DSPIC33EP256GP506-I/PT - 16-bit DSC 70MIPS 256KB Flash TQFP-64 | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33EP256GP506-I/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.9 | $6.90 |
| 10 | $6.25 | $62.50 |
| 100 | $5.55 | $555.00 |
| 500 | $5.05 | $2,525.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.65 | $4,650.00 |
DSPIC33EP256GP506-I/PT Overview
A digital signal controller combines the deterministic control of a microcontroller with the mathematical throughput of a DSP core. In the power-management hierarchy, a DSC sits above general-purpose MCUs and below application processors, making it the preferred choice for closed-loop control systems such as digital power converters and motor drives where fast multiply-accumulate operations and precise PWM generation are mandatory.
Key features of the DSPIC33EP256GP506 include the dsPIC33E CPU core with DSP engine, dual ECAN modules, three I2C peripherals, up to three SPI and four UART ports, a 10/12-bit ADC with high-speed conversion capability, and Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) that remaps digital peripherals onto flexible RPn pins. Industrial-grade operation spans -40C to +85C (the -I temperature suffix).
Architecturally, the device executes from flash at up to 70 MIPS using a pipelined 16-bit core with hardware DSP instructions, barrel shifter, and 40-bit accumulators. Working in the low-voltage 1.8V-to-3.6V range, the core integrates a fast RC oscillator, PLL, and watchdog for clock resilience, and supports in-circuit programming/debugging via ICSP with PICkit and ICD tools.
Typical applications include switch-mode power supplies and digital lighting (using the complementary MC-series high-speed PWM parts), sensorless BLDC/PMSM motor control, industrial automation gateways leveraging dual CAN buses, and general-purpose embedded control requiring DSP filtering.
Design consideration: budget decoupling (0.1 uF per VDD pin plus bulk capacitance) and honor the datasheet power-up sequence; PPS mapping must be configured in firmware before peripherals are enabled.
This page synthesizes distributor stock data, drop-in family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33EP256GP506-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 DSPIC33EP256GP506-I/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Architecture, Operating Temperature, Series, Package, Maximum CPU Speed.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.68 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP512GP506-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP128GP506-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP256MC506-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33CH256MP506-E/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP256GP506-I/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 16-bit dsPIC33E DSC with DSP engine |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 70 MIPS |
| Flash Program Memory | 256 KB |
| RAM | 32 KB |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 53 |
| Package | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial, -I suffix) |
| CAN Modules | 2 x ECAN |
| UART Modules | Up to 4 |
| SPI Modules | Up to 3 |
| I2C Modules | 3 |
| Peripheral Pin Select | Yes (RPn remapping) |
| ADC | 10/12-bit |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Series | dsPIC33EP256GP506 (dsPIC33E) |
DSPIC33EP256GP506-I/PT 64-tqfp (10x10 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for DSPIC33EP256GP506-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 DSPIC33EP256GP506-I/PT.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
DSPIC33EP256GP506-I/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Digital Power Supplies, Industrial Motor Control, CAN Networking Gateways, Portable and Battery-Powered Instruments, Audio and Signal Processing, Building Automation and Smart Sensing.
Digital Power Supplies
In digitally controlled switch-mode power supplies, LLC converters, and PFC stages, the DSPIC33EP256GP506-I/PT closes the control loop in firmware using its 70 MIPS DSP core with hardware MAC instructions, achieving loop bandwidths practical for current-mode control. The 12-bit ADC samples voltage and current feedback while the GP-series timers generate high-resolution gate signals; for designs needing complementary PWM with dead-time, the companion MC506 variant is preferred. Running at 3.3V with dual ECAN for supervisory communication, the DSC replaces discrete analog compensators, enabling adaptive gain, soft-start sequencing, and telemetry-based fault logging in telecom rectifiers and server PSU platforms.
Recommended
Industrial Motor Control
For BLDC and PMSM drives in industrial automation, the DSPIC33EP256GP506-I/PT executes field-oriented control (FOC) using its DSP engine's 40-bit accumulators and single-cycle MAC, while the 12-bit ADC with simultaneous sampling captures phase currents for Park/Clarke transforms. Dual ECAN interfaces link the drive to factory networks, and Peripheral Pin Select lets designers route encoder inputs (QEI) and UART diagnostics to optimal physical pins. Although the GP506's timers suit position feedback and supervisory loops, designs requiring hardware-complementary PWM should use the pin-compatible DSPIC33EP256MC506-I/PT. Typical implementations run at 3.3V with 32 KB RAM supporting FOC state plus CAN protocol stacks concurrently.
Recommended
CAN Networking Gateways
With two independent ECAN modules supporting CAN 2.0B, the DSPIC33EP256GP506-I/PT is naturally suited to protocol bridges, CAN-to-UART converters, and J1939 gateways in vehicles and factory floors. The 70 MIPS core sustains full-rate CAN traffic on both buses while running filtering, translation, and logging firmware within the 32 KB RAM buffer pool, and up to four UARTs and three SPI ports connect modems, memories, and human-machine interfaces. Peripheral Pin Select simplifies PCB routing of C1RX/C1TX and C2RX/C2TX to arbitrary RPn pins. Pairing with the MCP2562 transceiver provides ISO 11898 physical-layer compliance with standby mode for low-power nodes.
Recommended
Portable and Battery-Powered Instruments
Handheld meters, data loggers, and portable diagnostic tools benefit from the DSPIC33EP256GP506-I/PT's wide 1.8V-to-3.6V supply range, which permits direct operation from two-cell or single Li-ion rails via simple regulation. Its industrial -40C to +85C rating covers outdoor field use, while the 64-TQFP 10x10 mm footprint fits compact two-layer boards with 53 available I/O for keypads, displays, and sensor front-ends. The DSP instruction set accelerates FFT-based signal analysis on sampled waveforms, and the fast internal RC oscillator plus PLL removes crystal cost for relaxed-clock applications. Low-power sleep and idle modes extend battery runtime between acquisitions.
Recommended
Audio and Signal Processing
The dsPIC33E DSP engine's single-cycle MAC, dual operand fetch, and 40-bit accumulators make the DSPIC33EP256GP506-I/PT effective for real-time audio filtering, AEC pre-processing, and deterministic effect control at modest sample rates. With three SPI ports, interfacing audio codecs and external flash for sample storage is straightforward, and the 12-bit ADC handles analog microphone or line-level front-ends. The 70 MIPS budget sustains several cascaded biquad IIR filters per channel at 48 kHz sampling, while 32 KB RAM holds delay lines and coefficient tables. For production audio paths, designers typically pair the DSC with a dedicated codec over SPI or I2C.
Recommended
Building Automation and Smart Sensing
In HVAC controllers, lighting management, and smart-building sensor hubs, the DSPIC33EP256GP506-I/PT combines three I2C ports for sensor aggregation, dual ECAN for BACnet/MS-TP style field buses, and 53 I/O for relay and actuator drive. Peripheral Pin Select adapts the same board design to different bus topologies purely in firmware, reducing SKU proliferation. The 12-bit ADC reads temperature, humidity, and current-transducer channels directly, and DSP filtering rejects mechanical noise from fan and compressor feedback. Operating from 3.3V across the industrial temperature range, the controller runs PID comfort loops at 70 MIPS headroom while servicing network polling on two CAN channels simultaneously.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33EP256GP506-I/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/PT | DSPIC33EP512GP506-I/PT | DSPIC33EP256MC506-I/PT | DSPIC33CH256MP506-E/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) | 64-TQFP - same | 64-TQFP - same | 64-TQFP - same | 64-TQFP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 256 KB | 512 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB |
| Core / Architecture | Single-core dsPIC33E, 16-bit + DSP | Single-core dsPIC33E | Single-core dsPIC33E | Single-core dsPIC33E | Dual-core dsPIC33CH (main + auxiliary DSP) |
| PWM Specialization | General-purpose timers | General-purpose timers | General-purpose timers | High-speed complementary PWM with dead-time | High-speed PWM on auxiliary domain |
| Temperature Range | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C (E suffix, extended) |
Key Differentiators
- General-purpose peripheral balance (vs DSPIC33EP256MC506-I/PT)
- More code headroom at same footprint (vs DSPIC33EP128GP506-I/PT)
- Single-core simplicity and toolchain compatibility (vs DSPIC33CH256MP506-E/PT)
Design Notes
Power the DSPIC33EP256GP506-I/PT from a clean 3.3V rail and decouple every VDD pin with 0.1 uF ceramic capacitors placed within 2-3 mm of the pin, plus one 4.7-10 uF bulk capacitor per board region. The internal voltage regulator configuration (ENVREG/VDDCORE pin) must follow the datasheet DS70000657 connection requirements - floating this pin is a common bring-up failure. At 70 MIPS the core draws peak current during flash execution, so undersized traces cause brown-out resets that mimic firmware bugs.
Exploit Peripheral Pin Select during layout, not after: group analog signals (ADC inputs, VREF) away from the two CAN transceivers and any high-current PWM traces on the 64-TQFP's four sides. Reserve the PGD/PGC programming pins on a standard 5-pin ICSP header so PICkit 4 or ICD 4 can attach in-circuit. The 10x10 mm TQFP's thermal pad is not exposed, but generous ground pour under the package keeps the die within ratings at industrial ambient temperatures.
PPS is the top integration pitfall: peripherals are not automatically connected to pins, and forgetting to lock PPS (or remapping a pin already claimed by another peripheral) produces silent failures with no compiler warning. Also, with 256 KB flash, verify your linker script and programming tool support the full device; older PICkit 3 firmware may not recognize dsPIC33EP devices. Finally, note the GP506 lacks the MC-series high-speed PWM - if your power stage needs complementary outputs with dead-time, select the DSPIC33EP256MC506-I/PT instead of retrofitting software-generated PWM.
Compliance Information
Listed as RoHS/lead-free by Mouser and DigiKey for this ordering code. REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals declarations should be confirmed against the current Microchip environmental compliance document for DSPIC33EP256GP506-I/PT.
