PIC16F1938T-E/SS - 28KB Flash 8-bit MCU with LCD | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F1938T-E/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.95 | $2.95 |
| 10 | $2.66 | $26.60 |
| 100 | $2.36 | $236.00 |
| 500 | $2.12 | $1,060.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.89 | $1,890.00 |
PIC16F1938T-E/SS Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a microprocessor that uses an 8-bit data bus and is well-suited for embedded control tasks requiring low power, deterministic real-time response, and integration of mixed-signal peripherals. The PIC16F1938T-E/SS belongs to Microchip's enhanced mid-range core family, hierarchical in the taxonomy as: microcontroller -> 8-bit MCU -> PIC16 family -> PIC16F193x sub-family. XLP nanoWatt technology extends the device's applicability to battery-powered and energy-harvesting designs where active current draw is in the microamp range and sleep current can fall below 100 nA.
Key features of the PIC16F1938T-E/SS include 25 I/O pins, 16-level hardware stack with 15-bit program counter, internal 16 MHz and 31 kHz oscillators, 4x 16-bit timers, a 5-bit DAC, two comparators, and a hardware RTCC with calendar mode. The integrated segmented LCD driver eliminates external display driver ICs, and the mTouch peripheral enables robust capacitive-button and slider sensing via firmware-controlled charge-transfer measurement.
Technically, the PIC16F1938T-E/SS uses a Harvard-architecture RISC core executing most instructions in a single cycle, dual 16-bit pointers for linear memory access, and an interrupt controller with hardware context save. On-chip in-circuit debugging via ICD requires only two signal pins, simplifying prototyping. The device is built on a low-leakage CMOS process qualified to AEC-Q100 for automotive use (see datasheet for grade designation).
Typical applications include battery-powered metering and sensor displays (where the LCD driver and XLP sleep currents are decisive), automotive instrument clusters and HVAC controls, capacitive-touch user interfaces for appliances, industrial control panels with segment LCD readouts, and low-cost medical monitoring handhelds. The wide 2.3-5.5V range and integrated peripherals let designers replace a discrete MCU + display-driver solution with a single chip.
When designing with this part, verify the SSOP-28 land pattern and pinout against the chosen PCB footprint, plan for ICD-capable programming/debug headers early in the layout, and confirm segment count versus your LCD glass against the datasheet's SEG/COM allocation table. The PIC16F1938T-E/SS suffix denotes tape-and-reel packaging and an extended -40C to +125C operating temperature range suitable for industrial and automotive-grade designs.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, microchip-family drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F1938T-E/SS — 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 PIC16F1938T-E/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, LCD Driver, Package, Timers, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1938-E/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.88 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1938-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1938-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1938T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1938T-E/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 8-bit PIC Enhanced Mid-Range |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 28 KB (16K x 14 words) |
| Data RAM | 1 KB |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz |
| Operating Voltage | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 25 |
| Package | SSOP-28 (208 mil) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (Extended) |
| LCD Driver | Yes, up to 96 segments |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 17 channels |
| Timers | 4 x 16-bit / 1 x 8-bit |
| Communication | I2C, SPI, USART (LIN-capable) |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP |
| Capacitive Touch | mTouch peripheral (charge-transfer) |
| Internal Oscillator | 16 MHz HF + 31 kHz LF |
| Comparators | 2 |
| DAC | 5-bit |
| Hardware Stack | 16-level x 15-bit |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | 1 |
| AEC-Q100 | Automotive qualified |
PIC16F1938T-E/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/SEG12 — PORTA bit 0; analog/digital I/O with LCD segment 12 |
| Pin 2 | RA1/SEG7 — PORTA bit 1; analog/digital I/O with LCD segment 7 |
| Pin 3 | RA2/SEG8 — PORTA bit 2; analog/digital I/O with LCD segment 8 |
| Pin 4 | RA3/SEG9/MCLR/VPP — PORTA bit 3; LCD segment 9; Master Clear (reset) / ICSP VPP |
| Pin 5 | RA4/SEG11 — PORTA bit 4; LCD segment 11 |
| Pin 6 | RA5/SEG10/VCAP — PORTA bit 5; LCD segment 10; voltage regulator bypass |
| Pin 7 | RA6/SEG6 — PORTA bit 6; LCD segment 6 |
| Pin 8 | RA7/SEG5 — PORTA bit 7; LCD segment 5 |
| Pin 9 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 10 | RA0/ICSPDAT — PORTA bit 0 with ICSP data |
| Pin 11 | RA1/ICSPCLK — PORTA bit 1 with ICSP clock |
| Pin 12 | RB0/SEG20 — PORTB bit 0; LCD segment 20 |
| Pin 13 | RB1/SEG21 — PORTB bit 1; LCD segment 21 |
| Pin 14 | RB2/SEG22 — PORTB bit 2; LCD segment 22 |
| Pin 15 | RB3/SEG23 — PORTB bit 3; LCD segment 23 |
| Pin 16 | RB4/SEG24 — PORTB bit 4; LCD segment 24 |
| Pin 17 | RB5/SEG25 — PORTB bit 5; LCD segment 25 |
| Pin 18 | RB6/SEG26 — PORTB bit 6; LCD segment 26 |
| Pin 19 | RB7/SEG27 — PORTB bit 7; LCD segment 27 |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply input 2.3 V - 5.5 V |
| Pin 21 | RC0/SOSCO — PORTC bit 0; secondary oscillator output |
| Pin 22 | RC1/SOSCI — PORTC bit 1; secondary oscillator input |
| Pin 23 | RC2 — PORTC bit 2; digital I/O |
| Pin 24 | RC3 — PORTC bit 3; digital I/O |
| Pin 25 | RC4/SEG28 — PORTC bit 4; LCD segment 28 |
| Pin 26 | RC5/SEG29 — PORTC bit 5; LCD segment 29 |
| Pin 27 | RC6/SEG30 — PORTC bit 6; LCD segment 30 |
| Pin 28 | RC7/SEG31 — PORTC bit 7; LCD segment 31 |
Typical Applications
PIC16F1938T-E/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Metering & Sensor Display, Automotive Instrument Cluster & HVAC Control, Capacitive-Touch User Interface with LCD, Industrial Sensor Transmitter, Portable Medical Monitoring Devices, Consumer Appliance Control Board.
Battery-Powered Metering & Sensor Display
The PIC16F1938T-E/SS suits battery-powered metering designs because its integrated LCD driver plus nanoWatt XLP technology replace a discrete MCU + display-driver combo. The on-chip LCD controller supports up to 96 segments, suitable for multi-digit numeric readouts, while XLP delivers typical sleep currents below 1 uA extending coin-cell runtime. The 28 KB flash provides headroom for metering firmware, calibration tables, and power-management state machines. Used in water/gas/electric utility meters and portable sensor readouts where 2.3-5.5V operation, segment LCD, and multi-year battery life converge.
Recommended
Automotive Instrument Cluster & HVAC Control
The PIC16F1938T-E/SS is AEC-Q100 qualified with -40C to +125C operation, making it fit for automotive HVAC panels, rear-seat climate controls, and secondary instrument clusters. Its 25 GPIOs drive segment LCD needles and bar graphs without external driver ICs, while the 10-bit ADC reads thermistor/sensor inputs directly. The 32 MHz core and integrated ECAN-style peripherals support automotive communication busses. Automotive OEMs use it where a deterministic 8-bit core, segment LCD, and AEC-Q100 reliability reduce module cost versus 32-bit alternatives.
Recommended
Capacitive-Touch User Interface with LCD
The PIC16F1938T-E/SS integrates the mTouch capacitive-touch peripheral alongside its LCD driver, so appliance-control panels combining cap-touch buttons with segment-LCD feedback use one part for both functions. Charge-transfer measurement handles button, slider, and wheel sensing without external analog components, and the LCD driver feeds back state via 7-segment digits or icons. Designers save BOM lines and PCB area versus MCU + dedicated touch controller. Common in washing machines, microwaves, and industrial control panels where mechanical switches are replaced by sealed touch surfaces.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Transmitter
Industrial 4-20 mA loop-powered or wireless sensor transmitters benefit from the PIC16F1938T-E/SS's 32 MHz core, 28 KB flash, and nanoWatt XLP operation. The 10-bit ADC digitizes bridge sensors or 4-20 mA loops, while the hardware LIN-capable USART integrates into industrial networking. E-temp -40C to +125C operation ensures field deployment. Used in process-control transmitters, pressure transducers, and remote environmental sensors where segment-LCD indication delivers local readouts without an OLED display.
Recommended
Portable Medical Monitoring Devices
Portable medical handhelds such as pulse-oximeters, glucometers, and patient thermometers use the PIC16F1938T-E/SS for low-power segment-LCD readouts paired with nanoWatt sleep currents. The 2.3V-5.5V range matches 2x AA / coin-cell chemistries, while the 10-bit ADC digitizes sensor front-ends accurately. The integrated 5-bit DAC and comparators support threshold detection. Medical device designers use it where IEC 62304 traceability, deterministic interrupt response, and battery life are critical requirements.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Control Board
Consumer appliances including coffee makers, induction cooktops, and small kitchen devices use the PIC16F1938T-E/SS to combine segmented LCD display, capacitive-touch user interface, and PWM-driven power controls in one chip. The integrated timers generate the PWM for valve/relay actuators, and the LCD driver displays time, status, and remaining-operation countdowns. Typical designs see the LCD + touch reduce component count vs. a discrete MCU and external driver board. Used where basic white-goods manufacturers target single-PCB BOM consolidation at minimal cost.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F1938T-E/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1938-E/SS | PIC16F1938-I/SS | PIC16LF1938-I/SS | PIC16F1938T-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | SSOP-28 | SSOP-28 - same | SSOP-28 - same | SSOP-28 - same | SSOP-28 - same |
| Program Flash | 28 KB | 28 KB | 28 KB | 28 KB | 28 KB |
| Data RAM | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB | 1 KB |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes |
| Max Clock | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Operating 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 | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| Temperature Range | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +125C (Extended) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Packaging Format | Tape & Reel | Tube | Tube | Tube | Tape & Reel |
| AEC-Q100 | Qualified | Qualified | Not qualified | Not qualified | Not qualified |
Key Differentiators
- Largest flash in PIC16F193x SSOP-28 family (vs PIC16F1936-I/SS)
- Extended -40C to +125C industrial/automotive temp grade (vs PIC16F1938-I/SS)
- Automotive-grade qualification with E temp grade and tape/reel (vs PIC16F1938T-I/SS)
Design Notes
Estimated: at 32 MHz CPU clock and 5.5 V supply, the PIC16F1938T-E/SS core draws approximately 6-9 mA active. Activate nanoWatt XLP sleep modes (SLEEP with peripherals disabled) to drop current below 1 uA between sensor reads. Use the internal 31 kHz LF oscillator for sleep timekeeping via RTCC, avoiding high-frequency oscillator start-up time penalties.
Estimated: at full 32 MHz activity, the SSOP-28 package (theta_JA approximately 70-100 C/W on a JEDEC 4-layer board) sees a junction rise near 30-50 C above ambient. For continuous 32 MHz operation at +85 C ambient, the part stays inside its -40C to +125 C spec. When mounting in a sealed enclosure, derive derated clock speed or supply duty cycle to keep junction temperature within bounds.
Route the SSOP-28 ICSP pins (pin 10 ICSPDAT, pin 11 ICSPCLK) to a 2x5 or 1x6 programming header with no stubs and keep trace length below 50 mm. Place the VDD bypass capacitor (0.1 uF ceramic) within 5 mm of pin 20 and a bulk 10 uF near the supply input. Isolate analog AVSS/AVDD (shared with VSS/VDD on this part) from noisy digital traces.
Pin 4 is RA3/MCLR/VPP - never drive this pin low in firmware or hold the device in reset accidentally. Verify the VCAP pin (5) is connected to a 0.1 uF capacitor or the core regulator will fail to start. Confirm the chosen segment assignments match your LCD glass to the datasheet's SEGx/COMx table for the SSOP-28 variant.
Compliance Information
Per the Microchip PIC16F1938 datasheet and product page, the part is AEC-Q100 qualified for automotive use. RoHS compliant per DigiKey product attribute data. The PIC16F1938T-E/SS specifically carries the Extended -40C to +125C temperature grade.
