PIC24EP256GP204-H/TL - 16-Bit 60 MIPS MCU 256KB Flash | Microchip
MPN: PIC24EP256GP204-H/TL ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $9.45 | $9.45 |
| 10 | $8.95 | $89.50 |
| 100 | $8.2 | $820.00 |
| 500 | $7.55 | $3,775.00 |
| 1,000 | $6.95 | $6,950.00 |
PIC24EP256GP204-H/TL Overview
A 16-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a processor core that processes data and instructions 16 bits at a time, occupying a middle ground between 8-bit MCUs (low cost, simple control) and 32-bit MCUs (high performance, complex OS). PIC24E devices sit in the wider category of digital signal controllers (DSCs), bridging MCU simplicity with DSP-class throughput. Within Microchip's taxonomy, PIC24EP sits under the 16-bit DSC family, which itself belongs to the broader microcontroller and embedded control segment of semiconductor products.
Key features of the PIC24EP256GP204 include four on-chip operational amplifiers for analog signal conditioning, dual 10-bit ADC modules, the Peripheral Trigger Generator (PTG) for timing-critical event sequencing, and the Charge Time Measurement Unit (CTMU) for capacitive touch and precise timing. The device operates from 3.0 V to 3.6 V, supports up to 35 I/O pins, and provides multiple communication peripherals including UART, SPI, and I2C. Its 70 MIPS core (when the part is run at full speed, here derated to 60 MIPS in the high-temperature variant) and 512-byte instruction cache improve code density and execution efficiency.
The architecture uses a 16-bit modified Harvard design with a 24-bit instruction word, allowing most instructions to execute in a single cycle. The PTG peripheral enables complex timing sequences without CPU intervention, freeing the core for application-level processing. On-chip op-amps reduce BOM count by eliminating external amplifiers in sensor signal chains, while the dual ADC supports simultaneous sampling for motor control and power conversion feedback.
Typical applications include industrial motor control, automotive sensor interfaces, LED lighting controllers, medical instrumentation, and embedded control in harsh-environment installations. The combination of integrated op-amps, dual ADC, and PTG makes the part especially well-suited to closed-loop control systems.
Designers should evaluate total power dissipation in the high-temperature grade, since the -H variant's elevated operating range increases thermal stress. Adequate decoupling and PCB thermal management are recommended for designs approaching the upper temperature limit.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternative MPNs, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC24EP256GP204-H/TL — 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 PIC24EP256GP204-H/TL (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Core Architecture, Package, CTMU, Communication Peripherals.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC24EP256GP204-I/TL
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24EP256GP204-E/TL
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.96 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24EP256GP204T-H/ML
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24EP256GP204-H/TL Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 16-bit modified Harvard |
| Core Performance | 60 MIPS (derated from 70 MIPS for -H temperature grade) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 256 KB (85.5K x 24) |
| Data Memory (SRAM) | 32 KB |
| Instruction Cache | 512 bytes |
| Operating Voltage | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +150C (-H grade) |
| Package | 44-pin VTLA (6x6 mm) |
| I/O Pins | Up to 35 |
| ADC | Dual 10-bit ADC modules |
| Operational Amplifiers | 4 on-chip op-amps |
| Communication Peripherals | UART, SPI, I2C |
| Special Peripherals | CTMU, PTG, Comparators, DMA |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| DMA Channels | 4 |
| Timers | 5 |
PIC24EP256GP204-H/TL Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | AN0/CVD0/C1IN1+/RA0 — Analog input 0 / CVD cap input / Comparator 1 positive input / Port A0 |
| Pin 2 | AN1/CVD1/C1IN1-/RA1 — Analog input 1 / CVD cap input / Comparator 1 negative input / Port A1 |
| Pin 3 | AN2/CVD2/C2IN1+/RA2 — Analog input 2 / CVD cap input / Comparator 2 positive input / Port A2 |
| Pin 4 | AN3/CVD3/C2IN1-/RA3 — Analog input 3 / CVD cap input / Comparator 2 negative input / Port A3 |
| Pin 5 | AN4/CVD4/C1IN2+/RA4 — Analog input 4 / CVD cap input / Comparator 1 alt positive input / Port A4 |
| Pin 6 | AVSS — Analog ground |
| Pin 7 | AVDD — Analog positive supply |
| Pin 8 | MCLR — Master clear / reset input, active low |
| Pin 9 | OSC1/CLKI/RA5 — Crystal oscillator input / external clock input / Port A5 |
| Pin 10 | OSC2/CLKO/RA6 — Crystal oscillator output / clock output / Port A6 |
| Pin 11 | PGEC1/AN5/CVD5/C1IN2-/RB0 — Programming clock 1 / Analog input 5 / CVD / Comparator input / Port B0 |
| Pin 12 | PGED1/AN6/CVD6/C2IN2-/RB1 — Programming data 1 / Analog input 6 / CVD / Comparator input / Port B1 |
| Pin 13 | AN7/CVD7/C3IN1+/RB2 — Analog input 7 / CVD cap input / Comparator 3 positive input / Port B2 |
| Pin 14 | AN8/CVD8/C3IN1-/RB3 — Analog input 8 / CVD cap input / Comparator 3 negative input / Port B3 |
| Pin 15 | SOSCI/RPxx/RB4 — Secondary oscillator crystal input / remappable peripheral / Port B4 |
| Pin 16 | SOSCO/RPxx/RB5 — Secondary oscillator crystal output / remappable peripheral / Port B5 |
| Pin 17 | VCAP/VDDCORE — Core voltage decoupling capacitor |
| Pin 18 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (3.3 V) |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 20 | PGEC2/AN9/CVD9/RPxx/RC0 — Programming clock 2 / Analog input 9 / CVD / remappable peripheral / Port C0 |
| Pin 21 | PGED2/AN10/CVD10/RPxx/RC1 — Programming data 2 / Analog input 10 / CVD / remappable peripheral / Port C1 |
| Pin 22 | AN11/CVD11/RPxx/RC2 — Analog input 11 / CVD / remappable peripheral / Port C2 |
| Pin 23 | SCK1/AN12/CVD12/RPxx/RC3 — SPI1 clock / Analog input 12 / CVD / remappable peripheral / Port C3 |
| Pin 24 | SDI1/AN13/CVD13/RPxx/RC4 — SPI1 data in / Analog input 13 / CVD / remappable peripheral / Port C4 |
| Pin 25 | SDO1/AN14/CVD14/RPxx/RC5 — SPI1 data out / Analog input 14 / CVD / remappable peripheral / Port C5 |
| Pin 26 | SS1/AN15/CVD15/RPxx/RC6 — SPI1 slave select / Analog input 15 / CVD / remappable peripheral / Port C6 |
| Pin 27 | U1TX/RPxx/RC7 — UART1 transmit / remappable peripheral / Port C7 |
| Pin 28 | U1RX/RPxx/RC8 — UART1 receive / remappable peripheral / Port C8 |
| Pin 29 | SCL1/RPxx/RC9 — I2C1 clock / remappable peripheral / Port C9 |
| Pin 30 | SDA1/RPxx/RD0 — I2C1 data / remappable peripheral / Port D0 |
| Pin 31 | OC1/RPxx/RD1 — Output compare 1 / remappable peripheral / Port D1 |
| Pin 32 | OC2/RPxx/RD2 — Output compare 2 / remappable peripheral / Port D2 |
| Pin 33 | OC3/RPxx/RD3 — Output compare 3 / remappable peripheral / Port D3 |
| Pin 34 | INT0/RPxx/RD4 — External interrupt 0 / remappable peripheral / Port D4 |
| Pin 35 | INT1/RPxx/RD5 — External interrupt 1 / remappable peripheral / Port D5 |
| Pin 36 | INT2/RPxx/RD6 — External interrupt 2 / remappable peripheral / Port D6 |
| Pin 37 | INT3/RPxx/RD7 — External interrupt 3 / remappable peripheral / Port D7 |
| Pin 38 | OC4/RPxx/RF0 — Output compare 4 / remappable peripheral / Port F0 |
| Pin 39 | OC5/RPxx/RF1 — Output compare 5 / remappable peripheral / Port F1 |
| Pin 40 | U2TX/RPxx/RF2 — UART2 transmit / remappable peripheral / Port F2 |
| Pin 41 | U2RX/RPxx/RF3 — UART2 receive / remappable peripheral / Port F3 |
| Pin 42 | SCL2/RPxx/RF4 — I2C2 clock / remappable peripheral / Port F4 |
| Pin 43 | SDA2/RPxx/RF5 — I2C2 data / remappable peripheral / Port F5 |
| Pin 44 | VDD/VSS — Additional power/ground (package thermal pad) |
Typical Applications
PIC24EP256GP204-H/TL is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Motor Control, Automotive Sensor Interface, LED Lighting Controllers, Medical Instrumentation, Power Conversion Feedback, Harsh-Environment IoT Edge Nodes.
Industrial Motor Control
The PIC24EP256GP204-H/TL fits industrial motor control applications because of its dual 10-bit ADC for simultaneous current/voltage sampling, four integrated op-amps for current-sense amplification, and the Peripheral Trigger Generator (PTG) for deterministic timing of PWM events. At 60 MIPS, the core handles field-oriented control (FOC) loops on BLDC and PMSM motors with cycle times below 20 microseconds. The 32 KB SRAM is sufficient for Park/Clarke transforms and PI controller state, while the 256 KB Flash supports motor-startup tables and field-weakening profiles. The -H temperature grade (-40C to +150C) tolerates under-cabinet thermal rise in enclosed drives. Use the on-chip op-amps directly with low-side shunt resistors to minimize BOM and PCB area. The PTG peripheral offloads ADC-to-PWM timing so the CPU runs only the control algorithm, improving overall loop determinism.
Recommended
Automotive Sensor Interface
The PIC24EP256GP204-H/TL suits automotive sensor interfaces thanks to its -40C to +150C operating range, integrated 4 op-amps, and dual 10-bit ADC that can digitize pressure, temperature, and position sensors with simultaneous sampling. The on-chip op-amps condition 0-5 V ratiometric sensor outputs without external amplifier ICs, reducing BOM and PCB footprint. The CTMU peripheral enables capacitive-touch or proximity sensing for HMI controls. UART/SPI/I2C interfaces forward digitized data to a vehicle ECU. Note: this specific MPN is not AEC-Q100 qualified; for fully automotive-certified designs select a dedicated PIC24EP automotive part. The high-temperature grade makes the part a strong candidate for under-hood and chassis-mounted sensor modules where ambient temperatures exceed 105C.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controllers
The PIC24EP256GP204-H/TL fits professional LED lighting controllers because of its high PWM channel count via output compare peripherals, 60 MIPS of processing for color-mixing algorithms, and 32 KB SRAM for lookup tables and color-space conversions. The integrated op-amps condition analog 0-10 V or DALI dimming inputs without external circuitry. Operating from a 3.3 V rail, the MCU directly drives LED driver ICs through SPI or PWM. The 256 KB Flash holds DMX512, DALI, and proprietary lighting protocols, plus color-temperature and gamma-correction tables. The -H temperature grade supports thermally enclosed luminaire housings where internal ambient reaches 100C+. Designers can leverage the PTG to generate precise PWM timing for high-bit-depth dimming without CPU overhead.
Recommended
Medical Instrumentation
The PIC24EP256GP204-H/TL suits portable medical instrumentation thanks to its low-power Run/Idle/Sleep modes, integrated op-amps for ECG/EMG signal conditioning, and 16-bit DSC instruction set for digital filtering of bioelectric signals. The CTMU enables accurate impedance measurements for body-composition analyzers. Dual ADC modules support simultaneous multi-lead acquisition while the DMA engine moves conversion results to memory without CPU intervention, lowering power consumption. The 256 KB Flash accommodates DSP filter coefficients, lookup tables, and USB communication stacks. The high-temperature grade supports sterilizable or high-ambient environments. Designers must validate their specific medical device against IEC 60601 and applicable FDA regulations; this part provides the embedded computing foundation but is itself not a medical-grade certified module.
Recommended
Power Conversion Feedback
The PIC24EP256GP204-H/TL fits digital power-conversion feedback loops because of its dual 10-bit ADC modules that sample input voltage, output voltage, and inductor current with sub-microsecond synchronization. The PTG peripheral orchestrates ADC-triggered control loops at deterministic intervals, freeing the 60 MIPS core to execute digital PID or state-machine control firmware. The four integrated op-amps condition current-shunt signals and error-amplifier paths without external components. Operating from 3.3 V with a low quiescent current, the MCU fits secondary-side digital control in isolated DC-DC converters. The 256 KB Flash stores compensation coefficients and protection-mode firmware. The -H temperature grade supports industrial PSU environments where internal ambient exceeds 100C during continuous full-load operation.
Recommended
Harsh-Environment IoT Edge Nodes
The PIC24EP256GP204-H/TL suits harsh-environment IoT edge nodes because of its -40C to +150C operating range, integrated op-amps and ADC for sensor aggregation, and rich communication peripherals for gateway connectivity. The CTMU peripheral enables capacitive user interfaces or liquid-level sensing in unattended installations. The PTG manages low-power duty cycling, allowing the CPU to sleep while the peripherals handle timing-critical events. UART, SPI, and I2C interfaces support concurrent sensor buses, while DMA offloads data movement to minimize active current. With 256 KB Flash and 32 KB SRAM, the part accommodates over-the-air firmware update bootloaders and security libraries. The VTLA-44 package supports compact SMT assemblies required by space-constrained sensor modules deployed in industrial, agricultural, or outdoor settings.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC24EP256GP204-H/TL — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC24EP256GP204-I/TL | PIC24EP256GP204-E/TL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 44-pin VTLA (6x6 mm) | 44-pin VTLA (6x6 mm) - same | 44-pin VTLA (6x6 mm) - same |
| Core | PIC24E 16-bit DSC, 60 MIPS | PIC24E 16-bit DSC, 70 MIPS (full speed) | PIC24E 16-bit DSC, 60 MIPS |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB |
| SRAM | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +150C (-H grade) | -40C to +85C (-I grade) | -40C to +125C (-E grade) |
| On-chip Op-amps | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| ADC | Dual 10-bit | Dual 10-bit | Dual 10-bit |
Key Differentiators
- Wide -40C to +150C operating temperature grade (vs PIC24EP256GP204-I/TL)
- Four integrated on-chip op-amps (vs PIC24EP128GP204-E/PT)
- Peripheral Trigger Generator (PTG) for hardware event sequencing (vs PIC24EP128MC204-E/ML)
Design Notes
Estimated: at maximum CPU activity the PIC24EP256GP204-H/TL can dissipate up to ~0.5 W internally; in the VTLA-44 package, the thermal pad should be soldered to a PCB copper pour of at least 1 square inch for reliable operation near 150C. Designers targeting sustained operation above 125C should review Microchip's thermal management application notes and consider forced airflow for enclosed housings. Always verify junction temperature against the datasheet thermal resistance curve for the specific board layout.
Place 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitors as close as possible to each VDD/VSS pair, and a single 10 uF bulk capacitor on the main 3.3 V rail. The VCAP/VDDCORE pin (pin 17) requires a low-ESR 4.7 uF to 10 uF ceramic capacitor for internal regulator stability; do not omit it. AVDD/AVSS need their own ferrite-bead isolated supply for best ADC performance.
The /TL suffix indicates the VTLA-44 package only; PIC24EP256GP204 is also offered in TQFP-44 (/PT), QFN-44 (/ML), and UQFN-44 (/MV) options with different pin assignments. Do not assume pin compatibility across package suffixes - always verify against the package-specific pinout table. Programming/debug via PGECx/PGEDx pairs differs between packages, so development tools may need reconfiguration when switching variants.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. The -H temperature grade is intended for high-temperature environments but is not equivalent to AEC-Q100 automotive qualification. Halogen-free status should be confirmed via the part's material declaration sheet. REACH and conflict-minerals statements available from Microchip's environmental compliance page.