DSPIC33EP256GM306T-I/PT - 70 MIPS 16-bit DSC, 256KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33EP256GM306T-I/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.38 | $6.38 |
| 10 | $5.85 | $58.50 |
| 25 | $5.52 | $138.00 |
| 100 | $5.1 | $510.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.72 | $4,720.00 |
DSPIC33EP256GM306T-I/PT Overview
A digital signal controller combines the compute pipeline of a microcontroller with DSP-acceleration features such as a barrel shifter, hardware multiply-accumulate, and modulo addressing. Within the power-management hierarchy of embedded systems, a DSC sits between a general-purpose MCU and a dedicated DSP, making the dsPIC33 family a standard choice for precision digital power and motor control.
Key differentiators include 12 motor-control PWM (MCPWM) channels, 8 input capture and 8 output compare peripherals, 2 quadrature encoder interfaces (QEI), and 4 integrated operational amplifiers that offload external analog components. The Charge Time Measurement Unit (CTMU) supports capacitive touch and precision timing, while the Programmable Timing Generator (PTG) automates complex trigger sequences without CPU intervention. Four DMA channels offload high-throughput data moves.
Architecturally, the dsPIC33E core runs from a 3.3V supply with in-circuit and boundary-scan debug support, and a flexible clock system supporting PLL multiplication to reach the full 70 MIPS rating. Flash program memory is specified as 85.5K x 24-bit instruction words.
Typical applications include brushless DC and PMSM motor drives, digital power supplies (LLC, totem-pole PFC), industrial automation, and sensor signal conditioning where the on-chip op-amps and CTMU reduce BOM cost.
Design consideration: to achieve 70 MIPS the internal PLL must be configured correctly; verify supply decoupling on all VDD/VDDCORE pins per the manufacturer datasheet.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33EP256GM306T-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 DSPIC33EP256GM306T-I/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, Packaging, Quadrature Encoder Interfaces, Core Architecture.
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No drop-in alternatives available for this product.
Request AlternativesDSPIC33EP256GM306T-I/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 16-bit dsPIC33E DSC |
| Maximum Clock / Performance | 70 MIPS |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 256 KB (85.5K x 24) |
| RAM | 16 KB |
| Supply Voltage Range | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Motor Control PWM Channels | 12 (MCPWM) |
| Input Capture / Output Compare | 8 / 8 |
| Quadrature Encoder Interfaces | 2 (QEI) |
| Integrated Operational Amplifiers | 4 |
| CTMU | Yes (Charge Time Measurement Unit) |
| PTG | Yes (Programmable Timing Generator) |
| DMA Channels | 4 |
| Package | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (I grade) |
| Packaging | Tape and Reel (T suffix) |
| Product Status | Active |
| Technology | CMOS |
DSPIC33EP256GM306T-I/PT 64-tqfp (10x10 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for DSPIC33EP256GM306T-I/PT (64-tqfp (10x10 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 DSPIC33EP256GM306T-I/PT.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
DSPIC33EP256GM306T-I/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Brushless DC and PMSM Motor Drives, Digital Power Supplies (LLC, Totem-Pole PFC), Industrial Automation and PLC I/O, Sensor Signal Conditioning and Data Acquisition, Robotics and Motion Control, Automotive-Adjacent and Embedded Control Subsystems.
Brushless DC and PMSM Motor Drives
The DSPIC33EP256GM306T-I/PT fits motor control because its 12 MCPWM channels provide complementary PWM pairs with hardware dead-time insertion, and its 2 QEI modules decode incremental encoder feedback at full speed without CPU load. The 4 on-chip op-amps condition shunt-resistor current signals ahead of the ADC, removing external amplifier ICs and their offset drift from the BOM. A typical FOC drive runs the current loop at 20-50 kHz PWM frequency using the 70 MIPS core, leaving headroom for field weakening and communication protocols. Because Microchip publishes dsPIC33EP-specific FOC reference firmware, time-to-market for sensorless and sensored drives is shortened considerably versus generic MCUs.
Recommended
Digital Power Supplies (LLC, Totem-Pole PFC)
Digital power converters benefit directly from this DSC's 12 MCPWM channels, which can generate phase-shifted and complementary PWM with sub-nanosecond-resolution dead-time control needed by LLC half-bridge and totem-pole PFC topologies. The 70 MIPS 16-bit core executes the voltage and current compensation loops at switching frequencies of 100-500 kHz with deterministic interrupt latency, and the 4 integrated op-amps buffer current-transformer or shunt signals into the ADC without external op-amp stages. The PTG (Programmable Timing Generator) sequences fault and startup logic in hardware, improving robustness during brown-out and hiccup-mode events. Microchip's SMPS firmware libraries for dsPIC33EP further reduce software development effort.
Recommended
Industrial Automation and PLC I/O
In industrial automation nodes, the DSPIC33EP256GM306T-I/PT combines 70 MIPS of DSP throughput with 256KB of Flash, enough to host a communication stack plus a control algorithm in one chip. The 8 input capture and 8 output compare channels handle pulse counting, valve PWM, and precise event timing; the 2 QEI modules interface rotary encoders on conveyor or axis feedback. The CTMU provides capacitive touch sensing for HMI panels and high-resolution time measurement for ultrasonic distance sensing. The -40C to +85C industrial temperature grade and 3.0-3.6V supply suit 24V industrial cabinets where a simple LDO from 5V or 3.6V rails powers the controller.
Recommended
Sensor Signal Conditioning and Data Acquisition
The 4 integrated operational amplifiers make this DSC a compact analog front end: they can be configured as programmable-gain stages for bridge sensors (load cells, pressure transducers) feeding the internal ADC, eliminating discrete op-amp packages on dense boards. The CTMU supports precise charge-based measurement for capacitive and resistive sensors, while the 8 input-capture channels timestamp external events such as flow-meter pulses. With 16KB RAM, averaging windows and DSP filters (IIR/FIR) run comfortably on-chip at the 70 MIPS rate. DMA channels stream ADC results to RAM without CPU cycles, sustaining continuous multi-channel acquisition at high sample rates in condition-monitoring and instrumentation nodes.
Recommended
Robotics and Motion Control
Multi-axis motion systems use the DSPIC33EP256GM306T-I/PT for its pairing of 2 QEI encoder interfaces with 12 MCPWM outputs, allowing two closed-loop axes on a single 64-TQFP device. The 70 MIPS core executes trapezoidal or FOC profiles while concurrently managing limit switches via input capture and coordinating over UART/CAN-class links. The PTG offloads repetitive trigger patterns (e.g., synchronized PWM/ADC sampling) from software, giving jitter-free timing critical for smooth motion. 256KB Flash stores trajectory tables and host protocol stacks together, and the 4 op-amps interface current-sense shunts on each axis, keeping the drive board analog section minimal.
Recommended
Automotive-Adjacent and Embedded Control Subsystems
While the standard -40C to +85C grade of DSPIC33EP256GM306T-I/PT targets industrial and off-road equipment, the same 64-TQFP platform scales to harsher environments through extended-temperature family members (E grade). The DSC handles pump controllers, fan and blower drives, valve actuation, and battery-monitoring front ends: MCPWM drives the power stage, QEI reads position, and CTMU performs leak-detection or touch inputs. Its 3.0-3.6V operation simplifies regulation from automotive 5V rails. Designers needing AEC-Q100 qualification should evaluate the dsPIC33CH family (as DSPIC33CH256MP506), which shares tooling and much of the peripheral architecture with the 33EP series.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33EP256GM306T-I/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33EP256GM306-I/PT | DSPIC33EP256GM306T-I/PF | DSPIC33EP128GM306-E/PT | DSPIC33EP128GM304T-I/PT | DSPIC33EP256GM306T-I/MR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 64-QFN - different body |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core / Performance | 16-bit dsPIC33E, 70 MIPS | 16-bit dsPIC33E, 70 MIPS | 16-bit dsPIC33E, 70 MIPS | 16-bit dsPIC33E, 70 MIPS | 16-bit dsPIC33E, 70 MIPS | 16-bit dsPIC33E, 70 MIPS |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB (85.5K x 24) | 256 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB (-50%) | 128 KB (-50%) | 256 KB |
| RAM | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C (E grade) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
Key Differentiators
- Four integrated operational amplifiers reduce BOM cost (vs DSPIC33EP128GM304T-I/PT)
- Double the Flash of the 128KB family members at the same footprint (vs DSPIC33EP128GM306-E/PT)
- 12 MCPWM channels enable multi-axis or multi-phase conversion (vs DSPIC33CK64MC102-I/SS)
Design Notes
The dsPIC33EP requires a core regulator; on the GM306 the VDDCORE pin must be decoupled per the manufacturer datasheet recommendations (typically a low-ESR capacitor placed within 2 mm of the pin). Decouple every VDD pin with 0.1uF ceramic plus one bulk 4.7-10uF capacitor per supply rail. Estimated: at 70 MIPS the core current is tens of mA; keep supply impedance low to avoid brown-out resets during simultaneous PWM edge events. Verify the 3.0-3.6V range is respected including regulator tolerance and cable drop in 24V industrial cabinets.
The 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) has a 0.5 mm pin pitch - use solder-mask-defined pads with non-solder-mask-defined geometry per the datasheet land pattern, and keep PWM output traces short and routed away from analog op-amp inputs. Because the 4 on-chip op-amps share the die with the switching PWM peripherals, ground bounce is the main noise risk: use a solid ground plane and separate the current-shunt kelvin connections back to the op-amp input pins directly. Avoid routing the encoder (QEI) signals adjacent to MCPWM complementary pairs.
Do not assume full 70 MIPS from an external crystal alone: the internal PLL configuration determines the operating frequency, and incorrect PLL settings cause devices to boot at a divided frequency. Also note the 'T' suffix denotes tape and reel - ordering the tray version (DSPIC33EP256GM306-I/PT) for prototypes avoids minimum reel-quantity commitments. Finally, dsPIC33EP I/O is not 5V tolerant; level-shift any 5V signal domains before connecting them to GPIO.
Compliance Information
RoHS/lead-free status per standard Microchip industrial product offering; the dsPIC33CH256MP506 comparison data (Octopart) confirms AEC-Q100 applies to the 33CH family, not this 33EP part. Verify REACH and halogen-free status on the Microchip product page.
