PIC32MX550F256L-V/PF - 32-bit MCU, 256KB Flash, USB/CAN | Microchip
MPN: PIC32MX550F256L-V/PF ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.36 | $7.36 |
| 10 | $6.62 | $66.20 |
| 100 | $5.85 | $585.00 |
| 500 | $5.21 | $2,605.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.65 | $4,650.00 |
PIC32MX550F256L-V/PF Overview
A 32-bit microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip processor that integrates CPU, memory (Flash/RAM), and programmable peripherals. MCUs sit at the foundation of embedded systems, sitting hierarchically under the broader category of microcontrollers, then embedded processors, then semiconductors. The PIC32MX family specifically uses the MIPS32 instruction set, which differs architecturally from ARM Cortex-M cores while offering competitive code density and deterministic interrupt latency.
Key features include 50 MHz core with single-cycle multiply, hardware multiply/divide, 16-bit wide instruction path, 5-channel DMA, four 16-bit timers/captures, five UART modules, two comparators, CTMU (Charge Time Measurement Unit), RTCC, and an 8-bit Parallel Master Port. The PPS system remaps digital peripherals to most I/O pins, simplifying PCB layout.
Typical applications include industrial USB device controllers, CAN-based automotive node ECUs, low-cost HMI panels with PMP-driven LCDs, audio codecs bridging via I2S, and embedded point-of-sale terminals. The integrated USB OTG plus CAN combination is rare in this price tier and is the primary differentiator versus PIC32MX4xx/2xx parts that lack USB or CAN.
When designing with this device, observe the 100-pin TQFP land pattern, ensure 3.3V rail decoupling within 5 mm of every VDD/VSS pair, and reserve JTAG/PGD/PGC test access per the Microchip programming specification. For CAN bus termination, add a 120 ohm resistor at each node end.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC32MX550F256L-V/PF — 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 PIC32MX550F256L-V/PF (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Core Architecture, ADC, Package, CAN, USB.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC32MX550F256LT-V/PF
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View Datasheet →PIC32MX550F256L-V/PT
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View Datasheet →PIC32MX550F256L-50I/PF
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View Datasheet →PIC32MX550F256L-50I/PT
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View Datasheet →PIC32MX534F064L-V/PF
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View Datasheet →PIC32MX450F256L-V/PF
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View Datasheet →PIC32MX550F256L-V/PF Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | MIPS32 M4K |
| Core Architecture | MIPS32 |
| Maximum Core Frequency | 50 MHz |
| DMIPS | 83 |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 256 KB |
| Data Memory (SRAM) | 32 KB |
| Operating Voltage | 2.3 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 85 |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG |
| CAN | CAN 2.0B with DeviceNet addressing |
| SPI Modules | 4 |
| I2S Modules | 2 |
| UART Modules | 5 |
| PMP (Parallel Master Port) | Yes, 8-bit with dual buffers |
| Timers | 5 x 16-bit |
| DMA Channels | 5 |
| PPS (Peripheral Pin Select) | Yes |
| CTMU | Yes |
| RTCC | Yes |
| Comparators | 2 |
| Temperature Grade | -40C to +105C (V grade) |
| Package | 100-pin TQFP (14x14 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS | Compliant |
PIC32MX550F256L-V/PF Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RG15 — Port RG15 I/O pin |
| Pin 2 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 3 | RD0 — Port RD0 / PMD0 / INT0 |
| Pin 4 | RD1 — Port RD1 / PMD1 |
| Pin 5 | RD2 — Port RD2 / PMD2 |
| Pin 6 | RD3 — Port RD3 / PMD3 |
| Pin 7 | RD4 — Port RD4 / PMD4 |
| Pin 8 | RD5 — Port RD5 / PMD5 |
| Pin 9 | RD6 — Port RD6 / PMD6 |
| Pin 10 | RD7 — Port RD7 / PMD7 |
| Pin 11 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 12 | RC13 — Port RC13 I/O |
| Pin 13 | RC14 — Port RC14 I/O |
| Pin 14 | RB0 — Port RB0 / PGED3 / AN0 |
| Pin 15 | RB1 — Port RB1 / PGEC3 / AN1 |
| Pin 16 | RB2 — Port RB2 / AN2 |
| Pin 17 | RB3 — Port RB3 / AN3 |
| Pin 18 | RB4 — Port RB4 / AN4 |
| Pin 19 | RB5 — Port RB5 / AN5 / VBUS |
| Pin 20 | RB6 — Port RB6 / AN6 / OC1 |
| Pin 21 | RB7 — Port RB7 / AN7 |
| Pin 22 | VDD — Positive supply 2.3-3.6V |
| Pin 23 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 24 | RA9 — Port RA9 I/O |
| Pin 25 | RA10 — Port RA10 I/O |
| Pin 26 | RA0 — Port RA0 / TMS |
| Pin 27 | RA1 — Port RA1 / TCK |
| Pin 28 | RA2 — Port RA2 / SDA2 |
| Pin 29 | RA3 — Port RA3 / SCL2 |
| Pin 30 | RA4 — Port RA4 I/O |
| Pin 31 | RA5 — Port RA5 I/O |
| Pin 32 | VDD — Positive supply 2.3-3.6V |
| Pin 33 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 34 | RB8 — Port RB8 / OC2 |
| Pin 35 | RB9 — Port RB9 / IC2 |
| Pin 36 | RB10 — Port RB10 I/O |
| Pin 37 | RB11 — Port RB11 I/O |
| Pin 38 | RB12 — Port RB12 I/O |
| Pin 39 | RB13 — Port RB13 I/O |
| Pin 40 | RB14 — Port RB14 / VBUSON |
| Pin 41 | RB15 — Port RB15 / OCFB |
| Pin 42 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 43 | RF0 — Port RF0 |
| Pin 44 | RF1 — Port RF1 |
| Pin 45 | RF2 — Port RF2 / SDA1 |
| Pin 46 | RF3 — Port RF3 / SCL1 |
| Pin 47 | RF4 — Port RF4 / OC4 |
| Pin 48 | RF5 — Port RF5 / SDO1 |
| Pin 49 | VDD — Positive supply 2.3-3.6V |
| Pin 50 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 51 | RF6 — Port RF6 / SCK1 |
| Pin 52 | RF7 — Port RF7 / U1CTS |
| Pin 53 | RF8 — Port RF8 / U1RTS |
| Pin 54 | RF9 — Port RF9 / U2CTS |
| Pin 55 | RF10 — Port RF10 / U2RTS |
| Pin 56 | RF11 — Port RF11 / U3CTS |
| Pin 57 | RF12 — Port RF12 / U3RTS |
| Pin 58 | RF13 — Port RF13 / U4CTS |
| Pin 59 | RF14 — Port RF14 / U4RTS |
| Pin 60 | RF15 — Port RF15 / U5CTS |
| Pin 61 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 62 | RG6 — Port RG6 / SCK2 |
| Pin 63 | RG7 — Port RG7 / SDO2 |
| Pin 64 | RG8 — Port RG8 / SDI2 |
| Pin 65 | RG9 — Port RG9 / SS2 |
| Pin 66 | VDD — Positive supply 2.3-3.6V |
| Pin 67 | RC1 — Port RC1 / OC1 |
| Pin 68 | RC2 — Port RC2 / OC2 |
| Pin 69 | RC3 — Port RC3 / OC3 |
| Pin 70 | RC4 — Port RC4 / SDI1 |
| Pin 71 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 72 | RD8 — Port RD8 / PMA0 |
| Pin 73 | RD9 — Port RD9 / PMA1 |
| Pin 74 | RD10 — Port RD10 / PMA2 |
| Pin 75 | RD11 — Port RD11 / PMA3 |
| Pin 76 | RD12 — Port RD12 / PMA4 |
| Pin 77 | RD13 — Port RD13 / PMA5 |
| Pin 78 | RD14 — Port RD14 / PMA6 |
| Pin 79 | RD15 — Port RD15 / PMA7 |
| Pin 80 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 81 | RE0 — Port RE0 / PMRD |
| Pin 82 | RE1 — Port RE1 / PMWR |
| Pin 83 | RE2 — Port RE2 / CS1 |
| Pin 84 | RE3 — Port RE3 / CS2 |
| Pin 85 | RE4 — Port RE4 / AER |
| Pin 86 | RE5 — Port RE5 / ALR |
| Pin 87 | VDD — Positive supply 2.3-3.6V |
| Pin 88 | VDD — Positive supply 2.3-3.6V |
| Pin 89 | RG0 — Port RG0 / C1RX |
| Pin 90 | RG1 — Port RG1 / C1TX |
| Pin 91 | RG2 — Port RG2 / DMI |
| Pin 92 | RG3 — Port RG3 / DPO |
| Pin 93 | RA6 — Port RA6 / TRCLK |
| Pin 94 | RA7 — Port RA7 / TRD0 |
| Pin 95 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 96 | RG14 — Port RG14 / SDA3 |
| Pin 97 | RG12 — Port RG12 / SCL3 |
| Pin 98 | RG13 — Port RG13 / SDA4 |
| Pin 99 | RG10 — Port RG10 / SCL4 |
| Pin 100 | RG11 — Port RG11 / U5RTS |
Typical Applications
PIC32MX550F256L-V/PF is suitable for 7 applications: Industrial USB Device / HID Controller, CAN-Based Automotive / Industrial Node ECU, Low-Cost HMI Panel with Graphics LCD, Audio Codec Interface (I2S Bridge), Embedded Point-of-Sale Terminal, Sensor Hub with USB / CAN Aggregation, USB-to-CAN Gateway Bridge.
Industrial USB Device / HID Controller
The PIC32MX550F256L-V/PF is purpose-built for industrial USB peripherals thanks to its integrated USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG controller, eliminating the need for an external USB PHY. The 50 MHz MIPS32 M4K core delivers 83 DMIPS, providing responsive HID report transfer throughput for barcode readers, USB-to-CAN gateways, and USB-connected data loggers. The -40C to +105C (V grade) operation handles factory-floor temperature swings. Use it between a USB host port and a downstream sensor array with 5-channel DMA offloading bulk transfers.
Recommended
CAN-Based Automotive / Industrial Node ECU
The integrated CAN 2.0B module with DeviceNet addressing support makes this part ideal for in-vehicle networking nodes, body controllers, and industrial CANopen / DeviceNet slave devices. The 256 KB Flash accommodates CANopen or J1939 protocol stacks, while 32 KB SRAM handles CAN message buffering plus application code. Place the MCU on the CAN bus with a TJA1050 or MCP2551 transceiver; the on-chip CAN controller supports up to 1 Mbps bus speed. The 100-pin package enables fiber access via the TQFP footprint with 85 usable I/O pins.
Recommended
Low-Cost HMI Panel with Graphics LCD
The 8-bit Parallel Master Port (PMP) with dual read/write buffers drives graphics TFT or character LCDs directly, eliminating external display controllers. Combined with Peripheral Pin Select (PPS), the design engineer can map data lines to convenient PCB locations, simplifying layout. The 50 MHz core sustains 60 fps display refreshes for small QVGA panels, while 256 KB Flash stores graphical assets. Place the MCU on a 4-layer PCB with the PMP data bus routed as 8-bit matched traces to the LCD connector.
Recommended
Audio Codec Interface (I2S Bridge)
Two I2S modules plus four SPI modules make the PIC32MX550F256L-V/PF a flexible audio bridge, routing digital audio between I2S codecs, SPI DACs, and external DSPs. The 50 MHz core sustains 48 kHz / 24-bit stereo I2S streams with headroom for DSP effects. Use the DMA controller for double-buffered I2S transfers, freeing the CPU for filtering. The PPS system lets the design engineer reassign I2S clock/data lines to any GPIO pin, easing PCB constraints versus fixed-pin MCUs.
Recommended
Embedded Point-of-Sale Terminal
Point-of-sale terminals benefit from USB device connectivity, CAN for terminal networking, and the integrated CTMU for capacitive keypad scanning. The 256 KB Flash stores transaction handlers, USB HID stacks, and LCD UI fonts. The CTMU eliminates external touch-scan ASICs, reducing BOM cost. Place the MCU between a USB-connected host terminal and a CAN-connected POS network backbone, with I2S delivering audio prompts through an external DAC. The V suffix enables stable operation in -40C to +105C environments.
Recommended
Sensor Hub with USB / CAN Aggregation
Aggregate multiple SPI sensors, RTCC time stamping, and a CTMU-driven touch interface, then push the data upstream via USB or CAN. The 5-channel DMA offloads sensor reads from the CPU, while the dual I2S modules route audio cues. The 32 KB SRAM holds time-stamped sensor buffers. Use the RTCC for data logging timestamps, and PPS to map interrupt-capable GPIO pins for sensor event triggers. The 100-pin TQFP gives 85 usable I/O for sensor fan-out.
Recommended
USB-to-CAN Gateway Bridge
Combine the USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG controller with the CAN 2.0B module to build a USB-to-CAN gateway used in automotive diagnostics, industrial protocol conversion, and CANopen bridges. The 50 MHz core sustains full-speed USB 12 Mbps throughput with CAN bus traffic. The 32 KB SRAM buffers USB packets during CAN bus contention. Place a TJA1050 or MCP2551 CAN transceiver on the bus, and route USB D+/D- to a USB Type-B connector with proper 15 kohm pull-down resistors.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC32MX550F256L-V/PF — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC32MX550F256LT-V/PF | PIC32MX550F256L-50I/PF | PIC32MX534F064L-V/PF | PIC32MX450F256L-V/PF | PIC32MX550F256L-V/PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 100-pin TQFP (14x14) | 100-pin TQFP (14x14) - same | 100-pin TQFP (14x14) - same | 100-pin TQFP (14x14) - same | 100-pin TQFP (14x14) - same | 64-pin TQFP - different |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 64 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB |
| SRAM | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 8 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB |
| Core Frequency | 50 MHz | 50 MHz | 50 MHz | 80 MHz | 50 MHz | 50 MHz |
| USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG | USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG | USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG | No USB | No USB | USB 2.0 Full-Speed OTG |
| CAN | CAN 2.0B with DeviceNet | CAN 2.0B with DeviceNet | CAN 2.0B with DeviceNet | CAN 2.0B with DeviceNet | CAN 2.0B with DeviceNet | CAN 2.0B with DeviceNet |
| Temperature Grade | -40C to +105C (V) | -40C to +105C (V) | -40C to +85C (I) | -40C to +105C (V) | -40C to +105C (V) | -40C to +105C (V) |
Key Differentiators
- Higher Flash density in 100-pin TQFP (vs PIC32MX534F064L-V/PF)
- Integrated USB OTG controller (vs PIC32MX450F256L-V/PF)
- Wider industrial temperature range (vs PIC32MX550F256L-50I/PF)
Design Notes
The PIC32MX550F256L-V/PF operates from 2.3V to 3.6V and requires multiple bulk decoupling capacitors on each VDD/VSS pair. Per the Microchip datasheet section on Power Requirements, place one 0.1 uF ceramic capacitor within 5 mm of every VDD pin (the 100-pin TQFP has VDD on pins 22, 32, 49, 66, 87, 88), plus a 10 uF tantalum bulk capacitor near the MCU. For USB applications, the VBUS pin (RB5) needs a 1 uF capacitor and the internal voltage regulator requires VDD/VBUSON handling for USB self-powered setups.
The PIC32MX550F256L-V/PF in 100-pin TQFP has a junction-to-ambient thermal resistance of approximately 50 C/W, so at 50 MHz full activity with all peripherals active, the die dissipates well under 100 mW and no heatsink is required. Estimated: at 70 mA active current at 3.3V, the chip dissipates 0.23 W, yielding roughly 12 C junction rise above 25 C ambient - well within the -40C to +105C operating range.
Route the USB D+ (RG2) and D- (RG3) differential pair with 90 ohm differential impedance and equal trace lengths within 2 mm of each other to comply with USB 2.0 Full-Speed signal-integrity requirements. Place the 12 MHz (or 8 MHz depending on PLL) crystal close to the OSC1/OSC2 pins with matching-trace layout, and add 22 pF load capacitors to ground. The PMP data bus (RD0-RD7, RD8-RD15) should be routed as byte-aligned matched traces to the LCD connector.
Common mistakes with the PIC32MX550F256L-V/PF include forgetting the ICSP programming connections (PGED1/PGEC1 on RG13/RG14), failing to set the correct PLL configuration for 50 MHz from an external 8 MHz crystal, and overlooking the VBUS-on handling required when running USB in self-powered mode. Also verify that the JTAG TMS/TCK pins (RA0/RA1) are not pulled low at reset if JTAG is not used. Programming requires a Microchip PICkit, ICD, or MPLAB Snap debugger.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Standard V-temp variant is not AEC-Q100 qualified - look at PIC32MX5xx Q-grade parts for automotive.
