Microelectronics

Microelectronics
Wafer of processors and a pin for size comparison

Microelectronics is a subfield of electronics. As the name suggests, microelectronics relates to the study and manufacture (or microfabrication) of very small electronic components. Usually, but not always, this means micrometre-scale or smaller,. These devices are made from semiconductors. Many components of normal electronic design are available in microelectronic equivalent: transistors, capacitors, inductors, resistors, diodes and of course insulators and conductors can all be found in microelectronic devices. Unique wiring techniques such as wire bonding are also often used in microelectronics because of the unusually small size of the components, leads and pads. This technique requires specialized equipment and is expensive.

Digital integrated circuits (ICs) consist mostly of transistors. Analog circuits commonly contain resistors and capacitors as well. Inductors are used in some high frequency analog circuits, but tend to occupy large chip area if used at low frequencies; gyrators can replace them in many applications.

As techniques improve, the scale of microelectronic components continues to decrease. At smaller scales, the relative impact of intrinsic circuit properties such as interconnections may become more significant. These are called parasitic effects, and the goal of the microelectronics design engineer is to find ways to compensate for or to minimize these effects, while always delivering smaller, faster, and cheaper devices.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • microelectronics — mi‧cro‧e‧lec‧tron‧ics [ˌmaɪkrəʊɪlekˈtrɒnɪks ǁ kroʊɪlekˈtrɑː ] noun [uncountable] very small electrical Circuits, and their design and use: • the opportunities for environmental monitoring offered by developments in microelectronics * * *… …   Financial and business terms

  • microelectronics — (n.) 1960, from MICRO (Cf. micro ) + ELECTRONICS (Cf. electronics) …   Etymology dictionary

  • microelectronics —  Microelectronics  Микроэлектроника   Область полупроводниковой электроники, направленная на создание электронных устройств в микроминиатюрном интегральном исполнении …   Толковый англо-русский словарь по нанотехнологии. - М.

  • microelectronics — ► PLURAL NOUN (usu. treated as sing. ) ▪ the design, manufacture, and use of microchips and microcircuits …   English terms dictionary

  • microelectronics — [mī΄krō ē΄lek trän′iks] n. [ MICRO + ELECTRONICS] the science dealing with the theory, design, and applications of microcircuits microelectronic adj …   English World dictionary

  • microelectronics — noun plural Date: 1958 1. singular in construction a branch of electronics that deals with the miniaturization of electronic circuits and components 2. devices, equipment, or circuits produced using the methods of microelectronics •… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • microelectronics — mi|cro|e|lec|tron|ics [ˌmaıkrəuılekˈtrɔnıks US krouılekˈtra: ] n [U] the practice or study of designing very small electrical ↑circuits that are used in computers ▪ the latest developments in microelectronics >microelectronic adj ▪ a new… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • microelectronics — [[t]ma͟ɪkroʊelektrɒ̱nɪks[/t]] N UNCOUNT (The form microelectronic is used as a modifier.) Microelectronics is the branch of electronics that deals with miniature electronic circuits …   English dictionary

  • microelectronics — mikroelektronika statusas T sritis automatika atitikmenys: angl. microelectronics vok. Mikroelektronik, f rus. микроэлектроника, f pranc. microélectronique, f …   Automatikos terminų žodynas

  • microelectronics — mikroelektronika statusas T sritis fizika atitikmenys: angl. microelectronics vok. Mikroelektronik, f rus. микроэлектроника, f pranc. micro électronique, f …   Fizikos terminų žodynas

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