Microchip Technology MA240037

Overview

MA240037 is a PIC24FJ128GA204 Plug-in Module (PIM) from Microchip Technology, designed to demonstrate the 44-pin PIC24FJ128GA204 microcontroller on the Explorer 16 Development Board. It supports Peripheral Pin Select (PPS), XLP ultra-low-power operation, and full compatibility with PICtail™ Plus daughter boards. The PIM maps all core MCU functions-including UART2, SPI, I²C, PMP, and analog peripherals-to the 100-pin Explorer 16 header for rapid prototyping of embedded control applications.

For engineers reviewing the MA240037 datasheet, MA240037 pinout, MA240037 application, or MA240037 equivalent, this module enables functional validation of PPS-driven peripheral routing, low-power sensor interface designs, and mixed-signal system integration using the PIC24FJ128GA204's 128 KB Flash, 16 KB RAM, and 12-bit ADC-without requiring custom PCB layout.

Technical Context

The MA240037 implements a fixed 44-pin-to-100-pin signal mapping that remaps PIC24FJ128GA204 peripherals-including PMD0–PMD7, PMA0–PMA14, PMRD/PMWR, and UART2 RTS/CTS-onto Explorer 16's expansion header. This enables use of on-board LEDs, potentiometer, temperature sensor, and RS-232 via jumper-selectable function routing (J1–J6).

Signal multiplexing is enforced at hardware level: PMP lines share pins with Explorer 16 LEDs, potentiometer (J1), temperature sensor (J2), Smart Card (J3/J4), and UART2 CTS (J6). Simultaneous use of conflicting functions requires manual jumper reconfiguration and application-level pin remapping via PPS registers.

Key Specifications

Availability

MA240037 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for embedded control prototyping, educational MCU labs, and industrial sensor interface development requiring stable component supply and rapid evaluation of Microchip's PIC24F XLP architecture.

Supply support for MA240037 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 systems.

The MA240037 belongs to Microchip's PIC24F Plug-in Module family, engineered to accelerate evaluation and firmware development for the PIC24FJ GA-series MCUs in resource-constrained, low-power embedded applications.

FAQ

What is the MA240037 used for?

The MA240037 is a demonstration module that allows engineers to evaluate the PIC24FJ128GA204 microcontroller on the Explorer 16 Development Board. It provides physical and electrical interfacing between the 44-pin MCU and the 100-pin board header, enabling rapid testing of PPS routing, low-power modes, analog peripherals, and communication interfaces like UART2 and SPI without custom hardware. The MA240037 itself contains no active logic-it is a passive adapter with configurable jumpers.

Does the MA240037 include its own microcontroller?

Yes-the MA240037 integrates the PIC24FJ128GA204 microcontroller as its core component. This 16-bit MCU features 128 KB Flash, 16 KB RAM, a 12-bit ADC with up to 13 channels, four 16-bit timers, and Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) for flexible I/O assignment. All MCU functionality is exposed through the PIM's pin mapping to the Explorer 16 platform, and the device operates at 3.3 V supplied by the host board.

How do jumpers J1–J6 affect MA240037 functionality?

Jumpers J1–J6 on the MA240037 enable hardware-level selection between mutually exclusive functions sharing the same physical pins-for example, J1 selects either PMP Chip Select 2 (PMCS2) or the Explorer 16 potentiometer, while J6 selects either UART2 CTS or PMP Write Strobe (PMWR). These jumpers resolve signal conflicts arising from mapping a 44-pin MCU onto a 100-pin header. Correct jumper configuration is required before firmware initialization to ensure intended peripheral behavior.

Can multiple PICtail™ Plus daughter boards be used simultaneously with the MA240037?

No-most PICtail™ Plus daughter boards cannot operate simultaneously with the MA240037 due to shared resource conflicts on the Explorer 16 bus, including EEPROM, SPI, and UART2. While each daughter board works independently, concurrent use typically requires disabling overlapping functions (e.g., disabling on-board UART2 when using an RS-485 PICtail) and verifying pin assignments against the MA240037's Table 1 and Table 2 mappings to avoid hardware contention.

Is the MA240037 compatible with MPLAB® X IDE and XC16 compiler?

Yes-the MA240037 is fully supported by Microchip's MPLAB® X IDE and XC16 C compiler. Firmware developed for the PIC24FJ128GA204 can be programmed via the Explorer 16's onboard debugger (ICD 3 or PICkit™ 3 compatible), and PPS configuration is handled through standard register writes or MCC-generated code. Example projects and HAL drivers for UART2, SPI, and ADC are available in Microchip's Application Libraries and are directly applicable to the MA240037 hardware setup.