DSPIC33EP256GP506T-I/PT - 16-bit 70 MIPS DSC | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33EP256GP506T-I/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
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DSPIC33EP256GP506T-I/PT Overview
A Digital Signal Controller combines the computational throughput of a DSP engine with the peripheral integration and interrupt responsiveness of a microcontroller. Within the power-management hierarchy of embedded systems, a DSC sits between a general-purpose MCU and a dedicated DSP, providing deterministic control loops and math acceleration for real-time applications such as motor control and digital power conversion.
Key features include the 70 MIPS dsPIC33E core with DSP instruction set, two on-chip operational amplifiers, high-performance 10-bit and 12-bit ADC options, dual CAN 2.0B modules, comparators, a Charge Time Measurement Unit (CTMU), and a Peripheral Trigger Generator (PTG) for autonomous peripheral sequencing. The general-purpose peripheral mix makes this device well suited to high-end embedded control where both analog conditioning and communication robustness are required.
Architecturally, the dsPIC33E core uses a modified Harvard pipeline with 24-bit instruction words, hardware DSP multiply-accumulate, and barrel shifting. Flash-based program memory with self-write capability supports field firmware updates, while the peripheral ecosystem reduces external component count in analog front-end designs.
Typical applications include industrial automation and process control, digital power supplies and power-factor-correction converters, motor control (BLDC, PMSM, stepper), sensor acquisition systems, and CAN-networked embedded nodes in transportation and building control equipment.
When designing with this device, budget the 3.3 V rail carefully and use the on-chip voltage regulator with a proper VCAP capacitor per the manufacturer datasheet; watch MCLR programming requirements and analog/digital pin multiplexing during layout.
This page synthesizes verified distributor data, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet. Pricing shown as of 2026-09-24.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33EP256GP506T-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 DSPIC33EP256GP506T-I/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, Core Architecture, Packaging, RAM.
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DSPIC33EP256GP506T-E/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.86 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP256GP506-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP256GP506-E/PT
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$4.21 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/PT
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$3.68 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP256MC506-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP256GP506T-I/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 16-bit dsPIC33E RISC with DSP engine |
| Core Speed | 70 MIPS |
| Flash Program Memory | 256 KB (85.5K x 24) |
| RAM | 32 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V |
| Package | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (I grade) |
| CAN Modules | 2x CAN 2.0B |
| On-chip Op Amps | Yes (2x) |
| Comparators | Yes |
| CTMU | Yes (Charge Time Measurement Unit) |
| Peripheral Trigger Generator | Yes (PTG) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Product Family | dsPIC33EP General Purpose DSC |
| Packaging | Tape and Reel (T suffix) |
| Program Memory Type | Flash |
DSPIC33EP256GP506T-I/PT 64-tqfp (10x10 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for DSPIC33EP256GP506T-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 DSPIC33EP256GP506T-I/PT.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
DSPIC33EP256GP506T-I/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Automation and Process Control, Digital Power Supplies and PFC Converters, Brushless and Stepper Motor Control, Sensor Acquisition and Data Logging Systems, CAN-Networked Embedded Nodes, Portable Instrumentation and Test Equipment.
Industrial Automation and Process Control
The DSPIC33EP256GP506T-I/PT fits industrial control nodes that combine deterministic control loops with robust networking. Its 70 MIPS dsPIC33E core executes PID and filter mathematics fast enough for millisecond-scale process loops, while the two CAN 2.0B modules let a single controller bridge machine-level and line-level buses. The on-chip operational amplifiers condition low-level sensor signals directly, reducing external component count, and the 12-bit ADC class performance supports accurate setpoint and feedback acquisition. The PTG (Peripheral Trigger Generator) sequences ADC sampling autonomously, freeing CPU cycles for HMI and protocol handling. The industrial -40C to +85C rating matches factory-floor cabinets, and the 64-pin TQFP provides enough GPIO for relays, indicators, and encoders in a single-chip design.
Recommended
Digital Power Supplies and PFC Converters
Digital switch-mode power supplies benefit directly from this DSC's 70 MIPS core, fast ADC, comparators, and on-chip op amps. The DSP engine performs multiply-accumulate-heavy control compensation (type-II/type-III loops) with cycle-level determinism, and the PTG can trigger ADC sampling synchronized to the PWM period for clean, low-noise feedback capture. Internal comparators provide fast overcurrent trip paths independent of software latency, an important safety behavior in converter designs. Dual CAN enables telemetry and remote setpoint control on industrial power systems such as telecom rectifiers and EVSE front ends. Designers should verify loop bandwidth against the CPU interrupt budget and use the datasheet PWM dead-time features for half-bridge stages.
Recommended
Brushless and Stepper Motor Control
For BLDC, PMSM, and stepper drives, the DSPIC33EP256GP506T-I/PT provides the essential control-loop ingredients in one chip: high-speed PWM peripherals, a fast ADC for phase-current sampling, on-chip op amps that can amplify shunt voltages, and comparators for cycle-by-cycle current limiting. The 70 MIPS core comfortably runs field-oriented control (FOC) at multi-kilohertz carrier frequencies, and DSP MAC instructions accelerate the Clarke/Park transforms and PI loops. The 64-pin package offers ample PWM outputs for multi-axis or three-phase-plus-brake configurations. For cost-optimized single-motor designs, consider the MC-family siblings, but for drives that also need CAN networking and general-purpose I/O, this GP device avoids a second controller entirely.
Recommended
Sensor Acquisition and Data Logging Systems
The CTMU (Charge Time Measurement Unit) plus on-chip op amps and comparators make this DSC a compact analog front-end for capacitive-touch, time-of-flight, and precision sensor acquisition. The 12-bit ADC with autonomous PTG-triggered sampling supports multi-channel scanning without CPU intervention, and 32 KB of RAM buffers waveform or statistical data before upload. Dual CAN or UART/SPI links stream results to supervisory systems, while the 256 KB Flash stores calibration tables, firmware, and logging pages in the same device. The -40C to +85C industrial rating suits outdoor pump stations, agricultural probes, and cold-chain loggers. Designers should follow Microchip's analog layout guidance (guarding, VREF decoupling) to realize the ADC's specified accuracy.
Recommended
CAN-Networked Embedded Nodes
With two independent CAN 2.0B controllers on chip, this device is a natural fit for gateways, bridges, and smart sensor nodes on industrial or commercial-vehicle-adjacent CAN buses. Hardware message buffering and filtering offload the 70 MIPS core, which can simultaneously run the application, a boot loader for field firmware updates using self-write Flash, and J1939- or CANopen-style higher-layer stacks. The 256 KB Flash holds generous protocol stacks and parameter storage. Note that external CAN transceivers matching the bus voltage (5 V or 3.3 V systems) are required, and the -I temperature grade covers most networked-equipment enclosures. Choosing this GP family keeps a common platform across CAN and non-CAN product variants.
Recommended
Portable Instrumentation and Test Equipment
Handheld meters, bench accessories, and portable test instruments leverage this DSC's balance of DSP throughput, mixed-signal peripherals, and single 3.3 V supply. The 70 MIPS core performs FFT-based analysis and calibration math, the op amps drive and condition analog front ends, and the CTMU supports capacitive keys for sealed, button-less industrial enclosures. The 64-TQFP 10x10 footprint fits compact two-layer-plus PCBs, and Flash self-programming enables feature upgrades in the field via USB-to-UART bridges. Sleep and idle modes with selective peripheral operation extend battery life between charges. Because the -I grade spans -40C to +85C, the same instrument design can be qualified for both indoor laboratory and rugged field deployments without respin.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33EP256GP506T-I/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33EP256GP506T-E/PT | DSPIC33EP256GP506-I/PT | DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/PT | DSPIC33EP256MC506-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 Memory | 256 KB (85.5K x 24) | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB |
| Core Speed | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) |
| Peripheral Focus | General purpose: op amps, CAN, CTMU, PTG | Identical GP peripheral set | Identical GP peripheral set | Reduced GP subset (smaller pin family) | Motor control: dual ADC, motor-control PWM |
| Drop-in Compatibility | Reference footprint | 100% pin-to-pin, no design change | 100% pin-to-pin, no design change | Pin-to-pin footprint, verify peripheral mapping | Pin-to-pin footprint, firmware ADC/PWM changes |
Key Differentiators
- Extended temperature option on identical silicon (vs DSPIC33EP256GP506T-E/PT)
- Highest-speed dsPIC33E core in this family generation (vs DSPIC33EP256GP506T-E/PT (60 MIPs class listing per Xecor comparison))
- General-purpose peripheral breadth (op amps + CTMU + PTG + dual CAN) (vs DSPIC33EP256MC506-I/PT)
Design Notes
The DSPIC33EP256GP506T-I/PT runs from a 3.3 V external supply and uses an on-chip regulator for the internal core. Per Microchip datasheet guidance, connect the VCAP pin to a low-ESR ceramic capacitor of the specified value (see the datasheet Pinout section) and keep VDD decoupling capacitors (100 nF per VDD pin plus bulk) within a few millimeters of the package. Do not power from 5 V rails; level-shift any 5 V logic sources such as older CAN transceivers.
Route the oscillator traces short and away from PWM or switching nodes; the dsPIC33E clock integrity directly affects ADC sample timing in digital power and motor control loops. Separate the analog ground region used by the op amps and ADC from the digital ground at a single star point, and use the dedicated analog supply pin decoupling recommended in the datasheet. The 64-TQFP 10x10 mm footprint needs thermal-relief-free solid ground plane for best analog performance.
Two recurring issues with dsPIC33EP designs: first, MCLR must be pulled up and kept below the absolute maximum when programming tools share the line - size the pull-up and any diode clamp per the programming specification chapter. Second, many pins are analog/digital multiplexed; pins left floating in analog mode can draw excess current. Initialize unused pins as outputs driven low or inputs with pull-ups at reset, and verify the peripheral pin-select (PPS) mapping in firmware before first silicon bring-up.
Estimated: at typical 3.3 V operation the dsPIC33EP core draws in the tens-of-milliamps range, so self-heating in the 64-TQFP is modest (well under 100 mW in most applications, giving junction rise below 10 C given the package theta_JA on the order of 40-50 C/W - use the exact datasheet theta_JA value for your board stack-up). The -I grade ceiling of +85C ambient leaves margin in ventilated enclosures; for hot environments above +85C ambient, substitute the -E grade variant.
Compliance Information
Compliance certificates were not included in the retrieved web data. Verify RoHS/REACH status via the certificate of conformity on the official Microchip product page for this exact orderable MPN before production release.
