by Integrated circuits are all around us and we don’t even realize it. Whenever we use laptops, smartphones, tablets, desktop computers, refrigerators, televisions, digital clocks, or any other electronic device, we are enjoying the functionality of integrated circuits within these devices.
Integrated circuits are basically electronic circuits found in our everyday electronic devices. They’re responsible for transferring electric current flow to various electronic components within a device, such as its capacitors, resistors, transistors, diodes, and inductors. When you look at a circuit board, you cannot see the integrated circuits because they are microscopic. Virtually all your electronic components contain these circuits in them.
You can break down integrated circuits into a number of ways because there are different types of integrated circuits. The circuits chosen depend on certain criteria, like whether they’re parallel circuits or series circuits. The circuit size and the way it was manufactured are also considerations.
3 Common Types
Let’s explore the three different types of integrated circuits.
1) Digital Integrated Circuits
Digital integrated circuits function at a couple of defined levels of signal amplitude. Several digital logic gates, flip flops, and multiplexers are utilized to design the digital integrated circuits, in addition to other electronic components. The most common electronic devices that use digital integrated circuits are microprocessors, computers, frequency counters, and computer networks.
You can even break down digital integrated circuits into multiple subcategories. There are the programming integrated circuits, logic integrated circuits, interface integrated circuits, and power management integrated circuits.
2) Analog Integrated Circuits
Analog integrated circuits use a continuous electric signal range to operate properly. These circuits are subdivided into two other categories, which are radio frequency integrated circuits and linear integrated circuits. There could be a nonlinear connection between the current and voltage if the continuous analog signal has a long range.
Analog integrated circuits are frequently used in a number of ways. They serve as operational amplifiers that contain high voltage gains. There aren’t as many transistors in the analog integrated circuits compared to the higher number of transistors in digital integrated circuits. The utilization of computerized simulation tools helps with the development of analog application specific integrated circuits, which are commonly known as analog ASICs.
3) Mixed Integrated Circuits
Mixed integrated circuits represent a single microchip that contains both digital integrated circuits and analog integrated circuits combined together. The purpose of the combination is to allow the integrated circuits to convert digital to analog and analog to digital.
Mixed integrated circuits are a newer invention with advanced integration technology. They are responsible for allowing several analog functions, and digital functions to occur on the same chip. How cool is that?
Subtypes
Integrated circuits can be broken down further based on what they use to perform a certain operation.
Logic Circuits – Logic gates are used to design integrated circuits. This is how decisions are made within the electric circuit.
Comparators – Inputs are compared with the comparator integrated circuits. An output is produced by comparing the different integrated circuits.
Switches – Transistors are used to design the switches, also known as switching integrated circuits. These types of integrated circuits are needed if your electronic device has a switching operation that must be performed.
Audio Amplifiers – If you use audio equipment, such as audio speakers, then their sound signals require amplification. Therefore, audio amplifier integrated circuits are utilized to amplify the sounds through the speakers.
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Conclusion
Integrated circuitry is a complicated thing to learn. We don’t expect you to comprehend everything that was discussed in this article because there is terminology used that only experienced electricians would recognize. Nevertheless, you should ask a licensed electrician to assist you with your integrated circuits.
