Integrated circuit

An integrated circuit (IC) is a thin chip consisting of at least two interconnected semiconductor devices, mainly transistors, as well as passive components like resistors. As of 2004, typical chips are of size 1 cm2 or smaller, and contain millions of interconnected devices, but larger ones exist as well.

Related Topics:
Semiconductor device - Transistor - Passive component - Resistor - As of 2004 - Cm

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Among the most advanced integrated circuits are the microprocessors, which drive everything from computers to cellular phones to digital microwave ovens. Digital memory chips are another family of integrated circuits that are crucially important in modern society.

Related Topics:
Microprocessor - Computer - Cellular phone - Microwave oven - Memory chip - Society

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The integrated circuit was made possible by mid-20th-century technology advancements in semiconductor device fabrication and experimental discoveries that showed that semiconductor devices could perform the functions performed by vacuum tubes at the time. The integration of large numbers of tiny transistors onto a small chip was an enormous improvement to the manual assembly of finger-sized vacuum tubes. The integrated circuit's small size, reliability, fast switching speeds, low power, mass production capability, and ease of adding complexity quickly pushed vacuum tubes into obsolescence.

Related Topics:
20th-century - Technology - Semiconductor device fabrication - Semiconductor device - Vacuum tube - Transistor - Power - Mass production - Complexity - Obsolescence

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Only a half century after their development was initiated, integrated circuits have become ubiquitous. Computers, cellular phones, and other digital appliances are now inextricable parts of the structure of modern societies. That is, modern computing, communications, manufacturing and transport systems, including the Internet, all depend on the existence of these circuits. Indeed, many scholars believe that the digital revolution brought about by integrated circuits was one of the most significant occurrences in the history of mankind.

Related Topics:
Computer - Cellular phone - Digital - Appliance - Computing - Communication - Manufacturing - Transport - Internet - Scholar - Digital revolution - History - Mankind

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