Advanced integrated circuits are the core of microprocessors or multi-core processors that can control everything from computers to mobile phones to digital microwave ovens. Although the cost of designing and developing a complex integrated circuit is very high, when dispersed across typically millions of products, the cost of each integrated circuit is reduced. The performance of integrated circuits is high because their small size brings short paths, allowing low-power logic circuits to be applied at fast switching speeds.
In recent years, integrated circuits have continued to develop towards smaller external dimensions, allowing each chip to encapsulate more circuits. This increases the capacity per unit area, which can reduce costs and increase functionality. According to Moore's Law, the number of transistors in integrated circuits doubles every 1.5 years. In short, with the reduction of external dimensions, almost all indicators have improved, unit cost and switch power consumption have decreased, and speed has increased. However, there are also issues with ICs that integrate nanoscale devices, mainly leakage current. Therefore, there is a significant increase in speed and power consumption for end-users, and manufacturers face a sharp challenge in using better geometry. This process and the expected progress in the coming years are well described in the semiconductor international technology roadmap.
Only in the second half century of its development, integrated circuits became ubiquitous, and computers, mobile phones, and other digital appliances became an indispensable part of the social structure. This is because modern computing, communication, manufacturing and transportation systems, including the Internet, all rely on the existence of integrated circuits. Even many scholars believe that the digital revolution brought about by integrated circuits is an important event in human history. The maturity of ICs will bring about a great leap forward in technology, whether it is in design technology or breakthroughs in semiconductor processes, both of which are closely related.