Integrated Circuit Function

Key Takeaways

• Most ICs have millions of tiny transistors, diodes, resistors, capacitors, etc. in their internal architecture. 

• Integrated circuits are microelectronic circuits fabricated as a single unit on the semiconductor substrate. They can perform any intended operation as designed. 

• If the integrated circuit needs to perform both analog or digital signal processing, it uses both analog and digital design principles and forms the mixed-signal IC.

IC 741 is commonly used in applications involving operational amplifiers

Every other electronic circuit operation is available in the form of integrated circuits (ICs). Integrated circuits, popularly called chips, are inevitable in any electronic board. The integrated circuit functions as an amplifier, oscillator, counter, voltage regulator, timer, and memory and replaces discrete component-based circuits. Miniaturization is just one of the advantages of integrated circuits. 

What Is an Integrated Circuit?

Integrated Circuit Components

Integrated circuits are built with different basic blocks that vary with each chip and application. Most ICs have millions of tiny transistors, diodes, resistors, capacitors, etc. in their internal architecture. 

Integrated Circuit Size

In an integrated circuit, all the numerous components are embedded inside the chip. The components are interconnected through semiconductor substrate, copper, or other materials such as platinum, gold, etc. The size of the integrated circuit is so microscopic that they are sometimes called microchips. There are integrated circuits that occupy space even a few square millimeters.

Integrated Circuit Function

Usually, silicon semiconductors are used for integrated circuit fabrication. The resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors, etc. are embedded into the semiconductor substrate such that the integrated circuit functions as intended. The intended operation of the integrated circuit can be waveform generation as in oscillators, voltage magnification as in amplifiers, generating repeated patterns as in counters, and performing binary operations such as AND, OR, NOT, etc. as in logic gates.

The table below gives the integrated circuit function of some of the most common chips.

Types of Integrated Circuits

Integrated circuits can be classified into different types based on their IC fabrication technology, integration technology, nature of signal processing, packaging style, etc. 

ICs Based on Signal Type

ICs Based on the Number of Transistors

With the development of integration technology, integrated circuits can now embed more than 10 million transistors in a single chip. Based on the number of transistors that reside in a single-chip semiconductor substrate, integrated circuit technology can be classified as given in the table below.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Integrated Circuits

Advantages

• Small size 
• Complex circuits can be fabricated as integrated circuits, helping improve performance
• More reliable than discrete component-based circuits
• Consumes less power
• Easy and quick troubleshooting
• Free from parasitic capacitance, so higher operating speed can be achieved
• Bulk production is easy, keeping costs low

Disadvantages 

• Overheats easily
• Inductors and transformers cannot be embedded into integrated circuits

The integrated circuit function is imperative in modern miniaturized circuits. Cadence offers a suite of design and analysis tools that help in designing, verifying, and implementing IC-based electronic printed circuit boards.

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