Definition and Introduction

Discrete devices refer to electronic devices that have separate functions and cannot be separated. Depending on the chip structure and function, they can be divided into semiconductor diodes, transistors, bridge rectifiers, etc.

Discrete device chips are different from the commonly understood integrated circuit chips in the semiconductor industry. The basic unit for realizing the function of a semiconductor circuit is a PN junction composed of semiconductor materials. The PN junction and the pattern formed by it are engraved on a small piece of silicon wafer in a certain way to form a semiconductor chip. Among them, discrete device (diode, transistor, etc.) chips refer to chips that only form one or a small number of PN junctions on a silicon wafer through processes such as doping and diffusion. The structure of the chip is simple and the function is relatively simple. It mainly realizes the established circuit functions such as rectification, voltage regulation, switching, and amplification. The integrated circuit chip is formed by engraving a pattern with specific functions formed by thousands of PN junctions, capacitors, resistors, wires, etc. on a small piece of silicon wafer using a special semiconductor process. Therefore, the structure of the integrated circuit chip is very complex and can realize complex functions such as processing and conversion of digital and analog signals.

Although chip integration brings advantages such as small size, light weight, and high reliability, for some specific functions that are difficult to integrate, such as high-speed switching, voltage regulation protection, transient suppression, and high current, high voltage, low power and other performance requirements, as well as circuit structure, integration difficulty and cost, stability and other considerations, a large number of discrete devices are still needed to complete. Therefore, discrete devices are used in conjunction with integrated circuits in the semiconductor industry.

Classification

Semiconductor discrete devices can be divided into diodes, triodes, and devices formed by connecting them in a certain way (such as rectifier bridge) according to chip structure and function. In the course of development, diodes, bipolar transistors (BJT), field effect transistors (Power-MOSFET), insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT), etc. have appeared successively. Bipolar transistors, field effect transistors and insulated gate bipolar transistors are generally referred to as triodes.

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