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What are the advantages and disadvantages of integrated circuits?
What are integrated circuits?
Why are integrated circuits better than discrete components?
What is an integrated circuit (IC)?
Nov 10, 2015 · Learn the pros and cons of ICs over discrete components in terms of size, cost, reliability, speed, performance and more. Find out the limitations and challenges of ICs in terms of power, voltage, capacitance, temperature and fabrication.
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integrated circuit (IC), an assembly of electronic components, fabricated as a single unit, in which miniaturized active devices (e.g., transistors and diodes) and passive devices (e.g., capacitors and resistors) and their interconnections are built up on a thin substrate of semiconductor material (typically silicon). The resulting circuit is thus a small monolithic “chip,” which may be as small as a few square centimetres or only a few square millimetres. The individual circuit components are generally microscopic in size.
Integrated circuits have their origin in the invention of the transistor in 1947 by William B. Shockley and his team at the American Telephone and Telegraph Company’s Bell Laboratories. Shockley’s team (including John Bardeen and Walter H. Brattain) found that, under the right circumstances, electrons would form a barrier at the surface of certain crystals, and they learned to control the flow of electricity through the crystal by manipulating this barrier. Controlling electron flow through a crystal allowed the team to create a device that could perform certain electrical operations, such as signal amplification, that were previously done by vacuum tubes. They named this device a transistor, from a combination of the words transfer and resistor. The study of methods of creating electronic devices using solid materials became known as solid-state electronics. Solid-state devices proved to be much sturdier, easier to work with, more reliable, much smaller, and less expensive than vacuum tubes. Using the same principles and materials, engineers soon learned to create other electrical components, such as resistors and capacitors. Now that electrical devices could be made so small, the largest part of a circuit was the awkward wiring between the devices.
Analog, or linear, circuits typically use only a few components and are thus some of the simplest types of ICs. Generally, analog circuits are connected to devices that collect signals from the environment or send signals back to the environment. For example, a microphone converts fluctuating vocal sounds into an electrical signal of varying voltage. An analog circuit then modifies the signal in some useful way—such as amplifying it or filtering it of undesirable noise. Such a signal might then be fed back to a loudspeaker, which would reproduce the tones originally picked up by the microphone. Another typical use for an analog circuit is to control some device in response to continual changes in the environment. For example, a temperature sensor sends a varying signal to a thermostat, which can be programmed to turn an air conditioner, heater, or oven on and off once the signal has reached a certain value.
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A digital circuit, on the other hand, is designed to accept only voltages of specific given values. A circuit that uses only two states is known as a binary circuit. Circuit design with binary quantities, “on” and “off” representing 1 and 0 (i.e., true and false), uses the logic of Boolean algebra. (Arithmetic is also performed in the binary number system employing Boolean algebra.) These basic elements are combined in the design of ICs for digital computers and associated devices to perform the desired functions.
Learn about the invention and evolution of the integrated circuit, a small monolithic chip that contains miniaturized electronic components and interconnections. Find out how ICs are used in various fields and applications, and the difference between analog and digital circuits.
ICs have three main advantages over circuits constructed out of discrete components: size, cost and performance. The size and cost is low because the chips, with all their components, are printed as a unit by photolithography rather than being constructed one transistor at a time. Furthermore, packaged ICs use much less material than discrete ...
Learn about the definition, history, generations, structure, and working of integrated circuits (ICs), also known as chips or microchips. Find out the advantages and disadvantages of ICs and their applications in electronics and computers.
Feb 7, 2023 · They include: More Durable and Reliable: They are typically more reliable, require less power, and are easier to manufacture. Additionally, they can be used to create complex products that would otherwise be difficult to achieve with discrete components. Cost Effective: Integrated circuits also offer a number of cost benefits.
Oct 26, 2023 · Learn how ICs revolutionized electronics by miniaturizing, reducing costs, and increasing efficiency. Discover the types, fabrication process, and applications of ICs in various sectors, and the challenges and trends of IC technology.
Aug 10, 2023 · Learn the definition, history, types, and benefits of integrated circuits (ICs), the fundamental building blocks of modern electronics. ICs are made of semiconductor material and contain transistors, resistors, capacitors, and other components that perform various functions.
