DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/PT - 16-bit 70 MIPS DSC, 256KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.62 | $5.62 |
| 10 | $5.05 | $50.50 |
| 100 | $4.55 | $455.00 |
| 500 | $4.09 | $2,045.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.68 | $3,680.00 |
DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/PT Overview
A digital signal controller combines the computational architecture of a digital signal processor (DSP) with the peripheral integration of a microcontroller. Within the power management hierarchy of embedded systems, DSCs sit between general-purpose MCUs and dedicated DSPs: the dsPIC33E family executes DSP-class multiply-accumulate instructions while retaining the interrupts, peripherals and ease of use of a PIC microcontroller.
Key features include the highest-speed 70 MIPS dsPIC33E core, high-speed PWM modules for digital power conversion, integrated operational amplifiers that reduce external analog component count, advanced analog capability with the Charge Time Measurement Unit (CTMU), and enhanced CAN communication for industrial networking. The Peripheral Trigger Generator (PTG) automates ADC-DSP-PWM trigger chains offloading the CPU.
Architecturally, the device uses a modified Harvard 16-bit pipeline with a 24-bit instruction word, hardware DSP multiply-accumulate (MAC) and divide support, and address generation units that sustain single-cycle MAC throughput. The 32KB RAM supports real-time control loops with X-Y dual-operand addressing.
Typical applications include digital power supplies (PFC, LLC, buck/boost converters), motor control (BLDC, PMSM, FOC), industrial automation with CAN connectivity, and sensor signal conditioning leveraging the on-chip op amps and 12-bit ADC performance.
A key design consideration: the 70 MIPS maximum frequency requires attention to supply decoupling and VDD/SFR write timing per the Microchip datasheet; MCLR configuration and PGEC/PGED ICSP pairing must be respected for programming.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, comparison data and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33EP256GP504-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 DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Series, Operating Temperature, Core Architecture, Communication Interfaces, Connectivity.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
DSPIC33EP128GP504-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$4.28 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP256GP504-H/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP64GP504-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$3.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$4.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 16-bit dsPIC33E modified Harvard |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 70 MIPS |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 256 KB (85.5K x 24) |
| RAM Size | 32 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V |
| Package | 44-TQFP (10x10 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial, -I suffix) |
| Peripherals | High-Speed PWM, Op Amps, CTMU, PTG, enhanced CAN |
| Communication Interfaces | ECAN, UART, SPI, I2C |
| Product Family | dsPIC33EP GP50 Series |
| Programming Interface | ICSP (PGECx/PGEDx pairs), In-Circuit Serial Programming |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead Free | Yes |
| ADC | On-chip high-performance ADC (advanced analog) |
DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/PT 44-tqfp (10x10 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/PT (44-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 DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/PT.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Digital Power Conversion, Motor Control (BLDC / PMSM / FOC), Industrial Automation and CAN Networking, Sensor Signal Conditioning and Measurement, Lighting and High-Brightness LED Control, Embedded Control and IoT Edge Nodes.
Digital Power Conversion
The DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/PT fits digital power supplies because its 70 MIPS core sustains real-time voltage and current control loops, while the high-speed PWM module provides the complementary, dead-time-controlled switching signals that PFC, LLC and buck converter stages require. In a typical digital power design, the ADC samples output voltage and inductor current synchronized to PWM cycle boundaries via the Peripheral Trigger Generator, and the control law runs in a few microseconds using hardware multiply-accumulate instructions. The on-chip op amps can condition current-shunt signals before digitization, reducing external component count. Compared with a purely analog control loop, the DSC enables programmable soft-start, non-linear gain scheduling and digital telemetry over UART or ECAN without changing hardware.
Recommended
Motor Control (BLDC / PMSM / FOC)
Field-oriented control of PMSM and BLDC motors is a natural fit for this DSC: the 70 MIPS dsPIC33E core executes Clarke/Park transforms and PI current loops within the PWM period, and the 32KB RAM holds lookup tables and state data for sensorless observers. The high-speed PWM generates the six-channel inverter drive with hardware dead time, and ADC conversions are triggered precisely at PWM mid-cycle to sample phase currents free of switching noise. The on-chip op amps and CTMU support both shunt-based current sensing and position-sensor signal conditioning. Communication with a host drive controller runs over ECAN or UART. Designers should verify PWM resolution at the chosen operating frequency per the DS70000657J family data sheet to meet torque-ripple targets.
Recommended
Industrial Automation and CAN Networking
In factory automation nodes, the DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/PT provides the enhanced CAN (ECAN) peripheral for deterministic communication on industrial buses, plus UART, SPI and I2C for local I/O expansion. The 256KB Flash accommodates protocol stacks (CANopen-style application layers, Modbus over UART) alongside the control firmware, and the 32KB RAM buffers network traffic without external memory. The Peripheral Trigger Generator automates sensor sampling sequences - temperature, pressure, position - feeding the high-performance ADC without CPU overhead. The -40C to +85C industrial temperature grade matches typical cabinet and floor environments. Because the part is ICSP-programmable in-circuit through any PGECx/PGEDx pair, field firmware updates are straightforward with a standard Microchip programmer.
Recommended
Sensor Signal Conditioning and Measurement
The integrated operational amplifiers and Charge Time Measurement Unit (CTMU) make this DSC effective in measurement front ends. Sensor outputs - strain gauges, RTDs, capacitive touch electrodes, photodiodes - can be amplified on-chip before the high-performance ADC digitizes them, and the CTMU provides precise time-charge measurement for capacitance and time-of-flight style measurements. The 70 MIPS core applies filtering, linearization and DSP functions (IIR/FIR, FFT windows) using hardware MAC instructions, and results stream out over SPI or UART. The 256KB Flash stores calibration tables and multi-sensor firmware in one image. For portable instruments, the 3.3V single-supply operation and single-package integration reduce board area and quiescent complexity versus discrete amplifier-plus-MCU designs.
Recommended
Lighting and High-Brightness LED Control
Digitally controlled LED drivers benefit from the dsPIC33EP256GP504's high-speed PWM with fine duty-cycle resolution, enabling precise dimming, color mixing and constant-current regulation for high-brightness LED arrays. The ADC samples LED current at PWM cycle boundaries triggered by the PTG, and the 70 MIPS control loop maintains regulation despite input-voltage sag, protecting against flicker. On-chip op amps condition current-sense shunts; ECAN or UART links the driver to room-level lighting controllers. Because dimming curves, thermal fold-back and failure diagnostics live in firmware on the 256KB Flash, one PCB serves multiple luminaire SKUs. The industrial temperature range and RoHS-compliant TQFP package suit sealed outdoor and enclosed fixture environments.
Recommended
Embedded Control and IoT Edge Nodes
As a general-purpose embedded controller, the DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/PT combines DSP-class arithmetic with standard MCU peripherals, making it suitable for edge nodes that both sense and actuate: HVAC zone controllers, pump sequencers, vending and appliance control boards. The 256KB Flash and 32KB RAM host a lightweight stack (TCP over serial gateways, CAN or UART protocols) plus control firmware in one chip. I2C and SPI connect sensors and EEPROM configuration storage; UART bridges to cellular or Wi-Fi modules. The 3.3V supply simplifies integration with modern peripherals, and ICSP supports production programming and service updates. Engineers moving from 8-bit PICs appreciate the familiar toolchain (MPLAB X, XC16) while gaining DSP capability.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33EP128GP504-I/PT | DSPIC33EP256GP504-H/PT | DSPIC33EP64GP504-I/PT | DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 44-TQFP (10x10 mm) | 44-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 44-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 44-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 44-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB (85.5K x 24) | 128 KB | 256 KB | 64 KB | 256 KB |
| CPU Speed | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS family speed class | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS |
| Core Type | 16-bit dsPIC33E DSC | 16-bit dsPIC33E DSC | 16-bit dsPIC33E DSC | 16-bit dsPIC33E DSC | 16-bit dsPIC33E DSC |
| High-Speed PWM / SMPS Peripherals | High-Speed PWM, advanced analog | High-Speed PWM, advanced analog | High-Speed PWM, advanced analog | High-Speed PWM, advanced analog | SMPS-optimized PWM peripheral set |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V | 3.3 V |
| Primary Use Case | General-purpose DSP + control, 256KB headroom | Cost-reduced variant for smaller firmware | Identical die, alternate ordering/speed code | Lowest-memory variant, simple control | Digital power / SMPS-focused designs |
Key Differentiators
- Maximum Flash within the 44-TQFP GP504 footprint (vs DSPIC33EP128GP504-I/PT)
- General-purpose peripheral balance vs SMPS-specialized variant (vs DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PT)
- Ordering-code flexibility with identical die (vs DSPIC33EP256GP504-H/PT)
Design Notes
Supply a clean, well-decoupled 3.3V rail: place 0.1uF ceramic capacitors at each VDD pin pair plus one bulk 4.7uF-10uF near the 44-TQFP. Keep AVDD fed through an RC or ferrite filter from VDD so ADC noise stays low - critical when using the on-chip op amps and CTMU. The 70 MIPS core increases supply transient demands versus slower MCUs, so follow the family data sheet DS70000657J decoupling recommendations rather than generic MCU practice.
The 44-TQFP 10x10 mm footprint needs a solid ground plane and thermal relief under the package. Route PGECx/PGEDx ICSP pairs together and place a 2x5 ICSP header so any pin pair can be accessed for production programming - remember that PGEC and PGED must be used as matched pairs (e.g., PGEC2 with PGED2). Keep CANH/CANL traces as a controlled 120-ohm differential pair routed to the ECAN transceiver with a stub-free topology.
Two frequent dsPIC33E issues: (1) oscillator configuration - the 70 MIPS maximum is reached via PLL multiplication of the primary oscillator; incorrect PLLDIV/OSCCON settings cause lockup or brownout-sensitive startup, so validate configuration words before mass programming. (2) Emulation/debug pin conflicts - pins multiplexed with PGEC/PGED or JTAG functions must not be assigned to critical I/O if in-circuit debugging or ICSP is needed. Always check the latest Microchip errata for the dsPIC33EP GP50 family before tape-out.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant and lead-free per distributor listings (DigiKey, Mouser). REACH, halogen-free and conflict-minerals declarations should be confirmed via Microchip's official compliance portal.
