Transistor - Revision history

Jnc: /* External links */ typo

2023-12-17T16:18:42Z

External links: typo

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	* [https://computerhistory.org/blog/the-surface-state-job/ "The Surface State Job"]		* [https://computerhistory.org/blog/the-surface-state-job/ "The Surface State Job"]
	* [https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/sts-340j-introduction-to-the-history-of-technology-fall-2006/a96089fb1b0343cb358c982a9bb3c072_fox_crystalfire.pdf - Crystal Fire: The Birth of the Information Age - Theme: Sources] - interesting detail on the sources used for 'Crystal Fire'		* [https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/sts-340j-introduction-to-the-history-of-technology-fall-2006/a96089fb1b0343cb358c982a9bb3c072_fox_crystalfire.pdf Crystal Fire: The Birth of the Information Age - Theme: Sources] - interesting detail on the sources used for 'Crystal Fire'

	[[Category: Electronics]]		[[Category: Electronics]]

Jnc: /* External links */ Crystal Fire - Theme: Sources

2023-12-06T20:55:12Z

External links: Crystal Fire - Theme: Sources

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	* [https://computerhistory.org/blog/the-surface-state-job/ "The Surface State Job"]		* [https://computerhistory.org/blog/the-surface-state-job/ "The Surface State Job"]
			* [https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/sts-340j-introduction-to-the-history-of-technology-fall-2006/a96089fb1b0343cb358c982a9bb3c072_fox_crystalfire.pdf - Crystal Fire: The Birth of the Information Age - Theme: Sources] - interesting detail on the sources used for 'Crystal Fire'

	[[Category: Electronics]]		[[Category: Electronics]]

Jnc: /* Further reading */ add link to online copy of the wonderful chapter 6

2023-12-06T15:53:11Z

Further reading: add link to online copy of the wonderful chapter 6

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	==Further reading==		==Further reading==

	* Michael Riordan, Lillian Hoddeson, ''Crystal Fire: The Birth of the Information Age'' - the definitive history of the invention of the transistor		* Michael Riordan, Lillian Hoddeson, ''Crystal Fire: The Birth of the Information Age'', Norton, New York, 1997 - a wonderful history of transistors and ICs, [https://web.archive.org/web/20120627121017/http://laimbio08.escet.urjc.es/docencia/FOTONICA/origins_p_n_junction_IEEE_spectrum_34_1997.pdf Chapter 6] contains the definitive history of the invention of the transistor

	==External links==		==External links==

Jnc: /* Further reading */ +Crystal Fire

2023-04-06T15:43:46Z

Jnc: /* External links */ +"The Surface State Job"

2023-04-06T15:33:54Z

External links: +"The Surface State Job"

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:33, 6 April 2023
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	{{semi-stub}}		{{semi-stub}}

			==External links==

			* [https://computerhistory.org/blog/the-surface-state-job/ "The Surface State Job"]

	[[Category: Electronics]]		[[Category: Electronics]]

Jnc: +cat

2018-12-14T18:12:53Z

+cat

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	{{semi-stub}}		{{semi-stub}}

			[[Category: Electronics]]

Jnc: Proper cat

2018-10-21T18:49:42Z

Proper cat

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	A '''transistor''' is the now-ubiquitous device used to control (i.e. switch), and also possibly amplify, signals in an [[electronic]] system. It replaced an earlier generation of technology which performed the same function, [[vacuum tube]]s. They are made out of [[semiconductor]]s, solid materials that are intermediate between conductors (such as metals) and [[insulator]]s in their ability to carry electicity.		A '''transistor''' is the now-ubiquitous device used to control (i.e. switch), and also possibly [[amplifier\|amplify]], signals in an [[electronic]] system. It replaced an earlier generation of technology which performed the same function, [[vacuum tube]]s. They are made out of [[semiconductor]]s, solid materials that are intermediate between conductors (such as metals) and [[insulator]]s in their ability to carry electicity.

	A transistor generally has two inputs and an output: one input where the main signal (or power) comes in, another input which controls the electrical flow through the transistor, and an output where the main signal flows out. Specialized transistors can have more.		A transistor generally has two inputs and an output: one input where the main signal (or power) comes in, another input which controls the electrical flow through the transistor, and an output where the main signal flows out. Specialized transistors can have more.
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	The latter type is now the kind used in most ICs, implemented in [[Metal Oxide Semiconductor\|CMOS]].		The latter type is now the kind used in most ICs, implemented in [[Metal Oxide Semiconductor\|CMOS]].

	{{stub}}		{{semi-stub}}

Jnc: Add some links

2018-05-01T23:19:04Z

Add some links

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:19, 1 May 2018
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	A '''transistor''' is the now-ubiquitous device used to control (i.e. switch), and also possibly amplify, signals in an electronic system. It replaced an earlier generation of technology which performed the same function, [[vacuum tube]]s. They are made out of [[semiconductor]]s, solid materials that are intermediate between conductors (such as metals) and ~~insulators~~ in their ability to carry electicity.		A '''transistor''' is the now-ubiquitous device used to control (i.e. switch), and also possibly amplify, signals in an [[electronic]] system. It replaced an earlier generation of technology which performed the same function, [[vacuum tube]]s. They are made out of [[semiconductor]]s, solid materials that are intermediate between conductors (such as metals) and [[insulator]]s in their ability to carry electicity.

	A transistor generally has two inputs and an output: one input where the main signal (or power) comes in, another input which controls the electrical flow through the transistor, and an output where the main signal flows out. Specialized transistors can have more.		A transistor generally has two inputs and an output: one input where the main signal (or power) comes in, another input which controls the electrical flow through the transistor, and an output where the main signal flows out. Specialized transistors can have more.
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	==Details==		==Details==

	The first transistor design to reach mass production was the 'bipolar junction transistor', which can amplify a current flow. Its two inputs and an output are the 'collector' (where the main current flows in), the 'base' (an input which controls the current flow through the transistor), and the 'emitter' (where the main current flows out).		The first transistor design to reach mass production was the '[[bipolar]] junction transistor', which can amplify a current flow. Its two inputs and an output are the 'collector' (where the main current flows in), the 'base' (an input which controls the current flow through the transistor), and the 'emitter' (where the main current flows out).

	Another transistor design, theorized in the 1920s, but not actually constructed until after the bipolar transistor, was the 'field effect transistor', which can use a voltage to control current flow. Its two inputs and an output are the 'source' (where the main current flows in), the 'gate' (an input which controls the current flow through the transistor), and the 'drain' (where the main current flows out).		Another transistor design, theorized in the 1920s, but not actually constructed until after the bipolar transistor, was the '[[field effect transistor]]', which can use a voltage to control current flow. Its two inputs and an output are the 'source' (where the main current flows in), the 'gate' (an input which controls the current flow through the transistor), and the 'drain' (where the main current flows out).

	The latter type is now the kind used in most ICs.		The latter type is now the kind used in most ICs, implemented in [[Metal Oxide Semiconductor\|CMOS]].

	{{stub}}		{{stub}}

Jnc: clarify

2018-03-25T12:34:18Z

clarify

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:34, 25 March 2018
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	A '''transistor''' is the now-ubiquitous device used to control (i.e. switch), and also possibly amplify, signals in an electronic system. It replaced an earlier generation of technology which performed the same function, [[vacuum tube]]s. They are made out of [[semiconductor]]s, solid materials that are intermediate between conductors (such as metals) and insulators in their ability to carry electicity.		A '''transistor''' is the now-ubiquitous device used to control (i.e. switch), and also possibly amplify, signals in an electronic system. It replaced an earlier generation of technology which performed the same function, [[vacuum tube]]s. They are made out of [[semiconductor]]s, solid materials that are intermediate between conductors (such as metals) and insulators in their ability to carry electicity.

	A transistor generally has two inputs and an output: one input where the main signal comes in, another input which controls the electrical flow through the transistor, and an output where the main signal flows out. Specialized transistors can have more.		A transistor generally has two inputs and an output: one input where the main signal (or power) comes in, another input which controls the electrical flow through the transistor, and an output where the main signal flows out. Specialized transistors can have more.

	The first transistors were individually packaged; some transistors (particularly those used for power systems) are still ~~sold~~ in this format. However, the physical nature of transistors allows them to be made very small, and technology was developed to allow creating more than one transistor on a single piece of semiconductor, the [[integrated circuit]] (IC).		The first transistors were individually packaged; some transistors (particularly those used for power systems) are still produced in this format. However, the physical nature of transistors allows them to be made very small, and technology was developed to allow creating more than one transistor on a single piece of semiconductor, the [[integrated circuit]] (IC).

	Over time, the technology of making transistors on ICs smaller has improved to where the number of transistors in which can be included in a single IC has grown to almost unbelievable levels, such that the largest modern ICs can contain more than a billion transistors. At the same time, the speed of operation has increased, and the power used has decreased.		Over time, the technology of making transistors on ICs smaller has improved to where the number of transistors in which can be included in a single IC has grown to almost unbelievable levels, such that the largest modern ICs can contain more than a billion transistors. At the same time, the speed of operation has increased, and the power used has decreased.

Jnc: /* Details */ typo

2017-10-14T15:16:57Z

Details: typo

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:16, 14 October 2017
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	The first transistor design to reach mass production was the 'bipolar junction transistor', which can amplify a current flow. Its two inputs and an output are the 'collector' (where the main current flows in), the 'base' (an input which controls the current flow through the transistor), and the 'emitter' (where the main current flows out).		The first transistor design to reach mass production was the 'bipolar junction transistor', which can amplify a current flow. Its two inputs and an output are the 'collector' (where the main current flows in), the 'base' (an input which controls the current flow through the transistor), and the 'emitter' (where the main current flows out).

	Another transistor design, theorized in the 1920s, but not actually ~~created~~ until at the bipolar transistor, was the 'field effect transistor', which can use a voltage to control current flow. Its two inputs and an output are the 'source' (where the main current flows in), the 'gate' (an input which controls the current flow through the transistor), and the 'drain' (where the main current flows out).		Another transistor design, theorized in the 1920s, but not actually constructed until after the bipolar transistor, was the 'field effect transistor', which can use a voltage to control current flow. Its two inputs and an output are the 'source' (where the main current flows in), the 'gate' (an input which controls the current flow through the transistor), and the 'drain' (where the main current flows out).

	The latter type is now the kind used in most ICs.		The latter type is now the kind used in most ICs.

	{{stub}}		{{stub}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:43, 6 April 2023
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	{{semi-stub}}		{{semi-stub}}

			==Further reading==

			* Michael Riordan, Lillian Hoddeson, ''Crystal Fire: The Birth of the Information Age'' - the definitive history of the invention of the transistor

	==External links==		==External links==