PIC16F1938-E/SO - 28KB Flash 8-bit MCU 28-SOIC | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F1938-E/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.34 | $3.34 |
| 10 | $3 | $30.00 |
| 100 | $2.41 | $241.00 |
| 500 | $2.18 | $1,090.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.97 | $1,970.00 |
PIC16F1938-E/SO Overview
A PIC16F193x microcontroller is an 8-bit CMOS flash MCU built around Microchip's enhanced mid-range core. Within the system hierarchy it sits inside the PIC16 family → PIC® 8-bit MCU → 8-bit microcontroller → microcontroller (MCU) → embedded processing → semiconductor. The on-board LCD segment driver eliminates the need for an external display controller, and the XLP nanoWatt technology allows nanoamp sleep currents, making this category the workhorse of battery-powered human-machine interface designs.
Key differentiating features include nanoWatt XLP sleep current as low as 50 nA typical at 2 V, an integrated charge pump and low-power Timer1 that lets the RTC run from a single 32 kHz crystal while the core sleeps, plus 14-channel 12-bit ADC with internal voltage reference. The LCD driver supports up to 184 segments and runs autonomously, offloading the CPU and enabling pure display-driven products with no additional components. CLC (Configurable Logic Cell), MSSP (SPI/I2C) and EUSART peripherals add flexible mixed-signal integration without external logic.
Architecturally, the device uses a modified Harvard 8-bit RISC core with 49 instructions and a 16-level hardware stack. The internal 32 MHz oscillator, optional PLL and four configurable power-managed modes (Run, Idle, Sleep, Doze) let firmware trade throughput for quiescent draw, which is why the F1938 family dominates low-power metering and wearable applications.
Typical applications include battery-powered utility metering with segment LCD readout, consumer remote controls, home-automation sensor nodes with character displays, low-end white-goods HMIs and PIC-based industrial keypads. The wide 5.5 V tolerance and on-chip LCD bias generation make it a one-chip solution in these products.
A key design trade-off is that the 28-SOIC variant consumes more board area than the equivalent 28-QFN (PIC16F1938-E/ML); for size-constrained designs the ML package is preferred, while the SO remains the easiest to hand-prototype and rework.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F1938-E/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 PIC16F1938-E/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Operating Temperature, Package, Timers, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1938-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.08 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1938T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1938-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1939-I/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1938-E/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit PIC® enhanced mid-range (RISC) |
| Program Memory | 28 KB Flash (16K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 1 KB |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 32 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (Vdd) | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 25 |
| ADC | 12-bit, 17 channels |
| LCD Driver | Up to 184 segments, integrated charge pump |
| Timers | 4 (Timer0/1/2/3/6; 16-bit + 8-bit) |
| Communication | 1x MSSP (SPI/I2C), 1x EUSART |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP (sleep current ~50 nA typical) |
| Hardware Stack | 16-level x 15-bit |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +125 °C (Extended, "E") |
| Package | 28-pin SOIC (SO), 7.50 mm body width |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | Yes (Pb-free matte-tin finish) |
| Program Memory Type | Flash |
| Instruction Set | 49 instructions, 14-bit word |
| Internal Oscillator | Yes, 32 MHz selectable |
PIC16F1938-E/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0 — PORTA bit 0 / analog channel / LCD segment |
| Pin 2 | RA1 — PORTA bit 1 / analog channel / LCD segment |
| Pin 3 | RA2 — PORTA bit 2 / analog channel / LCD segment |
| Pin 4 | RA3 — PORTA bit 3 / analog channel / LCD segment |
| Pin 5 | RA4 — PORTA bit 4 / T0CKI / LCD segment |
| Pin 6 | RA5 — PORTA bit 5 / LCD segment |
| Pin 7 | RA6 — PORTA bit 6 / LCD segment |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — PORTA bit 7 / LCD segment |
| Pin 9 | Vss — Ground reference |
| Pin 10 | Vdd — Positive supply voltage (2.3 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 11 | RB0 — PORTB bit 0 / interrupt-on-change / LCD segment |
| Pin 12 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 / interrupt-on-change / LCD segment |
| Pin 13 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 / interrupt-on-change / LCD segment |
| Pin 14 | RB3 — PORTB bit 3 / interrupt-on-change / LCD segment |
| Pin 15 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 / interrupt-on-change / LCD segment |
| Pin 16 | RB5 — PORTB bit 5 / interrupt-on-change / LCD segment |
| Pin 17 | RB6 — PORTB bit 6 / ICSPCLK / LCD segment |
| Pin 18 | RB7 — PORTB bit 7 / ICSPDAT / LCD segment |
| Pin 19 | Vss — Ground (secondary) |
| Pin 20 | Vdd — Positive supply (secondary) |
| Pin 21 | RC0 — PORTC bit 0 / LCD segment |
| Pin 22 | RC1 — PORTC bit 1 / LCD segment |
| Pin 23 | RC2 — PORTC bit 2 / LCD segment |
| Pin 24 | RC3 — PORTC bit 3 / SCL / LCD segment |
| Pin 25 | RC4 — PORTC bit 4 / SDA / LCD segment |
| Pin 26 | RC5 — PORTC bit 5 / LCD segment |
| Pin 27 | RC6 — PORTC bit 6 / TX / LCD segment |
| Pin 28 | RC7 — PORTC bit 7 / RX / LCD segment |
Typical Applications
PIC16F1938-E/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Utility Meter with LCD, Consumer Remote Control with IR LED, Home-Automation Sensor Node with Character Display, White-Goods HMI (Washer / Dishwasher Front Panel), Industrial Keypad Controller, Wearable Health Patch.
Battery-Powered Utility Meter with LCD
The PIC16F1938-E/SO is a strong fit for single-cell battery metering because its nanoWatt XLP sleep current of roughly 50 nA typical and integrated charge-pump-backed LCD driver let a multi-year battery life design drive 4-6 digit 7-segment LCDs without an external bias generator. The 25 GPIOs and 12-bit ADC with up to 17 channels handle pulse counting from the metrology front-end while the MSSP SPI port logs to an external EEPROM. Unlike larger ARM Cortex parts, the PIC16F1938-E/SO needs no external supervisor or display driver, shrinking the BOM for residential water, gas and electricity meters.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Control with IR LED
The PIC16F1938-E/SO suits IR remote controls because the 32 MHz core easily generates 38 kHz carrier waveforms via PWM while sleep currents below 1 microamp keep coin cells alive for years. Its 2.3-5.5 V supply accepts a single 3 V CR2032 cell and the internal oscillator eliminates the external resonator, dropping BOM cost. The EUSART plus MSSP let the same firmware host a debug port for factory calibration.
Recommended
Home-Automation Sensor Node with Character Display
The PIC16F1938-E/SO is ideal for Z-Wave/Zigbee thermostat or HVAC sensor nodes that show readings on a small character LCD, since the on-chip LCD driver and integrated voltage reference keep the analog and display sections independent of the host MCU. The 12-bit ADC with internal reference gives accurate temperature and humidity readings, and the CLC peripheral handles wake-up logic without external gates. Wide 5.5 V tolerance permits USB-powered commissioning during factory test.
Recommended
White-Goods HMI (Washer / Dishwasher Front Panel)
White-goods front panels need to drive a 4-6 digit LCD, scan 16-24 keypad buttons and run a small user interface - exactly the workload the PIC16F1938-E/SO was designed for. The 25 GPIOs plus integrated LCD segment driver and integrated weak pull-ups reduce the number of external components; the extended -40 to +125 C temperature grade handles appliance environments. A peripheral pin select module lets designers re-route UART, SPI and I2C to any GPIO, simplifying PCB layout.
Recommended
Industrial Keypad Controller
Factory keypads need robust EMC tolerance and wide temperature operation - both built into the PIC16F1938-E/SO at -40 to +125 C and 2.3-5.5 V. The MSSP SPI port can drive an external keypad encoder, while the CLC peripheral generates debounce and key-release logic in hardware, freeing the CPU. The 1 KB SRAM comfortably holds a small command queue without DMA, and the integrated LCD driver is a free bonus if the panel needs a status display.
Recommended
Wearable Health Patch
Battery-powered wearable patches demand deep sleep currents and a small footprint - the PIC16F1938-E/SO with 50 nA typical sleep draws is well-suited. The 12-bit ADC with internal reference and integrated temperature sensor channels let the firmware measure skin temperature and battery voltage without external analog, while the LCD driver is unavailable in ultra-thin form factors but the chip still serves as the application processor. The 28-SOIC is the easiest package to hand-prototype; for production, migrate to the 28-QFN PIC16F1938-E/ML.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F1938-E/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1938-I/SO | PIC16F1938T-I/SO | PIC16LF1938-I/SO | PIC16F1939-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 28-SOIC (7.50 mm) | 28-SOIC (7.50 mm) - same | 28-SOIC (7.50 mm) - same | 28-SOIC (7.50 mm) - same | 28-SOIC (7.50 mm) - same |
| Flash Memory | 28 KB | 28 KB | 28 KB | 28 KB | 16 KB |
| RAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 512 B |
| EEPROM | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B |
| Supply Voltage | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (lower) | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (Extended) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| LCD Segment Driver | Yes (up to 184 segments) | Yes (same) | Yes (same) | Yes (same) | Yes (similar, fewer exposed segments in 28-SOIC) |
Key Differentiators
- Extended temperature grade supports -40 C to +125 C operation (vs PIC16F1938-I/SO)
- Higher Flash/RAM headroom than the -1939 sibling (vs PIC16F1939-I/SO)
- Wider supply range than the low-voltage LF variant (vs PIC16LF1938-I/SO)
Design Notes
The PIC16F1938-E/SO nanoWatt XLP modes deliver a typical sleep current of about 50 nA at 2 V with the LCD charge pump disabled, making the device suitable for multi-year battery metering. Always enable the LCD charge pump only while the display is being refreshed and turn it off in deep-sleep to avoid 1-2 microamp standby drain. Configure the BOR and WDT voltages in CONFIG2 to match the battery end-of-life voltage, otherwise the device may brown-out prematurely on weak cells.
Place the 28-SOIC package with 0.1 uF and 10 uF decoupling caps within 5 mm of the Vdd/Vss pairs (pins 10/9 and 20/19). Route the ICSP pins RB6/ICSPCLK (pin 17) and RB7/ICSPDAT (pin 18) to a 0.1 inch header so production firmware programming does not require socket adapters. Keep the analog inputs RA0-RA3 (pins 1-4) short and away from the LCD segment traces to minimize digital switching noise coupling into ADC samples.
Estimated: configure CONFIG1 with FOSC = INTOSC and PLLEN = OFF if the application does not need 32 MHz; otherwise leaving PLLEN enabled at start-up briefly draws 15-20 mA extra. Remember that the PPS module must be unlocked (PPSLOCK = 0x55, 0xAA sequence) before reassigning peripheral outputs to GPIOs - a common cause of seemingly dead SPI or UART pins on first prototype builds.
For LCD-driven designs, route the SEG and COM lines on the opposite side of the PCB from the switch-mode power supply and keep their lengths matched within 5 mm to avoid ghost segments. The PIC16F1938-E/SO has a configurable bias and waveform generator; use the recommended 1/3 bias and 1/4 duty for 4-mux LCD glass and add 100 kohm bias resistors in parallel with each COM line per the datasheet typical application circuit.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant Pb-free matte-tin finish per Microchip product page. Extended (-40 to +125 C) temperature grade is not equivalent to AEC-Q100 automotive qualification; for AEC-Q100 certified parts consult Microchip's PIC16F1938-I/SO automotive product line.
