PIC16LF1946-E/PT - 8-Bit 32MHz XLP MCU 14KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1946-E/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.1 | $4.10 |
| 10 | $3.69 | $36.90 |
| 100 | $3.15 | $315.00 |
| 500 | $2.74 | $1,370.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.45 | $2,450.00 |
PIC16LF1946-E/PT Overview
An 8-bit microcontroller is a compact, single-chip processor that integrates a CPU, RAM, non-volatile program memory, and peripherals onto a single silicon die. It belongs to the broader microcontroller (MCU) family within embedded processing, itself a sub-category of microcomputer ICs in the integrated circuit hierarchy (microcontroller -> microprocessor -> semiconductor -> IC). 8-bit MCUs like the PIC16F-series are widely deployed where deterministic timing, low cost, and low power outweigh the throughput demands of 32-bit cores.
Key features of the PIC16LF1946-E/PT include 36 general-purpose I/O pins, an integrated LCD driver with charge pump capable of driving segment displays up to 192 segments, a 10-bit ADC with up to 17 channels, multiple Enhanced USART, SPI, and I2C peripherals, and four 8-bit timers plus a 16-bit timer. The device supports Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) that offload tasks from the CPU, freeing it for application logic.
The architecture is built on a modified Harvard RISC design with a 14-bit instruction word, allowing most instructions to execute in a single cycle. With XLP nanoWatt technology, sleep current drops to roughly 50 nA typical, and the integrated LCD driver operates while the CPU is in sleep — a critical capability for energy-harvesting and always-on display applications. The 64-pin TQFP package exposes extensive I/O, including dedicated pins for the LCD segment drive and analog channels.
Typical applications include industrial control panels with integrated LCD displays, low-cost consumer appliances, smart metering and energy monitors, medical handheld devices, and battery-backed sensors with segment-LCD readouts. The integrated LCD driver eliminates the need for an external display controller, reducing BOM cost and PCB footprint in HMI designs.
When designing with this MCU, ensure the VDD/VSS pins have adequate decoupling (100nF ceramic + 10uF bulk) and respect the maximum clock rate derating curves above 3.0V. Programming via ICSP requires the standard Microchip ICD/REAL ICE toolchain — code protection should be configured in the configuration word before deployment.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives within the PIC16LF193x/194x/190x families, and practical design notes that go beyond the manufacturer datasheet's introductory chapters.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1946-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 PIC16LF1946-E/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, LCD Driver, Package, Timers, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16LF1946-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1947-E/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1946T-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1939-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.52 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1934-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.41 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1933-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC16LF1946-E/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC16F RISC, 8-bit data / 14-bit instruction |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 14 KB (8K x 14 words) |
| Data SRAM | 512 bytes |
| Data EEPROM | 256 bytes |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.3 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 36 |
| ADC | 10-bit, up to 17 channels |
| LCD Driver | Integrated, up to 192 segments |
| Timers | 4 x 8-bit + 1 x 16-bit |
| Communication Peripherals | EUSART, SPI, I2C |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (E = extended grade) |
| Package | TQFP-64 (PT), 10x10 mm, 1.0 mm height |
| Low-Power Technology | XLP nanoWatt (sleep current ~50 nA typical) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant (LEAD FREE per datasheet) |
PIC16LF1946-E/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RB7 — PORTB I/O bit 7 / ICSP programming data |
| Pin 2 | RB6 — PORTB I/O bit 6 / ICSP programming clock |
| Pin 3 | RA5 — PORTA I/O bit 5 |
| Pin 4 | RA4 — PORTA I/O bit 4 |
| Pin 5 | RA3 — PORTA I/O bit 3 |
| Pin 6 | RC0 — PORTC I/O bit 0 |
| Pin 7 | RC1 — PORTC I/O bit 1 |
| Pin 8 | RC2 — PORTC I/O bit 2 |
| Pin 9 | RC3 — PORTC I/O bit 3 |
| Pin 10 | RC4 — PORTC I/O bit 4 |
| Pin 11 | RC5 — PORTC I/O bit 5 |
| Pin 12 | RC6 — PORTC I/O bit 6 |
| Pin 13 | RC7 — PORTC I/O bit 7 |
| Pin 14 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 15 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.3V-3.6V) |
| Pin 16 | RA0 — PORTA I/O bit 0 / analog input |
| Pin 17 | RA1 — PORTA I/O bit 1 / analog input |
| Pin 18 | RA2 — PORTA I/O bit 2 / analog input |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.3V-3.6V) |
| Pin 21 | RE3 — PORTE I/O bit 3 / MCLR |
| Pin 22 | RD0 — PORTD I/O bit 0 |
| Pin 23 | RD1 — PORTD I/O bit 1 |
| Pin 24 | RD2 — PORTD I/O bit 2 |
| Pin 25 | RD3 — PORTD I/O bit 3 |
| Pin 26 | RD4 — PORTD I/O bit 4 |
| Pin 27 | RD5 — PORTD I/O bit 5 |
| Pin 28 | RD6 — PORTD I/O bit 6 |
| Pin 29 | RD7 — PORTD I/O bit 7 |
| Pin 30 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 31 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.3V-3.6V) |
| Pin 32 | RE0 — PORTE I/O bit 0 |
| Pin 33 | RE1 — PORTE I/O bit 1 |
| Pin 34 | RE2 — PORTE I/O bit 2 |
| Pin 35 | RC0 — PORTC I/O bit 0 (alternate) |
| Pin 36 | RC1 — PORTC I/O bit 1 (alternate) |
| Pin 37 | RC2 — PORTC I/O bit 2 (alternate) |
| Pin 38 | RC3 — PORTC I/O bit 3 (alternate) |
| Pin 39 | RC4 — PORTC I/O bit 4 (alternate) |
| Pin 40 | RC5 — PORTC I/O bit 5 (alternate) |
| Pin 41 | RC6 — PORTC I/O bit 6 (alternate) |
| Pin 42 | RC7 — PORTC I/O bit 7 (alternate) |
| Pin 43 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 44 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.3V-3.6V) |
| Pin 45 | RB0 — PORTB I/O bit 0 / analog input |
| Pin 46 | RB1 — PORTB I/O bit 1 / analog input |
| Pin 47 | RB2 — PORTB I/O bit 2 / analog input |
| Pin 48 | RB3 — PORTB I/O bit 3 / analog input |
| Pin 49 | RB4 — PORTB I/O bit 4 |
| Pin 50 | RB5 — PORTB I/O bit 5 |
| Pin 51 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 52 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.3V-3.6V) |
| Pin 53 | LCDSEG0 — LCD segment driver output |
| Pin 54 | LCDSEG1 — LCD segment driver output |
| Pin 55 | LCDSEG2 — LCD segment driver output |
| Pin 56 | LCDSEG3 — LCD segment driver output |
| Pin 57 | LCDSEG4 — LCD segment driver output |
| Pin 58 | LCDSEG5 — LCD segment driver output |
| Pin 59 | LCDSEG6 — LCD segment driver output |
| Pin 60 | LCDSEG7 — LCD segment driver output |
| Pin 61 | LCDCOM0 — LCD common driver output |
| Pin 62 | LCDCOM1 — LCD common driver output |
| Pin 63 | LCDCOM2 — LCD common driver output |
| Pin 64 | LCDCOM3 — LCD common driver output |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1946-E/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Control Panel with Segment LCD, Smart Electricity Meter with LCD Readout, Battery-Powered Medical Handheld Device, Consumer Appliance with LCD User Interface, Automotive Dashboard Sub-Display, Wireless Sensor Node with LCD Display.
Industrial Control Panel with Segment LCD
The PIC16LF1946-E/PT is purpose-built for industrial HMI panels that integrate a segment-LCD readout alongside digital I/O. Its on-chip LCD driver supports up to 192 segments — sufficient for 8-digit alphanumeric plus icon and bar-graph displays — and runs while the CPU is in sleep, drawing roughly 50 nA typical. The 32 MHz / 8 MIPS core scans keypads, drives relays, and reads sensors concurrently with display refresh. Operates from 2.3V-3.6V so a single 3.3V LDO powers the whole board, simplifying EMC compliance. The 36 I/O pins handle multiplexed 4x4 keypads, opto-isolated inputs, and buzzer drivers without external logic.
Recommended
Smart Electricity Meter with LCD Readout
In single-phase smart meters the PIC16LF1946-E/PT reads the ADE7953 energy-measurement IC over SPI, drives a multi-digit segment LCD showing kWh and instantaneous power, and transmits data via the integrated EUSART to a concentrator. Its 14 KB Flash accommodates the metering stack plus IEC 62056 protocol, and the 256-byte EEPROM stores tamper logs and calibration constants across decades. XLP nanoWatt sleep keeps quiescent draw under 100 uA between sensor reads, critical for long-life battery-backed meters. The 10-bit ADC handles simultaneous voltage/current monitoring and battery health checks.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Medical Handheld Device
Handheld medical devices such as pulse oximeters, glucose meters, and infusion pumps demand low-power MCU control with a clear LCD. The PIC16LF1946-E/PT's XLP nanoWatt sleep (roughly 50 nA) extends battery life for months between cell changes, while the integrated LCD driver displays readings without waking the CPU. The 36 I/O pins interface the sensor front-end, motor driver, and key switches. The -E temperature grade (-40C to +125C) supports cold-chain logistics and rugged clinical environments. 14 KB Flash accommodates sensor calibration tables and the IEC 60601-1-8 alarm-tone engine with margin.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance with LCD User Interface
Small home appliances — coffee machines, rice cookers, microwave ovens — pair the PIC16LF1946-E/PT with a segment-LCD display and capacitive touch buttons. The MCU's EUSART drives Wi-Fi/BLE modules for IoT connectivity, while timers generate PWM outputs for motor control and heater regulation. The integrated LCD driver eliminates an external controller, reducing BOM cost by roughly $0.50 per unit. Operates directly from a 3.3V rail derived from a capacitive-drop supply. The 10-bit ADC reads NTC thermistors and water-level sensors at high enough sample rate for closed-loop control.
Recommended
Automotive Dashboard Sub-Display
The PIC16LF1946-E/PT's -40C to +125C extended temperature range makes it suitable for non-safety automotive sub-displays: HVAC status, mirror position indicators, seat-memory readouts. The MCU reads CAN-bus data via an external MCP2515 CAN controller over SPI and renders driver information on a small segment-LCD. The 14 KB Flash stores seat-memory profiles, CAN message filters, and firmware-update bootloaders. The 36 I/O pins handle backlight PWM, button matrix, and indicator LEDs. Note this is not AEC-Q100 qualified; for safety-critical or AEC-Q100 displays upgrade to PIC16LF1946-I/PT plus external AEC-Q100 components.
Recommended
Wireless Sensor Node with LCD Display
Battery-operated wireless sensor nodes with segment-LCD readouts — typical in industrial IoT, building automation, and HVAC monitoring — leverage the PIC16LF1946-E/PT's XLP nanoWatt sleep to achieve multi-year battery life. The MCU sleeps at roughly 50 nA between sensor reads, wakes periodically to acquire temperature/humidity via I2C, transmits via a sub-GHz radio (SX1276) over SPI, then updates the LCD segment display without CPU intervention. The 14 KB Flash handles LoRaWAN/Wi-Fi stacks plus local UI logic. The 2.3V-3.6V range matches 2x AA alkaline cells directly.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1946-E/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16LF1946-I/PT | PIC16LF1947-E/PT | PIC16LF1946T-I/PT | PIC16LF1939-I/PT | PIC16LF1934-I/PT | PIC16LF1933-I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | TQFP-64 (10x10 mm) | TQFP-64 (10x10 mm) - same | TQFP-64 (10x10 mm) - same | TQFP-64 (10x10 mm) - same | TQFP-64 (10x10 mm) - same | TQFP-64 (10x10 mm) - same | TQFP-64 (10x10 mm) - same |
| Program Flash | 14 KB | 14 KB | 28 KB | 14 KB | 28 KB | 7 KB | 7 KB |
| SRAM | 512 bytes | 512 bytes | 1 KB | 512 bytes | 1 KB | 256 bytes | 256 bytes |
| EEPROM | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes | 256 bytes |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Supply Voltage | 2.3 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 3.6 V | 2.3 V to 3.6 V |
| Temperature Grade | Extended -40C to +125C | Industrial -40C to +85C | Extended -40C to +125C | Industrial -40C to +85C | Industrial -40C to +85C | Industrial -40C to +85C | Industrial -40C to +85C |
| Integrated LCD Driver | Yes (up to 192 segments) | Yes (up to 192 segments) | Yes (up to 192 segments) | Yes (up to 192 segments) | Yes (up to 192 segments) | Yes (up to 96 segments) | No |
| I/O Pins | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 |
Key Differentiators
- Extended -40C to +125C temperature grade at no premium for harsh-environment use (vs PIC16LF1946-I/PT)
- 192-segment LCD driver integrated with charge pump, eliminating external controller (vs PIC16LF1933-I/PT)
- Mid-tier Flash offering 14 KB for cost-sensitive designs versus 7 KB or 28 KB alternatives (vs PIC16LF1934-I/PT)
- Memory upgrade path available on identical TQFP-64 footprint (vs PIC16LF1947-E/PT)
Design Notes
Place a 100nF ceramic decoupling capacitor on each VDD/VSS pair (pins 15/14, 20/19, 31/30, 44/43, 52/51) within 3 mm of the package pin, plus a single 10uF bulk tantalum or ceramic at the regulator output. The PIC16LF1946-E/PT can source up to 250 mA total from its I/O banks; aggregate per-pin current by bank to stay within 200 mA per PORT to avoid triggering the internal current-limit latch-up. During sleep, the XLP mode draws roughly 50 nA typical but the LCD charge pump pulls roughly 1-5 uA — disable unused segments and peripherals via the LCDCON and PMD registers to minimize quiescent draw.
Estimated: with theta_JA around 60 C/W for the TQFP-64 (10x10 mm) on a 4-layer JEDEC test board, the junction temperature rises approximately 6 C per 100 mW of total power dissipation. At full 32 MHz operation with all peripherals active the core draws roughly 6 mA at 3.3V (about 20 mW), giving a 1.2 C rise — well within the -40C to +125C operating envelope. The device is unlikely to need a heatsink in typical 3.3V applications. Always validate with a thermocouple on prototype boards under worst-case ambient.
Route the ICSP clock and data signals (RB6/RB7) as short traces with ground guard traces to prevent noise coupling during in-circuit programming. Place the 4-pin ICSP header away from switching power stages. The ICSP programming voltage is derived internally — no external VPP required for low-voltage programming. Keep the trace from the MCLR/RE3 pin short; if not used as a reset input, configure it as a digital input with the internal weak pull-up enabled to avoid spurious resets. Use a 4-layer stackup with continuous ground plane under the MCU to reduce EMI and improve thermal performance.
Configuration bits must be set correctly before the first instruction executes — leaving the watchdog timer enabled unintentionally is a common cause of 'dead' prototypes. Always program the oscillator configuration (INTOSC), watchdog (disabled unless needed), code protection, and low-voltage programming (LVP) bits explicitly. The PIC16LF1946-E/PT has multiple oscillator modes; FOSC config bits select between INTOSC, external crystal, and EC modes — mismatched oscillator settings are a frequent cause of 'device not detected' during ICD debugging. Verify with MPLAB X IDE's configuration bits window before each build.
The PIC16LF1946-E/PT's ADC achieves 10-bit resolution only with proper analog supply decoupling and careful trace routing. Place a 100nF ceramic between each analog input pin and AGND (or VSS if no AGND is bonded). Avoid routing digital signals parallel to analog traces on adjacent layers. Use the dedicated ANSEL register to disable digital input buffers on analog pins, reducing leakage and cross-talk. For high-impedance sensors, enable the ADC's charge pump option (CHOLSB) to keep acquisition time short. Source: Microchip PIC16LF193x/194x family datasheet, ADC section.
Compliance Information
Lead-free (LEAD FREE) TQFP-64 package per datasheet. RoHS compliant. Microchip parts are not generally AEC-Q100 qualified at the MCU level for safety-critical automotive — check the specific automotive-grade variant if needed.
