An integrated circuit (IC) is an electronic circuit built onto a single plate of a semiconductor material, normally silicon. Modern ICs may contain billions of transistors and they have played a major part in the miniaturization and performance improvements of modern electronic systems.
Questions tagged [integrated-circuit]
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How are integrated circuits fabricated?
How are integrated circuits (e.g. a microprocessor) fabricated from start to finish? For example, there must be some wiring with resistors, capacitors to store energy (bits) in a field, transistors, etc....
How is this done? What machinery and…
Holly Jona
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Why do ICs have NC (No Connection or No Function) pins?
In case they have no use to the end users and have no function, why are they given as pins instead of being just closed? Some ICs have even 4-5 NC continuously (in accordance to their pin number).
Ajith Natarajan
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What is a "DIE" package?
In a list of ICs, along with the familiar package names such as QFN32, LQFP48, etc., I've seen a few ICs to be listed as DIE for the package size. I've never seen that description before as an IC package size, and Wikipedia does not list it…
vsz
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Odd markings on flash ICs - Are these factory rejects?
I recently purchased a really, really cheap SSD ($25.99), and I popped open the case out of curiosity.
The flash chips have etched bars across the part numbers, something I've never seen before.
Is this a standard way of marking chips as…
Connor Wolf
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What's up with the operating voltages 5 V, 3.3 V, 2.5 V, 1.8 V, etc.?
Integrated circuits seem to have standard voltages of 5 V, 3.3 V, 2.5 V, 1.8 V, etc.
Who decides these voltages?
Why do smaller devices require lower voltages?
Thomas O
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Do ICs have a shelf life?
I understand that many components, such as electrolytic capacitors (Do electrolytic capacitors have a limited shelf life?), have a limited shelf life if not used. Other components, such as carbon resistors tend to change values over time while…
JonnyBoats
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How do I identify Pin 1 on a chip with no corner mark
I am trying to identify Pin 1 of MAX3222E, the TSSOP variant (See Page 16 of datasheet), but it doesn't have any corner mark!
Could someone suggest how to identify Pin 1 in this type of situation?
I don't have a high-res camera on me right now, but…
boardbite
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What is the point of a small mark on a DIP IC opposite the pin 1 indicator?
I have seen an unusual mark on an IC. Can anyone tell me does it have any functional or testing significance?
BASIL VARGHESE
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How can I order a custom IC?
I'm new to IC design and just wondering if it possible to order IC production if you have all necessary design files (like RTL design, chip layout from Cadence for example, etc.)
If it is then what are these companies and what is the approximate…
Andy
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How are ICs named?
To me, ICs never have names that hint to their uses. For example, this AND gate from TI is named SN74LVC1G08. But that tells me nothing about what it does.
Is there a naming process for ICs? And if so what is it?
Jason
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Why ceramic IC packaging?
As someone with no background in electronics whatsoever, I wonder:
why are ICs packed inside ceramic or plastic? I thought we wanted the heat to go out as fast as possible, and ceramic is a good thermal insulator.
JohnD
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Description of the first IC
I wonder what is the description of the first IC made by Kilby. The famous picture is shown in many websites, but I want to know what it is?!
mahmood
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What is this part in 556 die
I ask this question, just out of curiosity. In this die of 556 IC, what are the wave-like squiggle at the four corners, and two more on the top?
Arjob Mukherjee
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What is the liftoff problem in wires in integrated circuit (IC) industry?
The following text is from "Analog CMOS integrated circuit" book:
For long metal wires, the minimum width is typically larger than that for short wires to avoid "liftoff" problems.
What is the liftoff problem? I have heard about liftoff process,…
mohammad rezza
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What are the holes on an optical flow sensor IC?
The right hand image is a flow sensor IC for an optical mouse available from Sparkfun. On the left is another optical flow IC with a camera attached from a Chinese distributor. It seems that the holes in the IC are a common property for optical…
Octopus
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