PIC16F1938-I/MV - 28KB Flash 8-bit MCU with LCD Driver | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F1938-I/MV ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.45 | $2.45 |
| 10 | $2.2 | $22.00 |
| 100 | $1.95 | $195.00 |
| 500 | $1.72 | $860.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.55 | $1,550.00 |
PIC16F1938-I/MV Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, non-volatile program memory, working RAM, and a rich set of peripherals (ADC, timers, communication controllers, I/O). In the system hierarchy, the PIC16F1938 belongs to the 8-bit microcontroller class, sits inside the broader category of embedded processors, and ultimately under the umbrella of semiconductor ICs. The "F" in the part number denotes Flash program memory, the "1938" is the family designation, and the "/MV" suffix specifies the UQFN-EP package.
Key differentiating features include nanoWatt XLP extreme-low-power technology (typical sleep current in the nanoampere range), a dedicated LCD driver supporting up to 96 segments, an integrated mTouch capacitive-touch peripheral, two 8-bit timers plus one 16-bit timer, a 10-bit ADC with up to 11 channels, and an EUSART plus two SPI/I2C modules. The XLP technology makes this part suitable for battery-powered applications where quiescent current dominates battery life.
Architecturally, the PIC16F1938 uses a Harvard-style modified RISC core with a 14-bit instruction word, 8-level hardware stack, and a 32 MHz internal oscillator (8 MHz with 4x PLL). It supports In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) via two pins and includes a wide operating voltage window that allows direct Li-ion or multi-cell alkaline battery connection without additional regulation.
Typical applications include low-power consumer electronics (thermostats, remote controls, toys), battery-powered metering and sensor nodes, white-goods and appliance user interfaces that need an integrated LCD, capacitive-touch human-machine interfaces, and industrial control modules with segment displays. The automotive-grade AEC-Q100 variant (PIC16F1938T-I/MV with -40C to +125C) is targeted at dashboard and instrumentation designs.
When designing with this part, plan the GPIO budget carefully: 25 I/O pins must cover LCD segment lines, analog inputs, and digital peripherals. For lowest sleep current, place the device in Sleep mode with peripherals disabled and use the on-chip LFINTOSC or external 32 kHz crystal for RTCC; XLP modes typically reduce quiescent current below 1 uA.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, delivering SEO/AEO/GEO-friendly content structured for engineer procurement and design-in decisions.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F1938-I/MV — 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/MV (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Timers, Program Memory (Flash), LCD Driver, ADC.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1938-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1937-I/MV
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.41 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1936-I/MV
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.07 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1938T-I/MV
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1934-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.74 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F18855-I/MV
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.22 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1938-I/MV Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 8-bit RISC (14-bit instruction) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 28 KB |
| RAM | 1 KB |
| EEPROM | 256 B |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz (8 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 25 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 11 channels |
| Timers | 2 x 8-bit + 1 x 16-bit |
| Communication | EUSART, 2x SPI/I2C |
| LCD Driver | Up to 96 segments |
| Capacitive Touch | mTouch peripheral |
| Low-Power Tech | nanoWatt XLP |
| Package | UQFN-EP 28-pin (MV) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (lead-free) |
| ICSP | Yes (In-Circuit Serial Programming) |
PIC16F1938-I/MV Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0/C1IN0-/LCDSEG0 — GPIO RA0 / ADC ch0 / comparator input / LCD segment 0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1/C1IN1-/LCDSEG1 — GPIO RA1 / ADC ch1 / comparator input / LCD segment 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2/VREF-/C1IN0+/LCDSEG2 — GPIO RA2 / ADC ch2 / Vref- / comparator / LCD segment 2 |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3/VREF+/C1IN1+/LCDSEG3 — GPIO RA3 / ADC ch3 / Vref+ / comparator / LCD segment 3 |
| Pin 5 | RA4/C1OUT/T0CKI/SEG4 — GPIO RA4 / comparator output / Timer0 clock / LCD segment 4 |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN4/C2IN0-/SEG5 — GPIO RA5 / ADC ch4 / comparator input / LCD segment 5 |
| Pin 7 | RA6/OSC2/CLKOUT/SEG6 — GPIO RA6 / crystal out / CLKOUT / LCD segment 6 |
| Pin 8 | RA7/OSC1/CLKIN/SEG7 — GPIO RA7 / crystal in / CLKIN / LCD segment 7 |
| Pin 9 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 10 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.3-5.5V) |
| Pin 11 | RB4/AN10/SDI/SDA/SEG8 — GPIO RB4 / ADC ch10 / SPI SDI / I2C SDA / LCD segment 8 |
| Pin 12 | RB5/AN11/SDO/C2OUT/SEG9 — GPIO RB5 / ADC ch11 / SPI SDO / comparator / LCD segment 9 |
| Pin 13 | RB6/SCK/SCL/ICSPCLK/SEG10 — GPIO RB6 / SPI SCK / I2C SCL / ICSP clock / LCD segment 10 |
| Pin 14 | RB7/TX/CK/ICSPDAT/SEG11 — GPIO RB7 / EUSART TX/CK / ICSP data / LCD segment 11 |
| Pin 15 | RC0/T1CKI/CCP1/SEG12 — GPIO RC0 / Timer1 clock / CCP1 / LCD segment 12 |
| Pin 16 | RC1/CCP2/SEG13 — GPIO RC1 / CCP2 / LCD segment 13 |
| Pin 17 | RC2/CCP3/P1A/SEG14 — GPIO RC2 / CCP3 / PWM / LCD segment 14 |
| Pin 18 | RC3/SEG15 — GPIO RC3 / LCD segment 15 |
| Pin 19 | RC4/C2IN-/SDA/SDI/SEG16 — GPIO RC4 / comparator / I2C SDA / SPI SDI / LCD segment 16 |
| Pin 20 | RC5/C2IN+/SDO/SEG17 — GPIO RC5 / comparator / SPI SDO / LCD segment 17 |
| Pin 21 | RC6/TX/CK/SS/SEG18 — GPIO RC6 / EUSART / SPI SS / LCD segment 18 |
| Pin 22 | RC7/RX/DT/SDO/SEG19 — GPIO RC7 / EUSART RX / SPI SDO / LCD segment 19 |
| Pin 23 | RD0/COM0 — GPIO RD0 / LCD COM0 |
| Pin 24 | RD1/COM1 — GPIO RD1 / LCD COM1 |
| Pin 25 | RD2/COM2 — GPIO RD2 / LCD COM2 |
| Pin 26 | RD3/COM3 — GPIO RD3 / LCD COM3 |
| Pin 27 | RE3/MCLR/VPP — Reset / programming voltage |
| Pin 28 | NC — No connect (package paddle) |
Typical Applications
PIC16F1938-I/MV is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered Thermostat, Consumer Remote Control, White-Goods Appliance User Interface, Wireless Sensor Node, Smart Meter Front Panel, Industrial Segment-Display Controller, Toy and Hobby Electronics.
Battery-Powered Thermostat
The PIC16F1938-I/MV is purpose-built for battery-powered thermostats thanks to its nanoWatt XLP technology with Sleep current under 100 nA. Its integrated LCD driver supports 96 segments, eliminating an external display controller and reducing BOM cost. The 28KB Flash and 1KB RAM are sufficient for PID-control firmware, multi-day scheduling tables, and BLE/Zigbee command buffers. The 32 MHz CPU executes the control loop well under 1 ms, while the 10-bit ADC reads thermistor voltages accurately across the -10C to 50C range.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Control
The PIC16F1938-I/MV excels in handheld IR/BLE remotes where battery life is critical. Sleep currents under 100 nA and wake-on-IR through the EUSART enable multi-year operation on coin cells. The 25 GPIO pins support matrix keypads, LED indicators, and IR drivers. With 28KB Flash, designers can implement complex IR protocols (RC5/RC6/Sony/NEC), button debouncing, and gesture overlays without external memory. The wide 2.3-5.5V supply tolerates fresh and depleted batteries alike.
Recommended
White-Goods Appliance User Interface
In washing machines, dishwashers, and microwave ovens, the PIC16F1938-I/MV drives segment LCDs and capacitive touch keypads directly. The integrated mTouch peripheral eliminates mechanical switches, improving reliability against moisture and wear. The hardware LCD driver handles 96 segments for timer/temperature/mode displays. Industrial-grade temperature range (-40C to +85C) suits the appliance environment, while 28KB Flash accommodates multi-language firmware and feature-flag variants.
Recommended
Wireless Sensor Node
For IoT sensor nodes, the PIC16F1938-I/MV provides the compute and peripheral mix to interface with low-power radios. Its XLP Sleep mode at <100 nA, fast wake-up from Sleep (<5 us), and 10-bit ADC make it ideal for periodic sensor sampling with years of battery life. EUSART or SPI interfaces connect to sub-GHz or 2.4 GHz transceivers. With 28KB Flash, firmware fits complete sensor drivers, MAC-layer logic, and OTA bootloaders in a single chip.
Recommended
Smart Meter Front Panel
Electricity and water meters use the PIC16F1938-I/MV to drive segmented LCD displays showing consumption, tariff, and status icons. The wide 2.3-5.5V supply range simplifies power supply design when tapping the meter's bus. The integrated LCD controller supports multiplexed displays up to 96 segments, and the EEPROM stores calibration constants and tamper flags across power events. Sleep currents below 100 nA preserve battery backup during outages.
Recommended
Industrial Segment-Display Controller
For industrial control panels and HMIs, the PIC16F1938-I/MV drives segment LCDs while handling RS-485/EUSART communication with central controllers. Its industrial temperature range (-40C to +85C) and robust ESD performance suit factory environments. With 32 MHz CPU, it processes Modbus RTU frames and updates displays within microseconds. The 256B EEPROM stores device addresses and calibration values persistently across power cycles.
Recommended
Toy and Hobby Electronics
The PIC16F1938-I/MV powers interactive toys with sound effects, motor PWM, and LED animations. Its PWM module drives small DC motors and servos directly, while the mTouch peripheral enables modern touch-button interfaces. The 28KB Flash accommodates audio sample playback tables, behavior trees, and BLE pairing code. Low Sleep current keeps battery-powered toys fresh on the shelf for years before first activation.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F1938-I/MV — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1938-I/ML | PIC16F1937-I/MV | PIC16F1936-I/MV | PIC16F1938T-I/MV | PIC16F1934-I/ML | PIC16F18855-I/MV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | UQFN-28 (MV) | QFN-28 (ML) - same | UQFN-28 (MV) - same | UQFN-28 (MV) - same | UQFN-28 (MV) - same | QFN-28 (ML) - same family | UQFN-28 (MV) - same |
| Flash Memory | 28 KB | 28 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 28 KB | 7 KB | 14 KB |
| RAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 256 B | 1 KB |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C (Automotive) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| AEC-Q100 Qualified | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated hardware LCD driver up to 96 segments (vs PIC16F1936-I/MV)
- Automotive-grade upgrade available in same package (vs PIC16F1938T-I/MV)
- Largest Flash in PIC16F193x UQFN-28 family (vs PIC16F1937-I/MV)
- nanoWatt XLP Sleep current below 100 nA (vs PIC16F1934-I/ML)
Design Notes
Estimated: at VDD=3.3V with the MCU in Sleep mode and the LCD driver disabled, supply current drops below 100 nA per Microchip's nanoWatt XLP characterization. To achieve this, disable all peripherals (ADC, comparators, timers) before issuing the SLEEP instruction, and avoid floating I/O pins that leak through internal ESD diodes. Add a 100 nF decoupling cap within 5 mm of the VDD pin, plus a 10 uF bulk cap to handle burst loads from radio transmissions.
The PIC16F1938-I/MV is rated -40C to +85C industrial grade. In enclosed appliance enclosures with stacked PCBs, ambient temperatures near the MCU can exceed 70C. Provide thermal relief: avoid placing the UQFN directly above heat-generating components (power resistors, transformers) and use thermal vias to inner copper planes. For continuous operation above 85C ambient, select the PIC16F1938T-I/MV automotive variant which extends to +125C.
The UQFN-28 (MV) package has an exposed thermal pad (EP) on the underside that must be soldered to a copper pad on the PCB for mechanical and thermal integrity. Per Microchip's package drawing, the EP pad should be at least 0.3 mm larger than the package EP on all sides. Stitch the EP pad to the ground plane with 0.3 mm thermal vias on a 1.2 mm grid, with the vias tented on the bottom side to prevent solder wicking.
Route the ICSP clock/data lines (RB6/RB7) directly to a 2x3 or 1x6 programming header. Keep the traces short and avoid running them next to switching nodes (DC-DC converters, motor drivers). For LCD segment routing, group adjacent segments on adjacent pins to simplify PCB layout and minimize trace crossings. Place a guard ring around sensitive analog traces (AN0/AN1) tied to a clean analog ground island, not the noisy digital ground.
Do not leave the MCLR pin floating. Microchip mandates a pull-up resistor (typically 10 kOhm) on MCLR to VDD, or it must be configured as a digital input. Floating MCLR causes spurious resets and unreliable programming. When using the internal oscillator, configure the FOSC configuration bits correctly (INTOSCIO, INTOSC with CLKOUT, etc.); incorrect FOSC settings can leave the device without a clock, appearing 'dead' until configuration bits are repaired.
Compliance Information
Lead-free UQFN package per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - select PIC16F1938T-I/MV for automotive applications.
