What Is the Purpose of a Microchip ?

What Is the Purpose of a Microchip ? thumbnail
Microchips

The entire electronics revolution is based on microchips, which is another term for complicated Integrated Circuits (ICs). Without the small size and power of microchips, most gadgets would be too large to use.

  1. Definition

    • A microchip is, technically, a very small version of an electronic circuit printed onto a semi-conductor material.

    Function

    • A microchip can perform the operations of an electrical circuit, which involves moving electricity through logic gates to do anything from using your TV remotely to changing the channel to making a call on your cell phone.

    Benefit

    • The main benefit of a microchip is its small size. A circuit that would be the size of a table on a circuit board can be made into a microchip that is only a few millimeters long.

    Usage

    • Microchips are used in almost any kind of electronic device, from a TV remote control to a car's dashboard to the newest personal computers.

    Cost

    • Another major benefit of microchips is that they are cheap to manufacture, allowing many gadgets and electronics to be made for mass markets.

    Misconceptions

    • Microchips are often confused with microprocessors, the computing hearts of PCs. Microchips can be any kind of miniaturized circuit, while microprocessors are a specific kind of microchip that is very complex and can be used to perform many different kinds of operations.

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References

  • Photo Credit Microchips Word 4 image by chrisharvey from Fotolia.com

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