Introduction to Microelectronics

Which of the following best defines the primary goal of microelectronics?

• To develop large-scale electronic systems for industrial control.

• To integrate a vast number of miniature electronic components onto a single, compact substrate.

• To primarily focus on the design of analog circuits.

• To miniaturize mechanical components for use in robotics.

The fundamental building block of modern microelectronic devices is:

• The vacuum tube.

• The resistor-capacitor (RC) network.

• The semiconductor transistor.

• The electromagnetic relay.

The concept of "Moore's Law" primarily relates to:

• The doubling of microprocessor speed every 18-24 months.

• The increase in the number of transistors on an integrated circuit doubling approximately every two years.

• The decrease in the power consumption of microprocessors over time.

• The exponential growth of data storage capacity.

Semiconductor materials, unlike conductors or insulators, possess:

• An exceptionally large energy band gap.

• A very low resistivity that is nearly independent of temperature.

• A resistivity that is intermediate between conductors and insulators and strongly dependent on temperature.

• No free charge carriers at any temperature.

The most widely used semiconductor material in the microelectronics industry is:

• Germanium.

• Silicon.

• Gallium Arsenide.

• Indium Phosphide.

Doping a semiconductor with pentavalent impurities results in:

• A p-type semiconductor with an excess of holes.

• An n-type semiconductor with an excess of electrons.

• An insulator with a significantly increased band gap.

• A conductor with reduced resistance.

In an intrinsic (undoped) semiconductor, at room temperature:

• The number of free electrons is significantly greater than the number of holes.

• The number of holes is significantly greater than the number of free electrons.

• The number of free electrons and holes are approximately equal.

• There are no free charge carriers.

The mobility of free electrons in a semiconductor is generally:

• Lower than the mobility of holes.

• Equal to the mobility of holes.

• Higher than the mobility of holes.

• Dependent only on the temperature, not the type of charge carrier.

The energy band gap in a semiconductor is the energy difference between:

• The conduction band and the Fermi level.

• The valence band and the Fermi level.

• The valence band and the conduction band.

• The highest occupied energy level and the lowest unoccupied energy level.

As the temperature of a pure semiconductor increases, its resistivity:

• Increases.

• Decreases.

• Remains constant.

• First increases then decreases.