Information Sheet 1.

3-2
Transistor

Learning Objectives:

After reading this information sheet the trainee must be able to:

1. Read the value of some electronic components

2. Distinguish the difference them
3. Get the value of Voltage, Current and Resistance

Transistor
Is a semiconductor device used to amplify and switch electronic signals and
power. It is composed of a semiconductor material with at least three terminals for
connection to an external circuit. A voltage or current applied to one pair of the
transistor's terminals changes the current flowing through another pair of terminals.
Because the controlled (output) power can be higher than the controlling (input) power,
a transistor can amplify a signal.
Basically, the design of transistors enable in a suitable electronic circuit can work
as an amplifier or switch. Due to this function of transistors they are used in may
devices such as radios, computers, calculators, Televisions and all other electronic
devices used in home and in industry.
Integrated Circuit

Integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit:

(also referred to as IC, chip, or microchip) is an electronic circuit manufactured
by lithography, or the patterned diffusion of trace elements into the surface of a
thin substrate of semiconductor material. Additional materials are deposited and
patterned to form interconnections between semiconductor devices.
Integrated circuits are used in virtually all electronic equipment today and have
revolutionized the world of electronics. Computers, mobile phones, and other
digital home appliances are now inextricable parts of the structure of modern societies,
made possible by the low cost of production of integrated circuits.

TYPES OF INTEGRATED CIRCUIT

Integrated circuits (IC) are usually referred to as chips. Inside them is atiny piece of
semiconductor(usually silicon) with large circuits built in. There are millions of different
integrated circuits. The general types of integrated circuits include:

1.) Logic circuits

-These IC's are basically decision makers. most contain logic gate
circuits.(logic gates will be discussed in a later section).
 2.) Operational Amplifiers
-These are amplifiers. Works very much like transistor amplifier circuits.

3.) Audio amplifiers

-These are used to amplify audio.

4.) Timers
-These are counting IC's used for circuits that counts or needs to keep track of
time.
5.) Switches
-Switching IC's are also very much like the switching circuits of transistors