DSPIC33CH128MP205-I/M4 - Dual-Core DSC 200MHz 152KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33CH128MP205-I/M4 β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.85 | $7.85 |
| 10 | $7.42 | $74.20 |
| 100 | $6.75 | $675.00 |
| 500 | $6.1 | $3,050.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.48 | $5,480.00 |
DSPIC33CH128MP205-I/M4 Overview
What is a Digital Signal Controller (DSC)? A DSC is a hybrid microcontroller that integrates a DSP engine into an MCU architecture, enabling single-cycle MAC operations, hardware loop control, and wide accumulator paths while retaining deterministic interrupt response and standard peripheral integration. Within the broader taxonomy, a DSC sits between a microcontroller (MCU) and a digital signal processor (DSP), combining deterministic control of an MCU with the mathematical throughput of a DSP. The dsPIC33CH family extends this concept with two independent cores, allowing real-time control loops to run on the slave while communication stacks, housekeeping, or auxiliary algorithms execute on the master.
Key features include AEC-Q100 automotive qualification support, a high-resolution 250 ps PWM module suitable for digital switch-mode power supplies, four DMA channels, a 12-bit ADC with up to 3.5 MSPS conversion rate, and dual CAN FD controllers. The dual-core architecture enables a hard real-time control loop on the slave core independent of master-core overhead, simplifying certification for functional-safety designs targeting ISO 26262.
Technically, the master core manages system boot, peripherals, and inter-core mailbox communication, while the slave core is optimized for deterministic closed-loop control. The cores share a unified address space but maintain separate register files, debug interfaces, and interrupt controllers. The 250 ps high-resolution PWM provides 16-bit resolution at 1.2 ns granularity, enabling precision power-conversion topologies such as totem-pole PFC, LLC, and phase-shifted full-bridge converters.
Typical applications include wireless power transmitters, server and telecom SMPS digital controllers, drone BLDC motor controllers, automotive DC-DC converters, and high-performance sensor-fusion front ends. The dual-core partitioning allows one core to execute the control law while the other manages CAN FD communication and diagnostics. Design considerations include thermal management of the UQFN exposed pad, careful master/slave firmware isolation, and supply decoupling adjacent to both AVDD and VDD pins. This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33CH128MP205-I/M4 β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with DSPIC33CH128MP205-I/M4 (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, ADC, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature, DMA Channels.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
DSPIC33CH128MP205T-I/M4
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$3.9 / Unit
View Datasheet βDSPIC33CH128MP205-E/M4
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33CH128MP205-H/M4
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33CH256MP205-I/M4
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33CH128MP203-I/M5
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$3.85 / Unit
View Datasheet βDSPIC33CH128MP205-I/M4 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | Dual-core 16-bit dsPIC33 DSC |
| Master Core Speed | 200 MHz (max) |
| Slave Core Speed | 180 MHz (max) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 152 KB |
| Data RAM | 16 KB |
| PRAM (Inter-core Mailbox) | 4 KB |
| Supply Voltage Range | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Maximum Supply Current | 300 mA |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial, I) |
| Package | 48-pin UQFN-EP (6x6 mm) (M4) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 3.5 MSPS |
| PWM Resolution | High-resolution 250 ps, 16-bit |
| Communication | 2x CAN FD, UART, SPI, I2C |
| DMA Channels | 4 |
| Functional Safety | FuSa-ready, AEC-Q100 qualified family |
DSPIC33CH128MP205-I/M4 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PGEC1 β Master-core ICSP programming clock |
| Pin 2 | PGED1 β Master-core ICSP programming data |
| Pin 3 | VDD β Core digital supply voltage |
| Pin 4 | PWM1L β PWM1 low-side output |
| Pin 5 | PWM1H β PWM1 high-side output |
| Pin 6 | PWM2L β PWM2 low-side output |
| Pin 7 | PWM2H β PWM2 high-side output |
| Pin 8 | PWM3L β PWM3 low-side output |
| Pin 9 | PWM3H β PWM3 high-side output |
| Pin 10 | VSS β Digital ground |
| Pin 11 | AN0 β Analog input 0 / ADC |
| Pin 12 | AN1 β Analog input 1 / ADC |
| Pin 13 | AVDD β Analog supply voltage |
| Pin 14 | AVSS β Analog ground |
| Pin 15 | AN2 β Analog input 2 / ADC |
| Pin 16 | AN3 β Analog input 3 / ADC |
| Pin 17 | OSCI β Crystal oscillator input |
| Pin 18 | OSCO β Crystal oscillator output |
| Pin 19 | MCLR β Master clear / reset |
| Pin 20 | C1TX β CAN1 transmit |
| Pin 21 | C1RX β CAN1 receive |
| Pin 22 | C2TX β CAN2 transmit |
| Pin 23 | C2RX β CAN2 receive |
| Pin 24 | U1TX β UART1 transmit |
| Pin 25 | U1RX β UART1 receive |
| Pin 26 | SDA1 β I2C1 data |
| Pin 27 | SCL1 β I2C1 clock |
| Pin 28 | SDO1 β SPI1 data out |
| Pin 29 | SDI1 β SPI1 data in |
| Pin 30 | SCK1 β SPI1 clock |
| Pin 31 | SS1 β SPI1 slave select |
| Pin 32 | PWM4L β PWM4 low-side output |
| Pin 33 | PWM4H β PWM4 high-side output |
| Pin 34 | PGEC2 β Slave-core ICSP programming clock |
| Pin 35 | PGED2 β Slave-core ICSP programming data |
| Pin 36 | INT0 β External interrupt 0 |
| Pin 37 | TMR1CK β Timer1 clock input |
| Pin 38 | RC0 β General purpose I/O |
| Pin 39 | RC1 β General purpose I/O |
| Pin 40 | RC2 β General purpose I/O |
| Pin 41 | RC3 β General purpose I/O |
| Pin 42 | RD0 β General purpose I/O |
| Pin 43 | RD1 β General purpose I/O |
| Pin 44 | RD2 β General purpose I/O |
| Pin 45 | RD3 β General purpose I/O |
| Pin 46 | VDD β Digital supply (second pin) |
| Pin 47 | VSS β Digital ground (second pin) |
| Pin 48 | EP β Exposed thermal pad (must be soldered to VSS) |
Typical Applications
DSPIC33CH128MP205-I/M4 is suitable for 6 applications: Digital Switch-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) Controller, BLDC / PMSM Motor Control, Wireless Power Transmitter, Automotive DC-DC Converter / On-Board Charger, Drone Flight Controller / ESC, Functional-Safety (FuSa) Embedded Control.
Digital Switch-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) Controller
The DSPIC33CH128MP205-I/M4 is well suited as a digital controller for high-frequency AC-DC and DC-DC converters in server, telecom, and industrial power supplies. Its high-resolution 250 ps PWM with 16-bit duty resolution enables totem-pole PFC, LLC resonant, and phase-shifted full-bridge topologies that demand precise edge placement for efficiency above 96%. The dual-core topology allows the slave core to execute a deterministic voltage-mode or current-mode control loop at fixed cycle time, while the master core runs communication stacks (PMBus, CAN FD), housekeeping, and telemetry without disturbing the control loop timing. With 152 KB Flash, complex state machines and adaptive control firmware fit without external memory.
Recommended
BLDC / PMSM Motor Control
The DSPIC33CH128MP205-I/M4 integrates dedicated motor-control PWM, a 12-bit ADC at 3.5 MSPS, and quadrature encoder interfaces that map directly to sensorless and sensored BLDC/PMSM drives for drones, e-mobility, and industrial servo systems. The slave core executes the field-oriented control (FOC) loop at 180 MHz with deterministic interrupt latency, while the master core manages CAN FD telemetry, safety diagnostics, and host command handling without jitter on the torque loop. AEC-Q100 family support makes the part a candidate for automotive e-pump, fan, and HVAC blower controllers.
Recommended
Wireless Power Transmitter
Wireless charging transmitters for consumer, medical, and automotive applications benefit from the DSPIC33CH128MP205-I/M4's high-resolution PWM and dual-core partitioning. The slave core runs the foreign-object detection (FOD) and resonant tank control loops at fixed 100 kHz+ switching frequency, while the master core handles Qi or proprietary protocol stacks, Bluetooth Low Energy bridging, and host diagnostics. The 4 KB PRAM mailbox provides reliable inter-core messaging for safety-critical events such as over-temperature or over-current shutdown.
Recommended
Automotive DC-DC Converter / On-Board Charger
The DSPIC33CH128MP205 family supports AEC-Q100 qualification, making it suitable for 48 V mild-hybrid DC-DC converters, on-board chargers (OBC), and traction inverter auxiliary rails. The dual CAN FD interfaces enable simultaneous communication with the vehicle CAN bus and a local charger-state machine. The slave core executes the peak-current-mode control loop at sub-microsecond cycle time, while the master core manages ISO 26262 diagnostics, fault logging, and functional-safety routines required for ASIL-rated power electronics.
Recommended
Drone Flight Controller / ESC
Drones integrate a flight controller, electronic speed controllers (ESCs), and sensor fusion in a tight thermal and weight envelope. The DSPIC33CH128MP205-I/M4's 6x6 mm UQFN-EP package, dual-core architecture, and 200 MHz master + 180 MHz slave enable a single chip to drive four BLDC motors via high-resolution PWM while running IMU fusion, altitude hold, and radio-link telemetry. The 12-bit ADC samples current shunts synchronously to the PWM center for accurate torque control at 32 kHz+ loop rates typical of multirotor ESCs.
Recommended
Functional-Safety (FuSa) Embedded Control
The DSPIC33CH128MP205 family is positioned by Microchip as a Functional Safety (FuSa) device, supporting designs that target IEC 61508 / ISO 26262 functional-safety certification. The dual-core lockstep-free architecture allows one core to execute the safety function while the other runs diagnostics and cross-checks, simplifying certification evidence for SIL-2 / ASIL-B applications. The dedicated slave-core interrupt controller and isolated debug interfaces enable independent code review and verification workflows mandated by functional-safety standards.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33CH128MP205-I/M4 β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33CH128MP205T-I/M4 | DSPIC33CH128MP205-E/M4 | DSPIC33CH128MP205-H/M4 | DSPIC33CH256MP205-I/M4 | DSPIC33CH128MP203-I/M5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 48-pin UQFN-EP (M4) 6x6 mm | 48-pin UQFN-EP (M4) - same | 48-pin UQFN-EP (M4) - same | 48-pin UQFN-EP (M4) - same | 48-pin UQFN-EP (M4) - same | 48-pin UQFN-EP (M5) - same family |
| Flash Memory | 152 KB | 152 KB | 152 KB | 152 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB |
| Master Core Speed | 200 MHz | 200 MHz | 200 MHz | 200 MHz | 200 MHz | 200 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +125 C | -40 C to +150 C (H grade) | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C |
| Pin Count | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 36 |
| CAN FD Controllers | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| AEC-Q100 | Family qualified | Family qualified | Family qualified | Family qualified | Family qualified | Family qualified |
Key Differentiators
- Dual-core partitioning isolates the deterministic control loop from communication overhead (vs Single-core dsPIC33EP series)
- Higher Flash density for firmware-heavy applications (vs DSPIC33CH128MP203-I/M5)
- Extended and high-temperature grades share the same pinout (vs DSPIC33CH128MP205-I/M4 (industrial -40 C to +85 C))
Design Notes
The 48-pin UQFN-EP (M4) package relies on the exposed thermal pad (pin 48) to conduct heat away from the die. For applications drawing more than ~1 W of internal dissipation (high-speed dual-core operation at 200 MHz with all peripherals active), solder the EP to a continuous ground copper pour with at least 25 thermal vias to the inner ground plane. Estimated: junction-to-ambient thermal resistance drops from ~40 C/W on a minimal-pour 4-layer PCB to ~20 C/W with the recommended via array, keeping Tj below 125 C at 85 C ambient.
Place AVDD decoupling (100 nF ceramic + 10 uF bulk) within 2 mm of pin 13 and AVSS directly to the analog ground island. Keep analog signal traces (AN0-AN3) routed away from PWM switching nodes; the 12-bit ADC at 3.5 MSPS is sensitive to ground bounce. A dedicated analog ground island connected to the EP at a single point reduces ADC noise coupling in motor-control and digital-power layouts.
Route master-core PGEC1/PGED1 and slave-core PGEC2/PGED2 as a paired differential-style routing; keep trace length matching within 5 mm to ensure reliable ICSP programming across temperature. Do not route PWM outputs adjacent to the crystal oscillator traces (OSCI/OSCO) - switching edge rates of the high-resolution 250 ps PWM couple easily into the oscillator and cause frequency jitter on the order of tens of ppm.
Do not enable the slave core before the master core has completed boot and mailbox initialization - the slave core reads its reset vector and PRAM mailbox configuration from the master. Always define an inter-core handshake in firmware (master writes magic value to PRAM mailbox, slave polls and acknowledges) before the slave enters its main control loop. Skipping this step is the most common cause of non-deterministic slave-core boot behavior on first prototype bring-up.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. dsPIC33CH128MP205 family supports AEC-Q100 qualification; verify specific grade on the lot qualification certificate for automotive projects.
