History of Computers - Miniaturized Electronic Circuits
Page created by: Mary Payne
[1]
This is an example of an integrated circuit on a slice of germanium.
Introduction
[1] Jack Kilby holding integrated circuits
The first integrated circuit, a circuit of transistors, resistors, and capacitors constructed on a single semiconductor wafer or chip, in which the components are interconnected to perform a given function, [2] was created and successfully demonstrated by Jack Kilby in 1958. [1]
Overview
Before the integrated circuit, transistors were used in common electronics such as phones, radios, and computers, but the transistors would eventually become too large for certain electronics. People wanted to find a way to have a transistor and its needed components in one item. In 1958, the first integrated circuit was made. [3] The first integrated circuit was composed of a transistor and other components on a slice of germanium. [1] The integrated circuit made it possible to store more information in a smaller area. Also, the transistor on the integrated circuit had made the machines that it was in run faster, it cost less and was more reliable. [4] It was created by Jack Kilby while he was working for Texas Instruments in 1958. He received a U.S. patent #3,138,743 for his creation of the first integrated circuit also known as miniaturized electronic circuits. Jack Kilby was an engineer with a background in ceramic-based silk screen circuit boards and transistor-based hearing aids. [5]
Significance
[6] Small Scale Integrated Circuits (SSI): Less than 100 Transistors per Integrated Circuit or chip Medium Scale Integrated Circuits (MSI): 100 to 1000 Transistors per Integrated Circuit or chip
Miniaturized electronic circuits are significant to the history of computers because integrated circuits improved the process of combining transistors and its needed components on a small surface, and down sizing the sizes of the items to be used in different types of electronics. The size difference and the low cost was an important factor when the integrated circuit was created. It is significant today because an integrated circuit is used in almost all electronics and it has made building devices much easier.
