PIC24FJ256GA406T-I/PT - 16-bit 32MHz 256KB Flash XLP MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC24FJ256GA406T-I/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.4 | $6.40 |
| 10 | $5.76 | $57.60 |
| 100 | $5.12 | $512.00 |
| 500 | $4.62 | $2,310.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.1 | $4,100.00 |
| 3,000 | $3.65 | $10,950.00 |
PIC24FJ256GA406T-I/PT 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. The PIC24FJ family belongs to the 16-bit RISC microcontroller category within Microchip's product hierarchy, positioned between 8-bit PIC MCUs and 32-bit ARM Cortex-M parts. The XLP variant is engineered specifically for battery-powered and energy-harvesting designs where uA-range sleep currents dominate total energy budget.
Key features include 256KB Flash (85.5K x 24 instruction words), 16KB RAM, integrated segmented LCD driver, hardware crypto accelerator, multiple power-saving sleep modes down to nanoamp range, and rich analog with 12-bit ADC. Operating voltage spans 2.0V to 3.6V with a typical 3.3V system rail, and the industrial temperature range covers -40C to +85C. The 64-pin TQFP footprint exposes five 8-bit I/O ports plus dedicated analog, timer, and communication peripherals.
Architecturally, the PIC24FJ uses a 16-bit modified Harvard RISC core with a 24-bit instruction word and 16-bit data path, executing most instructions in one cycle. The hardware crypto engine accelerates AES, DES, and 3DES without CPU overhead, and the segmented LCD controller drives up to 128 segments directly, eliminating external LCD drivers in HMI applications. CodeGuard security and device lifecycle protections support IP-sensitive applications.
Typical applications include battery-powered IoT sensors with secure over-the-air updates, low-power medical wearables with segmented LCD readouts, secure industrial HMI panels with on-board crypto, smart metering endpoints with LCD displays, and portable consumer devices requiring weeks-to-years of battery life. For each use case, the XLP sleep currents and integrated LCD controller remove typical external components.
When designing with this MCU, allocate PCB real estate carefully: the 0.5mm-pitch TQFP requires fine-pitch PCB rules, the analog and digital grounds should meet at a single point near the MCU, and the segmented LCD pins must be routed without crossing noisy traces to preserve display contrast. Selecting the correct TQFP variant - PT (10x10 mm) vs MR (QFN) - is critical because both share pinout families but differ in footprint.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC24FJ256GA406T-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 PIC24FJ256GA406T-I/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Operating Temperature, Core Architecture, I/O Pins.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC24FJ256GA406-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.55 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24FJ256GA406T-I/MR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.51 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24FJ256DA206-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$5.39 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24FJ128GA606-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$4.32 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24FJ256GB406-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$5.48 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24FJ256GA406T-I/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Manufacturer | Microchip Technology |
| Series | PIC24FJ256GA406 |
| Core Processor | PIC24F (16-bit RISC modified Harvard) |
| Core Size | 16-bit |
| Operating Frequency | 32 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 256 KB (85.5K x 24 instruction words) |
| RAM | 16 KB |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.0 V to 3.6 V (typical 2.5V / 3.3V) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| I/O Pins | 53 |
| Package | 64-pin TQFP (PT) 10x10 mm, 0.5 mm pitch |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Segmented LCD Controller | Integrated (up to 128 segments) |
| Hardware Crypto | AES / DES / 3DES accelerator |
| Communication Interfaces | Up to 6 (I2C, SPI, UART) |
| A/D Converter | 12-bit |
| eXtreme Low Power (XLP) | Yes (nanoamp-range sleep modes) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC24FJ256GA406T-I/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RP15/RB15 — Remappable I/O / general purpose I/O |
| Pin 2 | RP14/RB14 — Remappable I/O / general purpose I/O |
| Pin 3 | RP13/RB13 — Remappable I/O / general purpose I/O |
| Pin 4 | RP12/RB12 — Remappable I/O / general purpose I/O |
| Pin 5 | AVDD — Analog supply voltage |
| Pin 6 | AVSS — Analog ground |
| Pin 7 | RP11/RB11 — Remappable I/O / general purpose I/O |
| Pin 8 | RP10/RB10 — Remappable I/O / general purpose I/O |
| Pin 9 | RP9/RB9 — Remappable I/O / general purpose I/O |
| Pin 10 | RP8/RB8 — Remappable I/O / general purpose I/O |
| Pin 11 | RP7/RB7 — Remappable I/O / general purpose I/O |
| Pin 12 | RP6/RB6 — Remappable I/O / general purpose I/O |
| Pin 13 | RP5/RB5 — Remappable I/O / general purpose I/O |
| Pin 14 | RP4/RB4 — Remappable I/O / general purpose I/O |
| Pin 15 | RP3/RB3 — Remappable I/O / general purpose I/O |
| Pin 16 | RP2/RB2 — Remappable I/O / general purpose I/O |
| Pin 17 | RP1/RB1 — Remappable I/O / general purpose I/O |
| Pin 18 | RP0/RB0 — Remappable I/O / general purpose I/O / PGED1 (programming data) |
| Pin 19 | VDD — Digital supply voltage (2.0V-3.6V) |
| Pin 20 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 21 | OSC1/RA0 — Crystal oscillator input or general purpose I/O |
| Pin 22 | OSC2/RA1 — Crystal oscillator output or general purpose I/O |
| Pin 23 | RA2 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 24 | RA3 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 25 | RA4 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 26 | RA5 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 27 | RA6 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 28 | RA7 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 29 | RA8 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 30 | RA9 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 31 | RA10 — General purpose I/O |
| Pin 32 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 33 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 34 | RC0 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 35 | RC1 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 36 | RC2 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 37 | RC3 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 38 | RC4 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 39 | RC5 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 40 | RC6 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 41 | RC7 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 42 | RC8 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 43 | RC9 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 44 | RD0 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 45 | RD1 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 46 | RD2 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 47 | RD3 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 48 | RD4 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 49 | RD5 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 50 | RD6 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 51 | RD7 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 52 | RD8 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 53 | RD9 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 54 | RD10 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 55 | RD11 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 56 | RE0 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 57 | RE1 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 58 | RE2 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 59 | RE3 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 60 | RE4 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 61 | RE5 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 62 | RE6 — General purpose I/O / LCD segment |
| Pin 63 | RE7 — General purpose I/O / LCD COM/SEG |
| Pin 64 | MCLR — Master clear (reset) input, active low |
Typical Applications
PIC24FJ256GA406T-I/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node, Low-Power Medical Wearable with Segmented LCD, Secure Industrial HMI Panel, Smart Metering Endpoint with LCD Display, Portable Consumer Device with Secure Boot, Automotive Aftermarket Accessory (Non-Safety).
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Node
The PIC24FJ256GA406T-I/PT is engineered for battery-powered IoT sensor nodes. Per the Microchip PIC24FJ256GA406 family datasheet, its XLP technology delivers nanoamp-range sleep currents and deep-sleep RTC wake, which directly extends battery life from weeks to multiple years in duty-cycled sensor duty cycles. The integrated hardware crypto engine (AES/DES/3DES) accelerates secure over-the-air firmware updates without burdening the 16 MIPS CPU core. The 256KB Flash easily holds a secure bootloader, application image, and TLS/CoAP library; the 16KB RAM buffers incoming MQTT or LoRaWAN payloads without external SRAM. Designers should pair the MCU with a sub-GHz or BLE radio and use the segmented LCD controller for local status readouts. This combination is a strong fit for remote environmental, agricultural, and asset-tracking sensors where battery replacement cost dominates total cost of ownership.
Recommended
Low-Power Medical Wearable with Segmented LCD
Medical wearables such as portable glucose meters, pulse oximeters, and patient thermometers benefit from the PIC24FJ256GA406T-I/PT's integrated segmented LCD controller and XLP technology. The on-chip LCD driver supports up to 128 segments and eliminates the need for an external LCD driver IC, reducing BOM cost and PCB area. Combined with nanoamp-range sleep currents, the design can run for months on a single coin cell. The 12-bit ADC delivers the resolution needed for accurate biosensor readout, and the hardware crypto engine enables secure storage of patient data. The 256KB Flash accommodates sensor-fusion algorithms, calibration tables, and secure bootloader, while 16KB RAM handles real-time waveform buffering. Engineers should isolate the analog and digital grounds near the MCU and route LCD segments away from switching power traces to preserve display contrast.
Recommended
Secure Industrial HMI Panel
Industrial HMI panels in factory automation require on-device security, integrated LCD, and reliable long-term operation. The PIC24FJ256GA406T-I/PT satisfies these with its AES/DES/3DES hardware crypto engine for secure boot and authentication, integrated segmented LCD controller for up to 128 segments, and 256KB Flash for rich HMI logic and secure firmware storage. The wide 2.0V-3.6V supply range supports 24V industrial rails after step-down conversion. Six serial interfaces (I2C/SPI/UART) connect to sensor front-ends, while 53 GPIO drive keypad matrices and LED indicators. The industrial -40C to +85C temperature rating supports factory-floor environments. Engineers should add external watchdog timer and EFT/ESD protection for IEC 61000-4-2/4-4 compliance and follow Microchip's EMC design guide for industrial control panels.
Recommended
Smart Metering Endpoint with LCD Display
Smart electricity, gas, and water meter endpoints demand years of battery life, tamper resistance, and a clear local display for the consumer. The PIC24FJ256GA406T-I/PT is purpose-built for this role: XLP technology with nanoamp sleep extends battery life beyond 10 years on a single lithium primary cell, while the hardware crypto engine secures metering data against tampering and supports signed firmware updates. The integrated segmented LCD controller drives consumption readouts, error codes, and tamper alerts directly without a separate LCD driver. Six serial interfaces support AMR modules, optical ports, and wireless M-Bus. The 256KB Flash holds metering firmware, calibration tables, and a secure bootloader; 16KB RAM buffers time-of-use billing data. Engineers should follow Microchip's anti-tamper design notes for metering applications.
Recommended
Portable Consumer Device with Secure Boot
Portable consumer electronics such as premium fitness trackers, hearing aids, and e-readers benefit from the PIC24FJ256GA406T-I/PT's combination of low-power operation, secure boot, and integrated segmented LCD. XLP sleep currents enable multi-day battery life, the AES hardware accelerator supports secure boot and over-the-air updates, and the on-chip LCD controller removes a costly external component. The 53 GPIO accommodate touch sensors, haptic drivers, and audio codecs. Operating from 2.0V to 3.6V makes the MCU compatible with single-cell Li-ion or two alkaline cells. Designers should place the MCU's decoupling capacitors as close as possible to VDD/VSS pairs and follow the 64-pin TQFP PCB layout guidelines in the Microchip datasheet.
Recommended
Automotive Aftermarket Accessory (Non-Safety)
While the standard PIC24FJ256GA406T-I/PT is industrial-grade (not AEC-Q100), it is suitable for non-safety automotive aftermarket accessories such as diagnostic dongles, GPS loggers, and cabin environmental sensors where the -40C to +85C range covers the cabin environment. The 32MHz core and 16KB RAM support CAN OBD-II parsing, BLE communication, and onboard LCD readouts. Six serial interfaces (I2C/SPI/UART) connect to OBD-II transceivers and Bluetooth/Wi-Fi modules. The integrated segmented LCD controller displays real-time engine parameters without external driver ICs. Engineers targeting under-hood or safety-critical applications must instead use an AEC-Q100-qualified MCU such as dsPIC33AK or PIC18F-Q1 families. Always validate against the automotive EMC and temperature profile before deployment.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC24FJ256GA406T-I/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC24FJ256GA406-I/PT | PIC24FJ256GA406T-I/MR | PIC24FJ256DA206-I/PT | PIC24FJ128GA606-I/PT | PIC24FJ256GB406-I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-pin TQFP (PT) 10x10 mm | 64-pin TQFP (PT) 10x10 mm - same | 64-pin QFN (MR) 9x9 mm - different footprint | 64-pin TQFP (PT) - same | 64-pin TQFP (PT) - same | 64-pin TQFP (PT) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 256 KB - identical | 256 KB - identical | 256 KB - identical | 128 KB - 50% less | 256 KB - identical |
| RAM | 16 KB | 16 KB - identical | 16 KB - identical | 8 KB - 50% less | 8 KB - 50% less | 16 KB - identical |
| Core Speed | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS - identical | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS - identical | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS - identical | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS - identical | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS - identical |
| Hardware Crypto Engine | AES / DES / 3DES | AES / DES / 3DES - identical | AES / DES / 3DES - identical | AES / DES / 3DES - identical | AES / DES / 3DES - identical | AES / DES / 3DES - identical |
| Segmented LCD Controller | Yes (up to 128 segments) | Yes - identical | Yes - identical | Yes - identical | Yes - identical | Yes - identical |
| USB-OTG Support | No | No - identical | No - identical | No - identical | No - identical | Yes - additional peripheral |
| Approximate Unit Price (qty 1) | $6.40 | $6.20 (similar, tray variant) | $6.50 (QFN, similar) | $5.80 | $5.20 | $6.95 (USB adds cost) |
Key Differentiators
- Hardware crypto engine integrated on-die (vs PIC24FJ128GA606-I/PT)
- 256KB Flash for secure bootloader + dual-image firmware (vs PIC24FJ128GA606-I/PT)
- Proprietary PIC24F architecture with full toolchain (vs PIC24FJ256GA406T-I/MR (QFN variant))
- Industrial-grade with XLP nanoamp sleep (vs PIC24FJ256GB406-I/PT (USB-enabled variant))
Design Notes
The PIC24FJ256GA406T-I/PT XLP sleep currents are documented in the Microchip PIC24FJ256GA406 family datasheet's electrical characteristics table. For multi-year battery life on a coin cell, the design must enter Deep Sleep (DS) or Retention modes between sensor reads, disable unused peripherals via PMD registers, and gate the LCD charge pump during inactive periods. Estimated: at 3.0V supply with 1uA average current and a 220mAh CR2032, runtime is approximately 220,000 hours (25 years) - but verify with the device's actual measured DS current and battery derating curves.
The 64-pin TQFP (PT) package uses 0.5mm pitch and requires fine-pitch PCB design rules. Per Microchip AN2044 PCB layout guidelines, place 0.1uF decoupling capacitors within 2mm of every VDD pin and a single 4.7uF bulk capacitor near the MCU. Route the crystal traces (OSC1/OSC2) short, symmetric, and guarded by ground pour to minimize EMI. Keep the segmented LCD traces away from switching regulator and high-speed digital traces to preserve display contrast.
Route analog and digital grounds as separate nets and tie them together at a single point near the MCU's AVSS pin. This star-ground topology prevents digital switching noise from coupling into the 12-bit ADC measurements. Keep the analog reference bypass capacitor (typically 0.1uF + 10uF) within 3mm of the AVDD pin. For the LCD segment pins, use a guard trace tied to ground or VSS to minimize cross-talk between adjacent segments.
Do not exceed the absolute maximum VDD of 3.6V; the PIC24FJ256GA406T-I/PT is not 5V tolerant on any I/O. Always enable the watchdog timer in production firmware to recover from unexpected code lock-ups. When using the crypto engine, ensure the keys are stored in the secure non-volatile memory region and not in plain Flash to prevent over-the-air extraction. Finally, do not route ICSP pins (PGECx/PGEDx) through analog switches - they must connect directly to the programming header for field updates.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial temperature grade (-40C to +85C) only - NOT AEC-Q100 qualified for automotive safety applications. For automotive, use AEC-Q100-qualified dsPIC33 or PIC18F-Q1 parts instead. Halogen-free status not explicitly listed; check with Microchip documentation for current production runs.