TABLE OF CONTENTS Consider an RC-electric circuit, i.e., a circuit comprising three types of elements: resistors, capacitors, and resistors in a series combination with outer sources of voltage (see Fig. 4.10). [33] For example, a chip is, electrically, a complicated circuit comprising elements of the indicated type. When designing chips, the following characteristics are of primary importance:
Speed. In a chip, the outer voltages are switching at a certain frequency from one constant value to another. Every switch is accompanied by a transition period. During this period, the potentials and currents in the elements are moving from their previous values (corresponding to the static steady state for the old outer voltages) to the values corresponding to the new static steady state. Since there are elements with inertia-capacitors-this transition period takes some time. [34] To ensure stable performance of the chip, the transition period should be much less than the time between subsequent switches in the outer voltages. Thus, the duration of the transition period is responsible for the speed at which the chip can perform.
Dissipated heat. Resistors in the chip dissipate heat that should be eliminated; otherwise the chip will not function. This requirement is very serious...
