An Integrated Circuit (IC) is defined as a single chip of semiconductor material on which multiple interconnected electronic components, both active and passive, are fabricated. ICs were developed to overcome the difficulties associated with designing complex circuits using numerous discrete components, which is time-consuming and results in lower reliability.

1.1 Core Advantages of Integrated Circuits

ICs offer substantial benefits over circuits built from discrete components:

• Compact Size: Circuits of a given functionality are physically smaller when implemented with ICs.
• Lesser Weight: IC-based circuits weigh less than their discrete counterparts.
• Low Power Consumption: Due to their smaller size and construction, ICs consume less power.
• Reduced Cost: ICs are less expensive due to advanced fabrication technologies and lower material usage.
• Increased Reliability: With fewer external connections, ICs are inherently more reliable.
• Improved Operating Speeds: ICs operate at higher speeds, benefiting from faster switching and lower power consumption.

1.2 Classification of Integrated Circuits

ICs are broadly categorized into two main types:

• Analog Integrated Circuits: These operate over a continuous range of signal amplitude values.
  • Linear Integrated Circuits (LICs): Exhibit a linear relationship between voltage and current. The IC 741 Op-Amp is a primary example.
  • Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits (RFICs): Exhibit a non-linear relationship between voltage and current.
• Digital Integrated Circuits: These operate at a few predefined signal levels rather than a continuous range.