DSPIC33EP256MC202-H/SO - 16-bit 70 MIPS DSC 256KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33EP256MC202-H/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.42 | $5.42 |
| 10 | $4.88 | $48.80 |
| 100 | $4.36 | $436.00 |
| 500 | $3.92 | $1,960.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.51 | $3,510.00 |
DSPIC33EP256MC202-H/SO Overview
A digital signal controller combines the computational throughput of a DSP engine with the deterministic control and peripheral integration of a microcontroller. Within the power-management hierarchy of embedded systems, a DSC sits between general-purpose MCUs and application-specific DSPs, making it the natural choice for closed-loop control systems such as field-oriented motor control, digital power conversion, and sensor fusion where both fast math and flexible I/O are required.
Key features of the dsPIC33EP256MC202 include the 70 MIPS dsPIC33E core with DSP multiply-accumulate instructions, high-speed PWM modules purpose-built for motor control, a 12-bit ADC configurable at 10-bit 1.1 Msps or 12-bit 500 ksps with multiple sample-and-hold circuits, and up to three op-amp/comparator peripherals with direct ADC connections. These analog and control blocks reduce external component count and loop latency in precision drive applications.
Architecturally, the device belongs to the dsPIC33EPXXXMC20X family documented in the Microchip family data sheet (DS70000657), with 85.5K x 24 Flash words, flexible peripheral pin select (PPS) for RP-pin remapping, and multiple PGEC/PGED pairs supporting In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) debugging with tools such as NSDSP and MPLAB ICD. The -H suffix denotes the -40C to +125C temperature range variant.
Typical applications include brushless DC and PMSM motor drives, digital SMPS and power-factor-correction converters, and industrial automation sensors. The 70 MIPS core executes field-oriented control inner loops comfortably, while the high-resolution PWM supports dead-time-critical topologies.
A key design consideration: use any PGEC/PGED pair as a matched pair for ICSP, and connect all VDD/VSS pins as specified in the family data sheet.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, pinout, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33EP256MC202-H/SO — 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 DSPIC33EP256MC202-H/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Core Architecture, Program Memory (Flash), Operating Temperature, ADC Resolution.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
DSPIC33EP256MC202-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.48 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP256MC202-E/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP128MC202-I/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$3.92 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP64MC202-I/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$0.13 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP32MC202-I/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$3.46 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP256MC202-H/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 16-bit dsPIC33E DSC core |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 70 MIPS |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 256 KB (85.5K x 24) |
| SRAM | 32 KB |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C |
| Package | 28-pin SOIC (300 mil) |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit 1.1 Msps or 12-bit 500 ksps |
| Analog Inputs (28-pin device) | 6 |
| Op Amps/Comparators | Up to 3 with direct ADC connection |
| PWM | High-speed PWM for motor control |
| Peripheral Pin Select | Yes (RP pin remapping) |
| Programming Interface | ICSP (multiple PGEC/PGED pairs) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
DSPIC33EP256MC202-H/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR — Master clear reset (active low) / programming voltage input |
| Pin 2 | AN0/VREF+/CN2/RB0 — Analog input 0 / ADC positive reference / port B0 |
| Pin 3 | AN1/VREF-/CN3/RB1 — Analog input 1 / ADC negative reference / port B1 |
| Pin 4 | AN2/SS1/CN4/RB2 — Analog input 2 / SPI slave select 1 / port B2 |
| Pin 5 | AN3/INDX/CN5/RB3 — Analog input 3 / QEI index input / port B3 |
| Pin 6 | AN4/QEA/IC7/CN6/RB4 — Analog input 4 / QEI phase A / input capture 7 / port B4 |
| Pin 7 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKI/CN12/RA2 — Oscillator crystal input / external clock input |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKO/RC15 — Oscillator crystal output / clock output / port C15 |
| Pin 11 | AN5/QEB/IC8/CN7/RB5 — Analog input 5 / QEI phase B / input capture 8 / port B5 |
| Pin 12 | TMS/RP10/IC1/RB6 — JTAG TMS / peripheral pin RP10 / input capture 1 / port B6 |
| Pin 13 | TCK/RP11/IC2/RB7 — JTAG TCK / peripheral pin RP11 / input capture 2 / port B7 |
| Pin 14 | RP12/PGD/IC3/RB8 — Peripheral pin RP12 / programming data (PGED) / input capture 3 / port B8 |
| Pin 15 | RP13/PGC/RB9 — Peripheral pin RP13 / programming clock (PGEC) / port B9 |
| Pin 16 | TDI/RP14/SOSCI/RB10 — JTAG TDI / peripheral pin RP14 / secondary oscillator input / port B10 |
| Pin 17 | TDO/RP15/SOSCO/RB11 — JTAG TDO / peripheral pin RP15 / secondary oscillator output / port B11 |
| Pin 18 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 19 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 20 | RP27/RC1 — Peripheral pin RP27 / port C1 |
| Pin 21 | RP26/RC2 — Peripheral pin RP26 / port C2 |
| Pin 22 | RP25/RC3 — Peripheral pin RP25 / port C3 |
| Pin 23 | RP24/RC4 — Peripheral pin RP24 / port C4 |
| Pin 24 | RP23/RC5 — Peripheral pin RP23 / port C5 |
| Pin 25 | RP22/RC6 — Peripheral pin RP22 / port C6 |
| Pin 26 | RP21/RC7 — Peripheral pin RP21 / port C7 |
| Pin 27 | RP20/RC8 — Peripheral pin RP20 / port C8 |
| Pin 28 | VSS — Ground |
Typical Applications
DSPIC33EP256MC202-H/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Brushless DC / PMSM Motor Control, Digital Switch-Mode Power Supplies, Industrial Automation and Sensors, Automotive Auxiliary Motor Control, Embedded Audio and Signal Processing, Digital Lighting and Power Conversion Control.
Brushless DC / PMSM Motor Control
The DSPIC33EP256MC202-H/SO fits sensorless and sensored BLDC/PMSM drives because its 70 MIPS DSP core executes field-oriented control inner loops with single-cycle MACs, while the high-speed PWM module provides complementary outputs with programmable dead time for three-phase inverters. The 12-bit 500 ksps ADC can sample two phase currents plus the DC bus voltage inside one PWM period using flexible trigger sources tied directly to the PWM module, and the up-to-three on-chip op-amp/comparator blocks amplify low-side shunt signals without external amplifiers. Placed at the center of the drive board, it connects to the gate driver via RP-mapped PWM pins and to the current shunts via the six analog inputs available on the 28-pin device.
Recommended
Digital Switch-Mode Power Supplies
In digital SMPS and power-factor-correction converters, the DSPIC33EP256MC202-H/SO closes voltage- and current-mode control loops in firmware with the deterministic latency of the 70 MIPS dsPIC33E core. The high-speed PWM supports duty-cycle updates every PWM cycle with high resolution, and the 12-bit ADC with multiple sample-and-hold circuits captures output voltage and inductor current synchronized to the PWM period to avoid switching-noise aliasing. On-chip comparators with direct ADC connection provide hardware-based cycle-by-cycle overcurrent protection without CPU intervention, meeting safety requirements in offline converters. Firmware-based control also enables adaptive gain scheduling and soft-start profiles that fixed analog controllers cannot match, at the cost of requiring disciplined loop-design verification in firmware.
Recommended
Industrial Automation and Sensors
For industrial nodes such as motor-position feedback, process transmitters, and actuators, the DSPIC33EP256MC202-H/SO combines the control throughput of a DSC with microcontroller-class peripherals. Peripheral Pin Select lets firmware remap UART, SPI, I2C, and PWM functions onto RP pins, simplifying routing on crowded 28-pin boards and enabling multi-protocol field-bus designs on one PCB. The -40C to +125C temperature rating of the -H variant covers enclosure-mounted electronics near motors and drives where ambient temperatures exceed the standard industrial +85C limit. The 256 KB Flash accommodates protocol stacks plus control firmware simultaneously, and the six analog inputs handle sensor front ends sampled at 500 ksps for vibration or current-signature monitoring applications.
Recommended
Automotive Auxiliary Motor Control
Automotive auxiliary systems such as pumps, fans, and throttle actuators benefit from the DSPIC33EP256MC202-E/SO automotive-grade variant, which shares the same 28-SOIC footprint and control peripherals as this -H part. The 70 MIPS-class core runs sensorless commutation algorithms with margin, while the high-speed PWM drives gate stages with dead-time control suited to 12 V automotive bus inverters. The wide -40C to +125C-plus temperature capability addresses under-hood and near-powertrain mounting points. Designers typically pair the DSC with a three-phase gate driver and current-shunt front end sampled by the 12-bit ADC at 500 ksps, using the on-chip comparator for hardware overcurrent trips that do not depend on firmware response time.
Recommended
Embedded Audio and Signal Processing
The DSP engine of the DSPIC33EP256MC202-H/SO - single-cycle multiply-accumulate, modulo and bit-reversed addressing - makes it a practical host for moderate-rate digital filtering, AGC, and control-oriented audio processing such as compressor-limiters in industrial intercoms and equipment monitors. The 256 KB Flash stores both the algorithm tables and the communication stack, and 32 KB of SRAM provides working buffers for FIR/IIR filtering at audio sample rates well within the 70 MIPS budget. ADC sampling at 1.1 Msps in 10-bit mode covers high-bandwidth sensor front ends, while RP-mapped UART/SPI ports stream processed data to hosts. For full-fidelity audio CODEC pipelines, a dedicated codec IC on the SPI port is the recommended complement.
Recommended
Digital Lighting and Power Conversion Control
High-intensity LED drivers and electronic ballasts use the DSPIC33EP256MC202-H/SO for constant-current regulation with dimming control. The high-speed PWM generates the switching waveform with fine duty resolution, while the 12-bit ADC samples output current each cycle for tight regulation; the on-chip comparator implements fast overcurrent shutdown independent of software. The -H temperature rating permits placement inside sealed luminaires where internal temperatures regularly exceed +85C. Firmware control enables dimming curves, DALI or DMX protocol handling on the RP-mapped UART, and multi-string sequencing on one 28-pin device, replacing several analog controller ICs and reducing BOM count in commercial lighting power stages.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33EP256MC202-H/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33EP256MC202-I/SO | DSPIC33EP256MC202-E/SO | DSPIC33EP128MC202-I/SO | DSPIC33EP64MC202-I/SO | DSPIC33EP32MC202-I/SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-pin SOIC (300 mil) | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same | 28-SOIC - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Program Memory | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB | 64 KB | 32 KB |
| Core Speed | Up to 70 MIPS | Up to 70 MIPS | 60 MIPS-class (per Microchip USA listing) | Up to 70 MIPS | Up to 70 MIPS | Up to 70 MIPS |
| Temperature Range | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C | Automotive extended (-E grade) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| Motor-Control PWM | Yes (MC subfamily) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Automotive Grade | No (-H variant) | No | Yes (-E suffix) | No | No | No |
| Best For | High-temp motor control with full 256 KB firmware | Same app, +85C max, best availability | Automotive qualification flows | Cost-reduced builds under 128 KB code | Simple drives under 64 KB code | Minimal firmware footprints |
Key Differentiators
- Extended -H temperature range (vs DSPIC33EP256MC202-I/SO)
- Full 256 KB Flash with motor-control peripherals (vs DSPIC33EP32MC202-I/SO)
- MC-subfamily PWM and analog integration (vs DSPIC33EP128GP502-H/SO)
Design Notes
Decouple both VDD pins (7 and 19) individually with 100 nF ceramic capacitors placed within 2 mm of each pin, plus one bulk 4.7-10 uF capacitor near the device. Connect all VSS pins (8, 18, 28) to a low-impedance ground plane - do not share a single ground trace among pins. The family data sheet DS70000657 requires all VDD/VSS pins to be connected in the final application; omitting any pin connection is a common cause of erratic ADC and oscillator behavior.
The dsPIC33EP256MC202 has multiple PGEC/PGED pairs, but ICSP requires both pins of the same pair: if ICSPCLK is routed to PGEC2, ICSPDAT must go to PGED2. Mixing pairs prevents programming. Route your selected pair to a standard 5-pin ICSP header and keep the traces short and away from PWM switching nodes to avoid corrupted in-circuit debug sessions with MPLAB ICD or NSDSP tools.
Estimated: peak DSC core current at 70 MIPS from a 3.3 V rail is typically in the tens of milliamps plus I/O load current; size the 3.3 V regulator for core plus all RP-pin loads (for example, gate-driver inputs). Verify exact ICC figures in the electrical characteristics section of DS70000657 before finalizing the regulator budget. An LDO such as a 3.3 V 500 mA-class part is normally sufficient with adequate thermal margin.
Compliance Information
RoHS-compliant per distributor listings for the dsPIC33EP family. Automotive-grade capability exists in the separate DSPIC33EP256MC202-E/SO variant; this -H part is not AEC-Q100 marked in provided data.
