DSPIC33EP256MU806-E/MR - 60 MIPS 16-bit DSC, 64-VQFN | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33EP256MU806-E/MR ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
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| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
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DSPIC33EP256MU806-E/MR Overview
A digital signal controller combines the compute throughput of a digital signal processor with the peripheral integration and deterministic interrupt behavior of a microcontroller. Within the power-management hierarchy of embedded systems, the dsPIC33E family sits above basic PIC16/PIC18 MCUs and beside dedicated DSPs, offering a single-chip solution for closed-loop control systems that need both math acceleration and rich I/O.
Key features include integrated USB OTG, dual CAN 2.0B modules, three-wire SPI and I2C peripherals, a high-speed PWM engine purpose-built for motor control, an internal oscillator, and 51 general-purpose I/O pins. The extended -40C to +125C operating envelope distinguishes the -E/MR suffix from the industrial -I/MR variant.
Architecturally, the dsPIC33EP core pairs a 16-bit MCU pipeline with DSP instructions (MAC, DSP multiply, barrel shifter) and supports 85.5K x 24-bit instruction words. Dual motor-control capability allows simultaneous control of two motors or a dual-axis servo from one chip, reducing bill-of-materials complexity versus MCU-plus-DSP discrete designs.
Typical applications include sensorless BLDC and PMSM motor drives, digital power supplies (PFC, LLC converters), UPS systems, automotive auxiliary controls operating at elevated ambient temperatures, and industrial automation nodes that require CAN and USB connectivity in a compact 9x9 mm footprint.
When designing with this device, the internal VCAP regulator pin requires a low-ESR capacitor to ground per the manufacturer datasheet, and the exposed pad should be soldered to a ground plane for thermal and signal-integrity reasons. Extended-temperature designs should derate maximum clock frequency margin at the +125C corner.
This page synthesizes distributor availability data, same-family drop-in variants, and practical design notes not found in a single manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33EP256MU806-E/MR — 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 DSPIC33EP256MU806-E/MR (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
DSPIC33EP256MU806-I/MR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.12 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP512MU806-E/MR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP128MU806-E/MR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP256MU806-H/MR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP256MU802-E/MR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP256MU806-E/MR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | dsPIC33E 16-bit DSC core |
| CPU Speed | 60 MIPS |
| Program Memory Size | 256KB (85.5K x 24) Flash |
| RAM Size | 12K x 16 (28KB) |
| Number of I/O | 51 |
| Package / Case | 64-VFQFN Exposed Pad (9x9 mm) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (extended, E suffix) |
| Oscillator Type | Internal |
| USB | USB 2.0 OTG |
| CAN Modules | 2 x CAN 2.0B |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Packaging | Tube |
| Peripherals | High-speed PWM, dual motor control, DSP engine |
DSPIC33EP256MU806-E/MR 64-vfqfn exposed pad (9x9 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for DSPIC33EP256MU806-E/MR (64-vfqfn exposed pad (9x9 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 DSPIC33EP256MU806-E/MR.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
DSPIC33EP256MU806-E/MR is suitable for 6 applications: Sensorless BLDC/PMSM Motor Drives, Digital Power Supplies (PFC, LLC, Totem-Pole), Industrial Automation CAN Nodes, USB-Connected Test and Measurement Instruments, Automotive Auxiliary and Body Control Systems, UPS and Energy Storage Control.
Sensorless BLDC/PMSM Motor Drives
The DSPIC33EP256MU806-E/MR fits sensorless motor control because Microchip explicitly engineered the dsPIC33E family for high-performance precision motor control, and this MU806 variant adds dual motor-control hardware. The 60 MIPS DSP core executes field-oriented control (FOC) inner current loops in tens of microseconds while the high-speed PWM module generates complementary outputs with dead-time insertion. A typical design closes the current loop at 20 kHz using the on-chip ADC triggered directly by the PWM, and estimates rotor position with a sliding-mode or MRAS observer running in software - 256KB Flash accommodates the observer math, a USB commissioning stack, and a CANopen application layer simultaneously. In dual-axis drives such as gantry robots or dual-motor conveyors, one chip replaces two MCUs, cutting BOM cost and guaranteeing synchronized motion without inter-chip communication latency.
Recommended
Digital Power Supplies (PFC, LLC, Totem-Pole)
Digital power conversion benefits directly from this DSC's combination of 60 MIPS throughput, high-speed PWM with fine duty-cycle resolution, and fast ADC sampling. A boost PFC stage sampled at 100 kHz or an LLC half-bridge with burst-mode control fits comfortably in the DSP engine's cycle budget, while the extended -40C to +125C temperature rating of the E suffix suits power supplies mounted near heat-generating stages. The 256KB Flash holds multiple control-law variants (voltage-mode, current-mode, nonlinear limiters) selectable at runtime, plus a USB interface for firmware updates in the field. Because the internal oscillator removes the need for a crystal in many designs, board area shrinks - valuable in compact AC-DC modules. Designers should budget ISR worst-case execution time at 60 MIPS and verify PWM dead-time granularity against the converter's switching frequency before committing to the topology.
Recommended
Industrial Automation CAN Nodes
With dual CAN 2.0B modules and 51 GPIO, the DSPIC33EP256MU806-E/MR serves as a gateway or smart sensor node bridging two CAN segments while running local closed-loop logic. The extended temperature range permits mounting inside motor housings, gearboxes, or outdoor cabinets where ambient temperatures reach +85C to +105C, environments that disqualify the industrial-grade I/MR variant. A typical node implements CANopen or J1939 on one bus for the factory network and a proprietary CAN on the second bus for local actuator control, with the 60 MIPS core interleaving protocol stacks and a PID loop deterministically. The 9x9 mm QFN footprint fits dense I/O boards, and the exposed pad provides a low-inductance ground reference that improves CAN transceiver signal integrity. XAIPART stocks MCP2551-compatible transceivers commonly paired with this DSC's CAN modules.
Recommended
USB-Connected Test and Measurement Instruments
The integrated USB 2.0 OTG peripheral makes this DSC suitable for handheld and bench instruments that stream data to a PC. The device can enumerate as a USB CDC or HID device while simultaneously acquiring signals via its ADC, with 256KB Flash supporting a full USB stack plus signal-processing code and even in-application USB bootloader firmware. In a typical data-logger, the DSP core decimates raw samples at 60 MIPS while the USB endpoint streams decimated data at full-speed rates; the 28KB RAM buffers burst captures without external memory. The extended temperature grade suits portable instruments used in vehicles and field environments. Compared with an MCU-plus-external-USB-chip solution, the single-chip integration removes one IC, one crystal, and associated layout constraints. Designers should size the USB bulk-transfer buffering scheme against the 28KB RAM early in development, since endpoint buffers plus DSP working arrays compete for the same memory.
Recommended
Automotive Auxiliary and Body Control Systems
Although not marketed as an AEC-Q100 automotive-qualified part, the -40C to +125C extended temperature rating of the DSPIC33EP256MU806-E/MR makes it a common choice for non-safety-critical automotive auxiliary functions such as pumps, fans, HVAC actuators, and lighting controllers mounted in engine-bay-adjacent zones. Dual CAN modules connect directly to vehicle networks through transceivers, the high-speed PWM drives solenoids and brushed-DC motors with current-mode control, and the 60 MIPS core executes diagnostics and fault-logging code within 256KB Flash. A typical auxiliary pump controller closes a current loop at 20 kHz, reports status on the CAN bus every 10 ms, and supports UDS-style flash updates via a USB service port during manufacturing. Engineers targeting safety-relevant functions should instead select a Microchip part with explicit AEC-Q100 qualification and verify the qualification level in the current product data sheet before design freeze.
Recommended
UPS and Energy Storage Control
Uninterruptible power supplies and battery-management front ends demand simultaneous inverter PWM control, battery-current sensing, and communication - exactly the loadout of the DSPIC33EP256MU806-E/MR. The 60 MIPS DSP engine runs the inverter's dq-frame control loop and the rectifier/PFC loop in interleaved interrupts, while the high-speed PWM module generates the switching patterns with hardware dead-time. The extended temperature rating tolerates the elevated internal ambient of UPS enclosures (typically 70C to 90C near power stages), and dual CAN provides the standard BMS communication interface in energy-storage racks. The 256KB Flash holds the control firmware, a Modbus/CANopen gateway, and an event log. Designers must validate ADC sampling synchronization with the PWM carriers to prevent current-sense aliasing, and should place the exposed-pad QFN over a solid ground plane to keep the analog front-end noise floor low relative to the switching converter's dV/dt environment.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33EP256MU806-E/MR — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33EP256MU806-I/MR | DSPIC33EP512MU806-E/MR | DSPIC33EP128MU806-E/MR | DSPIC33EP256MU802-E/MR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-VQFN (9x9) exposed pad (MR) | 64-VQFN (9x9) - same | 64-VQFN (9x9) - same | 64-VQFN (9x9) - same | 64-VQFN (9x9) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Flash | 256KB (85.5K x 24) | 256KB | 512KB | 128KB | 256KB |
| CPU Speed | 60 MIPS | 60 MIPS | 60 MIPS | 60 MIPS | 60 MIPS |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +125C (E) | -40C to +125C (E) |
| USB / CAN | USB OTG + 2x CAN 2.0B | USB OTG + 2x CAN | USB OTG + 2x CAN | USB OTG + 2x CAN | USB OTG, reduced CAN/features |
Key Differentiators
- Extended temperature range in the same footprint (vs DSPIC33EP256MU806-I/MR)
- Balanced memory configuration (vs DSPIC33EP512MU806-E/MR)
- Full USB + dual CAN connectivity (vs DSPIC33EP256MU802-E/MR)
Design Notes
The dsPIC33EP core's internal regulator requires a low-ESR ceramic capacitor on the VCAP pin, placed within a few millimeters of the pin per Microchip reference designs. Estimated: a typical 10 uF + 0.1 uF combination handles the regulator ripple at 60 MIPS; omitting or undersizing this capacitor is the leading cause of sporadic resets and DSP-engine instability reported in the field. Verify the exact capacitance and ESR limits in the electrical characteristics section of the current Microchip datasheet before release.
The 64-VQFN (MR) 9x9 mm package has a 0.5 mm pitch and an exposed pad that must be soldered to a grounded pour via a via array (typically 5x5 vias on 1 mm pitch) for both thermal performance at -40C to +125C operation and low-inductance grounding for the ADC and PWM modules. Stencil apertures should be segmented (~60-70% coverage) to prevent voiding. Confirm the land-pattern dimensions against the Microchip drawing rather than copying the TQFP PT variant, which is not footprint-compatible.
With 51 GPIO switching at 60 MIPS, simultaneous switching noise on the QFN can couple into the analog supply domain. Recommended practice from Microchip motor-control reference designs: dedicate separate AVDD/AVSS filtering (ferrite bead plus 1 uF/0.1 uF), keep PWM outputs away from analog sense traces on the outer layers, and route analog sense traces as guarded runs over a continuous ground plane. This preserves ADC accuracy in FOC current-loop applications where a few LSBs of noise translate into torque ripple.
Do not substitute the I/MR (industrial, -40C to +85C) part for the E/MR in applications near +105C ambient - the temperature derating will exceed the industrial grade limit and cause out-of-spec behavior even though the devices are otherwise pin-identical. Also verify the exact package suffix: the PT (64-TQFP) variant shares the die but not the footprint. Before switching between 128/256/512KB family members, confirm the RAM size and linker memory map, since RAM differs across the MU806 family.
Compliance Information
Compliance data was not present in the provided web data; verify on the Microchip product page. AEC-Q100 qualification is not claimed for this standard dsPIC33EP part in the provided data - select a Microchip automotive-qualified part for safety-relevant designs.
