Newstricky| Semiconductors are important components of every electronic device, including devices for communications, healthcare banking transportation, etc. In short, our modern economy cannot run without these powerful tiny electronic circuits.
Think about a life without a smartphone or any other gadgets. It is not possible, right? Everything around you would seem like stopping. But without these semiconductors, no one can imagine using these devices.
If this increases your curiosity, then we got you covered. In this article, we will talk about semiconductor chips, their uses, and their largest producer.
So, let’s get started.
Table of Contents
What Are Semiconductor Chips?
Semiconductor chips are generally made up of silicon and copper or aluminum. But other metals such as germanium and other pure elements can also be used to make it. Impurities are added to the pure elements to make changes in this conductivity. And thus, they have specific electric properties owing to such composition; hence it becomes ideal to become a foundation of electronic devices.
As the name suggests, semiconductors are in the mid-way between a conductor and an insulator. They conduct electricity but only if certain conditions are met.
Types Of Semiconductor Chips
We can divide the semiconductor chip into two main categories on the basis of their functionality.
- Memory Chips
- Logic Chips
Memory Chips
Semiconductor memory chips store data on your computers and other electronic devices.
Some of the popular examples of it are:
- Random access memory (RAM)
- Read-only memory (ROM)
- Programmable read-only memory (P-ROM)
- Erasable programmable read-only memory (EP-ROM)
- Electrical read-only memory (E-ROM)
Logic Chips
Logic chips are practically the brain of any electronic device.
Some of the prominent examples are the central processing unit, graphical processing unit, neural processing unit, etc.
Usage Of Semiconductor Chip
Computers
The semiconductors in the computer use binary code to process your command. It helps you to run the machines smoothly and protect the system from heating.
Thermal Conductivity
Some semiconductors can be used as a cooling agent in thermoelectric applications.
Telecommunication
The main purpose of the semiconductor in tally communication is to control the machine’s function. It can affect the display, GPS navigation, surfing through applications, battery, 4G reception, etc.
LED Lights
Semiconductors available in liquid or amorphous form are used to coat the glass bulb to produce light.
Home Appliances
Semiconductor chips are also used in refrigerators, microwaves, air conditioners, and other machines to regulate the temperature and control features.
Solar Panel
Semiconductors made up of silicon are used in the production of solar panel cells.
Banking
You can also find semiconductors chips being an integral part of banking systems, such as ATMs, automated locking mechanisms, etc.
Other Uses of Semiconductor Chips
You cannot also imagine using calculators, laptops, washing machines, rice cookers, and health care equipment without semiconductors.
Advantages And Disadvantages of Semiconductor Chips
Advantages
- Semiconductors do not have filaments; therefore, no power is needed to heat them.
- Semiconductors do not reduce any humming sound.
- Semiconductors are cheaper than their substitute.
- Semiconductors are smaller and hence occupy space and consume less power.
- They are shockproof
- They can also be for ages.
Disadvantages
- They cannot handle high power.
- They produce more noise than vacuum tubes.
Largest Semiconductor Chips Producer
China is the largest producer of semiconductor chips in the world, closely followed by South Korea.
Who is the largest chip Manufacturer?
Taiwan semiconductor manufacturing company is one of the largest chip maker companies in the world. It is one of the largest semiconductor foundries in the global market.
Other major semiconductor companies are Intel Corp., Qualcomm Inc, Micron Technologies, Broadcom Inc., etc.
Bottomline
We cannot imagine avoiding it without a semiconductor chip. It has literally become the brain of modern-day gadgets. No matter where you look, whether it is a television, laptop, smartphone, calculator, thermometer, or your vehicle’s navigation system, none of them would work without these powerful chips.
