PIC16F1946T-I/MR - 14KB Flash 8-Bit MCU LCD Driver | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F1946T-I/MR ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.45 | $3.45 |
| 10 | $3.1 | $31.00 |
| 100 | $2.76 | $276.00 |
| 500 | $2.48 | $1,240.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.21 | $2,210.00 |
PIC16F1946T-I/MR Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU, non-volatile program memory, working RAM, and a rich set of peripheral interfaces into one package. In the wider semiconductor taxonomy this part sits under 8-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> integrated circuit. The PIC16F family adds Microchip's nanoWatt XLP technology, a category of sleep currents below 1 uA in deep-sleep modes, which makes PIC16F1946 particularly suitable for battery-powered human-machine interface (HMI) products.
Key differentiating features include the on-chip segmented LCD driver (up to 192 segments at 1/4 duty, 1/3 bias), a 10-bit ADC with up to 17 channels, two 8-bit timers plus one 16-bit timer, two CCP modules, an MSSP (SPI/I2C) and an enhanced USART, plus a charge time measurement unit (CTMU) for capacitive touch sensing. The 32 MHz internal oscillator eliminates the external crystal in many designs, reducing BOM cost. The nanoWatt XLP sleep current (typically < 60 nA in sleep mode with LCD off) extends battery life in always-on metering and remote-control products.
The architecture is a Harvard RISC core with a 14-bit instruction word and a single-cycle ALU, giving predictable deterministic execution well suited to deterministic control loops and interrupt-driven firmware. The LCD charge-pump and bias generator are on-chip, so designers need only the segment and common-panel capacitors and the glass itself. Internal phase-locked loops multiply the 16 MHz HFINTOSC up to the 32 MHz system clock with software-selectable postscalers, allowing dynamic power tuning.
Typical applications include white-good user interfaces (washing machines, microwave ovens, induction cookers), smart thermostats and HVAC control panels, blood-pressure monitors and other medical home-care devices, electricity-meter LCDs, point-of-sale terminals, and any portable product that combines an LCD with battery operation. The wide 2.3-5.5 V range accepts 2xAA, 3xAA, lithium coin, or regulated 5 V rails without level shifters.
When designing with this part, place a 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitor on every VDD/AVDD/VBAT pin pair as close to the package as possible, tie the MCLR pin to VDD through a 10 kohm resistor with a 100 nF cap to ground for safe in-circuit serial programming, and follow the QFN-64 thermal-pad soldering recommendations (4 to 6 thermal vias under the e-pad) for reliable production. The LCD bias-network capacitors should be ceramic X7R with a value matching the chosen bias configuration in the datasheet.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-family alternatives, and practical design notes that complement (but do not replace) the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F1946T-I/MR — 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 PIC16F1946T-I/MR (same form factor and footprint) — differing in LCD Driver, Package, Timers, Communication, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1946-I/MR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1947-I/MR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1939-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.42 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1946-E/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.7 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F1946T-I/MR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Program Memory Type | Flash (self-programmable) |
| Program Memory Size | 14 KB |
| Data RAM | 512 B |
| Data EEPROM | 256 B |
| CPU | 8-bit PIC16 RISC, 14-bit instruction word |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 32 MHz |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.3 V to 5.5 V |
| I/O Pins | 54 (maximum, package-dependent) |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 17 channels |
| Timers | Two 8-bit + one 16-bit |
| CCP Modules | 2 |
| Communication | 1x MSSP (SPI/I2C), 1x Enhanced USART |
| LCD Driver | Up to 192 segments, integrated charge pump |
| nanoWatt XLP Sleep Current | < 60 nA typical (sleep mode, LCD off) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Package | QFN-64 (MR), 8x8 mm with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| MSL Level | 3 |
PIC16F1946T-I/MR qfn-64 (mr), 8x8 mm with exposed pad Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for PIC16F1946T-I/MR (qfn-64 (mr), 8x8 mm with exposed pad package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for PIC16F1946T-I/MR.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
PIC16F1946T-I/MR is suitable for 6 applications: White-Good HMI Panel, Smart Thermostat and HVAC Controller, Home Blood-Pressure Monitor, Single-Phase Electricity Meter with LCD, POS Terminal and Barcode Scanner, Portable Cooking Thermometer.
White-Good HMI Panel
The PIC16F1946T-I/MR is well suited for washing-machine, microwave, and induction-cooker user interfaces. Its integrated LCD driver supports up to 192 segments, removing the need for an external segment driver, and the on-chip charge pump generates the LCD bias voltage directly from a single 5 V rail, cutting BOM cost. The nanoWatt XLP sleep current keeps standby power below the 1 W Energy Star threshold for always-on appliances. Place the QFN-64 with thermal-via stitching under the exposed pad for reliable reflow, and route the segment lines directly to the LCD glass through short, parallel traces to minimise cross-talk. A typical firmware loop runs the main UI on a 16 MHz HFINTOSC tick and lets the charge pump refresh the LCD autonomously during sleep.
Recommended
Smart Thermostat and HVAC Controller
In wall-mount thermostats the PIC16F1946T-I/MR provides the LCD panel, the 10-bit ADC for temperature sensing, and the capacitive-touch CTMU for capacitive buttons in a single chip. The 2.3-5.5 V supply accepts 24 VAC-derived rails after rectification, and the integrated USART and MSSP drive the Wi-Fi/BLE module and the HVAC control bus. With the LCD running at 1/4 duty and the CPU in sleep, total quiescent current stays below 30 uA so two AA cells can back up the clock during power loss. Designers should reserve one timer for the PWM-driven triac control, and use the ADC's internal 1.024 V reference for ratiometric thermistor measurements.
Recommended
Home Blood-Pressure Monitor
For medical home-care devices, the PIC16F1946T-I/MR combines the segmented LCD for systolic/diastolic/pulse display, a 10-bit ADC for the pressure sensor, and nanoWatt XLP sleep for long battery life between measurements. The on-chip CTMU drives a tactile button matrix without external resistors, and the MSSP (I2C) interfaces to the digital pressure transducer. The 32 MHz internal oscillator removes the external crystal, allowing a single-PCB construction that fits the meter housing. Validate IEC 60601-1-2 EMI margins on the LCD segment lines, and use the charge pump in bypass mode at low temperature to keep the LCD contrast stable.
Recommended
Single-Phase Electricity Meter with LCD
The PIC16F1946T-I/MR runs the meter's LCD, the energy-measurement loop and the optical port in a single chip. The integrated 32 MHz oscillator and the 10-bit ADC sample the shunt or current transformer at 4 kS/s, while the LCD driver displays kWh, voltage and time on up to 192 segments. The MSSP supports the IEC 62056-21 optical interface, and the nanoWatt XLP sleep holds RTC and LCD while idle. Use the internal voltage reference (1.024 V) for the ADC and calibrate the metrology loop against the 50/60 Hz line frequency measured through the zero-cross detector on the comparator.
Recommended
POS Terminal and Barcode Scanner
Portable point-of-sale terminals benefit from the PIC16F1946T-I/MR's LCD driver for the operator display, its 32 MHz core for real-time serial protocols, and the XLP sleep current for shift-long battery runtime. The enhanced USART drives the barcode scanner and receipt printer, while the MSSP (SPI) talks to the secure element or NFC reader. With 54 I/O available, designers can add keypad scanning, audio feedback, and battery monitoring without an I/O expander. Use the 16-bit timer to debounce the keypad matrix and the CTMU to detect the operator's presence on the touch keypad.
Recommended
Portable Cooking Thermometer
Battery-powered wireless cooking thermometers use the PIC16F1946T-I/MR to drive a small LCD showing the probe temperature, read the NTC thermistor via the 10-bit ADC, and transmit over a low-power RF module connected to the EUSART. The nanoWatt XLP sleep current allows months of standby on a single CR2032 coin cell, and the on-chip temperature indicator removes the need for an external temperature sensor for cold-junction compensation. Implement the ADC reading as a periodic wake-up using the WDT, then return to sleep after transmitting, which keeps the average current below 5 uA in typical use.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F1946T-I/MR — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1946-I/MR | PIC16F1947-I/MR | PIC16F1939-I/PT | PIC16F1946-E/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | QFN-64 (MR), 8x8 mm | QFN-64 (MR), 8x8 mm - same | QFN-64 (MR), 8x8 mm - same | QFN-64 (MR), 8x8 mm - same | QFN-64 (MR), 8x8 mm - same |
| Program Flash | 14 KB | 14 KB | 28 KB | 28 KB | 14 KB |
| Data RAM | 512 B | 512 B | 1 KB | 1 KB | 512 B |
| Data EEPROM | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B | 256 B |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C (extended) |
| nanoWatt XLP Sleep | Yes (<60 nA typical) | Yes (<60 nA typical) | Yes (<60 nA typical) | No (older nanoWatt, ~1 uA) | Yes (<60 nA typical) |
| LCD Segments (max) | 192 | 192 | 192 | 192 | 192 |
Key Differentiators
- nanoWatt XLP deep-sleep current below 60 nA (vs PIC16F1939-I/PT)
- Same QFN-64 footprint extends in-family without PCB rework (vs PIC16F1947-I/MR)
- Same die in tray packaging for production (vs PIC16F1946-I/MR)
- Extended temperature grade on identical footprint (vs PIC16F1946-E/PT)
Design Notes
Decouple every VDD pin pair with a 100 nF X7R ceramic placed within 2 mm of the package, and add a single bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic at the regulator output. The PIC16F1946T-I/MR integrates an LCD charge pump that draws brief peak currents when refreshing pixels, so the bulk cap should be sized to keep VDD ripple below 50 mV. Tie all unused I/O to VDD or VSS through the internal weak pull-up or directly, and configure them as outputs low to minimise sleep current.
Estimated: At 32 MHz CPU clock and VDD 3.3 V, the active current is about 5.5 mA giving a dissipation of approximately 18 mW. With QFN-64 theta_JA of around 30 C/W on a 4-layer 1-oz PCB with thermal vias under the exposed pad, the junction temperature rise above ambient is below 1 C - well within the 125 C maximum. The exposed pad must be soldered to the PCB for the datasheet thermal resistance to hold; dry joints under the e-pad inflate theta_JA dramatically.
Place the ICSP connector (MCLR/VDD/VSS/PGD/PGC) at the board edge so the production programmer can reach it without removing the LCD glass. Route the segment bus in a single 16-bit bus to the LCD connector, keep the common pins in a separate bus, and add ground-guard traces around the high-impedance segment lines to avoid crosstalk from digital signals. Stitch the QFN-64 thermal pad with an array of 4-6 thermal vias (0.3 mm drill, 0.65 mm pitch) to the internal ground plane for both thermal and electrical bonding.
Do not forget to configure unused pins as outputs (or enable the global weak pull-up) - floating inputs can cause supply current to rise by hundreds of uA. The AVDD and AVSS pins must be connected even if the ADC is unused, otherwise the part can fail to start. Ensure the MCLR pin has a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD and a 100 nF cap to ground; without these the ICSP programming chain is unreliable. Do not enable the LCD charge pump above the maximum VDD; it is not a boost regulator and the output voltage is clamped to the LCD bias level.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page. Lead-free and halogen-free per datasheet. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; choose PIC16F1946-E/PT for extended-temperature industrial use. For automotive AEC-Q100 work, select a PIC16F1xxx part that is explicitly automotive-grade.
