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.

Classification and complexity

Integrated circuits can be classified into analog, digital and mixed signal (both analog and digital on the same chip).

Related Topics:
Analog - Digital - Mixed signal

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Digital integrated circuits can contain anything from one to millions of logic gates, flip-flops, multiplexers, etc. in a few square millimeters. The small size of these circuits allows high speed, low power dissipation, and reduced manufacturing cost compared with board-level integration.

Related Topics:
Logic gate - Flip-flop - Multiplexer

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The growth of complexity of integrated circuits follows a trend called "Moore's Law", first observed by Gordon Moore of Intel. Moore's Law in its modern interpretation states that the number of transistors in an integrated circuit doubles every two years. By the year 2000 the largest integrated circuits contained hundreds of millions of transistors. It is difficult to say whether the trend will continue (see technological singularity).

Related Topics:
Moore's Law - Gordon Moore - Intel - 2000 - Technological singularity

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