DSPIC33EP128MU504-E/ML - 16-bit DSC 128KB USB CAN | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33EP128MU504-E/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.42 | $6.42 |
| 10 | $5.78 | $57.80 |
| 100 | $5.12 | $512.00 |
| 500 | $4.66 | $2,330.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.25 | $4,250.00 |
DSPIC33EP128MU504-E/ML Overview
A digital signal controller combines the computational throughput of a DSP with the deterministic control structure and peripheral set of a microcontroller. In the power management hierarchy of embedded systems, a DSC sits between general-purpose MCUs and dedicated DSPs, making it the preferred device class for closed-loop control loops that need both fast multiply-accumulate arithmetic and rich on-chip peripherals such as PWM, QEI, and CAN.
Key features of this MU-series variant include an integrated full-speed USB 2.0 device peripheral, a CAN 2.0B module, a 12-bit ADC with up to 1.1 Msps throughput, three on-chip operational amplifiers, motor-control PWM, quadrature encoder interface (QEI), and a Charge Time Measurement Unit (CTMU). These peripherals let a single chip implement complete digital power, motion, or sensing systems without external analog front-end ICs.
Architecturally, the dsPIC33E family uses a modified Harvard pipeline with DSP engine (single-cycle MAC, 40-bit accumulator), hardware division support, and two address generation units. The E-temperature suffix guarantees extended industrial operation to +125C, supporting designs inside sealed enclosures and under-hood or high-power-inverter environments where ambient and self-heating combine.
Typical applications include digital power supplies and PFC stages, brushless DC and PMSM motor drives, USB-connected industrial instruments, CAN-networked automotive accessory nodes, and sensor interfaces that exploit the CTMU and on-chip op-amps.
For design, plan the 3.3V supply with separate regulated or filtered VUSB for the USB PHY, decouple all VDD/VSS pairs, and budget flash carefully - 128 KB suits mid-complexity control firmware with USB and CAN stacks resident.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, pin-compatible family alternatives, and practical design notes not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33EP128MU504-E/ML — 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 DSPIC33EP128MU504-E/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, Connectivity.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
DSPIC33EP128MC504-I/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP128MC204T-E/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$3.8 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP256MU504-E/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP64MU504-E/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP128MU504-I/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$3.58 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP128MU504-E/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | dsPIC33E 16-bit DSC core |
| Core Performance | 70 MIPS |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 128 KB |
| RAM | 16 KB |
| Data Flash (EEPROM emulation) | 1 KB |
| ADC Resolution | 12-bit |
| Connectivity | USB, CAN, UART, SPI, I2C |
| Analog Peripherals | 3x on-chip op-amps, CTMU |
| Motor Control Peripherals | MC PWM, QEI, PTG |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (E suffix) |
| Package | QFN-44 (8x8x0.9 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Packaging | Tube |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
DSPIC33EP128MU504-E/ML qfn-44 (8x8x0.9 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for DSPIC33EP128MU504-E/ML (qfn-44 (8x8x0.9 mm) package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for DSPIC33EP128MU504-E/ML.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
DSPIC33EP128MU504-E/ML is suitable for 6 applications: Digital Power Supplies and PFC, Brushless DC and PMSM Motor Drives, USB-Connected Industrial Instruments, CAN-Networked Automotive Accessory Nodes, Capacitive Touch and CTMU-Based Sensing, Portable and USB-Powered Measurement Devices.
Digital Power Supplies and PFC
The DSPIC33EP128MU504-E/ML fits digital power conversion because its 70 MIPS core executes the control loop, compensation math, and protection logic within sub-microsecond deadlines, while the 12-bit ADC samples voltage and current feedback at up to 1.1 Msps. The motor-control PWM module produces complementary outputs with dead-time insertion and fault shutdown, exactly what a phase-shifted full-bridge or LLC converter needs. Using the on-chip 3x op-amps as current-sense amplifiers eliminates an external analog front-end and shortens the feedback path, improving loop accuracy. Compared with analog-control designs, firmware control enables adaptive mode switching and digital telemetry over USB or CAN without extra chips. Typical usage places the ADC in simultaneous mode sampling both output voltage and inductor current each PWM cycle, with the control law computed in the ADC interrupt - achieving bandwidth in the tens of kilohertz that meets most server and telecom PSU requirements.
Recommended
Brushless DC and PMSM Motor Drives
This DSC is well suited to field-oriented control (FOC) of PMSM and BLDC motors because the DSP engine performs the Park/Clarke transforms and PI loops with single-cycle multiply-accumulate at 70 MIPS, leaving ample cycle budget for protection and communication. The quadrature encoder interface decodes position feedback in hardware with no CPU loading, and the complementary PWM generator supports center-aligned, dead-time-controlled three-phase drive. The 12-bit ADC, triggered directly by the PWM module, samples phase currents at the PWM midpoint for lowest switching noise. On-chip op-amps can condition low-side shunt currents, cutting BOM cost versus external amplifier ICs. In a typical 48V e-bike controller, the MU504 runs the FOC loop at 16 kHz while simultaneously servicing CAN messages, and the E-grade +125C rating allows mounting near power stages in sealed housings where ambient and self-heating combine.
Recommended
USB-Connected Industrial Instruments
The integrated full-speed USB 2.0 device peripheral distinguishes the MU-series within the dsPIC33E family, making this part ideal for bench instruments, data loggers, and sensors that stream measurements to a PC without an external USB-interface chip. The 12-bit ADC with up to 1.1 Msps throughput digitizes sensor channels while the 16 KB RAM buffers sample blocks for USB bulk transfers, and the 1 KB data Flash stores calibration constants through power cycles. Because the USB PHY requires a dedicated 3.3V VUSB rail and internal voltage regulator control, designers gain USB certification-friendly signaling without external transceivers. A typical configuration implements USB CDC (virtual COM port) firmware so host software sees the instrument as a serial device, simplifying driver development. Compared with MCU-plus-FTDI two-chip solutions, this single-chip approach reduces BOM, board area, and latency between sampling and host delivery.
Recommended
CAN-Networked Automotive Accessory Nodes
With a CAN 2.0B controller on chip and the E-grade -40C to +125C operating range, the DSPIC33EP128MU504-E/ML serves automotive and heavy-equipment accessory nodes such as lighting controllers, pump drivers, and sensor gateways. The hardware CAN module with up to 1 Mbps operation provides message filtering and multiple buffers in silicon, offloading the 70 MIPS CPU for the application. Combined with the 12-bit ADC for analog diagnostics (current, voltage, thermistor inputs) and the CTMU for capacitive touch or precise time measurement, one chip can implement a complete smart actuator. Firmware typically runs the control loop at kilohertz rates while the CAN stack operates interrupt-driven, using the 128 KB Flash to hold both application logic and the driver layer. Note that the part is not AEC-Q100 qualified per current data, so position it in non-safety-critical subsystems or verify qualification status with Microchip for your specific program.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch and CTMU-Based Sensing
The Charge Time Measurement Unit (CTMU) makes this DSC a strong fit for capacitive touch interfaces and precision time-of-flight or current measurements without a dedicated touch controller. In touch applications, the CTMU injects a controlled charge into each sensing pad while a timer measures the charge time; firmware applies oversampling and drift compensation to deliver reliable detection through 3 mm glass or plastic overlays at -40C to +125C, where consumer-grade touch ICs often drift. The 12-bit ADC and on-chip op-amps complement the CTMU for ratiometric temperature sensing and mV-level signal conditioning in the same node. A typical appliance panel uses 8 to 16 CTMU channels scanned in a round-robin at 100 Hz with LED feedback driven from GPIO, all within the single 44-QFN chip. The 128 KB Flash accommodates the touch library, application logic, and communication (UART or I2C to the main board) with room to spare for OTA-style field updates.
Recommended
Portable and USB-Powered Measurement Devices
For handheld meters, portable analyzers, and USB-powered probes, the DSPIC33EP128MU504-E/ML offers a compelling single-chip architecture: USB for both data and charging communication, a 12-bit ADC for the measurement channel, and DSP capability for real-time filtering such as RMS computation and FFT-based analysis. The 70 MIPS core executes a 64-point real FFT in well under a millisecond, enabling spectrum display refresh at interactive rates, while 16 KB RAM holds sample windows and display buffers. The E-grade temperature range suits devices left in vehicles or industrial settings. Power design centers on a single-cell Li-ion battery regulated to 3.3V, with the internal USB regulator handling the VUSB rail; firmware should implement the USB suspend/resume states to meet the 2.5 mA-class suspend budgets. Typical products include acoustic analyzers, impedance meters, and environmental monitors that pair with smartphone or PC hosts over USB CDC.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33EP128MU504-E/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33EP128MC504-I/ML | DSPIC33EP128MC204T-E/ML | DSPIC33EP256MU504-E/ML | DSPIC33EP64MU504-E/ML | DSPIC33EP128MU504-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | QFN-44 (8x8 mm) | QFN-44 (8x8 mm) - same | QFN-44 (8x8 mm) - same | QFN-44 (8x8 mm) - same | QFN-44 (8x8 mm) - same | QFN-44 (8x8 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 128 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB | 256 KB | 64 KB | 128 KB |
| RAM | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB | 8 KB | 16 KB |
| USB Peripheral | Full-speed USB 2.0 device | No USB | No USB | Full-speed USB 2.0 device | Full-speed USB 2.0 device | Full-speed USB 2.0 device |
| Core Performance | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) |
| CAN Controller | CAN 2.0B | CAN 2.0B | CAN 2.0B | CAN 2.0B | CAN 2.0B | CAN 2.0B |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated full-speed USB device peripheral (vs DSPIC33EP128MC504-I/ML)
- Extended E-grade temperature rating (vs DSPIC33EP128MU504-I/ML)
- Balanced 128 KB Flash / 16 KB RAM tier (vs DSPIC33EP256MU504-E/ML)
- On-chip analog front-end (3x op-amps + CTMU) (vs DSPIC33EP128MC204T-E/ML)
Design Notes
The MU-series USB peripheral requires a dedicated VUSB supply pin at 3.3V with its own low-ESR decoupling (per Microchip datasheet guidance, approximately 220 nF to 470 nF on VUSB and VUSB3V3 as specified in the family datasheet). Do not share the VUSB rail with noisy digital loads. Estimated: a 3.3V rail supplying 70 MIPS operation plus USB traffic draws on the order of 50-80 mA typical, so size your regulator with margin above the datasheet IDD figures before finalizing the power budget.
The 44-QFN 8x8 mm package has a center exposed thermal pad that must be soldered to a grounded copper pour with an array of thermal vias - this is both the primary ground return and the heat removal path for +125C operation. Place 0.1 uF decoupling capacitors at every VDD pin within 2 mm of the pad, and route the MCLR programming trace to a header with PGD/PGC so ICSP debug remains possible after assembly. Keep the USB D+/D- pair as a 90-ohm differential route, length-matched within 1 mm.
Many 44-pin dsPIC33E signals are multiplexed to multiple peripheral functions; before finalizing the schematic, verify each pin assignment against the peripheral-pin-select and pin multiplexing tables in the family datasheet, especially for motor-control PWM outputs and ADC channel mapping, which are NOT fully remappable. A second frequent error is using a debug-tool power setting that conflicts with the target VUSB regulator during USB debugging - configure MPLAB/REAL ICE power correctly to avoid brownouts. Finally, the E-grade +125C rating still requires junction temperature derating: Estimated: at theta_JA around 35-40 C/W for a good thermal-pad layout, keep on-package dissipation under roughly 0.5-0.7 W to maintain margin.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance indicated by distributor listings (E/ML suffix denotes lead-free RoHS packaging). Not AEC-Q100 qualified per current Microchip product data - verify with Microchip for automotive programs requiring qualification.
