Integrated Circuits
• Objectives
– At the completion of this unit, the student
should be able to:
• Explain the importance of integrated circuits.
• Identify advantages and disadvantages of
integrated circuits.
• Identify the major components of an integrated
circuit.
• Describe the four processes used to construct
integrated circuits.
• Identify the major integrated circuit packages.
• List the families of integrated circuits.
• Integrated circuits
– A complete electronic circuit in a package no
larger than that of a conventional low-power
transistor.
– Consist of diodes, transistors, resistors, and
capacitors.
– Produced with the same technology and
materials used in making transistors and other
semiconductor devices.
• Advantages of integrated circuits:
– They are small in size, approximately oneeighth of an inch square.
– Consume less power.
– Operate at higher speeds.
– More reliable.
– Many are produced at the same time.
– Reduce the number of parts needed to construct
electronic equipment.
• Disadvantages of integrated circuits:
– Cannot handle large amounts of current or
voltage.
– Only four types of components are included.
•
•
•
•
diodes
transistors
resistors
capacitors
– They cannot be repaired.
• Integrated circuits are classified according
to their construction techniques.
–
–
–
–
Monolithic
Thin-film
Thick-film
Hybrid
• Integrated circuit packaging
– Packages are designed to protect the circuits
• from moisture.
• from dust.
• from other contaminants.
– Most popular design is the dual-inline package.
• Several sizes:
– small scale integration (SSI).
– medium scale integration (MSI).
– large scale integration (LSI).
– very large scale integration (VLSI).
• Made of ceramic or plastic
– plastic is less expensive.
– suitable for applications where operating temperature
falls between 0 to 70 degrees Celsius.
– ceramic is more expensive.
– offers better protection.
– operate at a wider temperature range (-55 to +125
degrees Celsius).
– recommended for military, aerospace, and severe
industrial applications.
• In Summary
– Integrated circuits are popular because they:
•
•
•
•
•
Are reliable with complex circuits
Consume little power
Are small and lighter
Are economical to produce
Provide new and better solutions to problems
– They cannot handle large amounts of current or
voltage.
– Integrated circuits use only:
•
•
•
•
Diodes
Transistors
Resistors
Capacitors
– They cannot be repaired, only replaced.
– They are constructed by four techniques:
• Monolithic
• Thin-film
• Thick-film
• Hybrid
– The most popular circuit package used is the
DIP (dual-inline package).
– Packages are made of plastic or ceramic.
• Plastic is most often used.