Microchip PIC16F87-I/P 8-Bit Microcontroller Overview and Application Guide

The Microchip PIC16F87-I/P is a high-performance, 8-bit microcontroller that belongs to the widely adopted PIC16F family. It is designed with RISC architecture, offering a balance of processing power, energy efficiency, and peripheral integration suitable for a broad range of embedded applications. Housed in a 40-pin PDIP package, this microcontroller operates within an industrial temperature range (-40°C to +85°C), making it ideal for robust and demanding environments.

At its core, the PIC16F87-I/P features an enhanced Flash-based program memory with 8K words, allowing for flexible and repeated firmware updates. It includes 368 bytes of RAM and 256 bytes of EEPROM data memory, providing ample space for data storage and manipulation. The device runs at a maximum clock frequency of 20 MHz, ensuring efficient execution of instructions for real-time control tasks.

A key strength of this microcontroller lies in its rich set of integrated peripherals. It incorporates multiple timers (Timer0, Timer1, and Timer2), two capture/compare/PWM modules, a 10-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with up to 7 channels, and a USART module for serial communication (UART, SPI, I2C). These features enable seamless interfacing with sensors, actuators, and other digital or analog components, reducing the need for external circuitry and simplifying system design.

The PIC16F87-I/P also supports in-circuit debugging (ICD) and in-circuit serial programming (ICSP), which streamline the development and prototyping process. This allows designers to quickly test and refine their code without removing the microcontroller from the target board.

In application terms, the PIC16F87-I/P is commonly used in industrial automation, consumer electronics, automotive systems, and IoT devices. Its reliability and versatility make it suitable for tasks such as motor control, sensor data acquisition, user interface management, and communication protocol handling.

ICGOODFIND: The PIC16F87-I/P stands out as a cost-effective, feature-rich solution for embedded control, offering a blend of performance, connectivity, and development flexibility.

Keywords:

1. RISC Architecture

2. Flash Memory

3. Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC)

4. In-Circuit Debugging (ICD)

5. Peripheral Integration