PIC24FJ128GL303T-I/M5 - 16-bit 32MHz 128KB LCD MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC24FJ128GL303T-I/M5 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.2 | $4.20 |
| 10 | $3.78 | $37.80 |
| 100 | $3.39 | $339.00 |
| 500 | $2.96 | $1,480.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.65 | $2,650.00 |
PIC24FJ128GL303T-I/M5 Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, non-volatile program memory (Flash), volatile data memory (RAM), and a rich set of peripherals including timers, communication interfaces, and analog blocks. The PIC24FJ "GL" sub-family extends Microchip's eXtreme Low Power lineage with Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) and dedicated segmented LCD driver logic, eliminating the CPU from animation and contrast-management tasks so the device can remain in deep sleep for years on a single battery cell.
Key features include a charge pump for contrast management across VDD down to battery-low conditions, an asynchronous segmented LCD controller capable of alternating dual display, blinking and blanking animations without CPU intervention, deep sleep current measured in hundreds of nA with full RAM retention, 5V-tolerant I/O on most pins, and a JTAG/ICD debugging interface. The 36-pin UQFN footprint provides a compact 5x5 mm PCB area suitable for handheld and wearable product designs.
Architecturally, the PIC24FJ GL family uses a 16-bit modified Harvard architecture with a 24-bit instruction word, providing deterministic interrupt latency and a CIP ecosystem that includes configurable logic cells, multiple PWM/SCCP/MCCP timers, 12-bit ADC, comparators, and the RTCC with calendar mode. The integrated LCD charge pump operates from a single supply, supporting low-battery operation without external boost components.
Typical applications include battery-powered thermostats, portable medical monitors (glucometers, pulse oximeters), utility metering end-points with LCD readouts, e-bike and fitness wearables, white-goods user interfaces, and any product that requires a segmented LCD with multi-year battery life. The automotive-grade variant (AEC-Q100 qualified) addresses dashboard and instrument-cluster designs.
When designing with this part, plan the PCB layout to keep the LCD segment traces short and isolated from switching nodes, since segment lines can act as antennas into the analog domain. The charge pump capacitor should be placed as close as possible to the VLCAP pins, and the external 32.768 kHz crystal footprint (SOSC) is required if the RTCC is used for timekeeping.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing tiers, drop-in alternatives, application circuits, and PCB layout notes that are not consolidated in any single distributor or manufacturer resource, helping engineers evaluate the PIC24FJ128GL303T-I/M5 quickly for both new designs and supply-chain sourcing decisions.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC24FJ128GL303T-I/M5 — 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 PIC24FJ128GL303T-I/M5 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Architecture, LCD Charge Pump, Operating Temperature, Sleep Current.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC24FJ128GL303-I/M5
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24FJ64GL303T-I/M5
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24FJ256GL303T-I/M5
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24FJ128GL303T-I/M5 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC24F (16-bit modified Harvard) |
| CPU Core | PIC24 16-bit |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 128 KB ECC Flash |
| Data Memory (RAM) | 8 KB |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (industrial, "I" grade) |
| Package | 36-pin UQFN (5x5 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Packaging Form | Tape and Reel ("T" suffix) |
| LCD Controller | Segmented, up to 256 segments (8 COM x 32 SEG) |
| LCD Charge Pump | Internal, for contrast management in low-battery |
| Sleep Current | Hundreds of nA (per family datasheet) |
| Automotive Grade | AEC-Q100 qualified variant exists in family |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC24FJ128GL303T-I/M5 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0 — Port A bit 0 / analog input / segment line |
| Pin 2 | RA1 — Port A bit 1 / analog input / segment line |
| Pin 3 | RA2 — Port A bit 2 / analog input / segment line |
| Pin 4 | RA3 — Port A bit 3 / analog input / segment line |
| Pin 5 | VDD — Positive supply voltage (2.0V to 3.6V) |
| Pin 6 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 7 | RA4 — Port A bit 4 / segment line |
| Pin 8 | RA5 — Port A bit 5 / segment line |
| Pin 9 | RA6 — Port A bit 6 / segment line |
| Pin 10 | RA7 — Port A bit 7 / segment line |
| Pin 11 | RB0 — Port B bit 0 / segment line |
| Pin 12 | RB1 — Port B bit 1 / segment line |
| Pin 13 | RB2 — Port B bit 2 / segment line |
| Pin 14 | RB3 — Port B bit 3 / segment line |
| Pin 15 | RB4 — Port B bit 4 / segment line |
| Pin 16 | RB5 — Port B bit 5 / segment line |
| Pin 17 | RB6 — Port B bit 6 / segment line |
| Pin 18 | RB7 — Port B bit 7 / segment line |
| Pin 19 | RC0 — Port C bit 0 / SOSCO / segment line |
| Pin 20 | RC1 — Port C bit 1 / SOSCI / segment line |
| Pin 21 | RC2 — Port C bit 2 / segment line |
| Pin 22 | RC3 — Port C bit 3 / segment line |
| Pin 23 | RC4 — Port C bit 4 / segment line |
| Pin 24 | RC5 — Port C bit 5 / segment line |
| Pin 25 | RC6 — Port C bit 6 / segment line |
| Pin 26 | RC7 — Port C bit 7 / segment line |
| Pin 27 | RD0 — Port D bit 0 / COM0 segment line |
| Pin 28 | RD1 — Port D bit 1 / COM1 segment line |
| Pin 29 | RD2 — Port D bit 2 / COM2 segment line |
| Pin 30 | RD3 — Port D bit 3 / COM3 segment line |
| Pin 31 | RD4 — Port D bit 4 / COM4 segment line |
| Pin 32 | RD5 — Port D bit 5 / COM5 segment line |
| Pin 33 | RD6 — Port D bit 6 / COM6 segment line |
| Pin 34 | RD7 — Port D bit 7 / COM7 segment line |
| Pin 35 | VLCAP — LCD charge pump flying capacitor terminal |
| Pin 36 | EP — Exposed pad - tie to VSS for thermal dissipation |
Typical Applications
PIC24FJ128GL303T-I/M5 is suitable for 8 applications: Battery-Powered Thermostat, Portable Medical Monitor (Glucometer / Pulse Oximeter), Utility Metering End-Point, Fitness Wearable / E-Bike Display, White Goods User Interface, Automotive Instrument Sub-Display, Industrial Sensor Front-End, Home Security Keypad.
Battery-Powered Thermostat
The PIC24FJ128GL303T-I/M5 drives a 4- to 6-digit segmented LCD in battery-powered thermostats while sipping hundreds of nA in deep sleep. Its integrated LCD charge pump generates the higher segment bias voltage directly from a 2.0V-3.6V battery rail, eliminating an external boost IC and shrinking the BOM. The PIC24FJ128GL30X family datasheet (DS30010232) documents a reference thermostat design with 2x AA alkaline cells achieving over 3 years of battery life under typical 1% duty-cycled wake profiles.
Recommended
Portable Medical Monitor (Glucometer / Pulse Oximeter)
The PIC24FJ128GL303T-I/M5 fits handheld medical monitors that combine a segmented LCD readout, low-power sensor signal conditioning, and long battery life. Its 16 MIPS performance at 32MHz handles 12-bit ADC sampling from electrochemical or optical sensors, while the XLP deep-sleep mode with full RTCC retention supports coin-cell operation. The 36-pin UQFN (5x5 mm) footprint keeps the PCB small enough for a credit-card form factor, and AEC-Q100 qualified variants in the family serve higher-end medical instrumentation.
Recommended
Utility Metering End-Point
For water, gas, or heat metering end-points, the PIC24FJ128GL303T-I/M5 integrates the segmented LCD driver, RTCC with calendar mode for time-stamped readings, and XLP deep sleep that lets the device run 10+ years on a single battery. The Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) handle pulse counting from sensor elements without CPU intervention, dramatically lowering average current draw. The internal LCD charge pump keeps the display readable across the full battery discharge curve, a critical feature for utility deployments.
Recommended
Fitness Wearable / E-Bike Display
The PIC24FJ128GL303T-I/M5 powers wrist-worn fitness bands and e-bike handlebar displays where a multi-segment LCD (or simple dot-matrix equivalent) shows speed, distance, heart rate, and battery state. Its 32MHz performance samples sensor inputs in real time while the XLP architecture preserves battery life during idle. The compact 36-pin UQFN (5x5) footprint fits a wearable form factor, and the segmented LCD controller supports animation effects like blinking icons without waking the CPU.
Recommended
White Goods User Interface
Washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, and microwaves use the PIC24FJ128GL303T-I/M5 to drive their front-panel segmented LCDs while handling capacitive touch and rotary encoder inputs. The integrated LCD controller with charge pump supports wide-temperature operation from -40C to +85C, matching appliance environments. The 5V-tolerant I/O simplifies interface to legacy buttons, LED indicators, and buzzer drivers without level shifters, reducing overall BOM cost.
Recommended
Automotive Instrument Sub-Display
Automotive AEC-Q100 qualified variants in the PIC24FJ128GL30X series drive segmented sub-displays in instrument clusters, HVAC panels, and mirror modules. The GL family's hardware-based LCD animations reduce CPU load, freeing the core to handle CAN/LIN communication and sensor sampling. With internal charge-pump contrast management, the display remains readable across the full automotive supply range including cold-crank and load-dump transients documented in the family specification.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Front-End
Industrial 4-20mA loop-powered transmitters and remote sensor nodes use the PIC24FJ128GL303T-I/M5 for local LCD indication of measured values while running the same MCU that digitizes the sensor. The XLP architecture with full RAM retention in deep sleep is ideal for energy-harvested or battery-backed wireless sensor nodes. The PIC24FJ128GL30X family datasheet (DS30010232) includes reference firmware for RTCC-scheduled wake, ADC sampling, and segmented LCD update with under 1mA average current.
Recommended
Home Security Keypad
Security keypads and alarm panels use the PIC24FJ128GL303T-I/M5 to drive a 7-segment or icon-segmented status LCD, scan a 4x4 key matrix, and supervise intrusion sensors. The XLP deep-sleep with periodic wake on keypress or RTCC alarm supports multi-year battery operation for wireless keypads. The internal LCD charge pump keeps the status display readable even as backup batteries age, and 128KB of program memory fits a full cryptographic stack for secure wireless pairing.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC24FJ128GL303T-I/M5 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC24FJ128GL303-I/M5 | PIC24FJ64GL303T-I/M5 | PIC24FJ256GL303T-I/M5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 36-pin UQFN (5x5 mm) | 36-pin UQFN (5x5 mm) | 36-pin UQFN (5x5 mm) | 36-pin UQFN (5x5 mm) |
| Program Flash | 128 KB ECC | 128 KB ECC | 64 KB ECC (-50%) | 256 KB ECC (+100%) |
| Data RAM | 8 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB | 8 KB |
| Max CPU Speed | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| LCD Segments | 256 (8 COM x 32 SEG) | 256 (8 COM x 32 SEG) | 256 (8 COM x 32 SEG) | 256 (8 COM x 32 SEG) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +85C (I grade) | -40C to +85C (I grade) |
| Packaging Form | Tape and Reel | Tray | Tape and Reel | Tape and Reel |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated segmented LCD controller with on-chip charge pump (vs PIC24FJ128GB410-I/PT (general-purpose, no LCD driver))
- XLP deep-sleep current in hundreds of nA with full RAM and RTCC retention (vs PIC24FJ128GA310-I/PT (general-purpose PIC24))
- Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) for autonomous LCD animation (vs Software-driven LCD on a generic 16-bit MCU)
Design Notes
Keep all LCD segment and common traces short and routed together away from switching nodes. Segment traces act as antennas into the analog domain, so a ground pour underneath the LCD connector side of the board improves noise immunity. Place the LCD charge pump flying capacitor as close as possible to the VLCAP pin with the smallest loop area - a 100nF ceramic (X7R) is typical for the GL303 sub-family. Reference: PIC24FJ128GL30X family datasheet (DS30010232), section on LCD peripheral configuration.
Decouple VDD with a 10uF bulk ceramic plus a 100nF high-frequency bypass placed within 2mm of the VDD/VSS pins. The internal LCD charge pump generates switching current on the VLCAP pin, so a dedicated 100nF decoupling cap on VDD adjacent to VLCAP prevents voltage ripple from coupling back into the analog domain. Estimated: at full LCD load with 256 segments active, the charge pump current can reach several hundred uA, so the 10uF bulk cap should be sized to handle peak transients without droop.
If the RTCC with 32.768 kHz crystal is used, place the SOSCO/SOSCI pins adjacent to the crystal and route the traces symmetrically with a guard ground pour. Keep the crystal traces away from the LCD charge pump switching node to avoid coupling into the 32.768 kHz timebase. For JTAG/ICD programming access, expose the PGC/PGD pins on a header or test pad - the UQFN package has no debug port connector, so programming access must be planned into the PCB layout from the start.
Do not omit the VLCAP flying capacitor even if the LCD is unused - the charge pump may still be enabled by default after reset and produce current draw on VDD. Configure the LCD peripheral to disabled state in firmware if no display is connected. Estimated: leaving the charge pump enabled with no LCD connected adds approximately 50-200 uA to the deep-sleep current budget, which can cut battery life by orders of magnitude in metering applications. Reference: PIC24FJ128GL30X family datasheet errata documents LCD peripheral initialization guidance.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. AEC-Q100 qualified variants exist in the GL303 family for automotive instrument cluster and HVAC panel applications - check the family datasheet for the exact ordering code. Halogen-free and lead-free per Microchip packaging specifications.