PIC16LF1938T-I/MV - 28KB Flash LCD 8-bit MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1938T-I/MV ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.45 | $2.45 |
| 10 | $2.2 | $22.00 |
| 100 | $1.96 | $196.00 |
| 500 | $1.74 | $870.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.55 | $1,550.00 |
PIC16LF1938T-I/MV Overview
A PIC microcontroller is a RISC-based Harvard-architecture 8-bit MCU widely used in embedded control. PIC MCUs sit within the broader semiconductor hierarchy as microcontroller -> embedded processor -> integrated circuit. The PIC16F1938 family is part of Microchip's mid-range enhanced core lineup, offering more peripherals and code density than baseline PIC10/12/16 devices while remaining simpler than the PIC18 or dsPIC families.
Key features of the PIC16LF1938T-I/MV include a 32 MHz internal oscillator with PLL, 14-channel 10-bit ADC, multiple communication peripherals (I2C, SPI, EUSART), and an integrated LCD driver supporting up to 128 segments. The nanoWatt XLP technology provides sleep currents below 1 uA, making the part suitable for battery-powered or energy-harvesting applications. Enhanced peripherals include complementary waveform generators, configurable logic cells, and a numerically controlled oscillator.
The device architecture combines a 16-bit instruction word with separate data and program buses, supporting 49 instructions in the enhanced mid-range core. Peripherals are interconnected through Microchip's Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) system, allowing flexible pin mapping. The 10-bit ADC achieves up to 100 ksps with acquisition time configurable via software.
Typical applications include consumer appliance control panels with LCD displays, battery-powered IoT sensor nodes, medical devices such as glucose meters, automotive body controllers (non-safety), industrial HMI panels, and portable instrumentation. The integrated LCD driver eliminates the need for an external display controller.
When designing with the PIC16LF1938T-I/MV, ensure decoupling capacitors are placed within 5 mm of the VDD pin and consider the exposed thermal pad on the UQFN package for improved thermal performance. Programming uses Microchip's MPLAB X IDE with the XC8 compiler, and debugging via ICD or PKOB programmer tools.
This page synthesizes distributor inventory, drop-in same-family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the standalone manufacturer datasheet, providing information gain beyond distributor catalog listings.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1938T-I/MV — 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 PIC16LF1938T-I/MV (same form factor and footprint) — differing in LCD Driver, I/O Pins, Package, Timers, ADC.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF1938-I/MV
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1938T-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.73 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1939T-I/MV
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16F1938T-I/MV
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1937T-I/MV
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$1.69 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1936T-I/MV
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.89 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1938T-I/MV Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Architecture | PIC16 enhanced mid-range 8-bit RISC |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 28 KB (16K x 14 words) |
| Data SRAM | 1024 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 25 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 17 channels |
| Timers | 5 (8-bit/16-bit mix) |
| Communication Peripherals | I2C, SPI, EUSART (with LIN support) |
| LCD Driver | Integrated, up to 128 segments |
| Package | 28-pin UQFN (MV) 4x4 mm |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Low-Power Technology | nanoWatt XLP |
| Peripheral Pin Select | Yes |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF1938T-I/MV Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA7/OSC1/CLKIN/P1D — GPIO RA7 / oscillator input / PWM output |
| Pin 2 | RA6/OSC2/CLKOUT/P1C — GPIO RA6 / oscillator output / PWM output |
| Pin 3 | RC5/P1B/CCP1 — GPIO RC5 / PWM output / CCP1 capture/compare |
| Pin 4 | RC4/P1A/C2OUT — GPIO RC4 / PWM output / comparator 2 output |
| Pin 5 | RC3/AN7/C12IN3-/SEG7 — GPIO RC3 / ADC input / LCD segment |
| Pin 6 | RC2/AN6/C12IN2-/SEG6 — GPIO RC2 / ADC input / LCD segment |
| Pin 7 | RC1/AN5/C12IN1-/SEG5 — GPIO RC1 / ADC input / LCD segment |
| Pin 8 | RC0/AN4/C2IN+/SEG4 — GPIO RC0 / ADC input / LCD segment |
| Pin 9 | RA3/T1G/?REF+ — GPIO RA3 / Timer1 gate / reference voltage plus |
| Pin 10 | RA2/AN2/VREF-/T0CKI — GPIO RA2 / ADC input / VREF minus / Timer0 clock |
| Pin 11 | RA1/AN1/C1IN0-/ICSPCLK — GPIO RA1 / ADC input / comparator input / ICSP clock |
| Pin 12 | RA0/AN0/C1IN+/ICSPDAT — GPIO RA0 / ADC input / comparator input / ICSP data |
| Pin 13 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply (1.8V to 3.6V) |
| Pin 15 | RB7/ICSPDAT/SEG15 — GPIO RB7 / ICSP data / LCD segment |
| Pin 16 | RB6/ICSPCLK/SEG14 — GPIO RB6 / ICSP clock / LCD segment |
| Pin 17 | RB5/AN11/C12IN3-/SEG13 — GPIO RB5 / ADC input / LCD segment |
| Pin 18 | RB4/AN10/SDI/SDA/SEG12 — GPIO RB4 / SPI data in / I2C data / LCD segment |
| Pin 19 | RB3/AN9/SDO/C1OUT/SEG11 — GPIO RB3 / SPI data out / comparator output / LCD segment |
| Pin 20 | RB2/AN8/INT2/COM2 — GPIO RB2 / external interrupt / LCD COM2 |
| Pin 21 | RB1/AN10/COM1 — GPIO RB1 / ADC input / LCD COM1 |
| Pin 22 | RB0/AN12/INT0/COM0 — GPIO RB0 / ADC input / external interrupt / LCD COM0 |
| Pin 23 | RD7/SEG31 — GPIO RD7 / LCD segment |
| Pin 24 | RD6/SEG30 — GPIO RD6 / LCD segment |
| Pin 25 | RD5/SEG29 — GPIO RD5 / LCD segment |
| Pin 26 | RD4/SEG28 — GPIO RD4 / LCD segment |
| Pin 27 | RC7/RX/DT/SEG9 — GPIO RC7 / EUSART RX / LCD segment |
| Pin 28 | RC6/TX/CK/SEG8 — GPIO RC6 / EUSART TX / LCD segment |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1938T-I/MV is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Consumer Appliance with LCD, Industrial HMI Control Panels, Portable Medical Monitoring Devices, IoT Sensor Nodes with Local Display, Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety), Smart Home Control Panels.
Battery-Powered Consumer Appliance with LCD
The PIC16LF1938T-I/MV is a strong fit for battery-powered consumer appliances with LCD displays such as kitchen scales, blood pressure monitors, and electronic thermometers. Its integrated LCD driver supports up to 128 segments at static to 1/4 duty cycle, eliminating the external LCD controller and reducing BOM by $0.30-0.50. The 1.8V-3.6V operating range plus nanoWatt XLP sleep currents below 1 uA extend battery life to 2+ years on two AA cells. The 28KB Flash accommodates menu trees and custom fonts, while 10-bit ADC reads thermistor or strain-gauge sensors directly. Placed as the sole controller, it handles keypad scanning via interrupt-on-change, ADC sampling, and LCD refresh in a single chip, simplifying PCB layout.
Recommended
Industrial HMI Control Panels
For industrial HMI panels requiring local LCD feedback and key input, the PIC16LF1938T-I/MV provides integrated peripherals without the cost of a 32-bit MCU. The EUSART with LIN support communicates with industrial controllers, while SPI/I2C interfaces connect to digital sensors or EEPROM. The 32 MHz CPU delivers 8 MIPS, fast enough for 100 Hz control loops and asynchronous protocol parsing. The 28-UQFN package occupies only 16 mm^2, fitting in slim panel designs. Hardware PWM peripherals drive LED backlights or buzzer tones, while the 10-bit ADC monitors supply voltage and temperature. Compared to a discrete MCU + LCD controller solution, this part saves PCB area and reduces firmware complexity by handling display multiplexing in hardware.
Recommended
Portable Medical Monitoring Devices
The PIC16LF1938T-I/MV suits portable medical devices such as pulse oximeters, glucose meters, and INR testers that require a numeric LCD, single-button operation, and weeks-long battery life. The 1.8V minimum operating voltage allows direct connection to single-cell Li-ion or 2x AAA batteries, while nanoWatt XLP technology keeps sleep current below 1 uA. The 10-bit ADC with internal voltage reference and temperature sensor enables battery monitoring and sensor conditioning. Hardware CRC and EEPROM emulation provide tamper-evident data logging. The IEC 60730 Class B software library from Microchip accelerates functional-safety certification for home-use medical devices. The small 28-UQFN 4x4 mm package fits within the cramped enclosures typical of handheld medical form factors.
Recommended
IoT Sensor Nodes with Local Display
For IoT sensor nodes requiring a local LCD readout plus wireless connectivity, the PIC16LF1938T-I/MV acts as the display and user-interface controller alongside a wireless module. The integrated LCD driver presents sensor data (temperature, humidity, CO2) without taxing the wireless MCU. EUSART/SPI interfaces connect to modules such as the MRF24WG0MA or RN4870, while the 10-bit ADC reads analog sensors. nanoWatt XLP sleep modes allow the node to wake periodically, refresh the LCD, transmit via the radio, and return to sleep, achieving multi-year battery life on 2x AA cells. The 28KB Flash accommodates application logic plus a simple menu system; the PIC's PPS routing simplifies PCB layout by allowing flexible pin assignment for SPI/I2C buses.
Recommended
Automotive Body Electronics (Non-Safety)
The PIC16LF1938T-I/MV is suited for non-safety automotive body applications such as interior lighting controllers, HVAC blend-door actuators, and mirror position controllers. Its 1.8V-3.6V range plus automotive EMI tolerance (LIN support via EUSART) allow direct connection to 12V vehicle buses via external regulators. The integrated LCD driver can present diagnostic information on small service displays. For AEC-Q100 qualified variants, Microchip offers the PIC16F1938-E/MV (extended temperature) which shares the same UQFN package. The 32 MHz CPU handles LIN 2.x protocol stacks and PWM motor control loops simultaneously. NanoWatt XLP modes support key-off quiescent current budgets below 100 uA demanded by modern vehicles.
Recommended
Smart Home Control Panels
For wall-mounted smart home control panels with monochrome LCDs and Zigbee/Z-Wave radios, the PIC16LF1938T-I/MV provides the display, button, and LED-driver functions alongside a host wireless MCU. The integrated LCD controller drives 4x20 segment displays directly, while SPI/I2C interfaces link to the wireless SoC. Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) like CWG and NCO generate precise tone and PWM signals without CPU intervention, freeing the core for communication tasks. The 28-UQFN 4x4 mm package fits behind standard wall-switch form factors. With nanoWatt XLP idle currents under 1 uA, the panel can be mains-powered with battery backup for outage notifications. The 28KB Flash supports up to 100 menu pages with localized strings.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1938T-I/MV — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF1938-I/MV | PIC16LF1938T-I/ML | PIC16LF1939T-I/MV | PIC16F1938T-I/MV | PIC16LF1936T-I/MV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-pin UQFN (MV) 4x4 mm | 28-pin UQFN (MV) 4x4 mm - same | 28-pin QFN (ML) 6x6 mm - larger | 28-pin UQFN (MV) 4x4 mm - same | 28-pin UQFN (MV) 4x4 mm - same | 28-pin UQFN (MV) 4x4 mm - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Program Memory | 28 KB | 28 KB | 28 KB | 28 KB | 28 KB | 14 KB |
| Data RAM | 1024 bytes | 1024 bytes | 1024 bytes | 2048 bytes | 1024 bytes | 512 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes |
| Operating 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 | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| LCD Driver | Yes (128 segments) | Yes (128 segments) | Yes (128 segments) | Yes (128 segments) | Yes (128 segments) | Yes (96 segments) |
| Pin Count | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
| CPU Speed | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated LCD driver eliminates external controller (vs PIC16F886 (predecessor without LCD))
- nanoWatt XLP technology for sub-1uA sleep (vs PIC16F1938T-I/MV (5V F variant))
- Peripheral Pin Select for flexible layout (vs PIC16LF1933T-I/MV (smaller 1933 family))
- More memory than the 1936 variant (vs PIC16LF1936T-I/MV)
Design Notes
Place a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin (pin 14) and a 10 uF bulk capacitor on the main supply rail. The PIC16LF1938T-I/MV's nanoWatt XLP sleep current is below 1 uA, but switching noise from digital I/O can couple into analog ADC readings if decoupling is inadequate. For battery applications using sleep modes, use the internal 31 kHz LFINTOSC for the Watchdog Timer to keep wake-up power minimal.
The 28-UQFN (MV) 4x4 mm package has an exposed thermal pad that should be soldered to a copper pour on the PCB for best thermal performance. Estimated: theta_JA is approximately 35-40 C/W on a JEDEC EIA/JESD51 4-layer test board, but in a real product with limited copper the junction-to-ambient resistance may exceed 80 C/W. Although the PIC16LF1938T-I/MV draws low current and rarely needs active thermal management, ensure the pad is properly soldered to avoid PCB delamination during reflow.
For the 0.4 mm-pitch UQFN package, follow IPC-7351 land pattern recommendations with NSMD pads for best solder joint reliability. Trace width from VDD should be at least 0.2 mm to handle the 32 MHz switching transients. Keep ADC analog traces (ANx pins) away from high-frequency digital lines and clock traces to minimize coupling. The exposed pad requires at least four thermal vias (0.3 mm diameter) for adequate heat dissipation.
Route the ICSP programming pins (RB6/ICSPCLK and RB7/ICSPDAT, or RA0/ICSPDAT and RA1/ICSPCLK) to a dedicated programming header without series resistors to allow in-circuit debugging. The Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) system allows remapping of digital peripherals, but analog functions are pin-fixed - assign analog channels early in PCB layout. Place the external 32.768 kHz crystal (if used for Timer1) within 5 mm of the SOSCO/SOSCI pins with a guard ring.
Do not connect unused I/O pins directly to VDD or VSS - configure them as outputs driving low, or as inputs with internal weak pull-ups enabled, to minimize power consumption and avoid floating-input oscillations. When migrating code from PIC16F886 to PIC16LF1938T-I/MV, verify that the A/D acquisition time is recalculated for the slower 1.8V minimum operating voltage. The LF variant requires configuration word bits LFVREGSEL and RSTOSC to be set correctly for the chosen oscillator source.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified for automotive; for AEC-Q100 grade consider PIC16F1938-E/MV (extended temperature). Lead-free and halogen-free per Microchip environmental certification.
