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Main types of chips produced by semiconductor companies
Random Access Memory (RAM) chips provide temporary workspace, while flash memory chips permanently store information unless erased. Read-Only Memory (ROM) and Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM) chips cannot be modified. In contrast, Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM) and Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) chips can be changed.
Semiconductor companies produce two main types of chips. Generally, chips are categorized by their function, but sometimes they are also categorized by the integrated circuit (IC) used.
Semiconductors are mainly divided into four categories by function: memory chips, microprocessors, commodity chips, and system-on-a-chip (SoC); and three categories by integrated circuit type: digital chips, analog chips, and mixed chips.
Memory Chips
Functionally, semiconductor memory chips store data and programs on computers and data storage devices.
Random Access Memory (RAM) chips provide temporary workspace, while flash memory chips permanently store information unless erased. Read-Only Memory (ROM) and Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM) chips cannot be modified. In contrast, Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM) and Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) chips can be altered.
Microprocessors
Microprocessors contain one or more central processing units (CPUs). Computer servers, personal computers (PCs), tablets, and smartphones may all have multiple CPUs.
On the other hand, mobile devices such as smartphones typically use ARM chip architecture. Less powerful 8-bit, 16-bit, and 24-bit microprocessors (called microcontrollers) appear in products such as toys and automobiles.
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
Technically, a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) is a type of microprocessor capable of rendering graphics for display on electronic devices. GPUs entered the wider market in 1999, most notably for their ability to deliver the smooth graphics consumers expect in modern video and games.
Before the advent of GPUs in the late 1990s, graphics rendering was handled by the central processing unit (CPU).
When used in conjunction with a CPU, a GPU can improve computer performance by taking over some computationally intensive functions from the CPU, such as rendering. This speeds up application processing because the GPU can perform many calculations simultaneously. This shift also allowed for the development of more advanced, resource-intensive software and activities, such as cryptocurrency mining.
Commodity ICs
Commodity Integrated Circuits (CICs) are simple chips used to perform repetitive processing routines. These chips are mass-produced and are typically used in single-purpose devices such as barcode scanners. The commodity IC market has thin margins and is dominated by large Asian semiconductor manufacturers. If an IC is manufactured for a specific purpose, it is called an ASIC, or Application-Specific Integrated Circuit. For example, Bitcoin mining today is done via ASICs that perform only one function: mining. Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA chips) are another type of commodity IC that can be customized to the manufacturer's specifications.
SoC (System-on-a-Chip) is one of the newer types of chips and is popular with newer manufacturers. In an SoC, all the electronic components needed for an entire system are built into a single chip.
SoCs have broader functionality than microcontroller chips, which typically combine a CPU with RAM, ROM, and input/output (I/O). In smartphones, SoCs can also integrate graphics, cameras, and audio and video processing. Adding management and radio chips can form a three-chip solution.
Using another chip classification method, most computer processors today use digital circuits. These circuits typically incorporate transistors and logic gates. Sometimes, microcontrollers are also added. Digital circuits use digital discrete signals, usually based on a binary scheme. Two different voltages are assigned, each representing a different logic value.
Analog Chips
Analog chips have largely been replaced by digital chips, but not entirely. Power supply chips are generally analog chips.
Wideband signals still require analog chips, and they are still used as sensors. In analog chips, voltage and current change continuously at specific points in the circuit.
Analog chips typically contain transistors as well as passive components such as inductors, capacitors, and resistors. Analog chips are more susceptible to noise or small changes in voltage, leading to errors.
Mixed-Circuit Semiconductors
Mixed-circuit semiconductors are usually digital chips but with the addition of technology for both analog and digital circuits. A microcontroller might include an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for connecting analog chips, such as temperature sensors.
Conversely, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) allows the microcontroller to produce analog voltages to output sound through analog devices.
The semiconductor industry is a lucrative and dynamic sector, constantly innovating across multiple areas of the computing and electronics markets. Understanding the types of semiconductors a company produces can help you make better, more informed investment decisions within the industry.
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