Transistors

• A transistor is
  • One of the basic building blocks of computers.
  • An electronic switch
• Transistors
  • were first realized at Bell Labs in 1947
  • are used in place of vacuume tubes.
  • are made with semiconductor materials.
• Transistors are fabricated on a silicone waifer, MANY per waifer.
• Transistors simulate switches
  • An on state and an off state.
  • Some voltage leaks in the off state. (Power Wall discussion)
• Two types
  • NPN
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  • PNP
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• These can be combined to build the gates we know and love
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• the tkgate file