PIC24FJ256GB406-I/PT - 256KB Flash, USB, 16-bit MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC24FJ256GB406-I/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8.42 | $8.42 |
| 10 | $7.55 | $75.50 |
| 100 | $6.71 | $671.00 |
| 500 | $6.02 | $3,010.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.48 | $5,480.00 |
PIC24FJ256GB406-I/PT Overview
A 16-bit microcontroller (MCU) is an integrated circuit that combines a CPU, program memory, data memory, and configurable peripherals in a single chip. PIC24F devices occupy the mid-tier of the Microchip MCU portfolio between 8-bit PIC16/PIC18 parts and 32-bit PIC32 parts. Within the broader taxonomy, they belong to the class of low-power microcontrollers (XLP family), and within that to the USB-enabled sub-family with hardware cryptography acceleration. The 'GB' suffix indicates USB OTG + crypto, while '406' identifies the specific pin count and peripheral mix (64-pin with LCD).
Key differentiating features include integrated USB On-The-Go with dedicated transceiver, a hardware crypto engine supporting AES/DES/SHA, a segmented LCD driver with up to 128 segments, and Microchip's eXtreme Low Power technology achieving sub-uA sleep currents. The 256KB Flash is dual-partitioned for live firmware updates without device reset, and 16KB RAM provides headroom for USB stacks and crypto buffers. Five 16-bit timers, three SPI/I2C, four UARTs, and a 16-channel 10-bit ADC complete the peripheral set.
Typical applications include secure IoT endpoints with USB tethering, battery-powered industrial sensors with LCD readouts, USB barcode scanners, medical point-of-care devices, secure access control readers, and portable data loggers requiring both USB charging and AES-encrypted storage. The wide operating voltage range (2.0V to 3.6V) and industrial temperature range (-40C to +85C) suit harsh deployment environments.
Designers should note that this is the -I (industrial) temperature grade variant; the -E grade extends to +125C. Pin 1 is at the top-left corner of the TQFP package with a dot marker, following JEDEC MS-026-AED. All VSS/VDD pairs must be connected per the programming guide. This page synthesizes distributor stock, same-package drop-in alternatives within the PIC24FJ GB4 family, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC24FJ256GB406-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 PIC24FJ256GB406-I/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Program Memory (Flash), ADC, Core Architecture, LCD Driver.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC24FJ256GB410-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24FJ128GB406-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24FJ512GB406-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24FJ64GB406-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$4.85 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24FJ256GB406T-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24FJ256GB406-I/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC24F 16-bit RISC (modified Harvard) |
| Instruction Set | 16-bit, 16 MIPS @ 32 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 256 KB (85.5K x 24 words), dual partition |
| Data Memory (RAM) | 16 KB |
| Operating Frequency | 32 MHz max |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (industrial grade, -I) |
| USB Module | USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG with on-chip transceiver |
| Hardware Crypto Engine | AES, DES, 3DES, SHA-1, MD5, RNG |
| LCD Driver | Up to 128 segments |
| ADC | 10-bit, 16 channels |
| Timers | 5 x 16-bit timers, 5 x 32-bit input capture |
| Communication | 3x I2C, 3x SPI, 4x UART |
| Package | 64-pin TQFP (PT) 10x10 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 3 (168 hours) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Low-Power Technology | XLP (eXtreme Low Power), <1 uA sleep |
PIC24FJ256GB406-I/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RG15 — Digital I/O / SPI2 SS |
| Pin 2 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 3 | RP5/RD5 — Remappable I/O / SPI2 SDO |
| Pin 4 | RP6/RD6 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 5 | RP7/RD7 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 6 | RP8/RD8 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 7 | RP9/RD9 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 8 | RP10/RD10 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 9 | RP11/RD11 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 10 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 11 | RP12/RD12 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 12 | RP13/RD13 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 13 | RP14/RD14 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 14 | RP15/RD15 — Remappable I/O |
| Pin 15 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 16 | RC1 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 17 | RC2 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 18 | RC3 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 19 | RC4 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 21 | RB5 — Digital I/O / PGEC3 |
| Pin 22 | RB6 — Digital I/O / PGED3 |
| Pin 23 | RB7 — Digital I/O / PGEC4 |
| Pin 24 | RB8 — Digital I/O / PGED4 |
| Pin 25 | RB9 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 26 | RB10 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 27 | RB11 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 28 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 29 | RB12 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 30 | RB13 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 31 | RB14 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 32 | RB15 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 33 | RA0 — Digital I/O / AN0 |
| Pin 34 | RA1 — Digital I/O / AN1 |
| Pin 35 | RA2 — Digital I/O / AN2 |
| Pin 36 | RA3 — Digital I/O / AN3 |
| Pin 37 | RA4 — Digital I/O / AN4 |
| Pin 38 | RA5 — Digital I/O / AN5 |
| Pin 39 | RA6 — Digital I/O / AN6 |
| Pin 40 | RA7 — Digital I/O / AN7 |
| Pin 41 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 42 | RA9 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 43 | RA10 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 44 | RA11 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 45 | RA12 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 46 | RA13 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 47 | RA14 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 48 | RA15 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 49 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 50 | RF0 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 51 | RF1 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 52 | RF2 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 53 | RF3 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 54 | RF4 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 55 | RF5 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 56 | RG0 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 57 | RG1 — Digital I/O |
| Pin 58 | VUSB — USB voltage supply |
| Pin 59 | D+ — USB D+ data line |
| Pin 60 | D- — USB D- data line |
| Pin 61 | VBUS — USB VBUS detect |
| Pin 62 | RG14 — Digital I/O / SPI2 SCK |
| Pin 63 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 64 | RG15 — Digital I/O |
Typical Applications
PIC24FJ256GB406-I/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Secure USB IoT Endpoint, Battery-Powered Industrial Sensor with LCD, USB Barcode Scanner, Medical Point-of-Care Device, Secure Access Control Reader, Portable Data Logger with Encrypted Storage.
Secure USB IoT Endpoint
The PIC24FJ256GB406-I/PT's on-chip hardware crypto engine (AES-256, SHA-256) and USB OTG controller make it a strong fit for secure IoT endpoint devices such as USB-tethered sensors, secure dongles, and authenticated accessories. Its 256KB Flash accommodates TLS client stacks while 16KB RAM provides headroom for USB-HID and crypto buffers, eliminating the need for an external secure element. The XLP deep-sleep mode (<1 uA) preserves battery life when USB is detached, and the wide 2.0V-3.6V supply supports direct Li-ion operation. Designers can implement boot-time firmware verification using the read-protected Flash partitions.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Industrial Sensor with LCD
Industrial sensors requiring local readouts benefit from the PIC24FJ256GB406-I/PT's integrated 128-segment LCD driver, which eliminates the need for an external LCD controller chip. The XLP technology draws <100 nA in deep sleep with RTCC running, enabling multi-year battery life on a single 3V coin cell. The 16-channel 10-bit ADC handles multiple sensor inputs (temperature, pressure, humidity) without external signal conditioning. The 64-pin TQFP package provides ample GPIO for keypad input and alarm outputs in industrial environments.
Recommended
USB Barcode Scanner
Handheld USB barcode scanners leverage the PIC24FJ256GB406-I/PT's USB OTG full-speed controller to enumerate as a USB HID keyboard without external PHY. The 32 MHz / 16 MIPS core decodes 1D/2D barcode symbologies in real time while the hardware crypto engine secures the scan log with on-device encryption. Its 256KB Flash holds multiple symbology libraries, and the 16KB RAM buffers scanned data before USB transmission. The industrial -40C to +85C operating range suits warehouse and cold-chain logistics deployments.
Recommended
Medical Point-of-Care Device
Portable medical point-of-care devices such as glucometers, pulse oximeters, and rapid diagnostic readers benefit from the PIC24FJ256GB406-I/PT's combination of LCD driver, USB charging/data port, and low-power operation. The hardware crypto engine enables HIPAA-compliant patient data encryption at rest, while the USB OTG port supports both charging and tethered data upload to a host system. XLP sleep currents extend battery life for handheld clinical use, and the 10-bit ADC with 16 channels reads multiple sensor modalities (electrochemical, optical) on a single MCU.
Recommended
Secure Access Control Reader
RFID/NFC access control readers benefit from the PIC24FJ256GB406-I/PT's hardware crypto engine for mutual authentication with secure credentials (MIFARE DESFire, EV1/EV2). The USB OTG interface supports configuration upload and audit log download, while the 256KB Flash stores credential databases for offline operation. The wide 2.0V-3.6V supply supports both 5V USB-powered and 3.3V PoE-supplied installations. Five 16-bit timers provide precise Wiegand and OSDP protocol timing for legacy access panels.
Recommended
Portable Data Logger with Encrypted Storage
Field-deployable data loggers used in environmental monitoring, fleet telemetry, and cold-chain logistics leverage the PIC24FJ256GB406-I/PT's combination of USB OTG for data extraction, hardware crypto for at-rest encryption, and XLP low-power operation for multi-month battery life. The 256KB dual-partition Flash supports over-the-air firmware updates for long deployment cycles. Three I2C and three SPI interfaces connect to diverse sensors (temperature, humidity, shock, GPS) without external multiplexer ICs. The 64-pin TQFP provides mechanical robustness for vibration-prone environments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC24FJ256GB406-I/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC24FJ256GB410-I/PT | PIC24FJ128GB406-I/PT | PIC24FJ512GB406-I/PT | PIC24FJ64GB406-I/PT | PIC24FJ256GB406T-I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-TQFP (PT) | 64-TQFP (PT) - same | 64-TQFP (PT) - same | 64-TQFP (PT) - same | 64-TQFP (PT) - same | 64-TQFP (PT) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 256 KB (same) | 128 KB (-50%) | 512 KB (+100%) | 64 KB (-75%) | 256 KB (same) |
| RAM | 16 KB | 16 KB | 16 KB | 32 KB | 8 KB | 16 KB |
| USB OTG | Yes (Full-Speed) | Yes (Full-Speed) | Yes (Full-Speed) | Yes (Full-Speed) | Yes (Full-Speed) | Yes (Full-Speed) |
| Hardware Crypto Engine | Yes (AES/DES/SHA) | Yes (enhanced) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Operating Frequency | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS |
| Temperature Grade | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
Key Differentiators
- Highest Flash density in same-package GB406 family at 256 KB (vs PIC24FJ128GB406-I/PT)
- Mid-tier Flash option vs higher-density sibling (vs PIC24FJ512GB406-I/PT)
- XLP deep-sleep current <1 uA with RTCC running (vs PIC24FJ32MC104T-I/PT (PIC24F motor control variant))
Design Notes
Estimated: at 32 MHz active mode and 3.3V supply, the PIC24FJ256GB406-I/PT draws approximately 15-20 mA. For USB bus-powered designs, ensure the upstream port can supply 100 mA (default) or 500 mA (after USB enumeration as a high-power device). Place a 4.7 uF decoupling capacitor close to each VDD pin (pins 2, 20, 63) and a 0.1 uF ceramic cap on each VDD for high-frequency noise. The VUSB pin (58) requires a 1 uF capacitor to VSS per the USB specification.
The 64-pin TQFP (PT) package has theta_JA of approximately 50 C/W on a 4-layer JEDEC test board. At maximum 20 mA active current and 3.6V supply, the worst-case power dissipation is 72 mW, yielding a junction temperature rise of only 3.6 C above ambient - thermal management is not a concern for this MCU. However, in sealed enclosures with no airflow, derate ambient temperature by 10 C for reliable operation.
Route the USB D+ and D- traces as a 90-ohm differential pair with length matching within 2 mm. Per the USB 2.0 specification, keep the trace length under 50 mm total and avoid splitting the ground plane beneath the USB traces. Per the Microchip Pin Configuration Guide, all VSS pins (10, 15, 28, 41, 49) must be connected to ground even if internal peripherals are not used, or programming via ICSP may fail.
Common pitfalls with the PIC24FJ256GB406-I/PT include: (1) failing to connect all VSS pins causes ICSP programming failures, (2) using PGEC2 without connecting PGED2 (and vice versa) breaks programming because any pair must be used as a complete pair, (3) forgetting the VUSB decoupling cap prevents USB enumeration, (4) configuring the LCD driver without proper charge pump capacitors leads to dim or non-functional segments, (5) not enabling the JTAG disable fuse bit before production can expose debug ports.
Keep the 32 MHz crystal traces short and symmetric, with the load capacitors (typically 15-22 pF) placed within 5 mm of the OSC1/OSC2 pins. Route the RTCC crystal (32.768 kHz) traces separately from the main oscillator to avoid coupling. The analog inputs (AN0-AN7 on RA0-RA7) should be routed away from digital switching signals; place the AVSS pin (if used) directly to the analog ground plane. For LCD applications, route SEG and COM traces with controlled impedance to avoid ghosting.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this is a general-purpose MCU. For automotive applications, consider PIC24FJ256GB406-I/PT automotive equivalent variants.
