DSPIC33FJ16GS404-I/PT - 16-bit SMPS DSC, 40 MIPS, 16KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33FJ16GS404-I/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.5 | $6.50 |
| 10 | $5.85 | $58.50 |
| 100 | $5.2 | $520.00 |
| 500 | $4.55 | $2,275.00 |
| 1,000 | $3.95 | $3,950.00 |
| 3,000 | $3.4 | $10,200.00 |
DSPIC33FJ16GS404-I/PT Overview
A Digital Signal Controller (DSC) is a hybrid device that combines a microcontroller's interrupt-driven control plane with a digital signal processor's (DSP) computational throughput. In the hierarchy of power-management building blocks, the DSC sits above general-purpose microcontrollers and below dedicated DSPs, occupying the niche where closed-loop control loops (PFC, current-mode buck/boost) must execute fast math (PI, PID, state-space) inside sub-microsecond sample periods. The dsPIC33F family extends the standard PIC16/32 architecture with a hardware multiply-accumulate engine and dual-port SRAM to keep control-loop jitter under one PWM period.
Key features include high-speed PWM outputs (typically four PWM generators with up to 14 PWM channels in this family) capable of switching frequencies above 1 MHz for multi-MHz SMPS topologies, a 10-bit A/D converter with a 2 Msps throughput suitable for current/voltage sensing in peak-current-mode control, and analog comparators that can trigger PWM shutdown within tens of nanoseconds for cycle-by-cycle overcurrent protection. The 40 MIPS execution rate guarantees a 25 ns instruction cycle, keeping the proportional-integral loop calculation comfortably below 1 microsecond.
The DSPIC33FJ16GS404 family combines the 16-bit modified Harvard architecture with peripherals specifically tuned for power conversion: dedicated PWM fault inputs, programmable dead-time control, and analog comparators wired directly to the PWM shutdown logic. This hardware-level integration eliminates the latency that a discrete analog controller would otherwise introduce and gives the firmware full authority over soft-start, frequency compensation, and adaptive dead-time — features impractical in an analog UC3842/UC3843 implementation.
Typical applications include AC-DC converters with power factor correction, isolated DC-DC modules using peak-current-mode control, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) running MPPT or sine-wave inverter firmware, digital LED drivers that mix constant-current control with dimming, and battery chargers implementing CC/CV profiles. The -40C to +85C industrial temperature range covers most indoor and outdoor SMPS environments.
When designing with this DSC, the engineer must configure the PLL and FRC postscaler before any firmware touches the PWM or ADC modules, because both peripherals derive their timing from the system clock. Equally important, unused PWM outputs should be left in their reset (tristate) state and the ADC should never be sampled before the conversion channel is fully settled, otherwise distortion appears in the feedback signal that propagates straight through the control loop.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33FJ16GS404-I/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-I/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, ADC, Analog Comparators, Core Architecture, PWM Channels.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
DSPIC33FJ16GS402-I/MM
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.18 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50H/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33FJ16GP304-I/ML
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$2.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33FJ16GS404-I/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 16-bit dsPIC33F modified Harvard |
| Core Size | 16-bit |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 40 MHz (40 MIPS) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 16 KB |
| RAM Size | 2 KB |
| I/O Pins | 35 |
| Supply Voltage | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| A/D Converter | 10-bit, multi-channel |
| PWM Outputs | Up to 14 channels (4 PWM generators) |
| Analog Comparators | Yes (SMPS dedicated) |
| Communication Interfaces | I2C, SPI, UART |
| Package Type | 44-pin TQFP (PT) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 3 (per JEDEC J-STD-020) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Primary Application | Switch-mode power supply (SMPS) digital control |
DSPIC33FJ16GS404-I/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RP29/PMD3/RE9 — Remappable I/O / PWM D output |
| Pin 2 | RP30/PMD2/RE8 — Remappable I/O / PWM D output |
| Pin 3 | RP19/PMD1/RE7 — Remappable I/O / PWM D output |
| Pin 4 | RP20/PMD0/RE6 — Remappable I/O / PWM D output |
| Pin 5 | RP25/PMA5/CN8/RE5 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 6 | RP26/PMA4/CN9/RE4 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 7 | RP21/PMA3/CN10/RE3 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 8 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 9 | RP14/PMA2/CN11/RE2 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 10 | RP22/PMA1/CN12/RE1 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 11 | RP23/PMA0/CN13/RE0 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 12 | VDD — Digital supply 3.3V |
| Pin 13 | OSC1/CLKI/RA2 — Crystal oscillator input / external clock |
| Pin 14 | OSC2/CLKO/RA3 — Crystal oscillator output |
| Pin 15 | PGEC1/AN6/RP6/RB6 — ICSP clock / ADC input |
| Pin 16 | PGED1/AN7/RP7/RB7 — ICSP data / ADC input |
| Pin 17 | AN8/RP8/RB8 — Analog input 8 |
| Pin 18 | AN9/RP9/RB9 — Analog input 9 |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Digital supply 3.3V |
| Pin 21 | AVSS — Analog ground |
| Pin 22 | AVDD — Analog supply 3.3V |
| Pin 23 | MCLR — Master Clear reset (active low) |
| Pin 24 | AN0/C1IN+/RP0/RB0 — Analog input 0 / comparator 1 non-inverting input |
| Pin 25 | AN1/C1IN-/RP1/RB1 — Analog input 1 / comparator 1 inverting input |
| Pin 26 | AN2/C2IN+/RP2/RB2 — Analog input 2 / comparator 2 non-inverting input |
| Pin 27 | AN3/C2IN-/RP3/RB3 — Analog input 3 / comparator 2 inverting input |
| Pin 28 | AN4/C1OUT/RP4/RB4 — Analog input 4 / comparator 1 output |
| Pin 29 | AN5/C2OUT/RP5/RB5 — Analog input 5 / comparator 2 output |
| Pin 30 | PGEC2/AN10/RP10/RB10 — Alternate ICSP clock |
| Pin 31 | PGED2/AN11/RP11/RB11 — Alternate ICSP data |
| Pin 32 | AN12/RP12/RB12 — Analog input 12 |
| Pin 33 | VDD — Digital supply 3.3V |
| Pin 34 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 35 | RP13/RC13 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 36 | RP15/RC14 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 37 | RP16/RC15 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 38 | RP17/PMD7/RC1 — Remappable I/O / PWM D output |
| Pin 39 | RP18/PMD6/RC2 — Remappable I/O / PWM D output |
| Pin 40 | RP24/PMD5/RC3 — Remappable I/O / PWM D output |
| Pin 41 | RP27/PMD4/RC4 — Remappable I/O / PWM D output |
| Pin 42 | ASDA1/RP28/RC5 — Alternate I2C data / remappable I/O |
| Pin 43 | ASCL1/RP31/RC6 — Alternate I2C clock / remappable I/O |
| Pin 44 | VSS — Ground |
Typical Applications
DSPIC33FJ16GS404-I/PT is suitable for 7 applications: AC-DC Power Factor Correction (PFC), Isolated DC-DC Converters (Peak Current Mode), Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS), Digital LED Drivers with Dimming, Solar MPPT Charge Controllers, Industrial Motor Drive (BLDC / PMSM), Battery Chargers (CC/CV Profiles).
AC-DC Power Factor Correction (PFC)
The DSPIC33FJ16GS404-I/PT is well suited to digital PFC stages in 100 W to 1 kW AC-DC adapters because its 40 MIPS dsPIC33F core executes average-current-mode control loops inside the 100 kHz PWM period with margin for mains zero-crossing detection and adaptive voltage-loop compensation. The dedicated PWM fault inputs and analog comparators on this device can cycle-by-cycle terminate the PWM on inductor overcurrent within tens of nanoseconds — a safety net that discrete analog implementations need extra hardware to match. Compared with a UC3854 analog PFC controller, the GS404 firmware can adjust gain scheduling versus line voltage to maintain near-unity power factor across universal 85 VAC to 265 VAC inputs.
Recommended
Isolated DC-DC Converters (Peak Current Mode)
For isolated bus converters using peak-current-mode control, the DSPIC33FJ16GS404-I/PT's high-speed ADC and PWM trigger generation allow the firmware to sample the primary-side current sense resistor synchronously to the PWM rising edge, eliminating the sub-cycle aliasing that analog UC3843 controllers suffer at varying duty cycles. The 14 PWM channels on this part can drive a full-bridge primary and a synchronous-rectifier secondary from a single device. With 16 KB Flash and 2 KB RAM there is headroom for slope compensation, adaptive dead-time, and a digital soft-start state machine.
Recommended
Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)
The DSPIC33FJ16GS404-I/PT has the compute budget and PWM density to run a complete single-phase online UPS control loop — sine-wave PWM inverter, battery charging, and input PFC — all on one device at 40 MIPS. Its analog comparators directly interface with the battery voltage divider for instant transfer-to-inverter on mains loss, and the comparator-to-PWM hardware path bypasses the CPU for the fastest possible fault response. Compared with a discrete analog inverter board, the GS404-based firmware can log fault history and run adaptive battery equalization without external glue logic.
Recommended
Digital LED Drivers with Dimming
Constant-current LED drivers benefit from the DSPIC33FJ16GS404-I/PT's PWM generators because each PWM channel can drive an independent LED string with its own dim ratio and current setpoint, while the ADC samples the high-side sense resistor for closed-loop current regulation. The 40 MIPS throughput is enough to run both the current loop and a 0 to 10 V or DALI dimming interface at the same time. Compared with a simple buck-driver IC, the GS404 adds thermal-foldback and per-string fault detection in firmware rather than in analog circuitry.
Recommended
Solar MPPT Charge Controllers
Solar charge controllers using MPPT algorithms (Perturb-and-Observe or Incremental Conductance) run comfortably on the DSPIC33FJ16GS404-I/PT because the control loop executes in microseconds and the ADC samples both the panel voltage and the battery current at high rate. The 10-bit ADC on this device is sufficient for MPPT with a 100 kHz PWM switcher, and the 14 PWM channels allow a SEPIC or interleaved buck topology to be driven directly. Battery CC/CV profile and temperature compensation both fit in the 16 KB Flash budget alongside the MPPT state machine.
Recommended
Industrial Motor Drive (BLDC / PMSM)
Sensorless BLDC or PMSM motor control in industrial appliances can be implemented on the DSPIC33FJ16GS404-I/PT, where the 40 MIPS throughput runs a 50 microsecond FOC loop and the 14 PWM channels drive a three-phase inverter. Analog comparators on this part can be used for BEMF zero-cross detection during sensorless startup. Compared with a discrete FOC controller, the GS404 firmware supports field-weakening and torque-limit profiles that change at runtime.
Recommended
Battery Chargers (CC/CV Profiles)
Multi-chemistry battery chargers implementing constant-current / constant-voltage profiles with temperature compensation fit well within the DSPIC33FJ16GS404-I/PT's capabilities. The PWM outputs drive a synchronous buck converter, and the ADC samples charge current and battery voltage at a rate sufficient for a stable control loop at 200 kHz switching. The 2 KB SRAM on this device buffers calibration tables and charge-logging history, while the 16 KB Flash stores the chemistry profile (Li-ion, LiFePO4, lead-acid) and the safety state machine.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33FJ16GS404-I/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33FJ16GS402-I/MM | DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50I/PT | DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50H/PT | DSPIC33FJ16GP304-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | TQFP-44 (PT) | TQFP-44 (PT) - same | TQFP-44 (PT) - same | TQFP-44 (PT) - same | TQFP-44 (PT) - same |
| Core Speed | 40 MIPS | 40 MIPS | 50 MIPS | 50 MIPS | 40 MIPS |
| Flash Program Memory | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB |
| RAM | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB |
| I/O Pins | 35 | 21 (smaller MM package) | 35 | 35 | 35 |
| Supply Voltage | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +150 C | -40 C to +85 C |
| SMPS Comparators | Yes (high-speed PWM fault input) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (general-purpose variant) |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated high-speed SMPS analog comparators and PWM fault inputs (vs DSPIC33FJ16GP304-I/ML)
- Higher speed grade option in identical TQFP-44 footprint (vs DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50I/PT)
- Extended-temperature -H grade option in identical TQFP-44 footprint (vs DSPIC33FJ16GS404-50H/PT)
- 35 I/O pins in the TQFP-44 footprint (vs DSPIC33FJ16GS402-I/MM)
Design Notes
Estimated: For a 3.3 V supply, the DSPIC33FJ16GS404-I/PT core draws approximately 50 mA at 40 MIPS (core + ADC + PWM active). Decouple each VDD pin with a 100 nF X7R placed within 5 mm of the pin, and place a 10 uF bulk tantalum or ceramic close to the AVdd/AVss pair. The 2.5 V ADC reference is internally generated; adding a 10 uF + 100 nF ladder at VREF+ prevents ADC noise coupling into the current-sense path.
Use a 4-layer PCB with continuous ground plane beneath the TQFP-44 footprint. Keep the OSC1/OSC2 traces short and shielded by the ground plane, and route the analog inputs AN0-AN12 as differential pairs with their respective ground return. The PWM outputs that drive the gate-driver section should be length-matched if they go to a half-bridge to avoid PWM skew. Minimize loop area on the comparator-to-PWM fault traces to keep cycle-by-cycle shutdown under 50 ns.
Configure the PLL and FRC postscaler in the OSCCON register before enabling the ADC or PWM peripherals; both derive their time base from the system clock and will mis-trigger if started before the PLL locks. The ADC must not be sampled before the channel switch settle time — keep ACQT bits set to at least 4 TAD for high-impedance sources. Unused PWM outputs should be left in their reset (tristate) state to avoid spurious switching during boot. The MCLR pin requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD; a floating MCLR will cause intermittent resets.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page; lead-free and halogen-free per MSL-3 packaging. AEC-Q100 qualification is available only on the GS404-50E/PT automotive-grade variant, not on the -I industrial-grade version.
