Microchip PIC18F46K80T-I/PT: A Comprehensive Technical Overview

The Microchip PIC18F46K80T-I/PT stands as a prominent member of the enhanced mid-range PIC18 family, engineered to deliver a robust blend of performance, peripheral integration, and power efficiency. This 8-bit microcontroller is housed in a 44-pin TQFP package, making it suitable for a wide array of complex embedded applications, from industrial automation and automotive systems to advanced consumer electronics.

At its core, the device features the powerful PIC18 enhanced RISC architecture, capable of operating at speeds up to 64 MHz with a 16 MIPS performance. A key innovation is its nanoWatt XLP (eXtreme Low Power) technology, which enables it to function in power-critical scenarios with currents as low as 20 nA in Sleep mode, making it ideal for battery-operated and energy-harvesting applications.

The microcontroller boasts a substantial 64 KB of self-read/write capable Flash program memory and 3896 bytes of RAM, providing ample space for sophisticated application code and data handling. It also includes 1024 bytes of Data EEPROM for storing non-volatile parameters.

Its peripheral set is exceptionally rich and versatile. Key communication interfaces include EUSART, SPI, and I2C™ modules for seamless connectivity with other system components. For analog needs, it integrates a high-performance 10-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) with up to 28 channels and two analog comparators. Control-oriented applications are served by five 8-bit and three 16-bit timers/counters, along with two Enhanced Capture/Compare/PWM (ECCP) modules for precise motor control and power conversion tasks. A dedicated Hardware Capacitive Voltage Divider (CVD) module for touch sensing further enhances its suitability for modern human-machine interfaces (HMI).

The inclusion of mTouch™ capacitive sensing technology and robust features like a Windowed Watchdog Timer (WWDT) and Programmable Brown-Out Reset (BOR) ensure both enhanced user interaction and high system reliability. Its extended temperature range (-40°C to +85°C) qualifies it for harsh environmental conditions.

ICGOODFIND: The PIC18F46K80T-I/PT is a highly integrated, power-efficient 8-bit MCU. Its standout features include its nanoWatt XLP technology for ultra-low-power operation, a rich set of peripherals including ECCP modules and a Hardware CVD, and a large memory footprint, making it an excellent choice for designers tackling complex, power-sensitive embedded control systems.

Keywords: nanoWatt XLP Technology, Enhanced ECCP Modules, Hardware CVD, 8-bit RISC Architecture, mTouch Sensing