DSPIC33EP256MU806-I/MR - 16-bit DSC 256KB Flash QFN-64 | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33EP256MU806-I/MR ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $12.31 | $12.31 |
| 10 | $11.45 | $114.50 |
| 100 | $10.62 | $1,062.00 |
| 500 | $9.85 | $4,925.00 |
| 1,000 | $9.12 | $9,120.00 |
DSPIC33EP256MU806-I/MR Overview
A digital signal controller merges the control peripheral set of a microcontroller with the multiply-accumulate DSP engine of a digital signal processor. Within the power-management hierarchy, a DSC sits between general-purpose MCUs and dedicated DSPs: it executes real-time control loops (motor control, digital power conversion) at signal-processor speed while retaining MCU-class communication peripherals. The dsPIC33EP family is Microchip's second-generation 16-bit DSC platform built on the enhanced dsPIC33E core.
Key features include 16-bit modified Harvard architecture with DSP instruction extensions, high-speed PWM modules suited to digital power and motor drive, USB OTG connectivity, and Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) that remaps digital functions across up to 51 I/O pins. Multiple UART, SPI, I2C, and ECAN ports support industrial communication stacks, and an internal oscillator eliminates the need for an external crystal in many designs.
The device operates from a single 3.3V supply (3.0V to 3.6V range) across an industrial -40C to +85C temperature rating (the -I suffix). The 64-VFQFN exposed-pad package measures 9x9 mm and provides a low-inductance thermal path through the center pad, which must be soldered to a grounded copper pour for signal integrity and heat dissipation.
Typical applications include brushless DC and PMSM motor control, switched-mode power supplies and digital lighting (HID/LED) ballasts, USB-enabled industrial instruments, and automotive subsystems (the base die is offered in AEC-Q100 variants).
Design tip: connect the internal VCAP/VDDCORE regulator capacitor exactly as specified in the manufacturer datasheet; omitting or undersizing it is the most common cause of core instability.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33EP256MU806-I/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-I/MR (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, CAN Modules, Core, Package, Supply Voltage.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
DSPIC33EP512MU806-I/MR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP128MU806-I/MR
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33EP256MU806-E/MR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP256MU806-I/MR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 16-bit dsPIC DSC (modified Harvard, RISC + DSP) |
| Core Performance | Up to 70 MIPS dsPIC DSC core |
| Operating Frequency | 60 MHz (per distributor listing) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 256 KB (85.5K x 24) |
| RAM | 28 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V (3.0 V to 3.6 V) |
| Number of I/O | 51 |
| Communication Interfaces | USB OTG, ECAN, I2C, SPI, UART |
| Package | 64-VFQFN Exposed Pad (MR, 9x9 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Oscillator Type | Internal |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial, -I suffix) |
| Packaging | Tube |
| Automotive Qualification | AEC-Q100 available in family (see compliance notes) |
| Peripheral Pin Select | Yes (remappable RPn/RPIn pins) |
DSPIC33EP256MU806-I/MR 64-vfqfn exposed pad (mr, 9x9 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for DSPIC33EP256MU806-I/MR (64-vfqfn exposed pad (mr, 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-I/MR.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
DSPIC33EP256MU806-I/MR is suitable for 6 applications: BLDC/PMSM Motor Control, Digital Power Conversion (SMPS/PFC), USB-Connected Industrial Instruments, LED and HID Lighting Ballasts, Automotive Subsystems, Audio Signal Processing Nodes.
BLDC/PMSM Motor Control
The DSPIC33EP256MU806-I/MR fits motor control because Microchip designed the dsPIC33E family specifically for high-performance precision motor drive: the 70 MIPS core executes field-oriented control (FOC) inner current loops at 16 kHz to 20 kHz PWM switching rates with margin for sensorless estimators, while the high-speed PWM module generates complementary outputs with dead-time insertion for three-phase inverters. The DSP multiply-accumulate engine computes Clarke/Park transforms in single-cycle MAC operations, keeping loop latency deterministic. The exposed-pad QFN package conducts inverter gate-driver and controller losses into the ground pour. Use Peripheral Pin Select to place PWM, encoder (QEI), and fault inputs on optimal physical pins, reducing trace length to power stages.
Recommended
Digital Power Conversion (SMPS/PFC)
The DSPIC33EP256MU806-I/MR is well suited to switch-mode power supplies and PFC stages because its high-speed PWM supports phase-shifted, current-mode, and resonant topologies at 60 MHz instruction-cycle resolution, giving sub-nanosecond-equivalent duty-cycle granularity. The 70 MIPS core closes voltage and current loops in firmware with DSP MAC accuracy, while the 3.0V-3.6V supply and internal oscillator reduce BOM count in isolated converter secondary-side controllers. Software phase and frequency trimming enable ZVS/ZCS control in LLC converters. The 51 remappable I/O pins let designers position PWM outputs adjacent to gate drivers on dense QFN-scale boards. Compensation networks and protection limits (cycle-by-cycle current limiting) are updated in firmware, eliminating analog component tolerance drift.
Recommended
USB-Connected Industrial Instruments
The on-chip USB OTG module makes the DSPIC33EP256MU806-I/MR a natural fit for bench instruments, data loggers, and test fixtures that must stream data to a PC while performing real-time DSP. Running as a USB device at full speed, it uploads ADC samples buffered in the 28 KB RAM via DMA while the core continues filter and FFT processing on the 70 MIPS engine. USB OTG additionally allows the same hardware to act as a host to USB flash drives or HID panels, enabling standalone operation. Multiple UART/SPI/I2C ports interface sensors and front-ends, and the ECAN port ties the instrument into industrial CAN networks. Firmware updating over USB (bootloader) removes the need for external programming headers in the field.
Recommended
LED and HID Lighting Ballasts
Lighting ballast designs benefit from the DSPIC33EP256MU806-I/MR's high-speed PWM with complementary outputs and fault shutdown: resonant half-bridge and buck stages for LED drivers or HID lamps are controlled at 60 MHz-equivalent resolution, and the 70 MIPS DSP core performs digital dimming, lamp-current regulation, and open/short-circuit protection entirely in software. Peripherals such as the comparators and ADC with simultaneous sampling feed cycle-by-cycle current limiting without CPU intervention, a hard-real-time requirement for lamp safety. The internal oscillator lowers BOM cost in sealed ballast enclosures where temperature range -40C to +85C matters, and the QFN exposed pad simplifies thermal layout inside aluminum housings.
Recommended
Automotive Subsystems
Automotive-adjacent subsystems such as pumps, actuators, BLDC fan controllers, and gateways can use the DSPIC33EP256MU806 platform: distributor data (datasheets.com) lists the device family in a 3.3V automotive AEC-Q100 category, and extended-temperature -E variants in the identical QFN-64 footprint simplify migrating an industrial design to a hotter under-hood environment. The ECAN module implements CAN 2.0B for in-vehicle networking, remappable I/O adapts to legacy PCB layouts, and the DSP engine handles sensor signal conditioning (resolver, Hall, pressure) at real-time rates. For new automotive designs, verify the exact AEC-Q100 qualified ordering code with Microchip before release, and prefer the -E suffix variant documented in cross-reference listings.
Recommended
Audio Signal Processing Nodes
The DSP engine of the DSPIC33EP256MU806-I/MR - single-cycle MAC, dual operand fetch, and hardware saturation - supports real-time audio filtering, compression, and tone control at audio sample rates while its UART/SPI ports stream I2S-class data through external codecs. With 256 KB of flash, coefficient tables, multiple filter banks, and a USB control/configuration endpoint coexist comfortably; the 28 KB RAM buffers audio frames with double-buffering for glitch-free streaming. Typical uses include DSP-enabled mixers, conference-room audio controllers, and powered-speaker protection algorithms. Because the peripheral set also includes PWM outputs, the same chip can drive Class-D power stages, consolidating audio processing and amplifier control in one 64-QFN device.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33EP256MU806-I/MR — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33EP512MU806-I/MR | DSPIC33EP128MU806-I/MR | DSPIC33EP256MU806-E/MR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-VQFN Exposed Pad (MR, 9x9 mm) | 64-VQFN Exposed Pad - same | 64-VQFN Exposed Pad - same | 64-VQFN Exposed Pad - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB (85.5K x 24) | 512 KB | 128 KB | 256 KB |
| RAM | 28 KB | 52 KB | 16 KB | 28 KB |
| Core Speed | Up to 70 MIPS / 60 MHz listing | Up to 70 MIPS | Up to 70 MIPS | Up to 70 MIPS |
| USB OTG | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C |
Key Differentiators
- Balanced 256 KB flash / 28 KB RAM memory point (vs DSPIC33EP128MU806-I/MR)
- Lower cost than 512 KB variant for typical firmware (vs DSPIC33EP512MU806-I/MR)
- Industrial temperature rating suited to standard equipment (vs DSPIC33EP256MU806-E/MR)
Design Notes
Provide a clean, well-decoupled 3.3V rail within the 3.0V-3.6V range for all VDD pins, with 0.1 uF ceramic capacitors placed at each VDD/VSS pin pair on the QFN perimeter. Critically, the internal core regulator requires the exact VCAP capacitance specified in the manufacturer datasheet - undersizing or omitting it is the most common cause of core instability and erratic resets at 70 MIPS. Follow the reference schematic published by Quickboards and Microchip's family reference manual for VCAP layout, and sequence power-up with a supervisor (e.g., MCP131) if brownout risk exists.
The 64-VFQFN exposed pad is the primary ground and thermal connection. Estimated: a DSC running 70 MIPS at 3.3 V with high I/O toggle rates can dissipate several hundred milliwatts; with a typical QFN-64 theta_JA near 30-40 C/W (verify in the datasheet), a solid thermal pad with a stitched via array (4x4 or denser) to the ground plane keeps junction rise below 10-15 C. Skipping the exposed-pad solder connection leaves the device electrically grounded only through perimeter pins and degrades both EMC and reliability.
Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) means most digital pin functions are configured in firmware, not hardwired: a PCB routed for one RPn assignment cannot be fixed by rewiring, so lock the PPS map early and add locking of the PPS registers after configuration to prevent runaway code from remapping UART or PWM pins. Also note this is a 3.3V-only device - it is NOT 5V tolerant like older PIC16 parts, so level-shift any 5V sensor or legacy bus before connecting to the 51 I/O pins.
Keep high-speed PWM outputs short and symmetrical when driving gate drivers, and route the USB D+/D- as a controlled-impedance 90-ohm differential pair with length matching if the OTG port is enabled. Use the internal oscillator for cost-sensitive designs, but for USB operation, clock accuracy requirements dictate either the internal PLL trimming routine or an external crystal - consult the USB chapter of the datasheet for the applicable tolerance before choosing a clock source.
Compliance Information
Distributor data (datasheets.com) associates the dsPIC33EP256MU806 family with 3.3V automotive AEC-Q100 categorization, and Microchip offers extended-temperature -E variants; the specific industrial -I/MR ordering code should be verified for formal AEC-Q100 qualification with Microchip. RoHS/REACH status not stated in provided data - confirm on Microchip's product page.
