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Microelectronics: Circuit Analysis and Design is intended as a core text in electronics
for undergraduate electrical and computer engineering students. The purpose of
the fourth edition of the book is to continue to provide a foundation for analyzing and
designing both analog and digital electronic circuits. A goal is to make this book very
readable and student-friendly.
Most electronic circuit design today involves integrated circuits (ICs), in which
the entire circuit is fabricated on a single piece of semiconductor material. The IC
can contain millions of semiconductor devices and other elements and can perform
complex functions. The microprocessor is a classic example of such a circuit. The
ultimate goal of this text is to clearly present the operation, characteristics, and
limitations of the basic circuits that form these complex integrated circuits. Although
most engineers will use existing ICs in specialized design applications, they must be
aware of the fundamental circuit's characteristics in order to understand the operation
and limitations of the IC.
Initially, discrete transistor circuits are analyzed and designed. The complexity
of circuits being studied increases throughout the text so that, eventually, the reader
should be able to analyze and design the basic elements of integrated circuits, such
as linear amplifiers and digital logic gates.
This text is an introduction to the complex subject of electronic circuits.
Therefore, more advanced material is not included. Specific technologies, such as
gallium arsenide, which is used in special applications, are also not included,
although reference may be made to a few specialized applications. Finally, the
layout and fabrication of ICs are not covered, since these topics alone can warrant
entire texts. |