DSPIC33EP256MC202-I/SS - 16-bit 70 MIPS DSC 256KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33EP256MC202-I/SS ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.65 | $3.65 |
| 10 | $3.42 | $34.20 |
| 100 | $3.06 | $306.00 |
| 500 | $2.85 | $1,425.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.64 | $2,640.00 |
DSPIC33EP256MC202-I/SS Overview
A digital signal controller combines the control peripherals and interrupt architecture of a microcontroller with the multiply-accumulate (MAC) DSP engine of a digital signal processor. In the embedded system hierarchy, the dsPIC33EP family sits above general-purpose 16-bit PIC MCUs and targets closed-loop control loops such as field-oriented motor control, digital power conversion and digital filtering, where single-cycle DSP instructions and high-resolution PWM timing are required.
Key features include the 70 MIPS dsPIC33E core with integrated DSP engine, high-speed MCPWM modules purpose-built for motor control, an operating voltage range of 3.0V to 3.6V, multiple PGEC/PGED pin pairs for In-Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) and debugging, and the industrial-grade I-temperature suffix. The 256KB Flash supports self-programming, allowing field firmware updates without an external memory device.
Technically, the dsPIC33EP core executes most instructions in a single cycle at up to 70 MIPS, with DSP-class instructions (MAC, MPY, ED) operating on 40-bit accumulators. The MCCP/PTG peripheral ecosystem and interrupt latency characteristics make it suitable for deterministic control loops running at tens of kHz. Code is developed in MPLAB X IDE with the XC16 compiler, and hardware debugging uses tools such as REAL ICE, ICD 3/4 or PICkit 3/4 through the ICSP header.
Typical applications include brushless DC and PMSM motor drives, digital SMPS and power-factor-correction converters, sensor signal conditioning with on-chip filtering, and industrial control nodes that need DSP throughput in a compact 28-pin footprint.
When designing, connect all VDD and VSS pin pairs as instructed in the datasheet, place the VCAP/VDDCORE capacitor close to pin 10, and route PGED/PGEC programming pairs consistently - ICSPDAT and ICSPCLK must use the same PGEDx/PGECx pair.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33EP256MC202-I/SS — 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-I/SS (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, Core, Core Architecture, Core Speed.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
DSPIC33EP256MC202-E/SS
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP128MC202-I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$3.44 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP64MC202-I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP32MC202-I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$2.68 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP256GP202-I/SS
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP256MC202-I/SS Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | dsPIC33E 16-bit DSC core |
| Core Speed | 70 MIPS |
| Program Memory | 256KB (85.5K x 24) Flash |
| RAM | 32KB |
| Supply Voltage | 3 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (I grade) |
| Package | 28-SSOP |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Peripherals | MCPWM, DSP engine, advanced analog |
| Programming Interface | ICSP via PGECx/PGEDx pairs |
| Number of Pins | 28 |
| Packaging | Tube |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Product Family | dsPIC33EP (MC202 = motor control, 2x 16-bit) family |
| Typical Applications | Precision motor control, digital power |
DSPIC33EP256MC202-I/SS Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR — Master clear reset input / programming voltage |
| Pin 2 | AN0/RB0 — Analog input 0 / port B bit 0 |
| Pin 3 | AN1/RB1 — Analog input 1 / port B bit 1 |
| Pin 4 | AN2/RB2 — Analog input 2 / port B bit 2 |
| Pin 5 | AN3/RB3 — Analog input 3 / port B bit 3 |
| Pin 6 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 7 | VDD — Power supply (3.0-3.6V) |
| Pin 8 | OSC1/CLKI/RA2 — Primary oscillator input / external clock in |
| Pin 9 | OSC2/CLKO/RC15 — Primary oscillator output / clock out |
| Pin 10 | VCAP/VDDCORE — Internal core regulator capacitor connection |
| Pin 11 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 12 | SOSCI/RB4 — Secondary oscillator input / port B bit 4 |
| Pin 13 | SOSCO/T1CK/RB5 — Secondary oscillator output / Timer1 clock / port B bit 5 |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Power supply (3.0-3.6V) |
| Pin 15 | PGED1/RB6 — Programming data 1 / port B bit 6 |
| Pin 16 | PGEC1/RB7 — Programming clock 1 / port B bit 7 |
| Pin 17 | RP8/RB8 — Remappable peripheral pin 8 / port B bit 8 |
| Pin 18 | RP9/RB9 — Remappable peripheral pin 9 / port B bit 9 |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Power supply (3.0-3.6V) |
| Pin 21 | RP10/RB10 — Remappable peripheral pin 10 / port B bit 10 |
| Pin 22 | RP11/RB11 — Remappable peripheral pin 11 / port B bit 11 |
| Pin 23 | RP12/RB12 — Remappable peripheral pin 12 / port B bit 12 |
| Pin 24 | RP13/RB13 — Remappable peripheral pin 13 / port B bit 13 |
| Pin 25 | RP14/RB14 — Remappable peripheral pin 14 / port B bit 14 |
| Pin 26 | RP15/RB15 — Remappable peripheral pin 15 / port B bit 15 |
| Pin 27 | AVSS — Analog ground |
| Pin 28 | AVDD — Analog power supply |
Typical Applications
DSPIC33EP256MC202-I/SS is suitable for 6 applications: BLDC/PMSM Motor Control Drives, Digital Switch-Mode Power Supplies, Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning, Automotive-Adjacent Embedded Control (Off-Highway), Audio and Digital Signal Processing Nodes, Embedded Industrial Automation Nodes.
BLDC/PMSM Motor Control Drives
The DSPIC33EP256MC202-I/SS is purpose-built for closed-loop motor control: its 70 MIPS DSP core executes field-oriented control (Clarke/Park transforms plus PI current loops) with single-cycle MAC instructions at switching frequencies of 20-100 kHz, while the MCPWM modules generate complementary PWM with dead-time insertion for the three-phase inverter. The 256KB Flash holds FOC firmware, commutation tables and communication stacks with room for field upgrades. Placed as the main controller with gate drivers such as the MIC4104 or IR2101 between MCU and power stage, it delivers sensorless or encoder-based control in a compact 28-SSOP footprint.
Recommended
Digital Switch-Mode Power Supplies
For digital SMPS, PFC stages and LLC converters, the DSPIC33EP256MC202-I/SS provides the deterministic 70 MIPS control loop timing and high-speed PWM resolution needed for peak-current and average-current mode control at hundreds of kHz. The DSP engine implements the compensator (2P2Z or 3P3Z filters) with single-cycle MACs, while the ADC (triggered synchronously from the PWM module) samples inductor current and output voltage with minimal jitter. Its 256KB Flash supports multiple converter profiles and firmware-field-update schemes. Design consideration: budget ISR latency carefully, as digital control loops add one-to-two switching-period delay versus analog compensators.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Signal Conditioning
The DSPIC33EP256MC202-I/SS suits sensor nodes that need on-chip digital filtering: its 70 MIPS DSP core runs FIR/IIR filters on ADC samples in hardware-accelerated MAC instructions, extracting measurement signals from noisy industrial environments without an external DSP. The 3.0V-3.6V supply range, -40C to +85C industrial rating and remappable RPn pins let one PCB accommodate multiple sensor front-ends (pressure, current, vibration). The 256KB Flash accommodates calibration tables and linearization curves. Use the on-chip analog with careful ground returns via the AVSS/AVDD pins, and reserve a PGED/PGEC pair on a header for field recalibration firmware.
Recommended
Automotive-Adjacent Embedded Control (Off-Highway)
In off-highway and auxiliary vehicle equipment (non-AEC-Q100-qualified systems), the DSPIC33EP256MC202-I/SS serves as a compact control node for pump motors, actuators and lighting management. Its 70 MIPS throughput handles control and communication simultaneously, the 3.0-3.6V operation matches standard regulator outputs such as the MCP1700 family, and the industrial -40C to +85C range covers engine-bay-adjacent enclosures with derating. For these systems, pair it with a CAN transceiver for the vehicle bus and implement brown-out recovery using the internal supervisor. Note: for passenger-car applications requiring AEC-Q100, select a Microchip automotive-grade DSC variant instead.
Recommended
Audio and Digital Signal Processing Nodes
With a 70 MIPS DSP engine, 40-bit accumulators and single-cycle MAC/ED instructions, the DSPIC33EP256MC202-I/SS can implement audio effects, tone generation, narrowband filtering and simple codec interfaces in cost-sensitive products such as intercoms, alarms and industrial chimes. The 256KB Flash stores both the application and coefficient/lookup tables, and the remappable pins simplify routing serial data to external audio devices. While it will not match a dedicated audio DSP for total harmonic performance, it eliminates a second processor in products that combine control and modest signal processing. Use the ECAN/UART peripherals for command interfaces between audio nodes.
Recommended
Embedded Industrial Automation Nodes
As a general automation controller, the DSPIC33EP256MC202-I/SS combines 70 MIPS of compute with peripherals suited to factory nodes: MCPWM for actuator and conveyor drive control, remappable RPn pins for flexible UART/SPI/I2C assignment, and 256KB Flash for protocol stacks (Modbus RTU over UART, CANopen foundations via ECAN). The 28-SSOP industrial-temperature package fits dense control boards, and ICSP programming through any PGEDx/PGECx pair allows in-field firmware updates without desoldering. Recommended practice: hold one PGED/PGEC pair on a 5-pin header, decouple all three VDD pins locally, and place the VCAP/VDDCORE capacitor within 2 mm of pin 10 for reliable core supply.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33EP256MC202-I/SS — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33EP256MC202-E/SS | DSPIC33EP128MC202-I/SS | DSPIC33EP64MC202-I/SS | DSPIC33EP32MC202-I/SS | DSPIC33EP256GP202-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SSOP | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same | 28-SSOP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core Speed | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS |
| Flash Memory | 256KB | 256KB | 128KB | 64KB | 32KB | 256KB |
| Temperature Range | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +85C (I) |
| Motor-Control PWM (MCPWM) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (GP peripherals) |
| Supply Voltage | 3.0V to 3.6V | 3.0V to 3.6V | 3.0V to 3.6V | 3.0V to 3.6V | 3.0V to 3.6V | 3.0V to 3.6V |
Key Differentiators
- Extended temperature option available in identical footprint (vs DSPIC33EP256MC202-E/SS)
- Maximum Flash in the 28-pin MC202 family (vs DSPIC33EP128MC202-I/SS)
- Dedicated motor-control peripheral set (vs DSPIC33EP256GP202-I/SS)
Design Notes
The dsPIC33EP core is fed by an internal regulator - a low-ESR ceramic capacitor (typically 10 uF, value per datasheet Section 2.6) must be connected to the VCAP/VDDCORE pin (pin 10) and placed as close to the pin as possible. All three VDD pins (7, 14, 20) and all three VSS pins (6, 11, 19) must be connected; do not leave any supply pair floating even if the board seems to work initially, as this degrades noise margin and ESD robustness.
Keep AVDD (pin 28) and AVSS (pin 27) on a quiet analog supply island - never share the analog return with motor-phase or gate-driver currents. Ferrite bead plus decoupling from the digital 3.3V rail is the standard Microchip reference-design approach. Route PGED/PGEC debug pairs to a 5-pin ICSP header; firmware and hardware must use a matched PGEDx/PGECx pair (e.g., PGED2 with PGEC2) as documented in the family datasheet.
Common startup failures: (1) MCLR left floating - always use a 10k pull-up to VDD; (2) missing or wrong VCAP capacitor causing brown-out loops; (3) configuring PPS (peripheral pin select) incorrectly so UART/PWM do not appear on expected RPn pins; (4) running the PLL above 70 MIPS equivalent - the max operating frequency must respect the 3.0-3.6V supply range per the datasheet frequency-vs-voltage graph. Verify all four items before suspecting silicon.
When driving MOSFET gate drivers from the MCPWM outputs, add series resistors (22-100 ohm) at the MCU pins to limit shoot-through currents during gate transitions, and keep PWM traces short and away from the analog front-end. For motor control layouts, star-ground or partitioned-ground topology with the MCU on the signal side of the partition significantly reduces ADC noise from switching transients.
Compliance Information
Current active Microchip production part, RoHS compliant and lead-free per standard Microchip packaging for this family. REACH/halogen-free/conflict-minerals declarations available from Microchip product compliance documentation; not extracted from provided web data.
