Integrated Circuit (IC) – IC Basic Tutorial

This IC Basic Tutorial will help you learn the basics of an IC or Integrated Circuit.

What is an IC or Integrated Circuit?

Integrated Circuit or IC is an electronic component made up of combination of several transistors, diode, resistor, capacitors in a tiny semiconductor chip. Integrated Circuit Electronic Components or IC are of small size and very light weight. They produce excellent results at low power.

IC Basic Tutorial

I have divided this tutorial into several small parts for ease of reading and understanding. Read these sections to learn the basics of on IC and how it works.

What is an IC Made Up Of

Components used in an IC are not visible from outside. These are built in a semiconductor chip and cannot be removed. Capacitors of more than 30 PF value are not used in IC nor can inductors and transformers be mounted inside the chip of an IC. Thousands and millions of bi-polar transistors and CMOS (Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) FET are used in making an IC.

Types of Integrated Circuit (IC)

On the basis of external structure, ICs or SMD can be classified as follows:

1.              Single in-line pin package (SIPP).

2.              Dual in-line pin package (DIPP).

3.              Quard pin package.

4.              Pin Grid Array Package (PGA).

5.              Ball Grid Array Package (BGA).

6.              Leadless Chip Carrier (LCC) Package.

BGA IC – Ball Grid Array

IC without pins are used in mobile phones which are called Ball Grid Array (BGA). To count the number of pins in a BGA IC, there is a circular point sign on a corner upside, or there is a deep circular sign. Ball Grid Array is kept on the palm in a manner so that the circular sign faces the thumb downwards. 

Read: Counting Legs or Pins of an IC

Types of Integrated Circuit (IC) on Basis of Technology

There are two types of IC on the basis of technology:

1.              Linear IC – This type of IC works on analog signal where output signal varies according to the variable input signal.

2.              Digital IC – This type of IC works on digital signal. A defined output signal is received from a defined input signal. On the basis of electronic components used, the digital IC are of various types.

Examples of Digital IC – CMOS (Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor), DSP (Digital Signal Processor), DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory).

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