Integrated Circuit

An integrated circuit is a device in which circuits components such as Transistors, Diodes, Resistors, Capacitor are automatically part of a small semiconductor chip in an electrical device. In an integrated circuit (IC), the individual components of the device cannot be removed or altered in any form or way, no components of an integrated circuit is seen outside the chip.

Integrated circuit are of four types based on the manufacturing of the integrated circuit, these are;

Mono-lithic

Thin-film

Thick-film

Hybrid

Mon-Lithic IC

MONO-LITHIC IC is one in which circuits components are inter-connected on a single Wafer called the substrate. The Mono-Lithic IC is also called the “One Stone” derived from the Greek  word.

MERITS OF ICs

IC have increased reliability due to lesser connection numbers

ICs are small in size and contain transistors and capacitor in small semiconductor.

ICs have lesser weight and very small in size to consume little space in a green-board of a device.

ICs require minimize amount of voltage compare to the single device as transistor and capacitors in the circuit.

ICs have great and extreme capability to operate under high temperature.

Generally, it can be said that to everything that has a merit may have a demerit, thus so is an IC

IC on a Green_board

DEMERITS OF ICs

Any damage by a single component of the IC may affect  the whole and general function of the IC in the device.

It is not possible to replace any damage components of the IC and therefore the whole IC may have to be replaced on the Green-Board.