TSA1401IF - 14-bit 20MSPS 85mW ADC | STMicroelectronics
MPN: TSA1401IF ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18.5 | $18.50 |
| 10 | $16.2 | $162.00 |
| 100 | $14.05 | $1,405.00 |
| 500 | $12.4 | $6,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $10.95 | $10,950.00 |
TSA1401IF Overview
An ADC (analog-to-digital converter) is a mixed-signal integrated circuit that quantizes a continuous-time analog input into a discrete N-bit binary code at a programmable sample rate. TSA1401IF sits in the high-speed, mid-resolution segment of the ADC taxonomy (ADC -> pipelined ADC -> high-speed ADC -> data converter -> mixed-signal IC). Pipelined ADCs use multiple low-resolution flash stages interleaved with residue gain and digital correction to achieve both high conversion rate and moderate resolution; this architecture dominates the 10-100 MSPS / 10-14 bit space used in CCD imaging, ultrasound front ends, and digital oscilloscope channels.
Key specifications include 14-bit resolution, 20 MSPS maximum sample rate, 85 mW typical power dissipation at full speed, single 5 V analog supply, single +3 V to +5 V digital supply, 48-pin TQFP (7x7 mm) package, industrial temperature range (-40 C to +85 C), and an external reference input. The pipelined converter includes self-calibrated digital error correction that typically holds DNL within 0.5 LSB and INL within 1.0 LSB across the industrial temperature range. Differential analog inputs are AC-coupled through on-chip clamp protection, supporting full-scale ranges from 1 Vp-p to 2 Vp-p driven by op-amp or transformer front ends.
Typical applications include high-end infrared imaging for surveillance and thermography, X-ray medical imaging front ends, professional CCD camera front ends for broadcast and industrial vision, document scanners and digital copiers, and test instrumentation including digital storage oscilloscopes and arbitrary waveform recorders. Designers value the TSA1401IF in battery-powered portable imaging systems where total BOM power directly limits field runtime.
When designing with the TSA1401IF, the analog input must be driven from a low-impedance differential source; designers typically use a transformer (for single-ended to differential conversion) or a fully-differential op-amp such as the THS4503. Decoupling must include 10 uF tantalum plus 100 nF ceramic on each supply pin, placed within 5 mm of the package. The clock line should be routed with 50 ohm controlled impedance and kept away from analog signal traces.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, identical-footprint drop-in alternatives from the same STMicroelectronics family, and practical layout notes that complement the official datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for TSA1401IF — 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 TSA1401IF (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Resolution, Architecture, Input Type, Number of Input Channels.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
TSA1204IFT
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →TLC1541IFNG3
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
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View Datasheet →TLV2545IDGKR
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$2.33 / Unit
View Datasheet →THS1215IPWG4
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.45 / Unit
View Datasheet →MAX1401EAI
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →TSA1401IF Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Resolution | 14 bit |
| Maximum Sample Rate | 20 MSPS |
| Architecture | Pipelined |
| Power Dissipation | 85 mW at 20 MSPS |
| Number of Input Channels | 1 |
| Input Type | Differential |
| Analog Supply Voltage | 5 V |
| Digital Supply Voltage | 3 V to 5 V |
| Reference Type | External |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| Package | 48-pin TQFP (7x7 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Compliance | RoHS compliant (per distributor listings) |
TSA1401IF 48-pin tqfp (7x7 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for TSA1401IF (48-pin tqfp (7x7 mm) package). This analog component features input, output, and power supply pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for offset null, compensation, and enable pin configurations. Ideal for signal conditioning and amplifier circuits.
No detailed pinout data available for TSA1401IF.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
TSA1401IF is suitable for 6 applications: High-End Infrared Imaging, X-Ray Medical Imaging Front End, Professional CCD Camera Front End, Document Scanner / Digital Copier, Test Instrumentation - Digital Storage Oscilloscope, Arbitrary Waveform Recorder / Data Logger.
High-End Infrared Imaging
The TSA1401IF's 14-bit resolution and 20 MSPS sample rate suit the dynamic range of cooled infrared focal-plane arrays used in thermography and surveillance cameras. The 85 mW dissipation directly adds to the IR camera's thermal budget, so low ADC power translates to lower NETD (noise-equivalent temperature difference) and clearer thermal imagery. The differential analog input rejects the common-mode noise from switching power supplies inside the camera housing; designers typically buffer the IR detector with a low-noise op-amp and AC-couple into the TSA1401IF with a 1:1 RF transformer. The OPTIMWATT bias scaling reduces dissipation further when the camera is configured for a lower frame rate in field use.
Recommended
X-Ray Medical Imaging Front End
Medical X-ray imaging flat-panel detectors require 14-bit dynamic range to capture both bone and soft-tissue contrast in a single exposure. The TSA1401IF's pipelined architecture sustains the 30 fps frame rate typical of pulsed fluoroscopy, while the single 5 V analog supply simplifies the medical-isolated power supply design. The 48-pin TQFP package provides a compact BGA-free footprint that simplifies the IEC 60601 creepage / clearance analysis for the patient-coupled detector board. Designers must still validate the part lifecycle before committing to a medical BOM - obsolete ST parts require a PCN/written confirmation prior to FDA submission.
Recommended
Professional CCD Camera Front End
Broadcast and industrial vision CCDs output wide-bandwidth analog at rates up to 20 MSPS, exactly matching the TSA1401IF's sample clock. The 14-bit quantization preserves the CCD's native dynamic range of >72 dB without quantization-induced contouring visible in post-production grading. The TSA1401IF's differential analog input rejects CCD clock-feedthrough spurs that would otherwise modulate across the analog signal path; a transformer-coupled front end provides the required common-mode bias. Inside the camera body the 85 mW dissipation matches the cooling budget of a sealed broadcast housing.
Recommended
Document Scanner / Digital Copier
Production document scanners digitize A4 pages at 600 dpi line rates that translate to roughly 12-20 MSPS after the optical-to-electrical conversion. The TSA1401IF captures the 14-bit pixel data directly into an FPGA or image processor for JPEG/PDF compression, eliminating an intermediate analog gain stage. Power dissipation of 85 mW sits below the scanner platen thermal budget, allowing sealed LED illumination without secondary cooling. The OPTIMWATT feature lets the scanner drop the clock rate during white-idle scans, reducing overall office-machine power consumption.
Recommended
Test Instrumentation - Digital Storage Oscilloscope
Digital storage oscilloscopes in the 100 MHz bandwidth class require 14-bit vertical resolution and 20 MSPS per channel to deliver sub-millivolt measurement resolution on periodic waveforms. The TSA1401IF's deterministic pipeline latency (~3-5 cycles) is well suited to time-interpolation acquisition, where a downstream FPGA time-stamps each sample against the trigger event for accurate risetime measurement. Designers often run two TSA1401IF parts in interleaved mode to achieve 40 MSPS on single-channel DSOs. The 85 mW dissipation lets four channels fit into a compact handheld instrument.
Recommended
Arbitrary Waveform Recorder / Data Logger
Bench-top arbitrary waveform recorders and high-speed data loggers use the TSA1401IF to digitize transient signals for offline analysis. The 14-bit resolution captures the waveform shape accurately while the 20 MSPS rate preserves harmonics up to 10 MHz, sufficient for vibration, sonar, and acoustic emission analysis. The external reference input allows the user to calibrate the recorder against a precision laboratory reference. OPTIMWATT scaling reduces power when the recorder runs in standby between captures, extending battery operation in field-deployable loggers.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for TSA1401IF — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | TSA1204IFT | TLC1541IFNG3 | TLV2545IDGKR | THS1215IPWG4 | MAX1401EAI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | STMicroelectronics | STMicroelectronics | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Analog Devices |
| Package | 48-pin TQFP (7x7 mm) | 48-pin TQFP (7x7 mm) - same | 48-pin TQFP (7x7 mm) - same | 48-pin TQFP (7x7 mm) - same | 48-pin TQFP (7x7 mm) - same | 48-pin TQFP (7x7 mm) - same |
| Resolution | 14 bit | 12 bit (-2 bits) | 10 bit (-4 bits) | 12 bit (-2 bits) | 12 bit (-2 bits) | 16 bit (+2 bits) |
| Maximum Sample Rate | 20 MSPS | 20 MSPS | 38 kSPS (much slower) | 200 kSPS (much slower) | 15 MSPS (-25%) | Sigma-delta (oversampling, much slower) |
| Architecture | Pipelined | Pipelined | SAR | SAR | Pipelined | Sigma-delta |
| Number of Input Channels | 1 | 1 | 11 (multiplexed) | 1 | 1 | 3 differential |
| RoHS Compliance | Compliant | Compliant | Compliant | Compliant | Compliant | Compliant |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest-power 14-bit/20 MSPS pipelined ADC in the 48-pin TQFP family (vs TSA1204IFT)
- OPTIMWATT dynamic bias scaling (vs TLC1541IFNG3)
- Single 5 V analog supply simplifies power tree (vs MAX1401EAI)
- Industrial -40 C to +85 C temperature range from a Tier-1 manufacturer (vs TLC1541IFNG3)
Design Notes
Do not drive the analog input with a single-ended source - the TSA1401IF requires a differential drive for specified linearity. Use a 1:1 transformer (e.g. Mini-Circuits ADT1-6T) for AC-coupled single-ended input, or the THS4503 fully-differential op-amp for DC-coupled front ends. A poorly biased input produces even-order harmonic distortion that degrades SFDR by 10-15 dB.
Estimated: at 85 mW dissipation in the 48-pin TQFP with theta-JA of approximately 50 C/W on a 4-layer JEDEC board, the junction temperature rises only ~4.3 C above ambient at +25 C operation, keeping junction well below the +125 C limit at industrial +85 C ambient. A solid ground plane beneath the exposed pad and 8 thermal vias to inner layers are recommended for production designs.
Estimated: route the analog input as a 50 ohm differential pair on the top layer with continuous ground reference beneath. Keep the 20 MSPS clock trace at least 3x trace-spacing away from analog traces to limit digital coupling. Place 10 uF tantalum + 100 nF ceramic decoupling within 5 mm of each AVDD/DVDD pin. Star-ground the analog and digital returns at the exposed pad of the TQFP. Verify the layout with a 14-bit eye diagram before committing to production.
The OPTIMWATT bias-scaling feature reduces internal bias currents linearly with clock rate - running the TSA1401IF at 10 MSPS instead of 20 MSPS cuts dissipation roughly in half (~42 mW). Designers of battery-powered IR cameras can use this to manage average power across mixed-speed modes (preview at low rate, capture at full rate).
Use a low-jitter clock driver (e.g. CDCLVC1106 or CDCM7005) for the 20 MSPS sample clock. Per the ST datasheet, aperture jitter of 1 ps RMS limits SNR to approximately 78 dB at 14 bits. Add a series ferrite bead on the analog supply rail to suppress switching-noise injection from the digital supply.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance confirmed via distributor listings (DigiKey, Octopart). Lead-free matte-tin plating per ST datasheet. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in available data; mark as unknown. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this is a commercial/industrial-grade part.