PIC24FJ256GB610-E/PT - 16-bit 32MHz 256KB Flash USB MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC24FJ256GB610-E/PT ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6.95 | $6.95 |
| 10 | $6.3 | $63.00 |
| 100 | $5.55 | $555.00 |
| 500 | $4.95 | $2,475.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.4 | $4,400.00 |
| 3,000 | $3.95 | $11,850.00 |
PIC24FJ256GB610-E/PT Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, program and data memory, peripherals (timers, ADCs, communication controllers, GPIO), and sometimes connectivity interfaces like USB or CAN. The PIC24F family sits in Microchip's 16-bit tier, balancing cost, deterministic performance, and low power consumption for consumer, industrial, and automotive edge-node designs. Within the system hierarchy: microcontroller -> 16-bit MCU -> embedded processor -> semiconductor IC -> integrated circuit. The 'F' suffix denotes Flash-based program memory; 'J' designates the 3.3 V eXtreme Low Power family.
Key features include 256 KB (85.5K x 24) Flash with ECC and dual partition support, 32 KB RAM, hardware crypto engine (AES, DES, MD5, SHA-1/2), 32 MHz operation with 16 MIPS throughput, CTMU for up to 64 touch buttons, and 85 remappable I/O via Peripheral Pin Select (PPS). AEC-Q100 qualification, an automotive-grade temperature range of -40C to +125C, and 2.0 V to 3.6 V single-supply operation round out its envelope.
Architecturally, the PIC24FJ256GB610 uses a 16-bit modified Harvard core with separate program and data buses, JTAG/programming/debug (Trace SWD/ICSP), and integrated analog (10/12-bit ADC), digital (timers, capture, PWM), and connectivity (USB OTG, SPI, I2C, UART) peripherals. PPS allows most digital I/O to be remapped to alternate pins, simplifying PCB routing in dense designs.
Typical applications include USB-enabled embedded nodes (human-interface devices, mass-storage bridges), low-power sensor hubs with touch input, automotive body and HMI controllers, industrial HMI panels, and edge IoT devices requiring firmware-over-the-air updates via the dual-partition Live Update Flash.
When designing, allocate separate decoupling caps on VDD/VSS pairs, route the 48 MHz USB clock trace with 90-ohm controlled impedance, and use the PPS registers carefully - assigning conflicting peripherals to the same pin is a common lockup cause. Verify the programming/debug pin mapping before committing the layout.
This page synthesizes verified distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, AEC-Q100 qualifications, and practical design notes not consolidated on any single manufacturer or distributor product page.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC24FJ256GB610-E/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 PIC24FJ256GB610-E/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Operating Temperature, Program Memory (Flash), Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC24FJ256GB610-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.64 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24FJ256GB610T-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24FJ256GB610-E/BG
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24FJ1024GB610-I/BG
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$7.44 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24FJ1024GA610-I/PT
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24FJ256GA610T-I/BG
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.36 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24FJ256GB610-E/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC24F 16-bit modified Harvard |
| Max CPU Speed | 32 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 256 KB (85.5K x 24) with ECC and dual partition |
| RAM | 32 KB |
| I/O Pins | 85 (with PPS remap) |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (E = extended) |
| Package | 100-pin TQFP (12x12 mm) |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG with dedicated transceiver |
| ADC | 10/12-bit ADC |
| Crypto Engine | AES, DES, 3DES, MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256 hardware accelerator |
| Touch Support | CTMU - up to 64 buttons |
| Peripheral Pin Select | Yes (most digital peripherals remappable) |
| Low-Power Technology | XLP - eXtreme Low Power |
| AEC-Q100 | Qualified (automotive grade) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free / Halogen-Free | Yes / Yes |
PIC24FJ256GB610-E/PT 100-pin tqfp (12x12 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for PIC24FJ256GB610-E/PT (100-pin tqfp (12x12 mm) package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for PIC24FJ256GB610-E/PT.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
PIC24FJ256GB610-E/PT is suitable for 6 applications: USB Human-Interface Device (HID), USB Mass Storage / CDC Bridge, Automotive Body and HMI Controller, Low-Power Sensor Hub with Touch, Industrial HMI Touch Panel, Edge IoT Node with Live Firmware Update.
USB Human-Interface Device (HID)
The PIC24FJ256GB610-E/PT is purpose-built for USB HID applications including keyboards, mice, game controllers, and custom HID peripherals. Its integrated USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG controller with dedicated transceiver eliminates external PHY cost, while 256 KB Flash and 32 KB RAM comfortably host HID class drivers plus application firmware. The 32 MHz core delivering 16 MIPS handles polling, debouncing, and LED/RGB animation without offloading. PIC24FJ256GB610-I/PT pairs as a lower-cost industrial-grade companion when -40C to +85C suffices.
Recommended
USB Mass Storage / CDC Bridge
With USB OTG host capability, the PIC24FJ256GB610-E/PT can act as a mass-storage bridge for SD cards or external flash, a CDC virtual COM port, or an MTP media device. The 32 KB RAM supports typical FAT32 sector buffers (512B-4KB) and USB endpoint RAM, while 256 KB Flash accommodates the Microchip USB stack plus file-system libraries. PPS remapping simplifies PCB routing for SD-card sockets and USB connectors. PIC24FJ1024GB610-I/BG is the natural upgrade path for 1 MB firmware + dual USB roles.
Recommended
Automotive Body and HMI Controller
The PIC24FJ256GB610-E/PT carries AEC-Q100 qualification and the extended -40C to +125C automotive temperature grade, making it suitable for body controllers, HVAC HMI panels, steering-wheel switch modules, and USB-charging port controllers. The CTMU peripheral drives up to 64 capacitive-touch buttons for seamless HMI panels without mechanical switches, while USB OTG supports CarPlay/Android-Auto accessory emulation. PPS eases the PCB routing burden in space-constrained dashboard modules. PIC24FJ256GA610T-I/BG is the CAN-bus alternative when USB is not needed.
Recommended
Low-Power Sensor Hub with Touch
XLP (eXtreme Low Power) technology and the CTMU peripheral make the PIC24FJ256GB610-E/PT a strong fit for battery-powered sensor hubs that wake on touch or RTC events. Sleep currents below 1 uA with full RAM retention extend coin-cell life to years, while 85 GPIO can scan large capacitive-touch matrices. The 32 KB RAM hosts sensor-fusion buffers and BLE/Sub-GHz radio command stacks via SPI. PIC24FJ32KA304-I/PT serves as a sub-$2 companion for simpler 32 KB Flash sensor nodes.
Recommended
Industrial HMI Touch Panel
Industrial HMI panels combine capacitive-touch buttons, segmented or TFT displays, and fieldbus connectivity. The PIC24FJ256GB610-E/PT drives up to 64 CTMU touch channels, multiple SPI/I2C displays, and either USB or UART/CAN interfaces from a single 100-TQFP package. The hardware crypto engine accelerates AES-128/256 for secure fieldbus authentication, while dual-partition Flash supports Live Update firmware rollbacks in 24/7 industrial deployments. PIC24FJ128GB412T-I/BG is a lower-cost option for simpler HMIs.
Recommended
Edge IoT Node with Live Firmware Update
The PIC24FJ256GB610-E/PT's dual-partition Flash and Live Update feature allow over-the-air firmware updates with safe rollback - critical for remote edge IoT nodes where physical access is impractical. 256 KB Flash hosts the OTA bootloader plus the active application partition, while 32 KB RAM runs TCP/IP stacks (Microchip MLA) over Wi-Fi or Sub-GHz radio modules via SPI. PIC24FJ1024GB610-I/BG is the upgrade path when application firmware exceeds 256 KB and USB connectivity must be retained.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC24FJ256GB610-E/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC24FJ256GB610-I/PT | PIC24FJ256GB610T-I/PT | PIC24FJ1024GA610-I/PT | PIC24FJ256GA610T-I/BG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | TQFP-100 (12x12 mm) | TQFP-100 (12x12 mm) | TQFP-100 (12x12 mm) | TQFP-100 (12x12 mm) | BGA-121 - NOT pin-compatible, requires PCB rework |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 1 MB (4x) | 256 KB |
| USB OTG | Yes (USB 2.0 FS OTG) | Yes (USB 2.0 FS OTG) | Yes (USB 2.0 FS OTG) | No (drops USB, adds CAN) | No (drops USB, adds CAN) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (extended) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) | -40C to +85C (industrial) |
| AEC-Q100 Automotive | Yes | No (industrial only) | No (industrial only) | No (industrial only) | No (industrial only) |
| RAM | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB |
| Max CPU Speed | 32 MHz (16 MIPS) | 32 MHz (16 MIPS) | 32 MHz (16 MIPS) | 32 MHz (16 MIPS) | 32 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Unit Price (qty 1, as of 2026-09-30) | $6.95 | ~$5.80 | ~$5.95 | ~$9.50 | ~$7.40 |
| Lifecycle Status | NRND (Not Recommended for new designs) | NRND | NRND | Active | Active |
Key Differentiators
- Only 100-TQFP option with both USB OTG AND AEC-Q100 qualification (vs PIC24FJ1024GA610-I/PT)
- Integrated hardware crypto engine vs software-only stacks (vs PIC24FJ256GA610T-I/BG)
- Dual-partition Flash with Live Update vs single-partition (vs PIC24FJ128GB606-I/MR)
- Extended automotive temp grade vs industrial grade (vs PIC24FJ256GB610-I/PT)
Design Notes
Place a 10 uF bulk capacitor plus a 100 nF ceramic decoupling cap on each VDD/VSS pair. The PIC24FJ256GB610-E/PT has four VDD pins (digital, analog, PLL, USB transceiver) and matching VSS pins. Without proper decoupling, the USB Full-Speed transceiver can induce ground bounce that disrupts ADC readings. Estimated: with VDD=3.3 V, 32 MHz active current is approximately 25 mA; with USB suspended and CPU in Idle mode the figure drops to 8-10 mA per the family datasheet's DC characteristics chapter.
Route the 48 MHz USB clock and the D+/D- pair as a 90-ohm differential pair with 0.25 mm trace width on a controlled-impedance stackup. Place the USB connector within 25 mm of the D+/D- pins to minimize reflections and EMI. Keep the USB DP/DN traces away from switching power inductors and the analog ADC inputs to prevent coupling. The exposed thermal pad under the TQFP-100 should be soldered to a continuous GND pour with at least 8 thermal vias to the inner ground plane.
Avoid mapping conflicting peripherals to the same physical pin via Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) - a common lockup cause. Initialize PPS in a deterministic order, and never reconfigure PPS registers from interrupt context. Always verify the PPS input/output mapping table in the datasheet before PCB layout; a remapped peripheral may not be available on the pin you originally routed. Estimated: enabling more than 32 PPS remapped pins simultaneously can cause IO throughput stalls on this 16 MIPS core.
The PIC24FJ256GB610-E/PT is rated for -40C to +125C junction temperature but at full 32 MHz active load and 3.6 V supply the device draws 25-30 mA, dissipating 80-110 mW. In a sealed automotive enclosure without airflow, the junction can rise 20-30C above ambient. Solder the thermal pad of the 100-TQFP to a 1 cm^2 GND pour with 8 thermal vias to keep theta_JA below 30 C/W. Estimated: at 85C ambient, a theta_JA of 30 C/W yields a junction rise of approximately 3C, leaving 42C thermal margin.
Compliance Information
AEC-Q100 qualified per Microchip's automotive-grade product catalog. RoHS and lead-free per Microchip product page. Family is marked NRND - plan migration for new designs.