DSPIC33EP256MC202T-E/SO - 16-bit DSC, 256KB Flash, 28-SOIC | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33EP256MC202T-E/SO ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5.9 | $5.90 |
| 10 | $5.4 | $54.00 |
| 100 | $4.85 | $485.00 |
| 500 | $4.4 | $2,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.95 | $3,950.00 |
DSPIC33EP256MC202T-E/SO Overview
A digital signal controller combines the computational capability of a digital signal processor with the peripheral integration and ease of use of a microcontroller. Within the power-management hierarchy, the DSC sits above general-purpose MCUs and below standalone DSPs, making it the standard choice for embedded real-time control loops such as field-oriented motor control, where deterministic interrupt latency and fast MAC instructions are essential.
Key features include single-cycle Multiply-Accumulate (MAC) DSP instructions, motor control PWM (MCPWM) outputs with dedicated time bases, a quadrature encoder interface (QEI) for position feedback, two on-chip operational amplifiers, three analog comparators, and a high-speed 10/12-bit ADC. Connectivity covers multiple UARTs, SPI, I2C, and CAN interfaces, enabling gateways and distributed drive architectures on a single chip.
The dsPIC33E core uses a modified Harvard architecture with a 16-bit data path and pipelined instruction execution, plus a Phase-Locked-Loop clock system that multiplies an external crystal to the full operating frequency. Programmable I/O remapping (PPS) allows peripheral pins to be routed flexibly, simplifying PCB layout in dense motor-drive designs. The E-grade extends the operating temperature envelope for demanding automotive and industrial environments and is qualified to AEC-Q100.
Typical applications include brushless DC and permanent-magnet synchronous motor drives, automotive auxiliary motor control, industrial power supplies with digital control loops, and sensor-based consumer appliances requiring precise analog integration.
Design consideration: keep the VCAP/VDDCORE capacitor close to pin 14 per Microchip's layout guidance, since core regulation stability depends directly on this decoupling network.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet, with pricing referenced as of 2026-09-24.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33EP256MC202T-E/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 DSPIC33EP256MC202T-E/SO (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Packaging.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
DSPIC33EP256MC202T-I/SO
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.42 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP128MC202T-E/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$2.97 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP64MC202T-E/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$2.96 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP32MC202T-E/SO
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP256MC202T-E/SO Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | 16-bit dsPIC DSC |
| Core Performance | 60 MIPS |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 256 KB (85.5K x 24) |
| RAM | 32 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V |
| Package | 28-SOIC (7.50 mm width) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Motor Control PWM | Yes (MCPWM) |
| Quadrature Encoder Interface | Yes (QEI) |
| On-chip Op Amps | 2 |
| Comparators | 3 |
| Communication Interfaces | UART, SPI, I2C, IrDA, CAN |
| Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) | Yes |
| Temperature Grade | E-grade (extended) |
| Qualification | Automotive, AEC-Q100 |
| Packaging | Tape and Reel |
| Programmability | In-circuit serial programming (ICSP), PTG |
DSPIC33EP256MC202T-E/SO Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | MCLR — Master clear reset / programming voltage input |
| Pin 2 | AN0/CN3/RB0 — Analog input 0 / change notification / port B |
| Pin 3 | AN1/CN2/RB1 — Analog input 1 / change notification / port B |
| Pin 4 | AN2/SS1/CN4/RB2 — Analog input 2 / SPI slave select 1 / port B |
| Pin 5 | AN3/INDX/CN5/RB3 — Analog input 3 / QEI index / port B |
| Pin 6 | AN4/QEA/IC7/CN6/RB4 — Analog input 4 / QEI channel A / input capture 7 |
| Pin 7 | VDD — Digital power supply (3.3V) |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKI/RC12 — Oscillator crystal input / external clock input |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKO/RC15 — Oscillator crystal output / clock output |
| Pin 11 | T2CK/IC8/RP35/CN16/RB5 — Timer2 clock / input capture 8 / remappable pin |
| Pin 12 | SOSCI/T1CK/CN1/RA2 — Secondary oscillator input / Timer1 clock |
| Pin 13 | SOSCO/T1CK/CN0/RA3 — Secondary oscillator output / Timer1 clock |
| Pin 14 | VCAP/VDDCORE — Core regulator capacitor connection - do not use as power supply |
| Pin 15 | PGD/RTCC/RP40/CN17/RB6 — In-circuit debug data / port B |
| Pin 16 | PGC/RP41/CN18/RB7 — In-circuit debug clock / port B |
| Pin 17 | RP42/CN19/RB8 — Remappable peripheral pin / port B |
| Pin 18 | RP43/CN20/RB9 — Remappable peripheral pin / port B |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Digital power supply (3.3V) |
| Pin 21 | AN11/RP44/CN21/RB10 — Analog input 11 / remappable pin / port B |
| Pin 22 | AN12/RP45/CN22/RB11 — Analog input 12 / remappable pin / port B |
| Pin 23 | AN13/RP46/CN23/RB12 — Analog input 13 / remappable pin / port B |
| Pin 24 | AN14/RP47/CN24/RB13 — Analog input 14 / remappable pin / port B |
| Pin 25 | AN15/RP48/CN25/RB14 — Analog input 15 / remappable pin / port B |
| Pin 26 | RP49/CN26/RB15 — Remappable peripheral pin / port B |
| Pin 27 | AVSS — Analog ground for ADC domain |
| Pin 28 | AVDD — Analog power supply for ADC domain |
Typical Applications
DSPIC33EP256MC202T-E/SO is suitable for 6 applications: Brushless DC Motor Drives, Industrial PMSM Servo Drives, Automotive Auxiliary Motor Control, Digital Power Supplies, Sensor Hubs and IoT Edge Nodes, Home Appliance Motor Control.
Brushless DC Motor Drives
The DSPIC33EP256MC202T-E/SO is purpose-built for BLDC motor control. Its MCPWM module generates complementary PWM pairs with hardware dead-time insertion, while the QEI decoder accepts encoder feedback for closed-loop commutation. The two on-chip op amps condition low-side shunt current signals without external amplifier ICs, and the three comparators provide cycle-by-cycle overcurrent limiting - a protection path that bypasses firmware latency. At 60 MIPS with single-cycle MAC, the core executes trapezoidal or field-oriented control inner loops at PWM frequencies well above the audible band. The 256KB Flash accommodates FOC tables plus a CAN or UART communication stack on the same chip, reducing BOM count in drive electronics.
Recommended
Industrial PMSM Servo Drives
In permanent-magnet synchronous motor servo applications, the DSPIC33EP256MC202T-E/SO runs cascaded current, velocity, and position control loops deterministically thanks to the dsPIC33E interrupt architecture and DSP MAC instructions. The high-speed 12-bit ADC samples phase currents synchronized to the PWM center, minimizing ripple-induced measurement error. Quadrature encoder input resolves position feedback directly in hardware, offloading the CPU. The extended E-grade temperature rating suits panel-mounted servo amplifiers in factory environments, and AEC-Q100 qualification adds component-level assurance. Peripheral Pin Select lets engineers route encoder and PWM pins optimally for compact power-stage layouts, cutting trace inductance between controller and gate drivers.
Recommended
Automotive Auxiliary Motor Control
With AEC-Q100 qualification and the extended-temperature E grade, the DSPIC33EP256MC202T-E/SO fits automotive auxiliary drives such as HVAC blowers, pumps, and actuators. The integrated CAN interface connects the drive node to vehicle body networks without an external CAN controller, while the ADC plus op amps handle position sensor or current feedback locally. The 3.3V supply matches modern automotive logic rails through a front-end regulator. Firmware-level fault management uses the hardware comparators for immediate response to stall or overcurrent events. The 256KB Flash bank supports OTA-style field update bootloaders increasingly demanded in vehicle platforms, all within a space-efficient 28-SOIC footprint suitable for module PCBs.
Recommended
Digital Power Supplies
Switched-mode power supplies with digital control benefit from the DSC's synchronized ADC sampling and fast PWM peripherals. The DSPIC33EP256MC202T-E/SO implements voltage-mode or average-current-mode loops in firmware, with the comparators providing hardware overcurrent trip points independent of software. Its DSP capability supports advanced non-linear control laws and compensation networks computed at loop rates of tens of kilohertz. The single-cycle MAC accelerates PI and notch-filter computations. UART connectivity enables PMBus-style supervisory links, and the 256KB Flash holds multiple operating profiles plus logging. The E-grade thermal envelope suits telecom rectifiers and industrial chargers operating in unconditioned environments.
Recommended
Sensor Hubs and IoT Edge Nodes
The combination of 256KB Flash, 32KB RAM, UART, SPI, and I2C makes the DSPIC33EP256MC202T-E/SO an efficient sensor hub for industrial IoT edge nodes. Multiple I2C/SPI buses aggregate sensor data while the DSP core applies filtering - FIR, IIR, or FFT - locally, reducing uplink bandwidth. The PTG (Pulse Train Generator) peripheral sequences sensor polling autonomously in hardware, allowing the CPU to sleep and cutting average power draw. Analog inputs plus the on-chip op amps digitize resistive and voltage-output sensors directly. For battery-backed installations, the DSC's peripheral clock scaling supports aggressive duty-cycling between measurement bursts and radio transmission.
Recommended
Home Appliance Motor Control
Fans, pumps, and compressors in premium home appliances require quiet, efficient electronic commutation. The DSPIC33EP256MC202T-E/SO delivers sensorless BLDC control using its ADC-backed back-EMF sampling and comparator-based zero-cross detection, eliminating Hall sensors from the motor. The 60 MIPS core sustains control loops at PWM frequencies above 20 kHz for silent operation. Appliance safety firmware - stall detection, overcurrent, locked rotor - maps naturally onto the three hardware comparators plus software supervisory logic. The 256KB Flash supports multi-language HMI code and communication to appliance main controllers via UART, and the low pin count 28-SOIC keeps controller PCB area small inside congested appliance housings.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33EP256MC202T-E/SO — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33EP256MC202T-I/SO | DSPIC33EP128MC202T-E/SO | DSPIC33EP64MC202T-E/SO | DSPIC33EP256MC202T-I/SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 28-SOIC (7.50 mm) | 28-SOIC (7.50 mm) - same | 28-SOIC (7.50 mm) - same | 28-SOIC (7.50 mm) - same | 28-SSOP - different body |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Program Memory | 256 KB (85.5K x 24) | 256 KB | 128 KB | 64 KB | 256 KB |
| Core Performance | 60 MIPS | 70 MIPS (I-grade catalog listing) | 60 MIPS | 60 MIPS | 60 MIPS |
| Temperature Grade | E-grade (extended) | I-grade (industrial) | E-grade (extended) | E-grade (extended) | I-grade (industrial) |
| Motor Control Peripherals | MCPWM, QEI, 2 op amps, 3 comparators | Identical | Identical | Identical | Identical |
| AEC-Q100 Qualification | Yes (Automotive) | Yes | Yes (family qualification) | Yes (family qualification) | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Maximum program memory in the 28-pin MC202 family (vs DSPIC33EP128MC202T-E/SO)
- Extended-temperature E-grade rating (vs DSPIC33EP256MC202T-I/SO)
- Integrated analog front end (vs DSPIC33EP32MC202T-E/SO)
Design Notes
The VCAP/VDDCORE pin (pin 14) connects to the internal 1.8V core regulator and requires the datasheet-specified low-ESR ceramic capacitor (typically around 10 uF, verify the exact value in the dsPIC33EP256MC202 datasheet) placed within 2 mm of the pin. Do not load this pin externally - it is not a usable power output. Decouple both VDD pins (7 and 20) with 0.1 uF ceramics plus one bulk 4.7-10 uF capacitor, and filter AVDD (pin 28) from the digital rail with an RC or ferrite for best ADC accuracy.
Use Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) to route the MCPWM outputs and QEI inputs to the pins nearest the gate drivers and connector, minimizing trace length on high-current PWM paths. Keep the analog ground island under AVSS/AVDD tied to the main ground at a single point near the ADC reference. Place the ICSP header (MCLR, VDD, VSS, PGD on pin 15, PGC on pin 16) on the PCB edge for in-system programming. Reserve at least one spare remappable RP pin for debug UART access in production hardware.
Do not select the E-grade and expect I-grade power consumption specs to transfer unchanged - verify current consumption at the actual junction temperature from the datasheet graphs. When substituting the 128KB/64KB/32KB Flash family members, linker scripts and const-table placement in RAM/PSV space must be re-verified, as fixed-address lookups compiled for 256KB may exceed the smaller memory map. Confirm oscillator startup margins when using the secondary oscillator with Timer1/RTCC, since SOSCI/SOSCO shares pins 12/13.
Compliance Information
Distributor listings (DigiKey, Hotenda) identify the part as Automotive, AEC-Q100. RoHS/lead-free status is standard for current Microchip catalog production; obtain formal material declarations from the Microchip product page.
