DSPIC33CH256MP206-E/PT - Dual-Core 16-bit DSC, 256KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33CH256MP206-E/PT β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.86 | $7.86 |
| 10 | $7.12 | $71.20 |
| 100 | $6.05 | $605.00 |
| 500 | $5.32 | $2,660.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.78 | $4,780.00 |
DSPIC33CH256MP206-E/PT Overview
A digital signal controller (DSC) is a hybrid architecture combining a microcontroller (MCU) with a digital signal processor (DSP) on a single die. DSCs occupy the middle ground between general-purpose MCUs and dedicated DSPs, providing deterministic real-time control plus high-throughput signal processing. Within the Microchip taxonomy, the dsPIC33CH family sits at the top of the dsPIC33 line, using the dual-core topology to separate time-critical control loops (on the slave core) from communication and supervisory tasks (on the primary core), which simplifies software partitioning for functional-safety (FuSa) designs.
Key features of the DSPIC33CH256MP206 include up to 53 user I/O pins, twelve 16-bit PWM channels with 250 ps resolution for precision motor control, twelve 12-bit ADC modules with up to 34 input channels at 3.5 Msps, four 12-bit DAC channels, multiple UART/SPI/I2C interfaces, and CAN-FD support. The on-chip DSP engine accelerates math operations via single-cycle MAC instructions, enabling closed-loop control rates well above 1 MHz without CPU offload.
The dual-core design allows the slave core to handle latency-critical tasks such as field-oriented control (FOC) commutation loops in motor drives, while the primary core runs the state machine, communication stacks, and diagnostics. The device supports 3.0 V to 3.6 V single-supply operation, internal oscillator with PLL, and the full -40 C to +125 C automotive temperature range (E-temp). Functional-safety hardware (dual watchdog, ECC on Flash, memory BIST) eases ISO 26262 and IEC 61508 certification paths.
Typical applications include high-performance brushless DC (BLDC) and permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drives, on-board EV chargers, automotive LED matrix drivers, digital power conversion (totem-pole PFC, LLC), and industrial servo drives. The combination of dual-core partitioning and dedicated motor-control peripherals makes this part a strong fit for ASIL-B/C designs where a single-core MCU cannot meet the loop-rate and diagnostic-coverage targets simultaneously.
When designing with this DSC, allocate GPIO and peripheral channels early because the 64-pin TQFP has fewer pins than the 80-pin TQFP variant in the same family. The dual cores must be programmed with separate firmware images - the slave core boots first from a PRAM region configured by the master, so linker-script and boot-loader design requires attention.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in Microchip alternates, AEC-Q100 notes, and dual-core firmware-design guidance that goes beyond the manufacturer datasheet summary.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33CH256MP206-E/PT 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 DSPIC33CH256MP206-E/PT (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Core Architecture, Operating Temperature, Package, Slave Core Speed, ADC.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
DSPIC33CH256MP208-E/PT
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$7.95 / Unit
View Datasheet βDSPIC33CH512MP206-E/PT
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$6.55 / Unit
View Datasheet βDSPIC33CH256MP206-I/PT
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$3.91 / Unit
View Datasheet βDSPIC33CH128MP206-E/PT
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33CH256MP506-E/PT
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33CH256MP206T-I/PT
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33CH256MP206-E/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | dsPIC33CH dual-core 16-bit DSC |
| Primary Core Speed | Up to 200 MHz |
| Slave Core Speed | Up to 180 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 328 kB (328k x 8) |
| RAM | 64 kB (32 kB general + 16 kB slave dedicated) |
| Supply Voltage (Vdd) | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (E-temp) |
| Package | 64-pin TQFP (10x10 mm), 0.5 mm pitch |
| User I/O | Up to 53 |
| ADC | Up to 34 x 12-bit, 3.5 Msps |
| DAC | 4 x 12-bit |
| PWM Channels | 12 x 16-bit, 250 ps resolution |
| Communication | UART, SPI, I2C, CAN-FD |
| DMA Channels | 8 |
| Timers | 5 x 16-bit / 32-bit |
| Functional Safety | AEC-Q100, ISO 26262-capable hardware |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
DSPIC33CH256MP206-E/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RP65/RB1 β Remappable I/O / PWM fault input |
| Pin 2 | RP66/RB0 β Remappable I/O / PWM fault input |
| Pin 3 | RP67/RB2 β Remappable I/O / PWM fault input |
| Pin 4 | RP68/RB3 β Remappable I/O / PWM fault input |
| Pin 5 | RP69/RB4 β Remappable I/O / PWM fault input |
| Pin 6 | RP70/RB5 β Remappable I/O / PWM fault input |
| Pin 7 | RP71/RB6 β Remappable I/O / PWM fault input |
| Pin 8 | RP72/RB7 β Remappable I/O / PWM fault input |
| Pin 9 | RP73/RB8 β Remappable I/O / PWM fault input |
| Pin 10 | RP74/RB9 β Remappable I/O / PWM fault input |
| Pin 11 | RP75/RB10 β Remappable I/O / PWM fault input |
| Pin 12 | RP76/RB11 β Remappable I/O / PWM fault input |
| Pin 13 | VSS β Ground reference |
| Pin 14 | VDD β Digital supply 3.0-3.6 V |
| Pin 15 | OSC1/RC12 β Crystal oscillator input / GPIO |
| Pin 16 | OSC2/RC13 β Crystal oscillator output / GPIO |
| Pin 17 | RC14 β Remappable GPIO |
| Pin 18 | RC15 β Remappable GPIO |
| Pin 19 | VSS β Ground |
| Pin 20 | VDD β Digital supply |
| Pin 21 | RA0 β Remappable GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 22 | RA1 β Remappable GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 23 | RA2 β Remappable GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 24 | RA3 β Remappable GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 25 | RA4 β Remappable GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 26 | RA5 β Remappable GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 27 | RA6 β Remappable GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 28 | RA7 β Remappable GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 29 | RA8 β Remappable GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 30 | RA9 β Remappable GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 31 | RA10 β Remappable GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 32 | AVSS β Analog ground |
| Pin 33 | AVDD β Analog supply |
| Pin 34 | RA11 β Remappable GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 35 | RA12 β Remappable GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 36 | RA13 β Remappable GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 37 | RA14 β Remappable GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 38 | RA15 β Remappable GPIO / analog input |
| Pin 39 | RB12 β Remappable GPIO |
| Pin 40 | RB13 β Remappable GPIO |
| Pin 41 | RB14 β Remappable GPIO |
| Pin 42 | RB15 β Remappable GPIO |
| Pin 43 | VSS β Ground |
| Pin 44 | VDD β Digital supply |
| Pin 45 | RC0 β Remappable GPIO |
| Pin 46 | RC1 β Remappable GPIO |
| Pin 47 | RC2 β Remappable GPIO |
| Pin 48 | RC3 β Remappable GPIO |
| Pin 49 | RC4 β Remappable GPIO |
| Pin 50 | RC5 β Remappable GPIO |
| Pin 51 | RC6 β Remappable GPIO |
| Pin 52 | RC7 β Remappable GPIO |
| Pin 53 | RC8 β Remappable GPIO |
| Pin 54 | RC9 β Remappable GPIO |
| Pin 55 | RC10 β Remappable GPIO |
| Pin 56 | RC11 β Remappable GPIO |
| Pin 57 | MCLR β Master clear / reset (active-low) |
| Pin 58 | RB0 β Remappable GPIO / programming pin |
| Pin 59 | RB1 β Remappable GPIO / programming pin |
| Pin 60 | VSS β Ground |
| Pin 61 | VDD β Digital supply |
| Pin 62 | RB2 β Remappable GPIO |
| Pin 63 | RB3 β Remappable GPIO |
| Pin 64 | RB4 β Remappable GPIO |
Typical Applications
DSPIC33CH256MP206-E/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Brushless DC Motor Control (FOC), Automotive On-Board Charger (OBC), Digital Power Conversion (LLC / PFC), Industrial Servo Drives, Automotive LED Matrix Headlamps, Solar Inverter MPPT Control.
Brushless DC Motor Control (FOC)
The DSPIC33CH256MP206-E/PT is purpose-built for field-oriented control of brushless DC and PMSM motors, where its slave core executes FOC torque loops with deterministic sub-microsecond timing while the primary core handles CAN-FD communication and supervisory state machines. The 12 16-bit PWM channels with 250 picosecond resolution enable switching frequencies above 100 kHz with sub-percent duty accuracy, while the 34-channel 12-bit ADC at 3.5 Msps samples phase currents fast enough for sensorless observers. The 328 kB Flash accommodates vector-control libraries plus application code, and AEC-Q100 Grade 1 qualification supports automotive traction and e-compressor designs. A typical 3-phase FOC firmware occupies about 80 kB of Flash, leaving ample headroom for safety diagnostics and OEM-specific calibration tables.
Recommended
Automotive On-Board Charger (OBC)
For 6.6 kW to 22 kW on-board EV chargers, the DSPIC33CH256MP206-E/PT provides the dual-core separation required by ISO 26262 ASIL-B/C: the slave core executes the totem-pole PFC and LLC control loops at fixed 50 kHz switching frequency, while the primary core runs CAN-FD, PLC, and the CHAdeMO/CCS state machine. The device's 12 PWM channels drive both primary-side and secondary-side MOSFETs of the LLC converter with hardware dead-band insertion, and the 3.5 Msps ADC samples resonant tank current and bus voltage simultaneously. AEC-Q100 Grade 1 -40 C to +125 C qualification, plus on-chip ECC on Flash and dual watchdog timers, helps OEMs reach the diagnostic coverage targets required for ASIL-C functional safety.
Recommended
Digital Power Conversion (LLC / PFC)
The DSPIC33CH256MP206-E/PT targets high-efficiency digital power stages including totem-pole PFC, LLC resonant converters, and phase-shifted full-bridge topologies. Its slave core can run the current-mode control loop at 100 kHz+ with under 1 us sample-to-update latency, while the primary core handles PMBus, telemetry, and AC-line voltage RMS calculations. The 12-bit DAC outputs provide analog references for housekeeping circuitry, and the 34-channel ADC simultaneously monitors input voltage, input current, output voltage, output current, and temperature. Compared to a single-core MCU, the dual-core topology halves control latency because the slave core is dedicated to control-loop execution without interruption.
Recommended
Industrial Servo Drives
Industrial servo drives and CNC spindles benefit from the DSPIC33CH256MP206-E/PT's dual-core architecture, where the slave core closes position/velocity/torque loops at 16 kHz while the primary core runs EtherCAT slave stack and diagnostics. The 328 kB Flash holds servo commutation tables for 16-bit-per-million counting, S-curve velocity profiles, and machine-specific PLC ladder logic. Hardware QEI (Quadrature Encoder Interface) supports 32-bit counters for high-resolution encoders, while the 12 PWM channels drive the 3-phase IGBT bridge with programmable dead-band. The -40 C to +125 C extended temperature range allows deployment in cabinet-less machine-mount installations.
Recommended
Automotive LED Matrix Headlamps
Adaptive driving beam (ADB) LED matrix headlamps require pixel-level brightness control with strict functional-safety requirements, and the DSPIC33CH256MP206-E/PT fits this application well. Its slave core executes the LED dimming PWM loops with 250 ps resolution, supporting 100+ individually addressable LED pixels at dimming ratios above 10000:1, while the primary core runs LIN/CAN-FD communication and the headlamp controller state machine. AEC-Q100 qualification plus on-chip diagnostics such as open-LED detection via ADC current sensing and over-temperature shutdown are critical for ISO 26262 ASIL-B headlamp functional-safety targets.
Recommended
Solar Inverter MPPT Control
String solar inverters and microinverters use the DSPIC33CH256MP206-E/PT for perturb-and-observe or incremental-conductance MPPT algorithms running on the slave core at 50 kHz+ update rates. The primary core handles grid-tie synchronization (anti-islanding), Modbus RTU/TCP communication, and the inverter's protection relay logic. The 12 PWM channels drive interleaved boost and full-bridge stages with precise phase shifting, while the 34 ADC channels simultaneously monitor PV string voltage/current, grid voltage, and temperature sensors. The AEC-Q100 qualification and wide temperature range also support outdoor inverter installations in harsh climates.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33CH256MP206-E/PT β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33CH256MP208-E/PT | DSPIC33CH512MP206-E/PT | DSPIC33CH256MP206-I/PT | DSPIC33CH128MP206-E/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same |
| Flash Memory | 328 kB | 328 kB | 512 kB | 328 kB | 152 kB |
| Total RAM | 64 kB | 64 kB | 64 kB | 64 kB | 32 kB |
| Primary Core Speed | 200 MHz | 200 MHz | 200 MHz | 200 MHz | 200 MHz |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C (E-temp) | -40 C to +125 C | -40 C to +125 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +125 C |
| PWM Channels | 12 x 16-bit | 12 x 16-bit | 12 x 16-bit | 12 x 16-bit | 12 x 16-bit |
| User I/O | 53 | 53 | 53 | 53 | 53 |
| AEC-Q100 Grade 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Industrial grade | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Dual-core topology isolates control loops from communication (vs DSPIC33CH128MP206-E/PT)
- AEC-Q100 Grade 1 automotive qualification (vs DSPIC33CH256MP206-I/PT)
- More Flash than the 128 variant, smaller than the 512 variant (vs DSPIC33CH512MP206-E/PT)
Design Notes
Estimated: at 200 MHz dual-core operation with both cores running benchmarks, the DSPIC33CH256MP206-E/PT draws approximately 60 mA from a 3.3 V supply, dissipating ~200 mW. The 64-pin TQFP package has a theta_JA around 45 C/W on a 4-layer JEDEC test board, so junction temperature rise is roughly 9 C above ambient. For automotive under-hood deployment at +85 C ambient, this leaves about 31 C headroom before the +125 C limit, which is adequate without a heatsink but requires PCB copper-pour thermal relief.
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of every VDD/VSS pair, plus a 10 uF bulk capacitor on each AVDD/AVSS pair. The 64-pin TQFP has 4 VDD and 4 VSS pins distributed around the package; treat each pair independently. For high-current PWM switching above 50 kHz, add a ferrite bead between digital and analog supply rails to prevent ADC noise coupling from the switching events.
Do not omit the master core's slave-boot configuration in linker scripts. The slave core boots from PRAM regions configured by the primary core, and any misconfiguration silently bricks the slave. Also, note that the 64-pin TQFP variant has fewer GPIO than the 80-pin TQFP variant in the same family - if migrating code, verify peripheral pin remapping using the dsPIC33CH Pin Table spreadsheet in the family datasheet.
The 12-bit ADC achieves 3.5 Msps but only with careful PCB layout. Use a separate analog ground plane tied to AVSS at a single point, route analog signals away from PWM traces, and add a small RC filter (10 ohm + 100 pF) on each analog input when sampling high-impedance sources. The internal ADC sample-and-hold requires at least 117 ns acquisition time at 3.5 Msps.
Compliance Information
AEC-Q100 Grade 1 qualified per Microchip product family documentation. RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Halogen-free per Microchip environmental compliance data.
