Essential Guide to Semiconductors, The

Worldwide Consumption of Semiconductors

Where do all these chips, laser diodes, and sensors go? They end up in quite a few places, as you might imagine, and some that you probably can't. Semiconductors are used in many different kinds of systems, from the obvious ones like computers and televisions, to the obscure ones like dog collars, telephone wiring, and greeting cards. Here we'll take a look at some of the major categories, as shown in Figure 5.8.

Figure 5.8. Relative consumption of semiconductors by industry. Courtesy of In-Stat. Used with permission.

Computers and PCs

First and foremost among consumers of semiconductors are computers. Computers ...