PIC16LF1906-I/SS - 8-Bit 20MHz 14KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1906-I/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.4 | $2.40 |
| 10 | $2.16 | $21.60 |
| 100 | $1.92 | $192.00 |
| 500 | $1.74 | $870.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.56 | $1,560.00 |
PIC16LF1906-I/SS Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is an integrated circuit that combines a CPU core, program memory, data memory, and programmable peripherals in a single package. Within the broader semiconductor taxonomy, this PIC16LF1906 belongs to the 8-bit MCU family, which sits below 32-bit ARM Cortex-M parts in computational capability but excels in power efficiency, deterministic interrupt response, and low system cost. The PIC16LF1906 specifically uses Microchip's enhanced mid-range core and is part of the XLP (eXtreme Low Power) family, making it well-suited to battery-powered and energy-harvesting designs.
Key features of the PIC16LF1906-I/SS include the nanoWatt XLP technology with sleep currents below 1 µA typical, an on-chip LCD driver supporting up to 116 segments, an integrated mTouch capacitive-sensing peripheral, 14KB self-programmable Flash, 256 bytes of EEPROM, and a wide 1.8V to 3.6V operating voltage range. The 28-SSOP narrow-body package enables reliable hand-soldering and rework while saving board space versus 28-pin PDIP alternatives.
Typical applications include battery-powered consumer appliances, low-power sensor nodes, IoT edge devices, electronic shelf labels, medical measurement instruments, and any design that needs a segmented LCD interface without requiring an external driver chip. The device is supported by Microchip's MPLAB X IDE and the XC8 compiler toolchain.
When designing with this part, observe the LF (low-voltage/F-range) variant's 1.8V minimum supply and pair it with the MPLAB Snap or PICkit 4 programmer for in-circuit debug. The internal 16MHz HFINTOSC can be used to eliminate an external crystal in space-constrained designs.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1906-I/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 PIC16LF1906-I/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in LCD Driver, Package, Timers, ADC, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF1906-I/SP
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.36 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1906-E/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.52 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1906T-I/SS
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.21 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1907-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1903-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1936-I/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1906-I/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Family | PIC® XLP™ 16F |
| Core Architecture | PIC16 (Enhanced Mid-Range 8-bit) |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 20 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB (8K x 14 words) |
| Data SRAM | 512 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| General-Purpose I/O Pins | 25 |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 °C to +85 °C (Industrial) |
| Package | 28-pin SSOP (5.30 mm body) |
| LCD Driver | Yes, up to 116 segments |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 17 channels |
| Capacitive Sensing | mTouch peripheral (CSM) |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF1906-I/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR/VPP/RA5 — Master Clear (reset) input / programming voltage / GPIO RA5 |
| Pin 2 | RA0/AN0/C12IN0-/SEG0 — PORTA0 / ADC input / comparator input / LCD segment 0 |
| Pin 3 | RA1/AN1/C12IN1-/SEG1 — PORTA1 / ADC input / comparator input / LCD segment 1 |
| Pin 4 | RA2/AN2/C12IN2-/VREF-/COM0 — PORTA2 / ADC input / VREF- / LCD common 0 |
| Pin 5 | RA3/AN3/C12IN3+/VREF+/COM1 — PORTA3 / ADC input / VREF+ / LCD common 1 |
| Pin 6 | RA4/AN4/C1OUT/SRQ/CPS6 — PORTA4 / ADC input / comparator output / SR latch Q / CPS channel 6 |
| Pin 7 | RA5/AN5/CPS7 — PORTA5 / ADC input / CPS channel 7 |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 9 | RA7/OSC1/CLKI — PORTA7 / crystal oscillator input / external clock input |
| Pin 10 | RA6/OSC2/CLKOUT — PORTA6 / crystal oscillator output / clock output |
| Pin 11 | RC0/T1CKI/SOSCO — PORTC0 / Timer1 clock input / secondary oscillator output |
| Pin 12 | RC1/CCP8/SOSCI — PORTC1 / CCP8 output / secondary oscillator input |
| Pin 13 | RC2/AN6/C12IN2-/P1D/SEG2 — PORTC2 / ADC input / PWM output / LCD segment 2 |
| Pin 14 | RC3/AN7/C12IN3-/P1C/SEG3 — PORTC3 / ADC input / PWM output / LCD segment 3 |
| Pin 15 | RC4/C12OUT/P1B/SEG4 — PORTC4 / comparator output / PWM output / LCD segment 4 |
| Pin 16 | RC5/CCP9/P1A/SEG5 — PORTC5 / CCP9 / PWM output / LCD segment 5 |
| Pin 17 | RC6/AN8/CCP10/SEG6/TX/CK — PORTC6 / ADC input / UART TX / I2C clock / LCD segment 6 |
| Pin 18 | RC7/AN9/CCP11/SEG7/RX/DT — PORTC7 / ADC input / UART RX / I2C data / LCD segment 7 |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8V-3.6V) |
| Pin 21 | RB0/AN12/CPS0/CCP4/INT/SEG8 — PORTB0 / ADC input / CPS / external interrupt / LCD segment 8 |
| Pin 22 | RB1/AN10/CPS1/CCP5/SEG9 — PORTB1 / ADC input / CPS / LCD segment 9 |
| Pin 23 | RB2/AN8/CPS2/SEG10 — PORTB2 / ADC input / CPS / LCD segment 10 |
| Pin 24 | RB3/AN9/CPS3/CCP9/SEG11 — PORTB3 / ADC input / CPS / LCD segment 11 |
| Pin 25 | RB4/CPS4/SDA/SEG12 — PORTB4 / CPS / I2C data / LCD segment 12 |
| Pin 26 | RB5/CPS5/SCL/SEG13 — PORTB5 / CPS / I2C clock / LCD segment 13 |
| Pin 27 | RB6/ICSPCLK/SEG14 — PORTB6 / ICD clock / LCD segment 14 |
| Pin 28 | RB7/ICSPDAT/SEG15 — PORTB7 / ICD data / LCD segment 15 |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1906-I/SS is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Metering and Sensor Nodes, LCD-Based Consumer HMI Appliances, IoT Edge Devices and Home Automation, Industrial Sensor Interfaces and 4-20 mA Loops, Medical Measurement Instruments, Capacitive Touch User Interfaces.
Battery-Powered Metering and Sensor Nodes
The PIC16LF1906-I/SS fits battery-powered metering applications because of its nanoWatt XLP sleep current below 1 µA and 1.8V minimum supply voltage, allowing direct operation from a 2xAA alkaline or single Li-ion cell without a boost converter. The integrated 14-bit ADC supports precise analog measurement of temperature, pressure, or flow sensors while the 10-bit ADC handles multi-channel scanning of water or gas meters. The on-chip 256B EEPROM stores calibration coefficients and rolling consumption logs. Compared with PIC18F alternatives, the PIC16LF1906 reduces sleep power by roughly an order of magnitude, extending coin-cell lifetime to multi-year ranges for 1-Hz sampling duty cycles common in smart utility meters.
Recommended
LCD-Based Consumer HMI Appliances
The PIC16LF1906-I/SS is designed for consumer appliances with segmented LCD displays because the on-chip LCD driver supports up to 116 segments without external charge-pump components, reducing BOM cost by USD 0.30 to USD 0.50 versus solutions needing an external HT1621 or similar controller. Typical use cases include microwave oven panels, washing machine displays, and thermostat UIs. The mTouch capacitive-sensing peripheral replaces mechanical buttons with reliable touch controls. Engineers can use the MPLAB Code Configurator to generate LCD initialization routines, drastically reducing firmware development time for the human-machine interface.
Recommended
IoT Edge Devices and Home Automation
The PIC16LF1906-I/SS targets IoT edge devices because the integrated peripherals - including UART, SPI, I2C, and 10-bit ADC - provide direct connectivity to sensors, EEPROMs, and sub-GHz radio modules such as the MRF89XA or LoRa transceivers. The 14KB Flash supports application code, a simple RF protocol stack, and OTA-ready bootloaders. Combined with the MCP9808 temperature sensor and the AT24CM02 I2C EEPROM, this PIC16LF1906 forms the heart of low-cost home automation nodes. Designers benefit from the LCSC pricing of USD 2.24 for the PIC16LF1906-I/SS, keeping total BOM well under USD 5 for a full wireless sensor node.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Interfaces and 4-20 mA Loops
The PIC16LF1906-I/SS serves industrial sensor interfaces through its 10-bit ADC with up to 17 input channels and 1.8V-3.6V operation, which pairs with external signal-conditioning front ends such as the MCP6N11 instrumentation amplifier for direct 4-20 mA current-loop measurement. The PIC16LF1906's deterministic interrupt latency and watchdog timer ensure reliable operation in electrically noisy factory floors. The 28-SSOP package withstands conformal coating processes, and the LF variant handles industrial -40°C to +85°C ambient ranges. For harsh-environment versions requiring -40°C to +125°C, engineers can substitute the PIC16LF1906-E/SS drop-in alternative without firmware changes.
Recommended
Medical Measurement Instruments
The PIC16LF1906-I/SS fits medical measurement instruments such as portable pulse oximeters, digital thermometers, and blood-pressure monitors, where its low-power operation maximizes battery life while the 14KB Flash accommodates clinical algorithm libraries and the mTouch peripheral supports sealed-button interfaces. The integrated LCD driver can directly drive the segmented display common in medical devices, eliminating the external controller IC. Paired with the MCP9700 analog temperature sensor, the design enables FDA 510(k) Class II device development with documented Microchip component reliability data. The compact 28-SSOP package supports miniaturized hand-held form factors favored by clinicians.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch User Interfaces
The PIC16LF1906-I/SS supports capacitive touch user interfaces through Microchip's mTouch peripheral (CSM module), which provides up to 16 channels of charge-time-measurement touch sensing without external hardware. This enables reliable button, slider, and wheel replacements on kitchen appliances, audio equipment, and IoT control panels. The mTouch library, available through MPLAB Code Configurator, simplifies firmware implementation and includes built-in noise-immunity algorithms. Combined with the on-chip LCD driver, the PIC16LF1906 delivers a complete touch-plus-display HMI in a single 28-SSOP package, reducing PCB area by up to 50% versus discrete touch controller + LCD + MCU designs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1906-I/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF1906-I/SP | PIC16LF1906-E/SS | PIC16LF1907-I/SS | PIC16LF1903-I/SS | PIC16F1936-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-pin SSOP (5.30 mm body) | 28-pin SPDIP (through-hole) | 28-pin SSOP (5.30 mm body) | 28-pin SSOP (5.30 mm body) | 28-pin SSOP (5.30 mm body) | 28-pin SSOP (5.30 mm body) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 14 KB | 14 KB | 14 KB | 18 KB | 7 KB | 14 KB |
| RAM | 512 bytes | 512 bytes | 512 bytes | 768 bytes | 256 bytes | 512 bytes |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.8V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 3.6V | 1.8V to 5.5V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| Unit Price (1k qty) | USD 1.56 | USD 1.65 | USD 1.78 | USD 1.84 | USD 1.40 | USD 1.95 |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated LCD driver up to 116 segments without external charge pump (vs PIC16F1936-I/SS)
- Best-in-class nanoWatt XLP sleep current under 1 µA (vs PIC16F1936-I/SS)
- Pin-compatible family scaling from 7KB to 18KB Flash (vs PIC16LF1903-I/SS)
Design Notes
Estimated: At VDD=3.0V and 4 MHz system clock from the internal HFINTOSC, the PIC16LF1906-I/SS draws approximately 0.6 mA active current. In sleep mode with WDT disabled, this drops to roughly 600 nA at 25°C. For battery-powered designs targeting multi-year coin-cell lifetime, ensure the mTouch scan duty cycle is kept below 0.1% and disable unused peripherals via the PMDx registers to achieve the nanoWatt XLP sleep current specification of less than 1 µA stated in the datasheet.
Place a 0.1 µF ceramic decoupling capacitor as close as possible to the VDD pin (pin 20) with a trace length below 3 mm to minimize inductance. For LCD applications, add a 4.7 µF bulk capacitor on VDD to support the LCD charge-pump transient currents. The 28-SSOP exposed pad (if any) should be soldered to a copper pour to improve thermal performance and reduce ground bounce. Use a 4-layer stack-up with continuous ground plane for designs sensitive to EMI or RF emissions from the 20 MHz CPU clock harmonics.
Do not assume the LF (1.8V-3.6V) variant can be back-driven at 5V - exceeding 3.6V on VDD may damage the Flash. When migrating firmware from a PIC16F1936 design, verify that ADC reference voltage selections are compatible, because the LF1906's VREF+ cannot exceed VDD. Also note that the MCLR/VPP pin requires an external pull-up resistor (typically 10 kΩ) on most production designs - relying solely on the internal weak pull-up can cause intermittent resets in electrically noisy environments.
Route the ICPGCK and ICPGDT signals (RB6/RB7) directly to a 6-pin ICSP header placed near the MCU for in-circuit programming and debugging access. Keep the ICSP traces short (below 25 mm) and avoid routing noisy signals (PWM, switching regulators) near them. For LCD-based designs, segregate the LCD segment/com pins on PORTC and PORTD into one area of the PCB to simplify routing to the display connector, and add a guard trace around the LCD signals to reduce cross-coupling with adjacent digital I/O.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this part targets consumer/industrial, not automotive. Choose PIC16LF1906-E/SS for extended temperature range.
