The transistor is the primary building block of all microchips, including your CPU (Central Processing Unit). It is what creates the binary 0's and 1's (bits) your computer uses to communicate and deal with Boolean logic. When placed in different configurations, transistors form logic gates,...
While it might feel as if technology is speeding up, it follows a predictable formula called Moore’s Law, which has correctly predicted the pace of human advancements in technology for nearly six decades. Moore’s Law suggests...
In large numbers, transistors are used to create microprocessors where millions of transistors are embedded into a single IC. They also drive computer memory chips and memory storage devices for MP3 players, smartphones, cameras and electronic games. Transistors are embedded in nearly all ICs, which...
In essence, transistors have made the digital age possible. Without them, the technological advancements we enjoy today would not have been possible. Thus, understanding how transistors work and their role in electronics is fundamental to understanding modern technology. Be the first to know. Get ou...
Diodes ensure current flows in only one direction, helping to stabilize the circuit. Figure 1. This diagram shows a two-input TTL NAND gate with four transistors: Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4; four resistors: R1, R2, R3 and R4; and a diode: D. Q1 is the input transistor. Q2 functions as a...
Transistors can basically be grouped in two categories: junction transistors and field effect transistors. The reservoir, pipe and handle in the junction transistors are called the emitter, collector and base, respectively. The collector is denoted by “n+”, highlighting a glut of negatively charged...
In an electronic chip, electron flux passes through electrical components such as resistors, inductors, transistors, and capacitors; in a photonic chip, photons pass through optical components such as waveguides (equivalent to a resistor or electrical wire), lasers (equivalent to transistors), polarize...
What is a CPU? Constructed from billions of transistors, the central processing unit (CPU) can have multiple processing cores and is commonly referred to as the “brain” of the computer. It is essential to all modern computing systems, as it executes the commands and processes needed for you...
Silicon is the backbone of the semiconductor industry, but it didn't start out that way. Early transistors were made of germanium or galena. However, silicon won out in the end because of several factors, such as its higher switching speed. Today, silicon wafers are cut from huge blocks ...
What Is Moore's Law? In 1965, Gordon Moore posited that roughly every two years, the number of transistors on microchips will double. Commonly referred to as Moore’s Law, this phenomenon suggests that computational progress will become significantly faster, smaller, and more efficient over time...