PIC24FJ256GL408-I/PT - 16-Bit MCU, 256KB Flash, LCD, USB | Microchip
MPN: PIC24FJ256GL408-I/PT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $14.85 | $14.85 |
| 10 | $13.42 | $134.20 |
| 100 | $11.95 | $1,195.00 |
| 500 | $10.55 | $5,275.00 |
| 1,000 | $9.42 | $9,420.00 |
PIC24FJ256GL408-I/PT Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, memory (Flash/RAM), and programmable peripherals. The 'F' suffix indicates a Flash-based PIC24F device, while 'J' denotes the enhanced 16-bit core. Within the broader taxonomy, this part sits as: PIC24FJ → 16-bit MCU → microcontroller → embedded processor → semiconductor. This positioning makes it well-suited for human-machine interface (HMI) applications where integrated LCD drive and USB connectivity reduce system BOM.
Key features include core-independent peripherals (CIPs) such as Configurable Logic Cells (CLC), Multiple Output Capture/Compare/PWM, and a 12-bit ADC with up to 24 channels. The integrated segmented LCD driver supports up to 480 segments with contrast control, and hardware crypto accelerators (AES/SHA) are available on select family members. The 32MHz operation at 3.3V delivers 16 MIPS, while eXtreme Low-Power technology enables deep sleep currents in the microampere range for battery-operated designs.
Typical applications include industrial control panels, medical monitoring devices with LCD readouts, e-metering/HVAC thermostats, USB-connected sensor hubs, and OTA-updatable IoT edge nodes. The dual-partition Flash architecture is especially valuable for in-field firmware upgrades where maintaining a known-good image is critical.
When designing with this MCU, allocate pin mapping early since the 80-pin TQFP offers a generous but bounded I/O count. Use the integrated LCD charge pump to bias the display, and leverage the DMA engine to offload data movement from the core for sustained USB throughput.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC24FJ256GL408-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 PIC24FJ256GL408-I/PT (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, USB, Core Architecture, LCD Controller.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC24FJ256GL408-E/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24FJ128GL410-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.32 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24FJ256GB610-I/PT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.64 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24FJ256GL408-I/PT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | PIC24F (16-bit Harvard) |
| Program Flash | 256 KB (256K x 8) with ECC |
| RAM | 32 KB |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz (16 MIPS) |
| Supply Voltage | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C (Industrial) |
| Package | 80-TQFP (12x12 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| ADC | 12-bit, up to 24 channels |
| USB | Full-Speed USB 2.0 (Device/Host/OTG) |
| LCD Controller | Integrated segment LCD, up to 480 segments |
| Core-Independent Peripherals | CLC, MCCP, DMA, CRC |
| Crypto Acceleration | AES/SHA (family feature) |
| Flash Partitioning | Dual Partition, OTA support, EEPROM emulation |
| MSL Level | 3 (168 hours) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Pitch | 0.5 mm |
PIC24FJ256GL408-I/PT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RP15/RD15 — Remappable I/O / Port D bit 15 |
| Pin 2 | RP14/RD14 — Remappable I/O / Port D bit 14 |
| Pin 3 | RP13/RD13 — Remappable I/O / Port D bit 13 |
| Pin 4 | RP12/RD12 — Remappable I/O / Port D bit 12 |
| Pin 5 | RP11/RD11 — Remappable I/O / Port D bit 11 |
| Pin 6 | RP10/RD10 — Remappable I/O / Port D bit 10 |
| Pin 7 | RP9/RD9 — Remappable I/O / Port D bit 9 |
| Pin 8 | RP8/RD8 — Remappable I/O / Port D bit 8 |
| Pin 9 | RP7/RD7 — Remappable I/O / Port D bit 7 |
| Pin 10 | RP6/RD6 — Remappable I/O / Port D bit 6 |
| Pin 11 | RP5/RD5 — Remappable I/O / Port D bit 5 |
| Pin 12 | RP4/RD4 — Remappable I/O / Port D bit 4 |
| Pin 13 | RP3/RD3 — Remappable I/O / Port D bit 3 |
| Pin 14 | RP2/RD2 — Remappable I/O / Port D bit 2 |
| Pin 15 | RP1/RD1 — Remappable I/O / Port D bit 1 |
| Pin 16 | RP0/RD0 — Remappable I/O / Port D bit 0 |
| Pin 17 | VCAP — Voltage regulator output decoupling |
| Pin 18 | RG15 — Port G bit 15 |
| Pin 19 | RG14 — Port G bit 14 |
| Pin 20 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 21 | VDD — Supply voltage |
| Pin 22 | RG13 — Port G bit 13 |
| Pin 23 | RG12 — Port G bit 12 |
| Pin 24 | RG11 — Port G bit 11 |
| Pin 25 | RG10 — Port G bit 10 |
| Pin 26 | RG9 — Port G bit 9 |
| Pin 27 | RG8 — Port G bit 8 |
| Pin 28 | RG7 — Port G bit 7 |
| Pin 29 | RG6 — Port G bit 6 |
| Pin 30 | RG5 — Port G bit 5 |
| Pin 31 | RG4 — Port G bit 4 |
| Pin 32 | RG3 — Port G bit 3 |
| Pin 33 | RG2 — Port G bit 2 |
| Pin 34 | RG1 — Port G bit 1 |
| Pin 35 | RG0 — Port G bit 0 |
| Pin 36 | RA15 — Port A bit 15 |
| Pin 37 | RA14 — Port A bit 14 |
| Pin 38 | RA13 — Port A bit 13 |
| Pin 39 | RA12 — Port A bit 12 |
| Pin 40 | RA11 — Port A bit 11 |
| Pin 41 | RA10 — Port A bit 10 |
| Pin 42 | RA9 — Port A bit 9 |
| Pin 43 | RA8 — Port A bit 8 |
| Pin 44 | RA7 — Port A bit 7 |
| Pin 45 | RA6 — Port A bit 6 |
| Pin 46 | RA5 — Port A bit 5 |
| Pin 47 | RA4 — Port A bit 4 |
| Pin 48 | RA3 — Port A bit 3 |
| Pin 49 | RA2 — Port A bit 2 |
| Pin 50 | RA1 — Port A bit 1 |
| Pin 51 | RA0 — Port A bit 0 |
| Pin 52 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 53 | VDD — Supply voltage |
| Pin 54 | RB15 — Port B bit 15 |
| Pin 55 | RB14 — Port B bit 14 |
| Pin 56 | RB13 — Port B bit 13 |
| Pin 57 | RB12 — Port B bit 12 |
| Pin 58 | RB11 — Port B bit 11 |
| Pin 59 | RB10 — Port B bit 10 |
| Pin 60 | RB9 — Port B bit 9 |
| Pin 61 | RB8 — Port B bit 8 |
| Pin 62 | RB7 — Port B bit 7 |
| Pin 63 | RB6 — Port B bit 6 |
| Pin 64 | RB5 — Port B bit 5 |
| Pin 65 | RB4 — Port B bit 4 |
| Pin 66 | RB3 — Port B bit 3 |
| Pin 67 | RB2 — Port B bit 2 |
| Pin 68 | RB1 — Port B bit 1 |
| Pin 69 | RB0 — Port B bit 0 |
| Pin 70 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 71 | VDD — Supply voltage |
| Pin 72 | RC15 — Port C bit 15 |
| Pin 73 | RC14 — Port C bit 14 |
| Pin 74 | RC13 — Port C bit 13 |
| Pin 75 | RC12 — Port C bit 12 |
| Pin 76 | RC11 — Port C bit 11 |
| Pin 77 | RC10 — Port C bit 10 |
| Pin 78 | RC9 — Port C bit 9 |
| Pin 79 | RC8 — Port C bit 8 |
| Pin 80 | MCLR — Master clear (reset) |
Typical Applications
PIC24FJ256GL408-I/PT is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial HMI Control Panels, Medical Monitoring Devices, E-Metering and Smart Thermostats, USB Sensor Hubs and Data Loggers, OTA-Updatable IoT Edge Nodes, Automotive Dashboard Sub-Displays.
Industrial HMI Control Panels
The PIC24FJ256GL408-I/PT is purpose-built for industrial HMI panels where its 480-segment integrated LCD controller eliminates external LCD driver ICs, while the 256KB ECC Flash stores multilingual UI strings and 32KB RAM handles real-time keypad/scanning buffers. CIPs (CLC, MCCP) offload rotary-encoder decoding and PWM backlight control from the core, keeping CPU headroom available for communication stacks. The 32 MHz / 16 MIPS throughput drives Modbus RTU / CAN-FD / RS-485 transactions concurrently. Deep sleep currents in the microampere range extend battery-backed operation in 4-20 mA loop-powered field instruments.
Recommended
Medical Monitoring Devices
Medical devices such as glucose meters, pulse oximeters, and portable ECGs benefit from the PIC24FJ256GL408-I/PT's 256KB ECC Flash for storing patient-history logs, the 32KB RAM for sampling buffers, and the eXtreme Low-Power idle modes for extended battery life. The 12-bit ADC with up to 24 channels handles multi-sensor analog front-ends, while Full-Speed USB enables tethered data upload to host PCs. The industrial -40 C to +85 C temperature grade supports point-of-care deployment. Hardware AES/SHA on family members enables secure patient-data at rest.
Recommended
E-Metering and Smart Thermostats
The PIC24FJ256GL408-I/PT fits e-metering and HVAC thermostat designs where its dual-partition Flash with OTA capability is critical for remote firmware updates in deployed units. The 12-bit ADC accurately measures CT-derived current and AC-line voltage, while the integrated LCD drives segmented consumption displays without external driver chips. The 32KB RAM buffers energy-usage profiles, and the on-chip RTC with calendar simplifies time-of-use (TOU) tariff logic. Industrial temperature range ensures operation in unconditioned outdoor meter enclosures.
Recommended
USB Sensor Hubs and Data Loggers
Full-Speed USB 2.0 (Device/Host/OTG) on the PIC24FJ256GL408-I/PT enables USB sensor hubs that interface to a host PC for data aggregation and configuration. The 256KB Flash stores logging firmware and calibration tables, while 32KB RAM buffers multi-channel sensor samples before USB transmission. DMA channels offload packet assembly from the core, sustaining USB throughput at 12 Mbps even with concurrent ADC sampling. The 80-pin TQFP exposes ample GPIO for multi-sensor I/O expansion.
Recommended
OTA-Updatable IoT Edge Nodes
The PIC24FJ256GL408-I/PT's dual-partition Flash architecture is ideal for IoT edge nodes requiring real-time Over-The-Air firmware updates without service interruption - one partition runs while the other is being reprogrammed, then a bootloader atomic swap occurs. 256KB Flash holds full application plus OTA staging area; 32KB RAM buffers MQTT/TLS packets. eXtreme Low-Power sleep modes (down to <1 uA with RTC running) extend coin-cell or solar-powered lifetime. Hardware crypto on family members secures OTA payloads.
Recommended
Automotive Dashboard Sub-Displays
While the -I/PT industrial grade suits passenger-cabin accessories, the PIC24FJ256GL408-I/PT serves automotive dashboard sub-displays for non-safety-critical readouts like HVAC settings, audio status, or trip computers. The 480-segment LCD controller drives TN/STN segmented panels directly, while 32KB RAM handles multi-page UI buffers. USB OTG enables media-player connectivity. The 32 MHz core sustains LIN-bus communication, button matrix scanning, and display refresh concurrently via DMA and CIPs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC24FJ256GL408-I/PT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC24FJ256GL408-E/PT | PIC24FJ128GL410-I/PT | PIC24FJ256GB610-I/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 80-TQFP (PT) 12x12 mm | 80-TQFP (PT) 12x12 mm - same | 80-TQFP (PT) 12x12 mm - same | 80-TQFP (PT) 12x12 mm - same |
| Program Flash | 256 KB ECC | 256 KB ECC | 128 KB ECC | 256 KB ECC |
| RAM | 32 KB | 32 KB | 8 KB | 64 KB |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS | 32 MHz / 16 MIPS |
| USB | Full-Speed USB 2.0 | Full-Speed USB 2.0 | Full-Speed USB 2.0 | Full-Speed USB 2.0 |
| LCD Controller | Up to 480 segments | Up to 480 segments | Up to 320 segments | Up to 480 segments |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +125 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C |
Key Differentiators
- Dual-partition Flash with real-time OTA capability (vs PIC24FJ128GL410-I/PT)
- Industrial temperature grade vs extended grade (vs PIC24FJ256GL408-E/PT)
- More RAM than GL410 for buffering applications (vs PIC24FJ128GL410-I/PT)
Design Notes
Route the 80-TQFP (12x12 mm, 0.5 mm pitch) with a 4-layer PCB using a continuous ground plane beneath the package. Place 0.1 uF + 10 uF decoupling capacitors as close as possible to each VDD/VSS pair (pins 21/20, 53/52, 71/70) to suppress switching noise on the internal 1.8V regulator. Keep the VCAP pin (pin 17) trace short and isolated from noisy signal traces.
Take advantage of eXtreme Low-Power modes (Sleep, Deep Sleep, Retention) for battery-powered designs. Current draw in Deep Sleep with RTC running is typically <1 uA per the PIC24FJ GL4 datasheet. Use the on-chip LVD/LVR (Low-Voltage Detect/Reset) to gracefully handle brownout conditions, and configure the on-chip voltage regulator's BOR threshold via the configuration bits.
Allocate the LCD segment pins (shared with Port G and other multiplexed pins) early in the schematic phase because re-mapping after PCB layout requires complete board rework. Use the segmented-LCD pin manager in MPLAB X IDE to validate the segment-to-pin map before committing to layout. Maintain equal trace lengths on the LCD segment/com lines to minimize ghosting and ensure uniform contrast.
Do not leave unused I/O pins floating - configure them as outputs driven low or as inputs with the internal weak pull-up enabled to minimize current leakage in sleep mode. The MCLR pin (pin 80) must have a 10 kohm pull-up to VDD; failure to do so results in spurious resets. Also ensure the VDDCORE pin has its own 10 uF + 0.1 uF decoupling pair for the internal regulator.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Industrial temperature grade -40 C to +85 C; not AEC-Q100 qualified (choose PIC24FJ256GL408-E/PT or -H/PT for higher grades).
