PIC16LF1904-E/P - 8-Bit MCU, 7KB Flash, LCD, XLP | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1904-E/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.45 | $2.45 |
| 10 | $2.21 | $22.10 |
| 100 | $1.98 | $198.00 |
| 500 | $1.76 | $880.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.55 | $1,550.00 |
PIC16LF1904-E/P Overview
A PIC (Peripheral Interface Controller) microcontroller is a compact RISC-based programmable processor optimized for embedded control. The PIC16LF1904 belongs to the mid-range PIC16 family, sitting between the smaller PIC10/PIC12 and the high-performance PIC18/PIC24. Within the power-management IC hierarchy, this part is a microcontroller (MCU), not a power converter; its nanoWatt XLP technology places it in the ultra-low-power MCU category alongside MSP430 and STM8L competitors.
Key features include a 10-bit ADC with up to 14 channels, multiple communication peripherals (I2C, SPI, EUSART), 4 x 8-bit timers plus 1 x 16-bit timer, an integrated LCD driver capable of driving segmented displays with up to 116 segments, and a wide operating temperature range of -40C to +125C. The 'LF' suffix denotes the low-voltage F-version optimized for 1.8V-3.3V operation, while 'E' indicates the extended temperature grade.
Architecturally, the PIC16LF1904 uses a 14-bit instruction word RISC core with a hardware stack, shadow register banks for fast context switching, and an internal oscillator that can be tuned in software. The integrated LCD module includes charge-pump voltage generation and configurable segment timing, eliminating the need for an external LCD bias generator.
Typical applications include battery-powered metering (gas/water/electric), portable medical devices such as glucose meters, home appliances with LCD displays, sensor node IoT edge devices, and industrial control panels. Its low sleep current also makes it suitable for energy-harvesting applications.
When designing with this MCU, place decoupling capacitors (100 nF plus 10 uF bulk) as close as possible to VDD/VSS pins. Configure the LCD charge pump for the lowest acceptable bias voltage to minimize power, and use the deep-sleep modes (doze/idle/sleep) with peripheral disable to maximize battery life.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in PIC16 family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the standalone Microchip datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1904-E/P — 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 PIC16LF1904-E/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Data RAM, Mounting Type, Package, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF1906-E/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1907-E/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1903-E/P
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1847-I/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1904-E/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16, 8-bit RISC, 14-bit instruction word |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB (4K x 14) |
| Data RAM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +125 C (Extended, E suffix) |
| Timers | 4 x 8-bit, 1 x 16-bit |
| Communication Peripherals | I2C, SPI, EUSART |
| LCD Driver | Integrated, up to 116 segments |
| Package | 40-pin PDIP (0.600 in, 15.24 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP |
| MSL Level | 1 (unlimited) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC16LF1904-E/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA3/AN3/VREF+ — GPIO / Analog input 3 / Voltage reference positive |
| Pin 2 | RA4/AN4 — GPIO / Analog input 4 |
| Pin 3 | RA5/MCLR/VPP — GPIO / Master Clear (Reset, active-low) / Programming voltage |
| Pin 4 | RA6/OSC2/CLKOUT — GPIO / Crystal oscillator output / Clock output |
| Pin 5 | RA7/OSC1/CLKIN — GPIO / Crystal oscillator input / External clock input |
| Pin 6 | RC0 — GPIO port C bit 0 / LCD segment |
| Pin 7 | RC1 — GPIO port C bit 1 / LCD segment |
| Pin 8 | RC2 — GPIO port C bit 2 / LCD segment |
| Pin 9 | RC3 — GPIO port C bit 3 / LCD segment |
| Pin 10 | RC4 — GPIO port C bit 4 / LCD segment |
| Pin 11 | RC5 — GPIO port C bit 5 / LCD segment |
| Pin 12 | RC6 — GPIO port C bit 6 / LCD segment |
| Pin 13 | RC7 — GPIO port C bit 7 / LCD segment |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8V to 3.6V) |
| Pin 15 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 16 | RB0 — GPIO port B bit 0 / LCD segment |
| Pin 17 | RB1 — GPIO port B bit 1 / LCD segment |
| Pin 18 | RB2 — GPIO port B bit 2 / LCD segment |
| Pin 19 | RB3 — GPIO port B bit 3 / LCD segment |
| Pin 20 | RB4 — GPIO port B bit 4 / LCD segment |
| Pin 21 | RB5 — GPIO port B bit 5 / LCD segment |
| Pin 22 | RB6 — GPIO port B bit 6 / ICDCLK / LCD segment |
| Pin 23 | RB7 — GPIO port B bit 7 / ICDDAT / LCD segment |
| Pin 24 | RD0 — GPIO port D bit 0 / LCD segment |
| Pin 25 | RD1 — GPIO port D bit 1 / LCD segment |
| Pin 26 | RD2 — GPIO port D bit 2 / LCD segment |
| Pin 27 | RD3 — GPIO port D bit 3 / LCD segment |
| Pin 28 | RD4 — GPIO port D bit 4 / LCD segment |
| Pin 29 | RD5 — GPIO port D bit 5 / LCD segment |
| Pin 30 | RD6 — GPIO port D bit 6 / LCD segment |
| Pin 31 | RD7 — GPIO port D bit 7 / LCD segment |
| Pin 32 | RE0 — GPIO port E bit 0 / LCD segment |
| Pin 33 | RE1 — GPIO port E bit 1 / LCD segment |
| Pin 34 | RE2 — GPIO port E bit 2 / LCD segment |
| Pin 35 | RE3 — GPIO port E bit 3 / LCD segment |
| Pin 36 | RA0/AN0 — GPIO / Analog input 0 / LCD segment |
| Pin 37 | RA1/AN1 — GPIO / Analog input 1 / LCD segment |
| Pin 38 | RA2/AN2 — GPIO / Analog input 2 / LCD segment / VREF- |
| Pin 39 | ICSPCLK — In-Circuit Serial Programming clock |
| Pin 40 | ICSPDAT — In-Circuit Serial Programming data |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1904-E/P is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Utility Meter, Portable Glucose Meter, Home Appliance Control Panel, Wireless Sensor Node Edge Device, Industrial Control Panel HMI, Automotive Aftermarket Accessory Display.
Battery-Powered Utility Meter
The PIC16LF1904-E/P is ideal for battery-powered gas, water, and electricity meters because its integrated segmented LCD driver supports up to 116 segments without an external bias generator, and its nanoWatt XLP technology delivers sub-microamp sleep current for 10+ year battery life. The 1.8V-3.6V supply range accepts two AA alkaline cells or a single Li-ion cell directly. Typical implementation drives an 8-digit numeric LCD via the on-chip charge pump at 3V bias, samples a sensor with the 10-bit ADC every few seconds, and wakes the CPU only to update the display or detect a button press.
Recommended
Portable Glucose Meter
Portable blood-glucose meters benefit from the PIC16LF1904-E/P's integrated LCD driver for showing test results and historical trends, plus its low active current that extends battery life across thousands of test cycles. The 10-bit ADC interfaces directly with electrochemical glucose test strips via an op-amp front-end; the EUSART peripheral streams results to a Bluetooth companion IC for smartphone pairing. Sleep current below 1 uA between measurements lets a single CR2032 coin cell power the meter for 12+ months of typical use.
Recommended
Home Appliance Control Panel
The PIC16LF1904-E/P fits washing machines, microwave ovens, and dishwasher control panels where a 4- to 8-digit segmented LCD shows time, status, and program selection. Its 14-channel 10-bit ADC reads multiple temperature and level sensors simultaneously, and the four 8-bit timers drive PWM outputs for relays and buzzer tones. The extended -40C to +125C temperature grade tolerates the elevated ambient near heating elements and induction drivers, while the integrated LCD charge pump eliminates the need for a separate bias inverter on the display.
Recommended
Wireless Sensor Node Edge Device
IoT edge sensor nodes benefit from the PIC16LF1904-E/P's nanoWatt XLP sleep current, which keeps total system quiescent draw below the sub-microamp threshold needed for energy harvesting from indoor solar cells or thermal gradients. The MCU wakes on a sensor interrupt, performs a single ADC conversion, computes the result, transmits via SPI to a sub-GHz radio module, and returns to deep sleep. The integrated LCD can show last reading and signal strength without waking the radio.
Recommended
Industrial Control Panel HMI
Industrial HMIs use the PIC16LF1904-E/P to drive segmented LCD readouts for motor speed, valve position, and alarm status. The 40-pin PDIP package is easy to hand-solder for prototyping, and the wide -40C to +125C operating range tolerates factory-floor temperatures. Multiple PWM channels control analog gauge backlights and indicator LEDs, while the EUSART connects to a PLC or industrial bus interface. The 7 KB Flash holds the HMI state machine plus diagnostic logging.
Recommended
Automotive Aftermarket Accessory Display
After-market automotive accessories such as tire-pressure monitors, boost gauges, and trip computers use the PIC16LF1904-E/P to drive segmented LCDs that show real-time vehicle data. The extended -40C to +125C temperature grade covers the harsh automotive interior and engine-bay environments, and the wide 1.8V-3.6V supply accepts regulated 12V-to-3.3V rails derived from the car battery. The 10-bit ADC reads analog sensors like temperature probes and fuel-level senders directly.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1904-E/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF1906-E/P | PIC16LF1907-E/P | PIC16LF1847-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 40-pin PDIP | 40-pin PDIP - same | 40-pin PDIP - same | 40-pin PDIP - same |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 7 KB | 14 KB | 28 KB | 14 KB |
| Data RAM | 256 B | 512 B | 1 KB | 1 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | 32 MHz |
| LCD Driver | Yes (up to 116 segments) | Yes (up to 116 segments) | Yes (up to 116 segments) | Yes (LCD variant) |
| Temperature Grade | -40 C to +125 C (E) | -40 C to +125 C (E) | -40 C to +125 C (E) | -40 C to +85 C (I) |
| Approx. Unit Price (1 pc, USD) | 2.45 | 2.65 | 2.95 | 2.55 |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated LCD driver eliminates external bias components (vs PIC16LF1824-E/P)
- Lowest-cost entry point in PIC16LF1904/6/7 family (vs PIC16LF1906-E/P)
- nanoWatt XLP sleep current below 1 uA (vs PIC16LF1824-E/P)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to each VDD/VSS pin pair (pins 14/15) of the PIC16LF1904-E/P, plus a single 10 uF bulk capacitor on the VDD rail. Use the device's selectable brown-out reset (BOR) to force a controlled reset when battery voltage drops below the configured threshold; this prevents Flash corruption and erratic LCD behavior at end-of-life battery voltage.
Keep the LCD segment traces short and matched in length within each common/segment pair to minimize ghosting and improve contrast. Route the charge-pump flying capacitor traces (LCD-related) symmetrically and keep them away from high-frequency digital lines to prevent injection of noise into the LCD bias voltage. The ICSP pins (1/40) should be accessible via a 0.1 inch header for in-circuit programming.
Do not leave the MCLR pin floating; tie it to VDD through a 10 kohm resistor or directly drive it with the reset supervisor. When using the internal oscillator, enable the PLL only at supply voltages above 2.7V to avoid out-of-spec operation. Verify that the LCD charge-pump load capacitance matches the selected bias mode (1/2, 1/3, or 1/4) in software configuration to avoid dim or over-driven segments.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page; Pb-free packaging. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in verified data. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - not intended for primary automotive safety applications.
