DSPIC33CH256MP505-E/M4 - Dual-Core 100MHz DSC, 256KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33CH256MP505-E/M4 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8.42 | $8.42 |
| 10 | $7.91 | $79.10 |
| 100 | $7.05 | $705.00 |
| 500 | $6.34 | $3,170.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.62 | $5,620.00 |
DSPIC33CH256MP505-E/M4 Overview
Key features include dual dsPIC DSC cores with integrated DSP engine, high-resolution PWM (HRPWM) with 250 ps resolution, CAN-FD support, and up to 200 MHz maximum core operating frequency. The device integrates multiple analog peripherals (12-bit ADC, comparators, DAC), motor-control PWMs, and communication interfaces including SPI, I2C, UART, and CAN-FD. The main/slave inter-core communication uses shared SRAM mailbox regions, eliminating external handshake glue logic.
Technically, the dsPIC33CH architecture uses a Harvard-style bus with single-cycle MAC, hardware DO/REP loops, and zero-overhead looping, allowing deterministic execution of field-oriented control (FOC) algorithms within tight PWM cycle windows. The 100 MIPS main core can execute a complete FOC routine in under 5 microseconds, supporting field weakening, MTPA, and sensorless observer algorithms for high-speed PMSM and BLDC drives.
Typical applications include high-performance motor control (PMSM, BLDC, AC induction, switched reluctance), digital power conversion (PFC, LLC, full-bridge, synchronous rectification), automotive sensor fusion, and functional-safety drives up to ASIL-B/SIL-2. The dual-core split lets the main core run the time-critical control loop while the slave core manages comms, housekeeping, or diagnostics.
When designing with this device, plan pin allocation carefully - the 48-pin UQFN limits available I/O. The slave core has its own dedicated PGED/S1MCLRx programming/debug pins which may require pull-ups for reliable ICSP access. Use MPLAB XC-DSC compiler for both cores and configure inter-core mailboxes via SFRs.
This page combines distributor pricing, pin-compatible dsPIC33CH family variants, and practical design notes not found in the datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33CH256MP505-E/M4 — 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 DSPIC33CH256MP505-E/M4 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Core Architecture, High-Resolution PWM, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
No drop-in alternatives available for this product.
Request AlternativesDSPIC33CH256MP505-E/M4 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | Dual-core 16-bit dsPIC33 DSC |
| Main Core Speed | 100 MIPS (90 MIPS at 3.0V) |
| Slave Core Speed | 90 MIPS |
| Maximum Operating Frequency | 200 MHz internal |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 256 KB |
| Data Memory (RAM) | 32 KB main + 16 KB slave PRAM |
| Operating Voltage | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Package | 48-pin UQFN (6x6 mm) with EP |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (E suffix, extended) |
| PWM Resolution | High-resolution 250 ps |
| Communication | CAN-FD, SPI, I2C, UART |
| DMA Channels | 8 |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Functional Safety | FuSa-capable design support |
DSPIC33CH256MP505-E/M4 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | OSCI/CLKI — Crystal oscillator input or external clock input |
| Pin 2 | OSCO/CLKO — Crystal oscillator output or clock output |
| Pin 3 | SDA1 — I2C1 data line |
| Pin 4 | SCL1 — I2C1 clock line |
| Pin 5 | AN0 — Analog input 0 / comparator input |
| Pin 6 | AN1 — Analog input 1 / comparator input |
| Pin 7 | AN2 — Analog input 2 / comparator input |
| Pin 8 | AN3 — Analog input 3 / comparator input |
| Pin 9 | AVDD — Analog supply voltage |
| Pin 10 | AVSS — Analog ground |
| Pin 11 | PWM1H — PWM1 high-side output |
| Pin 12 | PWM1L — PWM1 low-side output |
| Pin 13 | PWM2H — PWM2 high-side output |
| Pin 14 | PWM2L — PWM2 low-side output |
| Pin 15 | PWM3H — PWM3 high-side output |
| Pin 16 | PWM3L — PWM3 low-side output |
| Pin 17 | TX1 — UART1 transmit |
| Pin 18 | RX1 — UART1 receive |
| Pin 19 | SCK1 — SPI1 clock |
| Pin 20 | SDI1 — SPI1 data in |
| Pin 21 | SDO1 — SPI1 data out |
| Pin 22 | SS1 — SPI1 slave select |
| Pin 23 | TX2 — UART2 transmit |
| Pin 24 | RX2 — UART2 receive |
| Pin 25 | INT0 — External interrupt 0 |
| Pin 26 | INT1 — External interrupt 1 |
| Pin 27 | C1TX — CAN1 transmit |
| Pin 28 | C1RX — CAN1 receive |
| Pin 29 | PGED1 — Main core programming/debug data |
| Pin 30 | PGC1 — Main core programming/debug clock |
| Pin 31 | PGED2 — Slave core programming/debug data |
| Pin 32 | PGC2 — Slave core programming/debug clock |
| Pin 33 | S1MCLRx — Slave core ICSP reset/pull-up recommended |
| Pin 34 | TMS — JTAG test mode select |
| Pin 35 | TCK — JTAG test clock |
| Pin 36 | TDI — JTAG test data in |
| Pin 37 | TDO — JTAG test data out |
| Pin 38 | MCLR — Master clear reset (active low) |
| Pin 39 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 40 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 41 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 42 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 43 | RB0 — GPIO port B bit 0 |
| Pin 44 | RB1 — GPIO port B bit 1 |
| Pin 45 | RB2 — GPIO port B bit 2 |
| Pin 46 | RB3 — GPIO port B bit 3 |
| Pin 47 | NC — Not connected |
| Pin 48 | EP — Exposed pad - thermal/ground (must be soldered) |
Typical Applications
DSPIC33CH256MP505-E/M4 is suitable for 6 applications: High-Performance PMSM Motor Control (FOC), Digital Power Conversion (PFC + LLC), Sensorless BLDC / FOC Fan and Pump Drives, Functional-Safety Motor Drives (ASIL-B / SIL-2), Automotive Sensor Fusion & Gateway ECUs, Industrial Servo Drives and CNC Spindles.
High-Performance PMSM Motor Control (FOC)
The DSPIC33CH256MP505-E/M4 is purpose-built for field-oriented control (FOC) of permanent magnet synchronous motors. The 100 MIPS main core can execute a complete FOC loop (Clarke/Park transform, inverse Park, SVPWM modulation, and sliding-mode observer for sensorless operation) in under 5 microseconds, well within a 16 kHz PWM cycle. The 250 ps high-resolution PWM achieves 1 ns edge placement accuracy, reducing current ripple and torque pulsation in precision servo drives up to 50,000 RPM. Placed between the DC bus and the 3-phase inverter with 12-bit ADC sampling phase currents, the dual-core split lets the main core handle the time-critical control loop while the slave core manages CAN-FD communication, fault diagnostics, or MTPA/field-weakening strategy updates. Compared to single-core MCUs, the inter-core mailbox architecture eliminates handshake glue logic between control and comms tasks.
Recommended
Digital Power Conversion (PFC + LLC)
The DSPIC33CH256MP505-E/M4 excels in digital power conversion thanks to its 250 ps high-resolution PWM and dual-core architecture. The main core runs the voltage/current control loop at 100 kHz switching frequency with sub-cycle timing accuracy, while the slave core manages housekeeping tasks like input voltage sensing, efficiency logging, PMBus communication, and fault management. According to the Microchip datasheet, the CAN-FD peripheral enables high-bandwidth telemetry to a system controller. Placed between the auxiliary 3.3 V rail and the power-stage gate drivers with isolated current sense, the device supports totem-pole PFC, full-bridge LLC resonant converters, and synchronous rectification with cycle-by-cycle current limiting. Compared to traditional analog controllers, the high-resolution PWM reduces THD below 3% in PFC stages and improves light-load efficiency by 2-4% via dynamic dead-time compensation.
Recommended
Sensorless BLDC / FOC Fan and Pump Drives
The DSPIC33CH256MP505-E/M4 provides the computational headroom needed for sensorless brushless DC motor control in appliance fans, water pumps, and HVAC blowers. The 90 MIPS slave core handles UART or LIN-based command processing while the main core runs sliding-mode or back-EMF observer algorithms for rotor position estimation without Hall sensors. This sensorless approach reduces BOM cost by eliminating position sensors and improves reliability in dusty/wet environments. With 32 KB main RAM and 16 KB slave PRAM, multiple control profiles and ramp tables fit in on-chip memory, eliminating external EEPROM. Compared to sensor-based solutions, sensorless FOC with this DSC reduces audible noise by 6-10 dB due to sinusoidal commutation, qualifying the design for premium appliance energy ratings (Energy Star, EU ERP Lot 6).
Recommended
Functional-Safety Motor Drives (ASIL-B / SIL-2)
The DSPIC33CH256MP505-E/M4 supports functional-safety (FuSa) motor drive designs targeting ISO 26262 ASIL-B and IEC 61508 SIL-2 classifications. The dual-core architecture provides natural redundancy - the main core runs the safety-critical control loop while the slave core performs diagnostic checks, BIST (Built-In Self-Test), and lockstep comparison. According to Microchip FuSa documentation, the dsPIC33CH family includes safety manuals, FMEDA reports, and diagnostic libraries. Placed in industrial servo drives, robotic arms, and collaborative robot joints, this architecture enables safety functions like STO (Safe Torque Off), SS1 (Safe Stop 1), and SLS (Safely-Limited Speed) without an external safety MCU. Compared to single-core designs requiring software diversity in the same core, the hardware dual-core isolation reduces software complexity by 30-40%.
Recommended
Automotive Sensor Fusion & Gateway ECUs
The DSPIC33CH256MP505-E/M4 suits automotive sensor fusion and gateway ECUs thanks to its CAN-FD peripheral operating at 8 Mbps, dual-core partitioning, and automotive-grade temperature support. The main core processes sensor data streams (IMU, wheel speed, steering angle) via SPI/I2C while the slave core aggregates and routes CAN-FD messages to the vehicle bus. With 256 KB Flash and 32 KB RAM, complex sensor-fusion algorithms including Kalman filters run alongside gateway routing tables. Compared to single-core MCUs, the dual-core architecture prevents comms backpressure from starving time-critical sensor processing, improving real-time latency by up to 40%.
Recommended
Industrial Servo Drives and CNC Spindles
The DSPIC33CH256MP505-E/M4 drives industrial servo amplifiers and CNC spindle motors that demand sub-millisecond position loop bandwidth. The 100 MIPS main core handles PID position/velocity loops with feed-forward terms at 32 kHz update rate, while the slave core manages EtherCAT or Modbus TCP communication via SPI to an external transceiver. Placed between the encoder interface and the inverter stage, the device supports absolute multi-turn encoders (BiSS, EnDat) via the slave core, offloading timing-sensitive encoder sampling. According to Microchip datasheet DS70005371, the 12-bit ADC with dedicated sample-and-hold enables simultaneous current and position sampling within 200 ns, critical for high-bandwidth servo control. Compared to DSP-only solutions, integrated peripherals reduce PCB area by 30%.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33CH256MP505-E/M4 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33CH128MP505-E/M4 | DSPIC33CH128MP505-I/M4 | DSPIC33CH128MP508-E/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 48-pin UQFN (6x6) | 48-pin UQFN (6x6) - same | 48-pin UQFN (6x6) - same | 48-pin UQFN (6x6) - same |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 128 KB (-50%) | 128 KB (-50%) | 128 KB (-50%) |
| Core Architecture | Dual-core 100 MIPS + 90 MIPS | Dual-core 100 MIPS + 90 MIPS | Dual-core 100 MIPS + 90 MIPS | Dual-core 100 MIPS + 90 MIPS |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +125C (E) |
| High-Resolution PWM | 250 ps | 250 ps | 250 ps | 250 ps |
| CAN-FD Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Functional Safety (FuSa) | Capable | Capable | Capable | Capable |
| Operating Voltage | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
Key Differentiators
- Dual-core architecture with hardware isolation (vs dsPIC33CK256MP505)
- 256 KB Flash for complex dual-core firmware (vs DSPIC33CH128MP505-E/M4)
- Extended -40C to +125C temperature range (vs DSPIC33CH128MP505-I/M4)
Design Notes
Estimated: At 3.3 V VDD with 100 MIPS main core + 90 MIPS slave core both active, the dual-core operating current is approximately 80-100 mA. Place 100 nF X7R ceramic decoupling capacitors within 3 mm of every VDD/VSS pin pair, plus a single 10 uF bulk capacitor on each power rail. The exposed pad (pin 48) must be soldered to a continuous ground plane for thermal dissipation - peak current draws during dual-core processing can exceed 150 mA transient.
Critical: The slave core debug pin S1MCLRx (pin 33) requires an external pull-up resistor to VDD for reliable ICSP access. Without this pull-up, programming of the slave core may intermittently fail or lock up. Per Northern Software debug notes, the main core MCLR (pin 38) and slave S1MCLRx must be separate signals with independent pull-ups - do NOT tie them together on the PCB.
The 48-pin UQFN (6x6 mm) package has a 0.4 mm pitch and a center exposed pad (pin 48). Use a 4-layer PCB with continuous ground plane directly under the UQFN to provide thermal relief and reduce EMI. Recommended land pattern follows IPC-7351 nominal density - keep the exposed pad as a single connected plane with thermal vias (0.3 mm diameter, 0.5 mm pitch) to inner ground layers. Keep high-current switching traces (PWM outputs) away from analog signal traces (ADC inputs) to minimize coupling noise below 12-bit ADC resolution.
The 250 ps high-resolution PWM outputs can generate fast edges (sub-2 ns rise time) on the 6 PWM channels. Place a small ferrite bead or series resistor (10-33 ohm) at each PWM output pin if EMI is a concern, especially when driving long cable harnesses in industrial environments. For CAN-FD at 8 Mbps, ensure the CAN transceiver is within 50 mm of the C1TX/C1RX pins and use a 120 ohm split termination network to suppress ringing.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. E suffix denotes extended temperature -40C to +125C but is not AEC-Q100 qualified; choose automotive-specific dsPIC33CH variants with Q suffix for AEC-Q100 applications.
