Integrated Circuits Technology
Integrated Circuit (IC) Technology
Introduction
IC technology refers to application of semiconductor materials as platform to combine various electronic components in an effort to reduce size and cost as well as to improve effectiveness of electronic circuits. This essay aims to describe integrated circuit, look at wiring problems that it solved and state of micocircuitry today.
Discussion
Integrated circuit (IC), also called chip, is a network of circuits formed by engraving electronic components (resistors, capacitors and diodes etc) on a semiconductor wafer. It is usually enclosed in a “plastic holder” containing pins, which act as connectors between the IC and printed circuit board (PCB) (Hewes, 2009). Electronic chips are categorized as linear or digital. A linear chip produces constantly changing output signal that is characteristic of the input signal and therefore, is used widely on amplifiers. Digital/logic chip give out only two states of output (0 or 1) and are used in computer systems and counters. Since it is possible to combine various electronics components into a compact element using IC technology, the need for wiring such components that was being used earlier has been phased out. ICs solved various wiring problems such as circuit breaks, signal’s value drop and heat buildup within circuits etc. Before invention of IC, electricians and engineers used to connect various components needed in a circuit using wires. Circuits breaks that hindered flow of signals within the circuits were inevitable because of ineffective soldering and errors in wiring the components (NobelPrize.org, 2003). Use of ICs eliminated this and provided ways for designing circuits without or with short and few wires. In addition, IC solved the problem of signal’s value drop that was being experienced due to use of long wires. According to the electrical resistance relationship, as the length of the conductor increases, resistance also increases, thereby limiting the
Introduction
IC technology refers to application of semiconductor materials as platform to combine various electronic components in an effort to reduce size and cost as well as to improve effectiveness of electronic circuits. This essay aims to describe integrated circuit, look at wiring problems that it solved and state of micocircuitry today.
Discussion
Integrated circuit (IC), also called chip, is a network of circuits formed by engraving electronic components (resistors, capacitors and diodes etc) on a semiconductor wafer. It is usually enclosed in a “plastic holder” containing pins, which act as connectors between the IC and printed circuit board (PCB) (Hewes, 2009). Electronic chips are categorized as linear or digital. A linear chip produces constantly changing output signal that is characteristic of the input signal and therefore, is used widely on amplifiers. Digital/logic chip give out only two states of output (0 or 1) and are used in computer systems and counters. Since it is possible to combine various electronics components into a compact element using IC technology, the need for wiring such components that was being used earlier has been phased out. ICs solved various wiring problems such as circuit breaks, signal’s value drop and heat buildup within circuits etc. Before invention of IC, electricians and engineers used to connect various components needed in a circuit using wires. Circuits breaks that hindered flow of signals within the circuits were inevitable because of ineffective soldering and errors in wiring the components (NobelPrize.org, 2003). Use of ICs eliminated this and provided ways for designing circuits without or with short and few wires. In addition, IC solved the problem of signal’s value drop that was being experienced due to use of long wires. According to the electrical resistance relationship, as the length of the conductor increases, resistance also increases, thereby limiting the
References: Hewes, J. (2009). Integrated circuits (Chips). The Electronics Club. March 24, 2010. Integratedcircuithelp.com. (2006). Advances in integrated circuits. March 24, 2010. Nobelprize.org. (May 5, 2003). The history of the integrated circuit. The Integrated Circuit. March 24, 2010.