Definition :- An integrated circuit, or IC, is small chip that can function as an amplifier, oscillator, timer, microprocessor, or even computer memory. An IC is a small wafer, usually made of silicon, that can hold anywhere from hundreds to millions of transistors, resistors, and capacitors.
Different Types of Integrated Circuits
SSI: SSI is Small Scale Integration which can support up to 100 electronic components per chip.
MSI: MSI is Medium Scale Integration which can support up to 3000 electronic components per chip.
LSI: LSI is Large Scale Integration which can support 100,000 electronic components in a single chip.
VLSI: VLSI is Very Large Scale Integration which can support 1,000,000 electronic components in a single chip.
ULSI: Ultra Large Scale Integration can support more than one million electronic components in a single chip.
Advantages of Integrated Circuits
1. Miniature in size. As fabrication process is used for the integration of active and passive components on to a silicon chip, the IC becomes a lot smaller. When compared to a discrete circuit, it may be at least a thousand times smaller.
2. Due to small size, the weight of the IC also reduces, when compared to the discrete circuit.
3. To produce hundreds of discrete circuits on a PCB for the same logic takes more time and increase the cost factor. But for the production of hundreds of IC’s the cost of production will be very low and less time consuming.
4. The PCB consisting soldered joints will be less reliable. This problem is omitted in IC’s because of no soldered joints, with fewer interconnections, and thus highly reliable.
5. The small size of IC’s causes lesser power consumption and lesser power loss.
6. In a discrete circuitry, if a single transistor becomes faulty, the whole circuit may fail to work. This transistor has to be desoldered and replaced. It is difficult to find out which component has failed. This problem can be omitted in an IC by replacing an entire IC as it is low in cost.
7. Increased operating speed because of absence of parasitic capacitance effect.
8. As the IC’s are produced in bulk the temperature coefficients and other parameters will be closely matching.
9. Improved functional performance as more complex circuits can be fabricated for achieving better characteristics.
10. All IC’s are tested for operating ranges in very low and very high temperatures.
11. As all the components are fabricated very close to each other in an IC, they are highly suitable for small signal operation, as there won’t be any stray electrical pickup.
12. As all the components are fabricated inside the chip, there will not be any external projections.
Disadvantages of Integrated Circuits
1. Some complex IC’s maybe costly. If such integrated circuits are used roughly and become faulty, they have to be replaced by a new one. They cannot be repaired as the individual components inside the IC are too small.
2. The power rating for most of the IC’s does not exceed more than 10 watts. Thus it is not possible to manufacture high power IC’s.
3. Some components like transformers and inductors cannot be integrated into an IC. They have to be connected externally to the semiconductor pins.
4. High grade P-N-P assembly is not possible.
5. The IC will not work properly if wrongly handled or exposed to excessive heat.
6. It is difficult to achieve low temperature coefficient.
7. It is difficult to fabricate an IC with low noise.
8. It is not possible to fabricate capacitors that exceed a value of 30pF. Thus, high value capacitors are to be connected externally to the IC.
9. There is a large value of saturation resistance of transistors.
SSI: SSI is Small Scale Integration which can support up to 100 electronic components per chip.
MSI: MSI is Medium Scale Integration which can support up to 3000 electronic components per chip.
LSI: LSI is Large Scale Integration which can support 100,000 electronic components in a single chip.
VLSI: VLSI is Very Large Scale Integration which can support 1,000,000 electronic components in a single chip.
ULSI: Ultra Large Scale Integration can support more than one million electronic components in a single chip.
Advantages of Integrated Circuits
1. Miniature in size. As fabrication process is used for the integration of active and passive components on to a silicon chip, the IC becomes a lot smaller. When compared to a discrete circuit, it may be at least a thousand times smaller.
2. Due to small size, the weight of the IC also reduces, when compared to the discrete circuit.
3. To produce hundreds of discrete circuits on a PCB for the same logic takes more time and increase the cost factor. But for the production of hundreds of IC’s the cost of production will be very low and less time consuming.
4. The PCB consisting soldered joints will be less reliable. This problem is omitted in IC’s because of no soldered joints, with fewer interconnections, and thus highly reliable.
5. The small size of IC’s causes lesser power consumption and lesser power loss.
6. In a discrete circuitry, if a single transistor becomes faulty, the whole circuit may fail to work. This transistor has to be desoldered and replaced. It is difficult to find out which component has failed. This problem can be omitted in an IC by replacing an entire IC as it is low in cost.
7. Increased operating speed because of absence of parasitic capacitance effect.
8. As the IC’s are produced in bulk the temperature coefficients and other parameters will be closely matching.
9. Improved functional performance as more complex circuits can be fabricated for achieving better characteristics.
10. All IC’s are tested for operating ranges in very low and very high temperatures.
11. As all the components are fabricated very close to each other in an IC, they are highly suitable for small signal operation, as there won’t be any stray electrical pickup.
12. As all the components are fabricated inside the chip, there will not be any external projections.
Disadvantages of Integrated Circuits
1. Some complex IC’s maybe costly. If such integrated circuits are used roughly and become faulty, they have to be replaced by a new one. They cannot be repaired as the individual components inside the IC are too small.
2. The power rating for most of the IC’s does not exceed more than 10 watts. Thus it is not possible to manufacture high power IC’s.
3. Some components like transformers and inductors cannot be integrated into an IC. They have to be connected externally to the semiconductor pins.
4. High grade P-N-P assembly is not possible.
5. The IC will not work properly if wrongly handled or exposed to excessive heat.
6. It is difficult to achieve low temperature coefficient.
7. It is difficult to fabricate an IC with low noise.
8. It is not possible to fabricate capacitors that exceed a value of 30pF. Thus, high value capacitors are to be connected externally to the IC.
9. There is a large value of saturation resistance of transistors.
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