The history of the invention and mainstream use of integrated circuits can be traced to the mid 1900s. Specifically, two inventors – Robert Noyce and Jack Kilby are central to how it came to be.
Jack Kilby is credited for inventing the miniaturized kind, while Robert Noyce is credited for inventing the silicon-based kind. Frankly, there is a lot more to know about its history. For more on this subject, you can visit: https://www.thoughtco.com/.
Microchips – as they are now commonly termed, have evolved remarkably over decades. Overall, they play crucial roles in the design and functioning of several modern electronics. This article delves into this subject. So, read on to find out more.
Essential Roles of Integrated Circuits in Today’s Electronics
The 2020 covid-19 pandemic helped the global community better understand the importance of microchips. This is as its scarcity adversely affected supply and even the cost of several commodities. This is all to say that the production of microchips drives the success of many industries, including the following:
- Automotive
- Consumer Electronics
- Medical Devices
- Communications
- Industrial Automation
- Energy
- Aerospace & Defense
- Financial Service
- IoT (Internet of Things)
By the way, these are just to mention a few as there are several other industries that rely on its steady and quality production. Discussed below are some of the ways that its use benefits a few of the aforementioned industries:
Automotive Industry
The automotive industry was seriously hit by the pandemic’s adverse effect on the production of microchips in 2020. This is as a result of the several essential roles that integrated circuits play in this industry. Below are some of the essential roles that it plays:
Safety Systems
Automobiles are safer than they were decades or even several years ago. This is down to many things, including the essential roles of microchips. More specifically, integrated circuits contribute massively to the safety of automobiles through ESC (electronic stability control), airbag control, and even ABS (anti-lock braking systems).
By and large, it ensures that these safety features can play out with quick decision making. This is especially through quick data processing.
Navigation
GPS (Global Positioning System) is essentially powered by specific microchips in automobiles. This ensures that vehicle users do not have a hard time with navigation, especially in locations they are unsure of.
Entertainment
Modern automobiles are more convenient, and the inclusion of several entertainment features is partly responsible for this. Integrated circuits are at the core of how these entertainment features are powered. For example, they ensure seamless connectivity, ensuring entertainment through Bluetooth and other mediums.
ECUs (Engine Control Units)
Specially designed integrated circuits play a key role in how automobile engines operate. This happens especially through fuel efficiency and optimizing engine performance. It would interest you to also know that integrated circuits even play key roles in determining the effects of engine performance on the greater community. This is especially through emission control, as this determines carbon footprint.
Consumer Electronics
There is indeed so much to say about the role of integrated circuits in the production and performance of modern consumer electronics. For starters, this is because there are several products that qualify as consumer electronics with their peculiarities.
Hence, the roles of integrated circuits slightly or largely differ, based on the various kinds of consumer electronics. Having made this known, here are a few categories of modern consumer electronics and how integrated circuits advance’s their course:
Televisions & Audio Systems
The quality of the performance of these kinds of consumer electronics is seriously dependent on how well it processes signals, enables connectivity with other devices, and enhances sound and image (in the case of television). Well, integrated circuits play a major role in all of these.
Smartphones & Tablets
Compact design happens to be one of the major advantages that newer mobile phone models have over old ones. The compact properties of microchips are one of the major reasons for this.
Furthermore, the compact feature of newer models does not come at the cost of low functionality. As a matter of fact, newer models offer a lot more in terms of functionality and this is also largely down to the use of specially designed integrated circuits. For example, there are integrated circuits in these newer models that optimize memory and communication.
Wearable Devices
There is currently a consumer craze for wearable tech devices, and this is down to the several amazing features offered. By the way, prime examples of wearable tech devices include:
- Smart Watches
- Fitness Trackers
- Smart Glasses
- VR Headsets
- Smart Clothing
- Health Monitoring Devices
- Sleep Trackers
Frankly, these are just to mention a few as there are several others. Furthermore, the tech world never gets tired of innovations along this line. You can click here for more on wearable tech devices.
The point is that integrated circuits are a large part of why it is possible to manufacture and use these amazing devices. This is as the sorts of microchips used contribute to significantly reduced power consumption, compact size, and even the capacity to offer highly advanced features.
Computers & Peripherals
There are specifications that speak volumes about the capabilities and efficiency of computers, laptops, and the likes. Storage devices used (such as SSDs) and RAM size are high on the list of these specifications.
Integrated circuits are integral to how well these specifications offer what they offer. For example, they are a crucial part of how data can be quickly accessed in computers, laptops, and the likes. This is besides largely determining storage capacities.
Furthermore, overall efficiency and especially performance of these devices is largely determined by integrated circuits used. For example, microprocessors – which are at the core of computing efficiency and performance, are mostly about the integrated circuits used in making them.
Integrated circuits also influence the operations of peripheral devices such as mice, printers, and keyboards. This is especially in areas such as communication with main computer and interface control.
Conclusion
Overall, some of the key roles that integrated circuits play in the production and performance of modern electronics include:
- Optimal Performance
- Miniaturization
- Cost-Efficiency
- Improved Functionality
- Reliability
In light of all these, it is important that manufacturers of modern electronic products get the required integrated circuits from the right source. This goes a long way in guaranteeing improved durability and performance of these products.