DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/ML - 16-Bit 60 MIPS DSC 256KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/ML ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.2 | $6.20 |
| 10 | $5.58 | $55.80 |
| 100 | $4.96 | $496.00 |
| 500 | $4.45 | $2,225.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.98 | $3,980.00 |
DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/ML Overview
A digital signal controller combines the compute throughput of a digital signal processor with the peripheral integration and deterministic control of a microcontroller. Within the power-management hierarchy of embedded systems, the DSC sits above general-purpose MCUs and below multi-core application processors, making it the category of choice for closed-loop motor control, digital power conversion, and embedded signal processing.
Key features include the dsPIC33E core with DSP engine (single-cycle MAC, 40-bit accumulator), 5V-tolerant operating voltage of 3.0V to 3.6V, high-speed PWM modules with complementary outputs and dead-time control, CAN 2.0B, I2C, SPI, UART/USART, IrDA, LINbus, and QEI interfaces, plus up to three on-chip op amp/comparator blocks with direct ADC connection and a 12-bit 500 ksps / 10-bit 1.1 Msps ADC with up to four sample-and-hold circuits.
Architecturally, the device uses an enhanced Harvard pipeline with separate program and data buses, DMA support, and five timers. The -H temperature suffix covers extended operating ranges and the 44-VQFN EP package supports the automotive AEC-Q100 qualified member of the dsPIC33EP256MC504 family, enabling precision motor control in harsh environments.
Typical applications include brushless DC and PMSM motor control with sensorless field-oriented control, digital SMPS and power-factor-correction converters, and automotive/industrial embedded control with CAN networking.
Design consideration: budget Flash and RAM carefully - 256KB Flash is generous, but 16KB RAM can constrain large buffers for FFT or control-law tables; verify stack usage in MPLAB X before committing the PCB.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/ML — 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 DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/ML (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, RAM, RoHS Status, ADC Resolution, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP256MC204T-I/MV
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.34 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP256GM604-E/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP128MC504
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP64MC504
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/ML Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | dsPIC33E 16-bit DSC |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 60 MIPS |
| Flash Program Memory | 256KB (85.5K x 24) |
| RAM | 16KB |
| Supply Voltage | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Package | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) with exposed pad |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit 1.1 Msps / 12-bit 500 ksps |
| ADC Inputs | Up to 16 analog inputs |
| Communication Interfaces | CAN, I2C, SPI, UART/USART, IrDA, LINbus, QEI |
| PWM | High-speed PWM with dead-time and complementary outputs |
| Timers | 5 |
| DMA Channels | 4 |
| On-chip Op Amps/Comparators | Up to 3 |
| Qualification | AEC-Q100 (automotive) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/ML 44-qfn (8x8 mm) with exposed pad Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/ML (44-qfn (8x8 mm) with exposed pad 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 DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/ML.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/ML is suitable for 6 applications: BLDC/PMSM Motor Control, Digital Power Conversion (SMPS/Totem-Pole PFC), Automotive Body and Pump Control Modules, Industrial Sensing and Condition Monitoring, Embedded Audio and Signal Processing, Robotics and Servo Drive Control.
BLDC/PMSM Motor Control
The DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/ML fits brushless DC and PMSM motor control because its high-speed PWM module delivers complementary outputs with programmable dead time and the 60 MIPS core executes field-oriented control (FOC) loops at kHz rates with headroom. The QEI peripheral accepts encoder feedback directly, while the 12-bit 500 ksps ADC samples phase currents for sensorless algorithms; up to three on-chip op amps buffer shunt-resistor signals into the ADC without external amplifiers. In a typical three-phase inverter, the DSC drives a gate-driver stage such as the MCP14A0051 or IR2101, with PWM fault inputs providing cycle-by-cycle current limiting. The deterministic interrupt latency keeps current-loop sample-to-output jitter minimal, and DMA offloads ADC data movement so the CPU concentrates on control math. Estimated: a 20 kHz control loop consumes well under 30% CPU at 60 MIPS, leaving capacity for host communication.
Recommended
Digital Power Conversion (SMPS/Totem-Pole PFC)
Digital switch-mode power supplies and power-factor-correction stages benefit from the DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/ML's combination of high-resolution PWM control and fast analog feedback. The high-speed PWM supports phase-shifted and complementary topologies with dead-time control, and ADC triggers can be synchronized to PWM boundaries for clean mid-rail current sampling at 500 ksps in 12-bit mode. The 60 MIPS DSP engine executes PI and 3p3z compensators with single-cycle MAC operations, achieving control bandwidths that analog-only designs approximate with many passive components. Estimated: a 100 kHz switching frequency with 10-bit PWM resolution yields fine duty-cycle granularity for tight output regulation. Firmware-based control also enables soft-start sequencing, adaptive dead-time optimization, and runtime protection changes. The CAN or UART interface supports digital telemetry for PMBus-style monitoring in telecom rectifiers and server power supplies.
Recommended
Automotive Body and Pump Control Modules
Because the dsPIC33EP256MC504 family is AEC-Q100 qualified according to distributor listings, the DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/ML is appropriate for automotive body electronics such as fuel-pump, window-lift, HVAC blower, and headlamp control modules. The CAN 2.0B module integrates directly into vehicle networks, LINbus support covers low-cost sub-network nodes, and the QEI peripheral handles position feedback in HVAC flap actuators. The 3.0V-3.6V supply and -H temperature grade support harsh under-dash or engine-bay-adjacent environments when combined with proper transient protection. PWM outputs drive high-side/low-side switch stages through drivers, while the 12-bit ADC monitors battery sense, current shunts, and diagnostic feedback per OEM requirements. Using a single DSC for motor drive plus network interface consolidates BOM cost compared to an MCU-plus-DSP split, simplifying safety analyses and firmware maintenance across module variants.
Recommended
Industrial Sensing and Condition Monitoring
Industrial condition-monitoring nodes use the DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/ML to combine multi-channel analog acquisition with on-node DSP. The ADC samples vibration, current, and temperature channels at up to 1.1 Msps in 10-bit mode, and the DSP engine performs FFT and digital filtering in-situ with single-cycle MAC throughput - a task general-purpose MCUs handle slowly. Four DMA channels stream ADC results to the 16KB RAM without CPU intervention, maximizing sample throughput. The 256KB Flash holds compensation tables and filtering libraries, while UART or SPI links pass reduced feature data (not raw waveforms) to gateways, cutting bus traffic. Estimated: windowing plus a 256-point FFT completes well inside a 10 ms monitoring cycle at 60 MIPS. Typical companion devices include precision temperature sensors and CAN transceivers, making the design suited to pump, fan, and conveyor health monitoring in factories running predictive-maintenance programs.
Recommended
Embedded Audio and Signal Processing
The DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/ML serves cost-sensitive embedded audio and signal-processing products where a full DSP is overkill. Its DSP instruction set - single-cycle multiply-accumulate, dual data reads, and bit-reversed addressing - accelerates IIR/FIR filters, AGC loops, and tone generation. The 12-bit ADC digitizes microphone inputs while the SPI or I2C ports connect audio codecs or DACs for output paths, and 256KB Flash holds long coefficient tables and multiple preset profiles. At 60 MIPS, estimated throughput supports several cascaded biquad filters per channel at 48 kHz sampling with margin to spare, though 16KB RAM limits very long delay lines - keep reverb buffers short or use the lower-resolution modes. Typical products include active speakers, intercom systems, and industrial audio annunciators, where DSC-level integration (PWM for class-D staging, UART for control) replaces separate MCU-plus-DSP pairs and lowers system cost.
Recommended
Robotics and Servo Drive Control
Robot joints and industrial servo drives demand tight current loops and accurate position feedback, which the DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/ML delivers with its QEI interface, high-speed PWM, and 60 MIPS control throughput. Quadrature encoder counters track motor shaft position in hardware, freeing the CPU for cascaded position/velocity/current control loops. The complementary PWM outputs with dead time drive H-bridge or three-phase stages through gate drivers, and ADC sampling synchronized to PWM centers minimizes switching-noise errors in current measurements. On-chip comparators with programmable references provide hardware overcurrent trips independent of software latency - essential for protecting drivers during stalls. Estimated: a 10 kHz current loop, 1 kHz velocity loop, and 200 Hz position loop nest comfortably in the available MIPS. CAN or UART links connect the drive to a higher-level motion controller, supporting multi-axis robots, CNC feed axes, and automated guided vehicles.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/ML — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/ML | DSPIC33EP256MC204T-I/MV | DSPIC33EP256GM604-E/ML | DSPIC33EP128MC504 | DSPIC33EP64MC504 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) ML | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) ML - same | 44-QFN MV | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) ML - same | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) ML - same | 44-QFN (8x8 mm) ML - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| CPU Speed | 60 MIPS | 60 MIPS | 60 MIPS | 60 MIPS | 60 MIPS | 60 MIPS |
| Flash Memory | 256KB (85.5K x 24) | 256KB | 256KB | 256KB | 128KB | 64KB |
| RAM | 16KB | 16KB | 16KB | 16KB (verify per GM datasheet) | 16KB | 8KB |
| CAN Modules | 1x CAN 2.0B | 1x CAN 2.0B | 1x CAN 2.0B | 2x CAN 2.0B | 1x CAN 2.0B | 1x CAN 2.0B |
| AEC-Q100 | Qualified (family) | Qualified (family) | Qualified (family) | Qualified (family) | Qualified (family) | Qualified (family) |
Key Differentiators
- Motor-control peripheral density in a 44-pin footprint (vs DSPIC33EP128MC504)
- Dual CAN option for gateway designs (vs DSPIC33EP256GM604-E/ML)
- Single-vendor drop-in migration path (vs DSPIC33EP256MC204T-I/MV)
Design Notes
Supply the DSPIC33EP256MC504-H/ML from a clean 3.0V-3.6V rail (nominal 3.3V). The on-chip regulator requires a low-ESR capacitor on VCAP per datasheet DS70000657J - typically 10 uF ceramic; omitting it causes regulator instability and brown-out resets. Decouple every VDD pin with 0.1 uF ceramics placed within 2 mm of the pin, plus one bulk 10 uF near the supply entry. Keep AVDD on its own ferrite-filtered feed from VDD for best ADC accuracy on motor current-sense channels.
The 44-QFN exposed pad is the primary thermal and ground path - solder it to a ground array of at least 4x4 vias connecting to the internal ground plane. Route PWM traces to gate drivers short and away from ADC analog inputs; switching nodes carrying motor currents must not run under the QFN. Use a solid, unbroken ground plane under the analog section, and star-connect the shunt-resistor Kelvin sense traces directly to ANx input pins and AGND.
Three frequent mistakes with this family: (1) MCLR must be pulled up (typically 10k to VDD) and kept accessible for ICSP programming - burying it makes field updates impossible; (2) the -H suffix has a different temperature range than -I; do not substitute grades in automotive or outdoor designs without review; (3) configuration bits (oscillator source, watchdog, PWM pin mapping) live in code - a wrong OSC config silences the device; use MPLAB X configuration bits generator and verify with the FRC fallback clock before committing to production firmware.
Compliance Information
AEC-Q100 automotive qualification per Hotenda and Microchip USA listings; RoHS compliant per distributor listings. REACH/halogen-free status not stated in provided data.