TSSOP Package — Introduction & Applications

TSSOP (Thin Shrink Small Outline Package) is a surface-mount    integrated circuit package with gull-wing leads extending from two opposite    sides of a rectangular plastic body. It is a thinner version of the SSOP    package, with a typical body thickness of only 1.0 mm to    1.2 mm, making it ideal for space-constrained and portable    electronic designs.

TSSOP packages are widely used for medium-pin-count analog, digital,    mixed-signal, and interface ICs. They offer a practical balance between    compact size, manufacturability, solder-joint inspectability, and cost.    Typical lead pitch is 0.65 mm, with pin counts commonly    ranging from 8 to 64 pins, and some devices up to80 pins.

Key Features and Advantages

  • Ultra-thin profile: ~1.0–1.2 mm body thickness, ideal for portable and height-constrained designs.
  • Fine lead pitch: Typically 0.65 mm, enabling higher pin density than SOIC.
  • Gull-wing leads: Provide mechanical compliance during thermal cycling and board flexure.
  • Optically inspectable solder joints: Unlike BGA or QFN.
  • Mature assembly process: Compatible with standard SMT reflow soldering.
  • Wide availability: Many analog, interface, logic, memory, and mixed-signal ICs.
  • Cost-effective: Lower routing and inspection cost than BGA for medium I/O density.

Typical Specifications

ParameterTypical Value
Package TypeThin Shrink Small Outline Package (SMT)
Lead Pitch0.65 mm (some 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm variants)
Pin Count8 to 80 pins
Body Width4.4 mm, 6.1 mm, 7.8 mm
Body Thickness~1.0 mm to 1.2 mm
Lead StyleGull-wing, two sides
MountingSurface-mount (SMT), reflow soldering
Operating Temperature−40°C to +85°C or +125°C (device dependent)

Common TSSOP Variants

VariantPin CountBody WidthTypical Applications
TSSOP-883.0 mm or 4.4 mmOp-amps, comparators, EEPROM, interface ICs
TSSOP-14/1614–164.4 mmLogic, multiplexers, ADC/DAC, drivers
TSSOP-20/2420–244.4 mmInterface ICs, memory, controllers
TSSOP-28/3228–326.1 mmMicrocontrollers, data converters, communication ICs
TSSOP-38/4838–486.1 mm or 7.8 mmBus interfaces, logic, memory, display drivers
TSSOP-56/6456–647.8 mmAdvanced MCUs, communication processors
TSSOP-80807.8 mm or largerHigh-pin-count controllers, complex SoCs

Major Application Areas

Portable and Consumer Electronics

Smartphones, tablets, wearables, portable media players, digital cameras,    and gaming devices. Used for power management, audio processing, display    control, sensor interfacing, and interface conversion.

Analog and Mixed-Signal ICs

Operational amplifiers, comparators, data converters (ADC/DAC),    multiplexers, analog switches, and sensor signal-conditioning ICs.

Interface and Communication ICs

RS-232, RS-485, CAN, USB, UART, I²C, SPI, and other interface transceivers    for industrial communication, networking, embedded systems, and peripherals.

Logic and Memory Devices

Logic gates, shift registers, bus transceivers, decoders, EEPROM, Flash    memory, and SRAM for control systems, data storage, and embedded designs.

Microcontrollers and Embedded Systems

8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit microcontrollers for consumer electronics,    industrial control, automotive modules, and IoT devices.

Automotive Electronics

AEC-Q100 qualified TSSOP ICs for body control modules, infotainment systems,    sensor interfaces, power management, and legacy ECU designs.

Industrial Control and Automation

PLCs, motor drives, sensor interfaces, data acquisition, instrumentation,    and process control equipment.

Medical Devices

Patient monitoring, diagnostic instruments, portable medical devices, and    medical imaging equipment.

Computing, Networking, and Data Storage

Motherboards, network routers, switches, optical modules, SSDs, and embedded    computing boards.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages:

  • Ultra-thin profile (~1.0 mm) enables slim product designs.
  • Smaller than SOIC and SSOP for the same pin count.
  • Solder joints are optically inspectable.
  • Mature, low-cost SMT assembly.
  • Wide availability across analog, digital, and mixed-signal devices.
  • Good mechanical compliance from gull-wing leads.

Disadvantages:

  • Larger footprint than QFN or BGA for equivalent pin count.
  • Fine 0.65 mm pitch requires careful PCB routing and stencil design.
  • Higher parasitic inductance than leadless packages.
  • Moderate thermal performance compared with QFN with exposed pad.
  • Not ideal for very high pin counts or extreme miniaturization.

TSSOP vs. Related Packages

PackageLead PitchBody ThicknessMountingTypical Pin CountNotes
SOIC1.27 mm~1.75 mmSMT8–28Larger, easier soldering
SSOP0.65 mm~1.75–2.0 mmSMT8–56+Smaller than SOIC
TSSOP0.65 mm~1.0–1.2 mmSMT8–80Thinner, portable electronics
QSOP0.635 mm~1.75 mmSMT16–40Quarter-size, compact
QFN0.4–0.5 mm0.8–1.0 mmSMT16–100+Leadless, thermally enhanced

Selection Considerations

  • Pin Count: 8–80 pins based on I/O requirements.
  • Lead Pitch: 0.65 mm standard; verify PCB manufacturing capability.
  • Body Width: 4.4 mm, 6.1 mm, or 7.8 mm depending on pin count.
  • Thermal Requirements: Consider QFN or exposed-pad packages for high-power devices.
  • Temperature Grade: Commercial, industrial, or automotive (AEC-Q100).
  • PCB Design: Proper pad geometry, solder mask, and stencil design for fine-pitch leads.
  • Assembly: Reflow soldering is standard; optical inspection is possible.
  • Availability: Confirm long-term supply and second-source options.