PIC24FJ256GL406T-I/MR - 16-bit MCU, 256KB Flash, USB, LCD | Microchip
MPN: PIC24FJ256GL406T-I/MR ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.2 | $4.20 |
| 10 | $3.78 | $37.80 |
| 100 | $3.36 | $336.00 |
| 500 | $2.95 | $1,475.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.65 | $2,650.00 |
| 3,000 | $2.4 | $7,200.00 |
PIC24FJ256GL406T-I/MR Overview
A 16-bit PIC microcontroller is a member of the higher-performance 16-bit MCU category, sitting between 8-bit AVR/PIC MCUs and 32-bit ARM Cortex-M devices. Within the system hierarchy, PIC24F parts belong to the Microcontroller > Embedded Processor > Integrated Circuit taxonomy. The 16-bit modified Harvard architecture balances deterministic interrupt response, rich peripherals, and low power - making PIC24F MCUs common in consumer appliances, industrial sensors, USB human-interface devices, and battery-powered metering where 8-bit cores are too slow but 32-bit MCUs are over-spec.
Key features include hardware crypto engine, segmented LCD controller for up to 512 pixels, 12-bit ADC with 16 channels, multiple UART/SPI/I2C interfaces, and eXtreme Low Power (XLP) sleep modes drawing under 1 uA. The dual-partition Flash and EEPROM emulation reduce BOM cost by eliminating external memory chips. The 64-QFN package offers compact layout for space-constrained HMI modules.
Typical applications include secure IoT nodes with OTA firmware, USB HID peripherals, metering displays with LCD, automotive AEC-Q100 dashboard sub-modules, and low-power sensor hubs. The wide peripheral integration reduces external components, supporting compact PCB designs with fewer layers.
Design tip: the dual-partition Flash requires careful linker script configuration to partition A/B blocks correctly. Refer to Microchip application note TB3134 for OTA reference implementation patterns. AECs and standard PIC24F IDE toolchains (MPLAB X, XC16 compiler) support this device fully.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC24FJ256GL406T-I/MR — 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 PIC24FJ256GL406T-I/MR (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, USB, Operating Temperature, I/O Pins.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC24FJ256GL406-I/MR
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View Datasheet →PIC24FJ128GL406-I/MR
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View Datasheet →PIC24FJ256GA406-I/MR
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View Datasheet →PIC24FJ256GL406T-I/MR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC 16-bit modified Harvard |
| CPU Speed (MIPS) | 16 MIPS |
| Clock Frequency | 32 MHz max |
| Program Flash | 256 KB (256K x 8) |
| SRAM | 32 KB |
| Flash Type | Dual-partition Flash with ECC |
| EEPROM Emulation | Yes (in Flash) |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed |
| LCD Controller | Segmented LCD, up to 512 pixels |
| ADC | 12-bit, 16 channels |
| Package | 64-pin QFN (9x9 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| AEC-Q100 | Qualified (Automotive grade variant) |
PIC24FJ256GL406T-I/MR Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RB0/AN0 — Port B bit 0 / ADC analog input 0 |
| Pin 2 | RB1/AN1 — Port B bit 1 / ADC analog input 1 |
| Pin 3 | RB2/AN2 — Port B bit 2 / ADC analog input 2 |
| Pin 4 | RB3/AN3 — Port B bit 3 / ADC analog input 3 |
| Pin 5 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 6 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 7 | RB4/AN4 — Port B bit 4 / ADC analog input 4 |
| Pin 8 | RB5/AN5 — Port B bit 5 / ADC analog input 5 |
| Pin 9 | RB6/AN6 — Port B bit 6 / ADC analog input 6 |
| Pin 10 | RB7/AN7 — Port B bit 7 / ADC analog input 7 |
| Pin 11 | RC0 — Port C bit 0 |
| Pin 12 | RC1 — Port C bit 1 |
| Pin 13 | RC2 — Port C bit 2 |
| Pin 14 | RC3 — Port C bit 3 |
| Pin 15 | RC4 — Port C bit 4 |
| Pin 16 | RC5 — Port C bit 5 |
| Pin 17 | RC6 — Port C bit 6 |
| Pin 18 | RC7 — Port C bit 7 |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 20 | VDD — Positive supply |
| Pin 21 | RD0 — Port D bit 0 |
| Pin 22 | RD1 — Port D bit 1 |
| Pin 23 | RD2 — Port D bit 2 |
| Pin 24 | RD3 — Port D bit 3 |
| Pin 25 | RD4 — Port D bit 4 |
| Pin 26 | RD5 — Port D bit 5 |
| Pin 27 | RD6 — Port D bit 6 |
| Pin 28 | RD7 — Port D bit 7 |
| Pin 29 | RE0 — Port E bit 0 |
| Pin 30 | RE1 — Port E bit 1 |
| Pin 31 | RE2 — Port E bit 2 |
| Pin 32 | RE3 — Port E bit 3 |
| Pin 33 | RE4 — Port E bit 4 |
| Pin 34 | RE5 — Port E bit 5 |
| Pin 35 | RE6 — Port E bit 6 |
| Pin 36 | RE7 — Port E bit 7 |
| Pin 37 | RF0 — Port F bit 0 |
| Pin 38 | RF1 — Port F bit 1 |
| Pin 39 | RF2 — Port F bit 2 |
| Pin 40 | RF3 — Port F bit 3 |
| Pin 41 | RF4 — Port F bit 4 |
| Pin 42 | RF5 — Port F bit 5 |
| Pin 43 | RF6 — Port F bit 6 |
| Pin 44 | RF7 — Port F bit 7 |
| Pin 45 | RG0 — Port G bit 0 |
| Pin 46 | RG1 — Port G bit 1 |
| Pin 47 | RG2 — Port G bit 2 |
| Pin 48 | RG3 — Port G bit 3 |
| Pin 49 | RG6 — Port G bit 6 |
| Pin 50 | RG7 — Port G bit 7 |
| Pin 51 | RG8 — Port G bit 8 |
| Pin 52 | RG9 — Port G bit 9 |
| Pin 53 | MCLR — Master clear reset input |
| Pin 54 | OSC1 — Oscillator input |
| Pin 55 | OSC2 — Oscillator output |
| Pin 56 | SOSCO — Secondary oscillator output |
| Pin 57 | SOSCI — Secondary oscillator input |
| Pin 58 | D+ — USB D+ data line |
| Pin 59 | D- — USB D- data line |
| Pin 60 | VBUS — USB VBUS detect |
| Pin 61 | VUSB — USB internal regulator output |
| Pin 62 | AVDD — Analog supply |
| Pin 63 | AVSS — Analog ground |
| Pin 64 | EP — Exposed thermal pad (connect to ground) |
Typical Applications
PIC24FJ256GL406T-I/MR is suitable for 6 applications: Secure IoT Sensor Nodes with OTA, USB HID Peripherals, Metering Displays with LCD, Automotive Dashboard Sub-modules, Industrial Sensor Hubs, Low-Power Wearable Devices.
Secure IoT Sensor Nodes with OTA
The PIC24FJ256GL406T-I/MR's 256 KB dual-partition Flash with ECC is purpose-built for IoT endpoints that need reliable over-the-air firmware upgrades. The 32 KB SRAM accommodates TLS/DTLS stacks, and the XLP sleep modes drop current below 1 uA for battery longevity over multi-year deployments. Engineers typically pair this MCU with an ATECC608B secure element and an RN4871 BLE module for complete wireless nodes.
Recommended
USB HID Peripherals
With on-chip USB 2.0 full-speed, internal 3.3V regulator, and 16 MIPS of CPU throughput, the PIC24FJ256GL406T-I/MR is ideal for USB keyboards, mice, game controllers, and custom HID-class devices. The internal pull-up resistors eliminate external components, and 32 KB SRAM comfortably handles USB descriptors and protocol stacks. Reference Microchip AN1227 for HID firmware templates and USB stack integration.
Recommended
Metering Displays with LCD
The integrated segmented LCD controller drives up to 512 pixels, supporting multi-digit utility meters, weigh scales, and home appliance HMIs. The 256 KB Flash stores multilingual display fonts and metering firmware, while the 16-channel 12-bit ADC reads sensor inputs at 200 ksps. A typical reference design uses a 4x40 segment LCD and an SPI-connected ePaper backup display for redundancy.
Recommended
Automotive Dashboard Sub-modules
AEC-Q100 qualified variants of the GL406 family suit automotive interior sub-modules such as climate controls, mirror modules, and steering-wheel switch readers. The wide operating temperature range and robust ESD performance meet OEM requirements. The 32 KB SRAM buffers CAN/LIN communication, and the segmented LCD driver supports instrument-cluster style displays. Reference Microchip AN2821 for automotive touch-button design.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Hubs
The PIC24FJ256GL406T-I/MR's CIPs (Core Independent Peripherals) like CLC, PWM, and event system enable sensor-fusion hubs that wake on threshold events without CPU intervention. Industrial sensors, Modbus gateways, and predictive-maintenance nodes benefit from sub-microamp sleep currents and deterministic 16 MIPS performance. Reference TB3134 for OTA reference implementation in industrial settings.
Recommended
Low-Power Wearable Devices
Battery-powered wearables such as fitness bands, hearing-aid remote controls, and medical monitors benefit from the GL406's XLP modes and integrated segmented LCD. The 256 KB Flash accommodates BLE stack libraries and application code simultaneously, and the 64-QFN's 9x9 mm footprint suits compact enclosures. Total quiescent current under 1 uA extends coin-cell operation to multi-year life.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC24FJ256GL406T-I/MR — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC24FJ256GL406-I/MR | PIC24FJ256GL406T-I/PT | PIC24FJ128GL406-I/MR | PIC24FJ256GA406-I/MR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-QFN (9x9 mm) | 64-QFN (9x9 mm) | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) | 64-QFN (9x9 mm) | 64-QFN (9x9 mm) |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB | 256 KB |
| SRAM | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB |
| Dual-Partition Flash | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| USB | Full-Speed | Full-Speed | Full-Speed | Full-Speed | Full-Speed |
| LCD Controller | Yes (segmented) | Yes (segmented) | Yes (segmented) | Yes (segmented) | Yes (segmented) |
| Automotive Qualified | Yes (AEC-Q100) | Industrial | Yes (AEC-Q100) | Industrial | Industrial |
Key Differentiators
- Dual-partition Flash with ECC (vs PIC24FJ256GA406-I/MR)
- Higher RAM capacity (vs PIC24FJ256GA406-I/MR)
- Automotive grade option in same package (vs PIC24FJ128GL406-I/MR)
Design Notes
Place 100 nF and 10 uF decoupling capacitors as close as possible to every VDD/VSS pin pair of the PIC24FJ256GL406T-I/MR. The device includes an internal USB voltage regulator (VUSB pin) which also requires its own 1 uF decoupling cap. According to Microchip TB3134, placing a ferrite bead on VUSB prevents noise coupling into analog sections.
The 64-QFN package exposes a thermal pad (EP) on pin 64 that must be soldered to a copper pour on the PCB for heat dissipation. Estimated: at 32 MHz full-speed operation with all peripherals active, typical current draw is 25-30 mA. Thermal resistance theta_JA is approximately 28 C/W for the 9x9 mm QFN with proper pad soldering, keeping junction rise well below 10 C in most use cases.
Keep the USB D+/D- traces short, matched in length, and routed over a continuous ground plane for 90 ohm differential impedance. Avoid stubs and vias in the USB differential pair. According to Microchip AN1227, the VBUS detect pin should be tied through a divider to monitor USB attach events; EMI common-mode chokes are recommended for FCC compliance on production boards.
Do not forget to configure the dual-partition Flash linker script for OTA updates - the default linker maps code to a single partition and breaks OTA. The MCLR pin requires a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD; leaving it floating can cause spurious resets. Configure the SOSC pins for secondary oscillator use or leave them NC with SOSC disabled in configuration bits to avoid power consumption.
Compliance Information
AEC-Q100 qualified for automotive per DigiKey listing 12177854. RoHS and REACH compliant. Lead-free and halogen-free packaging per Microchip product literature.
