PIC16LF1937-E/PT - 14KB Flash 8-bit MCU w/ LCD | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1937-E/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.32 | $4.32 |
| 10 | $3.89 | $38.90 |
| 100 | $3.46 | $346.00 |
| 500 | $3.05 | $1,525.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.68 | $2,680.00 |
PIC16LF1937-E/PT Overview
An 8-bit PIC microcontroller (MCU) is a compact programmable system-on-chip combining a RISC CPU core, Flash program memory, SRAM, EEPROM, and a rich set of peripherals (ADC, timers, communication modules, I/O) on a single die. PIC16F/LF-series MCUs sit in the low-power and cost-optimized tier of Microchip's PIC product hierarchy, designed for battery-powered and consumer/industrial embedded applications. The 'LF' prefix denotes an extended low-voltage variant suited to 1.8V-3.6V operation.
Key features of the PIC16LF1937-E/PT include a 32 MHz internal oscillator, a 10-bit ADC with up to 14 channels, an integrated LCD driver supporting up to 96 segments, multiple PWM/capture/compare modules, two USART modules, MSSP I2C/SPI, and an 8-bit/16-bit timer block. The nanoWatt XLP architecture delivers standby currents as low as sub-microamp range (typical data), enabling multi-year coin-cell operation in metering and remote-sensor designs.
The PIC16LF1937-E/PT uses Microchip's enhanced mid-range 16-bit instruction set with a modified Harvard architecture, supporting hardware multiplier and interrupt priority. Its peripheral set is routed via Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) on many pins, providing layout flexibility. Internal voltage reference selections and capacitive sensing modules broaden its applicability.
Typical applications include battery-powered LCD instruments (thermostats, utility meters, point-of-sale terminals), industrial control panels with segmented displays, capacitive touch user interfaces, low-power remote sensor nodes, and consumer appliances requiring on-glass display driving. The integrated LCD driver eliminates the need for an external LCD controller, reducing BOM cost and PCB area.
When designing with this device, pay attention to the 44-pin TQFP land pattern compatibility for migration within the PIC16LF193x family and to PPS remap assignments when porting code from older PIC16F devices. Decouple VDD with a 0.1 uF ceramic close to the pins and reserve the AVDD/AVSS pair for ADC accuracy.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, same-family drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1937-E/PT — 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/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, Core, ADC, Communication.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF1937-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.21 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1936-E/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1934-E/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.83 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1937T-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.84 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18876-E/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF18875-E/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF19176-E/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1847-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1937-E/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC16 8-bit RISC (Enhanced Mid-Range) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB (8K x 14 words) |
| Data SRAM | 512 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 36 GPIO + 1 input-only |
| Package | 44-pin TQFP (10x10 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (Extended, -E suffix) |
| LCD Driver | Integrated, up to 96 segments |
| Communication | 2x USART (EUSART), MSSP (I2C/SPI) |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP |
| Internal Oscillator | 32 MHz HF + 32 kHz LF |
| Peripheral Pin Select | Yes |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF1937-E/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA3/AN3/C1IN+/VREF+ — GPIO/ADC/CMP/VREF+ |
| Pin 2 | RA4/C1OUT — GPIO/CMP output |
| Pin 3 | RA5/AN4/C2IN-/SS — GPIO/ADC/CMP/SPI SS |
| Pin 4 | RA6 — GPIO |
| Pin 5 | RA7 — GPIO |
| Pin 6 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 7 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 8 | RA0/AN0/ULPWU — GPIO/ADC/ultra-low-power wake |
| Pin 9 | RA1/AN1 — GPIO/ADC |
| Pin 10 | RA2/AN2 — GPIO/ADC |
| Pin 11 | RC0/SOSCO — GPIO/secondary oscillator output |
| Pin 12 | RC1/SOSCI — GPIO/secondary oscillator input |
| Pin 13 | RC2/CCP1 — GPIO/CCP |
| Pin 14 | RC3/SCL — GPIO/I2C SCL |
| Pin 15 | RC4/SDA — GPIO/I2C SDA |
| Pin 16 | RC5/SDO — GPIO/SPI SDO |
| Pin 17 | RC6/TX/CK — GPIO/EUSART TX/CK |
| Pin 18 | RC7/RX/DT — GPIO/EUSART RX/DT |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 21 | RB0/AN12/INT — GPIO/ADC/external interrupt |
| Pin 22 | RB1/AN10 — GPIO/ADC |
| Pin 23 | RB2/AN8 — GPIO/ADC |
| Pin 24 | RB3/AN9/PGM — GPIO/ADC/ICSP programming |
| Pin 25 | RB4/AN11 — GPIO/ADC |
| Pin 26 | RB5/AN13 — GPIO/ADC |
| Pin 27 | RB6/ICSPCLK — GPIO/ICSP clock |
| Pin 28 | RB7/ICSPDAT — GPIO/ICSP data |
| Pin 29 | RD0 — GPIO |
| Pin 30 | RD1 — GPIO |
| Pin 31 | RD2 — GPIO |
| Pin 32 | RD3 — GPIO |
| Pin 33 | RC4/SDA (Note: shared pin position) — GPIO/I2C SDA (PORTD in 44-pin variants) |
| Pin 34 | RD4 — GPIO |
| Pin 35 | RD5 — GPIO |
| Pin 36 | RD6 — GPIO |
| Pin 37 | RD7 — GPIO |
| Pin 38 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 39 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 40 | RE0 — GPIO |
| Pin 41 | RE1 — GPIO |
| Pin 42 | RE2 — GPIO |
| Pin 43 | MCLR/VPP/RE3 — Reset/programming high voltage |
| Pin 44 | AVDD — Analog positive supply |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1937-E/PT is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered LCD Utility Meters, Industrial Control Panels with Segmented LCD, Capacitive Touch User Interfaces, Low-Power Remote Sensor Nodes, Consumer Appliance Controllers, Point-of-Sale Terminals and Ticketing Machines, Automotive Aftermarket Accessories.
Battery-Powered LCD Utility Meters
The PIC16LF1937-E/PT is a strong fit for battery-powered utility meters (water, gas, electric) because its integrated LCD driver supports up to 96 segments directly, eliminating an external LCD controller, and its nanoWatt XLP architecture delivers standby currents down to tens of nA per Microchip datasheet DS41364E. The 14KB Flash accommodates metering firmware plus calibration tables, and the 1.8V-3.6V supply aligns with 2-3 AA cells or a single lithium thionyl chloride primary cell. Placed between the battery and the LCD glass, with the ADC measuring sensor inputs and EEPROM storing tamper-resistant meter logs. Unlike higher-end Cortex-M0 parts, it adds no MMU overhead and offers deterministic interrupt response, simplifying regulatory certification.
Recommended
Industrial Control Panels with Segmented LCD
The PIC16LF1937-E/PT drives segmented LCD front panels on industrial equipment such as HVAC controllers, motor drives, and process instruments. The integrated LCD controller with variable clock input and internal voltage references handles contrast generation without external charge-pump circuitry, reducing BOM. Per Microchip datasheet DS41364E, 36 GPIO provide sufficient pins for keypad scanning, status LEDs, and relay drivers alongside the LCD. The -E temperature grade (-40C to +125C) tolerates cabinet environments. Connected to a 24V-to-3.3V LDO with 0.1uF ceramic decoupling; the MCU then drives the LCD glass directly and reads push-button matrix inputs.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch User Interfaces
The PIC16LF1937-E/PT includes the mTouch capacitive-sensing module supported by the CTMU peripheral, enabling capacitive buttons, sliders, and proximity sensors without external components. Per Microchip datasheet DS41364E, the device handles up to 16 channels of capacitive sensing with hardware averaging for noise immunity. Combined with the integrated LCD driver, the same chip can scan a touch keypad and refresh a segmented LCD in low-power products like thermostats and microwave ovens. The 32 MHz core provides enough throughput for fast touch response while nanoWatt XLP keeps idle current sub-uA. Connected via the CTMU charge-time measurement pins to the touch electrodes with proper guarding.
Recommended
Low-Power Remote Sensor Nodes
The PIC16LF1937-E/PT is well-suited to remote sensor nodes for IoT and environmental monitoring, where battery life is measured in years. Its nanoWatt XLP sleep current of typically 50 nA to 1.5 uA per Microchip datasheet DS41364E allows duty-cycled wake-measure-transmit operation with coin-cell or energy-harvested supplies. The 10-bit ADC with up to 14 channels reads temperature, humidity, and other analog sensors, while the integrated EUSART links to radios such as Sub-GHz transceivers. The 1.8V-3.6V supply matches single lithium chemistries. Placed between a primary cell and the sensor stack with a 32.768 kHz crystal for RTC; the application spends >99% of its time in sleep mode.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Controllers
The PIC16LF1937-E/PT fits consumer appliances (washing machines, dishwashers, microwave ovens, refrigerators) where an LCD front panel, push-button keypad, and triac/relay drivers are needed. The combination of 36 GPIO, integrated LCD, and CCP/ECCP modules provides direct triac-phase-control or PWM outputs for motor and heater regulation. Per Microchip datasheet DS41364E, the -E temperature grade handles appliance thermal environments. The 14KB Flash stores the appliance state machine and self-test routines. Powered from a 5V or 3.3V rail derived from the line through an isolated SMPS, with opto-isolated triac drivers driven from GPIO.
Recommended
Point-of-Sale Terminals and Ticketing Machines
The PIC16LF1937-E/PT can serve as the main controller in small point-of-sale (POS) terminals, fare-collection validators, and self-service kiosks that need an integrated LCD and a numeric keypad. The 14KB Flash stores the application firmware and transaction-protocol stacks for serial peripherals, while 256B EEPROM holds calibration and configuration data per Microchip datasheet DS41364E. The EUSART interfaces to a magnetic-stripe reader or smartcard socket, and the MSSP handles secure-memory communication. The 1.8V-3.6V supply aligns with battery-backed designs. Connected between the 3.3V rail and the LCD/keypad module, with a backup supercapacitor for RTC retention.
Recommended
Automotive Aftermarket Accessories
Although not AEC-Q100 qualified, the PIC16LF1937-E/PT's -E temperature grade (-40C to +125C) makes it acceptable for non-safety automotive aftermarket products such as gauge clusters, digital tachometers, and shift-light indicators. The LCD driver displays engine data on a custom segmented glass, while the ADC reads sensor inputs (RPM, temperature, pressure). Per Microchip datasheet DS41364E, the wide supply range tolerates 12V automotive bus transients when paired with an external LDO and TVS protection. The 32 MHz core computes engine math in real time. Placed between the 12V-to-3.3V regulated rail and the LCD/sensor harness; firmware is field-updatable via the EUSART bootloader.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1937-E/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF1937-I/PT | PIC16LF1934-E/PT | PIC16LF18876-E/PT | PIC16LF19176-E/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 44-pin TQFP (10x10) | 44-pin TQFP (10x10) - same | 44-pin TQFP (10x10) - same | 44-pin TQFP (10x10) - same | 44-pin TQFP (10x10) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same | Microchip Technology - same |
| Core | PIC16 8-bit 32 MHz | PIC16 8-bit 32 MHz | PIC16 8-bit 32 MHz | PIC16 8-bit 32 MHz (newer gen) | PIC16 8-bit 32 MHz (newer gen) |
| Flash | 14 KB | 14 KB | 7 KB | 28 KB | 28 KB |
| SRAM | 512 B | 512 B | 256 B | 2048 B | 2048 B |
| EEPROM | 256 B | 256 B | 128 B | 256 B | 256 B |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V - 3.6 V | 1.8 V - 3.6 V | 1.8 V - 3.6 V | 1.8 V - 3.6 V | 1.8 V - 3.6 V |
| Temperature Grade | Extended -40C to +125C | Industrial -40C to +85C | Extended -40C to +125C | Extended -40C to +125C | Extended -40C to +125C |
| LCD Driver | Yes (up to 96 segments) | Yes (up to 96 segments) | Yes (up to 64 segments) | Yes (up to 96 segments) | Yes (up to 184 segments) |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated LCD driver eliminates external LCD controller (vs PIC16LF1827-E/SO)
- NanoWatt XLP extreme-low-power sleep current (vs PIC16LF18876-E/PT)
- Extended temperature grade -40C to +125C (vs PIC16LF1937-I/PT)
- 44-pin TQFP provides maximum GPIO and segment pins (vs PIC16LF1936-I/SP (28-pin SPDIP))
Design Notes
Decouple each VDD/VSS pair with a 0.1 uF ceramic capacitor placed within 3 mm of the pins, and add a bulk 10 uF capacitor near the MCU supply pin. Per Microchip datasheet DS41364E, the AVDD/AVSS pins should have a separate filtered supply trace from the digital VDD, with a ferrite bead or small resistor and parallel 10 uF + 0.1 uF caps for ADC accuracy. Estimated: at 32 MHz active current around 3 mA, the bulk cap handles the inrush on wake-from-sleep; at sleep current of ~50 nA to 1.5 uA, the 10 uF holds charge for years.
Route the 32.768 kHz crystal traces (SOSCO/SOSCI, RC0/RC1) within 5 mm of the MCU with a ground guard ring, and keep them away from switching nodes and PWM outputs to avoid coupling into the RTC. Place the ICSP header (MCLR/ICSPCLK/ICSPDAT on pins 43/27/28) on the PCB edge or test-point cluster so that in-circuit programming works without removing the MCU. The LCD segment traces should have matched lengths within each COM/SEG group to minimize ghosting. Use a 4-layer PCB if possible to provide a solid ground plane beneath the MCU and LCD glass.
Do not leave the MCLR/RE3 pin (pin 43) floating - tie it to VDD through a 10 kohm resistor and add a 100 nF cap to ground for noise immunity. Forgetting this is the single most common reason PIC MCUs fail to start. When using the ADC, configure the A/D channel as digital-only via ANSEL to avoid extra current draw on unused pins. The LF1937-E/PT does NOT include a USB module - do not assume USB capability based on the PIC16 name. For LF vs F variant selection, ensure your I/O and ADC references stay within 3.6V on the LF or use 5V-tolerant parts on the F variant.
The MSSP I2C bus on PIC16LF1937-E/PT operates in standard (100 kHz), fast (400 kHz), and fast-plus (1 MHz) modes per datasheet DS41364E. Place 4.7 kohm pull-ups on SCL/SDA even when unused, to avoid floating inputs that can latch-up. For SPI, ensure the SCK frequency stays below Fosc/2 (=16 MHz at 32 MHz core) and use series resistors (22-33 ohm) near the driver to dampen reflections. If the EUSART is used at high baud rates (e.g., 921600), keep the TX/RX traces short and matched; consider ground-coax or twisted-pair for long external cables.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - for AEC-Q100, consider PIC16F1937-E/P automotive product line.