Microelectronics and Microminiaturization

The intensive effort of electronics to increase the reliability and performance of its products while reducing their size and cost led to the results that hardly anyone could predict. The evolution of electronic technology is sometimes called a revolution: a quantitative change in technology gave rise to qualitative change in human capabilities.

There appeared a new branch of science - microelectronics. Microelectronics embraces electronics connected with the realization of electronic circuits, systems and subsystems from very small electronic devices to extremely small electronic components and circuit assemblies, made by film or semiconductor techniques. A microelectronic technology reduced transistors and other circuit elements to dimensions almost invisible to unaided eye. The point of this extraordinary miniaturization is to make circuits long lasting, low in cost, and capable of performing electronic functions at extremely high speed. It is known that the speed of response depends on the size of transistor: the smaller the transistor, the faster it is. The smaller the computer, the faster it can work. One more advantage of microelectronics is that smaller devices consume less power. In space satellites and spaceships this is a very important factor. Another benefit resulting from microelectronics is the reduction of distances between circuit components. Packing density increased with the appearance of small-scale integrated circuit, medium-scale 1С, large-scale 1С and very-large-scale 1С. The number of transistors on a chip pleasured the change in scale. There appeared a new type of integrated circuits, microwave integrated circuit. The evolution of microwave 1С began with the development of planar transmission lines. Then new 1С components in a fine line transmission line appeared. Other more exotic techniques, such as dielectric waveguide integrated circuits emerged. Microelectronic technique is continuing to displace other modes. Circuit patterns are being formed with radiation having wavelength shorter than those of light. Electronics has extended man's intellectual power. Microelectronics extends that power still further.

Study the meaning of the following words and word combinations:

· performance

· to predict

· capability

· branch of science

· to embrace

· circuit film technique

· invisible to unaided eye

· to react

· speed of response

· advantage/disadvantage

· benefit

· to result from

· packing density

· small-scale integrated circuit

· medium-scale 1С

· large-scale 1С

· very-large-scale 1С

· transmission line

· waveguide

· to emerge

· to displace mode

· pattern

· power

1.4. Answer the following questions:

1. What is the benefit of reducing the size of circuit elements?

2. What do you understand by the term of microminiaturization?

3. What does the speed of the signal response depend on?

4. What advantages of microelectronics do you know?

5. What scales of integration do you know?

6. How are microelectronics techniques developing?

1.5. Read and translate the text “The types of Software”[23]

The Types of Software

A computer to complete a job requires more than just the actual equipment or hardware we see and touch. It requires Software — programs for directing the operation of a computer or electronic data.

Software is the final computer system component. These computer programs instruct the hardware how to conduct processing. The computer is merely a general-purpose machine that requires specific software to perform a given task. Computers can input, calculate, compare, and output data as information. Software determines the order in which these operations are performed.

Programs usually fall in one of two categories: system software; applications software. System software controls standard internal computer activities. An operating system, for example, is a collection of system programs that aid in the operation of a computer regardless of the application software being used. When a computer is first turned on, one of the systems programs is booted or loaded into the computers memory. This software contains information about memory capacity, the model of the processor, the disk drives to be used and more. Once the system software is loaded, the applications software can be brought in.

System programs are designed for the specific pieces of hardware. These programs are called drivers and coordinate peripheral hardware and computer activities. User needs to install a specific driver in order to activate a peripheral device. For example, if you intend to buy a printer or a scanner you need to worry in advance about the driver program, which, though, commonly goes along with your device. By installing the driver you «teach» your main board to «understand» the newly attached part. Applications software satisfies your specific need. The developers of application software rely mostly on marketing research strategies trying to do their best to attract more users (buyers) to their software. As the productivity of the hardware has increased greatly in recent years, the programmers nowadays tend to include as much as possible in one program to make software interface look more attractive to the user. These class of programs is the most numerous and perspective from the marketing point of view.

Data communication within and between computers systems is handled by system software. Communications software transfers data from one computer system to another. These programs usually provide users with data security and error checking along with physically transferring data between the two computer's memories. During the past five years the developing electronic network communication has stimulated more and more companies to produce various communication software, such as Web-Browsers for Internet.

Study the meaning of the following words and word combinations:

· to complete

· to require

· equipment

· to direct

· to conduct

· general-purpose

· specific

· control

· internal

· aid

· regardless

· to boot

· memory capacity

· peripheral

· to install

· main board

· to attach

· developer

· to handle

· to transfer

· to provide with

· security

· to check

· to develop

· Web-browser

1.6. Answer the following questions:

1. What do you think is more expensive: hardware or software?

2. Has anyone in your group ever purchased software?

3. Why do you think piracy (audio, video, computer software) still exists?

1.7. Say whether the following statements are true or false:

1. Computer programs only instruct hardware how to handle data storage.

II. WRITING

2.1. Write the English equivalents of the given Russian words and word combinations:

A) Прикладная физика; передача и прием информации; поток электронов; трудно представить; научные исследования; промышленное проектирование; вычислять траекторию космических кораблей; обнаруживать явления природы; благодаря электронике; отправная точка; способствовать управлению сигналами; быстрый рост; разнообразие ламп; создание первых компьютеров; полностью заменил; полупроводниковый кристалл; уменьшить вес; сократить стоимость; потребление электроэнергии; высокая надежность; твердотельные компоненты; довольно быстро... но гораздо ниже; высокоскоростной компьютер; микроволновые системы связи; полупроводниковая технология; область науки; интегральная схема; пакетная обработка; сборка дискретных компонентов на кристалле; снизить производственные затраты; обеспечить высокую скорость.

B) Интенсивные усилия; увеличить надежность; увеличить параметры; уменьшить размер и стоимость; вряд ли кто-нибудь мог прогнозировать; количественные и качественные изменения; область науки; пленочная технология; полупроводниковый метод; сокращать элементы схемы; суть миниатюризации в том, что; создать схемы с долгим сроком службы; чрезвычайно высокая скорость реакции; чем меньше, тем быстрее; преимущество; расходовать энергию; польза; уменьшение расстояния между элементами схемы; большая интегральная схема; микроволновая интегральная схема; волновод; линия передач; смещать; изображение схем; расширять возможности человека.

2.2. Write the Russian equivalents of the given English words and word combinations:

A) Electronics; electrons; physics; information; microelectronics; industrial design; to calculate trajectories; phenomena of nature; automatization of production processes; organisms; vacuum tubes; specialized functions; progress in radio communication technology; transistor; electrode; components; to realize; communication system; technology; discrete components; chip, power consumption; power consumption change; signals manipulation; transistor invention; circuit functions; communication systems, data processing system; integrated circuits development; science field; process control; automatization processes control; circuit components; size reduction; electronics development; communication means; problem solution; space exploration; pattern recognition; customers accounts; air traffic control.

B)To maintain records, on-board environment, pattern recognition, deposits and withdrawal, guidance, computer literacy, problem-solving device, to be aware of, opportunity, basics, application, to restate, significant, achievements, computing, to embrace, dimension, instruction, to direct the operation, to process, subscription magazine, data processing system, store manager, to have much in common