Table of Contents
What is the difference between discrete and integrated circuits?
Discrete circuits are individual components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors and transistors mounted independently usually on a PCB (printed circuit board). An integrated circuit has all these components etched directly into layers of silicon.
Is a transistor smaller than an integrated circuit?
The individual transistor, like the vacuum tube before it, became obsolete. The integrated circuit was much smaller, more reliable, less expensive, and far more powerful.
What are the advantages of ICs over discrete circuits?
ICs have two main advantages over discrete circuits: cost and performance. Cost is low because the chips, with all their components, are printed as a unit by photolithography rather than being constructed one transistor at a time. Furthermore, packaged ICs use much less material than discrete circuits.
What is the difference between microcontroller and IC?
Whereas a microcontroller is basically a small computer with a processor, memory, programmable input/output peripherals all fabricated on a single chip (IC). These are generally programmed to perform a specific task. So, in a nutshell, all microcontrollers are IC’s but not vice-versa.
What is discrete transistor?
A single transistor. Discrete transistors are used in myriad applications from low to high power. Early transistors were always discrete, and then they were built into integrated circuits (chips). See discrete component and chip.
How does size affect an integrated circuit?
Speed and Power : Smaller size of IC components yields higher speed and lower power consumption due to smaller parasitic resistances, capacitances and inductances.
Is transistor an integrated circuit?
integrated circuit (IC), also called microelectronic circuit, microchip, or chip, an assembly of electronic components, fabricated as a single unit, in which miniaturized active devices (e.g., transistors and diodes) and passive devices (e.g., capacitors and resistors) and their interconnections are built up on a thin …
What is a discrete transistor?
A single transistor. Discrete transistors are used in myriad applications from low to high power. Early transistors were always discrete, and then they were built into integrated circuits (chips).
Why are ICS more reliable than discrete assembly?
More reliable because of elimination of soldered joints and need for fewer interconnections. Lower power consumption because of their smaller size. Easy replacement as it is more economical to replace them than to repair them. Increased operating speed because of absence of parasitic capacitance effect.