An integrated circuit is a tiny electronic device or component. Integrated circuits are also known as microcircuits, microchips, and chips. In electronics, they are a miniaturization method that concentrates circuits on the surface of semiconductor wafers.Integrated Circuits - ICs

 

Synthetic circuits have played a very important role in all walks of life and are the cornerstone of the modern information society. The meaning of integrated circuits has far exceeded the scope of its definition when it was first born, but its core part has not changed, that is "integration", and various disciplines derived from it.

 

After the transistor was invented and mass-produced, various solid-state semiconductor components such as diodes and transistors were widely used, replacing the function and role of vacuum tubes in circuits. Integrated circuits have two main advantages over discrete transistors: cost and performance.RF Integrated Circuits

 

The low cost is due to the fact that the chip has all its components printed as a unit by photolithography, rather than making only one transistor at a time. The high performance is due to the fast switching of components and lower energy consumption because the components are small and close to each other.

 

The manufacturing process of integrated circuits includes steps such as wafer processing, photolithography, etching, deposition, and metallization. With the advancement of technology, the integration level of integrated circuits continues to increase, more electronic components can be accommodated on a single chip, and the performance is becoming more and more powerful.Wireless & RF Integrated Circuits

Ⅰ. Development of integrated circuits

The development of the integrated circuit can be traced back to the 1960s, and since then it has undergone tremendous progress and revolutionary changes in the field of electronics technology. Integrated circuits have roughly gone through the following process from generation to maturity: electron tubes - transistors - integrated circuits - very large scale integrated circuits

The performance of integrated circuits is high because the small size leads to short paths, allowing low power logic circuits to be used at fast switching speeds. Memories and ASICs are examples of other integrated circuit families that are very important to the modern information society.

1. Electron tube: An electron tube is an electronic device that uses the electron flow of vacuum or gas to control the current and amplify the signal. Before the advent of integrated circuits, tubes were a major component of electronics technology. Common tube types include triodes, tetrodes, pentodes, etc. Electron tubes have some special performance characteristics compared to modern solid-state devices. They can handle high power, have high linearity and low noise level. With the development of integrated circuit technology, electronic tubes are gradually replaced by solid-state devices. Due to the shortcomings of large volume, high power consumption, severe heat generation, short life, low power utilization efficiency, fragile structure and high-voltage power supply, the electronic tube soon became unsuitable for development needs, and the fate of being eliminated was not avoided.

2. Transistor: A transistor is a solid semiconductor device used to control the flow of current and amplify electrical signals. It can be used for detection, rectification, amplification, switching, voltage regulation, signal modulation and many other functions. Although the function of transistors is much greater than that of electronic tubes, due to the development of electronic information technology, transistors are becoming less and less suitable for the development of technology, and integrated circuits with stronger capabilities have emerged. There are different types of transistors, the most common of which are bipolar transistors and field effect transistors. The working principle of the transistor is to control the output current or voltage by controlling the change of the input signal. When an input signal is applied to the control terminal of the transistor, it changes the current or electric field distribution inside the transistor, thereby controlling the current or voltage at the output terminal.

3. Integrated circuit: An integrated circuit is a circuit manufactured by integrating multiple electronic components (such as transistors, resistors, capacitors, etc.) on a silicon chip (or other semiconductor materials). Integrated circuits can be divided into different types according to their functions and complexity, including: radio frequency integrated circuits, analog integrated circuits, hybrid integrated circuits, and digital integrated circuits. Moore's Law is an empirical law describing the development of integrated circuits, that is, the number of transistors that can be accommodated on an integrated circuit doubles at regular intervals, while the cost is relatively reduced.

4. VLSI: VLSI is an integrated circuit technology characterized by the integration of a very large number of transistors and other electronic components on a single chip.

Ⅱ. Characteristics of integrated circuits

Integrated circuits in electronics are a way of miniaturizing circuits and are usually fabricated on the surface of a semiconductor wafer.

1. Programmability: Some types in modern integrated circuits, such as programmable logic devices and field programmable gate arrays, can be programmed or configured to achieve flexible circuit functions and logic.

2. Highly integrated: Integrated circuits have achieved high integration, integrating transistors, resistors, capacitors and other components into a tiny chip. This high level of integration greatly reduces circuit size and improves performance and functionality.

3. High performance: Since the components and circuits in the integrated circuit are tightly integrated on the same chip, the signal transmission path is short, which provides higher operating speed and lower delay.

4. Small size: The components and circuit structure of integrated circuits can be miniaturized to the micron level or even smaller. Through miniaturization, integrated circuits can realize more functions on small-sized chips and meet the needs of various electronic devices.

5. Low power consumption: Integrated circuits can optimize power consumption during the design and manufacturing process. By using low-power circuit design techniques, advanced manufacturing processes, and power management strategies, integrated circuits can provide high performance while reducing power consumption, extending battery life and saving energy.

6. Low cost: The mass production of integrated circuits and the advancement of manufacturing processes have reduced the manufacturing cost of chips. This makes integrated circuits a core component commonly used in various electronic devices, and promotes the popularization and development of electronic technology.

7. Reliability: Since components and circuits are manufactured on the same chip, the reliability of integrated circuits is relatively high.

Ⅲ. Classification of integrated circuits

1. Classification according to functional structure: integrated circuits, also known as ICs, can be divided into three categories: analog integrated circuits, digital integrated circuits and hybrid integrated circuits according to their functions and structures.

Analog integrated circuits: used to process continuous analog signals, such as amplifiers, filters, power management circuits, etc.

Digital integrated circuits: mainly used for digital signal processing and logic operations, such as logic gates, counters, memories, etc.

Hybrid integrated circuit: Combines digital and analog functions and can process both digital and analog signals, such as data converters, modems, embedded systems, etc.

2. Classification according to the manufacturing process: integrated circuits can be divided into semiconductor integrated circuits and film integrated circuits according to the manufacturing process.

Semiconductor integrated circuit: A semiconductor integrated circuit is an integrated circuit manufactured using semiconductor materials. It integrates multiple transistors, resistors, capacitors and other electronic components on a semiconductor chip, and connects these components through metal lines to realize various circuit functions. The characteristics of semiconductor integrated circuits are: multi-functionality, high performance, low power consumption, reliability, small size, and high integration.

Membrane integrated circuit: Membrane integrated circuit is an integrated circuit manufacturing technology, which realizes the functional integration of circuits by manufacturing circuit components and circuit structures on thin film materials. Compared with traditional silicon-based integrated circuits, membrane integrated circuits use different manufacturing methods and materials. Membrane integrated circuits are characterized by flexibility and bendability, and low-cost fabrication.

3. Classification by conductivity type: integrated circuits can be divided into bipolar integrated circuits and unipolar integrated circuits according to their conductivity types, both of which are digital integrated circuits.

Bipolar Integrated Circuit: A bipolar integrated circuit is a type of integrated circuit based on bipolar transistors. It uses bipolar transistors as the main amplification and switching elements, and realizes various circuit functions by integrating multiple bipolar transistors and other electronic components on a single chip. The characteristics of bipolar integrated circuits are: high frequency characteristics, high temperature characteristics, low noise performance, independent input and output.

Unipolar Integrated Circuit: A unipolar integrated circuit is a type of integrated circuit based on unipolar transistors. It uses unipolar transistors (such as field effect transistors) as the main active elements, and realizes various circuit functions by integrating multiple unipolar transistors and other electronic components on a single chip. The characteristics of unipolar integrated circuits are: high frequency characteristics, high input impedance, high integration, and low power consumption.

4. Classification by level of integration: Small Scale Integrated circuits, Medium Scale Integrated circuits, Large Scale Integrated circuits, Very Large Scale Integrated circuits, Ultra Large Scale Integrated circuits, Giga Scale Integration.

5. Classification by application field:

Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuit: A mixed-signal integrated circuit combines the characteristics of analog and digital circuits and is used to process both analog and digital signals. They are commonly used in applications such as data conversion, analog signal processing, and digital control.

Application-specific integrated circuits: application-specific integrated circuits are customized integrated circuits designed and manufactured for specific application areas or specific tasks. They are optimized for specific application needs and typically feature high performance, low power consumption and a high degree of customization.

Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits: Radio frequency integrated circuits are used in radio frequency signal processing and wireless communications. They include circuits such as RF amplifiers, mixers, frequency synthesizers, RF front-end receivers, and transmitters for tasks such as RF signal amplification, modulation and demodulation, frequency synthesis, and filtering.

Digital integrated circuits: Digital integrated circuits are mainly used for digital signal processing and logic operations. They are composed of digital circuits such as logic gates, flip-flops, and registers, and are used to realize functions such as digital calculation, data storage, and control logic. Digital integrated circuits are widely used in computer, communication, storage, digital signal processing and other fields. Analog Integrated Circuits: Analog integrated circuits are used to process continuous analog signals. They include circuits such as analog amplifiers, filters, analog-to-digital converters, and digital-to-analog converters for analog signal processing tasks such as signal amplification, filtering, conditioning, and conversion.

General-purpose integrated circuits: General-purpose integrated circuits are widely used in various general-purpose electronic devices and systems, such as computers, consumer electronics, communication equipment, etc. They provide common functions and interfaces to meet a variety of application needs.

6. Classification by appearance: integrated circuits can be divided into circular, flat and dual-in-line types according to their appearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the working principle of an integrated circuit?

Basic Components: Integrated circuits are made up of various basic components, including transistors, resistors, capacitors, and inductors, among others. These components interact through the principles and physical properties of electronics to realize the function of the circuit.

Power supply and power: ICs require power to function properly. DC voltage is usually provided by an external power supply, which is regulated and distributed by the power management circuit inside the circuit to provide the required voltage and current.

Current Flow: Electric current in integrated circuits is carried by the flow of electrons in wires, metal lines, and semiconductor materials. The flow of electrons through wires and wires enables signal transmission and electrical energy conversion in circuits.

Interconnection and wiring: The various components and circuits in an integrated circuit are connected to each other through interconnection structures such as metal lines, wiring lines, and through holes. These interconnect structures are wired on the chip to connect different circuits to form a complete circuit function.

2. What is the manufacturing process of integrated circuits?

First, according to circuit design requirements, a mask pattern for manufacturing integrated circuits is designed. The mask pattern includes information such as circuit structure, component shape and wiring route, which are converted into photolithographic masks. Then select the appropriate semiconductor material and prepare the substrate, usually a wafer in the form of a wafer. The substrate is cleaned to remove surface impurities. Then a layer of photoresist is coated on the surface of the substrate for receiving the photolithography mask pattern. The mask pattern is projected onto the substrate, and the photoresist is partially exposed and cured by ultraviolet light irradiation. Then, the uncured photoresist is removed by chemical treatment to obtain the exposed substrate area. Use chemical vapor phase or wet etching technology to etch the surface material of the substrate according to the area protected by the photoresist to form circuit structures and components. Metal or insulating layers are deposited on the etched substrate by techniques such as chemical vapor deposition or physical vapor deposition. The deposited layer is then cleaned and planarized. Elements such as transistors, capacitors, and resistors are formed on the substrate. This includes depositing and etching different materials to form different device structures. Between components and between components and external pins, interconnections are made by metal lines. This involves steps such as depositing metal, defining metal lines lithographically, and etching excess metal. The fabrication of integrated circuits is completed by encapsulating the manufactured chips..