Digital devices play an increasing role in modern electronics. Devices that run on microcircuits have now penetrated virtually all areas of application - household and industrial appliances, children's toys, video-radio-television equipment, and so on. However, there are still applications for analog discrete elements. Moreover, semiconductor devices are the very essence of modern microcircuits.
How do these devices work? Semiconductor substances are the basis for such devices as semiconductors. According to their electrical characteristics and properties, they occupy a place between dielectrics and conductors. Their distinctive features are the dependence of electrical conductivity on external temperature, the characteristics of the effects of ionizing and light radiation, as well as the concentration of impurities. Semiconductors have roughly the same set of characteristics.
In the process of creating an electric current in any substance, only mobile charge carriers can take part. The more mobile carriers per unit volume of a substance, the greater will be the electrical conductivity. In metals, virtually all electrons arefree, and this causes their high conductivity. In semiconductors and dielectrics, there are much fewer carriers, and therefore more resistivity.
Electrical elements such as semiconductor devices have a pronounced temperature dependence of resistivity. As the temperature rises, it usually decreases.
Thus, semiconductor devices are such electronic devices, the action of which is based on specific processes in substances called semiconductors. They have found the widest application. For example, in electronics and electrical engineering, semiconductor devices are used to convert various signals, their frequency, amplitude and other parameters. In the energy sector, such devices are used to convert energy.
Semiconductor devices can be classified in different ways. For example, methods of classification are known according to the principle of operation, according to purpose, according to design, according to manufacturing technology, according to areas and areas of application, according to types of materials.
However, there are so-called basic classes, which characterize a semiconductor device. These classes include:
- electroconverting devices that convert one value into another;
- optoelectronic, which convert the light signal into an electrical signal and vice versa;
- solid state image converters;
- thermoelectric devices that convert thermal energy intoelectric;
- magnetoelectric and electromagnetic devices;
- piezoelectric and strain gauge.
Integrated circuits can be called a separate class of such devices as semiconductor devices, which are usually mixed, that is, they combine many characteristics in one device.
Usually semiconductor devices are produced in ceramic or plastic cases, but there are also unpackaged options.
