Microchip Technology MA240036

Overview

MA240036 from Microchip Technology is a PIC24FJ128GB204 Plug-In Module (PIM) designed for use with the Explorer 16 Development Board and PICtail™ Plus daughter boards. It implements the 44-pin PIC24FJ128GB204 microcontroller featuring USB On-The-Go (OTG), eXtreme Low Power (XLP) technology, and Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) for flexible peripheral remapping. The PIM enables full base functionality of the 100-pin Explorer 16 platform using a compact 44-pin MCU.

For engineers reviewing the MA240036 datasheet, MA240036 pinout, MA240036 application, or MA240036 equivalent, this module supports rapid evaluation of USB OTG, PPS-driven I/O optimization, and mixed-signal peripheral integration on the Explorer 16 platform - with attention to jumper-configurable resource sharing between USB, I2S, Smart Card, PMP, and analog sensors.

Technical Context

The MA240036 maps the 44-pin PIC24FJ128GB204's I/O, USB transceiver, and PPS-capable peripherals onto the 100-pin Explorer 16 header via dual-directional pin translation tables. Its design accommodates multiplexed functions including USBID/USB differential lines (D+/D−), I2S_SCK/I2S_SS, PMRD/PMDx, SC_RX/SC_TX, POT/TEMP, and EE_CS/RD1 - all controlled by physical jumpers (J1–J9).

Resource conflicts are explicitly defined: USB and I2S cannot operate simultaneously; PMP usage disables Explorer 16 potentiometer and temperature sensor; Smart Card and PMP share pins; programming lines PGC1/PGD1 conflict with USB when jumpers J8/J9 are set to position (2–3). Daughter board compatibility requires verification against PIM-specific pin mappings and PPS configuration in application firmware.

Key Specifications

Availability

MA240036 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for embedded development, USB device prototyping, and educational MCU evaluation requiring stable component supply and full Explorer 16 ecosystem support.

Supply support for MA240036 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Microchip Technology Inc. is a U.S.-based semiconductor company specializing in microcontrollers, analog devices, and development tools for embedded control applications.

The MA240036 belongs to Microchip's PIC24F Plug-In Module family, engineered to accelerate evaluation and firmware development for PIC24FJ-series MCUs on the Explorer 16 platform with emphasis on USB OTG, low-power operation, and flexible peripheral routing.

FAQ

What is the MA240036 used for?

The MA240036 is a plug-in module that integrates the PIC24FJ128GB204 microcontroller onto the Explorer 16 Development Board. It enables rapid evaluation of USB On-The-Go, Peripheral Pin Select (PPS), and XLP low-power features. Engineers use the MA240036 to prototype firmware, validate peripheral configurations, and interface with PICtail™ Plus daughter boards such as the USB PICtail Plus (AC164131), while managing shared resources via hardware jumpers.

Does the MA240036 support USB device and host modes simultaneously?

No - the MA240036 implements USB On-The-Go but does not support simultaneous device and host operation. Its USB functionality shares pins and resources with I2S (via J5), and jumper J5 must be set to either I2S_SS or VBUS/PMD6. When USB is active, I2S is disabled, and vice versa. The MA240036 requires explicit firmware and jumper configuration to select mode, consistent with the PIC24FJ128GB204's OTG controller architecture.

How do jumper settings affect debugging with the MA240036?

Jumper settings directly impact debug connectivity: for standard ICSP programming, J8 and J9 must be set to positions (2–3) to route PGC1/PGD1; for USB-based debugging or communication, they must be set to (1–2) to route PGC2/D− and PGD2/D+. Using the Explorer 16 LCD concurrently with USB debugging is not possible on the MA240036 due to PMP pin conflicts - the MA240036 documentation explicitly prohibits this combination.

Can multiple PICtail™ Plus daughter boards be used with the MA240036?

Most PICtail™ Plus daughter boards work individually with the MA240036, but simultaneous use of two or more is generally not supported. Shared resources - including EEPROM, SPI, UART2, and PMP pins - create functional conflicts unless carefully coordinated in firmware and jumper configuration. The MA240036 user guide states that daughter boards "will not work if two are installed simultaneously" without explicit validation of pin and peripheral overlap per application.

Is the MA240036 compatible with the PIC24FJ128GB202 or PIC24FJ128GB206?

No - the MA240036 is specifically designed for the PIC24FJ128GB204 and its exact pinout, peripheral set, and PPS implementation. While other members of the PIC24FJ128GB2xx family share architectural similarities, differences in USB PHY support, memory mapping, and pin assignments (e.g., GB202 lacks USB OTG; GB206 has different package options) prevent direct substitution. The MA240036 schematic, jumper logic, and pin mapping tables are validated only for the PIC24FJ128GB204.