DSPIC33EP256MC504T-E/PT - 16-bit 60MIPS DSC 256KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33EP256MC504T-E/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.2 | $6.20 |
| 10 | $5.65 | $56.50 |
| 100 | $4.95 | $495.00 |
| 500 | $4.4 | $2,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.95 | $3,950.00 |
DSPIC33EP256MC504T-E/PT Overview
A digital signal controller combines the computational architecture of a digital signal processor (DSP) with the peripheral integration and ease of use of a microcontroller (MCU). Within the power-management hierarchy of embedded systems, the dsPIC33EP family sits between general-purpose MCUs and dedicated DSPs, offering single-cycle MAC and DSP instructions alongside deterministic interrupt handling, making it a preferred choice for closed-loop real-time control systems.
Key differentiating features include the dedicated motor control PWM (MCPWM) module with complementary outputs and dead-time insertion, a quadrature encoder interface (QEI) for position feedback, an integrated CAN 2.0B module for robust networked communication, three on-chip operational amplifiers and four analog comparators that reduce external component count in current-sense loops, and DMA controllers that offload data movement from the CPU.
Architecturally, the device is built on a CMOS process with a modified Harvard bus structure and multiple internal bus architectures, executing DSP-class instructions from the 24-bit instruction word Flash. The core is supported by watchdog timer, brown-out reset, and multiple sleep/idle power modes; a 16-bit fixed-point datapath enables FIR/IIR filtering and control algorithms such as field-oriented control (FOC) at high sampling rates.
Typical applications include precision brushless DC and PMSM motor drives for appliances and industrial automation, digital power conversion (PFC, LLC, solar micro-inverters), and automotive body or powertrain-adjacent nodes requiring CAN connectivity and AEC-Q100 qualification. The integrated op-amps and comparators make it particularly well suited to sensorless and current-feedback motor control designs.
When designing with this device, budget the 3.3V supply rail carefully: all I/O operates at 3.3V, and the E-suffix temperature grade requires derating checks for the extended range. Use Microchip MPLAB X IDE with the XC16 compiler and the dsPIC33EP family programming spec for configuration bit settings.
This page synthesizes distributor availability, drop-in alternative cross-references, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33EP256MC504T-E/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 DSPIC33EP256MC504T-E/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Architecture, Flash Program Memory, Operating Temperature, Package, Communication Interfaces.
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DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PT
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$4.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP256MC504T-E/PTVAO
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DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/PT
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$3.68 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP64GS504-I/PT
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$3.35 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP16GS504-I/PT
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View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP256MC504T-E/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 16-bit dsPIC DSC core |
| Maximum Performance | 60 MIPS |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 60 MHz |
| Flash Program Memory | 256 KB (85.5K x 24) |
| RAM | 32 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V |
| Package | 44-TQFP (10x10 mm) |
| Terminal Pitch | 0.8 mm |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +125C (E grade) |
| Qualification | AEC-Q100 (Automotive) |
| Motor Control PWM | Yes (MCPWM) |
| Quadrature Encoder Interface | Yes (QEI) |
| CAN Module | Yes (CAN 2.0B) |
| On-chip Op-Amps | 3 |
| On-chip Comparators | 4 |
| DMA Controller | Yes |
| Watchdog Timer | Yes |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
DSPIC33EP256MC504T-E/PT 44-tqfp (10x10 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for DSPIC33EP256MC504T-E/PT (44-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 DSPIC33EP256MC504T-E/PT.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
DSPIC33EP256MC504T-E/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Brushless DC / PMSM Motor Control, Digital Power Conversion (PFC, LLC, Solar Micro-Inverters), Automotive Body and Comfort Electronics, Industrial Automation and Robotics, Audio and Sensor Signal Processing, Embedded Control and Instrumentation Nodes.
Brushless DC / PMSM Motor Control
The DSPIC33EP256MC504T-E/PT fits BLDC and PMSM drive designs because its dedicated motor-control PWM module provides complementary outputs with programmable dead time, while the quadrature encoder interface accepts encoder position feedback directly. The 60 MIPS DSP core executes field-oriented control (FOC) current loops at tens of kilohertz, and the three on-chip op-amps plus four comparators condition shunt-resistor current feedback without external amplifier ICs, cutting BOM cost and board area. Placed as the system controller between the gate-driver stage and the host, the DSC generates the six PWM signals and closes the speed/current loops internally; DMA services the ADC results to keep loop latency deterministic. The trade-off versus a general-purpose MCU is slightly higher unit cost, repaid by eliminating external signal-conditioning components.
Recommended
Digital Power Conversion (PFC, LLC, Solar Micro-Inverters)
For digital power supplies, the DSPIC33EP256MC504T-E/PT offers the fast 16-bit DSP core needed to implement digital compensators for PFC, LLC, and inverter stages, with high-resolution PWM output for precise duty-cycle control. The four comparators support cycle-by-cycle overcurrent protection in hardware, independent of software, while DMA moves ADC samples to RAM so the control loop is not interrupted. In a 3.3V single-supply design the DSC interfaces directly with gate drivers and voltage/current sense circuits; the E temperature grade supports sealed power-supply environments up to +125C ambient. The benefit over an analog controller is firmware-configurable control laws and telemetry; the trade-off is that firmware development effort replaces fixed analog behavior.
Recommended
Automotive Body and Comfort Electronics
The DSPIC33EP256MC504T-E/PT carries AEC-Q100 qualification and an extended -40C to +125C operating range, the baseline requirements for automotive body, comfort, and chassis-adjacent electronic modules. The integrated CAN 2.0B module connects the node to in-vehicle networks for commands and diagnostics, and the 256KB Flash accommodates protocol stacks plus application code with headroom for OTA-style updates. In a typical module - lamp control, pump control, or actuator driver - the DSC reads sensors through its op-amps/comparators, drives loads via the MCPWM outputs, and reports status over CAN, all from a single 3.3V device. Compared with the I-grade variant, the E grade adds margin for under-hood-adjacent thermal environments at a small cost premium.
Recommended
Industrial Automation and Robotics
In factory automation, the DSPIC33EP256MC504T-E/PT serves as a real-time motion and machine-control node. Its 60 MIPS core with DSP instructions executes PID and filtering tasks deterministically, the QEI module interfaces with incremental encoders on servo axes, and multiple UART/SPI/I2C ports communicate with drives, HMIs, and sensors. The DMA controller keeps high-rate data streams off the CPU, and the watchdog timer plus brown-out reset support the reliability expected in 24/7 equipment. A typical deployment controls a stepper or servo axis while streaming telemetry to a PLC over serial or CAN. The dsPIC33EP family's wide pin-compatible selection lets engineers scale Flash and peripherals across a machine family without changing the PCB footprint.
Recommended
Audio and Sensor Signal Processing
The DSP instructions (single-cycle MAC, dual operand fetch) of the DSPIC33EP256MC504T-E/PT make it effective for real-time audio filtering, tone generation, and vibration or acoustic sensor analysis. The 16-bit fixed-point datapath handles FIR and IIR filters at audio sample rates with margin, and 32KB RAM buffers frame-based processing pipelines. On-chip op-amps can pre-condition microphone or piezo sensor signals before the internal ADC, reducing external component count. In a typical design the DSC samples at 8-48 ksps, applies filtering or feature extraction, and forwards results over UART/SPI. Compared with a general-purpose MCU, the DSP core delivers an order-of-magnitude improvement in filter throughput at similar cost and power.
Recommended
Embedded Control and Instrumentation Nodes
For general embedded control - test fixtures, instrumentation front ends, and connected sensor nodes - the DSPIC33EP256MC504T-E/PT provides a balanced combination of compute (60 MIPS), memory (256KB Flash / 32KB RAM), and analog integration (op-amps, comparators, ADC) in one 3.3V device. Self-programming Flash enables field firmware updates, and the multiple communication interfaces allow simultaneous links to a host controller and local peripherals. The extended E-grade temperature range and AEC-Q100 qualification also suit harsh industrial environments where consumer-grade MCUs are marginal. Compared with a PIC16-class MCU, the dsPIC33EP adds DSP throughput and richer peripherals at a moderate price premium, making it the right choice when control-loop speed or data processing is the bottleneck.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33EP256MC504T-E/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PT | DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/PT | DSPIC33EP64GS504-I/PT | DSPIC33EP16GS504-I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 44-TQFP (10x10 mm) | 44-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 44-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 44-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 44-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 | 64 KB | 16 KB |
| Core Performance | 60 MIPS / 60 MHz | 60 MIPS | 60 MIPS | 60 MIPS | 60 MIPS |
| Temperature Grade | E grade (-40C to +125C) | I grade (-40C to +85C) | I grade (-40C to +85C) | I grade (-40C to +85C) | I grade (-40C to +85C) |
| Motor Control Peripherals (MCPWM/QEI/OpAmps) | Yes (MC family) | Yes (MC family) | No (GP family peripheral set) | Partially (GS family set differs) | Partially (GS family set differs) |
Key Differentiators
- Extended -40C to +125C automotive E-grade (vs DSPIC33EP256MC504-I/PT)
- Integrated motor-control peripheral set (vs DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/PT)
- Large 256KB Flash program space (vs DSPIC33EP64GS504-I/PT)
Design Notes
The DSPIC33EP256MC504T-E/PT operates from a single 3.3V rail. Decouple every VDD/VDDCORE pin pair with 0.1 uF ceramics placed within 2 mm of the pins, plus one bulk 4.7-10 uF capacitor per device. Enable the on-chip voltage regulator as recommended in the family datasheet, and observe the required external capacitor on the VCAP core-regulator pin - incorrect VCAP capacitance is the most common cause of erratic startup on dsPIC33E designs.
Keep the high-current MCPWM output traces short and routed away from the oscillator and analog sense lines feeding the on-chip op-amps/comparators. When using shunt-based current sensing for motor FOC, use Kelvin connections at the shunt resistors and route the sense pair differentially to minimize switching-noise coupling from the power stage. Place a local ground pour under the analog section to separate it from PWM return currents.
Verify the exact RAM size against the official family datasheet (DS70000657J) before finalizing memory allocation, since some distributor listings for this family quote 16KB while others quote 32KB. Also confirm configuration-bit settings (oscillator mode, watchdog, brown-out) at project start - defaults differ between the XC16 linker scripts. Finally, the E-suffix extended-temperature grade is only valid if junction temperature limits are respected; at 60 MIPS with heavy I/O loading, estimate junction rise before deploying near +125C ambient.
The 44-TQFP 0.8 mm pitch footprint needs no special breakout, but leave the four corner pins' unused functions as defined in the datasheet pinout tables. Provide at least 8-10 vias to ground plane near the part for return paths, and keep the programming/debug header (PGD/PGC/MCLR) accessible for in-circuit programming with ICD or REAL ICE tools - retrofitting this header after layout is a common rework item.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance and lead-free finish indicated by Microchip/distributor product listings for this MPN. AEC-Q100 automotive qualification per Hotenda and Microchip USA listings. REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals declarations not stated in retrieved data - request certificates from Microchip for production release.