Microchip PIC16F1936T-I/SO 8-Bit Microcontroller Overview and Application Guide
The Microchip PIC16F1936T-I/SO is a high-performance, 8-bit microcontroller unit (MCU) from Microchip Technology’s extensive PIC® (Peripheral Interface Controller) family. Housed in a 28-pin SOIC (Small Outline Integrated Circuit) package, this device is engineered for a broad spectrum of embedded control applications, balancing processing capability, power efficiency, and a rich set of integrated peripherals.
Built upon an enhanced mid-range core with a 16-level deep hardware stack and 49 instructions, the PIC16F1936 operates at speeds up to 32 MHz, delivering a performance of 8 MIPS. It features 14 KB of self-read/write Flash program memory and 512 bytes of RAM, providing ample space for complex firmware and data handling. A key strength of this MCU is its exceptional peripheral integration, designed to minimize external component count and reduce total system cost.
Key peripherals include:
Analog Capabilities: It integrates a 10-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) with up to 14 channels, enabling precise measurement of multiple analog sensors. It also includes two comparators for simple analog signal monitoring.
Timing and Control: With four flexible timers/counters (TMR0/TMR1/TMR2/TMR4) and a 5-bit prescaler, the MCU offers precise timing generation, waveform creation, and event capture.
Communication Interfaces: It supports multiple serial communication protocols, including EUSART (for RS-232, RS-485, LIN), SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface), and I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit), facilitating easy connection to sensors, displays, memory chips, and other peripherals.
Enhanced Control: The inclusion of Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) and Enhanced CCP (ECCP) modules provides robust capabilities for controlling motors (e.g., brushed DC, stepper) and generating pulse-width modulated signals for power regulation and LED dimming.
Low-Power Management: The MCU features nanoWatt XLP technology, which is critical for battery-powered applications. It allows the device to operate at very low quiescent currents in various sleep modes, significantly extending battery life.
Application Guide:
The PIC16F1936T-I/SO is suited for a diverse range of applications across consumer, industrial, and automotive domains.
Industrial Control: Its robust I/O and communication features make it ideal for sensor interfaces, power supplies, motor control units, and smart sensors.
Consumer Electronics: Used in appliances, personal care devices, and remote controls, leveraging its analog features for user input and its low-power capabilities for longer battery life.
Automotive: Employed in subsystems like interior lighting control, fan speed regulators, and basic sensor modules, benefiting from its operational temperature range (-40°C to +85°C).
Internet of Things (IoT) Endpoints: While not a wireless MCU itself, it serves as a perfect low-power system controller in connected devices, managing sensors and interfacing with a dedicated wireless communication module.
Designers can leverage Microchip’s mature MPLAB® X Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and the MPLAB XC8 compiler for efficient code development and debugging, accelerating time-to-market.
The Microchip PIC16F1936T-I/SO stands out as a versatile and cost-effective solution for embedded designers. Its powerful blend of a reliable 8-bit core, extensive peripheral set including advanced analog and communication modules, and ultra-low power consumption with nanoWatt XLP technology makes it a compelling choice for a vast array of control-oriented applications, from simple consumer gadgets to more complex industrial systems.
Keywords: 8-bit Microcontroller, PIC16F1936, Low-Power Management, Peripheral Integration, Embedded Control.
