PIC16F722A Datasheet, PDF (45/284 Pages) Microchip Technology – 28-Pin Flash Microcontrollers with nanoWatt XLP Technology

5.0 LOW DROPOUT (LDO)
VOLTAGE REGULATOR
The PIC16F722A/723A devices differ from the
PIC16LF722A/723A devices due to an internal Low
Dropout (LDO) voltage regulator. The PIC16F722A/
723A contain an internal LDO, while the PIC16LF722A/
723A do not.
The lithography of the die allows a maximum operating
voltage of 3.6V on the internal digital logic. In order to
continue to support 5.0V designs, a LDO voltage
regulator is integrated on the die. The LDO voltage
regulator allows for the internal digital logic to operate
at 3.2V, while I/O’s operate at 5.0V (VDD).
The LDO voltage regulator requires an external bypass
capacitor for stability. One of three pins, denoted as
VCAP, can be configured for the external bypass
capacitor. It is recommended that the capacitor be a
ceramic cap between 0.1 to 1.0 µF. The VCAP pin is not
intended to supply power to external loads. An external
voltage regulator should be used if this functionality is
required. In addition, external devices should not
supply power to the VCAP pin.
On power-up, the external capacitor will look like a
large load on the LDO voltage regulator. To prevent
erroneous operation, the device is held in Reset while
a constant current source charges the external
capacitor. After the cap is fully charged, the device is
released from Reset. For more information, refer to
Section 23.0 “Electrical Specifications”.
See Configuration Word 2 register (Register 8-2) for
VCAP enable bits.
PIC16F/LF722A/723A
 2010 Microchip Technology Inc.
DS41417A-page 45