PIC16F1938-I/ML - 28KB Flash 8-bit MCU w/ LCD | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F1938-I/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.4 | $3.40 |
| 10 | $2.94 | $29.40 |
| 100 | $2.45 | $245.00 |
| 500 | $2.15 | $1,075.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.92 | $1,920.00 |
PIC16F1938-I/ML Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a programmable logic device that executes instructions from on-chip memory to interface with peripherals, sensors, and actuators. The PIC16F1938 sits within the broader taxonomy: microcontroller → embedded MCU → 8-bit MCU → Flash-based MCU → low-power MCU. Microchip's mid-range PIC16 core architecture delivers deterministic instruction execution and low active current, while the integrated LCD driver eliminates the need for an external display controller.
Key features include 25 digital I/O pins, an Enhanced Universal Synchronous Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (EUSART), Master Synchronous Serial Port (MSSP) for SPI/I2C, a 10-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), up to 17 channels of capacitive touch sensing (mTouch), and an LCD module capable of driving up to 192 segments. The device supports in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) via two pins, enabling field firmware updates without removing the part.
Typical applications include battery-powered consumer products with segment LCDs, white goods front panels, HVAC thermostats, industrial metering with multi-digit displays, and low-power IoT sensor readouts where extended battery life is essential. The wide 1.8 V-5.5 V supply range also makes it compatible with both 3.3 V and 5 V system rails.
When designing with this part, ensure the quartz or external clock source meets the stability requirements of your application, since the internal oscillator accuracy may not be sufficient for timekeeping or asynchronous serial communication beyond modest baud rates. Place decoupling capacitors (100 nF ceramic minimum, plus 10 µF bulk) close to VDD/VSS pairs and use a ground plane beneath the QFN thermal pad for best EMC results.
This page combines authoritative XAIPART drop-in replacement research, engineering-grade thermal and PCB notes, and a parametric comparison versus the PIC16F1937 and PIC16F1936, giving procurement and design engineers a single source that distributor listing pages do not.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F1938-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 PIC16F1938-I/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Timers, Core Architecture, ADC, Communication.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1939-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1937-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1936-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.15 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1938-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F18855-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.38 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F18854-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.02 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1938-I/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16 enhanced mid-range 8-bit CPU |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 28 KB |
| RAM | 1 KB |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 25 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 11 channels |
| Timers | 5 (8-bit / 16-bit) |
| LCD Driver | Up to 192 segments |
| Capacitive Touch (mTouch) | Up to 17 channels |
| Communication | 1x EUSART, 1x MSSP (SPI/I2C) |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP |
| Package | 28-pin QFN (ML) 6x6 mm with thermal pad |
| Operating Temperature Range (Industrial) | -40C to +85C |
| Programming | In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) via 2 pins |
PIC16F1938-I/ML Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA7/OSC1/CLKIN — PORTA bit 7 / oscillator input |
| Pin 2 | RA6/OSC2/CLKOUT — PORTA bit 6 / oscillator output |
| Pin 3 | RA5/MCLR/VPP — PORTA bit 5 / Master Clear / programming voltage |
| Pin 4 | RA4/AN3 — PORTA bit 4 / ADC input 3 |
| Pin 5 | RC5 — PORTC bit 5 |
| Pin 6 | RC4 — PORTC bit 4 |
| Pin 7 | RC3/AN7 — PORTC bit 3 / ADC input 7 |
| Pin 8 | RC2/AN6 — PORTC bit 2 / ADC input 6 |
| Pin 9 | RC1/AN5 — PORTC bit 1 / ADC input 5 |
| Pin 10 | RC0/AN4 — PORTC bit 0 / ADC input 4 |
| Pin 11 | RC7 — PORTC bit 7 |
| Pin 12 | RC6 — PORTC bit 6 |
| Pin 13 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 15 | RB7 — PORTB bit 7 |
| Pin 16 | RB6/ICSPCLK — PORTB bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 17 | RB5/ICSPDAT — PORTB bit 5 / ICSP data |
| Pin 18 | RB4 — PORTB bit 4 |
| Pin 19 | RB3 — PORTB bit 3 |
| Pin 20 | RB2 — PORTB bit 2 |
| Pin 21 | RB1 — PORTB bit 1 |
| Pin 22 | RB0/AN12 — PORTB bit 0 / ADC input 12 |
| Pin 23 | RA3/AN2/C1IN+ — PORTA bit 3 / ADC input 2 / comparator non-inverting input |
| Pin 24 | RA2/AN2/C1IN- — PORTA bit 2 / ADC input 2 / comparator inverting input |
| Pin 25 | RA1/AN1 — PORTA bit 1 / ADC input 1 |
| Pin 26 | RA0/AN0 — PORTA bit 0 / ADC input 0 |
| Pin 27 | VSS — Ground reference (second pin) |
| Pin 28 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (second pin) |
Typical Applications
PIC16F1938-I/ML is suitable for 7 applications: Multi-Digit LCD Thermostat, Battery-Powered Water/Gas Meter, White Goods Front Panel, Portable Medical Monitor, Industrial Sensor Transmitter, Consumer Remote Control with LCD, Educational/Maker Development Board.
Multi-Digit LCD Thermostat
The PIC16F1938-I/ML's integrated LCD driver and nanoWatt XLP sleep mode make it the obvious choice for wall-mounted HVAC thermostats displaying temperature, humidity, and time on multi-digit 7-segment LCDs. The 192-segment LCD peripheral supports up to 8 common x 24 segment drivers, sufficient for a 4-digit plus status icon display without an external HT1621 or similar driver chip. The 1.8-5.5 V supply range lets the design run from 2 AA batteries in parallel with a 3 V backup, and the 10-bit ADC plus analog comparator provide accurate temperature measurement via NTC or RTD sensors.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Water/Gas Meter
Sub-100 nA sleep current plus integrated LCD segment driver make the PIC16F1938-I/ML ideal for battery-powered AMR water/gas meter readout modules that need 10+ year battery life. The 28 KB Flash holds protocol stacks for Wireless M-Bus, LoRaWAN, or Sigfox, while the integrated LCD peripheral drives an 8-digit consumption display alongside status icons. The EUSART plus MSSP (SPI/I2C) communicate directly with radio modules and digital flow sensors without external glue logic, and the mTouch 17-channel capacitive touch input supports tamper-detect interfaces.
Recommended
White Goods Front Panel
Washing machines, dishwashers, and dryers commonly use the PIC16F1938-I/ML for the user-interface MCU driving an LCD front panel plus a rotary encoder/touch-button input cluster. The 25 GPIO pins drive multiple LEDs, sensor inputs (door latch, water level, NTC thermistor), and the integrated 10-bit ADC reads motor feedback. Its EMC robustness and 5 V tolerance ensures reliable operation across the noisy line-voltage environment of a major household appliance. The MSSP channels provide SPI access to external EEPROM for cycle memory storage.
Recommended
Portable Medical Monitor
Battery-powered patient monitors (pulse-oximeter fingertip units, digital thermometers, peak flow meters) benefit from the PIC16F1938-I/ML's nanoWatt XLP sleep currents under 50 nA, extending battery life into years. The 10-bit ADC plus configurable 17-channel mTouch peripheral supports capacitive-touch buttons and direct analog signal conditioning for sensors. The integrated LCD driver eliminates the external display controller, reducing BOM cost and board area in compliance with compact medical-device form-factor requirements.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Transmitter
Loop-powered 4-20 mA sensor transmitters and compact IoT sensor nodes use the PIC16F1938-I/ML to acquire analog signals, compute corrections, and drive LCD or RS-485 outputs. The 32 MHz performance provides headroom for floating-point compensation math, while the EUSART exposes a Modbus RTU link to upstream PLCs. ICSP allows field firmware updates over the same programming pins, and the -40C to +85C industrial temperature grade supports factory-floor deployment.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Control with LCD
Universal remote controls with status LCDs map directly to the PIC16F1938-I/ML's integrated segment LCD driver plus EUSART/IR capability. The 28 KB Flash is more than adequate for IR protocol databases (NEC, RC5/RC6, Sony SIRC), and the mTouch peripheral supports capacitive-touch buttons without mechanical switches. The QFN-28 package fits inside handheld form factors, and the 1.8 V operation allows direct drive from a single CR2032 coin cell.
Recommended
Educational/Maker Development Board
The PIC16F1938-I/ML is a popular MCU on Microchip's PICDEM LCD 2 demonstration board and the Curiosity Development Board ecosystem for learning 8-bit embedded design. Its full peripheral set (LCD, ADC, I2C, SPI, mTouch, EUSART) gives students exposure to nearly every common embedded interface within a single chip. MPLAB X IDE, XC8 compiler, and MPLAB Code Configurator provide free professional-grade toolsets for educational users and makers.
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F1938-I/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1939-I/ML | PIC16F1937-I/ML | PIC16F1936-I/ML | PIC16F18855-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | QFN-28 (ML) 6x6 mm | QFN-28 (ML) - same | QFN-28 (ML) - same | QFN-28 (ML) - same | QFN-28 (ML) - same |
| Program Flash | 28 KB | 56 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB |
| RAM | 1 KB | 2 KB | 512 B | 768 B | 1 KB |
| EEPROM | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| LCD Segments | 192 | 192 | 192 | 192 | 192 |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit, 11 ch | 10-bit, 11 ch | 10-bit, 11 ch | 10-bit, 11 ch | 10-bit, 24 ch |
Key Differentiators
- Highest memory density in 28-pin QFN XLP family (vs PIC16F1937-I/ML)
- Drop-in identical footprint replacement for PIC18F2520 family (vs PIC18F2520 (legacy))
- Up to 192-segment LCD driver integrated (vs PIC16F18855-I/ML)
- Sub-100 nA XLP sleep current extends battery life (vs PIC16F1936-I/ML)
Design Notes
The PIC16F1938-I/ML QFN-28 (ML) 6x6 mm package has an exposed thermal pad (EP) on the underside that MUST be soldered to a corresponding PCB land area for both mechanical reliability and thermal dissipation. Without thermal pad soldering, repeated thermal cycling in industrial environments may crack solder joints at the corner pins. Recommended: thermal pad land on top copper layer connected to VSS/GND, with at least 4 thermal vias (0.3 mm) stitching to the inner/ground plane to spread heat across the board.
Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor (X7R) within 3 mm of each VDD/VSS pair on the PIC16F1938 (pin 14, 28 for VDD and pin 13, 27 for VSS). Add a bulk 10 µF tantalum or polymer aluminum cap near VDD to handle the in-rush current when the LCD charge pump fires. For battery applications, the internal BOR (Brown-Out Reset) and POR should remain enabled to ensure a clean wakeup from deep sleep; the nanoWatt XLP sleep current can otherwise drop below 100 nA at 1.8 V but a weak battery can cause code runaway without BOR.
Two critical pitfalls when designing with the PIC16F1938: (1) Forgetting that pin 5 RA5/MCLR is a VPP-capable input only when MCLR mode is enabled - if MCLR is disabled in CONFIG register for use as a regular GPIO, the programming voltage on that pin during ICSP can damage the IO. (2) The LCD charge-pump output (LCDVREF) requires a reservoir capacitor of at least 1 µF on the LCD pin module bias output or the segmented display will show ghosting and uneven contrast. Always consult the PIC16F1938 datasheet section 'LCD Module' before finalizing the BOM.
The PIC16F1938's analog inputs (AN0-AN12) should be routed away from digital switching traces (PWM outputs, EUSART lines) to minimize ADC coupling noise. Maintain a continuous ground plane under the MCU with the analog VSS (pin 13) connected directly to this plane. The 10-bit ADC achieves typical ENOB of 9.5 bits when these layout practices are followed; up to 4 LSBs of accuracy can be lost if analog and digital traces are interleaved. Placekeeper: keep the ICSP/PGD/PGC traces short and direct to the programming header - do not place them next to high-impedance analog or LCD segment lines to avoid noise injection during field firmware updates.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant and lead-free per Microchip product compliance statements. Industrial temp grade -40C to +85C. For AEC-Q100 qualified automotive use, source the PIC16F1938-I/MLVAO variant instead.
