Semiconductor Device Operation

Semiconductor Device Operation

Overview

• Semiconductor devices are electronic components that exploit the unique properties of semiconductor materials to control the flow of electrical current.
• These devices are the building blocks of modern electronic systems, including computers, smartphones, and televisions.

Semiconductor Materials

• Semiconductors have electrical conductivity between that of conductors and insulators.
• They are typically made from silicon (Si) or germanium (Ge), with small amounts of impurities added to modify their electrical properties.
• Two types of semiconductor materials:
  • Intrinsic semiconductor: pure semiconductor material with no impurities.
  • Extrinsic semiconductor: semiconductor material with impurities added to create regions with different electrical properties.

P-N Junction

• A p-n junction is a region where two types of semiconductor materials with different electrical properties meet.
• P-type semiconductor: has an excess of holes (positive charge carriers), created by adding acceptor impurities.
• N-type semiconductor: has an excess of electrons (negative charge carriers), created by adding donor impurities.
• The p-n junction is a critical component of semiconductor devices, allowing for the control of current flow.

Diode Operation

• A diode is a semiconductor device with a single p-n junction.
• Forward bias: applying a positive voltage to the p-side and a negative voltage to the n-side, allowing current to flow.
• Reverse bias: applying a negative voltage to the p-side and a positive voltage to the n-side, blocking current flow.

Transistor Operation

• A transistor is a semiconductor device with two p-n junctions.
• Bipolar junction transistor (BJT): uses both positive and negative charge carriers to control current flow.
• Field-effect transistor (FET): uses voltage to control current flow.
• Transistors can amplify or switch electronic signals.

Other Semiconductor Devices

• Thyristors: devices that can be used for power control and switching, such as silicon-controlled rectifiers (SCRs) and triacs.
• Integrated circuits (ICs): complex electronic circuits fabricated on a single semiconductor substrate.
• Optoelectronic devices: devices that convert light into electrical signals or vice versa, such as LEDs, photodiodes, and solar cells.

Applications

• Semiconductor devices are used in a wide range of applications, including:
  • Computing and data storage
  • Communication systems
  • Consumer electronics
  • Medical devices
  • Automotive systems
  • Aerospace and defense systems

Semiconductor Device Operation

Overview

• Semiconductor devices control the flow of electrical current by exploiting the unique properties of semiconductor materials.
• These devices are the building blocks of modern electronic systems, including computers, smartphones, and televisions.

Semiconductor Materials

• Semiconductors have electrical conductivity between that of conductors and insulators.
• They are typically made from silicon (Si) or germanium (Ge) with small amounts of impurities added to modify their electrical properties.
• Two types of semiconductor materials exist:
  • Intrinsic semiconductor: pure semiconductor material with no impurities.
  • Extrinsic semiconductor: semiconductor material with impurities added to create regions with different electrical properties.

P-N Junction

• A p-n junction is a region where two types of semiconductor materials with different electrical properties meet.
• P-type semiconductor: has an excess of holes (positive charge carriers), created by adding acceptor impurities.
• N-type semiconductor: has an excess of electrons (negative charge carriers), created by adding donor impurities.
• The p-n junction is a critical component of semiconductor devices, allowing for the control of current flow.

Diode Operation

• A diode is a semiconductor device with a single p-n junction.
• Forward bias: applying a positive voltage to the p-side and a negative voltage to the n-side, allowing current to flow.
• Reverse bias: applying a negative voltage to the p-side and a positive voltage to the n-side, blocking current flow.

Transistor Operation

• A transistor is a semiconductor device with two p-n junctions.
• Bipolar junction transistor (BJT): uses both positive and negative charge carriers to control current flow.
• Field-effect transistor (FET): uses voltage to control current flow.
• Transistors can amplify or switch electronic signals.

Other Semiconductor Devices

• Thyristors: devices that can be used for power control and switching, such as silicon-controlled rectifiers (SCRs) and triacs.
• Integrated circuits (ICs): complex electronic circuits fabricated on a single semiconductor substrate.
• Optoelectronic devices: devices that convert light into electrical signals or vice versa, such as LEDs, photodiodes, and solar cells.

Applications

• Semiconductor devices are used in a wide range of applications, including:
  • Computing and data storage
  • Communication systems
  • Consumer electronics
  • Medical devices
  • Automotive systems
  • Aerospace and defense systems