Микроэлектроника

MICROELECTRONICS

Microelectronics is the technology of constructing electronic circuits and devices in extremely small packages by various techniques. "This tech¬nology is also referred to as microminiaturization.

The increasing complexity of electronic systems over the past 30 years has made the evolution of microelectronics inevitable. During this period,  the electron tubes in the early electronic systems haw been replaced by solid-state discrete devices and integrated circuitry, and these, in turn, are giving way to medium- and large-scale integrated circuitry.

Microelectronics today encompasses thin-film, thick film, hybrid, and integrated circuit technology. These approaches (and combinations of them) are being applied in every branch of electronics.

Integrated circuits that combine all the elements of a complete electronic circuit on a single chip of silicon can be produced. The implications of this In the microelectronic evolution are easily demonstrated. Let us compare a conventional J/K flip-flop circuit incorporating solid-state discrete devices and the same type of circuit employing integrated circuitry.

The conventional circuit would require approximately 40 separate discrete elements, 200 connections, 40 hermetic seals, and 300 separate processing operations, with each operation, seal, and connection representing a possible source of failure. However, if all the elements of this circuit are integrated upon one chip of silicon, the number of connections drops to about 14. All circuit elements are interconnected inside the package by a process known as vapour metallization; instead of 40 hermetic seals there is one, and the three hundred processing operations are reduced to approximately 30.