Transistor

Special integrated circuits are developed as application-specific integrated circuits, or ASICs, which are single chips performing a specific set of tasks, useful for only one job. For example, almost all the circuitry needed for an AM-FM radio receiver is routinely produced on a single ASIC chip that replaces the hundreds of individual components. TV receivers have also become increasingly dependent upon ASICs. ICs may also take the form of generalized modules intended to be used in a broad range of applications. Many of the first generalized ICs were designed as operational amplifiers, a general-purpose amplifier made from many transistors.