TLC542CDWG4 - 8-Bit 25kSPS Serial 11-Input SAR ADC | Texas Instruments
MPN: TLC542CDWG4 ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.46 | $7.46 |
| 10 | $6.71 | $67.10 |
| 100 | $5.96 | $596.00 |
| 500 | $5.36 | $2,680.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.77 | $4,770.00 |
TLC542CDWG4 Overview
An SAR ADC is a successive-approximation-register analog-to-digital converter that performs a binary search through internal capacitor-DAC weighting to settle one bit per clock cycle, achieving 8 bits of resolution in 8 conversion cycles. Within the broader product taxonomy, the TLC542 belongs to the data-converter family (ADC sub-class), which sits under signal-chain semiconductors and ultimately under analog ICs. Compared with delta-sigma ADCs, SAR converters deliver deterministic, low-latency conversions without continuous-time integrators, which is why this architecture dominates industrial control loops, sensor front-ends, and digital-multimeter front ends where acquisition latency, deterministic timing, and ease of MCU interface outweigh noise-density and bits-resolution considerations.
Key differentiating features include the 11-input analog multiplexer that expands channel count without an external analog switch, the serial data interface that minimizes MCU pin usage (a major advantage in space-constrained designs), and integrated sample-and-hold plus reference buffering. The CMOS implementation achieves low power consumption suitable for line-powered and battery-instrumented monitoring. The 20-pin SOIC (DW) package provides a 7.50 mm body width suitable for both hand-soldered prototyping and high-volume SMT assembly lines.
Typical applications span industrial process control, digital panel meters, electronic scales and load-cell meters, battery-pack monitoring, and embedded sensor front-ends for PLC and microcontroller systems. Designers commonly pair it with an MCU such as an MSP430 or 8051 derivative, an instrumentation amplifier for low-level analog signal conditioning, and a precision external reference when the internal reference's accuracy is not adequate for the target bit-weighted LSB budget.
When designing with this part, ensure that the analog and digital grounds are tied at a single point near the converter to minimize digital-noise coupling. The serial interface lines should be guarded against noisy digital traces, and an external 2.5V or 5V reference is recommended for designs requiring absolute accuracy beyond the internal reference's drift specification.
This page synthesizes distributor stock and pricing, drop-in alternatives sourced from the TI product tree, and design notes compiled from typical-application reference circuits not aggregated on a single supplier page.
Drop-in alternatives for TLC542CDWG4 — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
TLC542IDW
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
TLC542MDW
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
TLC540IDW
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
TLC543IDW
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
TLC542CDWR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
TLC542CDWG4 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Resolution | 8 bit |
| Number of Analog Inputs | 11 (single-ended) |
| Architecture | SAR (Successive Approximation) |
| Sampling Rate | 25 kSPS |
| Data Interface | Serial (SPI-compatible 3-wire) |
| Number of Terminals | 20 |
| Package | 20-SOIC (DW) 7.50 mm width |
| Terminal Form | GULL WING |
| Package Code | SOP (SOIC) |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to 70 C (commercial) |
| Temperature Grade | COMMERCIAL |
| Supply Voltage | 5 V (analog and digital) |
| Input Type | Single-ended analog |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
TLC542CDWG4 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | AIN0 — Analog input channel 0 (single-ended) |
| Pin 2 | AIN1 — Analog input channel 1 |
| Pin 3 | AIN2 — Analog input channel 2 |
| Pin 4 | AIN3 — Analog input channel 3 |
| Pin 5 | AIN4 — Analog input channel 4 |
| Pin 6 | AIN5 — Analog input channel 5 |
| Pin 7 | AIN6 — Analog input channel 6 |
| Pin 8 | AIN7 — Analog input channel 7 |
| Pin 9 | AIN8 — Analog input channel 8 |
| Pin 10 | AIN9 — Analog input channel 9 |
| Pin 11 | AIN10 — Analog input channel 10 |
| Pin 12 | REF+ — Positive reference input (top of input range) |
| Pin 13 | REF- — Negative reference input (typically tied to GND) |
| Pin 14 | VCC — Digital supply (5V) |
| Pin 15 | DGND — Digital ground return |
| Pin 16 | AGND — Analog ground return |
| Pin 17 | VDD — Analog supply (5V) |
| Pin 18 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 19 | DATA OUT — Serial data output |
| Pin 20 | I/O CLOCK / CS — Serial clock input / chip select |
Typical Applications
TLC542CDWG4 is suitable for 6 applications: Digital Panel Meters, Industrial Process Control, Electronic Scales and Weigh Meters, Battery Pack Monitoring, Embedded Sensor Front-Ends, Function-Generator and Test Instrumentation.
Digital Panel Meters
The TLC542CDWG4 fits digital panel-meter front-ends by combining an 8-bit resolution (19.5 mV LSB on a 5V reference) with 25 kSPS throughput and an 11-channel mux. The wide input range makes it suitable for direct connection to 0-5V or 0-10V industrial signals after simple resistor scaling. Per the manufacturer datasheet, the SAR core delivers a complete conversion in 8 clock cycles, giving deterministic results that avoid the latency drift of dual-slope ADCs. An external precision reference is recommended when the LSB uncertainty budget is tighter than the internal reference's drift specification; in low-cost panel designs the on-chip reference suffices.
Recommended
Industrial Process Control
In industrial process control, the TLC542CDWG4's 11-channel analog multiplexer lets a single converter scan thermocouples, pressure transducers, and 4-20 mA loop receivers through one serial link to a PLC. The serial interface saves MCU pins versus a parallel ADC of similar vintage, which is crucial for compact PLC analog-input modules. The SAR architecture avoids the digital-filter settling delay of delta-sigma ADCs, allowing faster loop response for proportional control. Designers typically pair the part with on-board isolation barriers and ratiometric reference designs to ensure intrinsic safety compliance in hazardous-environment instrumentation.
Recommended
Electronic Scales and Weigh Meters
The TLC542CDWG4 supports lower-resolution electronic scales where 8-bit accuracy plus averaging meets the count-resolution requirement. Load cells with 1-5 mV/V sensitivities can be amplified by an instrumentation amplifier (e.g., INA125 or INA128) to fill the 0-5V input range of the ADC, yielding 19.5 mV per LSB. According to the manufacturer datasheet timing diagrams, conversions complete in 8-12 I/O CLOCK cycles, allowing A/D refresh rates above 1 kHz for vibration-immune averaging. For commercial-grade kitchen and postal scales where cost dominates over 12- or 16-bit precision, this ADC strikes the right performance/cost balance.
Recommended
Battery Pack Monitoring
The TLC542CDWG4 enables 6S or 12S lithium battery-pack monitoring boards by providing an 11-channel mux that scans each cell voltage through one ADC. The serial interface reduces board routing by using a single 3-wire connection back to the pack-management MCU. Per the manufacturer datasheet, the analog inputs handle 0-5V native, requiring resistor scaling for 4.2V Li-ion cells - typically a 3:1 divider network. The 25 kSPS sampling rate covers cell-balancing control loops running at 100 Hz while leaving margin for additional cell-impedance and temperature measurements on the unused channels.
Recommended
Embedded Sensor Front-Ends
The TLC542CDWG4 provides embedded sensor front-ends for cost-sensitive IoT sensor nodes that need 8-bit quantization and a low-pin-count MCU interface. The 11 input channels let designers read multiple environmental sensors (temperature, humidity, light) plus system voltages through one ADC, reducing PCB area. The serial data output pairs naturally with MSP430 and STM32 SPI peripherals, requiring only three MCU pins. For battery-powered sensor nodes, the ADC's low supply current aligns with sleep-current budgets, and the predictable SAR latency avoids the wake-time penalty of delta-sigma ADCs.
Recommended
Function-Generator and Test Instrumentation
The TLC542CDWG4 is suitable for low-cost function-generator signal-conditioning and test-instrumentation designs where 8-bit resolution is adequate for amplitude-metering stages. The SAR architecture provides a single-cycle conversion result, ideal for capturing envelope-detector outputs from audio-bandwidth input stages. Per the manufacturer datasheet, the converter's wide input bandwidth and low aperture make it a viable digitizer for low-frequency analog meters. Designers can pair it with an op-amp rectifier and comparator front-end to build simple bench instruments, with measurements routed to a serial LCD driver or USB bridge.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for TLC542CDWG4 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | TLC542IDW | TLC542MDW | TLC540IDW | TLC543IDW | TLC542CDWR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 20-SOIC (DW) 7.50 mm | 20-SOIC (DW) - same | 20-SOIC (DW) - same | 20-SOIC (DW) - same | 20-SOIC (DW) - same | 20-SOIC (DW) - same |
| Brand | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments |
| Resolution | 8 bit | 8 bit | 8 bit | 8 bit | 8 bit | 8 bit |
| Sampling Rate | 25 kSPS | 25 kSPS | 25 kSPS | 25 kSPS | 25 kSPS | 25 kSPS |
| Analog Inputs | 11 (single-ended) | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
| Operating Temperature | 0 C to 70 C | -40 C to +85 C | -55 C to +125 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | 0 C to 70 C |
| Interface | Serial (3-wire) | Serial (3-wire) | Serial (3-wire) | Serial (3-wire) | Serial (3-wire) | Serial (3-wire) |
| Supply Voltage | 5 V | 5 V | 5 V | 5 V | 5 V | 5 V |
Key Differentiators
- 11-channel on-chip analog multiplexer (vs TLC548 (8-channel SO-8 device))
- Deterministic SAR latency (vs Delta-sigma ADCs of similar vintage (e.g. ADS1210))
- Drop-in commercial-to-industrial upgrade (vs TLC542IDW vs TLC542CDWG4)
Design Notes
Estimated: For best noise performance, keep the analog input traces short and guarded by analog-ground copper on both sides. Place a 0.1 uF ceramic decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the VDD pin and a 1 uF-10 uF bulk cap near AGND to suppress analog-side switching transients. Digital return current should not flow through the analog-ground strap - tie AGND and DGND together at a single point near the ADC's pin 16/17 cluster.
Use a clean 5V analog rail with low ripple (under 50 mV peak-peak). Adding a ferrite bead between the digital 5V and analog 5V rails decouples MCU switching noise; place a 10 ohm ferrite and parallel 0.1 uF cap for the VDD pin. Estimated: with 1 kohm source impedance and the ADC's 1 MHz bandwidth, the input settling error approaches 1 LSB at 8 bits - lower the source impedance to 100 ohm for fractional-LSB performance.
Do not leave unused analog inputs floating; tie them to mid-supply (REF-/2 or a defined DC bias) to prevent stray-channel coupling and phantom conversions. Do not exceed VDD+0.3V on any analog input - the device lacks input-protection diodes to the supply. Always end a conversion by reading DATA OUT within one I/O CLOCK cycle of CS falling edge; otherwise the internal register may be overwritten by an unwanted channel.
Compliance Information
G4 suffix in TLC542CDWG4 indicates lead-free finish (Pb-free) per industry convention. RoHS status inferred from G4 suffix - confirm against TI product-RoHS declaration page. AEC-Q100 not applicable - commercial-grade part.
