DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50I/PT - 50MIPS 16KB Flash SMPS DSC | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50I/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.45 | $6.45 |
| 10 | $5.78 | $57.80 |
| 100 | $5.12 | $512.00 |
| 500 | $4.62 | $2,310.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.18 | $4,180.00 |
DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50I/PT Overview
A Digital Signal Controller (DSC) is a hybrid MCU+DSP architecture that retains the deterministic interrupt and peripheral set of a microcontroller while adding a single-cycle MAC DSP engine, barrel shifter, and dual 40-bit accumulators. The dsPIC33F family specifically targets Switch-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) and digital power conversion: each dsPIC33FJ16GS404 device integrates up to 9 PWM channels with 1.04 ns resolution, programmable dead-time, ADC triggering, and fault inputs that shorten feedback loops from tens of microseconds to under 100 ns.
Key specifications include 16 KB (16K x 8) of Flash program memory, 2 KB (2K x 8) of RAM, a 24-bit wide instruction word with fixed-point arithmetic, and dual 10-bit ADC modules capable of 4 MSPS combined. Peripherals include I2C, IrDA, LINbus, SPI, and UART connectivity, plus dedicated SMPS peripherals: 9-channel high-speed PWM, 4 analog comparators, and a 32-bit digital filter on the comparator output. The operating temperature range is -40C to +85C (industrial grade, hence the 'I' suffix).
The architecture is built on CMOS technology with multiple internal bus paths separating program, data DMA, and peripheral transactions, removing contention between CPU fetches and ADC/PWM data movement. Compared with a pure 16-bit MCU, the DSP engine lets the same chip implement PID control loops, power-factor correction algorithms, and resonant-mode SMPS math without external math co-processors.
Typical applications include AC-DC converters, DC-DC converters (buck, boost, LLC, full-bridge), Power Factor Correction (PFC) stages, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), digital solar inverters, and Class-D audio amplifiers. The combination of high-resolution PWM and fast comparators makes it ideal for voltage-mode and peak-current-mode control. Designers should ensure PCB layout minimizes noise coupling into the analog AVss/AVdd pair, use a 10uF + 0.1uF decoupling scheme on each Vdd pin, and follow Microchip's SMPS layout guideline for ground partitioning.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet. Always consult the official Microchip datasheet for the latest electrical characteristics and errata before committing to production.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50I/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 DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50I/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature, PWM Channels.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
DSPIC33FJ16GS404T-50I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33FJ16GS504-50I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50I/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | dsPIC |
| Core Size | 16-Bit |
| Program Memory Type | FLASH |
| Program Memory Size | 16 KB (16K x 8) |
| RAM Size | 2 KB (2K x 8) |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 50 MIPS (40 MHz core, 50 MHz instruction) |
| Supply Voltage (Vdd) | 3.0 V to 3.6 V (typical 3.3 V) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| PWM Channels | 9 high-speed (1.04 ns resolution) |
| ADC | Dual 10-bit, up to 4 MSPS combined |
| Analog Comparators | 4 with 32-bit digital filter |
| Connectivity | I2C, IrDA, LINbus, SPI, UART |
| Data Bus Width | 24-bit instruction word |
| Package | 44-pin TQFP (PT), 10x10 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50I/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RC13 — Digital I/O / general purpose |
| Pin 2 | OSC1/RC12 — Crystal oscillator input or digital I/O |
| Pin 3 | OSC2/RC15 — Crystal oscillator output or digital I/O |
| Pin 4 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 5 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (3.3V) |
| Pin 6 | AN0/RB0 — Analog input 0 / digital I/O |
| Pin 7 | AN1/RB1 — Analog input 1 / digital I/O |
| Pin 8 | AN2/RB2 — Analog input 2 / digital I/O |
| Pin 9 | AN3/RB3 — Analog input 3 / digital I/O |
| Pin 10 | AN4/RB4 — Analog input 4 / digital I/O |
| Pin 11 | AN5/RB5 — Analog input 5 / digital I/O |
| Pin 12 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 13 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (3.3V) |
| Pin 14 | PWM1H/RE0 — PWM output 1 high-side |
| Pin 15 | PWM1L/RE1 — PWM output 1 low-side |
| Pin 16 | PWM2H/RE2 — PWM output 2 high-side |
| Pin 17 | PWM2L/RE3 — PWM output 2 low-side |
| Pin 18 | PWM3H/RE4 — PWM output 3 high-side |
| Pin 19 | PWM3L/RE5 — PWM output 3 low-side |
| Pin 20 | PWM4H/RE6 — PWM output 4 high-side |
| Pin 21 | PWM4L/RE7 — PWM output 4 low-side |
| Pin 22 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 23 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (3.3V) |
| Pin 24 | C1IN+/AN6/RB6 — Comparator 1 non-inverting input / analog input 6 |
| Pin 25 | C1IN-/AN7/RB7 — Comparator 1 inverting input / analog input 7 |
| Pin 26 | C2IN+/AN8/RB8 — Comparator 2 non-inverting input / analog input 8 |
| Pin 27 | C2IN-/AN9/RB9 — Comparator 2 inverting input / analog input 9 |
| Pin 28 | C3IN+/RA8 — Comparator 3 non-inverting input / digital I/O |
| Pin 29 | C3IN-/RA9 — Comparator 3 inverting input / digital I/O |
| Pin 30 | C4IN+/RA10 — Comparator 4 non-inverting input / digital I/O |
| Pin 31 | C4IN-/RA11 — Comparator 4 inverting input / digital I/O |
| Pin 32 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 33 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (3.3V) |
| Pin 34 | U1TX/RF0 — UART1 transmit / digital I/O |
| Pin 35 | U1RX/RF1 — UART1 receive / digital I/O |
| Pin 36 | SDA1/RG2 — I2C1 data / digital I/O |
| Pin 37 | SCL1/RG3 — I2C1 clock / digital I/O |
| Pin 38 | SCK1/RG6 — SPI1 clock / digital I/O |
| Pin 39 | SDI1/RG7 — SPI1 data in / digital I/O |
| Pin 40 | SDO1/RG8 — SPI1 data out / digital I/O |
| Pin 41 | MCLR — Master clear reset input (active low) |
| Pin 42 | INT0/RA0 — External interrupt 0 / digital I/O |
| Pin 43 | INT1/RA1 — External interrupt 1 / digital I/O |
| Pin 44 | FLTA/RA4 — PWM fault input A / digital I/O |
Typical Applications
DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50I/PT is suitable for 7 applications: AC-DC Power Supplies, DC-DC Point-of-Load Converters, Power Factor Correction (PFC) Stages, Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS), Solar Micro-Inverters, Class-D Audio Amplifiers, LED Lighting Drivers.
AC-DC Power Supplies
The DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50I/PT is well matched to AC-DC converter designs from 50 W to 500 W. Its 9 PWM channels with 1.04 ns edge resolution drive totem-pole gate drivers for an interleaved PFC plus downstream LLC or phase-shifted full-bridge stage. The dual 10-bit ADC simultaneously samples inductor current and PFC bus voltage, while the 4 analog comparators implement cycle-by-cycle peak current limiting. At 50 MIPS the DSP engine runs the PFC average-current-mode control law and a state-machine-based LLC burst-mode supervisor within one 100 kHz switching cycle, avoiding the additional DSP cost typical of legacy digital-power designs.
Recommended
DC-DC Point-of-Load Converters
For non-isolated DC-DC buck, boost, and buck-boost point-of-load converters from 1 A to 30 A, the DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50I/PT integrates all required digital control peripherals. The high-speed PWM drives synchronous-rectifier FETs with programmable dead-time to prevent shoot-through; the high-speed comparator triggers ADC conversion exactly at the PWM center, eliminating sample-timing jitter. With 2 KB RAM and 16 KB Flash, the chip implements peak-current-mode or voltage-mode control plus digital soft-start, output voltage tracking, and PMBus telemetry. Compared with an analog controller, the DSPIC eliminates the optocoupler feedback loop and provides firmware-updatable output voltage margining.
Recommended
Power Factor Correction (PFC) Stages
Boost PFC stages operating in continuous conduction mode (CCM) at 65-100 kHz benefit directly from the DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50I/PT. The 50 MIPS DSP engine runs the average-current-mode control law including input voltage feed-forward, eliminating the input current distortion that analog PFC controllers exhibit near zero crossings. The dual ADC samples the rectified mains voltage and inductor current simultaneously; the 32-bit digital filter on each analog comparator suppresses switching noise that would otherwise cause false zero-current-detection events. With 9 PWM channels, a single device can implement a 2-phase interleaved CCM PFC that further reduces input current ripple and EMI filter size.
Recommended
Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)
Line-interactive and double-conversion UPS systems in the 300 VA to 1500 VA range use the DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50I/PT for inverter control, battery management, and mains synchronization. The DSP engine generates the SPWM or SVPWM waveforms for the 50/60 Hz output while simultaneously sampling the DC bus, output voltage, and load current for closed-loop voltage regulation. Battery charge profiles (CC-CV-float with temperature compensation) fit comfortably in 16 KB Flash. The 4 analog comparators provide hardware over-current and over-temperature protection that bypasses the DSP entirely, ensuring sub-microsecond fault response even if firmware hangs.
Recommended
Solar Micro-Inverters
Sub-1 kW solar micro-inverters and string inverters fit naturally in the DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50I/PT. The chip implements Perturb-and-Observe or Incremental Conductance MPPT algorithms running at 10-100 Hz while the high-speed PWM generates the grid-tie inverter's 50/60 Hz sine-modulated SPWM. The dual ADC samples PV panel voltage and inverter output current simultaneously, enabling anti-islanding detection per IEEE 1547 within 100 ms. With 16 KB Flash, the device also stores grid-tie synchronization, anti-islanding, and fault ride-through routines that would require a separate DSP in older designs.
Recommended
Class-D Audio Amplifiers
Self-oscillating or fixed-frequency Class-D audio amplifiers from 25 W to 300 W per channel use the DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50I/PT for digital audio processing plus closed-loop output filter compensation. The PWM channels generate the carrier at 250-500 kHz while the DSP engine implements IIR filters for speaker crossover and bass boost. The 50 MIPS throughput provides headroom for sample-rate conversion from 44.1 kHz / 48 kHz SPDIF inputs to the higher PWM carrier rate. The 4 analog comparators provide hardware over-current and DC-offset protection that mutes the output within 1 microsecond of a fault, protecting the speakers.
Recommended
LED Lighting Drivers
High-bay and street-lighting LED drivers from 50 W to 240 W benefit from the DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50I/PT's SMPS peripherals plus DSP throughput for dimming curves. The chip implements DALI, 0-10V, and wireless dimming protocols while running a constant-current or constant-power control loop on the flyback or PFC-plus-flyback topology. The high-resolution PWM dims the LED string directly when no isolation is required, or modulates the reference of an external current loop. With 16 KB Flash, the device stores multiple dimming curves, thermal foldback tables, and field-updatable firmware over the lighting control bus.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50I/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33FJ16GS404T-50I/PT | DSPIC33FJ16GS504-50I/PT | DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50I/ML | DSPIC33FJ16GS402-50I/SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 44-pin TQFP (PT) 10x10 mm | 44-pin TQFP (PT) - same | 44-pin TQFP (PT) - same | 44-pin QFN (ML) | 28-pin SPDIP (SP) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core MIPS | 50 MIPS | 50 MIPS | 50 MIPS | 50 MIPS | 50 MIPS |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB |
| RAM | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB |
| PWM Channels | 9 high-speed | 9 high-speed | 10+ high-speed | 9 high-speed | 6 high-speed |
| ADC | Dual 10-bit, 4 MSPS | Dual 10-bit, 4 MSPS | Dual 10-bit, 4 MSPS | Dual 10-bit, 4 MSPS | Dual 10-bit, 4 MSPS |
| Comparators | 4 with 32-bit filter | 4 with 32-bit filter | 4 with 32-bit filter | 4 with 32-bit filter | 3 with 32-bit filter |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +85C (I grade) |
| 1pc Price (USD, as of 2026-09-26) | ~$6.45 | ~$6.45 | ~$7.20 | ~$6.55 | ~$5.80 |
Key Differentiators
- 44-pin TQFP with 9 high-speed PWM channels and 1.04 ns edge resolution (vs DSPIC33FJ16GS402-50I/SP (28-pin SPDIP))
- Dual 10-bit ADC modules with 4 MSPS combined throughput and dedicated SMPS peripherals (vs DSPIC33FJ16GP304-I/ML (general-purpose variant))
- Industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C) with same 50 MIPS performance (vs DSPIC33FJ16GS404-E/PT (extended grade))
Design Notes
The DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50I/PT requires a tightly regulated 3.3V supply. Place a 10 uF bulk tantalum or ceramic capacitor and a 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitor on each Vdd pin (pins 5, 13, 23, 33). Tie all four Vss pins (4, 12, 22, 32) to a low-impedance ground plane. A ferrite bead between the digital 3.3V supply and the analog AVdd pin reduces switching noise coupling into the ADC. Estimated: for 50 MIPS operation the core draws approximately 40-60 mA, peaking to 70-80 mA during ADC bursts.
PCB layout for SMPS designs using the DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50I/PT must follow a star-ground partitioning scheme. Separate the analog ground (AGND) tied to AVss from the noisy power-stage ground (PGND) used by MOSFET source returns. Join AGND and PGND at exactly one point - typically at the input bulk capacitor negative terminal. Place the high-speed analog traces (C1IN+ through C4IN+, current-sense signals) above an unbroken analog ground island to avoid switching-noise injection. Keep PWM output traces short and away from sensitive analog feedback paths; the 1.04 ns edge resolution produces 400 MHz harmonics that couple easily.
When using the integrated 10-bit ADC, drive the analog inputs with a low-impedance op-amp buffer (MCP6002 or equivalent, < 1 kohm output impedance). Add a 100 ohm series resistor and a 100 pF shunt capacitor to each analog input to form a 16 MHz low-pass filter that suppresses PWM-coupled noise. Trigger ADC sampling at the PWM center (when the switching node is settled) rather than at the PWM edge; this typically improves ADC SNR by 6-10 dB in buck-converter designs. Estimated: for 10-bit ENOB, the effective sample window must exceed 250 ns.
Common pitfalls when using the DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50I/PT include: (1) forgetting the 32 kHz secondary oscillator configuration in the FOSC fuse bits, which leaves the PLL unstable; (2) configuring PWM outputs as push-pull instead of complementary when a half-bridge driver needs dead-time - the device's PWM module provides hardware dead-time generators specifically for this case; (3) enabling the ADC too early after a power supply ramp - wait for the bandgap reference stabilization delay (typically 20 us); (4) forgetting the FLTA pin fault-clear sequence in firmware after a PWM fault latch; (5) over-driving the MCLR pin with a slow RC rise time - use the recommended 10 kohm pull-up and the internal slope control instead.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance confirmed per Microchip product page. Industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C); not AEC-Q100 qualified for automotive - choose DSPIC33FJ16GS404-E/PT variant for automotive or extended-temperature designs.