Definition of IC Chip
The integrated circuit (IC) chip has found its way into everything from toasters to communications satellites. This small electronic device, a miniature package of transistors, has revolutionized product design and increased capability while shrinking size and cost in numerous items.
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Semiconductors
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Highly refined materials made of silicon and other elements, semiconductors can carry small electric currents. They're manufactured to prefer either positive or negative electric charges. The arrangement of different semiconductors creates fundamental electronic components, including transistors and diodes.
Integration
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Traditional components are packaged separately, then wired together. On an integrated circuit, many electronic components---transistors, resistors and capacitors, for example---share a common silicon base. This saves enormous amounts of space. An IC can be a tiny fraction of the size of traditional equivalent circuits.
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Packaging
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The chip in an IC is small, ranging from a few millimeters to perhaps a centimeter on a side. It is packaged in a plastic or ceramic block, keeping the chip protected from the elements. Pins on the IC package carry signals from the chip to external circuits.
Functions
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Many ICs today have digital functions, such as computer processors and memory. Others are analog, such as operational amplifiers (Op-Amps), signal generators and digital-to-analog converters (DACs).
Density
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The first integrated circuit (IC) chip, invented in 1958, had a total of five components. Today's ICs can have millions. The more components a chip holds, the greater the capability it has.
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References
- Photo Credit chip image by JCVSTOCK-ES from Fotolia.com
