PIC24EP256MC204-I/PT - 70 MIPS 16-bit Motor Control MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC24EP256MC204-I/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8.32 | $8.32 |
| 10 | $7.49 | $74.90 |
| 100 | $6.12 | $612.00 |
| 500 | $5.04 | $2,520.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.27 | $4,270.00 |
| 3,000 | $3.66 | $10,980.00 |
PIC24EP256MC204-I/PT Overview
A 16-bit microcontroller (MCU) is an embedded processor that executes instructions on 16-bit-wide data paths, doubling the throughput of legacy 8-bit MCUs while retaining deterministic interrupt behavior. Within the broader taxonomy, PIC24EP devices are positioned as digital signal controllers (DSCs): microcontrollers -> 16-bit MCUs -> DSC with motor-control peripherals -> PIC24EP family -> motor-control subset. The PIC24EP256MC204 variant extends the family with dedicated analog and PWM resources that target field-oriented control (FOC) loops for brushless DC and permanent-magnet synchronous motors.
Key features of the PIC24EP256MC204-I/PT include 256 KB self-programmable Flash with ECC, 32 KB SRAM, 70 MIPS execution at 3.3V, integrated high-resolution PWM (typical edge resolution suitable for 50 ns PWM), four on-chip operational amplifiers for current sensing, multiple 12-bit ADCs with dedicated S&H, and a wide operating voltage range of 3.0V to 3.6V. The 44-pin TQFP package exposes a rich peripheral set including comparators, I2C, SPI, UART, and ECAN modules while remaining within a 10x10 mm footprint suitable for compact drive boards.
Architecturally, the PIC24EP256MC204-I/PT is built on a 5-stage pipeline Harvard core with single-cycle MAC support, which is essential for real-time Park and Clarke transforms used in sensorless FOC. The integrated op-amps eliminate external current-sense amplifiers, while the high-speed PWM and 12-bit ADC sample-rate enable current-loop bandwidths beyond 20 kHz, supporting low-speed, high-torque motor control without torque ripple.
Typical applications include sensorless and sensored BLDC/PMSM motor drives (drones, e-bikes, appliance pumps, HVAC blowers), industrial servo drives, low-power fans and pumps, switched-mode power-supply digital control, and power-conversion stages that require fast deterministic control loops. Designers also use this MCU in solar micro-inverters and uninterruptible power supplies.
When designing with this device, ensure that the PCB layout separates the analog ground (AGND) and digital ground (DGND) planes and joins them at a single point near the IC, as the on-chip op-amps and ADC share sensitive analog references. Decoupling must include a 0.1 uF ceramic per VDD/AVDD pair within 3 mm of the pin, plus a bulk 10 uF tantalum or ceramic.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, and practical motor-control design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC24EP256MC204-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 PIC24EP256MC204-I/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Core Architecture, Operating Temperature, Maximum CPU Speed.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
dsPIC33EP256MC204-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24EP256MC204T-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24EP256MC204-H/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.28 / Unit
View Datasheet →dsPIC33EP256MC204T-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24EP128MC204-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24EP256MC204-I/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC24E 16-bit Harvard RISC with 5-stage pipeline |
| Family | PIC24EP (Motor Control DSC) |
| Max CPU Speed | 70 MIPS at 3.3V |
| Program Flash Memory | 256 KB (85.5K x 24-bit words) |
| RAM | 32 KB |
| Operating Voltage | 3.0V to 3.6V |
| PWM Modules | High-speed PWM with up to ~50 ns edge resolution |
| ADC | 10/12-bit, multi-channel with dedicated S&H |
| On-chip Operational Amplifiers | Yes, integrated for current sensing |
| Comparators | Yes (multiple) |
| Communication | I2C, SPI, UART, ECAN |
| Package | 44-pin TQFP (PT) 10x10 mm |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial, I-temp) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC24EP256MC204-I/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | OSC1/CLKI/RA0 — Crystal oscillator input / external clock / GPIO |
| Pin 2 | OSC2/CLKO/RA1 — Crystal oscillator output / GPIO |
| Pin 3 | RA2 — GPIO |
| Pin 4 | RA3 — GPIO |
| Pin 5 | RA4 — GPIO |
| Pin 6 | RA5 — GPIO |
| Pin 7 | RA6 — GPIO |
| Pin 8 | RA7 — GPIO |
| Pin 9 | RB0 — GPIO / PGED1 (programming data) |
| Pin 10 | RB1 — GPIO / PGEC1 (programming clock) |
| Pin 11 | RB2 — GPIO |
| Pin 12 | RB3 — GPIO |
| Pin 13 | RB4 — GPIO |
| Pin 14 | RB5 — GPIO |
| Pin 15 | RB6 — GPIO |
| Pin 16 | RB7 — GPIO |
| Pin 17 | RC0 — GPIO / PWM output |
| Pin 18 | RC1 — GPIO / PWM output |
| Pin 19 | RC2 — GPIO / PWM output |
| Pin 20 | RC3 — GPIO / PWM output |
| Pin 21 | RC4 — GPIO / PWM output |
| Pin 22 | RC5 — GPIO / PWM output |
| Pin 23 | RC6 — GPIO / PWM output |
| Pin 24 | RC7 — GPIO / PWM output |
| Pin 25 | RD0 — GPIO |
| Pin 26 | RD1 — GPIO |
| Pin 27 | RD2 — GPIO |
| Pin 28 | RD3 — GPIO |
| Pin 29 | RD4 — GPIO |
| Pin 30 | RD5 — GPIO |
| Pin 31 | RD6 — GPIO |
| Pin 32 | RD7 — GPIO |
| Pin 33 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 34 | VDD — Digital supply voltage (3.3V) |
| Pin 35 | AVSS — Analog ground |
| Pin 36 | AVDD — Analog supply voltage (3.3V) |
| Pin 37 | AN0/RA8 — ADC analog input / GPIO |
| Pin 38 | AN1/RA9 — ADC analog input / GPIO |
| Pin 39 | AN2/RA10 — ADC analog input / GPIO |
| Pin 40 | AN3/RB8 — ADC analog input / GPIO |
| Pin 41 | AN4/RB9 — ADC analog input / GPIO |
| Pin 42 | AN5/RB10 — ADC analog input / GPIO |
| Pin 43 | AN6/RB11 — ADC analog input / GPIO |
| Pin 44 | AN7/RB12 — ADC analog input / GPIO |
Typical Applications
PIC24EP256MC204-I/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Sensorless BLDC Motor Drive, Sensored PMSM Servo Drive, HVAC Variable-Frequency Blower Control, Solar Micro-Inverter Power Stage, Switched-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) Digital Control, Industrial Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS).
Sensorless BLDC Motor Drive
The PIC24EP256MC204-I/PT is purpose-built for sensorless BLDC motor drives in drones, e-bikes, and appliance pumps. Its 70 MIPS Harvard core runs a single-cycle MAC that executes Park/Clarke transforms and sliding-mode observers for back-EMF-based rotor position estimation within 50 us loop times. The integrated high-resolution PWM (50 ns edge resolution) and the dedicated 12-bit ADC with simultaneous sample-and-hold enable current-loop bandwidths above 20 kHz, eliminating torque ripple at low RPM. On-chip op-amps remove external current-sense amplifiers, cutting BOM cost by 2-3 components per phase. Microchip's MPLAB X IDE provides ready-made FOC and trapezoidal commutation firmware for this exact device.
Recommended
Sensored PMSM Servo Drive
For industrial PMSM servo drives requiring precise torque and position control, the PIC24EP256MC204-I/PT delivers the required deterministic control-loop execution. The 32 KB SRAM fits dual PI controller state plus encoder-index buffers, while the 256 KB Flash holds the full state-machine and host command interpreter. The high-speed PWM provides 4 complementary pairs with dead-band insertion, ideal for driving 3-phase IGBT or MOSFET bridges with safe commutation. ECAN peripheral enables multi-axis daisy-chained command buses in robotics. The 44-TQFP footprint leaves ample board real estate for isolated gate drivers and shunt-based current sensing resistors around the IC.
Recommended
HVAC Variable-Frequency Blower Control
In HVAC variable-frequency blower and fan applications, the PIC24EP256MC204-I/PT provides quiet, energy-efficient motor control with extended temperature tolerance. The industrial -40C to +85C operating range suits unconditioned equipment closets, while the integrated op-amps directly sense phase current without external conditioning. The PWM dead-band insertion and fault-input pins support safe stop on over-current or over-temperature, satisfying UL 1995 appliance safety standards. Microchip's Motor Control Library includes PFC + FOC reference firmware that reaches 95%+ efficiency at light loads, satisfying ENERGY STAR residential HVAC requirements.
Recommended
Solar Micro-Inverter Power Stage
Solar micro-inverter designs use the PIC24EP256MC204-I/PT to control the DC-DC and DC-AC conversion stages in real time. The high-speed PWM drives a full-bridge at 50 kHz with sub-microsecond resolution, while the 12-bit ADC samples inductor current and panel voltage on alternate cycles for MPPT. The 70 MIPS throughput supports perturb-and-observe MPPT plus grid-synchronization PLL within a single device, reducing the BOM by one DSP chip. The wide 3.0V-3.6V supply and integrated op-amps for current sensing help designers hit Class B EMI margins with proper PCB layout.
Recommended
Switched-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) Digital Control
Digitally controlled SMPS designs use the PIC24EP256MC204-I/PT to implement adaptive digital control loops for telecom and server PSUs. The 70 MIPS core and high-speed PWM run digital voltage-mode and current-mode control at 200 kHz switching frequencies without saturating CPU bandwidth. The on-chip op-amps condition current-sense signals directly, while the 12-bit ADC provides multi-loop feedback with <1% regulation accuracy. Designers can implement adaptive dead-time compensation, soft-start profiling, and fault logging that would be impractical in analog controllers. The 256 KB Flash holds full PID state tables plus telemetry stack.
Recommended
Industrial Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
Industrial UPS systems leverage the PIC24EP256MC204-I/PT to control inverter bridges, manage battery state-of-charge, and orchestrate line/battery switchover with deterministic timing. The PWM with dead-band insertion directly drives IGBT bridges, while the integrated op-amps sense battery current for coulomb-counting and the ADC measures rail voltages for closed-loop regulation. The 32 KB SRAM accommodates waveform lookup tables and a 50-step battery aging profile without external memory. ECAN enables coordination with parallel UPS modules for N+1 redundancy in data-center racks.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC24EP256MC204-I/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | dsPIC33EP256MC204-I/PT | PIC24EP256MC204T-I/PT | PIC24EP256MC204-H/PT | dsPIC33EP256MC204T-I/PT | PIC24EP128MC204-I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | TQFP-44 (PT) 10x10 mm | TQFP-44 (PT) - same | TQFP-44 (PT) - same | TQFP-44 (PT) - same | TQFP-44 (PT) - same | TQFP-44 (PT) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Core | PIC24E (MCU, no DSP) | dsPIC33E (MCU + DSP engine) | PIC24E (MCU) | PIC24E (MCU) | dsPIC33E (MCU + DSP) | PIC24E (MCU) |
| Flash | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB |
| RAM | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB |
| Max MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS | 70 MIPS |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +150C (Extended high-temp) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| DSP Engine | No | Yes (single-cycle MAC, 40-bit accum) | No | No | Yes (single-cycle MAC) | No |
| On-chip Op-amps | Yes (4x) | Yes (4x) | Yes (4x) | Yes (4x) | Yes (4x) | Yes (4x) |
Key Differentiators
- On-chip operational amplifiers eliminate external current-sense amplifiers (vs PIC24EP256GP204-I/PT)
- DSP engine upgrade path with identical pinout (vs dsPIC33EP256MC204-I/PT)
- Extended high-temperature variant for automotive under-hood (vs PIC24EP256MC204-H/PT)
- 256 KB Flash supports full motor-control + BLE stack (vs PIC24EP128MC204-I/PT)
Design Notes
Split the ground plane into a digital section (DGND/VSS) and an analog section (AGND/AVSS) and join them at a single point near the MCU's AVSS pin. Place a 0.1 uF X7R ceramic decoupling capacitor within 3 mm of every VDD/AVDD pair, and add a bulk 10 uF ceramic on each supply rail. According to the Microchip PIC24EP256MC204 datasheet, the on-chip op-amps and ADC are sensitive to digital switching noise; isolating them with separate ground islands prevents motor current spikes from corrupting current-sense measurements.
Route the high-speed PWM output traces (PWM1H/L through PWM4H/L) as short, matched-length differential pairs to the gate-driver inputs, keeping them away from analog op-amp inputs. Place shunt resistors directly between the low-side MOSFET source and ground, with the op-amp inputs running in parallel to minimize loop area. For the TQFP-44 package, leave at least 200 mil of uninterrupted copper under the IC's exposed pad footprint region for thermal spreading, even though this TQFP package does not have a true EP - this improves EMI performance during high di/dt switching events.
Do not exceed the absolute maximum VDD of 3.6V; the PIC24EP256MC204-I/PT is NOT a 5V-tolerant device, and applying 5V to any I/O will damage the silicon. When migrating from a 5V PIC18F design, add level-shifters or use the PIC24EP256GP204 family if 5V GPIO is required. Estimated: the MCU typically draws 60-80 mA in active mode at 70 MIPS - budget for a 3.3V LDO with at least 250 mA headroom to handle transient peaks during PWM-driven load steps.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial -40C to +85C I-temp grade (AEC-Q100 not qualified - this is the standard industrial MCU, not the automotive -Q grade). Halogen-free per Microchip material declaration.