12-bit pipelined ADC with simultaneous sampling
The Texas Instruments THS1206IDA is a 12-bit pipelined ADC that samples at 6 MSPS, built around a simultaneous-sampling architecture with a 4:1 S/H-to-ADC ratio. It accepts either differential or single-ended inputs on up to four channels (two in differential mode). The parallel data interface and separate analog (5 V) and digital (3 V to 5.25 V) supply rails suit it for multi-channel data-acquisition systems where channel-to-channel phase alignment matters — motor-phase current sensing, vibration analysis, or simultaneous voltage/current monitoring in power equipment.
Simultaneous sampling — why it matters
The simultaneous-sampling feature holds all input channels at the same instant before conversion starts. In a three-phase motor drive, that means the currents in all phases are captured at the same electrical angle, giving a true vector sum rather than a time-skewed approximation. The differential input mode rejects common-mode noise on long sensor leads, while the single-ended mode conserves input pins when the signals are referenced to a local ground.