How Does an Integrated Circuit Work?
Integrated circuits are in almost every appliance known to man at this point in history from wristwatches to televisions and from coffee makers to, the most obvious, computers. An integrated circuit is a collection of diodes, transistors and microprocessors in miniature scale all operating on a single piece of semiconductor, typically silicon. Each performs a specific function that, when combined with the other components, can perform multiple tasks and calculations. First are the diodes; diodes by definition are electronic or electrical devices that regulate the flow or current of electricity within the circuit. Diodes control how much, when and how often electrons or electricity is allowed to flow into other parts of the system.
We have all heard of transistor radios from the early 20th century and the transistors in integrated circuits, or ICs, are them same, at least by definition. Transistors can store voltage to stabilize the circuit or for amplifying a signal. A transistor can be used as a switch, similar to a light switch, for an integrated circuit or for functions held within the circuit. For example, a transistor my only allow a certain voltage through to another part of the circuit. It does this by using a gate that is set to open only at a specific voltage; for binary code it is five volts. Opening the gate is a 1 in binary while closing the gate is 0. This way the transistor sends the information or data through the integrated circuit to its destination within the system.
The most important part of an IC is the microprocessor. Microprocessors simply give the integrated circuit memory, memory to perform calculations and follow logic, or a set of rules. The logic tells the integrated circuit how to process electricity, data and how to function. Think of the microprocessor as the operating system of the IC; the way the transistors and diodes work to enable a television to be turned on when the power button is pressed, or how to interpret a mouse click on an icon on a desktop computer. On some IC chips there are more miniature components than there are humans on Earth, and the applications are literally limitless.
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