PIC18LF46J50-I/ML

Microcontrollers Overview

The PIC18LF46J50-I/ML is a 44-pin low-power USB microcontroller from Microchip's PIC18F46J50 family. It features 64 KB of Flash program memory and 3,776 bytes of SRAM. Operating within a voltage range of 2.0V to 3.6V, it utilizes nanoWatt XLP technology for extreme power efficiency, including Deep Sleep modes with currents down to 13 nA. The device integrates a USB 2.0 compliant module supporting full-speed (12 Mbps) and low-speed (1.5 Mbps) communication with up to 32 endpoints. Key peripherals include two MSSP modules, two EUSARTs, a 10-bit A/D converter with 13 channels, an RTCC, and Peripheral Pin Select capabilities.

Microcontrollers Feature Summary

• Integrates a fully featured USB 2.0 communication module with on-chip transceiver supporting crystal-less operation.
• Incorporates nanoWatt XLP technology enabling multiple low-power modes, including Deep Sleep with ultra-low current consumption.
• Features Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) allowing independent I/O mapping of peripherals for flexible hardware design.
• Includes a Hardware Real-Time Clock and Calendar (RTCC) module providing clock, calendar, and alarm functions.

Microcontrollers Applications

• USB-enabled consumer electronics devices
• Industrial control systems requiring low-power operation
• Portable battery-powered instruments
• Human Machine Interface (HMI) applications

Microcontrollers Procurement Notes

Verify the specific suffix '-I/ML' corresponds to the industrial temperature range and ML package type as defined in the official datasheet. Confirm that the LF variant meets the required operating voltage specifications for your application, as it differs from the standard F variant. Ensure compatibility with development tools such as MPLAB ICD or PICkit programmers for In-Circuit Serial Programming.

Microcontrollers Selection Notes

Select this component when a balance of high computational performance and extreme low-power consumption is required for USB applications. The LF designation indicates suitability for lower voltage operations compared to the standard PIC18F series. Consider the 44-pin QFN package constraints and the availability of remappable pins if complex peripheral routing is needed. Evaluate the need for the integrated RTCC and CTMU if time-critical or capacitive sensing features are part of the design.

Microcontrollers Part Context

This device belongs to the PIC18F46J50 family, which shares a consistent pinout and peripheral set across varying memory sizes. The PIC18LF46J50 is the low-voltage variant of the PIC18F46J50, designed for operation between 2.0V and 3.6V. It offers 64 KB of Flash memory, distinguishing it from smaller variants like the PIC18F25J50 or larger packages like the PIC18F46K50. The family emphasizes ease of migration and code protection security.

Microcontrollers Replacement Considerations

Direct functional substitutes within the same family include the PIC18F46J50 (standard voltage) or other memory variants like PIC18F45J50 if reduced memory is acceptable. Cross-family replacements may include PIC18F4550 or PIC18F2450 due to pin compatibility, though peripheral differences exist. Verify package compatibility for the ML (QFN) form factor when selecting alternatives.