PIC16F526 Datasheet, PDF (43/122 Pages) Microchip Technology – 14-Pin, 8-Bit Flash Microcontroller

8.0 SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE
CPU
What sets a microcontroller apart from other
processors are special circuits that deal with the needs
of real-time applications. The PIC16F526
microcontrollers have a host of such features intended
to maximize system reliability, minimize cost through
elimination of external components, provide power-
saving operating modes and offer code protection.
These features are:
• Oscillator Selection
• Reset:
- Power-on Reset (POR)
- Device Reset Timer (DRT)
- Wake-up from Sleep on Pin Change
• Watchdog Timer (WDT)
• Sleep
• Code Protection
• ID Locations
• In-Circuit Serial Programming™
• Clock Out
PIC16F526
The PIC16F526 device has a Watchdog Timer, which
can be shut off only through Configuration bit WDTE. It
runs off of its own RC oscillator for added reliability. If
using HS, XT or LP selectable oscillator options, there
is always an 18 ms (nominal) delay provided by the
Device Reset Timer (DRT), intended to keep the chip in
Reset until the crystal oscillator is stable. If using
INTRC or EXTRC, there is a 1 ms delay only on VDD
power-up. With this timer on-chip, most applications
need no external Reset circuitry.
The Sleep mode is designed to offer a very low current
Power-Down mode. The user can wake-up from Sleep
through a change on input pins or through a Watchdog
Timer time-out. Several oscillator options are also
made available to allow the part to fit the application,
including an internal 4/8 MHz oscillator. The EXTRC
oscillator option saves system cost while the LP crystal
option saves power. A set of Configuration bits are
used to select various options.
8.1 Configuration Bits
The PIC16F526 Configuration Words consist of 12 bits.
Configuration bits can be programmed to select various
device configurations. Three bits are for the selection of
the oscillator type; one bit is the Watchdog Timer
enable bit, one bit is the MCLR enable bit and one bit is
for code protection (Register 8-1).
 2010 Microchip Technology Inc.
DS41326D-page 43