Microchip PIC16F1824T-I/ST 8-Bit Microcontroller: Features, Applications, and Development Tools

The Microchip PIC16F1824T-I/ST is a versatile 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) from the enhanced mid-range PIC16F family, designed to deliver high performance and flexibility for a wide range of embedded applications. Housed in a compact 14-pin TSSOP package, this MCU combines robust processing capabilities with a rich set of integrated peripherals, making it a popular choice for both hobbyists and professional engineers.

Key Features

At the heart of the PIC16F1824T-I/ST is an enhanced 8-bit CPU core operating at up to 32 MHz, providing a solid balance of speed and power efficiency. It includes 7 KB of Flash program memory and 256 bytes of EEPROM for data storage, along with 512 bytes of RAM. The device integrates a 10-bit ADC with up to 10 channels, multiple communication interfaces such as I2C, SPI, and EUSART, and two enhanced Capture/Compare/PWM (ECCP) modules. It also features mTouch capacitive sensing support, enabling the design of touch interfaces without additional components. With its wide operating voltage range (1.8V to 5.5V) and nanoWatt XLP technology, it excels in low-power battery-operated applications.

Applications

This MCU is well-suited for diverse applications, including consumer electronics, industrial control systems, automotive subsystems, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Its integrated peripherals make it ideal for tasks such as sensor interfacing, motor control, user interface management (via capacitive touch), and wired communication bridging. The combination of analog and digital capabilities allows it to serve as a central controller in smart home products, power tools, and portable medical devices.

Development Tools

Microchip provides a comprehensive ecosystem for developing with the PIC16F1824. The MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment (IDE) offers code editing, debugging, and programming support. For hardware, the PICkit™ 4 or MPLAB Snap programmers are commonly used for flashing code. Low-cost starter kits, such as the Curiosity Development Board, enable rapid prototyping. The MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC) is a valuable tool for generating initialization code and simplifying peripheral setup, significantly accelerating development.

ICGOOODFIND: The PIC16F1824T-I/ST stands out for its rich feature set, low power consumption, and ease of use, supported by Microchip’s mature development tools, making it an excellent choice for efficient embedded design.

Keywords: Microcontroller, Low-Power, Embedded Systems, PIC16F1824, Development Tools