
PIC16F946
DS41265A-page 194
Preliminary
2005 Microchip Technology Inc.
16.3
Power-on Reset
The on-chip POR circuit holds the chip in Reset until
VDD has reached a high enough level for proper
operation. To take advantage of the POR, simply
connect the MCLR pin through a resistor to VDD. This
will eliminate external RC components usually needed
to create Power-on Reset. A maximum rise time for
cations” for details. If the BOR is enabled, the maxi-
mum rise time specification does not apply. The BOR
circuitry will keep the device in Reset until VDD reaches
VBOR
(see
When the device starts normal operation (exits the
Reset condition), device operating parameters (i.e.,
voltage, frequency, temperature, etc.) must be met to
ensure operation. If these conditions are not met, the
device must be held in Reset until the operating
conditions are met.
For additional information, refer to Application Note
AN607, “Power-up Trouble Shooting” (DS00607).
16.3.1
MCLR
PIC16F946 has a noise filter in the MCLR Reset path.
The filter will detect and ignore small pulses.
It should be noted that a WDT Reset does not drive
MCLR pin low.
The behavior of the ESD protection on the MCLR pin
has been altered from early devices of this family.
Voltages applied to the pin that exceed its specification
can result in both MCLR Resets and excessive current
beyond the device specification during the ESD event.
For this reason, Microchip recommends that the MCLR
pin no longer be tied directly to VDD. The use of an RC
An internal MCLR option is enabled by clearing the
MCLRE bit in the Configuration Word register. When
cleared, MCLR is internally tied to VDD and an internal
weak pull-up is enabled for the MCLR pin. In-Circuit
Serial Programming is not affected by selecting the
internal MCLR option.
FIGURE 16-2:
RECOMMENDED MCLR
CIRCUIT
16.3.2
POWER-UP TIMER (PWRT)
The Power-up Timer provides a fixed 64 ms (nominal)
time-out on power-up only, from POR or Brown-out
Reset. The Power-up Timer operates from the 31 kHz
LFINTOSC oscillator. For more information, see
in Reset as long as PWRT is active. The PWRT delay
allows the VDD to rise to an acceptable level. A config-
uration bit, PWRTE, can disable (if set) or enable (if
cleared or programmed) the Power-up Timer. The
Power-up Timer should be enabled when Brown-out
Reset is enabled, although it is not required.
The Power-up Timer delay will vary from chip-to-chip
and vary due to:
VDD variation
Temperature variation
Process variation
See
DC
parameters
for
details
Note:
The POR circuit does not produce an
internal Reset when VDD declines. To
re-enable the POR, VDD must reach Vss
for a minimum of 100
μs.
VDD
PIC16F946
MCLR
R1
1k
Ω (or greater)
C1
0.1
μF
(optional, not critical)