Digital signal controllers AI data centre power, motor control and intelligent sensing

As AI servers, data centres, automotive and industrial systems demand higher efficiency designs, deterministic real-time control and quantum-resistant cryptography, Microchip Technology Inc. has added dsPIC33AK256MPS306 Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs) to its dsPIC33A DSC family.

The dsPIC33AK256MPS306 devices combine high-resolution control, high-speed analog and security with support for post-quantum cryptography. The devices are compact and cost-effective, designed to reduce the bill of materials (BOM), simplify board layout and accelerate time to market for power conversion, motor control and intelligent sensing applications.

Built on a 200 MHz 32-bit core with a double-precision floating point unit (FPU), the dsPIC33AK256MPS306 family integrates high-resolution 78ps Pulse Width Modulators (PWMs), multiple 40MSPS 12-bit Analogue-to-Digital Converters (ADCs), 5ns high-speed comparators and Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs) with slope compensation. These features help enable fast, deterministic control loops for high-efficiency DC/DC converters, auxiliary power rails and intelligent sensing designs, including systems based on Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN) power semiconductors operating at high switching frequencies.

To address increasing cybersecurity requirements, the dsPIC33AK256MPS306 family includes hardware security features for implementing secure boot, secure firmware updates and secure debug.

The devices offer library support for Commercial National Security Algorithm (CNSA) Suite 2.0 recommended post-quantum cryptographic (PQC) algorithms and feature hardware accelerated cryptographic functions needed in Open Compute Project (OCP) power supplies and other connected real‑time control designs. Live update support helps enable uninterrupted full‑cycle firmware updates required in modern server designs.

The devices feature I³C connectivity for scalable, low latency telemetry and sensor networks in modern server and industrial racks, along with additional communication interfaces including CANFD, LIN, SPI, I²C and SENT.

With fast 20 ns trigonometric sine and cosine function execution, the dsPIC33A core architecture helps designers implement responsive position control and efficient field‑oriented control (FOC) algorithms. The dsPIC33AK256MPS306 family includes mechanical motor feedback interfaces supporting Bidirectional Serial Synchronous (BiSS-C), EnDat and Quadrature/Optical Encoders and Resolvers. Combined with a high level of analog integration, the devices help enable high‑resolution, accurate real‑time control loop closure, helping to improve overall motor control algorithm performance.

An Integrated Touch Controller (ITC) and 40 MSPS ADCs with built-in oversampling for up to 16-bit resolution are designed to simplify complex sensing and human-machine interface applications. The high level of integration can reduce external component needs and allow designers to implement enhanced features without extra hardware. Additionally, compact package options support space-constrained designs.

The devices are developed following automotive (ISO 26262) and industrial (IEC 61508) functional safety processes and include hardware safety features to help streamline certification of safety critical applications. dsPIC33AK256MPS306 DSCs will be automotive qualified for operation up to 150°C.

The family is supported by Microchip’s comprehensive development ecosystem, including the MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment (IDE), MPLAB Code Configurator and the MPLAB Machine Learning Development Suite. dsPIC33AK256MPS306 devices now support the Zephyr real-time operating system (RTOS), providing designers with access to an open-source ecosystem and a unified platform for building scalable embedded applications.

In addition, the dsPIC33A DSCs are compatible with FreeRTOS, SafeRTOS (certified) and wolfCrypt libraries (including post-quantum cryptography support), MICROSAR IO from Vector and support for TRACE32 debug and trace tools from Lauterbach.

For evaluation and rapid prototyping, Microchip offers a dsPIC33AK256MPS306 motor control Dual In-line Module (DIM), designed for use with the MCS MCLV-48V-300W development board and the MCHV-230VAC-1.5kW motor control high voltage development board, enabling scalable low- and high-voltage motor control development.

The dsPIC33AK512MPS506 Digital Power Plug-In Module (PIM), compatible with the Digital Power Development Board, facilitates power conversion use cases. In addition, a dsPIC33AK256MPS306 general purpose DIM is available for use with the dsPIC33 Curiosity platform development board, providing a flexible platform for general purpose control, sensing and system evaluation.