DSPIC33CH256MP506-I/MR - Dual-Core DSC 256KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33CH256MP506-I/MR ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $9.85 | $9.85 |
| 10 | $9.2 | $92.00 |
| 100 | $8.45 | $845.00 |
| 500 | $7.7 | $3,850.00 |
| 1,000 | $7.05 | $7,050.00 |
DSPIC33CH256MP506-I/MR Overview
A Digital Signal Controller (DSC) combines a microcontroller's deterministic interrupt handling with a DSP's computational throughput for closed-loop control applications. In the dsPIC33CH family, Microchip pioneered a true dual-core architecture where the secondary (slave) core can offload time-critical DSP tasks (sensorless FOC, digital filtering, power conversion math) from the primary (master) core which runs the application state machine and communication stacks. This partitioning delivers higher system bandwidth than single-core DSCs at the same clock rate.
Key features include dual dsPIC DSC cores with independent peripherals, hardware safety features for ISO 26262 functional safety integration, four 12-bit ADC modules with up to 3.5 MSPS sampling rate, dedicated High-Resolution PWM (250 ps resolution) for precision motor and digital power control, and CAN FD interfaces supporting automotive bit rates. The 64-pin QFN package (MR suffix) provides a compact 9x9 mm footprint suitable for space-constrained power-conversion and motor-drive designs.
Typical applications span sensorless field-oriented control (FOC) of PMSM, BLDC, and AC induction motors, digital switch-mode power supplies (SMPS) with PFC, photovoltaic micro-inverters, automotive body and chassis ECUs, and industrial drives up to several kW. The dual-core architecture reduces firmware complexity in safety-critical designs by isolating diagnostic and supervision tasks on the secondary core.
Designers should provide 100 nF decoupling at every VDD/VSS pair, route the two cores' PGECx/PGEDx programming pairs to a dedicated header, and verify the high-resolution PWM load to ground (PGx) routing minimises switching noise coupling into the ADC analog inputs. Always consult the manufacturer datasheet for full register definitions and electrical characteristics before committing to layout.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives drawn from the same dsPIC33CH family, and practical design notes beyond what the manufacturer datasheet provides as a single document.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33CH256MP506-I/MR — 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 DSPIC33CH256MP506-I/MR (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Architecture, Package, Operating Temperature, Program Memory (Flash), RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
DSPIC33CH256MP505-I/MR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33CH256MP506-I/MR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | 16-bit Dual-Core Digital Signal Controller (DSC) |
| Family | dsPIC33CH, Functional Safety (FuSa) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 328 kB (328k x 8) |
| Data RAM | 64 kB |
| Primary Core Speed | 200 MHz (100 MIPS) |
| Secondary Core Speed | 180 MHz (90 MIPS) |
| Core Architecture | Dual 16-bit dsPIC DSC cores |
| Operating Voltage | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Package | 64-pin QFN (9x9 mm), MR suffix |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| CAN FD | Yes |
| PWM Resolution | High-Resolution PWM (250 ps) |
| ADC | 12-bit, multiple modules |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
DSPIC33CH256MP506-I/MR Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RP46/PWM1H — Remappable peripheral / PWM output |
| Pin 2 | RP47/PWM1L — Remappable peripheral / PWM complementary output |
| Pin 3 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 4 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 5 | RP48/PWM2H — Remappable peripheral / PWM output |
| Pin 6 | RP49/PWM2L — Remappable peripheral / PWM complementary output |
| Pin 7 | OSCI — Crystal oscillator input |
| Pin 8 | OSCO — Crystal oscillator output |
| Pin 9 | RP50/PWM3H — Remappable peripheral / PWM output |
| Pin 10 | RP51/PWM3L — Remappable peripheral / PWM complementary output |
| Pin 11 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 12 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 13 | AN0 — Analog input / ADC channel 0 |
| Pin 14 | AN1 — Analog input / ADC channel 1 |
| Pin 15 | AN2 — Analog input / ADC channel 2 |
| Pin 16 | AN3 — Analog input / ADC channel 3 |
| Pin 17 | AVDD — Analog supply voltage |
| Pin 18 | AVSS — Analog ground |
| Pin 19 | AN4 — Analog input / ADC channel 4 |
| Pin 20 | AN5 — Analog input / ADC channel 5 |
| Pin 21 | AN6 — Analog input / ADC channel 6 |
| Pin 22 | AN7 — Analog input / ADC channel 7 |
| Pin 23 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 24 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 25 | RP52/PWM4H — Remappable peripheral / PWM output |
| Pin 26 | RP53/PWM4L — Remappable peripheral / PWM complementary output |
| Pin 27 | RP54/PWM5H — Remappable peripheral / PWM output |
| Pin 28 | RP55/PWM5L — Remappable peripheral / PWM complementary output |
| Pin 29 | RP56/PWM6H — Remappable peripheral / PWM output |
| Pin 30 | RP57/PWM6L — Remappable peripheral / PWM complementary output |
| Pin 31 | CAN1TX — CAN FD transmit |
| Pin 32 | CAN1RX — CAN FD receive |
| Pin 33 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 34 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 35 | RP58/PWM7H — Remappable peripheral / PWM output |
| Pin 36 | RP59/PWM7L — Remappable peripheral / PWM complementary output |
| Pin 37 | RP60/PWM8H — Remappable peripheral / PWM output |
| Pin 38 | RP61/PWM8L — Remappable peripheral / PWM complementary output |
| Pin 39 | RP62/PWM9H — Remappable peripheral / PWM output |
| Pin 40 | RP63/PWM9L — Remappable peripheral / PWM complementary output |
| Pin 41 | SDA1 — I2C data |
| Pin 42 | SCL1 — I2C clock |
| Pin 43 | PGEC1 — Programming/debug clock |
| Pin 44 | PGED1 — Programming/debug data |
| Pin 45 | PGEC2 — Alternate programming clock |
| Pin 46 | PGED2 — Alternate programming data |
| Pin 47 | MCLR — Master clear / reset |
| Pin 48 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 49 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 50 | RP64/PWM10H — Remappable peripheral / PWM output |
| Pin 51 | RP65/PWM10L — Remappable peripheral / PWM complementary output |
| Pin 52 | RP66 — Remappable peripheral I/O |
| Pin 53 | RP67 — Remappable peripheral I/O |
| Pin 54 | RP68 — Remappable peripheral I/O |
| Pin 55 | RP69 — Remappable peripheral I/O |
| Pin 56 | RP70 — Remappable peripheral I/O |
| Pin 57 | RP71 — Remappable peripheral I/O |
| Pin 58 | CAN2TX — CAN FD transmit (secondary) |
| Pin 59 | CAN2RX — CAN FD receive (secondary) |
| Pin 60 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 61 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 62 | RP72 — Remappable peripheral I/O |
| Pin 63 | RP73 — Remappable peripheral I/O |
| Pin 64 | RP74 — Remappable peripheral I/O |
Typical Applications
DSPIC33CH256MP506-I/MR is suitable for 6 applications: Field-Oriented Control (FOC) of PMSM/BLDC Motors, Digital Switch-Mode Power Supplies (SMPS) with PFC, Automotive Body and Chassis ECUs, Photovoltaic Micro-Inverters and Solar Optimisers, Industrial Servo Drives and Robotics, Hearing Aids and Medical Wearables.
Field-Oriented Control (FOC) of PMSM/BLDC Motors
The DSPIC33CH256MP506-I/MR is purpose-built for sensorless and sensored FOC of PMSM, BLDC, and AC induction motors up to several kW. The dual-core architecture allows the secondary core to execute the high-frequency current control loop (typical 20-50 kHz) with the DSP engine handling Clarke/Park transforms, SVPWM, and flux estimation, while the primary core runs the slower speed/torque state machine and CAN/Modbus communication. The 250 ps high-resolution PWM minimises current ripple and audible noise, and the four 12-bit ADCs sampled at up to 3.5 MSPS synchronise to the PWM reload to eliminate sampling jitter on phase currents.
Recommended
Digital Switch-Mode Power Supplies (SMPS) with PFC
For digital control of totem-pole PFC, LLC, phase-shifted full-bridge, and other high-frequency SMPS topologies, the DSPIC33CH256MP506-I/MR delivers the necessary computational bandwidth and analog performance. The slave core handles voltage-mode and average-current-mode control loops at 100-500 kHz switching frequencies with cycle-by-cycle ADC triggering, while the master core manages housekeeping, telemetry, and PMBus/I2C interfaces. The high-resolution PWM and configurable dead-time generators support GaN and SiC FET drivers directly, eliminating analog PWM controller ICs.
Recommended
Automotive Body and Chassis ECUs
The DSPIC33CH256MP506-I/MR's Functional Safety (FuSa) peripherals, dual-core lockstep capability, and CAN FD interfaces make it a strong fit for automotive body controllers, electric power steering pumps, and chassis ECUs. The slave core can run self-diagnostic routines concurrently with the master core's application tasks, supporting ISO 26262 ASIL-B designs. The industrial -40 to +85 C temperature grade covers most cabin and under-hood zones, and the wide CAN FD bit-rate range enables modern automotive network backbones.
Recommended
Photovoltaic Micro-Inverters and Solar Optimisers
Photovoltaic micro-inverters and module-level power electronics benefit from the DSPIC33CH256MP506-I/MR's dual-core partitioning: the slave core implements MPPT and grid-tie current control, while the master core handles anti-islanding detection, relay control, and PLC/wireless communication. The high-resolution PWM and high-speed ADC enable interleaved topologies that meet IEEE 1547 harmonic limits. The 64-pin QFN (9x9 mm) package fits within the tight PCB area constraints of a module-mount enclosure.
Recommended
Industrial Servo Drives and Robotics
Industrial servo drives for CNC machines, robotics arms, and pick-and-place equipment leverage the DSPIC33CH256MP506-I/MR for high-bandwidth torque and position loops. The dual cores support simultaneous execution of the current loop (slave), velocity loop (master), and trajectory planner (master) without scheduler-induced jitter. The device's hardware QEI interfaces accept directly from incremental encoders, and its CAN FD port connects to multi-axis EtherCAT/CANopen backbones. The 64-pin QFN's exposed pad provides the thermal headroom required for sustained switching at high PWM duty cycles.
Recommended
Hearing Aids and Medical Wearables
Battery-powered hearing aids and medical wearable devices benefit from the DSPIC33CH256MP506-I/MR's low-power dsPIC33CH sleep modes combined with substantial DSP throughput for real-time audio processing. The dual-core architecture allows audio codec and beamforming DSP to run on the slave core while the master core handles BLE/communication stacks and battery management. The QFN package fits in ear-level enclosures, and the integrated 12-bit ADCs interface directly with MEMS microphones.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33CH256MP506-I/MR — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33CH256MP505-I/MR | DSPIC33CH256MP506-I/PT | DSPIC33CH256MP508-I/PT | DSPIC33CH256MP208-I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-pin QFN (9x9) | 64-pin QFN (9x9) - same | 64-pin TQFP (10x10) | 80-pin TQFP | 64-pin TQFP |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Flash | 328 kB | 128 kB (-61%) | 328 kB (same) | 328 kB (same) | 328 kB (same) |
| RAM | 64 kB | 64 kB | 64 kB | 64 kB | Reduced |
| Primary Core Speed | 200 MHz (100 MIPS) | 200 MHz | 200 MHz | 200 MHz | 200 MHz |
| Secondary Core | Yes (180 MHz / 90 MIPS) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CAN FD | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| High-Resolution PWM | Yes (250 ps) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- True dual-core architecture with hardware mailboxes (vs DSPIC33EP256MC506)
- Functional Safety (FuSa) peripherals integrated (vs DSPIC33CH128MP506-I/PT)
- High-Resolution PWM with 250 ps edge placement (vs DSPIC33CK256MP508)
Design Notes
Decouple every VDD/VSS pair with a 100 nF ceramic capacitor placed within 3 mm of the pin, plus a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic at the package entry. Separate analog AVDD/AVSS with a ferrite bead or LC filter from the noisy digital supply to preserve ADC accuracy. Estimate: with four VDD pins at 3.3 V drawing ~50 mA each, expect 200 mA worst-case inrush during PLL lock - the bulk cap should be at least 10x the high-frequency decoupling total.
The 64-pin QFN (9x9 mm) requires a continuous ground plane with stitched vias around the perimeter of the exposed pad (EP). Use a 5x5 array of 0.3 mm thermal vias under the EP to keep junction temperature below 100 C at 1 W dissipation. Route high-speed PWM outputs first (shortest path to gate drivers), then analog inputs last (with guard traces). Provide separate ground returns for switching currents and ADC sampling.
Keep ADC analog traces short and routed over a continuous ground plane, away from PWM switching nodes by at least 3 mm or shielded by a grounded trace. Use 50 ohm controlled impedance for the crystal traces between OSCI and OSCO, and place the crystal within 10 mm of the MCU. Add a 1 Mohm parallel resistor across the crystal to limit drive level and prevent overdrive on faster dsPIC33CH parts. For high-resolution PWM, ensure the gate-driver supply is decoupled locally to prevent PWM-edge jitter from propagating back into the MCU supply.
Do not connect the slave core's PGECx/PGEDx pair to the same ICSP header as the master core's pair without isolation - this confuses the programmer. Always use the dedicated PGEC2/PGED2 pair for the slave core when debugging both cores. Verify the FS (Functional Safety) peripherals are properly configured before relying on lockstep; otherwise a single fault on the slave core may go undetected. Estimated: a typical motor-control application uses ~30 kB Flash on the slave core and ~80 kB on the master, leaving margin for safety libraries.
Compliance Information
Industrial -40 to +85 C temperature grade. RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page. AEC-Q100 -E/-M temperature variants are available in the same family for automotive applications.
