PIC16LF1937-E/P - 8-Bit 32MHz MCU 14KB Flash LCD | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1937-E/P ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.36 | $3.36 |
| 10 | $3.02 | $30.20 |
| 100 | $2.69 | $269.00 |
| 500 | $2.36 | $1,180.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.15 | $2,150.00 |
PIC16LF1937-E/P Overview
What is an 8-bit microcontroller? An MCU (microcontroller unit) is a single-chip computer integrating a CPU core, program memory (Flash), data memory (RAM and EEPROM), peripheral interfaces (timers, ADC, UART, SPI, I2C), and general-purpose I/O into one package. The PIC16LF1937 belongs to the PIC16 mid-range family, which sits in the hierarchy: 8-bit MCU -> microcontroller -> embedded processor -> semiconductor. The 'LF' suffix designates the low-voltage Flash variant optimized for battery-powered applications using nanoWatt XLP technology to minimize active and sleep currents.
Key features include an integrated LCD controller supporting up to 96 segments with variable clock input and contrast control, capacitive sensing (mTouch) capability via the on-chip CPS module, a 10-bit ADC with up to 14 channels, multiple communication peripherals (EUSART, two SPI, two I2C), and 35 high-current source/sink I/O pins capable of directly driving LEDs. Individually programmable weak pull-ups and interrupt-on-change pins simplify board design by eliminating external resistors.
The architecture uses a 14-bit instruction word RISC core with a hardware stack and 49 instruction types, enabling deterministic interrupt response and tight C-code generation through the MPLAB XC8 compiler. The device supports in-circuit serial programming (ICSP) and in-circuit debugging (ICD) via two pins, allowing firmware updates and real-time debugging without removing the part from the board. The nanoWatt XLP technology provides multiple idle and sleep modes with currents below 1 µA in deep sleep, making the part suitable for energy-harvesting and battery-backed applications.
Typical applications include industrial control panels with LCD displays, automotive body and instrument clusters (the part carries AEC-Q100 references per Microchip qualification packages), consumer white goods, battery-powered sensor nodes, HVAC controllers, and any low-cost embedded design that needs a built-in segmented LCD driver. The 40-pin PDIP package remains popular for prototyping and through-hole manufacturing lines where socketed parts simplify rework.
A key design consideration is selecting the correct voltage variant: the PIC16F1937-E/P (2.3 V-5.5 V) is recommended when the system runs from a regulated 5 V rail, while the PIC16LF1937-E/P is required when the supply is 1.8 V-3.6 V or when minimizing sleep current is critical. Engineers should also verify that the 14 KB Flash is sufficient for the application and that the 36 I/O pins meet the peripheral count requirement.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, verified drop-in alternatives, pinout details, and practical design notes not consolidated on the manufacturer datasheet front page, helping engineers shorten the design-in cycle for PIC16LF1937-E/P-based products.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1937-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 PIC16LF1937-E/P (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, Timers, Data EEPROM, Data SRAM.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1937-E/P
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1937-I/P
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1937-E/SP
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1936-I/P
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1937-E/P Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB (8K x 14 words) |
| Data SRAM | 512 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 36 |
| Timers | 5 (Timer0/1/2/4/6) |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 14 channels |
| LCD Driver Segments | Up to 96 |
| Communication Peripherals | EUSART, 2x SPI, 2x I2C |
| Capacitive Sensing (mTouch) | Yes |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +125 °C |
| Package | 40-pin PDIP (0.600", 15.24 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Through-Hole (DIP) |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP |
| ICSP / ICD | Yes (2-wire) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF1937-E/P Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0/AN0/ULPWU/CPS0 — PORTA bit 0, analog input 0, ultra-low-power wake-up, CPS channel 0 |
| Pin 2 | RA1/AN1/CPS1 — PORTA bit 1, analog input 1, CPS channel 1 |
| Pin 3 | RA2/AN2/CPS2 — PORTA bit 2, analog input 2, CPS channel 2 |
| Pin 4 | RA3/AN3/CPS3 — PORTA bit 3, analog input 3, CPS channel 3 |
| Pin 5 | RA4/AN4/CPS4/T0CKI — PORTA bit 4, analog input 4, CPS channel 4, Timer0 clock input |
| Pin 6 | RA5/AN5/CPS5/SS — PORTA bit 5, analog input 5, CPS channel 5, SPI slave select |
| Pin 7 | RA6/OSC2/CLKOUT — PORTA bit 6, oscillator output, clock out |
| Pin 8 | RA7/OSC1/CLKIN — PORTA bit 7, oscillator input, clock in |
| Pin 9 | RE3/MCLR/Vpp — PORTE bit 3, master clear reset, programming voltage input |
| Pin 10 | RC0/SOSCO/SCLKI — PORTC bit 0, secondary oscillator output, scan clock input |
| Pin 11 | RC1/SOSCI — PORTC bit 1, secondary oscillator input |
| Pin 12 | RC2/CCP1 — PORTC bit 2, Capture/Compare/PWM 1 |
| Pin 13 | RC3/SEG13 — PORTC bit 3, LCD segment 13 |
| Pin 14 | RC4/SEG14 — PORTC bit 4, LCD segment 14 |
| Pin 15 | RC5/SEG15 — PORTC bit 5, LCD segment 15 |
| Pin 16 | RC6/SEG16/TX/CK — PORTC bit 6, LCD segment 16, EUSART TX/CK |
| Pin 17 | RC7/SEG17/RX/DT — PORTC bit 7, LCD segment 17, EUSART RX/DT |
| Pin 18 | RD0/SEG0 — PORTD bit 0, LCD segment 0 |
| Pin 19 | RD1/SEG1 — PORTD bit 1, LCD segment 1 |
| Pin 20 | RD2/SEG2 — PORTD bit 2, LCD segment 2 |
| Pin 21 | RD3/SEG3 — PORTD bit 3, LCD segment 3 |
| Pin 22 | RD4/SEG4 — PORTD bit 4, LCD segment 4 |
| Pin 23 | RD5/SEG5 — PORTD bit 5, LCD segment 5 |
| Pin 24 | RD6/SEG6 — PORTD bit 6, LCD segment 6 |
| Pin 25 | RD7/SEG7 — PORTD bit 7, LCD segment 7 |
| Pin 26 | Vss — Ground reference |
| Pin 27 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (1.8 V to 3.6 V) |
| Pin 28 | RB0/AN12/INT0/SEG8 — PORTB bit 0, analog input 12, external interrupt 0, LCD segment 8 |
| Pin 29 | RB1/AN10/INT1/SEG9 — PORTB bit 1, analog input 10, external interrupt 1, LCD segment 9 |
| Pin 30 | RB2/AN8/INT2/SEG10 — PORTB bit 2, analog input 8, external interrupt 2, LCD segment 10 |
| Pin 31 | RB3/AN9/CCP2/SEG11 — PORTB bit 3, analog input 9, CCP2, LCD segment 11 |
| Pin 32 | RB4/AN11/SDA/SEG12 — PORTB bit 4, analog input 11, I2C SDA, LCD segment 12 |
| Pin 33 | RB5/AN13/SCL/CCP3 — PORTB bit 5, analog input 13, I2C SCL, CCP3 |
| Pin 34 | RB6/PGC/ICSPCLK — PORTB bit 6, ICSP clock, programming/debug clock |
| Pin 35 | RB7/PGD/ICSPDAT — PORTB bit 7, ICSP data, programming/debug data |
| Pin 36 | RE0/AN5/SEG18 — PORTE bit 0, analog input 5, LCD segment 18 |
| Pin 37 | RE1/AN6/SEG19 — PORTE bit 1, analog input 6, LCD segment 19 |
| Pin 38 | RE2/AN7/SEG20 — PORTE bit 2, analog input 7, LCD segment 20 |
| Pin 39 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (second pin) |
| Pin 40 | Vss — Ground (second pin) |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1937-E/P is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Panels with LCD Display, Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes, Automotive Body and Instrument Cluster Modules, Consumer White Goods and Appliance HMI, HVAC Thermostats and Zone Controllers, Medical Point-of-Care Devices.
Industrial Control Panels with LCD Display
The PIC16LF1937-E/P is a natural fit for industrial control panels that need a segmented character LCD because the silicon includes a hardware LCD driver supporting up to 96 segments with variable clock input and contrast control. Driving a 16x4 character LCD or 8-digit 7-segment display offloads the CPU, leaving MIPS available for Modbus RTU slave communication, keypad scanning, and temperature control loops. The 1.8 V to 3.6 V supply matches 3.3 V industrial rails, while the 36 I/O pins provide ample headroom for relay drivers, optocouplers, and rotary encoder inputs typical in HVAC and process control panels.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Sensor Nodes
Battery-powered sensor nodes benefit from the PIC16LF1937-E/P's nanoWatt XLP technology, which delivers sleep currents below 1 µA in deep sleep and active currents under 1 mA at 1 MHz. The 14 KB Flash comfortably fits IoT sensor firmware with over-the-air update hooks, while the 10-bit ADC with up to 14 channels handles multi-sensor conditioning directly. A 3.6 V lithium primary cell can power the part for years at 0.1% duty cycle, and the integrated capacitive sensing (mTouch) lets designers replace mechanical buttons with sealed touch pads for outdoor enclosures.
Recommended
Automotive Body and Instrument Cluster Modules
The PIC16LF1937-E/P carries automotive temperature grade -40 °C to +125 °C and qualification references per Microchip automotive packages, making it suitable for non-safety body control modules such as seat controllers, mirror adjusters, and small instrument clusters. The integrated LCD driver is valuable for cluster applications where a segmented display shows gear position, odometer, or warning icons. AEC-Q100 documentation should be requested from Microchip for full PPAP submission, and the 36 I/O count supports multiple LIN slave nodes, PWM outputs for backlight dimming, and switch inputs from the body harness.
Recommended
Consumer White Goods and Appliance HMI
Consumer appliances (washing machines, refrigerators, microwaves, dishwashers) typically combine a segmented LCD with capacitive touch buttons and a few PWM-controlled loads - exactly the use case the PIC16LF1937-E/P targets. The 32 MHz CPU executes state machines fast enough to handle motor control supervisory loops in addition to the HMI, while the mTouch module replaces mechanical keypads with sealed touch sliders. The 40-pin PDIP through-hole package simplifies the manufacturing flow for high-volume white goods assembly lines that still prefer socketed or wave-soldered parts over SMT.
Recommended
HVAC Thermostats and Zone Controllers
Smart thermostats and HVAC zone controllers rely on a segmented LCD for room temperature and setpoint display, which the PIC16LF1937-E/P drives in hardware while the CPU runs proportional control loops and Modbus or BACnet communication stacks. The wide -40 °C to +125 °C operating range covers attic-mounted equipment, and the 14 KB Flash fits a full thermostat firmware with scheduling and remote sensor support. The integrated 10-bit ADC reads thermistor bridges directly, eliminating external signal conditioning.
Recommended
Medical Point-of-Care Devices
Low-cost medical point-of-care devices (glucometers, pulse oximeters, INR meters) benefit from the PIC16LF1937-E/P's combination of low power, integrated LCD driver, and reliable Flash with in-circuit programming. The mTouch module supports sealed front-panel buttons that are easy to disinfect - critical for clinical environments. The PIC16 family's long product lifecycle (15+ years) and Microchip's product change notification system also reduce regulatory re-qualification risk for medical device manufacturers, and the extended -40 °C to +125 °C grade supports outdoor screening and mobile clinic use cases.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1937-E/P — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1937-E/P | PIC16LF1937-I/P | PIC16LF1937-E/SP | PIC16LF1936-I/P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 40-pin PDIP | 40-pin PDIP | 40-pin PDIP | 28-pin SPDIP | 40-pin PDIP |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Program Memory | 14 KB Flash | 14 KB Flash | 14 KB Flash | 14 KB Flash | 14 KB Flash |
| Maximum Frequency | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| I/O Pins | 36 | 36 | 36 | 25 | 36 |
| LCD Segments | 96 | 96 | 96 | 64 | 96 |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +125 °C | -40 °C to +125 °C | -40 °C to +85 °C | -40 °C to +125 °C | -40 °C to +85 °C |
| Capacitive Sensing (mTouch) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Key Differentiators
- Low-voltage nanoWatt XLP variant for battery designs (vs PIC16F1937-E/P)
- Higher temperature grade for harsh environments (vs PIC16LF1937-I/P)
- Full 40-pin PDIP with all 96 LCD segments (vs PIC16LF1937-E/SP)
Design Notes
PIC16LF1937-E/P supply voltage is 1.8 V to 3.6 V - any 5 V source will damage the part. For 5 V designs use PIC16F1937-E/P (2.3 V to 5.5 V) which is pin-compatible. Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to each Vdd/Vss pin pair (pin 27/26 and pin 39/40 are the two pairs on the 40-pin PDIP). Add a bulk 10 µF tantalum or ceramic at the regulator output for ADC noise suppression.
Route the ICSP clock (RB6/PGC) and data (RB7/PGD) signals to a 6-pin or 3-pin header for in-circuit programming and debugging. Keep the trace lengths short and avoid routing them next to switching signals (PWM outputs, relay coils). The MCLR pin (RE3, pin 9) should have a 10 kΩ pull-up to Vdd and a 100 nF cap to ground to provide a clean reset; this is mandatory for reliable operation per Microchip application note TB087.
Do not use PIC16LF1937-E/P on a 5 V rail - the absolute maximum Vdd is 4.0 V per the datasheet and exceeding it will damage the Flash. Do not enable weak pull-ups on pins used as analog inputs (RA0-RA5, RB0-RB5, RE0-RE2) because the pull-up current will inject offset into ADC readings; disable them via the WPUEN register. When migrating from PIC16F1937 to PIC16LF1937, verify that the operating frequency does not exceed 16 MHz below 3.0 V supply.
PIC16LF1937-E/P in 40-pin PDIP has thermal resistance theta_JA of approximately 50 °C/W which is adequate for industrial temperature operation since the typical application draws under 10 mA. No heatsink is required. However, when driving high-current LED loads from the I/O pins (each pin can sink/source 25 mA, 125 mA per port), verify that the total dissipation P = Vdd x Icc + sum(Vpin_high x Iload) stays within the 1 W PDIP package limit.
Compliance Information
AEC-Q100 references per Microchip qualification package per third-party distributor datasheet. Lead-free and halogen-free per Microchip product labeling. RoHS compliance verified per Microchip product page.
