MICROCHIP 101:

The Science Behind Microchips

Vocabulary

  • A microchip, also called a chip, computer chip, or an integrated circuit (IC), is a set of electrical circuits on a small, flat piece of semi-conductive material, such as silicone.

  • A semiconductor is a crystalline solid that can transfer electricity, halfway between a conductor (e.g. metallic copper) and an insulator (e.g. glass) in terms of electrical conductivity.

    A semiconductor can conduct electricity under certain conditions but not others, making it an excellent medium for controlling the flow of electrical current.

Jack Kilby, pictured above, also patented the handheld calculator, thermal printer, and several other inventions that shaped the world.

Jack Kilby won the 2000 nobel prize in physics for his work

The concept of an integrated circuit, or microchip, was first introduced by British engineer Geoffrey Dummer, where he published the idea at the 1952 Symposium on Progress in Quality Electronic Components in Washington, D.C. Dummer tried unsuccessfully for the next few years to build a working example of the circuit, until his project funding was cut by the British Government.

It wasn’t until 1958 that Jack Kilby, Texas Instruments engineer, would earn credit for the first fully-functioning integrated circuit. Though crude, Kilby’s model showed the great potential and mass application of the integrated circuit, which today continues to become smaller and more powerful.

Kilby later patented the invention and won the 2000 Nobel Prize in Physics for his role in the creation of the integrated circuit.

How Microchips Work


Microchips are essentially circuit boards on small slices of semi-conductive material, like silicon or germanium.

Microchips can contain resistors, transistors, diodes, and capacitors that form a series of logic gates, which turn on or off depending on the electrical input. By utilizing these components, the microchip can string together instructions to send to a receiver.

A microchip the size of your fingernail contains billions of transistors, so it’s easy to visualize just how small the chip components are.

A semiconductor lies between insulators and conductors in terms of conductivity, making it an excellent medium for controlling the flow of electricity.

Microchips can fit into portable devices like cell phones, headphones, smart watches, remote controllers, and other small gadgets. Without microchips, portable devices would not be possible.

TWO KINDS OF MICROCHIP

There are two types of microchips: logic chips and memory chips.

Logic chips, or microprocessors, are the ‘brains’ of electronic devices – they process information to complete a task.

Among microprocessors are CPUs (central processing units), GPUs (graphic processing units) for visual displays, and NPUs (neural processing units) for deep and machine learning applications.

Memory chips store information. There are two main types of memory chip: RAM (random access memory) which stores data as long as the device is powered on, and ROM (read only memory) which stores information permanently.

For example, RAM helps to run programs on your computer, whereas ROM stores instructions on how to start-up your computer.

What microchips are used for…

Microchips are the building blocks of technology. They are used for nearly every electronic device we use to WORK, travel, exercise, explore, COMMUNICATE, entertain ourselves, MAKE OUR LIVES EASIER, and BETTER OUR SOCIETY – from cars and airplanes, smartphones and medical devices, to industrial robots and rocket ships. The applications are endless.

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