Semiconductor Devices

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Semiconductor Devices

These pages are intended to describe the basic structure and general properties of semiconductor devices. We will not be showing such devices in working circuits in this set of pages; other pages already under development will serve that purpose. However, I have received a number of inquiries on the order of "What is a MOSFET?" and "What's inside a transistor?" This set of pages is intended to answer such questions.

In some cases we'll be dealing with some rather technical terms, and we will sometimes have to deal with some essential concepts involved in physics. More general explanations and definitions will also be given, so if you don't need the technical definitions, don't worry about them. The terms are present in case you actually need them.

Basic Semiconductor Structures

The atomic structure of a semiconductor, and what happens when we modify that structure slightly.

Field-Effect Transistors (FETs)

Not all semiconductor devices are controlled by the applied current. Here are some devices that are controlled by the applied voltage.

Adding More Junctions

We've seen devices with one or two PN junctions. What happens if we add another junction or two?

Specialized Devices

Experiments on semiconductor materials have gone in every direction, and some have produced interesting and useful results. Here are some of the more prominent variations in common use today.