Semiconductors Flashcards
Diode
Components that allows current to only flow in one direction; commonly used in power supplies to convert AC to DC; diode itself is a tiny ‘chip’ of silicon, also called a ‘die’
Rectifier Bridge
Four silicon diodes connected into a bridge arrangement that converts AC to DC
Transistor
A semiconductor device that allows one electrical signal to control another; commonly used to amplify signals or as logical switches
Active Components
The semiconductor devices that consist of semiconductor materials; they supply electric power or power gain in a circuit
Integrated Circuit (IC)
A circuit made with many subcomponents fabricated together on a single piece of silicon
Voltage Regulator
Takes voltage within some range as an input and provides a fixed, stable output at a lower voltage
Dual In-Line Package (DIP) ICs
Classic package for ICs with a larger number of connecting leads
Microcontroller
A simple, slow computer on a chip; the electronic brain inside many devices
Small Outline Integrated Circuit (SOIC)
Smaller, more space-efficient mount package than DIPs
Thin Quad Flat Pack (TQFP)
Style of surface-mount chip with leads on all four sides; quite thin
Ball Grid Array (BGA)
Saves space by having connectors under package, rather than sides
Redistribution Layer (RDL)
Thin two-layer printed circuit board that’s embedded into a chip’s package
System on a Chip (SoC)
High-end microprocessor
Microvias
Laser-drilled passages
LED
Light-Emitting Diode; die isn’t silicon, but a tailored semiconductor that emits the desired colour of light when active
