Essential Guide to Semiconductors, The

Simple Analog Components

Discrete analog components tend to be physically small because they're fundamentally simple creations (see Figure 2.4). In the early days of electronics, all components were simple analog components. Since about 1960, engineers have been combining these discrete building blocks to create ever more elaborate, integrated components that tend to be physically larger.

Figure 2.4. These analog components, scattered across two silicon wafers, show the variety of shapes and sizes these components can take. Courtesy of Texas Instruments. Used with permission.

Some analog components are sold as small discrete components; others ...