DSPIC33EP16GS506-I/PT - 16-Bit DSC 16KB Flash 70MIPS | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33EP16GS506-I/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.42 | $4.42 |
| 10 | $4.05 | $40.50 |
| 100 | $3.62 | $362.00 |
| 500 | $3.24 | $1,620.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.95 | $2,950.00 |
DSPIC33EP16GS506-I/PT Overview
A digital signal controller combines the computational capability of a digital signal processor with the peripheral integration and control architecture of a microcontroller. Within the power-management hierarchy, the dsPIC33EP16GS506 sits in the dsPIC33EP16GS50X family purpose-built for digital switch-mode power supplies (SMPS), sitting between general-purpose MCUs and dedicated power-conversion ASICs.
Key features include an interconnected high-speed PWM module, an onboard ADC with programmable gain amplifier (PGA), analog comparators, and DSP engine with barrel shifter. According to Microchip product data, the device integrates 7 timers, 4 external interrupts, and 2 serial I/O ports managed through a multiple internal bus architecture, with 2 KB of RAM.
The GS-series architecture connects the high-speed PWM, ADC, and comparators so that power-conversion control loops can execute without CPU intervention latency, supporting common multi-loop digital SMPS topologies such as AC-to-DC converters, PFC stages, and DC-to-DC converters.
Typical applications include interleaved power factor correction (Microchip provides a 350W universal-input interleaved PFC reference design for this family), digital AC-to-DC power supplies, and industrial control or general-purpose digital signal processing tasks.
When designing with this device, note that ICSP programming requires using PGECx/PGEDx pin pairs as matched pairs, and all VDD/VSS pins must be connected.
This page synthesizes distributor data, same-family drop-in alternatives, and practical design guidance not found in a single manufacturer document.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33EP16GS506-I/PT — 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 DSPIC33EP16GS506-I/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Packaging, Package, Application Focus, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
DSPIC33EP16GS506-E/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.46 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP32GS506-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP64GS506-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP128GS506-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP16GS506-I/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 16-bit dsPIC33EP DSC |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 60 MHz |
| Performance | 70 MIPS |
| Flash Program Memory | 16 KB (16K x 8) |
| RAM | 2 KB |
| Timers | 7 |
| External Interrupts | 4 |
| Serial I/O Ports | 2 |
| PWM | Interconnected High-Speed PWM |
| Analog Peripherals | ADC with PGA, Comparators |
| DSP Features | Barrel shifter, DSP engine |
| Debug / Programming | ICSP, multiple PGECx/PGEDx pairs |
| Target Application | Digital power (SMPS), digital power conversion |
| Package | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm), 0.5 mm pitch |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (I grade) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Technology | CMOS |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
DSPIC33EP16GS506-I/PT 64-tqfp (10x10 mm), 0.5 mm pitch Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for DSPIC33EP16GS506-I/PT (64-tqfp (10x10 mm), 0.5 mm pitch 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 DSPIC33EP16GS506-I/PT.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
DSPIC33EP16GS506-I/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Interleaved Power Factor Correction (PFC), Digital Switch-Mode Power Supplies (SMPS), AC-to-DC Converter Control, Industrial Control and Automation, LED Drivers and Electronic Ballasts, General-Purpose Digital Signal Processing.
Interleaved Power Factor Correction (PFC)
The DSPIC33EP16GS506-I/PT fits interleaved PFC because its interconnected high-speed PWM can phase-shift multiple converters while the fast ADC with PGA and analog comparators handle inductor current sensing and cycle-by-cycle protection. Microchip's interleaved PFC reference design based on this family operates over universal AC input and delivers up to 350 W of high-voltage DC output. The DSC executes the average-current-mode control loop digitally, allowing adaptive gain scheduling over the wide input range. Placing the PWM, ADC, and comparators on internal interconnects reduces loop latency compared with conventional MCU implementations, improving power factor and reducing total harmonic distortion at light load.
Recommended
Digital Switch-Mode Power Supplies (SMPS)
The DSPIC33EP16GS506-I/PT is explicitly architected for multi-loop digital switch-mode power supplies. Its high-speed PWM module supports complementary outputs, dead-time insertion, and fault trip inputs tied to the analog comparators, enabling peak current limiting without CPU intervention. The 70 MIPS core leaves ample computational headroom for voltage and current loop compensators executed at switching frequency rates. With 16 KB Flash, compact Buck, Boost, Flyback, and LLC controllers fit comfortably. Compared with analog controllers, the digital approach enables soft-start profiles, adaptive dead-time, and telemetry over the serial ports, while 16 KB keeps firmware lean and deterministic for safety-relevant power paths.
Recommended
AC-to-DC Converter Control
In AC-to-DC digital power conversion, the DSPIC33EP16GS506-I/PT sequences PFC and downstream DC-DC stages with one controller, using its 7 timers for housekeeping tasks and its 4 external interrupt pins for fast fault handling. The ADC with programmable gain amplifier scales both high- and low-level sense signals without external gain stages, reducing component count. The interconnected PWM/ADC/comparator fabric lets rectified-line synchronisation and burst-mode operation be implemented with low jitter. Industrial-grade -40C to +85C operation suits enclosed adapters and server front-ends, and the 64-TQFP footprint provides enough PWM channels for two-stage or multi-rail converter topologies.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Automation
Beyond power conversion, the DSPIC33EP16GS506-I/PT serves general industrial control where deterministic signal processing is needed: motor front-ends, digital filtering of sensor channels, and coordinated actuator control. The 70 MIPS DSP engine with barrel shifter accelerates FIR filters and control mathematics, while the 2 serial I/O ports link to PLC backplanes or HMI modules. Seven timers support multi-axis task scheduling, and four external interrupts capture fast events such as encoder index pulses. Its CMOS fabrication and industrial temperature rating support factory-floor environments, and ICSP programming with multiple PGEC/PGED pairs simplifies field servicing through a single programming header.
Recommended
LED Drivers and Electronic Ballasts
Digital LED drivers and high-intensity ballasts benefit from the DSPIC33EP16GS506-I/PT's high-resolution PWM and comparator-based cycle-by-cycle current protection. Dimming curves, temperature derating, and fault logging are implemented in firmware within the 16 KB Flash budget. The fast ADC with PGA samples shunt currents at low voltage, while the analog comparators feed PWM trip logic for over-current shutdown without software latency - critical for LED string survival. Multi-channel PWM output in the 64-TQFP package drives phase-dimmed or multi-string architectures. Digital control also enables constant-luminance calibration across production, compensating LED binning with firmware rather than trim components.
Recommended
General-Purpose Digital Signal Processing
As a general-purpose DSC, the DSPIC33EP16GS506-I/PT handles embedded DSP tasks such as sensor fusion, audio band filtering, and condition monitoring. The 70 MIPS core with DSP multiply-accumulate instructions and barrel shifter executes 16-bit fixed-point algorithms efficiently, while 2 KB RAM buffers moderate filter states. The multiple internal bus architecture lets data move between ADC and memory without stalling computation. With 16 KB Flash, algorithm-plus-communication stacks remain compact. For designs outgrowing 16 KB, the identical 64-TQFP pinout accepts 32 KB, 64 KB, or 128 KB family variants with no board respin, making this controller a scalable platform for evolving DSP workloads.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33EP16GS506-I/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33EP16GS506-E/PT | DSPIC33EP32GS506-I/PT | DSPIC33EP64GS506-I/PT | DSPIC33EP128GS506-I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Program Memory | 16 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB | 64 KB | 128 KB |
| RAM | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 4 KB | 16 KB |
| Performance | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +125C (E grade) | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +85C (I grade) |
| High-Speed PWM / ADC / Comparators | Yes (interconnected) | Yes (interconnected) | Yes (interconnected) | Yes (interconnected) | Yes (interconnected) |
| Pin Compatibility | 64-TQFP GS506 footprint | Pin-to-pin identical | Pin-to-pin identical | Pin-to-pin identical | Pin-to-pin identical |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest cost in the GS506 64-TQFP ladder (vs DSPIC33EP64GS506-I/PT)
- Standard industrial temperature rating (vs DSPIC33EP16GS506-E/PT)
- RAM scales with Flash across the footprint (vs DSPIC33EP128GS506-I/PT)
Design Notes
Connect all VDD and VSS pins - Microchip documentation explicitly requires every supply pair to be bonded on the 64-TQFP; leaving one floating can cause erratic resets or non-programmable parts. Decouple each VDD/VSS pair with 0.1 uF ceramic capacitors placed within 2 mm of the pins, plus one bulk 4.7 uF to 10 uF capacitor. Provide a dedicated ICSP header on any PGECx/PGEDx pair (keep the pair matched: PGEC2 with PGED2). Route PWM outputs away from analog sense lines to protect ADC accuracy.
In digital power applications, the DSC's own 3.3 V rail must be isolated from noisy gate-driver supply transients. Use an LDO or filtered buck for VDD, and add a ferrite bead between analog and digital supply domains. Estimated: a 70 MIPS dsPIC33EP core draws on the order of tens of mA - verify against the datasheet current-consumption tables for your clock configuration - so a 100 mA headroom supply is typically sufficient, but gate-drive rails are separate and much higher current.
The Flash memory option you choose bounds firmware forever within a footprint: 16 KB fills quickly once a communication stack plus multi-loop compensators are added. A proven strategy is to standardize one 64-TQFP land pattern on all boards and qualify DSPIC33EP32GS506/64GS506/128GS506 as pin-compatible alternates from day one. Also note this is the /I industrial grade (-40C to +85C); for enclosures near heatsinks where ambient exceeds 85C, use the /E extended variant (to +125C) instead.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant and lead-free per distributor classification of the I/PT TQFP variant. Formal REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals declarations should be requested from Microchip.
