DSPIC33FJ256GP506AT-I/PT - 40MIPS 256KB Flash DSC | Microchip
MPN: DSPIC33FJ256GP506AT-I/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.2 | $7.20 |
| 10 | $6.55 | $65.50 |
| 100 | $5.9 | $590.00 |
| 500 | $5.4 | $2,700.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.95 | $4,950.00 |
DSPIC33FJ256GP506AT-I/PT Overview
A Digital Signal Controller (DSC) is a hybrid device class that merges the computational throughput of a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) with the peripheral integration and ease of use of a microcontroller (MCU). Within the semiconductor hierarchy, the dsPIC33F family sits under Microchip's 16-bit architecture, offering a natural migration path to PIC24 MCUs and legacy dsPIC30F DSCs in similar packages, which simplifies platform consolidation.
Key features include a 16-bit fixed-point core executing DSP instructions such as multiply-accumulate at up to 40 MIPS, 256 KB of self-programmable Flash, 16 KB of SRAM, and 8 DMA channels that offload data movement from the CPU. The peripheral set spans 11 timers and 4 serial I/O engines with CAN, I2C, SPI, UART/USART, IrDA, and LIN connectivity, plus AC'97 audio support and brown-out detect.
Technically, the dsPIC33F core uses a modified Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses, multiple internal bus structures, and hardware DSP multiply/divide support. This makes it efficient for digital filter algorithms, fast precision control loops, and digital audio or speech processing without external memory.
Typical applications include industrial motor control, digital power supplies, and automotive or industrial sensor interfaces, where 40 MIPS headroom and CAN connectivity are decisive. The wide -40C to +85C range suits harsh embedded environments.
Design consideration: plan Flash endurance and use the A-variant (DSPIC33FJ256GP506A) for new designs to guarantee the latest silicon revisions and drop-in migration.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for DSPIC33FJ256GP506AT-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 DSPIC33FJ256GP506AT-I/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Operating Temperature, Package, Series, Peripherals, Supply Voltage.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
DSPIC33FJ256GP506A-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33FJ256GP506A-E/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33FJ128GP506AT-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33FJ64GP506AT-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
DSPIC33FJ256GP506AT-I/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Processor | dsPIC33F (16-bit) |
| Core Size | 16-bit |
| Speed | 40 MIPS |
| Program Memory Size | 256 KB Flash |
| RAM Size | 16 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V |
| Package | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C |
| Connectivity | CAN, I2C, IrDA, LIN, SPI, UART/USART |
| DMA Channels | 8 |
| Timers | 11 |
| Serial I/O | 4 |
| Peripherals | AC'97, Brown-out Detect |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel |
| Series | dsPIC33F |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
DSPIC33FJ256GP506AT-I/PT 64-tqfp (10x10 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for DSPIC33FJ256GP506AT-I/PT (64-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 DSPIC33FJ256GP506AT-I/PT.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
DSPIC33FJ256GP506AT-I/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Motor Control, Digital Power Supplies, Automotive Body and Sensor Nodes, Digital Audio Processing, Industrial Sensing and IoT Gateways, Test and Measurement Instruments.
Industrial Motor Control
The DSPIC33FJ256GP506AT-I/PT fits motor control because its 40 MIPS 16-bit dsPIC33F core executes fast precision digital control loops (FOC, PI current loops) with hardware DSP multiply-accumulate, while 8 DMA channels stream ADC current samples without CPU intervention. In a typical inverter drive, the DSC runs the control ISR at 10-20 kHz, generates PWM via its timer resources, and communicates drive setpoints over the integrated CAN port to a factory PLC - no external CAN controller needed. The -40C to +85C rating covers industrial cabinet environments. Trade-off: as a general-purpose (GP) variant it lacks the dedicated motor-control PWM peripherals of the MC-series; simple scalar control fits well, while advanced sensorless FOC may benefit from a DSPIC33FJ MC-family drop-in on the same footprint.
Recommended
Digital Power Supplies
Digital SMPS and PFC stages benefit directly from this DSC's 40 MIPS throughput and deterministic 16-bit core, which close voltage and current loops at switching frequencies up to several hundred kHz. The 8 DMA channels move ADC conversion results to RAM with low latency, and the 11 timers provide the PWM granularity needed for phase-shifted and interleaved topologies. The 256 KB Flash accommodates large firmware with multiple operating modes, soft-start profiles, and field-updatable compensation tables via UART bootloader. Brown-out detect plus the -40C to +85C range make it robust in hot power shelves. Design consideration: budget CPU cycles carefully - at 500 kHz switching with per-cycle control you approach the 40 MIPS ceiling, so consider averaging loops or higher-MIPS dsPIC33 successors for extreme frequency designs.
Recommended
Automotive Body and Sensor Nodes
With the family stated as compliant with AEC-Q100 and TS 16949 per distributor documentation, and the E-grade variant offering -40C to +125C operation, the dsPIC33FJ256GP506AT platform suits automotive body controllers, gateways, and sensor conditioning nodes. The on-chip CAN 2.0B interface connects directly to vehicle buses through a transceiver, while 4 UART/SPI/I2C ports integrate LIN subnetworks (LIN supported natively) and local sensors. The 256 KB Flash supports multiple calibrations and OTA-style field updates. The 40 MIPS core handles digital filtering of noisy automotive signals - crank/cam decoding, analog sensor smoothing - in real time. For new automotive designs, prefer the DSPIC33FJ256GP506A-E/PT drop-in to get extended temperature and latest silicon revisions at no PCB cost.
Recommended
Digital Audio Processing
The dsPIC33F family is explicitly designed by Microchip for digital audio and speech processing, and this part supports AC'97 audio peripherals per distributor parametric data. The 40 MIPS core with hardware DSP MAC instructions implements real-time FIR/IIR filters, sample-rate conversion, and codec control, while DMA channels sustain continuous audio streams to and from an AC'97 or I2S-bridge codec without CPU bottlenecks. The 256 KB Flash is ample for multi-band EQ, dynamic range compression, and voice-detection firmware combined with a UART/IrDA command interface. Operating from a single 3.3 V rail simplifies portable and line-powered designs. Performance consideration: at 48 kHz stereo with several cascaded biquads, the 40 MIPS budget remains comfortable, but 192 kHz multichannel processing exceeds this device's range - move to a higher-MIPS dsPIC33 or dsPIC33CH for that tier.
Recommended
Industrial Sensing and IoT Gateways
Smart sensor nodes and protocol converters leverage this DSC's combination of 4 serial I/O ports spanning I2C, SPI, UART, IrDA, and LIN, letting one device bridge legacy field devices to CAN or Ethernet-module backbones. The 16-bit core filters and linearizes sensor data in hardware DSP math, while 256 KB Flash stores calibration tables, protocol stacks, and local data logging in the 16 KB RAM. The -40C to +85C industrial rating and brown-out detect guarantee dependable unattended operation. DMA-offloaded ADC sampling keeps CPU load low even with multiple channels polled at kilohertz rates. The part also offers seamless migration to PIC24 MCUs in similar packages, so a gateway design can later shrink to a cost-optimized MCU variant with minimal firmware changes - a genuine lifecycle advantage for long-lived industrial IoT deployments.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instruments
Bench instruments, data loggers, and handheld meters use the DSPIC33FJ256GP506AT-I/PT for its balance of DSP filtering throughput and rich serial I/O. The 40 MIPS core applies windowing, averaging, and FFT preprocessing to ADC streams via DMA, the 11 timers coordinate trigger and sample sequencing, and the UART/USB-bridge or SPI links report results to displays and host PCs. The 256 KB Flash holds multiple measurement profiles, compensation curves, and calibration routines with room for firmware growth across product revisions. The -40C to +85C range supports portable field instruments left in vehicles or plant floors. Design tip: route analog inputs away from the switching CAN/UART traces on the 64-TQFP's periphery and use the internal ADC with oversampling to reach effective resolutions above 14 bits for metering accuracy.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for DSPIC33FJ256GP506AT-I/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | DSPIC33FJ256GP506A-I/PT | DSPIC33FJ256GP506A-E/PT | DSPIC33FJ128GP506AT-I/PT | DSPIC33FJ64GP506AT-I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) - same |
| Core Speed | 40 MIPS | 40 MIPS | 40 MIPS | 40 MIPS | 40 MIPS |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB | 64 KB |
| RAM | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| Silicon Revision | Original dsPIC33FJ256GP506AT | A-revision (newer, errata-corrected) | A-revision (newer, errata-corrected) | AT industrial revision | AT industrial revision |
| Connectivity | CAN, I2C, IrDA, LIN, SPI, UART/USART | CAN, I2C, IrDA, LIN, SPI, UART/USART | CAN, I2C, IrDA, LIN, SPI, UART/USART | CAN, I2C, IrDA, LIN, SPI, UART/USART | CAN, I2C, IrDA, LIN, SPI, UART/USART |
| DMA Channels / Timers | 8 DMA / 11 timers | 8 DMA / 11 timers | 8 DMA / 11 timers | 8 DMA / 11 timers | 8 DMA / 11 timers |
Key Differentiators
- Full 256 KB Flash in the family's 64-TQFP pin map (vs DSPIC33FJ128GP506AT-I/PT)
- Automotive/extended-temperature drop-in exists on the same PCB (vs DSPIC33FJ256GP506A-E/PT)
- 8 DMA channels offload data movement (vs DSPIC33FJ64GP506AT-I/PT)
- Trade-off: general-purpose variant lacks motor-control PWM peripherals (vs DSPIC33FJ128MC706AT-I/PT)
Design Notes
The dsPIC33FJ256GP506AT requires a dedicated on-chip 2.5V core regulator: fit the specified low-ESR capacitor on the VDDCORE pin as directed in the Microchip datasheet, or the device will not start. Decouple every VDD/VSS pair on the 64-TQFP with 0.1 uF ceramics placed within 2 mm of the pins, plus one bulk 4.7-10 uF capacitor per supply domain. Enable brown-out detect in configuration words - it is built in and prevents corrupt Flash writes during brownout events on 3.3 V rails.
For the 10x10 mm 64-TQFP, use a standard QFP-64 land pattern per the Microchip packaging datasheet and connect all exposed anchor points to ground. Keep the ICSP programming pins (PGD/PGC, two device I/O pins plus MCLR) routed to a header - Microchip's MPLAB ICD/REAL ICE/Snap tools program and debug in-circuit through these lines, so omitting the header forces removal of a fine-pitch TQFP for rework. Separate analog sensor traces from CAN and UART switching lines on the package periphery.
Verify the silicon errata before tape-out: the original (non-A) dsPIC33FJ256GP506 has documented errata (Microchip publishes a dedicated errata document for this part), and the A-variant (DSPIC33FJ256GP506A) resolves them. New designs should default to the A-silicon, which is pin-to-pin and firmware compatible. Also confirm Flash endurance/write-erase limits if you log data to program Flash, and check that your bootloader plus application image fits the selected Flash density when considering the 128 KB or 64 KB drop-ins.
Compliance Information
Distributor data (datasheets.com) states the DSPIC33FJ256GP506AT family is compliant with AEC-Q100 and TS 16949 standards. RoHS/lead-free status inferred from standard Microchip -I grade industrial part markings; confirm with Microchip product Change Notifications for formal certification evidence.
