PIC24FJ256GL405-I/PT - 16-bit 256KB Flash LCD MCU, 48-TQFP
MPN: PIC24FJ256GL405-I/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.45 | $4.45 |
| 10 | $4.05 | $40.50 |
| 100 | $3.5 | $350.00 |
| 500 | $3.1 | $1,550.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.75 | $2,750.00 |
PIC24FJ256GL405-I/PT Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, non-volatile program memory (Flash), volatile working memory (RAM), and a rich set of peripherals such as timers, communication interfaces, ADCs, and increasingly domain-specific blocks like LCD segment drivers or USB transceivers. The PIC24FJ family sits in the 16-bit microcontrollers tier of the broader embedded computing taxonomy: 8-bit MCUs -> 16-bit MCUs -> 32-bit ARM Cortex MCUs -> application processors. PIC24F parts in particular target low-power, LCD-driven human-machine interface (HMI) products where battery life and segment display integration matter more than raw CPU throughput.
Key features of the PIC24FJ256GL405-I/PT include 256KB of Flash with Error-Correcting Code (ECC), 32KB RAM, hardware LCD segment driver, full-speed USB 2.0 FS, multiple Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs), 12-bit ADC, up to 21 analog channels, and multiple capture/compare/PWM modules. Dual Partition Flash allows a backup image to be stored so a failed firmware update can roll back automatically, which is essential for unattended IoT endpoints.
Architecturally, the PIC24FJ256GL405 uses a 16-bit modified Harvard core with separate program and data buses, allowing simultaneous instruction fetch and data access. The ECC-protected Flash stores both code and emulated EEPROM, while CIPs such as CLC, MCCP, and DMA let designers offload tasks from the CPU to lower active run-time and reduce average power consumption in sleep-dominated duty cycles.
Typical applications include battery-powered smart thermostats, wearable health monitors, e-meter displays, industrial sensor hubs with LCD readouts, USB-CDC/HID peripherals, and consumer appliances with segmented LCDs. The integrated LCD, USB, and OTA firmware make it a strong fit for connected HMI products that must run for years on a coin cell or two AA cells.
When designing with this MCU, pay attention to decoupling near the VDD/VSS pairs and route the USB DP/DNM lines as a 90 ohm differential pair. For OTA, leave at least one Dual Partition slot fully programmed as the golden image so a watchdog-assisted rollback can recover from corrupt updates.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC24FJ256GL405-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 PIC24FJ256GL405-I/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, USB, ADC, Core Architecture.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC24FJ256GL405-E/PT
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View Datasheet →PIC24FJ128GL405-I/PT
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✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
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View Datasheet →PIC24FJ128GL410T-I/PT
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View Datasheet →PIC24FJ256GU410-I/PT
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
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View Datasheet →PIC24FJ256GL405-I/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC24F 16-bit modified Harvard |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 256 KB (with ECC) |
| Data Memory (RAM) | 32 KB |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial, '-I' suffix) |
| Package | 48-pin TQFP (7x7 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Flash Partition | Dual Partition (OTA-capable) |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed device |
| LCD Driver | Integrated segmented LCD controller |
| MSL Level | MSL 3 (per JEDEC J-STD-020) |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | Lead-free, RoHS compliant |
PIC24FJ256GL405-I/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | SDA3/RP15/RB15 — I2C3 data / remappable peripheral / GPIO RB15 |
| Pin 2 | SCL3/RP14/RB14 — I2C3 clock / remappable peripheral / GPIO RB14 |
| Pin 3 | RP13/RB13 — Remappable peripheral / GPIO RB13 |
| Pin 4 | RP12/RB12 — Remappable peripheral / GPIO RB12 |
| Pin 5 | VUSB3V3 — USB internal 3.3V regulator output (bypass required) |
| Pin 6 | VDD — Digital supply voltage (2.0V-3.6V) |
| Pin 7 | DNM — USB D- line (Full-Speed) |
| Pin 8 | DP — USB D+ line (Full-Speed) |
| Pin 9 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 10 | OSCI/CLKI/RC12 — Crystal oscillator input / external clock / GPIO RC12 |
| Pin 11 | OSCO/CLKO/RC15 — Crystal oscillator output / GPIO RC15 |
| Pin 12 | RP9/RC9 — Remappable peripheral / GPIO RC9 |
| Pin 13 | RP10/RC10 — Remappable peripheral / GPIO RC10 |
| Pin 14 | RP11/RC11 — Remappable peripheral / GPIO RC11 |
| Pin 15 | SEG0 — LCD segment output 0 |
| Pin 16 | SEG1 — LCD segment output 1 |
| Pin 17 | SEG2 — LCD segment output 2 |
| Pin 18 | SEG3 — LCD segment output 3 |
| Pin 19 | SEG4 — LCD segment output 4 |
| Pin 20 | SEG5 — LCD segment output 5 |
| Pin 21 | SEG6/COM0 — LCD segment 6 / common 0 (multiplexed) |
| Pin 22 | SEG7/COM1 — LCD segment 7 / common 1 (multiplexed) |
| Pin 23 | SEG8/COM2 — LCD segment 8 / common 2 (multiplexed) |
| Pin 24 | SEG9/COM3 — LCD segment 9 / common 3 (multiplexed) |
| Pin 25 | VLCD3 — LCD bias voltage 3 |
| Pin 26 | VLCD2 — LCD bias voltage 2 |
| Pin 27 | VLCD1 — LCD bias voltage 1 |
| Pin 28 | AVDD — Analog supply voltage |
| Pin 29 | AVSS — Analog ground |
| Pin 30 | AN0/CVD0 — ADC analog input 0 / CVD input 0 |
| Pin 31 | AN1/CVD1 — ADC analog input 1 / CVD input 1 |
| Pin 32 | AN2 — ADC analog input 2 |
| Pin 33 | AN3 — ADC analog input 3 |
| Pin 34 | AN4 — ADC analog input 4 |
| Pin 35 | AN5 — ADC analog input 5 |
| Pin 36 | AN6 — ADC analog input 6 |
| Pin 37 | AN7 — ADC analog input 7 |
| Pin 38 | MCLR — Master clear (reset) input, active-low |
| Pin 39 | VDD — Digital supply voltage (2.0V-3.6V) |
| Pin 40 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 41 | RA0 — GPIO RA0 |
| Pin 42 | RA1 — GPIO RA1 |
| Pin 43 | RP5/RA5 — Remappable peripheral / GPIO RA5 |
| Pin 44 | RP6/RA6 — Remappable peripheral / GPIO RA6 |
| Pin 45 | RP7/RA7 — Remappable peripheral / GPIO RA7 |
| Pin 46 | RP8/RA8 — Remappable peripheral / GPIO RA8 |
| Pin 47 | RP0/RA9 — Remappable peripheral / GPIO RA9 |
| Pin 48 | RP1/RA10 — Remappable peripheral / GPIO RA10 |
Typical Applications
PIC24FJ256GL405-I/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Smart Thermostat with Segmented LCD, Battery-Powered Wearable Health Monitor, USB-CDC / HID Smart Sensor Hub, Industrial E-Meter / Utility Display, Consumer Appliance with LCD HMI, IoT Edge Node with Secure OTA.
Smart Thermostat with Segmented LCD
The PIC24FJ256GL405-I/PT's integrated segmented LCD controller drives a typical 4- to 8-segment-per-digit temperature and status display directly, eliminating an external LCD driver IC and saving roughly $0.30 to $0.60 of BOM cost. With 256KB ECC Flash and Dual Partition OTA, designers can safely push seasonal firmware updates to deployed thermostats without risk of bricking the unit. The 32KB RAM handles capacitive-touch key scanning buffers and Zigbee/BLE co-processor command queues comfortably.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Wearable Health Monitor
Wearable health monitors demand ultra-low sleep current and enough Flash to hold BLE stack, sensor-fusion firmware, and OTA images. The PIC24FJ256GL405-I/PT's 2.0V minimum supply lets the design run from a single CR2032 down to end-of-life, while its Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) sample the heart-rate sensor and accelerometer in deep sleep without waking the CPU, extending battery life by 2x to 4x versus a polled-only architecture.
Recommended
USB-CDC / HID Smart Sensor Hub
For USB-tethered sensor hubs used in lab automation or industrial test, the PIC24FJ256GL405-I/PT provides on-chip USB 2.0 Full-Speed with no external PHY, cutting BOM and simplifying FCC/USB-IF compliance. The 16 MIPS core is sufficient for polling 8-12 sensors at 100 Hz while running a CDC virtual COM port at 12 Mbps. Dual Partition OTA via USB allows field engineers to push new calibration firmware without opening the enclosure.
Recommended
Industrial E-Meter / Utility Display
Smart electricity meters require 10+ year battery life on a lithium primary cell plus a high-contrast segmented LCD for kWh and tariff readouts. The PIC24FJ256GL405-I/PT's low-power PIC24F core, integrated LCD segment driver, and 256KB Flash for tariff scheduling fit this application well. The Extended (-E) variant adds headroom for outdoor enclosures where the meter may see -30 C to +85 C ambient swings.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance with LCD HMI
Coffee machines, washing machines, and air purifiers typically need a segmented LCD for time/temperature display plus USB service-port diagnostics. The PIC24FJ256GL405-I/PT drives the LCD directly and exposes USB for firmware updates by service technicians. The Dual Partition Flash ensures a failed update cannot brick the appliance in the field, which is critical for warranty cost control.
Recommended
IoT Edge Node with Secure OTA
Edge IoT nodes that collect sensor data and forward over LoRa, NB-IoT, or sub-GHz radios need a low-power MCU capable of secure firmware updates. The PIC24FJ256GL405-I/PT's Dual Partition Flash enables A/B image updates with automatic rollback, while the PIC24F sleep modes and CIPs keep average current under 5 uA. The 256KB Flash comfortably holds an ECC-protected image plus a Golden Image backup for fail-safe recovery.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC24FJ256GL405-I/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC24FJ256GL405-E/PT | PIC24FJ128GL405-I/PT | PIC24FJ128GL406-I/PT | PIC24FJ128GL410T-I/PT | PIC24FJ256GU410-I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 48-pin TQFP (7x7 mm) | 48-pin TQFP (7x7 mm) - same | 48-pin TQFP (7x7 mm) - same | 48-pin TQFP (7x7 mm) - same | 48-pin TQFP (7x7 mm) - same | 48-pin TQFP (7x7 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 256 KB (ECC) | 256 KB (ECC) | 128 KB (ECC) - 50% less | 128 KB (ECC) - 50% less | 128 KB (ECC) - 50% less | 256 KB (ECC) |
| Data Memory (RAM) | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +125 C (Extended) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Integrated LCD Driver | Yes (segmented LCD) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed Device | USB 2.0 Full-Speed Device | USB 2.0 Full-Speed Device | USB 2.0 Full-Speed Device | USB 2.0 Full-Speed Device | USB 2.0 Full-Speed Host/Device/OTG |
| Dual Partition OTA Flash | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated segmented LCD controller on-chip (vs PIC24FJ256GA705-I/PT (general-purpose, no LCD))
- Dual Partition OTA Flash with ECC (vs PIC24FJ256GB110-I/PT (single partition))
- USB 2.0 Full-Speed with on-chip transceiver (vs PIC24FJ256DA106-I/PT (no USB))
Design Notes
Estimated: at 32 MHz active and 3.3V supply, the PIC24FJ256GL405-I/PT typically draws about 8 to 10 mA active and under 5 uA in deep sleep. Use a 10 uF bulk + 100 nF decoupling pair on each VDD/VSS pin pair, and place them within 3 mm of the pins. If running from a coin cell, gate the LCD bias network with a TPS22918 load switch to drop standby current below 1 uA total.
Route the USB DP and DNM pair as a 90 ohm differential with matching lengths to within 150 mil. Keep DP/DNM away from switching regulators and clock traces by at least 5 mm. Per the Microchip datasheet, place the VUSB3V3 bypass capacitor (4.7 uF) as close to pin 5 as possible; missing this cap is a common cause of USB enumeration failures.
Do not omit the AVDD/AVSS power pins even if you do not use the ADC - the PIC24FJ256GL405-I/PT datasheet requires AVDD tied to VDD and AVSS tied to VSS for correct operation of the bandgap and core voltage regulator. Also, when using Dual Partition OTA, always program a verified Golden Image into the inactive partition so the bootloader can roll back automatically on a corrupt update.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified (the -E temperature variant is for extended industrial, not automotive).
