Integrated Circuits: Construction, Features & Types

Integrated circuits or monolithic integrated circuits are small-sized circuits that are designed with more power and safety features for electronic devices.

• It is also known as IC, Microelectronic circuits, microchips, or chips. 
• Integrated Circuits are electronic components, with a single unit, wherein the interconnections of miniaturized active devices and passive devices are composed on a thin substrate of semiconductor material.
• Large numbers of small transistors and other electronic components are integrated together on the chip.
• This results in circuits that are of smaller size, faster, and less expensive compared to those circuits constructed from discrete components, allowing a large transistor count.

An integrated circuit is constructed using certain logic methods and circuit layouts. The IC design can further be divided as:

• Analog Design
• Digital Design
• Mixed Design

The advent of technological advancements has made the most complex operations to be performed in compact devices with smaller structures. Earlier, the circuits made were bulky and huge and were not completely shockproofed including various components of the circuit like diodes, transistors, inductors, etc. that were bound together with the use of copper wires. 

Key Terms: Integrated circuits, Linear Integrated Circuits, Semiconductor Electronics, Integrated Chip, Analog, Digital, Logic Gates,  Amplifier, Regulator

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What is Integrated Circuit?

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An integrated circuit can be defined as a chip of small size made out of semiconductors material on which an entire circuit can be mounted.

• One of the most commonly used integrated circuits nowadays is the monolithic integrated circuit.
• In Greek, the word “mono” means small, and “lithos” means stone.
• This word is used as integrated circuits are created on silicon crystals, the dimensions of which can be as small as 1mm x 1 mm or even smaller.
• As compared to the earlier circuits, which were made by joining various individual components of the circuit, the integrated circuits are much smaller and more efficient.
• Early attempts to combine multiple components were made with the Loewe 3NF vacuum tube from the 1920s.
• Almost all of the electric equipment around us today makes use of these integrated circuits. Examples of some of these electronic appliances include mobile phones, computers, televisions, etc.
• Before Integrated Circuits (IC) were made, circuits were designed using diodes, transistors, resistors, inductors, and capacitors by connecting them via shouldering.
• However, due to the issues related to size and power consumption, Integrated Circuits (IC) were developed.

Integrated Circuits

The video below explains this:

Integrated Circuits Detailed Video Explanation:

Definition of Integrated Chip

Integrated circuits are developed using numerous components, like R, C, L, diodes, and transistors.

• Integrated Chips are composed of a small single block or chip of a semiconductor called an integrated circuit (IC).
• The IC, here, is very easily breakable, thus, in order to be attached to a circuit board, it has been seen to be housed in a plastic package with metal pins. 

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Integrated Circuit Construction

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The integrated circuits have a complex layering of semiconductors and copper. A die is a cut and formed combination of these wafers.

• The wafers that make up the IC are fragile and the connections between the layers are highly intricate. 
• The ICs are packaged due to their compact size which makes soldering difficult.
• The IC package turns the delicate die into a black chip.
• The package encapsulated into an integrated circuit converts into an easily connectable device. 
• The different types of packages are unique in dimension.
• They are polarised and have unique locations and functions.
• Once the pin is identified, the rest of the pins increase sequentially around the chip in a counter-clockwise manner.

Integrated Circuit Construction

Integrated Circuit Advantages

Some of the important benefits of Integrated circuits are:

• Lesser weight: A circuit that is built using integrated circuits (ICs) usually weighs lesser than a circuit constructed with discrete circuits. 
• Compact size: As opposed to the size of an integrated circuit with a discrete circuit, it is possible to construct a smaller circuit with the same functionality by using integrated circuits. 
• Low Power Consumption: Integrated circuits (ICs) are known to use lesser power as opposed to traditional circuits.
• Cheaper in Cost: Integrated circuits (ICs) typically require less material as compared to discrete circuits, thus reducing the cost.
• Increased Reliability: Opposed to digital circuits, integrated circuits (ICs) have higher dependability due to their fewer connections.
• Improved Operating Speeds: Integrated circuits (ICs) operate at higher speeds due to their faster switching rates and lower power consumption. 

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Features of Integrated Circuit

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Some of the interesting features of integrated circuits are:

Construction and Packaging 

Silicon is the semiconductor material that is an integral part of the IC. The chip is extremely tiny and very delicate to handle. For this reason, they are bonded into a set of gold and aluminium wires and finally cast into a flat block of plastic and ceramic.

Size of an IC

The size of a typical IC varies between 1 square mm to 200 square mm. 

IC Integration

The integrated circuits get their name as they employ different devices on the same chip. The microcontroller is an IC that includes a processor, memory, and interface all in the same device.

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Scale of Integration

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The integration scale of an IC shows the number of components fitted in a standard-size IC. In other words, the scale of integration is the density of components. It is classified as:

1. Small Scale Integration (SSI): It has a transistor count of 1 to 10 and 1 to 12 logic gates number.
2. Medium Scale Integration (MSI): It has a transistor count of 10 to 500 and 13 to 99 logic gates number.
3. Large Scale Integration (LSI): It has a transistor count of 500 to 20000 and 100 to 9999 logic gates number.
4. Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI): It has a transistor count of 20000 to 1000000 and 10000 to 99999 logic gates number.
5. Ultra Large Scale Integration (ULSI): It has a transistor count of more than 1000000 and also more than 100000 logic gates number.

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Types of Integrated Circuits

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Depending on the nature of its input signals, the integrated circuit can be divided into three types which are analog integrated circuits, digital integrated circuits, and mixed circuits.

Digital Integrated Circuits

These are the types of circuits that have inputs that are digital in nature.

• These circuits are used in computers.
• The inputs of this circuit are defined for two levels and not for a range of continuous values.
• They include logical gates which have input signals which have 0 as a low state and 1 as a high state.

Digital Integrated Circuit

Analog Integrated Circuits

Analog integrated circuits are also known as linear circuits. These analog circuits have inputs that are continuously variable in nature.

• These inputs are in the form of analog signals.
• The output signal then comes out as a linear function of the input signal.
• Linear or analog circuits are used in audio-frequency and radio-frequency amplifiers.

Analog Integrated Circuit

Mixed Circuits

This type combines analog and digital design principles. They function as digital-to-analog converters, analog-to-digital converters, and clock or timing ICs.

Mixed Integrated Circuit

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Common Integrated Circuits

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Some of the most commonly used ICs are as follows:

• Logical Gate ICs: logical circuits which provide a logical output based on the input signal. There can be multiple inputs but the output is single.
• Timer ICs: produced with accurate timing cycles with 100-50% duty cycle.
• Operational Amplifiers: has a differential input and a single-ended output.
• Voltage Regulators: Provides a constant DC output irrespective of the changes in input.

Applications of Integrated Circuits

There are several applications of integrated circuits, including:

• Counters
• Timers
• Calculator chips
• Microcontrollers
• Clock chips
• Memory chips
• Temperature sensors

Results of an Integrated System Design

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Previous Year Questions

1. Which Logic gate is represented by the truth table? [JKCET 2012]
2. Determine the type of gate. [JIPMER 2019]
3. When is an npn transistor used as an amplifier. [NEET 1996]
4. Calculate ß when the emitter current is changed. [JEE Main 2021]
5. Device that acts as a complete electronic circuit. [NEET 2010]
6. What is the impurity atom to be doped for p type semiconductors? [JEE Advanced 1988]
7. A p-n junction diode is also used as? [NEET 1999]
8. The electrical network is equivalent to? [NEET 2017]
9. Determine the logic gate? [NEET 2010]
10. What is pure silicon. [JIPMER 2018]
11. What is an intrinsic semiconductor. [MET 2012]
12. Determine the semiconductor device type. [NEET 1998]
13. Which is p-type semiconductor? [NEET 2013]
14. What causes increase in width of depletion region. [NEET 2020]
15. The pn junction is forward biased when? [NEET 1988]

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Things to Remember

• Integrated circuits are small-sized chips that are used in electronic devices due to their compactness.
• The IC package converts the die into a black chip and it can get connected easily.
• They are unique in dimension, location, and function.
• The size of an IC varies from 1 square mm to 200 square mm.
• The IC includes a processor, memory, and interfaces all in a single package.
• Digital, Integrated, and Mixed circuits are the different types of integrated circuits.
• Logic gates, Timer ICs, amplifiers, and voltage regulators are some of the commonly used integrated circuits.

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