/O |
| Pin 31 | AN19/RP19/RC9 — Analog input / remappable I/O |
| Pin 32 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 33 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 34 | AN0/RP20/RA6 — Analog input / remappable I/O |
| Pin 35 | AN1/RP21/RA7 — Analog input / remappable I/O |
| Pin 36 | AN2/RP22/RB0 — Analog input / remappable I/O |
| Pin 37 | AN3/RP23/RB1 — Analog input / remappable I/O |
| Pin 38 | AN4/RP24/RB2 — Analog input / remappable I/O |
| Pin 39 | AN5/RP25/RB3 — Analog input / remappable I/O |
| Pin 40 | AN6/RP26/RB4 — Analog input / remappable I/O |
| Pin 41 | AN7/RP27/RA8 — Analog input / remappable I/O |
| Pin 42 | AN8/RP28/RA9 — Analog input / remappable I/O |
| Pin 43 | AN9/RP29/RA10 — Analog input / remappable I/O |
| Pin 44 | AN10/RP30/RA11 — Analog input / remappable I/O |
| Pin 45 | EP — Exposed pad (thermal/ground) |
Typical Applications
PIC24FV16KA304-I/ML is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Wearable Health Monitors, Remote Controls (Consumer IR / RF), Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL), Smart Meters (Water / Gas / Heat), Industrial Sensor Transmitters (4-20 mA / WirelessHART).
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The PIC24FV16KA304-I/ML is purpose-built for battery-powered IoT sensor nodes thanks to its deep-sleep current under 20 nA typical and 1.8-5.5 V wide-voltage input that accepts a single CR2032 coin cell or 2x AA alkaline pack directly. Its 32 MHz / 16 MIPS performance handles sensor sampling and protocol stack tasks, while the XLP deep-sleep mode with active RTCC keeps time-of-day awareness at nanoamp-level draw. Placed between a battery and a low-power radio (e.g., Sub-GHz or BLE module) with 100 nF + 10 µF decoupling at VDD, this MCU can run a duty-cycled sensor node for 3-5 years on a single coin cell. Compared with 8-bit PIC MCUs, it adds DSP extensions and larger 16 KB Flash for over-the-air firmware update routines.
Recommended
Wearable Health Monitors
The PIC24FV16KA304-I/ML fits wearable health monitors (heart rate, SpO2, temperature patches) where its 12-bit ADC and CTMU peripheral enable direct connection to analog front-ends and capacitive touch electrodes. The wide 1.8-5.5 V input eliminates boost regulators for Li-ion coin cells, shrinking the BOM by 4-6 passive components. Active-mode draw around 200 µA/MHz keeps thermal management trivial in skin-contact devices, while the 44-QFN 8x8 mm package fits inside a typical 25 mm patch form factor. Engineers typically pair it with an SPI-connected bio-sensor AFE and a low-power BLE module, using the RTCC to schedule periodic wake-ups.
Recommended
Remote Controls (Consumer IR / RF)
The PIC24FV16KA304-I/ML is well suited for universal remote controls, RF key fobs, and smart-home handheld controllers thanks to its deep-sleep draw under 20 nA, which preserves battery life across months of standby. The 17 I/O pins support a full matrix keypad (up to 4x4) plus IR LED drivers and buzzer outputs, while the 32 MHz CPU encodes NEC/RC5/RC6 IR protocols without burdening the firmware stack. Its 1.8-5.5 V input accepts a single CR2032 directly, eliminating boost circuitry. With 16 KB Flash, the part easily accommodates multiple protocol libraries, IR code databases, and device-pairing logic.
Recommended
Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL)
The PIC24FV16KA304-I/ML is widely deployed in electronic shelf labels where thousands of battery-powered displays receive pricing updates via Sub-GHz RF or NFC. Its deep-sleep current and 1.8-5.5 V wide-voltage input allow ESL labels to operate 5-10 years on coin cells, while the 32 MHz CPU handles RF packet decoding and e-paper display refresh bursts quickly enough to return to sleep. The 16 KB Flash accommodates link-layer stack, display drivers, and product-SKU storage. Pair it with a low-power e-paper driver over SPI and a 2.4 GHz or Sub-GHz transceiver.
Recommended
Smart Meters (Water / Gas / Heat)
The PIC24FV16KA304-I/ML fits battery-powered smart meters (water, gas, heat) that must run 10-15 years on a primary lithium cell. Its XLP architecture with sub-20 nA deep-sleep current and DSBOR/DSWDT supervision ensures autonomous operation across extreme temperature swings, while the 12-bit ADC interfaces directly with pulse-output flow sensors or thermistor bridges. The 32 KB maximum Flash variant (PIC24FV32KA304) provides headroom for wireless M-Bus or LoRaWAN stack integration.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Transmitters (4-20 mA / WirelessHART)
The PIC24FV16KA304-I/ML operates in industrial loop-powered sensor transmitters where its industrial -40°C to +85°C temperature range and 1.8-5.5 V input tolerate unregulated 24 V loops with simple linear regulation. Its 12-bit ADC and PGA interface directly with bridge pressure/temperature sensors, while the 32 MHz CPU runs compensation math in real time. The 44-QFN package offers a small footprint suitable for in-head transmitter enclosures, and the XLP sleep modes extend battery life in wireless HART field devices to multi-year service intervals.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC24FV16KA304-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC24F16KA304-I/ML | PIC24FV32KA304-I/ML | PIC24FV16KA302-I/ML | PIC24FV16KA302T-I/ML | PIC24FV16KA304-E/MV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) - same | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) - same | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) - same | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) - same | 44-UQFN (MV) - same family |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 16 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB |
| RAM | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (narrower) | 1.8 V to 5.5 V (same) | 1.8 V to 5.5 V (same) | 1.8 V to 5.5 V (same) | 1.8 V to 5.5 V (same) |
| 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 Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C (Extended) |
Key Differentiators
- Wide-voltage 1.5-5.5 V operation with single-cell Li-ion direct support (vs PIC24F16KA304-I/ML)
- 32 KB Flash headroom for OTA-ready firmware (vs PIC24FV32KA304-I/ML)
- Tape-and-reel packaging for high-volume production (vs PIC24FV16KA302T-I/ML)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as physically possible to every VDD pin (pins 14 and 33 on the 44-QFN) plus a shared 10 µF bulk capacitor on the main VDD rail. The PIC24FV16KA304 draws fast transient currents when exiting deep-sleep, and inadequate decoupling can cause voltage dips that trigger spurious brown-out resets. For battery applications, use a low-ESR ceramic (X5R/X7R) on the VCAP pin to stabilize the internal voltage regulator output.
The exposed thermal pad (EP) on pin 45 of the 44-QFN package MUST be soldered to a grounded copper pour of at least 1 square inch (≈ 6.45 cm²) for both thermal dissipation and electrical ground reference. Skipping the EP solder connection is a common production defect that causes the MCU to overheat at sustained 32 MHz operation and increases EMI susceptibility on analog ADC channels.
Keep the SOSC secondary oscillator traces (pins 17-18) short and routed over a continuous ground plane to minimize leakage into the 32 kHz crystal circuit. Analog ADC inputs (AN0-AN10) should be routed away from digital switching signals (PWM, UART, SPI clocks) and bypassed with a small RC filter when high-impedance sensors are connected. The ICD pins TMS/TCK/TDI on pins 22-24 must be accessible or routed to an in-circuit debug header for production firmware bring-up.
Do not confuse the PIC24FV16KA304 (wide-voltage 1.8-5.5 V) with the PIC24F16KA304 (narrow-voltage 1.8-3.6 V). Substituting F for FV in 5 V systems will permanently damage the MCU due to absolute-maximum Vdd violation. Also note that 'I' (industrial -40C to +85C) and 'E' (extended -40C to +125C) suffixes use different package thermal grades; verify the desired temperature range matches the production environment before PCB layout finalization.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant and lead-free per Microchip product page and DigiKey environmental disclosures. Not AEC-Q100 qualified (industrial grade only); for automotive applications use AEC-Q100-qualified PIC24F variants or move up to PIC24FJ/dsPIC33 families.
