PIC16F737-E/SP - 8-bit MCU, 7KB Flash, 20MHz, 28-SPDIP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16F737-E/SP ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.92 | $6.92 |
| 10 | $6.23 | $62.30 |
| 100 | $5.51 | $551.00 |
| 500 | $4.86 | $2,430.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.31 | $4,310.00 |
PIC16F737-E/SP Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller is a single-chip computer built around an 8-bit data path and a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) architecture; PIC16 mid-range devices fall within the hierarchy 8-bit microcontroller -> PIC16 mid-range family -> nanoWatt power-managed MCU -> semiconductor. These parts are widely used for embedded control where deterministic interrupt response, low power consumption, and a familiar development ecosystem matter more than raw computational throughput.
Key features of the PIC16F737-E/SP include nanoWatt power management for sleep currents as low as a few microamps, an enhanced synchronous serial port configurable for SPI or I2C, a USART with RS-485 support, and an internal oscillator option. The part also supports in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) and in-circuit debugging (ICD), enabling field upgrades and lowering development-tooling cost for low-volume production. The Extended (-E) temperature grade targets industrial environments.
Architecturally, the device uses a Harvard RISC core with 35 single-word instructions and a 14-bit instruction word, achieving roughly 200 ns instruction execution at 20 MHz. The 10-bit ADC runs up to 11 channels with selectable reference, while the three CCP modules provide PWM resolution suitable for motor control and lighting. The nanoWatt technology, plus selectable oscillator modes (external RC, external crystal, internal 8 MHz / 31 kHz / 32 kHz-125 kHz ranges), lets designers tune active and sleep current to the application.
Typical applications for the PIC16F737-E/SP include industrial sensor interfaces with multi-channel ADC sampling, low-power battery-operated remote controls, motor and lighting PWM control loops, and appliance front-panel controllers. The USART plus RS-485 support also suits it for half-duplex industrial fieldbus nodes.
When designing with this part, mind the oscillator selection trade-off: the internal RC eliminates external crystals but adds frequency tolerance of typically +/-1-2 percent; choose an external crystal if UART baud accuracy or timing-sensitive capture measurements are required. The 28-SPDIP package has a thermal resistance suitable for normal industrial ambient temperatures without active cooling.
This page consolidates distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes for the PIC16F737-E/SP not found in the standalone manufacturer datasheet, supporting both component engineers and BOM managers.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16F737-E/SP — 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 PIC16F737-E/SP (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Timers, ADC, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F737-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.34 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F737T-E/SP
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F767-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F727-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.78 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F726-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16F737-E/SP Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC16 mid-range 8-bit RISC |
| Instruction Word Length | 14-bit |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB |
| Data RAM | 368 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 368 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 20 MHz |
| Instruction Execution Time | 200 ns (at 20 MHz) |
| I/O Pins | 25 |
| Timers | 3 |
| Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) Modules | 3 |
| ADC | 10-bit, 11 channels |
| Serial Interfaces | SSP (SPI/I2C), USART (with RS-485 support) |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0 V to 5.5 V |
| Operating Temperature Range (E grade) | -40C to +125C |
| Package | 28-pin SPDIP (Skinny Plastic DIP, 0.300" / 7.62 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Through Hole |
| Programming/Debug | ICSP + ICD (In-Circuit Serial Programming / Debug) |
| Power-Saving Technology | nanoWatt (low-power sleep modes) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16F737-E/SP Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA2/AN2/VREF- — Port A bit 2 / Analog input 2 / Negative voltage reference |
| Pin 2 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — Port A bit 3 / Analog input 3 / Positive voltage reference |
| Pin 3 | RA4/AN4/T0CKI — Port A bit 4 / Analog input 4 / Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 4 | RA5/AN5/SS/LVDIN — Port A bit 5 / Analog input 5 / SPI slave select / Low-voltage detect input |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 6 | OSC1/CLKI/RA7 — Crystal oscillator input / External clock input / Port A bit 7 |
| Pin 7 | OSC2/CLKO/RA6 — Crystal oscillator output / Clock output / Port A bit 6 |
| Pin 8 | RC0/T1OSO/T1CKI — Port C bit 0 / Timer1 oscillator output / Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 9 | RC1/T1OSI/CCP2 — Port C bit 1 / Timer1 oscillator input / CCP2 output |
| Pin 10 | RC2/CCP1 — Port C bit 2 / CCP1 output |
| Pin 11 | RC3/SCK/SCL — Port C bit 3 / SPI clock / I2C clock |
| Pin 12 | RC4/SDI/SDA — Port C bit 4 / SPI data in / I2C data |
| Pin 13 | RC5/SDO — Port C bit 5 / SPI data out |
| Pin 14 | RC6/TX/CK — Port C bit 6 / USART transmit / USART clock |
| Pin 15 | RC7/RX/DT — Port C bit 7 / USART receive / USART data |
| Pin 16 | VSS — Ground reference (second VSS pin) |
| Pin 17 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.0 V to 5.5 V) |
| Pin 18 | RB0/INT0/CCP2 — Port B bit 0 / External interrupt 0 / CCP2 alternate |
| Pin 19 | RB1/INT1 — Port B bit 1 / External interrupt 1 |
| Pin 20 | RB2/INT2 — Port B bit 2 / External interrupt 2 |
| Pin 21 | RB3/CCP2 — Port B bit 3 / CCP2 output |
| Pin 22 | RB4 — Port B bit 4 |
| Pin 23 | RB5/PGM — Port B bit 5 / Low-voltage programming input |
| Pin 24 | RB6/PGC — Port B bit 6 / ICSP clock |
| Pin 25 | RB7/PGD — Port B bit 7 / ICSP data |
| Pin 26 | AVSS — Analog ground reference |
| Pin 27 | AVDD — Analog positive supply voltage |
| Pin 28 | RA0/AN0 — Port A bit 0 / Analog input 0 |
Typical Applications
PIC16F737-E/SP is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Multi-Channel Sensor Interface, Battery-Powered Remote Control, PWM Motor and Lighting Control, Appliance Front-Panel Controller, Automotive Interior Body Controller, RS-485 Sensor / Fieldbus Node.
Industrial Multi-Channel Sensor Interface
The PIC16F737-E/SP fits industrial sensor-interface boards thanks to its 11-channel, 10-bit ADC running at up to 20 MHz, plus three CCP modules for excitation timing. Its nanoWatt sleep modes drop to a few microamps when the sensor bus is idle, extending battery life in remote installations. The USART with RS-485 support allows the same MCU to act as a half-duplex fieldbus node, dropping into MODBUS RTU networks without external transceivers for short runs. Compared to a discrete ADC plus 8-bit MCU solution, the integrated design reduces BOM and PCB area by roughly 30 percent, while the -40 to +125C E grade eliminates the need for an industrial-spec variant.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Remote Control
The PIC16F737-E/SP suits handheld remote-control designs because its nanoWatt technology puts the device into microamp-level sleep between button presses, achieving multi-year battery life on a coin cell. The 28-SPDIP through-hole package eases hand-assembly for prototype runs and small production batches. Three CCP channels drive IR or sub-GHz transmitter modulation directly, while the 10-bit ADC can read battery voltage to enable low-battery warnings via PWM-driven LED. Compared to a dedicated low-end 8-bit MCU, this part offers more peripherals, allowing one chip to replace separate timer, PWM, and ADC components in space-constrained remote enclosures.
Recommended
PWM Motor and Lighting Control
Three CCP modules on the PIC16F737-E/SP provide 10-bit PWM resolution for brushed DC motor speed control, LED dimming, or fan-speed regulation. The 20 MHz CPU clock gives PWM frequencies high enough to avoid audible motor whine while preserving fine resolution for smooth speed steps. The 10-bit ADC reads tachogenerator or current-sense feedback in the same loop, enabling closed-loop control without an external DSP. Compared to a software-PWM-only solution, hardware CCP frees the core for comms and housekeeping, and the -40 to +125C E grade handles under-cabinet and outdoor lighting enclosures. Designers typically pair this part with a gate driver or LED constant-current regulator on the output stage.
Recommended
Appliance Front-Panel Controller
The PIC16F737-E/SP is a strong fit for appliance front panels because 25 I/O pins easily drive 7-segment displays, button matrices, status LEDs, and a rotary encoder simultaneously. The SSP can be configured as I2C to read an external temperature/humidity sensor, while the USART talks to the main appliance control board. nanoWatt power saving keeps standby power compliant with energy-star regulations, and the through-hole 28-SPDIP package is robust against mechanical vibration common in washing machines and dishwashers. Compared to using a CPLD plus a separate ADC, this single-chip solution reduces BOM cost by 20 to 30 percent while remaining firmware-flexible for product variants.
Recommended
Automotive Interior Body Controller
While not AEC-Q100 qualified, the PIC16F737-E/SP finds use in non-safety automotive interior applications such as ambient lighting, HVAC flap control, and seat-position memory switches. Three CCP channels drive small DC motors and LED strings, while the USART with RS-485 capability talks to the body control module over a LIN-translator bridge. The 28-SPDIP package has excellent mechanical ruggedness for body-module environments, and the -E temperature grade covers under-dash ambient conditions. For designs requiring AEC-Q100, the Microchip PIC16F1827-E/SP serves as a forward-compatible upgrade with 12-bit ADC and CIP peripherals.
Recommended
RS-485 Sensor / Fieldbus Node
The PIC16F737-E/SP is well matched to RS-485 sensor nodes because its USART supports hardware RS-485 direction control, eliminating software bit-banging for the transmit-enable line. The 11-channel ADC reads multiple sensor types (temperature, pressure, level) in a single node, and the three timers handle debouncing and watchdog functions. Combined with a low-cost external RS-485 transceiver, the part forms a complete MODBUS RTU slave on a 28-SPDIP footprint. Compared to a generic UART-only MCU, the integrated ADC, timers, and nanoWatt sleep make this part a strong fit for low-power remote fieldbus installations in factory automation.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16F737-E/SP — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F737-I/SP | PIC16F727-I/P | PIC16F726-I/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SPDIP (0.300") | 28-SPDIP (0.300") - same | 28-DIP (0.600") | 28-SPDIP (0.300") - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Program Memory | 7 KB | 7 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB |
| Data RAM | 368 B | 368 B | 512 B | 368 B |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz |
| ADC Resolution / Channels | 10-bit / 11 ch | 10-bit / 11 ch | 12-bit / 14 ch | 12-bit / 11 ch |
| Operating Temperature (E grade) | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +85C (I grade) |
| Core Family | PIC16 mid-range (14-bit) | PIC16 mid-range (14-bit) | PIC16F1xxx enhanced mid-range | PIC16F1xxx enhanced mid-range |
Key Differentiators
- Same package across -E and -I temperature grades (vs PIC16F737-I/SP)
- Higher Flash and 12-bit ADC on direct pin-compatible upgrade (vs PIC16F727-I/P)
- Modernized 12-bit ADC with same pinout (vs PIC16F726-I/SP)
Design Notes
Estimate (using datasheet values): at 20 MHz active and VDD = 5 V, the PIC16F737-E/SP draws roughly 10-15 mA I-DD. In sleep mode with the Watchdog Timer disabled and the internal 31 kHz oscillator active, current drops below 1 uA, so for battery-powered designs gate any continuous peripheral power through a load switch controlled by a high-side MOSFET to reduce average consumption. Use a bulk 10 uF + 0.1 uF decoupling pair on VDD, plus a separate 0.1 uF on AVDD to isolate analog and digital supplies; tie AVSS to VSS at a single point under the MCU.
Place the ICSP header footprint (PGC pin 26, PGD pin 25, MCLR pin 1) on the PCB even for production units so that in-circuit debugging and field firmware updates are possible without rework. Keep MCLR/VPP trace short and bypassed with a 10-100 nF cap to VSS for reliable reset behaviour. If you use the internal RC oscillator, follow Microchip AN588 for PCB layout to minimize jitter on TMR1 input capture; otherwise, route the external crystal traces within 0.5 cm of the OSC1/OSC2 pins and guard them with a ground ring.
Three common pitfalls when designing with the PIC16F737-E/SP: (1) Forgetting that RB5 doubles as the low-voltage programming pin - tying it directly to VDD without a series resistor can interfere with ICSP; (2) Using the internal oscillator for UART baud generation without calibrating OSCTUNE - expect up to +/-2 percent frequency error and adjust the SPBRG register accordingly; (3) Driving LEDs directly on Port B pins sourcing current - the 25 mA per-pin absolute maximum can be exceeded if all 8 RB pins source simultaneously, so either limit Port B sourcing to 5 mA per pin or use a transistor driver for high-current LEDs.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance verified via DigiKey SKU 704613 and Mouser product listing. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; the -E temperature grade is industrial only. For automotive-qualified PIC16 mid-range, consider PIC16F1827 or PIC16F18323 series.
